Tales of Faded Trails
935708
The stories are very compelling about a recent time and place in the history of the Southwest United States.  It gives a clear, raw picture of the passing of the way of life of ranch hands,
1670084
As a general rule, I don't read books on trails that I have personally hiked, but I made an exception this time due to the lack of readily available books on my Kindle.  Besides, I thought, it might be interesting to see how our hike as a 50+ year old couple (http://www.trailjournals.com/Brakeman2014PCT/) would contrast to a 30+ year old single female.

And contrast it did(!), which made the book an interesting read rather than a rehash of our hike.  The contrasts and common themes of the book were Carrot's repeated challenges of running out of food and water (now sure how one does that repeatedly without eventually learning  how to prevent the issue), mental challenges of hiking or camping alone and her trail romances.

If you are looking for a book to teach you more about backpacking or tell you about the beautiful sights along the Pacific Crest Trail, then this book if not for you as that is not the focus of of the book at all.  Instead it's a bit of a mini-Cheryl-Strayed-Wild book with focus more on the mental aspect of life, growing and long distant hiking.

Carrot shows potential in her writing - a good first stab at self publishing..  It's rough in places, has some grammar and spelling issues but the author's messages are conveyed in a quick and easy read.  With some more practice and networking to find guidance, the next one should be even better.
1719813
The Oregon Trail by Francis Parkman is an account which further enforces the history of the Oregon Trail we had learned about in [U.S. History] class. The book portrays what it must have been like to travel on the Trail, never knowing what the next day would bring. The buffalo hunting which took place throughout the book became monotonous and boring after the first exciting few, but other than that repetitiveness, the journey was well depicted. I especially enjoyed Parkman's in-depth descriptions given to the reader of the people he meets on his journey and his observations on their actions as well. His vivid imagery of scenes from nature such as animals, prairie landscapes, and the weather, place the reader right next to Parkman in his adventuresome expedition. There are some dull, repetitive points in the observations made by the author, but aside from that his autobiographical telling of his journey is unforgettable.
603628
Fun and interesting tale about the trials and tribulations of hiking the Appalachian Trail starting from Maine and following one mans dream to tackle this grueling trip.  Unfortunately, it was not the authors' dream, but his college buddies' dream who had no idea how to share this dream, communicate his thoughts, feelings, desires, or even to enjoy the beauty of the Trail.  I loved the author's descriptions of the neighborhood he grew up in Phildelphia and the volatile time in our history during the 50s, 60s, and 70s.  His descriptions of blacks and whites getting along during this time and his descriptions of his father's influence over him and his integrated neighborhood are real life and true.  The authors' love of books is obvious as he reads his way along his trip down the trail and his language skills paint a beautiful picture of what it is like hiking so many miles.  Loved the descriptions of the natural beauty of the outdoors, as well as the introspective meaning of life and what will be for a young man going out into the world to discover his fame and fortune.  Lots of fun and look forward to the next installment of this journey!
1955377
_A Walk in the Woods_ uses the Appalachians to explore the classic literary theme of man vs. nature. Bryson dutifully covers the regions ecological history and Americas evolving relationship with the land. He praises early conservation efforts while deriding the US Forest Services apparently endless bungling. These passages are interesting, but wouldnt hold together without the foil of Bryson and buddy Katz ill-conceived plan to through-hike the entirety of the Appalachian trail. They clearly enjoy the trek, but take every opportunity to detour back to civilization to gleefully down Hardees and Cokes, and sleep in motel beds. Before long they are renting cars to short circuit large swaths of the journey. Tacky tourist towns are ridiculed (Bryson has a serious grudge against mini golf) but appreciated for their creature comforts.

This balance between trail and town goes a bit off the rails in the second half of the book. After returning home, Bryson fails to recreate the magic of extended wilderness adventures, driving solo across the region to sample different trails. His experience is disjointed and dissatisfying, and the writing reflects it. Katz returns for a run up the northernmost segment of the Appalachian Trail in Maine. The book regains momentum, but as before, hiking success isn't a given for this pair.

I would have appreciated a new afterword; the book is 20 years old and it would be interesting to see Bryson review it. Have the predicted effects of climate change he cited started coming to pass? How does todays communication technology affect trail goers? A book must be good if I'm asking for more of it.

_A Walk in the Woods_ is breezy and entertaining, and has me thinking about finding an outdoorsy, physical challenge for myself. Anyone want to spend a few weeks biking around Lake Michigan?
306654
I thought this was a lovely book of short stories with a common town weaving a story as the years went on while introducing new characters and recalling many from the past.  There was also a myths which changed through the years and in each telling grew and was retold anew about why the color of the soil was what it was; a lost little girl along the river banks and the spreading of the prolific apple seeds. Enchanting really and I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
4576522
While the author talked some about the trail for me there was too much non-hiking talk.  Then to read the whole book and realize he didn't finish the entire trail was disappointing.
855756
A clear, step-by-step trail guide, sprinkled with history and anecdotes. A good resource for discovering new trails in Indiana.
2853375
Intriguing accounts for those of us who have spent many days among whitewater river guides. The stories are about the guides themselves, sometimes self-effacing, sometimes brash.
4077429
The Appalachian Trail is a stew pot for great stories, as even the most casual backpacker knows.  One short weekend of trail drama can often generate enough tales for a lifetime of retelling, and so there is certainly no shortage of terrific books written by the hardy souls who walk 2168 miles in the wilderness in under a year. There is always a heavy load of dramatic ore for a good writer to mine, and even the mediocre can produce books that are well worth reading.  Once in a while somebody strikes it rich with a gem that does more than walk the same well trodden path; and Barefoot Sisters Southbound looks to be just such a jewel.
  We follow a pair of sweet fair haired young ladies from Maine as they tackle the treacherous male dominated wilderness of the AT.  Oh, they happen to be sisters, so there's sure to be some interesting paths to explore there ... and to top things off, they get the whimsical idea of hiking the trail barefoot over mountains of sharp rocks and through forests of protruding roots.  We just have to stick around to see what happens.
  As the tale unfolds the barefoot sisters prove to be a well matched tag team of fine trail writers, with a tasty mix of varied style and compelling subject matter.  They are physically fit but still vulnerable to the obvious perils of months in the woods. They are well versed on gear but not too technical.  Together they introduce us to the rich community of long distance hikers; a world of short but intense relationships, elongated through a social network of written messages left in shelters for those who follow. We witness all the body punishing drama of a sports event and the emotional intensity of a 60s encounter session as our toughened heroines get stretched to the breaking point by the physical and mental stress of their journey.
  There's an old saying that goes "The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step".  Sometimes that step happens because a book inspires it, and this is the kind of book that is sure to inspire quite a few steps into the wilderness of the future.

