In 2017, approximately 4,000 people spent months studying and planning their epic adventure to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. They paid from $1,500 to $4,000 on equipment, set aside four to seven months of their lives, budgeted $4,000 to $7,000 to spend while hiking, and arranged to get to a trailhead. These activities were all done with the anticipation of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. However, 80% of these people failed!
This book was written by a professional startup/turnaround specialist who spent his entire career working with thousands of employees to improve the processes within their companies. It is from his own failed attempt at thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail that he says:
"A process that has an 80% failure rate is the wrong process!"
Based on two years of both primary and secondary research, this work explains new and innovative approaches to enjoying long distance hiking. This book is a game changer for not only those people in the 80% failure group but for all hikers who want to enjoy long distance hiking without all the pain. It is a how-to guide for the enormous number of people who want to hike long distances but are afraid they are not able to fulfill their dreams. Long distance hikers have been told they should not quit their dream of thru-hiking a long trail on a bad weather day or later, they will be sorry. Now, it needs to be said; they should not quit their dream without first reading this book.
This book will tell you how to:
1. Triple your odds of success by merely selecting the best starting location; it's not Springer Mountain! (Chapter 10)
2. Triple your odds of success by completing a particular training program! (Chapter 11)
3. Reduce your average daily pack weight to less than 6 pounds - including food and water! (Chapter 8)
4. Select the proper balance of food and nutritional supplements to maximize your energy! (Chapter 16)
5. Select the best hiking strategy for your personality! (Chapter 9)
6. What two beverages you need to drink EVERY TIME you resupply! (Chapter 16)
7. Why you need to throw away your shoes every 500 miles! (Chapter 12)
8. The cheapest way to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. It's also the easiest and the most enjoyable. (Chapter 10)
9. Dozens of hiking hacks and tips that will help you to enjoy your Appalachian Trail experience, not simply endure it! (Throughout the entire book!)
The foreword was written by Dr. Warren Doyle, the person recognized as having hiked more miles on the Appalachian Trail than anyone else. With 17 traverses of the trail under his belt and 37,000 miles under his feet, he knows better than anyone else what it takes to fulfill a long-distance hiking dream. His comments include:
"This book is a most welcome addition to the literature of the Appalachian Trail"
"It is an easy-to-read narrative on how to increase the chances of realizing one's dream of walking the entire Appalachian Trail . . ."
"Mr. Hinshaw's book focuses on the more relevant area of AT preparation."
"Yes, it is better to be a SMART hiker than a STRONG hiker."
"It is my hope, as well as the author's, that this book will help future hiker hopefuls realize their AT dreams."
Doyle, Warren: - Dr. Warren Doyle, a retired college professor, is recognized as having traversed the Appalachian Trail more times than anyone else. He has 17 traverses of the trail under his belt and 37,000 miles under his feet. He loves to share his love and enthusiasm for the trail and educate people on how to fulfill their dream of hiking it.
Hinshaw, Gail L.: - Gail Hinshaw was born in south-central Kansas. As a son of sharecropping parents, he was fortunate to live in a community that had a Boy Scout Troop. He became a "triple crown scout," earning the God and Country Award, the rank of Eagle Scout, and was honored with Vigil Membership in the Boy Scout Honor Fraternity, The Order of the Arrow. His youth scouting career also included being a Ranger at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. His professional career included being principal in his old high school at age 26, working for the Boy Scouts of America as a District Executive, and serving as a startup and turnaround professional for numerous businesses and organizations. He started several businesses of his own and ended his career as a public speaker. During his professional career, he found the time to be an adjunct professor, teaching leadership and research at the graduate level for over 30 years. His education includes two degrees in Industrial Technology as well as holding a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification in quality and process improvement. Growing up on a farm, as well as his education and work experience, gave him the knowledge, skill, and problem-solving ability to earn the trail name, Dr. Fix-it. His hiking and backpacking experience includes hiking close to 3,000 miles with hikes in New Mexico (Philmont Scout Ranch), Colorado (various), Arizona (Grand Canyon), as well as close to 2,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail. He is now enjoying his retirement, serving as grandad to five grandchildren, father to two outstanding children, and as husband to one very lovely lady.
