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Walking to Maine: A Scoutmaster's Journey on the Appalachian Trail
Scoutmaster Glenn Justis always taught his scouts to seek out challenges and never give up. When the challenge of hiking the entire 2,190 mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine called out to him, he knew he had to show his scouts and others he had the perseverance to accomplish a dream. On a cold January morning, he set off alone from Georgia and started his nearly 5 month adventure to Maine. The challenges and tragedies he faced before and during his hike tested his resolve and changed his life.
In Walking to Maine, readers join Glenn on the Appalachian Trail as he battles the mountains and the weather through 14 states seeking to push himself out of his comfort zone and to learn more about himself. He will meet interesting people from all walks of life and discover the goodness that stills exists in the hearts of total strangers. Along the way he will encounter brutal conditions and personal tragedy. Through it all he will follow the same lessons he taught his scouts and keep pushing north towards his goal. He will learn that the trail provides those who hike it everything they need and he will learn to enjoy the simple pleasures that we all take for granted in our daily lives.
In Walking to Maine, readers join Glenn on the Appalachian Trail as he battles the mountains and the weather through 14 states seeking to push himself out of his comfort zone and to learn more about himself. He will meet interesting people from all walks of life and discover the goodness that stills exists in the hearts of total strangers. Along the way he will encounter brutal conditions and personal tragedy. Through it all he will follow the same lessons he taught his scouts and keep pushing north towards his goal. He will learn that the trail provides those who hike it everything they need and he will learn to enjoy the simple pleasures that we all take for granted in our daily lives.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 12, 2019
55 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 20, 2020
First and foremost - i want to be clear. I got this book because i got it "free" thru kindle unlimited...so i wasn't expecting a literary classic. Also - i've read quite a few AT books and I myself have section hiked all but the last 200+ miles of Maine (it's taken 17 years to get there.)
I read the reviews and the summary and it looked pretty good. Unfortunately, about half way thru i realized, that all the author/hiker did was talk about what he ate and how often he was able to get cell service. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, and perhaps it is a bit, but i was literally able to skip pages of the book and not miss a thing.
What was i looking for? Tales of the trail. What the trail looked like, felt like, sounded like. I wanted to hear about the people he met on the trail and all of the goodness, weirdness and scariness that they bring. His descriptions of these things was light while the description of what he ate was prominent.
Also - the number of times he spent in a hostel and at restaurants is not typical. Most thru or section hikers try to load up for several SEVERAL days. He just seemed to be able to spend money whenever he needed/wanted. I guess that's a good problem to have - just not what I have experienced either personally or while on the trail with others.
This is not a personal slam. It's just the way i felt about the book. It wasn't bad. I just wasn't what i thought it was going to be, and so, i was kinda disappointed.
I read the reviews and the summary and it looked pretty good. Unfortunately, about half way thru i realized, that all the author/hiker did was talk about what he ate and how often he was able to get cell service. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, and perhaps it is a bit, but i was literally able to skip pages of the book and not miss a thing.
What was i looking for? Tales of the trail. What the trail looked like, felt like, sounded like. I wanted to hear about the people he met on the trail and all of the goodness, weirdness and scariness that they bring. His descriptions of these things was light while the description of what he ate was prominent.
Also - the number of times he spent in a hostel and at restaurants is not typical. Most thru or section hikers try to load up for several SEVERAL days. He just seemed to be able to spend money whenever he needed/wanted. I guess that's a good problem to have - just not what I have experienced either personally or while on the trail with others.
This is not a personal slam. It's just the way i felt about the book. It wasn't bad. I just wasn't what i thought it was going to be, and so, i was kinda disappointed.
June 11, 2020
A great read that made one feel they were on the trail with him enjoying every high and every low.
I'n my younger days I hiked much of the trail in George,Tennessee and virginia. Being a school teacher i had to take every holiday and days off to hike. Glenn's time in these area s brought back so many memories. As a senior citizen i still hike short hikes with my Cherokee hiking club. The love of the trail never leaves a true lover of the trail.
I'n my younger days I hiked much of the trail in George,Tennessee and virginia. Being a school teacher i had to take every holiday and days off to hike. Glenn's time in these area s brought back so many memories. As a senior citizen i still hike short hikes with my Cherokee hiking club. The love of the trail never leaves a true lover of the trail.
December 27, 2019
This was somewhat interesting, in that you get the perspective of someone that doesn't seem to love the hiking part. Clearly he enjoys it, but his focus always seems to be on the next shelter, resupply or town experience, much more so than other thru-hiking tales. I definitely don't like his writing style, which made we skip a third of this book. There is some pointless, mundane detail every page or two. Surprised the editor didn't go crazy tightening up the story substantially. I just wasn't riveted by the 137th time he phoned his wife, or ate a great cheeseburger in town. Interesting perspective, but I wouldn't recommend this over many other trail stories.
March 21, 2020
Well done diary of his journey
There are a lot of books like this and this one isn’t remarkably different, Scoutmaster does a good job. What I especially enjoyed was seeing his spiritual journey as he went along. He left with a finish date picked. How screwed up that is - you can’t hike nearly 2,200 miles and think you will know exactly when it will end. He learned to slow down in life and enjoy it. Perfect!
There are a lot of books like this and this one isn’t remarkably different, Scoutmaster does a good job. What I especially enjoyed was seeing his spiritual journey as he went along. He left with a finish date picked. How screwed up that is - you can’t hike nearly 2,200 miles and think you will know exactly when it will end. He learned to slow down in life and enjoy it. Perfect!
April 29, 2020
This was a halfway decent accounting of one man's thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. He could have gone more in depth about his experiences. It was more a timeline than a story. As a reader I don't feel I know much about the man or the experience.
January 12, 2020
Good read about how a long walk can allow time to think and give insights to life and society. The ending of the book is really important.
September 27, 2020
Great read
Once again this story comes alive in words that have a person believe you are walking right along with the author.
Once again this story comes alive in words that have a person believe you are walking right along with the author.
February 14, 2020
seven word review = this hiking scoutmaster realizes his dreams faster.
December 9, 2019
Inspiring
The final few paragraphs were the most inspiring. Slowing down and enjoying life is something that we all talk about - but few actually do.
The final few paragraphs were the most inspiring. Slowing down and enjoying life is something that we all talk about - but few actually do.
October 30, 2019
Appreciated
When I started the book I assumed it would be like a lot of the other books I had read of people on the AT. WRONG. This was the best. To me it covered the walk realistic. I had she'd a section of the trail and had to stop because of medical issues. When reading the start of the book I could see him on that section. This was a great book and would greatly recommend it to everyone.
When I started the book I assumed it would be like a lot of the other books I had read of people on the AT. WRONG. This was the best. To me it covered the walk realistic. I had she'd a section of the trail and had to stop because of medical issues. When reading the start of the book I could see him on that section. This was a great book and would greatly recommend it to everyone.
July 13, 2019
Excellent book on hiking the At
I followed Scoutmaster’s journey on the AT online last year and was waiting for his book. I’d encourage everyone who is interested in doing a through hike - or interested in following the journey’s of through hikers like I am, to read this and watch Scoutmaster’s videos. The part I liked best was the last part in which he discusses his thoughts and reflections on his hike.
I followed Scoutmaster’s journey on the AT online last year and was waiting for his book. I’d encourage everyone who is interested in doing a through hike - or interested in following the journey’s of through hikers like I am, to read this and watch Scoutmaster’s videos. The part I liked best was the last part in which he discusses his thoughts and reflections on his hike.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews