A Walk for Sunshine: A 2,160-Mile Expedition for Charity on the Appalachian Trail (Paperback)

~ (Author) "I stepped onto the Appalachian Trail for the first time as a 14-year-old teenager while on summer vacation with my family in the Great Smoky..." (more)
Key Phrases: trail magic, several hikers, hiking poles, Appalachian Trail, Springer Mountain, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When Jeff Alt (trail name: "Wrongfoot") first decided to hike the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail, he intended to do it alone. As it turned out, several hundred others walked alongside him. Hiking the AT was a longtime personal goal of Alt's, but as he began to plan his trip he realized that he wanted his effort to somehow serve a greater purpose. So he decided to share the experience by turning his adventure into a fundraiser for the Sunshine Home, a facility in Maumee, Ohio that cares for 850 developmentally disabled residents, including his brother, Aaron, who has cerebral palsy. In the seven months leading up to his walk, Alt focused completely on fundraising and training, eventually raising $16,000 that allowed the home to buy much-needed communication devices, lifts, and walkers. He also inspired an annual fundraiser, "Walk with Sunshine," and is contributing part of the proceeds of his book to the cause.

In addition to finishing, Alt's goal once his feet hit the trail was "to share the spirit for which I was walking" with everyone he met, and this he certainly accomplished. In return, he learned a great deal about life from the colorful characters he encountered on the trail, while countless kind strangers offered "trail magic" in various forms, including food, lodging, and greatly appreciated laundry services. He also received overwhelming support from his family and the residents and staff of Sunshine Home, who helped him through quarter-sized blisters, fatigue, and even self-doubt during his 147-day trek. Charming, inspiring, and often funny, A Walk for Sunshine gives readers a good feel for both the logistics involved in undertaking such a journey and the culture of "thru-hiking" the AT. It's also a moving reminder that "living your dream is one thing, but sharing it lets everyone live it with you." --Shawn Carkonen

Review

"Alt nails the Trail experience. A WALK FOR SUNSHINE shares top billing on my book list." -- Dale Boweman, THE CHICAGO SUN TIMES

"Alt's words amply convey the camaraderie among fellow hikers, the beauty of the eastern mountains, and the hardships on the Appalachian Trail. -- Walt Young, THE OUTDOOR TIMES

"If your looking for an adventurous, humorous, and inspirational read, try "A WALK FOR SUNSHINE." -- -Don DeNEVI, Book Reviewer

"Some of the most engaging stories in Alt's book are about eating while on the trail...THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL DIET." -- -Sylvia Carter, Newsday

"With humility and charm, Alt tells his tale with awe for the people and his surroundings...inspiring and entertaining." -- Todays Librarian

"You will appreciate this story strewn with laughter at nature's antics and stark realities of life. I thouroughly enjoyed this book." -- Karen Martin, NATURE SOCIETY NEWS

"a fascinating story...A WALK FOR SUNSHINE is absorbing, humorous, and an inspiring true life adventure travelogue." -- THE INTERNET BOOK WATCH

A WALK FOR SUNSHINE continues to touch the lives of those who read it. -- Douglas Siebenaler, Sunshine Incorporated

Jeff combined a physical challenge with a worthwhile cause and ended up with a personal victory. -- Jean Deeds, author, There are Mountains to Climb

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 286 pages
• Publisher: Dreams Shared Publications (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967948207
• ISBN-13: 978-0967948201
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,025,028 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A PLEASING SURPRISE. WHAT A GOOD READ!, January 27, 2008

By	D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Walk for Sunshine: A 2,160 Mile Expedition for Charity on the Appalachian Trail, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

What a great read! I must confess that this was one of those books that I found quite difficult to put down once I read the first few pages. As has been well covered in other reviews, briefly stated, this is the story of a young man who takes the challenge of the Appalachian Trail and hikes all 2,160 miles of it in one shot, to raise money for the Sunshine Home, a home for the developmentally disabled where his brother lives.

The concept of walking this trail, to become a through walker, has fascinated me for years. Age and health have more or less shut that door for me now, but I do enjoy a good story from those who actually made this wonderful journey. This is certainly one of those good stories. The author's enthusiasm, iron will, commitment and simple bright outlook on life are quite inspirational. Jeff Alt is not a professional writer. Actually, he strikes me as simply "one of us" and this is quite nice. I note that several reviewers have compared Alt's work with that of Bill Bryson, i.e. A Walk In The Woods. I personally could not make that connection. Where Bryson obviously walked very little of the trail, was sarcastic and down right hateful when writing about fellow walkers and the natives of the area, we get the complete opposite with A Walk for Sunshine. Alt has the ability to laugh at him self, has conducted himself as a gentleman, and, with a few justifiable exceptions, has mostly nice things to say about the people he meets, both on and off the trail. This is very refreshing.

I like the writer's apparent honesty. This was a very difficult trip. The author does not gloss that over one bit. On the other hand, he does not indulge in chest beating nor does he become one of those annoying "experts" that we all meet in places and situations such as this. Unlike some other writers who have written about their experiences on this trail, the author stresses that he did prepare himself, spending quite a long time in training and spent countless hours working out the logistics of the trip. If found all of this to be quite interesting.

Alt's relationship with his surroundings was quite well documented. What was difficult was identified as such, what was beautiful was also. It is obvious that Mr. Alt has a great respect for our wilderness and treated it as such. The author also had the valuable ability to laugh at himself, and you get the feeling that while he certainly took his mission to raise money for his cause serious, he never once takes himself that serious. Again, this is refreshing.

This is a very readable book, a true joy. I do recommend this one highly. I have no doubt I will give it yet another read down the road a bit.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even if You've Never Been in the woods before...., March 30, 2001

By	"your_little_redhead" (Nowhere near Elsinore) - See all my reviews

You will love this book! An inspirational journey down the AT to raise money for a worthy cause. Alt's style will engage even the most reluctant of readers and will leave you wanting more. Anyone who is at all interested in the outdoors will eat this book up. I couldn't stop reading, and the miles kept flying by. If you like this book you might also want to try Bill Bryson's 'A Walk in the Woods'.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AT hiking 101, September 12, 2001

By	Alicia (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This book was hard to put down! As a novice hiker, I could not wait to learn more about Jeff's adventures on the trail. The prospect of spending several months hiking and sleeping in the woods is overwhelming to me, but Jeff was able to write about it in a manner that even those who know nothing about hiking or camping can appreciate. Humerous, inspirational, and downright entertaining...and he's right about the rocks in Pennsylvania!