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Appalachian Trials: A Psychological and Emotional Guide to Successfully Thru-Hiking the Applachian Trail
Each year, it is estimated that more than 2,000 people set out to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, yet seven in ten ultimately fall short of their goal. Given the countless number of how-to books and websites offering information about logistics, gear, and endurance training, one would think that more people would finish this 2,200 mile trek. Why then, do so many hikers quit prematurely?
After successfully thru-hiking the AT in five months with zero prior backpacking experience, author, Zach Davis, is convinced he’s discovered the answer. Aspiring thru-hikers, Davis tells readers, are preparing the wrong way- sweating on the StairMaster, meticulously plotting each re-supply box, or obsessing over the perfect sleeping bag or pair of socks.
While the AT undoubtedly presents extraordinary physical challenges, it is the psychological and emotional struggles that drive people off the trail. Conquering these mental obstacles is the key to success. This groundbreaking book focuses on the most important and overlooked piece of equipment of all- the gear between one’s ears.
Filled with first-hand, moving yet light-hearted vignettes and down-to-earth advice that instructs and inspires, Appalachian Trials gives readers the mental road map they’ll need to hike from Springer Mountain to Mt.Katahdin.
In Appalachian Trials readers will learn:
• Effective goal setting techniques that will assure you reach Mt. Katahdin
• The common early stage pitfalls and how to avoid them
• How to beat “the Virginia Blues”
• The importance of and meaning behind “hiking your own hike”
• 5 strategies for unwavering mental endurance
• The most common mistake made in the final stretch of the trail
• The top method for staving off stress
• Tips for enjoying rather than enduring each of the five million steps along the journey
• Strategies for avoiding post-trail depression and weight gain
In addition, the Bonus Section of Appalachian Trials includes:
• A thorough chapter on gear written by thru-hiker of the AT and Pacific Crest Trail, and professional backpack gear reviewer
• Information about the trail's greatest and most unknown risk and how to guard against it
• 9 tips for saving money before and during your thru-hike
• A thorough FAQ section including information ranging from how to obtain sponsorship, to the best stove for the trail, to avoiding chafing, and much more!
After successfully thru-hiking the AT in five months with zero prior backpacking experience, author, Zach Davis, is convinced he’s discovered the answer. Aspiring thru-hikers, Davis tells readers, are preparing the wrong way- sweating on the StairMaster, meticulously plotting each re-supply box, or obsessing over the perfect sleeping bag or pair of socks.
While the AT undoubtedly presents extraordinary physical challenges, it is the psychological and emotional struggles that drive people off the trail. Conquering these mental obstacles is the key to success. This groundbreaking book focuses on the most important and overlooked piece of equipment of all- the gear between one’s ears.
Filled with first-hand, moving yet light-hearted vignettes and down-to-earth advice that instructs and inspires, Appalachian Trials gives readers the mental road map they’ll need to hike from Springer Mountain to Mt.Katahdin.
In Appalachian Trials readers will learn:
• Effective goal setting techniques that will assure you reach Mt. Katahdin
• The common early stage pitfalls and how to avoid them
• How to beat “the Virginia Blues”
• The importance of and meaning behind “hiking your own hike”
• 5 strategies for unwavering mental endurance
• The most common mistake made in the final stretch of the trail
• The top method for staving off stress
• Tips for enjoying rather than enduring each of the five million steps along the journey
• Strategies for avoiding post-trail depression and weight gain
In addition, the Bonus Section of Appalachian Trials includes:
• A thorough chapter on gear written by thru-hiker of the AT and Pacific Crest Trail, and professional backpack gear reviewer
• Information about the trail's greatest and most unknown risk and how to guard against it
• 9 tips for saving money before and during your thru-hike
• A thorough FAQ section including information ranging from how to obtain sponsorship, to the best stove for the trail, to avoiding chafing, and much more!
171 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2012
167 people are currently reading
2040 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
February 26, 2017
This a great book, in a category of its own apart from trail guidebooks and how-to books focused on logistics. I've read a lot about thru-hiking the AT, and this is the only book I've found that is all about the mental aspects of being a thru-hiker (including what sounds to me like really good advice for taking what you've learned on the trail and applying it to real life, and also for how to "come down" off the trail and re-enter the real world). The author's voice is authentic, and the tone of the book is conversational, which I enjoyed. I would have given five stars but, once again, the editing is bad! I wanted to go through with a red pen and circle things and send it back to him. It's not terrible, and I'm sure the average reader would not notice it, but I noticed it, and it was a distraction. (Examples would be weak parallel construction of sentences and words that were spelled correctly but not correct in context, like "form" instead of "from"). What is it with so many books being poorly edited these days? I don't know, but my advice to this author is to invest in a better editor next time, because his writing is good enough to deserve one.
April 17, 2012
You can choose to duplicate Zach’s adventures and hike the Appalachian Trail, or you can use Zach as an example as to how to put your life into perspective.
Whether or not you plan on hiking the Appalachian Trail, I highly recommend reading Zach’s book. This book is a MUST READ for the prospective Appalachian Trail hiker or the average Joe/Jodi who has never hiked a day in their life. This book is funny, it’s motivational, but most of all, it is REAL. And to be perfectly honest, there aren’t too many books out there now-a-days that are.
I am a firm believer in breaking out of the norm in order to facilitate change. I also believe that only you can make and be the one to make a change in your life.
Zach’s book shows you just how well his “stand-up/self ass kicking” way of living life works.
Although I am almost certain that I will not be an ‘Appalachian Trail Thru Hiker,’ I am certain [excuse my bluntness] that Zach Davis’ book puts shit into perspective.
