Sheltered An Appalachian Trail Story Miss Emily Harper 9780988794009 Books
Download As PDF : Sheltered An Appalachian Trail Story Miss Emily Harper 9780988794009 Books
Sheltered is a thrilling true life account of the Appalachian Trail. The two thousand mile trail spans from Springer, Georgia through fourteen states and ends on the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. A couple thousand people go out each year in hopes of completing the entire trail in one go, but few do. This story is filled with hiker lingo and weaves with the ins and outs of hiker culture. The stinky, bearded hikers, who hunger for burgers and thirst for beer, are the everyday comrades on the trail. In towns, hikers flock to the grocery stores where they are greeted with shocked townsfolk, who watch these mountain men with caution. At restaurants the waiters stare and their jaws drop to the floor as hikers gulp down burgers with a side of Mountain Dew. At first many of the hikers have no idea what they have stepped out to achieve. The total elevation gain on the Appalachian Trail is equal to hiking Mount Everest sixteen times. Starting out in the spring means waking up to snow. By the time hikers get to Virginia, winter is gone for good, and hikers have their trail legs. By Pennsylvania, hikers are zapped of energy from the heat and low water. They are attacked by mosquitoes in New Jersey. They get lost in the cliffs of New York. Vermont is beautiful, but is no rival against the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where hikers get to walk above treeline and experience heaven on clear days. At the border of Maine, it is so close and yet so far. Maine, wildest of all, is also the most brutal, and beautiful of all. Some hike it in sections and others in Thru-hikes. It's been said, "For a section hiker it’s a lifetime of hikes. For a thru-hiker it's a hike of a lifetime."
Sheltered An Appalachian Trail Story Miss Emily Harper 9780988794009 Books
"Sheltered" (the perfect title) is absolutely one of the most engaging AT narratives I've read. Related in a down-home, conversational tone, complete with youthful phrasing and some Pennsylvania colloquy, it's easy to read and, I feel, easy to relate to. I've read the negative reviews and find them elitist. The author relates her own, real, personal thru-hike struggles, of which social angst is one, but who at her age, or any age, hasn't struggled with this? That she stepped out of her protected upbringing and worked through her parents' disapproval and misgivings without disrespecting them shows courage and diplomacy. That she rose above feeling rejected and left in the dust by fellow hikers, went on to meet new friends, and finished her hike shows resiliency. I did not read any "whining." She tells it as she experienced it. It's fresh and honest. I felt as though we were lounging around a campfire while she told her story in casual, young-adult parlance (I have grandchildren her age.) Look past your prejudices and listen to her story. You'll learn more about hiking, about young folks, and maybe even about yourself.Product details
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Tags : Sheltered: An Appalachian Trail Story [Miss Emily Harper] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Sheltered is a thrilling true life account of the Appalachian Trail. The two thousand mile trail spans from Springer,Miss Emily Harper,Sheltered: An Appalachian Trail Story,Emily Harper,0988794004,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Adventurers & Explorers
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Sheltered An Appalachian Trail Story Miss Emily Harper 9780988794009 Books Reviews
The book had multiple errors in spelling, punctuation, and context (context because the words may have been spelled correctly, but was in the wrong context...ex. "flees" instead of "fleas.") I edit documents for a living and so therefore may have been particularly sensitive to this fact, but it still bugged the bejeezus out of me. I found myself getting angry with the author for encouraging others in risky behaviors like not bear bagging or not filtering water. I also felt that she blamed others for being judgemental and taking advantage of situations (like the free pizza in town when the guy got an extra free piece), but she was judgemental herself and a huge mooch taking things from others (rides, stays in homes, foods.) She also focused more on her social interactions and what others thought, than on describing the trail. There were many sections where she never said what state she was in and I found it confusing. I have more but will stop there.
This book is the 5th one I've read about hiking the Appalachian Trail, and I will say that I do learn something new from each book I read. Each one contains lessons learned and I will glean from this author's experiences as well. To her credit, she was very young when she set off on her journey and she has accomplished much in her young life. She has completed the trail (if you count the yellow-blazing, skipped miles), and she has written a book, which is more than I have done.
If you're looking for an informative book about the AT, that is not what this book is meant to be.
That being said, I rather enjoyed seeing the AT from Emily's greedy, selfish, immature perspective. I couldn't wait to read the next chapter to see how she was going to yogi her way into free food, free housing, free money, free rides etc. Or how she might use the helpless "girl card" to get favors.
Examples that really amused and amazed me One time, she was making dozens of pancakes on the trail, and another hiker BEGGED for one (he'd even take the burnt scrapings). She was so smug and proud to write about how she refused to share. Yet, she is somehow always conniving people to give her free food. When she does 'share' (rarely), she charges a fellow hiker a couple bucks for a hot dog.
Another example One of the trail towns gives a free slice of pizza to thru-hikers. Another hiker joined her for the free slice, even though he'd already eaten a free slice earlier. Emily scolds him out loud that he's only supposed to get one free slice. Yet, when there is trail magic of a cooler of sodas, she boasts about taking two and drinking them simultaneously.
One more example, when she was selected for work-for-stay at a hut, she swept the floor and felt entitled that this was all she needed to do to earn her keep. It was delightful reading when fellow hikers made sure she knew that the hut owners were very displeased. Her own rules apply to everyone except her. No wonder nobody wanted to hike with her. Ooooh, how I'd love to know how Miss Emily is doing in the work-world today...maybe a sequel some time soon?
I enjoyed reading this book very much. It amazed me that hikers on the trail can be as mean to someone on the trail as if they were back in high school. Amish had an excellent attitude while hiking. A year ago I had a hiker from the trail insist on giving me a hug and putting his Phone number in my cell. I was thrilled to meet him. I texted him a few months later and he texted me back and told me that he remembered the little lady from Colorado and the Trail Magic.
I have read many books on the three major trails in the U. S. and this was probably one of the most disappointing. It is written in the first person and primarily talks about herself. There is minimal to no description of the trail itself or the towns or the experience of walking 2,000 miles. She talks some of the people she walks with, however, you do not get a feel for who they really are or why they are hiking. There is no talk of the trials or tribulations of hiking. It is like a personal journal only she would understand. Poorly written. I only finished it because I had hoped it would get better, which it did not.
I think this is a good read for young ladies. Some of it seemed a little far fetched. As an older gentleman backpacker, I don't see the desire for thru-hikers to get wasted on alcohol; my opinion. She reported some of that. I have read many stories of this thru-hike journey, and I am not sure this one is not a total fiction made up from all the stories out there. Some I have read are exactly that. I guess I feel this really is a read for young women. I wanted to see the thru-hike through the lens of a young lady, but feel now that I should have read something else.
"Sheltered" (the perfect title) is absolutely one of the most engaging AT narratives I've read. Related in a down-home, conversational tone, complete with youthful phrasing and some Pennsylvania colloquy, it's easy to read and, I feel, easy to relate to. I've read the negative reviews and find them elitist. The author relates her own, real, personal thru-hike struggles, of which social angst is one, but who at her age, or any age, hasn't struggled with this? That she stepped out of her protected upbringing and worked through her parents' disapproval and misgivings without disrespecting them shows courage and diplomacy. That she rose above feeling rejected and left in the dust by fellow hikers, went on to meet new friends, and finished her hike shows resiliency. I did not read any "whining." She tells it as she experienced it. It's fresh and honest. I felt as though we were lounging around a campfire while she told her story in casual, young-adult parlance (I have grandchildren her age.) Look past your prejudices and listen to her story. You'll learn more about hiking, about young folks, and maybe even about yourself.
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