Never thought I would enjoy hiking.
923592
What a great find. Never thought of hiking as an activity I would enjoy but Mr. Kellers Treasure Coast Nature Trails has changed all that. His concise and very inviting description of the hikes has enticed me to try a few hikes on our next visit to Stuart. Might even try it with grandchildren. We are grateful that the information in the book is very comprehensive. No chance of these "new-bees" getting lost.
354306
I did not know that PA had so many trails that can be day hiked or for weeks on end. This is a good place to start if you want to see if you can handle it before trying to hike th AT all the way.
1188431
This is not the type of book I tend to read - my husband picked it out for me.  Knowing nothing of her, I kept waiting for her to reveal herself to be some type of political or sociological extremist.  Instead, she simply told  stories ... no platforms - just vignettes from her life in the Andirondack.  She tells how she came to build a log cabin in that remote terrain,  including the mistakes she made when she built it.  She tells of the  struggles to keep a pet, about some of her hiking adventures and the  personalities that came through her life.  When she talks of environmental  concerns, she is a realist and does not presuppose that everyone would want  life on the terms that she does while pointing out that so many of us have  no idea what life would be like without a TV or radio wailing.  Plus, she  never really "launches" into environmental concerns - they just  come up during some of the stories as salient points. Such as how  snowmobiles and motorboats had affected her life - for good and bad - and  describing the conditions of hiking public trails, etc.
I am very  impressed with Ms. LaBastille.  She is a much stronger woman than I.  I  could never live this way but it does makes me want to visit.  Instead of  feeling energized or particularly educated in some way, I would have to say  this book leaves the reader contemplative.  I have a feeling its effect on  me will last much past the time I have forgotten the story line in other  books I have read.
3810703
I've read many a trail book, and have been mostly disappointed by the amount of over-romanticizing in them. As a section hiker, I know how hard things can get and how non-glamorous it is, day after day. But this book nails the visceral nature of thru-hiking right on the head. These two have felt the same feelings we all have when long distance hiking: determination, pain, connection, epiphany. All of this is framed by two very real people who felt an unscripted love for each other. The amount of personal and honest information in this lends itself to a bravery (and almost brash ballsiness) that is rarely found in most people today. Loved it.
1189572
Ok so I was a little concerned about these shoes as I've never bought hiking boots before just sneakers and they were a bit pricey but I'm so in love with them!! They're so comfortable with very little to no break in time. I have flat feet and I've never been able to find a sneaker that hasn't given me some level of discomfort after a few hours of wear. I scoured the reviews before purchasing these because I wanted to know exactly what I was getting.  Normally I'm a 7.5 shoe size, sometimes an 8 but I decided to go up the half size and I'm happy with them. I'm not doing extreme hiking just things like day trips or a weekend trip over relatively rough terrain and they've held up nicely so far. These boots may not be for everyone but they're definitely for me! I love them so much!
651114
I hadn't planned to read this novel in two days but that's what happened. Katherine Center's charming novel about Helen, a recently divorced young woman setting off on an adventure, grabbed me from the start. Helen signs up for a challenging three week hiking trip in the Wyoming mountains. She wants to get stronger and toughen up regarding how she handles what life throws at her. She also wants to appreciate nature's beauty and to be happy. She ends up learning much more about herself and true happiness from fellow hikers and experiences on the trail. I enjoyed it all. Highly recommended.
3898356
My first experience with Microspikes was in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in early February.  From the parking lot, which was a sheet of ice, to the Franconia Ridge, the Microspikes did not let me down.  I was able to hike up the Falling Waters trail without incident.  This trail is extremely steep at places and the icy rocks near several waterfalls can be very dangerous.  Never once did I slip.  I was actually amazed that they worked so well and there was no need for full crampons.  If you read a few winter trail reports, you'll see that Microspikes seem to be the de facto light traction device for the mountains of New Hampshire.  Now, I know why.

