The Power and Magic of the Appalachian Trail By: Donald E. Williams Jr. “Jug” The Power and Magic of the Appalachian Trail is a real life epic tale about a series of hiking trips from Georgia to Maine that Jug and a supporting cast of counselors went on with several groups of multi-ethnic youth. Jug’s sole purpose in conducting these trips was to simply have the youth live in the mountains, catch some panoramic views, feel the pulse of the wild, hoping that the experience would trigger an awakening of the spirit and open up a brand new world that they all could express with love and pride. The trips were not easy. The Appalachian Trail hikes were mentally challenging, physically demanding, and requiring deep soul searching daily. Yet in the end, the explorations were immensely positive and also were enriching experience for the youth. The Appalachian Trail provided a setting that allowed for the openness and freedom where there is no limit to self growth, the greatest trail of all.
This book is about Maine, the first of a series experiencing the Appalachian Trail. Filled with colorful photos, made possible in an eBook, make this not just a backpacking book, but also a book illustrating incredible “Nature Magic on the Appalachian Trail. Subway Gramps’ nearly yearlong journey from Maine to Georgia is divided into “section hikes” that could be hiked during several week vacations. Subway Gramps began his southbound hike July 4th, on top of Mount Katahdin, watching hikers celebrate their 2,192-mile thru-hikes from Georgia to Maine. As happy as they were, a common regret was, “I wish I’d stopped more often to enjoy nature.” “Following fall,” he stopped to watch pollinators turn flowers into berries. In Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness he discovered magnificent pink lady’s slipper flowers that only grow in special forests, not in gardens. At a mountain bog he stopped to admire hundreds of delicately decorated, carnivorous pitcher plants trick insects into climbing down the pitcher to be “digested.” At night he peaked outside his tent to see the big dipper, clearer than ever, reflected over a perfectly smooth pristine lake. Another night after a big animal moaned painfully and crashed right through camp hidden by darkness, the author searched and discovered giant moose footprints. Surprisingly, when a loon yodeled, few of his more hurried campmates knew they had experienced the famous Maine loon. The author met hikers from all parts of society. Scientists, teachers, vagabonds, business leaders, doctors and even a movie star shared their experiences. Nearly every hiker had an interesting trail name and story. Hiking just a few days together often bonded hikers for life. A common saying was, “This is how all of society should be.” Starting with Maine, each section hike eBook can be downloaded onto phones for not only a backpacking book, but also a nature book! Subway Gramps collected forty years of interesting tidbits from nature books, park brochures, kiosks, and biologists that made each stop so wonderful, he called them “Nature Magic.” The founder of the Appalachian Trial, Benton MacKaye, once said when asked what the purpose of the Appalachian Trail was, he replied, “to walk, to see, and to see what you see.” This eBook helps hikers see what they saw!
“Want to know what wilderness means to people who live it for over two thousand miles? Then read this extremely interesting, informative, intelligent, and thoughtful book.” —Roger S. Gottlieb, author of Engaging Voices: Tales of Morality and Meaning in an Age of Global Warming “There is no doubt that Bratton’s book will be of value to students and scholars of leisure studies, recreation, and religion. Those who are familiar with the Appalachian Trail sense intuitively that a journey along its length kindles spiritual awakening; this book provides the hard data to prove it’s true.” —David Brill, author of As Far as the Eye Can See: Reflections of an Appalachian Trail Hiker The Appalachian Trail covers 2,180 miles, passing through fourteen states from Georgia to Maine. Each year, an estimated 2–3 million people visit the trail, and almost two thousand attempt a “thru-hike,” walking the entire distance of the path. For many, the journey transcends a mere walk in the woods and becomes a modern-day pilgrimage. In The Spirit of the Appalachian Trail: Community, Environment, and Belief, Susan Power Bratton addresses the spiritual dimensions of hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT). Hikers often comment on how their experience as thru-hikers changes them spiritually forever, but this is the first study to evaluate these religious or quasireligious claims critically. Rather than ask if wilderness and outdoor recreation have benefits for the soul, this volume investigates specifically how long-distance walking might enhance both body and mind. Most who are familiar with the AT sense intuitively that a trek along its length kindles spiritual awakening. Using both a quantitative and qualitative approach, this book provides the hard data to support this notion. Bratton bases her work on five sources: an exhaustive survey of long-distance AT hikers, published trail diaries and memoirs, hikers? own logs and postings, her own personal observations from many years on the trail, and conversations with numerous members of the AT community, including the “trail angels,” residents of small towns along the path who attend to hikers? need for food, shelter, or medical attention. The abundant photographs reinforce the text and enable visualization of the cultural and natural context. This volume is fully indexed with extensive reference and notes sections and detailed appendixes. Written in an engaging and accessible style, The Spirit of the Appalachian Trail presents a full picture of the spirituality of the AT. Susan Power Bratton is professor of environmental studies. She is the author of Six Billion and More: Human Population Regulation and Christian Ethics, Environmental Values in Christian Art, and Christianity, Wilderness, and Wildlife: The Original Desert Solitaire.