Oh, and I am also certain that you should buy Zach’s book, read it, highlight it, tab it, bookmark it, and then buy an extra book and give it to a friend. They’ll love you, and Zach will love you for buying his book twice; trust me.
Whether or not you plan on hiking the Appalachian Trail, I highly recommend reading Zach’s book. This book is a MUST READ for the prospective Appalachian Trail hiker or the average Joe/Jodi who has never hiked a day in their life. This book is funny, it’s motivational, but most of all, it is REAL. And to be perfectly honest, there aren’t too many books out there now-a-days that are.
I am a firm believer in breaking out of the norm in order to facilitate change. I also believe that only you can make and be the one to make a change in your life.
Zach’s book shows you just how well his “stand-up/self ass kicking” way of living life works.
Although I am almost certain that I will not be an ‘Appalachian Trail Thru Hiker,’ I am certain [excuse my bluntness] that Zach Davis’ book puts shit into perspective.
Oh, and I am also certain that you should buy Zach’s book, read it, highlight it, tab it, bookmark it, and then buy an extra book and give it to a friend. They’ll love you, and Zach will love you for buying his book twice; trust me.
December 24, 2014
There are many guides to Appalachian Trail thru hiking: the trail segments, hostels, and physical challenges along the way. But the hardest aspects of hiking 2,200 miles are the psychological challenges of sticking with it, even in the toughest of times, even when life outdoors becomes less than novel. Zach Davis, a successful 2011 AT thru hiker, offers a lot of valuable advice for any prospective hiker in this quick read, including strategies to deal with psychological struggles on particular areas of the Trail, advice for post-Trail recovery, the mentality to take to enjoy the Trail, and practical challenges you're likely to face while hiking. Throughout, he weaves his own experiences into the book. Although this is clearly a personal project, Davis defers to expert advice whenever possible, and I think this will be very valuable to anyone embarking on such a hike. There are even gear and post-trail nutrition sections to prepare you! And it's a super quick read.
July 18, 2017
Not at all what I expected. I don't know much about the author's background other than what he shared, but this book was a fun read that could have been about how to succeed at any of life's challenges - The AT was just a nice example of a challenge. You could have easily put in, relationship, career, family, or really any goal. Much of what Zach talks about seems like echos of what I have read in the past by some of the best goal setting authors.
In my profession I deal with a lot of goal setting and goal busting. I can definitely see myself using this book as an example of how systemically attack a goal. I may even add it as suggested reading to people whom I train. The style of this is much more "relaxed" and much more "fun" than many of the business books I am used to reading.
Easy read + good message = great book!
In my profession I deal with a lot of goal setting and goal busting. I can definitely see myself using this book as an example of how systemically attack a goal. I may even add it as suggested reading to people whom I train. The style of this is much more "relaxed" and much more "fun" than many of the business books I am used to reading.
Easy read + good message = great book!
March 4, 2024
Honestly not my favorite… even though part of the author’s whole message is to not only complete your thru hike but enjoy it, it felt a bit like he was glorifying emotional and self-flagellation in the face of “failure” to complete your hike. It did have some good advice on mental preparation so I’m taking what worked for me and leaving the rest.
February 13, 2012
I am preparing for a 2013 NOBO Thru-hike. I have been reading any book I can get my hands on to help prepare me for the adventure that lies ahead. I have yet to read a bad book however this is the first one that really speaks to the truth of the trail. Many people try to "sell the trail" and only provide the best parts of the trail and what worked best for them. Very few folks actually write about what they did that did not work. This book is 100% from the heart no BS straight up telling it how it really is. I had heard that the mental trail is harder to hike than the physical trial and after reading this book I feel absolutely no questions asked prepared to take on the trail both mentally and physically. Thanks Zach for writing this book.
May 15, 2012
It’s not often we see a Good Badger execute somersaults. But one, who chose to share his antics on the Appalachian Trail, did. In Appalachian Trials (be sure to notice the vowel shift) Zach Davis, the owner of the trail name, Good Badger, rolls from funny and glib to serious and profound, proving to be a complex person, as many are who attempt the AT and make it. Hikers and their families are lucky he chose to write such a book, an honest and astute take on the Appalachia Trail, and a must read for those who are currently, or will in the future, find themselves walking the 2,000 odd miles form Georgia to Maine.
Zach’s not talking off the cuff but from cataloging both the inner and outer experience, and his personal stories back up his psychological insights and mental hygiene. As Zach slogged the miles in the rain, climbed the rocky outposts, endured the Green Tunnel he took note of the AT’s effects on hikers both physically and mentally. He endured his own set of unusual trials while hiking, from being rejected for an important job he hoped to start after his hike, to contracting a debilitating illness while on the trail, which was not diagnosed until he was off the trail.
Published on the heels of a number of memoirs and some incredible guide books, this is may very well become one of the most important books in the hikers prep box, simple because it address, what Zach believes, to be the main reason hikers make it all the way. Mental attitude. Appalachian Trials may prove even more important than choice of equipment or how many maps a hiker carries, because it prepares the long distance backpacker for what the mind goes through while pushing the body to such limits and how important the right frame of mind can be when confronting the obstacles of the self, including the interaction with society before and after the journey and most importantly each individual’s purpose and motivations for such a challenge.
The way I see Zach’s approach, reminds me of how important Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell viewed the role of quests, initiations and challenges in the invocation and development of the “hero” or the authentic individual, as Jung called it.