My only problem with the product was that I originally ordered the large size for my size 13 boots.  Far too small.  However, the x-large size fit perfectly without any movement on the boots or adjustments required while hiking.
699877
I can't say enough about this film. Just watching these hikers go through their highs and lows is a life changing experience in itself.  I always gauge how good a movie is by how I feel when I'm done watching it, and this goes up there with some of my all time favorites because I was so moved, touched and inspired by this movie.  These people are so brave and strong, and seeing all they go through for those seconds-long-moments of happiness and feeling of oneness with nature must make their journey all worth it.  The greatest parts to watch was when a hiker would get that feeling of complete oneness with nature which is only possible when you are so far away from civilization in an area that is untouched by the modern world.  Gosh I'm almost getting teary-eyed just writing this review.  This movie inspires me to reach beyond what I know I am capable of because these hikers are proof that anything is possible when you have the will and tenacity. Another thing I wanted to point out was how entertaining it was for a documentary. Don't get me wrong I love learning something from a non-fiction piece, but usually I shy away from documentaries because they are too serious and drawn out, but this movie has a great pace and I never felt like I wanted to turn it off because it was boring. If anything I wish there were more movies about the great trails in the U.S. and abroad, as long as they are done like this.  I like how I didn't feel I was watching 60 minutes like I usually do with documentaries especially documentaries about nature, in Tell it on the Mountain I felt like I was watching an POV adventure film.  This review is getting long so I'll try to wrap it up, like I said I can't say enough about this documentary, but I just have to add one more thing that I like which is that I really like how the filmmaker gave the hikers their own cameras. I feel like these moments were where the hikers were most honest because they were alone making a video diary. I feel like there are too many times in reality TV or documentaries where you don't get a true sense of the emotions because people put on their Made-for-TV face and aren't authentic. All I gotta say is Bravo and when are the documentaries about the Appalachian Trail and the Continential Divide Trail coming out ; )
4528094
Wow, I was completely shocked! I'm a committed hammock backpacker, but recently I went on a trip that had no place for hammocks to hang. Desperate, I turned to the advice of a friend completing a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. He is using the Them-a-rest NeoAir XLite, and absolutely loves it. He said it was comfortable for his large frame (and weight), hardly crinkled, and easy to pack and carry. Well, I wasn't doing a thru hike, but a good night's sleep is just as important on any trip, so I bought this rest-pad. I haven't tent camped in years, so I expected a restless night of tossing and turning. I was shocked that I fell to sleep almost immediately - no tossing and turning and I had NO pressure points irritated during my sleep. I stayed warm and very comfortable. As for the crinkling ? None. I mean you are going to hear the sound of your clothes or sleeping bag glide across the pad's surface as with any fabric, but I did not hear the cringing crinkling noise I typically hear from my tent-camping buddies. I asked my friends the next morning if they heard me and each said "no" they never heard me move during the night. Some things to be aware of though - as with any air filled pad, your heaviest part of your body will slightly displace air to other parts of the pad - you will likely want some blanket or towel to help offset that "lift" you may experience. For example, my hips and thighs are muscular but my waist and shoulders are slim, so the shifted air lifts the lighter portions and thus my raised shoulders meant my head was lifted, too, which meant my neck was at an odd angle as the weight of my head pulled it back down. Since  don't camp with a pillow - I rolled my extra clothes into a makeshift pillow to support my head and neck. This is not a design flaw in the pad - just a user-friendly piece of advice to maximize your positive experience when using the pad. I have to say I really slept with almost the same amount of comfort on this pad as my hammock. I only say "almost" because I am a zealot when it comes to hammocks! If you have avoided camping because of the lack of comfort when sleeping on the ground, this rest pad is for you!
1380471
Okay, so I procrastinated. I needed shoes for a hiking trip and I didn't like the colors I found in stores. I ordered these a few days before my trip and they arrived one day before takeoff. I know that's a rookie mistake, but I was lucky I ordered these boots. They didn't even need to be broken in as they are soft to the back of the ankle.  I used them to hike some impressive mountains and I was impressed by the shoes too (mind you I carried about 20 lbs on me in backpack). I didn't skid or slide down any of the flat surfaces, be they wet, dry, or covered with dirt. Clearly, I like the color, and they cleaned up well after long trek.
2789536
What an amazing, wonderful, and strange journey I have just been on. Wild by Cheryl Strayed isn't a book Id normally pick up. Honestly, I don't think Ive ever read an entire biography in my lifeon anyone. Ever. So why did I pick up this book? I happened upon a trailer for the movie, and I thought I need to see that. and I did. Immediately before I read the book, I watched the movieand Im glad that I did for a lot of reasons.

Wild is the true story and memoir of Cheryl Strayed, a woman who, when she was 22, went on a self-discovery hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in order to find herself. She walked over 1,100 miles (give or take a few) from the Mojave Desert all the way up to the border of Washington and the Bridge of the Gods. The reason this story intrigued me is that it sounds like something Ive always wanted to do. I grew up in Oregon, hiking, camping, hunting, and enjoying the outdoors. Ive been to a lot of the same places that Cheryl went on her journeyand I was intrigued to find out what she may have learned along the way. Like Cheryl, I too lost my mother to cancer at a young age (though I was just a teen), and I couldn't help but identify with some of the commonalities between our lives as I read through her journey.

Its difficult for me to quantify this story in the way that I normally would in a review. Normally Id pick apart the language, sentence structure, characters, and world building. I cant do that here. Cheryl Strayed is a real person, and the events of the story really happened. It would be insulting to try and quantify this story on any sort of literary level. So instead, Ill say this: Thank you.

This book took me two days to readwhich is longer than most books take me. The story delved into aspects of life that I try to avoid in fictional stories drugs, promiscuity, death, abandonment but Im infinitesimally grateful that I read this story. When the last page was finished and Cheryls hike came to a close, I felt like I too had been on an amazing journey. Wild made me think. It made me consider the importance of life and the people in itof who all of us are once we strip away the needless things of our daily lives.

