This is the second memoir about hiking the AT that I have read in the last few weeks and this second title was worlds better than the first.

Miller is a 40 something cube dweller who decided to quit his job and thru hike the AT. He's a regular middle class guy with a wife, three kids, and a normal "happy" life. But he's miserable and he needs a shakeup and his wife agrees to let him go on this mid-life adventure. I admit, that as a 40 something cube dweller, I was sympathetic and invested in his story from the get-go.

Miller is good at making you feel like you are experiencing the hike along with him. I felt like I understood the terrain, the conditions of the shelters, the discomfort and tweaks associated with a heavy pack and the wrong (or eventually right) shoes. I learned more about other hikers, more about animals and trail conditions than I did in the other book. He describes both the beauty and wonder of the trail and the total misery of it in equal measure. He shares his uncertainty about his decision to be on the trail. He shares is uncertainly about some of the other characters he meets along the way. Most are benign and good companions but others....not so much. It made for very interesting story telling.

Overall, a very enjoyable read if books about hiking are your cup of tea.
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Well hiked and recounted. AWOL's yearly updated AT guides are an absolute must for through hikers and section hikers alike. ( )

An enjoyable read if you like reading about outdoor adventures. Miller is kind of the opposite of Cheryl Strayed (author of Wild), but the adventure is of the same nature. Miller quits his job and leaves his young family to thru hike the Appalachian Trail. The story details the highs and lows of the trip and the many characters he encounters along the way. He has a good way with words, and you really get a strong sense of what the trail was like. Despite the fact that he carefully chose and testing all his gear and was well prepared, he had lots of foot problems (blisters, infections, twisted ankles).

Of course, because he was careful and prepared, there really was less of a story to tell. There were many interesting small details, and the book kinda made me want to try backpacking, but there weren't truly huge obstacles that he overcame. All in all, interesting and enjoyable reading - - I kept picking it up - - but it became somewhat repetitive by the end. ( )

Inspiring ( )

Good read, but I was really looking for more of the logistics of the hike - more of the, what I would perceive to be "epicness" of hiking the AT.

Anyways, I would give this a 3.75 if I could give 1/4 stars ... ( )