On those mountains, 100s of them, one must come to know himself inside and out without the trappings of society to protect them, and therefore must learn to rely on their own inner resources and strengths. Sure there’s times each hiker curses the trail, but more times than most, it’s the opportunity to discover an inner ally. Out on the trail everyone is reduced to the core – there’s now way to be fake to impress or best someone. Personas and habits we adopt to comply with society’s expectations slip away with the miles until every hiker comes to know their true self better than ever imagined.
So far this review may make Appalachian Trials sound like a complicated book. Quite the opposite. Throughout his book, Zach employs user friendly analogies anyone can relate to and offers solutions, methods, and techniques to better prepare both the hiker and the worried family back home as to what may, can and should happen while going through such an extreme experience for four to six months.
It’s practical, readable and most of all insightful without being preachy or pretentious. Zach’s humor, off beat, quirky and often self-deprecating proves this is a guy who can take himself seriously when he has to, but more often than not, will just as soon laugh at his foibles. He’s taught himself to be intuitively aware when of when it’s time to find a way around a mental mountain with the potential to come crashing down and therefore avoids or survives each setback.
My son Jeff or Loner, as he’s known on the trail, started his thru-hike on April 7, 2012 on the approach trial at Amicalola Falls. As a family member of an AT thru-hiker, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. Once Jeff left, I found Zach’s Good Badger blog and read every word, hungry for more. Appalachian Trials delivered even more than I’d hoped.
I think this book is also a valuable resource and comfort to family and friends of long distance hikers since it offers concrete steps to take at all stages of such a life-altering journey. Of which there are more than the hiker expects: from the prep through the early trail anxieties to the endorphin highs spurned on by exercise and small successes, through the periods of boredom and possible depression during Virginia’s 550 mile Green Tunnel, where as Zach explains, the honeymoon stage is over. Zach offers ways the thru-hiker can deal - all the way to the exhausting, emotional and exhilarating summit of Mt. Katadhin.
But Zach doesn’t stop there, he goes on to warn and suggest measures to deal with the post-trail let down, the adjustment back into society and how to use the new awareness gained from this pivotal life journey to found a meaningful and enriched lifestyle.
Throughout Appalachian Trials, Zach makes user friendly analogies anyone can relate to and offers solutions, methods, techniques to better prepare both the hiker and the worried family back home as to what may, can and should happen while going through such an extreme experience for four to six months.
While reading Appalachian Trials, I felt like I was sitting in a room with Zach, a large window to our sides, offering a panoramic view of the woods on a beautiful day, that’s how the conversational style of this book engages the reader. I felt like I came to know Zach, as well a man, who while often exhibiting his off-kilter sense of humor, also, at the same time offered a thoughtful, insightful view not just of the AT but also of our society’s culture and how easy it is to forget one’s true self trying to measure up to outer standards. On the AT, it’s just the hiker and nature, bottom line. More than just a hiker’s backpack is pared down to the core necessities.
The writing in Appalachian Trials appears to be an effortless task on Zach’s part, so easily do we read it and understand his observations and advice. But, as an editor, I know differently. Pay attention to a normal conversation and you’ll hear how to rambles, is tangential, wanders off course, sometimes to never veer back, stops and starts, and sometimes ends abruptly without flow. Zach put more time and effort in completing this book than is evident on the surface, like taking a bad day on the trail with its missteps and lost footing, and using the time in the shelter of an evening to recall it with all its wonders and remarkable lessons intact.
That’s the landscape of this book, the path Zach leads you on, not only on the Appalachian Trail but also in life.
Zach’s not talking off the cuff but from cataloging both the inner and outer experience, and his personal stories back up his psychological insights and mental hygiene. As Zach slogged the miles in the rain, climbed the rocky outposts, endured the Green Tunnel he took note of the AT’s effects on hikers both physically and mentally. He endured his own set of unusual trials while hiking, from being rejected for an important job he hoped to start after his hike, to contracting a debilitating illness while on the trail, which was not diagnosed until he was off the trail.
Published on the heels of a number of memoirs and some incredible guide books, this is may very well become one of the most important books in the hikers prep box, simple because it address, what Zach believes, to be the main reason hikers make it all the way. Mental attitude. Appalachian Trials may prove even more important than choice of equipment or how many maps a hiker carries, because it prepares the long distance backpacker for what the mind goes through while pushing the body to such limits and how important the right frame of mind can be when confronting the obstacles of the self, including the interaction with society before and after the journey and most importantly each individual’s purpose and motivations for such a challenge.
The way I see Zach’s approach, reminds me of how important Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell viewed the role of quests, initiations and challenges in the invocation and development of the “hero” or the authentic individual, as Jung called it.
On those mountains, 100s of them, one must come to know himself inside and out without the trappings of society to protect them, and therefore must learn to rely on their own inner resources and strengths. Sure there’s times each hiker curses the trail, but more times than most, it’s the opportunity to discover an inner ally. Out on the trail everyone is reduced to the core – there’s now way to be fake to impress or best someone. Personas and habits we adopt to comply with society’s expectations slip away with the miles until every hiker comes to know their true self better than ever imagined.
So far this review may make Appalachian Trials sound like a complicated book. Quite the opposite. Throughout his book, Zach employs user friendly analogies anyone can relate to and offers solutions, methods, and techniques to better prepare both the hiker and the worried family back home as to what may, can and should happen while going through such an extreme experience for four to six months.
It’s practical, readable and most of all insightful without being preachy or pretentious. Zach’s humor, off beat, quirky and often self-deprecating proves this is a guy who can take himself seriously when he has to, but more often than not, will just as soon laugh at his foibles. He’s taught himself to be intuitively aware when of when it’s time to find a way around a mental mountain with the potential to come crashing down and therefore avoids or survives each setback.
My son Jeff or Loner, as he’s known on the trail, started his thru-hike on April 7, 2012 on the approach trial at Amicalola Falls. As a family member of an AT thru-hiker, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. Once Jeff left, I found Zach’s Good Badger blog and read every word, hungry for more. Appalachian Trials delivered even more than I’d hoped.
I think this book is also a valuable resource and comfort to family and friends of long distance hikers since it offers concrete steps to take at all stages of such a life-altering journey. Of which there are more than the hiker expects: from the prep through the early trail anxieties to the endorphin highs spurned on by exercise and small successes, through the periods of boredom and possible depression during Virginia’s 550 mile Green Tunnel, where as Zach explains, the honeymoon stage is over. Zach offers ways the thru-hiker can deal - all the way to the exhausting, emotional and exhilarating summit of Mt. Katadhin.
But Zach doesn’t stop there, he goes on to warn and suggest measures to deal with the post-trail let down, the adjustment back into society and how to use the new awareness gained from this pivotal life journey to found a meaningful and enriched lifestyle.
Throughout Appalachian Trials, Zach makes user friendly analogies anyone can relate to and offers solutions, methods, techniques to better prepare both the hiker and the worried family back home as to what may, can and should happen while going through such an extreme experience for four to six months.
While reading Appalachian Trials, I felt like I was sitting in a room with Zach, a large window to our sides, offering a panoramic view of the woods on a beautiful day, that’s how the conversational style of this book engages the reader. I felt like I came to know Zach, as well a man, who while often exhibiting his off-kilter sense of humor, also, at the same time offered a thoughtful, insightful view not just of the AT but also of our society’s culture and how easy it is to forget one’s true self trying to measure up to outer standards. On the AT, it’s just the hiker and nature, bottom line. More than just a hiker’s backpack is pared down to the core necessities.
The writing in Appalachian Trials appears to be an effortless task on Zach’s part, so easily do we read it and understand his observations and advice. But, as an editor, I know differently. Pay attention to a normal conversation and you’ll hear how to rambles, is tangential, wanders off course, sometimes to never veer back, stops and starts, and sometimes ends abruptly without flow. Zach put more time and effort in completing this book than is evident on the surface, like taking a bad day on the trail with its missteps and lost footing, and using the time in the shelter of an evening to recall it with all its wonders and remarkable lessons intact.
That’s the landscape of this book, the path Zach leads you on, not only on the Appalachian Trail but also in life.
August 11, 2021
zach is so positive it hurts, and really instills the belief that anyone could do this if you just look at it with that type of enthusiasm.
January 18, 2026
Great advice for my upcoming AT hike!
December 30, 2025
good prep for a six month walk through the woods. very yellow
August 19, 2013
I am a 59-year-old overweight and under-exercised (read: computer-addicted) lady who is fascinated with mountains and hiking (although I have done every little myself). Since I read "Following Atticus" recently, and "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed, I was drawn to and added Zach Davis' amazing book Appalachian Trials to my Kindle....it was satisfying on so many levels!
So many times I had to just sit back and savor what he said, because it was so what I needed to read, what I've actually been reading about in other sources for months, but he...illustrated it for me. And although the trail, as is a journey in general. a metaphor for life, I was also struck by it as metaphor for marriage. Retirement after a long marriage would be the "Whites" (I live in NH actually...about an hour from Mt Washington). Just when you think things are going to get easier...they don't. But, he was right: knowing that makes it easier somehow.
Thanks to Zach Davis, for a book that is one of the most important and enjoyable I have ever read.
So many times I had to just sit back and savor what he said, because it was so what I needed to read, what I've actually been reading about in other sources for months, but he...illustrated it for me. And although the trail, as is a journey in general. a metaphor for life, I was also struck by it as metaphor for marriage. Retirement after a long marriage would be the "Whites" (I live in NH actually...about an hour from Mt Washington). Just when you think things are going to get easier...they don't. But, he was right: knowing that makes it easier somehow.
Thanks to Zach Davis, for a book that is one of the most important and enjoyable I have ever read.
October 1, 2021
This short book written for aspiring thru hikers makes the point that the biggest challenge is psychological and gives the reader ideas and encouragement to deal with that. Perhaps the most effective part is that you finish the book really believing Zach Davis thinks you can succeed.
April 9, 2013
Excellent perspective on how to prepare to thru hike the AT.
May 14, 2013
Loved this book! Best one I've read to prepare us for our hike(and I've read a lot!). I was laughing out loud while learning lots of new stuff that we need to know. Thanks, Zach!
February 12, 2015
Lots of useful information. Upbeat, but not overly cheerful. Pragmatic approach to the mental game. The other side of preparation for 2,200 miles of walking.
February 10, 2016
Truly authentic and realistic description of the challenges and joys of the trail.
As a section hiker I have always dreamed of a thru-hike - - - some day :-)
As a section hiker I have always dreamed of a thru-hike - - - some day :-)
December 31, 2016
3.5 / 5 stars rating
This review is also posted at https://cabezadecrecre.wordpress.com/...
... hiking the Appalachian Trail is meant to be enjoyed. All of life is meant to be enjoyed.
Zach David thru-hiked (with a pit stop in Silicon Valley apparently) the Appalachian Trail in just over five months. Hot dang. From my (albeit limited) research, that's a bit faster than average, especially when you take into account contracting West Nile (doesn't that just sound like the bee's knees).
