The Appalachian Trail Reader (Official Guides to the Appalachian Trail)

Book Overview

The Appalachian Trail is the longest continuous footpath in the world. Its 2,140 miles run through 14 states--from Georgia to Maine--and vastly different natural and social environments, from the solitary splendor of mountain crags to the genial slopes frequented by dayhikers and scout packs. Each year, more than three million visitors enjoy the diverse scenery and cultures of the trail, united by a common appreciation for the outdoors. A lively and evocative introduction to this national treasure, The Appalachian Trail Reader collects stories, poems, and essays that reflect this wilderness trail across both time and geography.
Here are the works of both well-known writers and anonymous raconteurs, including Henry David Thoreau, James Dickey, Aldo Leopold, Washington Irving, James MacGregor Burns, Richard Wilbur, and many others, as well as excerpts from the diaries and letters of modern day visitors. Hikers' private journals stand next to scientists' close observations of the natural world, and these readings mingle with poets' evocations of meaningful music heard in the wind, in birdsong, or in the babbling brooks. Here, too, are historians, who remind us of how Appalachian culture developed, and early explorers, reporting the thrill of seeing uncharted territory and wildlife for the first time. Taken as a whole, this patchwork quilt of voices both eloquent and raw offers a surprisingly varied pattern of appreciation for the wilds of the Appalachians. With the addition of maps of the trail and photographs of its majesty, The Appalachian Trail Reader presents a rich introduction to the trail for those planning a trip, and a vivid scrapbook for those who've already visited.
Originally conceived as an antidote to the competitive, fast-paced, and increasingly urban civilization that America was becoming, the Appalachian Trail is more than an experience of geology and natural history; indeed, it is a vast open-air cathedral where the emotions and the senses unite. The Appalachian Trail Reader bears out this spirit, offering a heart-felt appreciation of one of our greatest natural resources while it presents an opportunity to escape the stresses of everyday life and revel in the inestimable value of a wilderness experience.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195100913
• ISBN13: 9780195100914
• Release Date: September 1996
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Valuable trove of anecdotes and information

This reader is broken into two parts. The first part, which is shorter by far, contains a series of essays (including one by Thoreau), and lots of historical information which places the Appalachian Trail in its proper context of American history. The essays explore the trail from a variety of interesting perspectives. The second part, which is most of the book, is made up of writings by people who have experienced some part of the trail. Old hikers, young hikers, disabled hikers and spiritually downcast hikers are all given a voice. These writings are arranged into sections according to which state they take place in. In all, this is a valuable and interesting compilation about an amazing feature of the United States. I found that reading it from cover to cover got a little tedious at times; the stories all sort of blur together and most of the anecdotes are descriptive rather than plot-driven. However, reading a portion of the book here and there helps to keep the experience of the Appalachian trail alive in our minds. If you're considering spending some time on the trail, I would recommend reading this and also "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson.

A Taste of the Trail

This is the perfect book for those of us who have good intentions of someday making the 2000-mile trek from Georgia to Maine ... but will never really get around to it. Emblidge dovetails selections by well-known naturalists and writers with those of AT through- and dayhikers to create a unique collection of observations. Some, like Thoreau, found themselves in the neighborhood of the path before it was even created. You can follow the history of the trail, beginning with Benton MacKaye's first written public proposal in 1921. Then the pieces mark an imaginary trip north from Springer Mountain to Mount Katahdin. Simple maps and b & w photos are included. It's not Bill Bryson's _A Walk in the Woods_, but then, what is? This is still an easy summer read.