North to Katahdin (Paperback)

~ (Author) "On the thirty-first of August, 1846, an early morning train stopped in Concord, Massachusetts, where it was boarded by a small, gaunt man who sometimes..." (more)
Key Phrases: Appalachian Trail, New York, Baxter State Park (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One need not be a hiker . . . to find enchantment in reading Pinder's writing on our evolving, increasingly peopled, world." -- Maine Sunday Telegram, November 27, 2005

"Pinder's prose is lucid and luminous, clear and simple . . . he writes of Katahdin with humor, love and respect." -- Bookslut, November 2005

Pinder is a poignant and insightful observer who recognizes the soul of a very old and very wise mountain. -- Green Living, January, 2006

Product Description

When Thoreau ventured into the Maine woods in 1846, he was one of a handful who did so simply to see what was there. Now, hundreds of thousands of people pursue "the wildest country" either for itself, as Thoreau did, or as the terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Using Mount Katahdin as his lab, Eric Pinder contemplates what draws people to the mountains. Are the urbanites trekking the trails with cell phones, synthetic fabrics, and GPS units having remotely the same experience that Thoreau did? Pinder's interviews with these hikers create a vivid portrait of the communion with nature they seek, and of the world they are trying to escape.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Milkweed Editions (June 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571312803
• ISBN-13: 978-1571312808
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,205,453 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why do we go to the mountains?, October 26, 2005

By	Phelps Gates (Chapel Hill, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Even though I bought this book "by mistake", thinking it had something to do with the video of the same name about thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, I ended up enjoying it a lot. Pinder talks about why we go into the wilderness and what the essentials of the experience are. Having climbed Katahdin a few years ago, and having finished a section-hike of the entire AT recently, I enjoyed comparing my own experiences with his. He does a good job of explaining just why Baxter State Park is so special. Read it if you're on your way to (or back from) Katahdin.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Treat, January 29, 2006

By	Linda J. Pinder - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have no real interest in hiking, but since this book was written by my Cousin Eric, I wanted to read it. I found it to be very interesting, even for someone who has never been to Mt. Katahdin or on the Appalachian Trail. So even if you are a non-hiker, don't be afraid to try this book. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It is easy to read and has some very interesting and touching stories.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Slow, dry book with misleading cover, October 25, 2005

By	Peter Pavlowich - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After reading a few chapters, I found this book hard to want to read. Pinder's style is dry and slow, and leaves plenty to be desired. The stories he tells are rather uneventful, though I usually enjoy writings about simple events, but only when written well. The cover might lead a potential reader to believe Pinder will criticize yuppy hikers and the flocks of roof-racked Subaru driving granolas that fill the parking lots at his beloved trailheads. Pinder does not, however. He spends a fair amount of time talking with and about the thru-hikers he meets on the trail. I do believe there are better books to buy, and if one if interested in having the most "genuine experience" while out of doors, read some Thoreau.