Tag backpacking

A Walk on the World’s Longest Trail

Reg Spittle Leave a comment

We were hiking the Matthews Head trail near Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada, when the sign informed us we were on the Trans Canada Trail, the longest trail in the world. If we kept going, we could end up on the Arctic Ocean coastline. Or the Pacific Coast.

But we would need more than hiking shoes. Skis, snowshoes, kayaks, bicycles, and even horses could help us complete the 16,700 miles from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia.

Filmmaker Dianna Whelan, her effort spread over six years, was the first to complete the trail.

For now, Sue and I will stick to slightly shorter pursuits.

Appalachian Conqueror Finds New Way

Reg Spittle 9 Comments

A changed man.
That was David Miller after walking 2,172 miles on the Appalachian Trail.

For the rest of his life, he vowed to do the hard things. “I will have fewer ‘shoulda have dones’ even if it means some ‘wish I hadn’ts’ “ he wrote in AWOL on the Appalachian Trail.

He was 41 when he quit his job as a software engineer, left a wife and three young daughters at home (with his wife’s support), and walked for 146 days from Georgia to Maine. Going by AWOL, his trail name, Miller pushes himself too hard at the beginning, leading to painful blisters and exhaustion. Later, he becomes stronger and more able to walk longer days.

On arguably America’s most difficult thru-hike, he learns to be less isolated as he forms friendships with other trekkers, trail angels, and people who host him. He experiences the freedom that comes with being vulnerable.

The narration flows smoothly. He does not gloss over his physical and mental struggles and paints vivid pictures of the trail and his fellow walkers. This is an excellent book for anyone considering tackling the AT. Miller is also known for writing a trusted guide book about the trail.