By Bill Bryson
The author has written extensively on travel and other subjects. Here, he writes of his adventure of hiking the Appalachian Trail. Much of his narrative covers his extensive preparation and the history of the trail, including the natural history of the trees and flowers along the trail. Bryson tries to enlist the company of another hiker, and succeeds in engaging an old friend, the overweight, out-of-shape, out-of-work Stephen Katz. Together they set out; Bryson writes of hazards encountered along the way, including wild animals and long-winded walkers. About midway through the trek, Katz drops out. With Katz, a foil to the more fit, more dedicated Bryson, the book shines. In his absence, it tends to drag a bit. While Bryson is able to maintain a more consistent pace, I missed Katz's efforts and companionship, but Bryson presses on, completing many of the remaining miles in sections, rather than one continuous walk - and doing the trail as a solo hiker has its benefits, too. This is a good book to read in anticipation of any long hike, especially the Appalachian Trail, and it's clear that the preparation and execution of this long walk was a learning experience in many ways.
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