It’s perfect hiking weather now. The air is fresh and crisp, and the leaves of our deciduous trees are in full color in the valleys, when looking from the higher elevations of the leafless Appalachian Mountains, slightly dusted with snow. If you want to really get motivated to hike the Appalachian Trail, or merely hike in one of our many national and state parks, try reading Bill Bryson’s book entitled, “A Walk in the Woods: rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail.” Not only will the book make you laugh, but it may encourage you to dust off your hiking boots and head out for Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park. Once there, you should be able to find the trail at Skyland or Big Meadows, clearly marked with aluminum markers on stone posts. Bryson found this area to be the most beautiful and the most hiking friendly of the whole trail, when he tried to hike all of the 2, 181 miles. The following map may make Virginia’s portion look small, when compared to the whole trail. For full appreciation, find Virginia and the Shenandoah here.
If the author’s effort doesn’t inspire you, maybe you will be inspired by Bryson’s shopping experience. He had never really hiked before he decided to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, so he was a novice. This is the source of much of the beginning humor. We follow him to a sporting goods store and experience his purchase of every type of equipment and tool. Soon it all becomes too much to carry, so his side-kick, Katz, throws much away. But I don’t want to reveal too much.
Published in 1998, the book is full of facts and concern for the future of this magnificent trail. You’ll learn about the endangered plants and trees and ones lost forever. But Bryson doesn’t dwell too long on the negative. He praises the outdoors and the wildlife found there. Bill and his sidekick, Katz, are not experienced hikers in the beginning, so their adventures are sure to make you laugh. However, you will also respect their effort and the dangers they encountered.
Personally, I want to plant some of the original plants in Virginia, like the Camillia, in my own yard. I want to search for my wild dogwoods, to see if they are still healthy. Dogwoods have been dying along the trail, plagued by an invasive species called, “Dogwood Anthracnose.”
To discover more information search “Environment Complete” for journal articles about acid rain, or our own library catalog, VCCSlinc, for numerous books about walking and hiking. Facts on File’s Science Today may also be helpful in gathering data. Of course, government sites like the National Park Service and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation have a wealth of information.
Happy Trails and Happy Researching!
Germanna Library 