Even if you aren't contemplating hiking the AT, I think this book has a little something for everyone. It's refreshing to see an optimist when so many times our Facebook stalker feeds are jammed pack with depression and embitterment and just your regular run of the mill complaining. And Davis makes an excellent point - the AT (as is the case with most large tasks in life) is just as much of a mental journey as it is a physical one (though I will say after he mentions he's run marathons before, I'm less inclined to be he's as out of shape as he suggests).
Though Davis speaks a lot of the mental journey on the AT, he does not neglect the physical aspects as well - or the inherit dangers of walking over 2,000 miles is some of America's last "wilderness" (I say this in quotations as a decent amount of the trail winds through national parks, and while I think the NPS does a good job, they definitely aren't on the sole mission of preserving nature's untainted beauty). While not necessarily as engaging as A Walk in the Woods, I found it a lot more informative (and since it is shorter, a lot easier to read). And though Davis admits his journey was at times a difficult one (and that this is the case for everyone who takes on this endeavor), his story did not dissuade me. Instead, I had a hard time sleeping last time as thoughts and dreams of making my way down the trail danced in my pretty little head.
So if I enjoyed the story so much, why didn't I rate it better? I wanted to. I really did. This novel could have easily been one of my favorites of the year if not for one small but very important factor - the editing. I realize this novel was probably self published and that he had someone volunteer to edit it for him, but they really could have done a better job. There are words that are half italicized and half normal print. There are so many words and phrases in italics, to the point where it irritated me (though I realize this aversion is a personal preference). And then there is the classic pitfall of wrong words used, even if you know what the meaning ought to be (even his email address is misspelled at one point). Though, I will admit, I did learn one thing for the writing. I did not realize that per cent is the publishing world's preferred version of percent (my engineering brain cringes every time I see it written as two words). If a revised, polished version of this book comes along in the future, it is definitely one I would consider adding to my personal library.
Let me leave you with this last quote from the novel that I especially enjoyed:
There is a saying on the trail, "Don't decide to quit on a rainy day, don't decide to quit on an uphill." ... Just when you think things are at their worst, serendipity will strike, and your day will turn around... the Appalachian Trail is a lesson in volatility... Your only job is to enjoy the ride.
That's not just a thru-hike. That's life.
This review is also posted at https://cabezadecrecre.wordpress.com/...
... hiking the Appalachian Trail is meant to be enjoyed. All of life is meant to be enjoyed.
Zach David thru-hiked (with a pit stop in Silicon Valley apparently) the Appalachian Trail in just over five months. Hot dang. From my (albeit limited) research, that's a bit faster than average, especially when you take into account contracting West Nile (doesn't that just sound like the bee's knees).
Even if you aren't contemplating hiking the AT, I think this book has a little something for everyone. It's refreshing to see an optimist when so many times our Facebook stalker feeds are jammed pack with depression and embitterment and just your regular run of the mill complaining. And Davis makes an excellent point - the AT (as is the case with most large tasks in life) is just as much of a mental journey as it is a physical one (though I will say after he mentions he's run marathons before, I'm less inclined to be he's as out of shape as he suggests).
Though Davis speaks a lot of the mental journey on the AT, he does not neglect the physical aspects as well - or the inherit dangers of walking over 2,000 miles is some of America's last "wilderness" (I say this in quotations as a decent amount of the trail winds through national parks, and while I think the NPS does a good job, they definitely aren't on the sole mission of preserving nature's untainted beauty). While not necessarily as engaging as A Walk in the Woods, I found it a lot more informative (and since it is shorter, a lot easier to read). And though Davis admits his journey was at times a difficult one (and that this is the case for everyone who takes on this endeavor), his story did not dissuade me. Instead, I had a hard time sleeping last time as thoughts and dreams of making my way down the trail danced in my pretty little head.
So if I enjoyed the story so much, why didn't I rate it better? I wanted to. I really did. This novel could have easily been one of my favorites of the year if not for one small but very important factor - the editing. I realize this novel was probably self published and that he had someone volunteer to edit it for him, but they really could have done a better job. There are words that are half italicized and half normal print. There are so many words and phrases in italics, to the point where it irritated me (though I realize this aversion is a personal preference). And then there is the classic pitfall of wrong words used, even if you know what the meaning ought to be (even his email address is misspelled at one point). Though, I will admit, I did learn one thing for the writing. I did not realize that per cent is the publishing world's preferred version of percent (my engineering brain cringes every time I see it written as two words). If a revised, polished version of this book comes along in the future, it is definitely one I would consider adding to my personal library.
Let me leave you with this last quote from the novel that I especially enjoyed:
There is a saying on the trail, "Don't decide to quit on a rainy day, don't decide to quit on an uphill." ... Just when you think things are at their worst, serendipity will strike, and your day will turn around... the Appalachian Trail is a lesson in volatility... Your only job is to enjoy the ride.
That's not just a thru-hike. That's life.
July 29, 2024
I originally started this book in the wintertime to show support for someone close to me planning a thru-hike. I recently decided to finish it, although I am not supporting that person anymore. Like a thru-hiker mentality, however, I like to finish things I start and commit to-- so I finished this book! As someone who is interested in psychology, this came recommended by a gentleman at the REI store, John, who happened to be a psychology graduate and who had already thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. We talked for about an hour and it was a fruitful conversation. He gave me a lot of "tips" to pass on, which I largely ended up keeping to myself, and he highly recommended this book for anyone wanting to thru-hike. As someone who has gone on a 3-6 month long road trip with a car, I can absolutely relate to it and what comes 'after' or 'during' a big travel experience, albeit mine may not have been as physically grueling. Not facing the ordinary day can be filled with excitement, joy, boredom, depression, and the aftermath of what you feel when it's over. People get caught up in worrying about gear and logistics, both of which are absolutely vital, but not too many consider their mental state throughout it all, which Davis makes clear is of the utmost importance. I agree.
