Now Reading

[Emerson Bigills]

Recently enjoyed "Forever on the Mountain" by James Tabor. A great account of the worst tragedy ever on Mt Mckinley in Alaska. It happened in the 1960's, but there is a lot of information from those involved and some really interesting conjecture on what really happened high on the mountain.

[Dogwood]

I usually read from several sources at once. I'm also not above taking in documentary videos, books on CD/CDs, reads online such a blogs, TrailGroove, etc. Relating directly to hiking, currently book reading/re-reading:

Deep Survival - Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why by Laurence Gonzales
The Nature Principle -Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age by Richard Louv
The Traveler's Gift - Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success by Andy Andrews
the ultimate hiker's gear guide - tools &techniques to hit the trail by Andrew Skurka

For bathroom reads I have:

July/August Backpacker Magazines
Classic Hikes of the World by Peter Potterfield
Remarkable Trees of the World by Thomas Pakenham

[Snowleopard]

I just finished "Walking for Sunshine" last week. I'm currently reviewing old make-your-own-gear books trying to design an external frame daypack. More to see if I can do it than any other reason but it is something I would like. I realize it's probably less expensive to just buy something. "How to make your own lightweight hiking and camping gear" by Vick Rolling Hines (1981) is the one that is open on my desk right now. I have more than a dozen make-your-own-gear type books.

A classic make your own gear book is Light Weight Camping Equipment and How to Make It by Gerry Cunningham (1976). Gerry was an innovative gear manufacturer in the 70s. It had a lot of good advice on how to design gear and clothing.
http://www.amazon.com/Light-Weight-C...y+light+weight

[Jack Tarlin]

I re-read all my favorite novels once a year. Most of them are historical fiction. These past few weeks included Michael Shaara's novel of Gettysburg, "The Killer Angels". Also Thomas Flanagans "The Year of the French", a novel about the great Irish rebellion of 1798. At present we're back into Tim Willock's wonderful novel "The Religion", the story of the great siege of Malta in 1565. Oh, and also some Patrick O'Brien, great naval stuff set during the Napoloeonic Wars. All great stuff for those interested in other times. I read almost no contemporary fiction. Modern life is crazy enough in reality without having to resort to made-up stuff.

[Jack Tarlin]

Whoops. I just realized you were asking about what TRAIL books we've read lately. The answer would be none, tho I try and re-read Shaffer's "Walking With Spring" every year, for obvious reasons. As far as outdoor books that I liked, David Roberts' recent life of antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson is excellent, as is Scott Anderson's new biography of Lawrence of Arabia.

[perrymk]

A classic make your own gear book is Light Weight Camping Equipment and How to Make It by Gerry Cunningham (1976).

I have two different editions of that book, one from 1964 and the other from 1976. It's interesting to see that much of what is new is has been done before. The Hines book offers better patterns (well, almost patterns but good enough to work from I hope), but I certainly have learned from all the books.

[Rolls Kanardly]

Grandma Gatewood's Walk, Ben Montgomery excellent
A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryerson It was great
Three Hundred Zero's, A great read
AWOL, The Best
The Barefoot Sisters, It was good

Currently Walking the Appalachian Trail, Larry Luxemberg, A lot of different views from various people. Pretty good reading so far at the half way point.

Rolls

[AfghanVet]

I really, really, really need to get in on these AWOL books man.

[Chif]

Most of the stuff I read is either recommended by a friend or I see a reference to a book in a blog or forum post.

So why not share what you're reading so I can add it to my list :-)

I'll start things off with the next post. Feel free to note any book or even trail journal that is related to hiking or camping.

Cheers,

I am currently reading: Clapton's Guitar - excellent book about Wayne Henderson who builds guitars in Virginia

The Sound an the Fury -William Faulkner, absolute gibberish, but once I start a book I have to finish it.

[rocketsocks]

I am currently reading: Clapton's Guitar - excellent book about Wayne Henderson who builds guitars in Virginia

The Sound an the Fury -William Faulkner, absolute gibberish, but once I start a book I have to finish it.

