tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post8144758469398346863..comments2024-02-24T15:49:59.506-08:00Comments on Another Long Walk: Adventures on the TrailRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-54580042966169714102011-02-09T12:35:34.651-08:002011-02-09T12:35:34.651-08:00That review is written by an idiot. I wouldn't...That review is written by an idiot. I wouldn't pay much attention to it. =) Some people would rather sit around in a chair all day putting other people down than actually get off their ass and do something interesting. ;o)<br /><br />And keep in mind, these kind of books aren't meant to educate you about what sort of wildlife you'll find in the great outdoors. There are guidebooks for that. It's just meant to be entertaining, and that's exact what it does.<br /><br />-- RyanRyanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12243706924573005381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-27682708687371067552011-02-08T18:05:15.936-08:002011-02-08T18:05:15.936-08:00I'm interested in reading a couple of your boo...I'm interested in reading a couple of your book recommendations, but wow....that Cactus Eaters book sure got a lot of bad reviews. This one was the most revealing for me:<br /><br />by Peter Stekel<br />The Cactus Eaters: How I Lost My Mind - and Almost Found Myself - on the Pacific Crest Trail (P.S.) (Paperback)<br />Dan White provides two epigrams at the beginning of The Cactus Eaters. The second one, by William Gass [The Art of Self: Autobiography in the Age of Narcisssim] sums up White's "adventure."<br /><br />"Many lives are so empty of interest that their subject must first perform some feat like sailing alone around the world or climbing a hazardous peak in order to elevate himself above mere existence, and then, having created a life, to write about it."<br /><br />I can see why an editor ensconced in their office in NYC would be drawn to this book. It's all about somebody with no knowledge or experience wanting to perform a task that requires knowledge and experience.<br /><br />Perfectly defined by William Gass.<br /><br />Instant success is the order of the day. Why spend time and energy learning something first when you can just jump right in? Kind of like taking your 5 year old, throwing the kid in the pool and waiting to see if it drowns or swims. The child may survive but will never be interested in water again. Such a shame.<br /><br />White's ignorance is kind of cute in the beginning of his book but wears thin by the time he meets the Gingerbread Man. His fixation on copulating with his girlfriend is also cute, at first. But do we need to hear about it a second time? We get the point.<br /><br />I've had to rescue people like Dan White when they took their Ray Jardine-inspired techniques for lowland hiking into the High Sierra. Jardine has great ideas and he informs his readers of their limitations. Pity they don't pay attention. Hiking barefoot, an umbrella in the snow and in 40 kt winds, corn pasta gruel - they're great until you find yourself off-trail with no chance for support except for other hikers in the same boat as yourself.<br /><br />PCT hikers are a special breed. Like AT hikers [and as White demonstrates] they have little experience in hiking and none in backpacking. They focus on pounding out the miles, traveling through the landscape rather than being in it, learning nothing of their surroundings except for where the next watering hole is found.<br /><br />Ultra-light backpacking is great. It has done wonders for revitalizing a moribund sport pioneered by boomers in their 20s who are now in their 50s and 60s.<br /><br />But if your only goal is to squeeze 20 miles out of every day rather than enjoy where you are and learn something about it, why not spend your time on the treadmill at your local gym or saunter through the concrete and glass canyons of your local city?<br /><br />Dan White could have written a nice, amusing article for Backpacker or Outside. Instead, he had to burden us with a nearly 400 page ode to narcissism. It's amusing he knew what he was doing. Why else include that quote from William Gass? <br /><br />Hike On!<br />~Twinville TrekkersLaughing Orca Ranchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03562627840013868980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-17813701538285519422010-02-28T19:20:14.276-08:002010-02-28T19:20:14.276-08:00The name of the book is," The High Adventure ...The name of the book is," The High Adventure of Eric Ryback:Canada to Mexico on Foot" Chronicle Publishers 1971Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-18437581908580627052010-02-27T11:38:43.456-08:002010-02-27T11:38:43.456-08:00I read one a number of years ago about a thru hike...I read one a number of years ago about a thru hiker that started in Canada and went south,If memory serves he was a 17 year old fresh out of high school in the early <br />'70s Cant remember the title(memory not serving well)I do remember he had to re-sole his own boots a couple of times, I'll see if I can dig it out of my stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-3271978358703106462010-02-27T05:44:38.612-08:002010-02-27T05:44:38.612-08:00Is there a clue on this blog post, Ryan? Are you p...Is there a clue on this blog post, Ryan? Are you planting any boxes this trip?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1838884300056139535.post-11861918224875519822010-02-26T21:43:59.961-08:002010-02-26T21:43:59.961-08:00So, of all the pictures you have taken of yourself...So, of all the pictures you have taken of yourself, which one would you put on the cover of your journal to be published? hmmm Did you ever get you a moisture proof camera yet? And are you taking one with you this time. <br />ODAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com