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You Are Invited to Walk With Me Again

Reg Spittle 6 Comments

I am excited to announce that, three years in the making, my third trekking adventure book is published. I want to thank you for following Books and My Backpack and for your interest in my writing.

The John Muir Trail, which is one of eight distance paths I have been fortunate to walk, was so different than the others. It was 246 miles of wilderness beauty and challenges in California’s Sierra Nevada, one of the world’s most stunning landscapes.

This book is much more than a trekking story. A cast of intriguing characters enhance Hoofin’ It on the John Muir Trail, which holds new twists around every corner and over mountain passes that top 13,000 feet. It answers the question: Would I overcome my fear of heights and conquer Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental USA? As usual, my wife Sue walked with me and helped make this book possible.

Click on the cover to discover more.

Your support means more to me than you can imagine.

My appreciation, always.

Happy trails,

Reg

A Year After the French Camino, the Trail Calls Us

Reg Spittle 5 Comments

A year ago, our steps connected these two historic pilgrimage places, nearly 500 miles apart on the French Camino, or Le Puy route.

We climbed on interior stairs to the top of the Statue of Notre Dame de France. The statue graces the highest point in Le Puy, France, and offers a spectacular view of the medieval city, home to the Camino that has hosted pilgrims for centuries. The 1860 statue was constructed using cast iron from 213 Crimean War cannons and delivered by Napoleon.

Le Puy marked the beginning of our journey.

Six weeks later, we stood on the iconic bridge in St. Jean Pied de Port, just five miles from Spain. It marked the beginning of the Camino Frances, the most traveled distance trail in the world and our first trek 10 years ago. On our way to St. Jean, we traveled over countless mountains and hills, along valleys, over rivers, and through French villages during an unusual fall heatwave that tested our resolve. Farms, ranches, forests, high plains and much more lined the trail. We stayed in small hotels, a few hostels, and were nearly stranded without accommodation and food more than once.

The memories make our seventh distance trek feel fresh. We are eager to tackle another trail, but where will it take us?

That’s for 2025 to unveil. The beginning of the year will also unveil Reg’s third trekking adventure book; more on that later.

Meanwhile, we will walk vicariously via YouTube and on trails around our Ashland, Oregon home.