A Woman's Journey on the Appalachian Trail

If you're looking for a book about what it's like to hike the AP - don't buy this book. If you want insight about why someone hikes the AP - pick it up. Ross is open and honest about her time on the trail and what an intensely personal experience it was. The charcoal drawings are amazing. A sweet, quick read.

When I was 15, my dream was to hike the Appalachain Trail. I grew up in Maine, about 4 hours south of Mt. Katahdin. For Christmas of that year, my mother gave me this book. Christmas afternoon I started reading it and couldn't put it down. Since then I have re-read it about 100 times. It is a book of reference for me; a book that helps me reconnect with my dreams. I wrote a letter to Cindy Ross that year to let her know how touching her book was for me. About a month after I sent the letter I got a card from her, handwritten with a sketch of Mt. Katahdin on the front, which she had drawn. She was so nice to me and even signed my books when I mailed them to her. This is a wonderfully simple story of friendship, nature, looking within yourself for strength, and following your dreams.