The Appalachian Trail: A Biography

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 164 ratings

Price: 19.68

Last update: 09-12-2024


About this item

The Appalachian Trail is America’s most beloved trek, with millions of hikers setting foot on it every year. Yet few are aware of the fascinating backstory of the dreamers and builders who helped bring it to life over the past century.

The conception and building of the Appalachian Trail is a story of unforgettable characters who explored it, defined it, and captured national attention by hiking it. From Grandma Gatewood—a mother of eleven who thru-hiked in canvas sneakers and a drawstring duffle—to Bill Bryson, author of the best-selling A Walk in the Woods, the AT has seized the American imagination like no other hiking path. The 2,000-mile-long hike from Georgia to Maine is not just a trail through the woods, but a set of ideas about nature etched in the forest floor. This character-driven biography of the trail is a must-hear not just for ambitious hikers, but for anyone who wonders about our relationship with the great outdoors and dreams of getting away from urban life for a pilgrimage in the wild.


Top reviews from the United States

Marcia Meyer
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2021
Describes trails beauty.And rough going -- am following his trip with my AT guide. As Philadelphia AT trail club put it " This story will make the path smoother for any new hiker'
Robert A Calmes
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Insight into the Development of the AT!
Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2024
I loved reading about the vision and development of the AT. The author gives the reader great insight into the characters that envisioned the trail and the characters that brought it to reality. I also loved the history of why the trail happened as it relates to the belief, even in the early 1900’s, that the individual ruggedness that had allowed our country to develop and become prosperous was being lost. One could argue that this lack of grit people had in those days has declined ten-fold or more in the last 100 years. Could you imagine the young men of today having the maturity, determination and toughness to do what our forefathers did? I certainly don’t think today’s youth has the character to make such feats happen. The only oart if the book I disliked was the emphasis on religion in chapter #1. It doesn’t seem to matter to the story of the AT. The author does a good job of not making judgments, bit I didn’t think the discussion of it really mattered to the point of the book. I would rate the book a 3.75 if that was an option!
Richard S. Mitnick
5.0 out of 5 stars The truth is important
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2021
The truth is important. Do not reveal any of your personal data on Facebook. It will be sold over and over.
P. Keene
3.0 out of 5 stars Reads like an encyclopedia
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2021
You won’t find inspirational accounts of the AT in this book. Instead an encyclopedic account of notables related to building the AT. If you’re writing a paper, this will be a great resource. If you’re hoping to immerse yourself in the beauty of hiking the trail, look elsewhere.
William A. Hart, Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars The writing is crisp and compelling.
Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2021
This is an excellently researched and written book, one that will be appreciated by those with a serious interest in the Appalachian Trail.
Mattie
5.0 out of 5 stars Learning about the Appalachian Trail history
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2024
I totally enjoyed this biography. I learned a great deal about the AT while camping at the halfway point of the trail at a state park that it cuts through. There is also a Museum to the AT. We could see the lean-to built by the first thru-hiker Earl Shaffer from York, PA.; whom I had just read about in this book! The writing style was excellent and entertaining. I enjoyed it and learned about the beginning of the idea and then building of the trail. Lots of hurdles to go over and it has constantly changed over the years for many reasons.
Robert S. Bristow
4.0 out of 5 stars Much better than many AT Books
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2021
This is a well documented "biography" of the AT. It is a unique title, pretty well researched and a complete bibliography is found at the end. Many of the early chapters rely on other AT titles, so for more details on MayKaye and Avery look elsewhere. Bryson and the ATC and NPS folks' chapters are based more on interviews that is the unique part of the book. The final chapter tries to wrap up the book and this is a bit disappointing. With all due respect, even Bryson hiked more of the AT than this author and the "Soul" of the AT is missing in this book (think MacKaye). A 7.5 out of ten for this book
William D. Brisbane
5.0 out of 5 stars History & background on the AT, much of which I knew little of prior to reading this book
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2023
Composed in a series of historical, biographs of those folks and organizations that conceived, built, maintained and propagandized the Appalachian Trail. A reader with a general knowledge of the trail (and how trails come to be constructed) will learn much from this book, as I know I did. Well written, researched and informative. So many of us who use and enjoy trails of all kinds easily take for granted their existence and unless we are involved in their conception, financing, building and maintenance, we have little knowledge of the work that goes into making them come about. This book high lights the efforts made by so many to turn even smaller local trails a reality.

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