Walk in the Woods

You know that feeling of sadness when you've finished a book you've really loved? You're sad because you came to the end and you just want to read more and more. That's how I felt last night when I finished "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson. It's a short book (less than 300 pages) but it's very entertaining and very, very funny. It chronicles Bryson's hike of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine as a way to reacquaint himself with the United States after living abroad for many years. Bryson never actually hiked the whole 2,100 mile trail (he just did 870) as he stopped somewhere down south and drove north and then after a few months off, he took day hikes, especially once he got closer to New Hampshire where he lived.

He decided to do the final 100 mile trek through Maine called the Hundred Mile Wilderness but after losing his hiking partner Stephen Katz deep in the Maine woods (he eventually found him the next day) they decided to call it quits. I was disappointed he didn't make it to the northern terminus, Mount Katahdin, as I was curious what it was like up there but I learned a lot and got some inspiration. The book not only chronicles his adventures but he talks about the history of the trail, discusses some science behind the trees and wildlife, history of local towns he walks around, etc. It was a fascinating book about something I knew nothing about.

He said that the Massachusetts portion of the Appalachian Trail is 90 miles. I asked Lynn if she would want to hike it when the kids are much older and she agreed. Bryson spends a part of the book talking about his Massachusetts part of the hike with some focus on my new love, Mt. Greylock. Calling Greylock the "most literary of the Appalachian Mountains" he wrote, "...there was scarcely a literary figure associated with New England from the 1850s to the 1920s who didn't at some time hike or ride up to admire the view." That sounds like a good idea for a book for someone to write!

Anyway, I could go on and on. I am headed to the library to pick up another of his books today. I haven't decided which one I want but I think I will check out his one on his travels across America. I'll let you know.