During the 2020 pandemic, one thing held true: Scores of people headed out for a day hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) as if being in the woods, immersed in beauty and mystery, immunized them against an invisible enemy. The AT became a hospital for souls locked up in quarantine, needing to breathe, stretch, and be grounded by the earth beneath their feet. For decades, the AT has been a sanctuary for seekers, the tired and the lost; those hungry for renewal, the broken and the grieving; and those who want to face and answer questions they have lugged around with them in invisible backpacks. Questions like, what is next for me? Is there a God? Should I live or end it all? How can I liberate my life from what weighs it down? How can I forgive God? This book pays tribute to all those who dare such a grueling and soul-satisfying adventure. It tells the tales of those on a pilgrimage through insightful conversations and encounters, exploring and revealing what angels the hikers are wrestling with in the wilderness, angels who call out to name them again. This collection unveils the spirituality of any such journey in sometimes humorous, sometimes heart-wrenching portraits. Tales from the Trail explores the longings within us to lose our life, only to find it.
An Account, From a Woman's Viewpoint, Of the Crossing of the Plains inOx Caravan in 1864, and Settlement of the Boise Valley of Idaho; A Wagon Trip to Texas, andSettlement and Life There; A Wagon Trip to Washington Territory from Texas, and Settlement in the Kittitas Valley.FOREWORDS: Grandmother Fulton, at the age of eighty years, began writing her memories of pioneer days in the Northwest. Without recourse to anything but her wonderful memory, she collected the material for this book, and then undertook the almost incredible task of transcribing in longhand the voluminous mass of facts which she had accumulated.This writing she accomplished between times as she worked in her garden or looked after her chickens and turkeys on her little farm in California. Primarily, as a sort of family story for her descendants, she worked to leave them a remembrance of the conditions of life which all pioneer people had lived. Her story tells of the struggles in pioneer times; in which woman bore her share of the burden. Most of her companions have joined the silent ranks, but their children and children's children may learn here something of the heroic work their parents accomplished in building homes in a new country.W. S.(Will) Cooper (husband of Estelle Fulton)1930This is the most interesting and exciting factual history of crossing the Plains and settling the West you will ever hope to read. Every chapter is written in such a manner that you cannot wait to read the next few paragraphs to see how each drama is going to play out. If you grew up in the Methow Valley before World War II, your genes are loaded with those of your Grandparents and Great Grandparents who made this western trek across the Plains, over the Rocky Mountains and into the Northwest Territory of Washington by wagon train to open up new frontiers never before settled by white families. Up to 80% of the first 150 pioneers to settle in the Methow Valley were either their children, children of relatives or close friends of Frank and Arabella Fulton coming from Wise County in Texas and later to the Ellensburg area in Washington.Four of Frank and Belle Fulton's children (Lee, Frank, Jr., Nellie, and Jacqueline (sic) along with numerous nephews, nieces and in-laws and some of their parents, came to stake out homesteads in the Methow Valley including Hartles, Pattersons, Barnharts, Germans, and Sullivans. Mason Thurlow (perhaps the first farmer in Methow Valley) lived with Frank and Belle Fulton in Texas for several years during his teenage years. Mason Thurlow came to Northwest Territory with the Fultons on the same wagon train.Dale W. Dibble (Methow Valley pioneer family, part of the wagon train from Texas in April, 1883.)1994Arabella finished her writing in the home of her daughter, Della, at Caldwell, Idaho in 1930. Arabella's grandson, David "Lee" Nickell (son of Jacquelyn) paid for a private printing in 1965 in cooperation with Payette Radio of Montreal, Canada. There were 500 copies printed at that time. Lee often discussed with the family that Grandma Fulton's story should be reprinted. Some 30 years later, permission was given by Lee for an adaptation for school use to Judith Greenberg and Helen Carey McKeever - portions are included in A Pioneer Woman's Memoir Based on the Journal of Arabella Clemens Fulton (1995). There has been no attempt to rewrite Belle's language. This is Belle's story, and it is with pleasure that her voice may continue to speak through this unique memoir.Jacquelyn Nickell Fewkes (grand-daughter of Jacquelyn Fulton) 2018.Additional writing included from Arabella's oldest son, Joseph Lee Fulton on the early settlement of the Methow Valley, Washington.