Cool, that sounds interesting...and your very dedicated, I've definitely put down more books than I've read, very few I'll struggle through unless it's a topic that really interests me. Thanks for the title.

[rocketsocks]

Cool, that sounds interesting...and your very dedicated, I've definitely put down more books than I've read, very few I'll struggle through unless it's a topic that really interests me. Thanks for the title.

...indecently this is probably more about my level of reading than the authors writing ability.

[Tipi Walter]

No backpacker should hike without first reading the life story of Dr Colon Flaccid, the last American mountain man in the Southeast. Born in 1840, he still backpacks the TN and NC mountains with gear and packs of his own design and is occasionally joined by speed-hiker Dean Marshall Cornhole. For a deeper reading on the subject, see---

http://www.trailjournals.com/journal...onumber=259070

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=270832

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=289934

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=259056

http://www.trailjournals.com/journal...onumber=337633

http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?ID=363822

http://trailjournals.com/journal_pri...onumber=298053



A rare meeting with Dr Colon Flaccid in the mountains of Tennessee---the "last Tennessee mountain man".

[sympathetic joy]

Some amazing suggestions in this thread. Here is my updated Now Reading list:

Currently Reading - Silent Spring by Rachel Carson.


Just finished - Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery. (Inspiring woman. Amazing story.)

Next Up - Life On Foot: A Walk Across American by Nate Damm.

[rocketsocks]

No backpacker should hike without first reading the life story of Dr Colon Flaccid, the last American mountain man in the Southeast. Born in 1840, he still backpacks the TN and NC mountains with gear and packs of his own design and is occasionally joined by speed-hiker Dean Marshall Cornhole. For a deeper reading on the subject, see---

http://www.trailjournals.com/journal...onumber=259070

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=270832

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=289934

http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=259056

http://www.trailjournals.com/journal...onumber=337633

http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?ID=363822

http://trailjournals.com/journal_pri...onumber=298053



A rare meeting with Dr Colon Flaccid in the mountains of Tennessee---the "last Tennessee mountain man".

...the most interesting man in the room. Thanks for the links uncle fungus.

[Tipi Walter]

...the most interesting man in the room. Thanks for the links uncle fungus.

You're welcome. I'm just trying to relay the information given to me by Mr Flaccid and make it available to a wider audience.

[Sarcasm the elf]

You're welcome. I'm just trying to relay the information given to me by Mr Flaccid and make it available to a wider audience.

Tipi, I have to ask, have you ever considered writing a book or memoir?

[Sarcasm the elf]

The Sound an the Fury -William Faulkner, absolute gibberish, but once I start a book I have to finish it.

I had to read "Absolom Absolom" for a college English class. My eyes tracked over every word in that book, I listened intently as my professor discussed it at length, and to this day I couldn't tell you what the heck it was about.

[rocketsocks]

Tipi, I have to ask, have you ever considered writing a book or memoir?

I hear ya Elf...I'd sleep out all night on the side walk, and stand in line...for an unsigned copy, imagine what i'd do for a signed copy....same thing.

[Tipi Walter]

Tipi, I have to ask, have you ever considered writing a book or memoir?

Naw, never and not much. All my crap is on trail journals with thousands of pages of text and frankly I'm 'writ out'. But who knows, I may have something more important to say on my next trip about the not-so-elusive bulging turtlehead, field-midwifery and Stool Days. Yes, I've already written a book on turd dangers and the placement of cathole birthing stations, etc. Every backpacker has to squat. It may be my most important contribution to date.

[Sarcasm the elf]

Naw, never and not much. All my crap is on trail journals with thousands of pages of text and frankly I'm 'writ out'. But who knows, I may have something more important to say on my next trip about the not-so-elusive bulging turtlehead, field-midwifery and Stool Days. Yes, I've already written a book on turd dangers and the placement of cathole birthing stations, etc. Every backpacker has to squat.

I often read and appreciate the trip reports that you post here, but I have to say the piece that really caught my attention was your writeup of your experiences with Eustace Conway. Both the story itself and the quality of the writing is what made me wonder if you had ever considered a larger memoir.