There were some differences between the movie and the book. I felt a lot of the original printed story was cut out for the movie, and some details were definitely altered and re-arranged for the cinematic screen, but deep down, the story at its core was the same. Honestly, Im not sure how I would have felt about the movie or the book had I not seen/read both. The movie wasn't particularly engaging, and neither was the book but I couldn't help but be drawn into the story anyhow. Watching the movie ahead of time made it easy for me to visualize the landscapes, people, and events that occurred in the book, and I think because of that, it made the book easier to read in a way.

Overall, I loved the book. Its a weird thing to say because the book failed at every turn if I were to compare it to the fiction I normally read. The writing wasn't particularly engaging or fluid. The main character wasn't particularly sassy or endearing, and the plot? What plot? This was a true storyit didn't need a plot. I cant rate this book on the same scale Id normally use to decide if a book was goodbut oh, how it was. When the story was over I was left with a feeling of wonder and joy. I am so very glad that I read it.
772895
With the nice December weather I have about 12 miles on the shoes. These are my first pair of hiking shoes after years of wearing running shoes in the woods. What a difference!  These are so much more solid and sturdy, I can't believe I waited so long to buy a pair.
  I'm difficult to fit because I have a bunion on my right foot and narrow heels. They are roomy inside and can accommodate my custom orthotic for my right foot as well as my insole for my left. I'm altogether pleased with the purchase and would love if every pair of shoes I ordered online would fit so well.
643768
The story was well written and very descriptive, you could almost feel what she was going through. Maybe I can relate to the story as I backpacked part of the PCT myself. When I was 20 my boyfriend and myself were planning to hike the PCT, but it never happened; it's been a dream of my for some time now. This book has inspired me to start training for a dream that may become reality.
277777
I brought this book on vacation thinking I would get to it, from time to time, when I had some down time.  Turned out once I got into it I ended up spending more time reading the darn thing than hiking, swimming, etc.  It just seemed to grab me and I CAN'T WAIT for Book Two to come out!
332496
I was not expecting to like this book.  All the hype, the movie, etc. just turned me off. When I saw it for cheap for my Kindle I thought, what the heck!  I ended up really liking it and could hardly wait until I had some free time to pick it up again. Although I am much older than Cheryl Strayed, I could really relate to some of her life experiences which were very reminiscent of the 70's.  Just like for Cheryl, the end of the trail for me was bittersweet.
4286171
I always did what someone else wanted me to do. Ive always been someones daughter or mother or wife. Ive never just been me.

My first thoughts were that this chick had some crazy ass life and the book only takes us into her twenties! The book in the beginning is much more background on her life, her abusive dad, her new stepfather and their life living in what I guess you could call kind of a hippie lifestyle in Minnesota, marrying young, her mother dying, and the subsequent downward spiral she took. This included cheating on her husband, not finishing college, drug use and falling out of touch with family.

While all of the above is crazy (and its true!) I loved everything that had to do with her journey on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT for those of us in the know). She was woefully unprepared. I mean like she scared me and I know she lived to tell the tale but I still wasn't so sure. She totally owns that she is unprepared. I think when she describes lifting her filled pack for the first time (which is like right before she goes out on the trail) I wanted to cry for her and then slap her and yell This is the first time your picking up your pack!!! I think she clearly overestimated what a guidebook and an REI employee could prepare her for.

Regardless she trudges on. And this I think is where the book gets awesome. On her journey she runs into a lot of people. Dont get me wrong she is alone a lot of the time but between others on the trail and people at her stops she meets some characters. Lots of these people, some of whom are very experienced hikers, serve to help her. They trim the amount of crap she carries, offer her a hot meal, shower and bed for the night, give her rides to help get back on the trail, etc. There are some weird and one downright scary as hell encounter too. Hell we get some good old dirty hiker sex.

The times when she is by herself I find it interesting on what keeps her going. She sings quite a bit to ease her fears. She reads at night various books she brought or shipped to herself. We see her reflect some on her past and what the this hike means to her or what she wants it to mean. By the end it becomes clear she comes to a place of peace with her mothers death and the issues she was dealing with.

She does lots of flashbacks to her past while on the trail and I thought some of them were redundant to the beginning of the book and had me wishing either she just did the flashbacks instead of so much back story or less of them. Im not sure but I thought the first half wasn't super interesting and I would force myself to pick it up. Also I felt super bad for her husband (ex-husband by the time we get to the trail) because man he seems to have gotten a really raw deal.

Honestly I wouldnt camp in my damn backyard or go hiking near the creek in the woods behind my house so I think she is a "Amazonian queen. I was glad to she came to a place where she seemed to come out the hole she was in after her mothers death and went on to get married again and seemingly find happiness. While it wasn't exactly what I thought it would be (which Im not sure what that is exactly but something along the lines of me rooting for this awesome woman to do this crazy thing and it was more along the lines of I kind of don't like this woman but Im happy for her and her accomplishment.) I did like it enough to say others should definitely read it too.
3862884
Insanely comfortable. Even on the very first hike. Enough storage for my sleeping bag, food, and tent. Can't wait to take it hunting this fall.