Walkin' on the Happy Side of Misery: A Slice of Life on the Appalachian Trail

Rating:
Summary: The First Readable Thru-Hiker Trail Journal
Review: An extremely readable, well written account of Model-T's first thru-hike in 1990. I was surprised by the heft of the book (542 pages!), but I'm sailing through it. He maintains a good balance of philosophy, landmarks, side topics, and people. Some of his digressions become a little predictable and repetitive; some of the writing can prove overly flowery (kind of like my 12-year old doing Creative Writing assignments), but it is evocative. This book was recommended to me on several of the A.T. bulletin boards, and I can see why. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Life on the Trail
Review: As a 2001 thruhiker, I know how hard it is to verbalize just what life is like on the AT. This book does a great job of describing the everchanging and unexpected day to day on the AT. Between this book, and the new documentary on the AT, TREK, anyone would have a great idea of whether or not they were cut out for the Trail.

Rating:
Summary: Best Book On The Appalachian Trail I Have Ever Read
Review: As a fellow Appalachian Trail Thru-hiker, I have to say that this book gave the most accurate description of what a thru-hike on the A.T. is really like. Model-T has a witty and often ofbeat sense of humor that I found hilarious. Before my thru-hike, I read close to 15 books about the Appalachian Trail and found this one to be by far the best. Enjoy!
D-con, class of 2002

Rating:
Summary: Best Book On The Appalachian Trail I Have Ever Read
Review: As a fellow Appalachian Trail Thru-hiker, I have to say that this book gave the most accurate description of what a thru-hike on the A.T. is really like. Model-T has a witty and often ofbeat sense of humor that I found hilarious. Before my thru-hike, I read close to 15 books about the Appalachian Trail and found this one to be by far the best. Enjoy!
D-con, class of 2002

Rating:
Summary: He takes you to the AT and makes it fun!
Review: I am not a hiker but I do walk in the woods. Therefore, this book was delightful to read, ever last word in it. Not a boring sentence in the whole story. I have read several books on the AT - each one is good but this one is especially fun to read. In fact, I am re-reading it again as it takes me to a special place that I will probably never make it to physically but only mentally and spiritually. That's good enough for me!

Rating:
Summary: He takes you to the AT and makes it fun!
Review: I am not a hiker but I do walk in the woods. Therefore, this book was delightful to read, ever last word in it. Not a boring sentence in the whole story. I have read several books on the AT - each one is good but this one is especially fun to read. In fact, I am re-reading it again as it takes me to a special place that I will probably never make it to physically but only mentally and spiritually. That's good enough for me!

Rating:
Summary: Slower than the walk itself
Review: I love detail, but this had too much. The hike was described inch by inch rather than a group of miles. I have read 4 books on the trail, 'On the Beaten Path' by Robert Rubin was an easier read.

Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK IS THE BEST,A GREAT ADVENTURE,I LOVE IT
Review: I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK.J R TATE IS VERY CREATIVE AND ORIGINAL.I BOUGHT MY COPY FROM HIM IN DAMASCUS,VA,DURING
TRAIL DAYS,AFTER I FINISHED A 162.3 MILE SECTION HIKE ON
THE AT.I HIGHLY RECOMEND THIS BOOK,ONCE I STARTED READING
THIS BOOK,I COULD NOT LAY IT DOWN.MODEL T,THAT IS HIS TRAIL
NAME IS ALSO ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE YOU WOULD EVER WANT
TO MEET IN TOWN OR ON THE TRAIL.HAPPY READING & HAPPY TRAILS.
RECON

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious book!
Review: I think that this was an awesome book. Model T has the perfect blend of factual and funny to make this story keep you reading. After reading this book, I've decided to make it a lifelong goal to hike part of the Trail. Some of the stories are hilarious. My personal favorite is the water pump. (You'll know when you read it) Anyone who likes to hike would love this book. READ THIS BOOK!

Rating:
Summary: Funny, informative, excellent! The best I've read
Review: I've read a about 8-10 "AT thru-hiker" books since deciding to thru-hike the trail and this is, in my opinion, the best by far. Not just another "today I walked x miles and had x meals", but a wonderfully told story of a terrific adventure and the people who helped make it so. No forced "and then I had my epiphanic, sterling moment of truth", no mind-numbing whining. Model-T writes of beautiful vistas, interesting people and adventures, tossed with a realistic dose of the kind of exhaustion, grunginess, hunger and pain thru-hikers must surely endure. I made myself wait two weeks to start it again, and am reading it even more slowly this time, just to make it last. I hope to meet Model-T someday and thank him for the most excellent tale!