The Appalachian Trail Hiker: Trail-Proven Advice for Hikes of Any Length [Paperback]

Victoria Logue (Author), Frank Logue (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2004

A classic now in its Fourth Edition, The Appalachian Trail Hiker is today’s platinum standard for the latest must-have information for the 4 million day, section, and thru hikers who explore the Appalachian Trail each year. The guide includes: the latest information on hiking the AT with a GPS; comprehensive trail club information, including websites; valuable step-by-step information on preparing to hike the A.T.; crucial information on nutrition and diet; expanded coverage on shelters, cabins, and campgrounds; and details on choosing the best equipment. With the help of dozens of A.T. hikers, the authors have gathered over 100,000 miles of A.T. experience into this commonsense guide on the nation’s oldest trail system. Whether you are planning an overnight hike in Virginia, a two-week trek through the Smokies, or a thru hike from Georgia to Maine, The Appalachian Trail Hiker is your passport to A.T. adventures in the new millennium.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . Immensely valuable. . ."
--Backpacker Magazine

From the Back Cover

A classic now in its fourth edition, The Appalachian Trail Hiker is today's platinum standard on the latest must-have information for the 4 million hikers who explore the Appalachian Trail each year.

This guide contains:
Valuable step-by-step information on preparing to hike the A.T.
Details on choosing the best equipment
Comprehensive Trail Club data, including Web sites
Crucial information on nutrition, safety, animals, and insects

Stretching more than 2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian Trail is the nation's premier long trail, and The Appalachian Trail Hiker is the essential guide for anyone preparing to hike it. With the help of dozens of A.T. hikers, the authors have gathered over 100,000 miles of A.T. experience into this commonsense guide on the nation's oldest trail system.

From boots to cooking gear, The Appalachian Trail Hiker offers essential information on backpacking equipment and prepares hikers to encounter wild animals, beat foul weather, interact with fellow hikers, and more.

Whether you are planning a day hike in New Hampshire, an overnighter in Virginia, a trek through the Smokies, or a thru hike from Georgia to Maine, The Appalachian Trail Hiker is your passport to unlimited A.T. adventures.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Menasha Ridge Press; 4th edition (November 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897325834
• ISBN-13: 978-0897325837
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #438,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book to buy when preparing to hike on the AT, June 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Appalachian Trail Backpacker, 3rd: Trail-proven Advice for Hikes of Any Length (Paperback)

The AT Backpacker is a well-written, no-nonsense guide. The Logues give the low down on hiking with an eye toward the Appalachian Trail. I found everything I needed to know about foods to eat and how to be safe in drinking water. They also go through the dizzying array of gear out there, from tents and backpacks to stoves, sleeping bags, boots and clothes, all with the AT in mind. There are also chapters on winter backpacking, backpacking with children, and long distance hiking which expand on the basics.

An earlier edition of this book gave me the confidence to get out on the trail for some shorter hikes (weekend hikes and a week-long trip). I have used the checklist for overnight hikes in the back of the book to prepare for many hikes and find it the best equipment checklist anywhere.

I bought this third edition to get the latest as I prepare for a thru-hike of the AT. The Logues have made numerous changes throughout the book. I'm glad they have kept the AT Backpacker current. The additional appendix on websites has proved helpful for planning my hike.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more before hitting the AT for a hike.

31 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Everything I Needed to Know about the AT, I Didn't Get Here, June 6, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Appalachian Trail Backpacker: Trail-Proven Advice for Hikes of Any Length (Paperback)

The only things more annoying than the complete absence of any useful information were the condescending attitudes of the authors. They open the book by bashing some children for not knowing the exact start of the Appalachian Trail. All non-thru hikers are portrayed as unenlightened idiots. The authors seem to forget or ignore that for anyone who hasn't thru-hiked the AT, there are going to be a lot of the usual questions ("How much food do you carry?" "How long have you been in the woods?") Maybe the authors should show a little more patience when asked these questions, especially by Trail Angels.

We could've written a better book by spending a few hours in a hiking store. Nothing was specific to the AT. 90% of the book was sheer common sense. (p. 89, second sentence, "You don't want to wear wool pants and a sweater when it's 90 degrees outside." ) Gee, thanks.

This was one of the worst purchases we have ever made.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you need advice for what to take on your hike, look here, July 25, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Appalachian Trail Backpacker: Trail-Proven Advice for Hikes of Any Length (Paperback)

This book is very well written, including gear reviews, trail tips, advice, and references for collecting additional information. While not enough to plan a hike solely on the basis of what is written, it surely is useful for AT day hikes, thru-hikes, or any hike you make care to attempt. Best for beginner-to -intermediate level backpackers. but everyone can learn something new from it.