A Walk in the Woods - The Title - Chapter 20 - #18

"I had discovered an America that millions of people scarcely know exists. I made a friend. I came home... So Katz was right after all, and I don't care what anybody says. We hiked the Appalachian Trail."(pg 274)

These are the last words of A Walk In the Woods, and perhaps, the most entertaining and moving. Prior to this, Bryson describes the many beautiful aspects of the woods that few people even know are right outside their door. Having had a similar experience in New Mexico, I can definitely relate to how he feels. When I walk in the woods, I do not simply see trees, but I have this feeling of adventure and curiosity, and most of all, appreciation. I think A Walk In The Woods is a fabulous title because it draws attention to the fact that people can have a similar experience by simply walking in the woods. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in the outdoors of America.

A Walk in the Woods - connection to Che- Chapter 20 - #16

It is interesting to read books like The Motorcycle Diaries and A Walk in the Woods. They are similar in numerous ways. For example, both books are narrated by the author. In doing so, the author conveys the impact the various experiences they have had on their life from a personal point of view. In the Motorcycle Diaries, Che is influenced by the many poor people he meets on his journey. In A Walk In The Woods, Bryson is describing what has influenced him through the beauty he witnesses. Also, both books go into detail about the people they meet. Bryson decribes the many intersting, stupid, and intelligent people he meets that essentially make the jouney so intersting.

A Walk in the Woods - American Chesnut - Chapter 10 - #15

"But until quite recent times - painfully recent times - one thing remained in abundance that preserved the primeval super-Eden feel of the original forest: the massively graceful American chesnut"(pg 121)

In chapter 10, Bryson comments on one of the most beautiful trees that was once in the Appalachian mountains. Many times Bryson will go off onto a science or history lesson about the environment (which can be very interesting). Bryson usually comments on how some unique aspects of the trial are diminishing due to disease and negligence. The American Chesnut, as Bryson explains, was once one of the most abudant and amazing aspects of the trail. However, recently an Asian fungus eradicated the American Chestnut to extinction. This fungus killed four billion chestnuts on the Appalachian in only 35 years. Bryson draws attention to how we should be grateful for what the Appalachian has to offer.

"... when I tell you that there wasn't a day in the Appalachian woods when I didn't give passing thanks for what there was."

A Walk in the Woods - Murders along trail- Chapter 13- #12

When Bryson and Katz take a short hiatus from hiking during the beginning of Summer, Bryson draws attention to the fact that two women were murdered on the Trail very close to the location and time they themselves were hiking. Bryson seems very saddened by this, finding it hard to look at photos of the woman on one of the trail notices. I think Bryson has only a short discussion on this topic because he does not want to discourage people from hiking on the Appalachian Trail. In fact, I might have omitted some of the detail he goes into. It is very disturbing, and scary (the brutality of the murders is horrifying). Overall, I think it is important he mentioned it because it is reality, however, I think he could have had a shorter discussion on it, but it part of his experience -a walk in the woods.

A Walk in the Woods - The Chase - Chapter 11 - #13

Katz, Bryson's traveling companion begins to talk with and get to know a woman at the laundromat. Bryson descries the woman as over 200 pounds and ugly. Katz inform Bryson that they have a date, and he wil not be eating with him tonight. Shortly afterwards, a dejected Katz strolls into the resturant informing Bryon that he is being chased by the husband of the woman he was supposed to go on a date with. The rest of the night at the hotel, Katz keeps his eyes out the window to make sure that the man dosent come into the motel. He is truly terrified becuase he knows that men in hte South always carry guns. My advice to Katz would be identical to the advice Bryson gave him - stop talking to fat ladies in laundromats.

