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Review
It's
said that books can take us anywhere we want to go. Have you ever wanted to
walk across the sky above it all? Gaze down upon the earth's majesty like a
bird? Come along with Skywalker and you can.
Have
you ever imagined yourself a story-hero pitted against the mighty forces of
nature and exotic beasts and emerging the victor? Or beaten by the folly of
your own limitations? Come along with Skywalker and you will.
Have
you ever dreamed of experiencing a deeper understanding of mankind's role in
the Nature we reside in? Walk along with Skywalker and you have. Walk
in the sky, stand on a mountain summit a while, and against all odds, realize
the power held in a desire, a fantasy, or a dream, and acting upon it.
The
Appalachian Trail is 2,175 miles of mostly rugged, rocky, and hostile terrain.
It is consistently more inclined then the Rockies or the Sierras. It
stretches from Springer Mountain, Georgia across fourteen states to Mount
Katahdin, Maine. It's described by the author as "a fairyland
of of silvery summits that overlook shimmering bodies of water nestled deep in
the forests of solitude, where moss and lichen floors stir the depths of
even the most hard bitten souls."
To
walk it, is a feat for even the most experienced hiker. To 'thru-hike'
it, is accomplished by few of the many who try. When Bill
Walker, a southern Georgia flatland native, challenged this
mountainous spine that runs nearly the length of the east coast less
Florida, his hiking experience consisted of ten years on the streets
of Chicago where he walked to and from work to avoid the paralyzing rush
hour traffic. Which is not such a feat at all for a man almost seven feet
tall. Not to mention that his experience in sleeping under the stars consisted
of one night in his sister's backyard as a 'practice' run.
Having
walked on this trail myself in the mountains of North Carolina, I wondered,
would his 6'11" height help or hinder him climb a mountain? Would his
inexperience with the great outdoors force him to an early exit? Or would
pure will and determination carry him to unknown heights? I was soon
to find out.
Skywalker's
( Bill's so apt 'trail' name) journey is a page turner that
will have you entranced even if your greatest outdoor adventure has been an
afternoon nap in the hammock under a shade tree.
You
will shiver from the bone chilling cold, feel the agony of bruised
and bleeding feet, swat at imaginary mosquito swarms around your head,
jump at a sudden loud noise in the back yard, and throw any Poptarts
that may be residing in your cupboard to the backyard critters.
You'll envision
a mountain ledge where one misstep could end in tragedy,
traverse fields of rocks so plentiful each pace could be an injury. You'll
almost smell swamps almost primeval. You'll become one with the elements,
literally absorb them into yourself and hope you survive. You'll live
with the wildlife in their territory, where they rule! You'll forge raging
whitewater rapids, yet swear to never waste another drop of water in your
life.
Between
the covers of this book, you'll experience what it is to really live
life. To go the extra mile, to dig one gasp deeper. You'll gain an
awe for the majesty, and the mystery, of the Orb we tread upon.
But best of all, you'll learn the power held in a dream. And in a
man courageous enough to dream one.
Author
of Rainy Day People
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