'I am already planning the next adventure. The wanderlust that infected me has no cure.' It all started in Fishguard in the mid-1970s when, aged fifteen, Martyn Howe and a friend set off on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path armed with big rucksacks, borrowed boots, a Primus stove and a pint of paraffin, and a thirst for adventure. After repeating the route almost thirty years later, Martyn was inspired to walk every National Trail in England and Wales, plus the four Long-Distance Routes (now among the Great Trails) in Scotland. His 3,000-mile journey included treks along the South West Coast Path, the Pennine Way, the Cotswold Way and the West Highland Way. He finally achieved his ambition in 2016 when he arrived in Cromer in Norfolk, only to set a new goal of walking the England and Wales Coast Paths and the Scottish National Trail. In Tales from the Big Trails, Martyn vividly describes the diverse landscapes, wildlife, culture and heritage he encounters around the British Isles, and the physical and mental health benefits he derives from walking. He also celebrates the people who enrich his travels, including fellow long-distance hikers, tourists discovering Britain's charm, farmers working the land, and the friendly and eccentric owners of hostels, campsites and B&Bs. And when he is asked 'Why do you do it?', the answer is as simple as placing one foot in front of the other: 'It makes me happy.'
"Tales from the Medicine Trail" offers readers an adventure into the healing practices of ancient and modern cultures. This is blended with actionable health remedies, such as teas for tension, meditations for migraines, and poultices for pain. 32 color photos.
Boggy Meadow is a mysterious place - especially that spot in the Western Woods that many speak of in hushed tones. There was once a showman called Sir Henry, the keeper of the local freak show. Three years after his death, locals have reported activity on the old property and peculiar flyers spreading around the town center. Residents and brave tourists alike did not account for such an eerie surprise... A horror novel set in America during the time period of The Great Depression, featuring tales of adversity, trauma, revenge, and overcoming isolation. A grief stricken man finds himself risen from the grave, on a mysterious path to discover what put him there in the first place. Along the way, he accumulates a band of misfits who have also found themselves cast aside by society. This anthology chronicles these dark tales. This book details the back histories of Sir Henry, Poppy, Vex, Kane, Pyrum, and more. Authors Amanda Rosenblatt and Brad Acevedo, who are devoted fans of this fictional universe, bring the world of Boggy Meadow to life. The book is a love letter to fans of haunted attractions and the holiday of Halloween. Based on the iconic haunted attraction in Central Florida created by Zach Glaros, Sir Henry's Haunted Trail was established in 2014. It has survived multiple hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic, and it continues to entertain many fans year after year.
A portable, family-friendly collection of some of the most classic and entertaining funny stories--perfect to share around the campfire Whether read aloud to friends or read alone, this collection will tickle your funny bone in the backcountry.
Avalanche and Gorilla Jim is a true picture of what it's like to hike over 1300 miles of fun-filled, gut-wrenching, awe inspiring trail. It is filled with the humor of two guys on a long trek over grueling terrain. You actually live and feel Appalachian trail life, its exciting adventures and fun . . . and, in a sometimes crappy world, meet people who enrich your faith in humanity. This is the Appalachian Trail with all its beauty and flaws, written in a style of fresh sharp adventure with a pleasing edge.
Hiking 2,159 miles from Georgia to Maine was not my idea...I was not a lost youth searching for an identity. I was not retired and looking for a new way to spend my time. I was not sorting through death or divorce. I was not recently fired from a job. The truth is, my boyfriend asked me on a date. So begins the story of one young woman's journey along the legendary Appalachian Trail. What starts as a date turns into the experience of a lifetime as Adrienne Hall faces blinding snowstorms, flooded rivers, and seemingly endless mountaintops. Yet despite the physical and mental hardships, she finds her commitment to her hiking companion and the AT experience growing with every mile. When she emerges from her trip - a million footsteps, countless candy bars, and one engagement proposal later - Adrienne has lived an adventure that few will ever know. Written with warmth, insight, and a keen sense of observation, A Journey North is a personal story about discovering what it means to hike the amazing corridor of wilderness that is the Appalachian Trail. (6 x 9 1/4, 224 pages, case bound)
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District currently has 25 preserves (24 of which are already open to the public) containing about 220 miles of traits open to the public. This book serves as a guide to and celebration of these 25 preserves.
