A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson is a humorous and insightful memoir about the author’s attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT), one of the longest and most challenging continuous footpaths in the world. Stretching over 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine, the AT passes through rugged mountains, dense forests, and remote wilderness areas. Bryson, a self-proclaimed novice hiker, embarks on the journey with his old friend, Stephen Katz, who is also ill-prepared for the challenge. Together, they set out to conquer the trail, despite their lack of experience and Katz’s physical limitations. The book is both a personal narrative of Bryson’s journey along the AT and a broader exploration of the trail’s history, ecology, and cultural significance.

Bryson also provides readers with a mix of humor, historical facts, and insightful commentary about the natural world. Along the way, he reflects on the beauty of the wilderness, the environmental challenges facing the American landscape, and the complexities of preserving natural spaces in the face of human development. He also has plenty of humorous anecdotes about the difficulties and absurdities of hiking the AT, from the physical hardships of the trail (such as blisters, exhaustion, and harsh weather) to the quirky characters they encounter along the way. Katz, in particular, provides comic relief as he struggles with the physical demands of hiking and his own reluctance to embrace the adventure.

For many in the book club, this book was a witty travelogue and an inspiration to people who may not yet have the confidence to embark on long backpacking trip. Bill and Katz are evidence that you don't need to be superior athletes to begin a thru-hike, and the sarcasm throughout the book provided humor as they troubleshooted new experiences together.

However, the issue some of us had with this book was that Bill had a major superiority complex, putting himself on a pedestal. He proudly looked down on "weekend warriors" and criticized/mocked nearly everyone on trail, including his own friend. He came across as a jerk, which was disappointing because one of the best parts of thru-hiking can be the community/camaraderie. Interestingly, they experienced a lack of community, which likely could be because they did not allow themselves to fully experience the process. Other complaints were their lack of adherence to Leave No Trace principles, frequently chucking their unwanted items into the woods when they did not want to carry it anymore.

Regardless, his thru-hike attempt was admirable, as was choosing to write a book about an incomplete hike. This highlights that you don't need to complete something in its entirety to feel accomplished, and it can still be something to be proud of.

Group mean rating: 6.7/10