Mike Carbonneau [LT 2004 "Strummystick"]
(AT 2016??? If I can still walk after retirement)
3958057
A slow, meandering story about a slow, meandering journey--a trip a man makes in a canoe down the river of his childhood (The Brazos in Texas) before it was dammed up and was no more.

It is--or can be--a slow, meandering read, but the joy of this book--and there is a lot to enjoy--comes from the meandering---as the man, author John Graves, recounts the history, legend and lore that took place along the banks of his beloved river,at places and sites he is seeing for the last time--Indian stories and pioneer stories, some shocking in their horror, some inspiring, some humorous, and always, always, interesting.

Join him on his trip. It well worthwhile--but don't be in a hurry. Enjoy this tale--these tales of the Texas Brazos, places, scenes and sites never to be seen again but that will always be a part of our misted, shaded, and, now, water-covered past.
4749385
It's a nice book, but somewhat out-dated as the trail route matures in some areas. I bought it as a collectible as I work on trails, know the Oregon Coast Trail, and am acquainted with the author who was a pioneer of trails while with Oregon State Parks and after his retirement.
4659022
Just one more book recounting a person's section hike of the AT.  Lots of related stories that recounted experiences on the trail.
1308135
166 pages long and published in 1998, Tony Reevy's "Ghost Train" contains more than 30 stories of the mysterious, unexplained past of railroading. Most all of the stories come from local folklore in places like New York, North Carolina, and West Virginia, and few if any are not from the days of steam locomotives. I think this is partly because the earlier, steam-based times of railroading were more dangerous, resulting in more stories told about the various happenings along the tracks and stations. The age of the stories is also the result of something else- Reevy has attempted here to record many stories from railroading's more prosperous days, and those certainly weren't the days of Amtrak. It's quite possible he specifically searched for older stories, in an attempt to record them on paper before they fade away completely. But don't take this to mean that the numerous stories of "Ghost Train" have no connection to the present. Some don't, but several do, and all of them are interesting in their own ways.

I believe the hardcover is the best way to go on this one. The solid form of the hardcover seems to all the better accentuate the ethereal form of the ghostly train and trestle illustrated on the front cover. Mark Harland Johnson did a brilliant job with his cover illustration, by the way- I'm tempted to recommend this book for his artwork alone.

The book is divided into seven chapters, each focusing on a particular type of ghost noted for its appearance in railroading lore. The first to come is the title. The ghost train, strange and elusive locomotives whose steel and steam forms ceased to run long ago- or, in a rare few cases, have been said to appear in areas where no tracks ever existed. Second is a similar variety, wreck re-enactments. Re-enactments have not just the locomotive but the whole train appear again, attempting to reach its last destination but ultimately meeting the same fate as before. Chapter Three contains stories about headless ghosts and ghost lights, while Four is about ghosts that fit into no particular category. Haunted tunnels, railroad stations, and rail cars are the topics of chapters Five, Six, and Seven. An Acknowledgements section and an Introduction section by author Tony Reevy precede the seven chapters, and after them comes "Afterword and Sources", discussing the general nature and long-term legacy of railroad ghost folklore, where all the stories come from- and what truth is known to exist behind each of the stories. Many other books on ghosts and hauntings are referenced- Reevy himself notes that many of the stories his book contains were merely borrowed from someone else's.

Ultimately, I recommend this book as a quality collection of ghostly railroading folklore. Some have scoffed at this book, declaring that ghosts do not exist. I think that to be an arrogant assumption- in this age of the internet and so much instantly accessible information, it is all too easy for humans to think we've learned all there is to know. The stories themselves are consistently interesting and entertaining. And whether or not you believe in ghosts yourself, this book successfully records an important part of railroading's past, explaining things that otherwise never could have been explained.
1922514
I checked this book out from the library because I've become recently interested in ghotsts. This is a book of stories perfect to be told around a campfire. The storytelling was very engaging, and I really enjoyed most of these stories. There is very little background information given on the characters or setting. I'm not sure how much research went into this, or if the author just compiled a set of Montana legends. If you are looking for stories with details about actual ghost hauntings then this isn't the book for you. However, if you are looking for an entertaining read of several short and moderately spooky tales then I recommend this book.
96704
I love reading about the Appalachian Trail - hoping to do a thru-hike myself in the future. I really enjoyed reading about Odyssa's journey, she is well-known. I recommend it.
4142508
Good read! Still reading, but I enjoy the play by play details of the trail as it is experienced. I recommend for those that enjoy the hiking adventures!