Easy does it: Thru hiking the appalachian trail at age 81

[T-Rx]

Sounds like a great story and I would definitely be interested in reading it. Your father sounds like quite an interesting guy.

[dink]

I'd buy it in a heartbeat!!

[Cookerhiker]

Cool Beans. It will be published, it is at the printer now. The question posed was if it should be offered up to others besides his immediate family, in other words, for sale on Amazon. He agreed under two conditions: If there was any interest in it from his fellow hikers and second that the sale of the book provide donations to benefit the ATC. He mentions Officer Taco, the Solemates, Felix, Magic, Ice Cold, Pickle & Peanuts, Dozer, Chainsaw, Drifter, Cactus Gus, Nimblewell Nomad, Dusty and Lefty, Sunstroke, Boy Wonder, Little Tree, Hoss and Red Dog, Stairmaster, Willie Goat, Good to Go, Shadow Man, Hustler and A1.

I am also signing him up for the forum because I think he would get a lot out of it and probably has a fair amount of insight into many of the subjects discussed in the threads here.

I remember some of those folks from my section hiking in '04 especially from when I hiked the southernmost 103 miles starting from Springer on Feb. 29.

Does he remember Northern Harrier, my old friend and hiking partner, who thru'd in '04?

[Captain Blue]

I think you would get a lot of sales if it were available in e-reader format.

I met Easy One in 2004 in Pennsylvania while doing a southbound section hike. It was a very rainy day. I had just climbed up out of Delaware Water Gap to Mount Minsi. I met Easy One, going northbound, on Mount Minsi clad in a poncho. He asked me if it was slippery on the trail going down. I said yes. He decided to camp on Mount Minsi in the rain instead of risking a fall while hiking down the mountain into town. I didn't realize at the time he was 81 years of age.

[Just a Hiker]

I met your father on the trail in '04......nice man! Good luck with the book.

[Bati]

I'm glad his memories are written down! I remember meeting him as I left the Smokies- he was only 70 then, but he made an impression. Too bad he wasn't going further that day!

[Mountain Mike]

I'd buy it!

[chiefduffy]

I would buy it, especially if you offered it on Kindle.

+1.........

[daddytwosticks]

Yep, that is the same guy. True story: the reason he did not climb the last three peaks near Murphy, NC mentioned in the article...he ran across booby traps set by dope farmers while bushwhacking.

Dope farms around Murphy, NC...say it ain't so!

[lemon b]

Looks like it will be an interesting read. Hope you all can get it out there.

[Marta]

Another vote for Kindle format...

I met Easy One in the winter of '06-07. Amazing hiker. Here's a photo of him hiking in December 2006.

http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=199034

[Son of Easy One]

Another vote for Kindle format...

I met Easy One in the winter of '06-07. Amazing hiker. Here's a photo of him hiking in December 2006.

http://www.trailjournals.com/photos.cfm?id=199034

That is a good shot of the EZ-1 packlight (backpack) and front pack system he favored, of course ubquitous cap with havelock. The idea was that he never had to access the backpack during the day. The EZ-1 "bivy" (tent) was black for
stealth camping.

One of my favorite stories from the book is when a campground guard told him he had to move his tent, which was already pitched out of sight on an AT right of way. He asked why, and the guard said "because I said so" or something to that effect. Easy One produced his ATC membership card and demanded the guard do the same. Of course, he could not produce one. IIRC, the guard threatened to call the Sheriff and Dad said, "well if the Sheriff has an ATC membership card and tells me to move my tent, I will do so." Otherwise "...make better use of the dues money we pay every year by keeping vandals off the AT than hassling the membership."

EZ-1 wasn't particularly "Easy" that evening.

[Train Wreck]

Great photo and story! You are definitely whetting my appetite for his book!

[Son of Easy One]

OK, the book is back from the printer, but it has more run-togethers than were in the draft. Apparently I didn't catch them all or else they appeared during conversion to PDF format (for publishing). At any rate, I will get those corrected for the next run and look into having it available in Kindle format as well. Probably 60 days? Thanks all!

[HikerMom58]

I would purchase a copy the first day it was available!
Please keep us posted on the publication date.

yes, for me as well...^what she said

[Paws60]

I would also buy on kindle.

[RIBeth]

I would also buy it sounds sooooooooo interesting!

[rambunny]

We met him in 04 -what an inspiration!

[mad4scrapping]

I will buy a copy also!

[drifter]

Absolutely I'd buy it! Keep us posted