A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

274 Pages (Non-fiction)

Bill Bryson decides that he is going to hike the Appalachian Trail. He tells his friends, his family and his publisher and then he decides to do some research. “[T]his was way beyond –way beyond- anything I had attempted before.” Nevertheless he continues with his plans. He soon realizes that he has an enormous distance to cross, over 2,100 miles; and he is going to do it all by himself. He writes friends, family, acquaintances and people he hasn’t talked to in years. No one replies. Shortly before he is set to leave an old friend, Stephen Katz, called. “Do you think maybe I could come with you?” A week later Katz shows up with a smile, a backpack full of snickers and snack cakes, along with the will to join Bryson on the Appalachian Trail.

The two set off from Springer Mountain in Georgia. This is the beginning of the southern end of the trail. The plan is to hike through the wilderness all the way to Mount Katahdin in the Maine wilderness. In order to make this long trip you have to start early in the south and hike north with the spring thawing so you can make it all the way in one go.

“It was hell” The two men are unprepared for just the beginning of the trail and have a series of adventures involving interesting people and the unrelenting trail. Bryson has a way with humor that makes you laugh out loud. I want to make it clear. Numerous times as I read this book I found myself literally laughing out loud, usually at the expense of the hikers’ misfortune. Bryson has the drive to see American in a unique way that can only be possible by getting away from the bustle of society and being a “mountain man.” Katz is looking for something different from life. A lifetime of night after night of TV dinners is all he has to look forward to. The trail is a relief to both of them in different ways.

As they build up there tolerance for the trail life they start to make good time, eventually meeting up with other hikers. A young chatty woman attaches to Katz and Bryson constantly telling them what they are doing wrong. They encounter an old man, Chicken John, who has been hiking the trails for months, but gets lost so often makes barely makes any headway. A mysterious hiker, always at the edge of vision that they can never quite catch up with, eludes them. They all add color and humanity to the trail. At night they stay in shelters on the side of the trail. Sometimes they are alone; other times a large group of people make things a cramped affair. The reader gets drawn into the hike. You feel the joys of reaching a summit and the expanse that can be seen. You’re discouraged by looking at a map and all the climbing, hiking and sleeping on hard ground adds up to one inch on a very large map. You have elation at seeing a town up ahead that promises food, a shower and much needed rest. You are disgusted at the ugliness of a strip mall after being in the boundless peace of the woods. All these emotions are delivered with levity.

Intermixed with the adventure and humor is a history of the Appalachian Trail as well as the impact that humans are having on it. There is a touch of environmentalism which would be expected. I can’t imagine spending that much time in the woods and not be shocked by the things humans do to destroy them. Bryson talks about how the Park Service is extremely under budgeted while the roads to the parks are fabulously maintained. Some of the ideas in the past to “help” the woods have done more damage then leaving things alone. The history of the trail is gotten into at length. The trials of getting the trail made. How certain roads and projects force the trail onto not so natural places. In fact a 20 mile section of the end of the trail was chopped off to make room for development. Certain parts of the trails have actually taken back places for the wilderness and the trail always changes from year to year for a variety of reasons.


Bryson’s book is an interesting read. It is funny in a way that catches you off guard. He may be explaining a horrifying experience of other camper’s encounters with a bear; then describes what he would do in such a situation you can’t help but laugh. Take seriousness of a trip such as this, mix with the humor of human endeavors, and add a little history and you come up very enjoyable book.

3 Emotional: The men’s experiences on the trails make it easy for you to get pulled in.
3 Intellectual: The historical and environmental impact of the book is significant and well presented.
4 Long Term: Although I don’t imagine this book will ever be extremely famous it will always be a good read. Hopefully, not because it’s main subject, the Appalachian trial is history itself.

10 out of 13. It is a very good read. It reads easily enough and I found it hard to put down at night. I think this would be pleasing to most anyone. If you are interested in camping/hiking you owe it to yourself to read it.