Although this book is outdated in some of its tech-talk, Davis touches on some thought-provoking points. What one person considers a 'thru-hike' may look different to another, the etiquette of pooping outside, and technology on the trail. Also-- facing death. So much more, though. Is it really a thru-hike if you go off trail, or do it over the course of years? Also, is it really a 'pure' thru-hike, one that's 'in-touch' with nature if there's continuous technology involved, and you're in town daily? Some good questions for soon-to-be thru-hikers to ask themselves. Having the internet for emergencies is wonderful, but some people go on this trail to have time alone to themselves. Is a person really taking that time for themselves if they're constantly online? If you're planning on blogging and not being alone, tech makes more sense here. Years back though, before Davis, as I've seen discussed in some Facebook groups, it was much more of a 'purist' mentality without the technology being available. I've also read elsewhere (in comparison to the AT) that the Pacific Crest Trail is much more off-grid and less involved with towns, therefore more of a 'back to nature' feel. As someone who loves day-hiking and will likely never do a thru-hike, I find the differences in all of the opinions I've heard and read interesting, and they do vary-- greatly. After all, as Davis puts it, this is your hike, it's going to be unique to you.
Davis goes on to discuss the reality of Lyme and how he contracted West Nile virus. He also addresses all of the major health concerns one can face both on and off the trail, during and after. He discusses how to physically pace yourself and not let ego takeover, but adds that some finish a thru-hike even with injuries. It all depends on the individual and their mental fortitude.
All in all, I've been happy to read through Davis' journey. He sounds like a very optimistic individual, and he has touched on the same points that John (the REI employee) did. The most important, in my personal opinion, was one I too felt largely along my road trip and travels -- that being -- take your time, it's about the journey, not the destination.
This is a great read addressing mental preparation for anyone considering a thru-hike.
Although this book is outdated in some of its tech-talk, Davis touches on some thought-provoking points. What one person considers a 'thru-hike' may look different to another, the etiquette of pooping outside, and technology on the trail. Also-- facing death. So much more, though. Is it really a thru-hike if you go off trail, or do it over the course of years? Also, is it really a 'pure' thru-hike, one that's 'in-touch' with nature if there's continuous technology involved, and you're in town daily? Some good questions for soon-to-be thru-hikers to ask themselves. Having the internet for emergencies is wonderful, but some people go on this trail to have time alone to themselves. Is a person really taking that time for themselves if they're constantly online? If you're planning on blogging and not being alone, tech makes more sense here. Years back though, before Davis, as I've seen discussed in some Facebook groups, it was much more of a 'purist' mentality without the technology being available. I've also read elsewhere (in comparison to the AT) that the Pacific Crest Trail is much more off-grid and less involved with towns, therefore more of a 'back to nature' feel. As someone who loves day-hiking and will likely never do a thru-hike, I find the differences in all of the opinions I've heard and read interesting, and they do vary-- greatly. After all, as Davis puts it, this is your hike, it's going to be unique to you.
Davis goes on to discuss the reality of Lyme and how he contracted West Nile virus. He also addresses all of the major health concerns one can face both on and off the trail, during and after. He discusses how to physically pace yourself and not let ego takeover, but adds that some finish a thru-hike even with injuries. It all depends on the individual and their mental fortitude.
All in all, I've been happy to read through Davis' journey. He sounds like a very optimistic individual, and he has touched on the same points that John (the REI employee) did. The most important, in my personal opinion, was one I too felt largely along my road trip and travels -- that being -- take your time, it's about the journey, not the destination.
This is a great read addressing mental preparation for anyone considering a thru-hike.
September 27, 2020
Appalachian Trials has been right under the tippy top of my to-be-read list for probably three years now. Zach Davis’ account of what it takes mentally to thru hike the AT (Appalachian Trail) was everything I wanted it to be. His tone is conversational but real. He’s not as easy going as a friend but not as hard on you as a parent would be… kinda like an uncle.
But honestly, this advice about the Appalachian Trail applies to real life too. Take a look at Chapter 5 Hike Your Own Hike. His advice is to make the experience your own. He advises that hikers shouldn’t feel a need to do the hike the way that everyone else does it. He offers readers this quote: “There’s a pretty good chance you’ll never have another experience like this in your life. You don’t want to leave with regrets. You don’t want to leave wishing you had pushed yourself more. You don’t want to finish thinking you didn’t get as much out of your journey as possible. This path is going to look different for everyone, be sure you’re going down your own.”
I will probably read this book every year. Do you need a mindset for unwavering mental endurance? Yes, we all do. Then read this book. His entire section about reaching “The Whites” (the difficult and mountainous section at the end of the trail, in Maine) is a metaphor for mid-life (in my opinion). He advises that you make yourself the following promises (and then he gives examples): (1) I will not look ahead, (2) I will go into the Whites with a sense of humility, and (3) I will not attempt to sprint a marathon.
This is the Appalachian Trail friends… and this is life. Davis calls it the psychological and emotional guide to successfully thru-hiking the AT, but I call it the psychological and emotional guide to successfully thru-hiking LIFE.
Appalachian Trials is a great book for hikers and goal setters. Get out your highlighter for this one folks. Enjoy!
5 full stars!!!!!
But honestly, this advice about the Appalachian Trail applies to real life too. Take a look at Chapter 5 Hike Your Own Hike. His advice is to make the experience your own. He advises that hikers shouldn’t feel a need to do the hike the way that everyone else does it. He offers readers this quote: “There’s a pretty good chance you’ll never have another experience like this in your life. You don’t want to leave with regrets. You don’t want to leave wishing you had pushed yourself more. You don’t want to finish thinking you didn’t get as much out of your journey as possible. This path is going to look different for everyone, be sure you’re going down your own.”
I will probably read this book every year. Do you need a mindset for unwavering mental endurance? Yes, we all do. Then read this book. His entire section about reaching “The Whites” (the difficult and mountainous section at the end of the trail, in Maine) is a metaphor for mid-life (in my opinion). He advises that you make yourself the following promises (and then he gives examples): (1) I will not look ahead, (2) I will go into the Whites with a sense of humility, and (3) I will not attempt to sprint a marathon.
This is the Appalachian Trail friends… and this is life. Davis calls it the psychological and emotional guide to successfully thru-hiking the AT, but I call it the psychological and emotional guide to successfully thru-hiking LIFE.
Appalachian Trials is a great book for hikers and goal setters. Get out your highlighter for this one folks. Enjoy!
5 full stars!!!!!
June 17, 2019
This book was shared with me by one of my AT Trail Angels, “Lemonade Stan”. We are not Thru Hikers but we are Section Hikers. I, in fact, face a real fear of solo section hiking the AT. “Lemonade Stan” thought this was a great read for me and he was most definitely going the correct direction on the compass with his advisement to read it. I wish I had read it long before I had my first step on Springer Mountain in Georgia. This book is a real account of the physical and mental aspects of hiking/backpacking. It is a real outline of all things related to the wonderful world and journey’s ahead on the dirt ribbons. The mental toughness it must take to thru hike is unfathomable to my psyche but I do applaud those who can aspire to the levels of mental toughness it obviously takes. On June 5, 2019, I, in solo form, crossed the NC/GA sign. This book assisted me greatly on that journey and I loved and have loved every section and every minute of the “Appalachian Trials”....both the book and the actual trail. Next section—North Carolina. I might be 150 when I finish the entire beast! Thank you for a great read, Zach Davis!
December 9, 2022
A required reading for any attempted thru-hike!
This version is aimed at the Appalachian Trail (AT), however the discussions and guides that are given here can be applied to any trail. For most people who attempt a feat such as the AT, it is a lifelong dream. And while you can prepare as much as possible physically, there are very limited resources out there to describe how to prepare mentally and what to do when you eventually hit that wall (and everyone will eventually hit it).
Most thru-hiking/long-distance hiking books are from the author's perspective that typically ends when they hit their destination. Zach Davis talks not just of his experience of the trail, but what happened to him afterwards. Post-trail depression is a force all on its own and knowing that it will happen and being able to prepare for it is the best way to get a leg up.
This book is good not just for the people who attempt the AT, but also for friends and family who are trying to figure out why anyone would willingly live in the woods for months. Don't forget that after you celebrate your experience, pick this back up and reread it once you are back "home".
Class AT 2022
This version is aimed at the Appalachian Trail (AT), however the discussions and guides that are given here can be applied to any trail. For most people who attempt a feat such as the AT, it is a lifelong dream. And while you can prepare as much as possible physically, there are very limited resources out there to describe how to prepare mentally and what to do when you eventually hit that wall (and everyone will eventually hit it).
Most thru-hiking/long-distance hiking books are from the author's perspective that typically ends when they hit their destination. Zach Davis talks not just of his experience of the trail, but what happened to him afterwards. Post-trail depression is a force all on its own and knowing that it will happen and being able to prepare for it is the best way to get a leg up.
This book is good not just for the people who attempt the AT, but also for friends and family who are trying to figure out why anyone would willingly live in the woods for months. Don't forget that after you celebrate your experience, pick this back up and reread it once you are back "home".
Class AT 2022
February 2, 2023
I bought this e-book on amazon because i love Zach Davis’ podcast Backpacker, and follow The Trek. So I wanted to support a ‘good friend’ while learning something new about his adventures.
Zach does mention in the beginning that the book will be chaotic at times, with random photos and plot twists.
And let me tell you, this is exactly what it is.
He starts with psychological preparation for the trek and then jumps to the day he finished. Then he is 2 weeks out, doing some job interviews, almost finishing the trek again…all while recollecting on the job interview in SF. Chaotic.
So far, I haven’t really learned anything and I’m 59% through the read. Except maybe - Whites are one of the toughest part of the AT and you are likely to contract Virginia Blues and/or giardia.
This is not a typical memoir of a thru-hiker but rather a psychological ramble.
I will finish it, but i started rather skimming through pages now.
Zach, not to be mean, but your podcasts are 1000% better than your writing skills. I will leave Pacific Crest Trials on my shelf for a while longer…
Edit:
Once you reach the part about gear, things finally get more interesting. As I was planning to do PCT pre-covid, many of these things i’m familiar with. Gear is my love language.
Zach does mention in the beginning that the book will be chaotic at times, with random photos and plot twists.
And let me tell you, this is exactly what it is.
He starts with psychological preparation for the trek and then jumps to the day he finished. Then he is 2 weeks out, doing some job interviews, almost finishing the trek again…all while recollecting on the job interview in SF. Chaotic.
So far, I haven’t really learned anything and I’m 59% through the read. Except maybe - Whites are one of the toughest part of the AT and you are likely to contract Virginia Blues and/or giardia.
This is not a typical memoir of a thru-hiker but rather a psychological ramble.
I will finish it, but i started rather skimming through pages now.
Zach, not to be mean, but your podcasts are 1000% better than your writing skills. I will leave Pacific Crest Trials on my shelf for a while longer…
Edit:
Once you reach the part about gear, things finally get more interesting. As I was planning to do PCT pre-covid, many of these things i’m familiar with. Gear is my love language.