This book explores the relationship between long-distance hiking—in this case, hiking the Appalachian Trail—and spiritual pilgrimage. Kip Redick interprets the Appalachian Trail as a site of spiritual journey and those who hike the wilderness trail as unique contemporary pilgrims.
While trapped in a stalled subway train on his morning commute, PR rep Byron Cole flirts with Levi, a young waiter with adorable curls. But Byron's hopes for romance crash and burn when Levi saves him from a brutal explosion -- with outlawed magic. When Levi is imprisoned, Byron begins to question everything he's ever believed. How can magic be evil when Levi used it to save dozens of lives? So Byron hatches a plan to save Levi that will cost him his job and probably his life. If he doesn't pull it off, Levi will be put to death. Byron discovers that he isn't the only one questioning America's stance on magic. And he learns that Levi is stubborn, angry, and utterly enchanting. Time is running out, though. Byron must convince Levi to trust him, to trust his own magic, and to fight against the hatred that's forced him to hide his true nature his entire life. The more Levi opens up, the harder Byron falls. And the more they have to lose.
This book allows the reader to experience a foretaste of what life is like on the Appalachian Trail. The daily journal entries of all 162 days, along with photos of each of those days, shares the reality of what the AT can and will throw at you each and every day. The anticipation is that this book could be used as a guide for any individual who is thinking and/or planning a hike on the Appalachian Trail, whether it be a short weekend outing, a two to three week sectional hike, or even a full thru-hike from Georgia to Maine. The information shared throughout this five month and one-week adventure will permit the reader to better understand the many different sensations that come over you while maneuvering this 2.189.2-mile path on God's green earth. You will read of the many instances of wonder, majesty, and grandeur, along with many photos of God's creation. Along with the beauty that is found on the trail, the reality is that it will also include many dangers that you could and will be confronted with as well, which are shared throughout this writing. To peak your interest, here is a sample of the possible dangers that the author was faced with: rock climbing, a freak blizzard in Tennessee, a bear eating grass all around his tent while in it, getting lost in the woods, running out of water, falling backward off a couple of smaller cliffs due to the forty-pound backpack strapped to his back, wet, slippery rocks that caused a slide on all fours down the face of a mountain, literal mountain climbing, lost forty-five pounds, and many more harrowing experiences. No matter what adventure you find yourself participating in, be certain that you are prepared for anything and everything. It could save your life!
This upbeat nitty-gritty memoir, based on the author's 2001 trail journal, chronicles one man's hike the whole length of the Appalachian Trail, beginning just north of Atlanta and finishing six months later in Maine. The journey included adventures with a faithful and eccentric dog, a new romance, and the challenges and triumphs of walking 2167 miles in all kinds of weather.
The story about Johnny North, a high school senior from Anchorage, Alaska and the vicissitudes that have been special delivered from the 98.6% parallel Oh Henry galaxy. The Dang family of Pennsylvania discovers Johnny in their barn and reveals to him that serendipity is alive and well on Planet Three. Various topics of faith, adventure, occupation, relationships and science get sprinkled with relevant music and poetry. To Johnny North, Dang Valley has the mixed-up ingredients of the Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Mr. Ed, Huckleberry Finn and Woodstock shoved into a blender where the only item left spinning is the maelstrom of life. George Dang, the old patriarch in town, helps entwine all the little stories into the big stories of consciousness and existence. Who better than Mark Twain to begin each chapter with an anecdote from the past to enlighten the present. Sometimes it is best to enjoy the ride from the outside and march fourth with twenty-twenty vision.
A PACIFIC CREST TRAIL THROUGH HIKE THIS VIVID ACCOUNT OF A MAN AND HIS WIFE HIKING FROM MEXICO TO CANADA AT ONE GO IS AMAZING. "Unflinchingly honest, vividly told, funny, true, fascinating, exciting - Pacific Dream is all these things. It's the best book I've read this year and I'll never forget it. John writes with a candor that's shockingly fresh and real. His prose is clear as the water in one of the rushing streams he fords. It's as if I walked the trail with him, and I loved every step- - and this, coming from a non-hiker, is high praise." D.W.St.John, Author/Editor
