Books by ALDHA members
J.R. “Model-T” Tate
If anyone has heard “Model-T” tell some of his stories from his three A.T. thru-hikes, you’ll enjoy reading them, and others, in his first book, from 2001, titled “Walkin’ on the Happy Side of Misery.” New in 2006 is “Walkin’ With the Ghost Wisperers.”
Earl Shaffer
The classic story of an epic journey, Earl’s groundbreaking thru-hike from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail in 1948. In Walking With Spring, Earl recounts an experience that is now just a memory thanks to countless relocations over the past 50-plus years. Also available now is Calling Me Back to the Hills, his followup book on his 50th anniversary thru-hike in 1998, with photos by Bart Smith.
Leslie Mass
In 2001, Leslie Mass, aka “Gotta Hike”, turned her lifelong fantasy into reality when she hiked the Appalachian Trail. Her book, “In Beauty May She Walk,” came out just before the 2005 Gathering. It is “full of rich, emotionally charged detail about the journey and the personal growth that resulted from it,” according to the Library Journal.
Joan Young
Joan has written a book titled “North Country Cache Adventures on a National Scenic Trail,” about her adventures on the North Country Trail, a little-known national scenic trail that stretches over 4,000 miles, through communities, forests and prairies in seven northern states. Her quest is to hike the entire trail, and her book covers 2,300 of those trail miles.
Sandra “Navigator” Friend
Since she moved away from the A.T. and down to Florida in 1999, Sandra Friend has been wearing out her hiking boots all over the Sunshine State with more than 1,900 miles of hiking the past few years and has written a bevy of books and guides about the trails that Florida has to offer.
Bill “Mountain Slayer” Schuette
After a 30-year teaching career, Bill Schuette decided he was ready to finally hike the Appalachian Trail. He not only finished his trek, but sat down to right a book about it. It’s titled “White Blaze Fever” and is available now.
Leonard Adkins
An ALDHA member and trail maintainer in Catawba, Virginia, Leonard Adkins has penned almost a shelf’s worth of books on the side trails and main attractions along the Appalachian Trail corridor, from the Blue Ridge Parkway’s many hiking paths to the wildflowers along the trail.
Karen Berger
Karen has written Hiking and Backpacking: A Complete Guide, and has written other books on the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.
Books by a prolific backpacking family
Frank and Victoria Logue have authored a numbered of books about hiking and backpacking in general, on the Appalachian Trail in particular, and on hiking with kids, as well as other topics. Check out their new home page, @logue.
Steve Newman
“Worldwalker” Steve Newman has appeared at two past Gatherings to tell stories from his adventures during a round-the-wold walk in the mid-1980s. You can find out more about his trip from his two books, Worldwalker and Letters from Steven.
Cindy Ross and Todd Gladfelter
ALDHA members who have written a number of books, including their latest, Kids for the Wild.
Nitty-gritty of L.D. Hiking
The late Roland Mueser hiked the A.T. in 1989, and then spent years poring over his notes, collecting new information, interviewing other hikers, and writing words that sing. His book came out in early 1998.
Rich and Sue Freeman
Bruce Trail, An Adventure Along the Niagara Escarpment, a 224-page book takes you along Canada’s longest trail for 465 miles from Niagra Falls, Ontario, to the tip of the Bruce Peninsula on Georgian Bay.
Kenneth Wadness
Ken Wadness hiked the A.T. southbound in 1990 and lugged along the camera equipment he needed to capture some stunning photography of the trail. The photos are beautifully reproduced here in Sojourn in the Wilderness, a coffee-table keepsake.
David Emblidge
An Appalachian Trail Reader is a collection of works and excerpts from literary lions of the past as well as modern-day visitors.
David Patterson
Alternative Routes for the CDT, a concise and complete guide for the planning and preparation of extended travel along the Continental Divide Trail.
Mary Twitty
The Dream Trail, a 338-page book by an ALDHA member from Missouri, was published during the summer of ’97.
Beverly Hugo
Women & Thru-Hiking on the Appalachian Trail: Practical advice from Hundreds of Women Long-Distance Hikers, a book written by and for women hikers, as well as for the men who may accompany them.
Melody Blaney
A Journey of Friendship recounts the 1996 thru-hike by Melody Blaney, “Midnite,” and her friend, L.K. Ullyart, “Lindi,” who were strangers before they began their hike but wound up as lifelong friends.
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