Bill Bryson

A favored book of mine recounts the journey of Bill Bryson and his unusual friend Katz as they undertake a portion of the Appalachian Trail with little experience and middle age angst. A Walk in the Woods is only one of several travel books Bryson has written, but it's the only one I've read so far. From the very beginning Bryson keeps us entertained with a whimsical style of storytelling that makes you really want to discover his little adventure with him. He draws you in with his descriptions of the trail. Bryson is terribly afraid of bears, a little bit of humor is spread throughout the book about his imaginary bear encounters. What Bryson does not do is romanticize the trail, he calls everything the way it is. He adds a lot of history of the regions and trail being built in the book, and somewhere along the way it really made me start to question the way we treat the Appalachians, along with all our nations monumental forests and mountains. He tells us about government institutions real purpose, such as the US Forestry service's main function- to build roads. Even when he tells us a harrowing story he does so in a way that makes us laugh a little and yet makes you think.

One of the most interesting things he does is paint a picture of the different personality types you encounter on the trail. There's people of all types, some arrogant, some friendly, sometimes annoying. Reading this book makes one crave the same type of experience, a journey that changes your perspective on life and people, on everything.

That really is what it's all about. Adventure is for discovery. The things that you discover aren't always the lands, creeks, and waterfalls you encounter. Sometimes you learn about you, your self image changes and your friendship with others can be strengthened. Katz and Bryson are a rather odd coupling for a buddy adventure, but Bryson comes to understand quite a bit about his friend by the end of the adventure. This is why you sometimes see business' sponsoring "team building" trips outdoors. Send a group of people river rafting and they will not only learn to work on a team to keep their butts dry but they will form bonds that will last far longer than anything you get standing around a water cooler.

Something to keep in mind when you wonder, "why go into the wilderness?" I say why not?