best book to fan the flames...

[Luddite]

I second Ed Abbey. Desert Solitaire, The monkey Wrench Gang, and The Fool's Progress.

[DaveSail]

http://www.campmor.com/the-barefoot-...-trail-1.shtml


http://www.barefoothikers.org/barefoot-sisters.html


http://www.amazon.com/Barefoot-Siste.../dp/0811735303



http://www.bookrags.com/She_Walks_in_Beauty

[bandit]

Take this as coming from someone who normally solo hikes, so don't take this the wrong way, but IMO I find it BEST that each individual thru-hiker have their own reasons for thru-hiking INDEPENDENTLY of whether not someone else in their party decides not to originally hike or at some pt decides to drop out of the hike! I mention this because in your OP you state, "she would be the best trail partner anyone could ask for." Unless, you have thru-hiked with her before you REALLY don't know that for sure! I'll venture to guess that you are going to learn and accept some "NEW THINGS" about your "best trail partner" if you elect to hike together! Just saying! You also mention, "there are some obstacles to thru-hiking that she needs to figure out first." Obviously, her ability to thru-hike is dependent on resolving those issues. IMO, it sounds like you should realize her situation is different than yours, UPFRONT! Your thru-hike should not hinge upon her ability/inability to thru-hike with you!

dogwood, thanks for your input, i appreciate it. you definitely make good points about how it's hard to tell that she really WOULD be a good trail partner without having thru-hiked with her before.

the details i left out were these: i'll definitely be out there this spring, solo or not. and her main obstacles are financial burdens - mortgage, etc - that she can't get rid of. so, hopefully it will somehow work out. but if not, you're right, i need to keep in mind that it wouldn't be the end of the world (or my thru hike)

thanks everyone for the great suggestions! i can't wait to pick up more of these books..

[Red Hat]

sorry winton. and rick.
there are only two AT books.

a womans journey by cindy ross.

and walking with spring. by eral shaffer.

all others are irrelevent.

cindy and earl rule the known bookospheere.

jester has permission to disagree.

no one else.

Matty, this is your most coherant post ever!

[Kerosene]

Matty, this is your most coherant post ever!

Notice she said "coherant", not coherent!

[jethro]

In Beauty May She Walk by Leslie Mass is a good one.

Not an AT book, but "Pillars of the Earth", by Ken Follett is one of the best novels I have ever read. I carry a copy sometimes when I hike. It is a really thick book, but worth it.

I actually got a copy of Isaac Asimov's "The Foundation Trilogy" in Palmerton, PA. I carried it until I finished somewhere in Vermont, ripping off sections as I finished.

You have excellent taste in books!

[Many Walks]

"Always Another Mountain" by Danie Martin is a realistic account of a woman's hike.

[sheepdog]

...................................

[springerfever]

This is my favorite.......facinating stories before the AT became so popular. I have quite a collection of AT books and this set is amazing. These were the AT pioneers.This listing has a decent set at a great price and media shipping. Hard to beat, and no...I am not the seller.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hiking-Appalachi...item2eb06250e3