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I'm finishing up "On the Beaten Path" by Robert Rubin. Good stuff. Does anyone know of/if there's a book(s) written by thru-hikers going SOBO? Tougher to find. Also, I heard there was a book written by a blind hiker, solo with his guide dog, anyone know the name or author? Thanks a bunch.
doggiebag
02-07-2008, 20:50
Blind Courage (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__nmimgCTJI) by Bill Irwin.
Thanks doggiebag! Give Aldo a scratch behind the ears from me...
nice video, and a very good book. I read it in one sitting on a zero day.
doggiebag
02-07-2008, 21:42
That footage of Bill Irwin and Orient always puts a lump in my throat.
gold bond
02-08-2008, 09:36
So there is a video that goes with Blind Courage? How can I get it?
wilconow
02-08-2008, 10:29
I'm finishing up "On the Beaten Path" by Robert Rubin. Good stuff. Does anyone know of/if there's a book(s) written by thru-hikers going SOBO? Tougher to find. Also, I heard there was a book written by a blind hiker, solo with his guide dog, anyone know the name or author? Thanks a bunch.
On the Beaten Path is one of few I really enjoyed. Rubin is a pretty good writer
Here's my reviews of AT Books (http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/776194?shelf=appalachian-trail)
I liked "On The Beaten Path" too, I think this book would have made a better movie.
doggiebag
02-08-2008, 14:26
So there is a video that goes with Blind Courage? How can I get it?
It's just a short clip that Bill put up on youtube. It's very moving.
Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__nmimgCTJI
88BlueGT
02-08-2008, 14:53
That footage of Bill Irwin and Orient always puts a lump in my throat.
Yea, it does. Very inspirational. I never knew that he wrote a book, I am going to pick that up today.
88BlueGT
02-08-2008, 14:56
I just called a few places and they said its out of print :( Guess I will just have to buy it online and wait........
trippclark
02-08-2008, 15:18
I just called a few places and they said its out of print :( Guess I will just have to buy it online and wait........
Bill still has it on his website. You may can get a copy from him directly. I did a few years ago - and signed!
http://www.billirwin.com/
gold bond
02-08-2008, 15:23
Thanks Doggiebag that was great!
Sherpa '03
02-08-2008, 15:50
My wife just finished the 1st of 2 books by the Barefoot Sisters - Susan Letcher & --- name escapes me ( she taught them in the 4th grade ), who "yo-yo" -ed in 2000 and 2001. Title: The Adventures of the Barefoot Sisters. The first book details their SOBO journey. It appears to be very, well written. I've known their parents in the past -- both brilliant individuals. I believe she found their book at Amazon.
Another SOBO account was written: "Life's Lessons from the AT" -- not exactly correct title...written by an ex-marine, Trail named "Patch" for his sight disability....:)
cowboy nichols
02-08-2008, 15:55
Thanks Dooddiebag I shall not complain again. That is a fantastic dog also.
doggiebag
02-08-2008, 16:13
Thanks Dooddiebag I shall not complain again. That is a fantastic dog also.
I agree - I've learned to keep my trivial challenges to myself ... compared to my heroes Bill Irwin/Orient's resolve. I'm not worthy to carry Orients pack. They rock! Oh yeah thank Tazie for starting the thread :D.
Rain Man
02-08-2008, 16:19
Does anyone know of/if there's a book(s) written by thru-hikers going SOBO?
"Hiking the Appalachian Trail" (two volume set), edited by Rodale, contains a ton of thru-hiker accounts, some are SOBO, yes. The bulk of the hikes were in the 50s and 60s.
"In Beauty May She Walk" by Leslie Mass is a good book about her flip-flop, so half of it is SOBO.
Rain:sunMan
.
It's just a short clip that Bill put up on youtube. It's very moving.
Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__nmimgCTJI
Incredible. Thanks for posting the link.
southpaw95
02-08-2008, 16:50
"Where Less the Path is Worn " by Nimblewill Nomad is story about a 347-day trek by foot covering over 5.000 miles from the Cliffs of Forillon, Cap Gaspe,Quebec Province to the southermostpoint on the North American continent in Key West, Florida.
I also enjoyed his first book "Ten Million Steps".
The Barefoot systers books. Book 1 is SOBO.
88BlueGT
02-13-2008, 03:28
Bill still has it on his website. You may can get a copy from him directly. I did a few years ago - and signed!
http://www.billirwin.com/
I would have ordered it from him but I had already got it on Amazon unfortunately. And I paid $30 bucks for it USED when I could of gotten it from his site for $25 :rolleyes:
Doughnut
02-13-2008, 10:46
I just finished "White Blaze Fever", and started "A Walk In the Woods" again (since there's a movie being made).
White Blaze Fever is a collection of Trail Journals Entries of a thru hike. I forget the guy's name that wrote it. It is a good read.
Dough Nut
Undershaft
03-13-2008, 21:41
I don't like Rubin's book that much. Most of the book is him whining about his failed career and marriage. Basically he just bitches about how pathetic his life has become. Don't get me wrong, he is a good writer, but the book would have been much better if he wrote more about the trail. He skips large sections in his writing. I just read it again along with White Blaze Fever and Rubin jumps from the Bear Mtn. Zoo to Manchester Center. He never even mentions CT and MA. Everyone I know who read On The Beaten Path agrees that Rubin is a miserable prick and they would kill themselves if they had to hike with him. I don't feel that extreme about him, but I can see where they're coming from.