October 8, 2018
Purchased this book as it is a staple of the thru-hiking community. This is not an adventure book detailing all of the things that happened on "Badger's" hike, nor it is a extensive guide to the AT. Rather, it is a book about how to prepare yourself mentally for such a big challenge, since thru hikes are transformative experiences but by no means are they all sunshine and roses. I read this book in one sitting at a backcountry campsite, as I am hoping to make a AT Thru Hike attempt in 2020. I found Davis' wisdom exciting and helpful, although I do with he had a suggested reading list, or had updated the book with where one can find good resources on the AT (as so many people have said that there is a ton of information on how to hike the trail).
Good techniques that can be applied to many areas in one's life.
Good techniques that can be applied to many areas in one's life.
October 19, 2020
This is a self-published book about the Appalachian Trail. The author is kind of a silly jerk. The style is simple but readable (you never know with a self-published book). The advice is predictable: think ahead, set goals, hike your own hike, meditate, stay the course, plan for the long haul (the last 20% of the trail, he argues, comprises 50% of the effort). There is some passable advice about thinking ahead, but often the book is too general to be truly helpful. I read this book in my preparation for a section hike of the Appalachian Trail (West Virginia to New York). While there wasn’t anything particularly novel, it was helpful to read as much as possible from people who actually hiked the trail.
C+
C+
April 5, 2021
Zach follows the title of his book and gives a ton of helpful detail of how to be successful with a Thru-Hike. You can tell he did a lot of research, gave a lot of thought to the mental aspect of the journey and really cares about providing a good resource to other hikers. I don’t plan on doing a thru-hike, so I was reading it because I like hiking stories and his writing style is really fun! I was surprised by the amount of adversity he overcomes to finish the Trail. He is very down to earth and uses a conversational style, so the book is a quick read! There are some errors and a lack of editing, but that didn’t bother me at all. Overall, the book is very inspirational to just get out there and do as much hiking as we can!
March 16, 2022
Had heard so much about this book and rightfully so. Had assumed it was another AT thru-hike account and alas it is not. This book gives practical advice on the sections & overall aspects of the AT that can be emotionally daunting, and explains how one deals with them can be the difference b/w finishing & going home.
I was a little surprised at how dated some of the gear advice was, even for a 10 year old book. For a beginner, the gear section is best to be viewed as a schema or general primer.
AT book-wise, if I could have done it differently, I would have preferred to read a personal account of an AT Thru Hike first, this book second and any book not specifically about the AT per se but somehow tangentially related e.g. any John Muir book or "Into The Wild."
I was a little surprised at how dated some of the gear advice was, even for a 10 year old book. For a beginner, the gear section is best to be viewed as a schema or general primer.
AT book-wise, if I could have done it differently, I would have preferred to read a personal account of an AT Thru Hike first, this book second and any book not specifically about the AT per se but somehow tangentially related e.g. any John Muir book or "Into The Wild."
Read
December 31, 2022As a Backpacker Radio podcast listener, I was intrigued to read Davis’s book giving advice and insight to the that he hiked over a decade ago. I think overall, it has good chunks of advice/reminders/humor, but somewhat common sense stuff if you’ve perused the AT subreddit or watched a few YouTube vloggers for as long as I have. However, any information and first-hand knowledge of one’s trek on the AT (or any thru hike, really) is unique and valuable, and I’m glad to have read this! I will absolutely keep some things he said in mind—namely the “reasons why I’m doing this” list, the info on Lyme disease *shudders*, and the post-trail nutrition upkeep—and will flip through this many times leading up to my own journey.
November 25, 2019
Short and sweet, with some useful information. Maybe an hour read. Overall I think really has helped me think through the hardest part of this project: what's between my ears.
Before reading this I was going to thru-hike because my wife and a friend really wanted to (even though it was my idea, I'd cooled considerably on the subject), but now I'm pretty sure I'll do it alone even if they drop out or get injured along the way.
This book caused me to think pretty carefully about why I'm doing it, and while I know my body will feel a lot of pain and discomfort, I want to do it. NOBO '22 here I come!
Before reading this I was going to thru-hike because my wife and a friend really wanted to (even though it was my idea, I'd cooled considerably on the subject), but now I'm pretty sure I'll do it alone even if they drop out or get injured along the way.
This book caused me to think pretty carefully about why I'm doing it, and while I know my body will feel a lot of pain and discomfort, I want to do it. NOBO '22 here I come!
February 19, 2023
This is a very quick read, but it is chock-full of some great information that of course can be applied to thru hiking the Appalachian trail, but I also think that anyone setting out on a big adventure or life change could learn something here. There is great information around mentally approaching and committing to this massive undertaking, how to make the most of it, how to thrive and stay strong mentally throughout the experience, and lastly how to deal with the challenges and emotions afterwards. Zach’s writing is also pretty funny and entertaining, making it a fun read. I definitely think I’ll be picking this one back up in about a year!
January 10, 2025
I'd seen this book mentioned on a Reddit thread and also by Molly Rose Outdoors on YouTube. I appreciate Zach's focus on the mental journey, inclusion of a packing list, trail + post-trail nutrition recommendations, and use of humor throughout. I have quite a bit in common with him coming from a tech background, Nov. start of planning, inexperience with backpacking, etc. He sounds like a cool guy. It seems that some of the web resources are no longer available, but there are blank pages at the end of the book for the assigned homework.. Nothing that couldn't also be jotted down on scrap paper or stored digitally. I enjoyed this concise guide. It was just enough. Happy trails!
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