A Walk in the Woods - An observation - Chapter 6 - #5

In about the middle of the book, Bryson and his buddy go into the town of Gatlinburg Tennessee. They have been hiking for several weeks, and just left Great Smokey Mountain National Park. While in the town, they decide to get something to eat, then go into a store because Katz needs a strap for his backpack. There, Bryson comes upon a map of the entire Applacian Trail. He notices where they are now in comparison to the rest of the trial. They have only completed a tiny amount of the entire trail. Then Bryson makes the comment "One thing was obvious. We were never going to walk to Maine".(pg 105) This part of the book moved me because for the first time Bryson admits that they will not be completing the entire trail. I feel upset because I really want them to complete the trail, but at the same time I agree with them. I knew that they were not moving fast enough to make the seasons coordinate with their hiking. It was ineresting to think about how many experinces they had already went through, yet they had only completed a fraction of the trial.

A Walk in the Woods - Mary Ellen (intersting charater) - #17

In Chapter 5, the two men meet Mary Ellen (probably not the real name of the person they met) who turns out to be a very goofy person. This is how Bryson introduces her: "I have long known that it is God's plan for me to spend a little time with each of the most stupid people on earth, and Mary Ellen was proof that even in the Appalachian woods I would not be spared. It became evident from the first moment that she was a rarity." I have never read a book where the author has characterized somebody so crudely and honestly. Mary Ellen follows them for a couple days. Soon afterwards, they make a plan to escape from her presence. After finally escaping her, they are almost remorseful they left her alone on the trail. Overall, I liked the detail and characterization Bryson gave Mary Ellen.

A Walk in the Woods - The magic of Woods - #10

In Chapter 4, Bryson introduces how he feels, in general, when he walks in the woods. First, the woods make you feel vulnerable. They are unique in that trees surround you from all directions. Bryson comments on how if you are in the dessert, or a prairie, you can see the big space around you, but in the woods, you feels like you are in a "vast, featureless nowhere". (pg 44) In the summer of 2007 I went on a ten day backpacking trip with my Boy Scout troop to New Mexico, so I can connect with Bryson. When you spend so much time exclusively in the woods, you begin to notice how alive and wonderful it is, but also how intimidating it can become (especially at night). Even Daniel Boone said the Appalacian mountains were "so wild and horrid that it is impossible to behold them without terror".

A Walk in the Woods - An old friend - #4

While contemplating his walk in the woods, Bryson realizes that he will be traveling alone. He fears that if or when he runs into trouble nobody will be there to help him. He decides to write on his Christmas cards that year that he will be traveling the entire Appalachian Trial, and would like somebody to come along with him. Of course, nobody wants anything to do with this cumbersome adventure. Then, about a month before leaving, an old friend, Stephen Katz, calls to inform him he would like to participate. Bryson comments on how he went with Katz on an adventure around Europe years earlier, but has since lost touch with him. Bryson admits "In the twenty-five years since, I had run into him three or four times on visits home but hadn't seen him otherwise". (pg 19) I find this a surprising aspect to the book. Why would he loose virtually all contact with someone after traveling with Europe with him? Although Bryson does explain the various drug/job issues Katz had, he does not connect how the European trip will be at all similar to this trip. You would think Bryson would go into detail on how Katz acted or what type of person he was on their previous advenutre.

A Walk in the Woods - Buying Expensive Gear - #3

The narrator to the book, Bill Bryson, is a very interesting character. The book starts off with Bryson describing the various scenarios one will face on the Appalachian trail. He recalls ridiculous stories that include owl attacks, snakes in your sleeping bag, Lyme disease, lighting strikes, etc. While l these stories could have actually happened, it is definitely not a daily occurrence on the trail. Bryson immediately shows that he is a funny character through the embellishment of these stories. Later in the chapter, Bryson decided that he is going to hike the Appalachian trail, so he goes to a local outfitter. There he discovers very quickly that equipment for hiking (specifically backpacking) is very expensive. Having backpacked myself, I can definitely relate to this. For example, because you want to keep everything light, you are encouraged to buy a light sleeping bag. These are always expensive, and in addition to the sleeping bag you must also buy the pouch that it comes with. The 250$ backpack does not come with the necessary straps, nor is it rainproof. Bryson makes an comment on how the backpack developers may have wanted to design the backpack so you could take it outside. Bryson shows his displeasure in the store. Overall, I think I will see this ignorance continue throughout the book, onto the trail.