Skywalker: Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail
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Narrated by:
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Bill Walker
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By:
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Bill Walker
About this listen
Why would a middle-aged businessman who had never even spent the night outdoors, attempt to hike the entire Appalachian Trail? Bill Walker, a former commodities trader in Chicago and London, and an avid walker, had developed a virtual obsession to hike this historic 2,175 mile footpath in one hiking season. In the spring of 2005 he set off from his home state of Georgia, hoping to make it to Mount Katahdin in northern Maine before the arrival of winter. Immediately, he realized he had plunged into a whole new world. For starters, the Appalachian Trail has some ferociously difficult terrain, winding through dramatically diverse geography and covering the East's highest peaks. Walker's 6'11" height earned him the trail name, "Skywalker", and drew envious attention from his fellow hikers. However, the height made him more susceptible to weight loss, cold weather, and crushing fatigue. An elemental fear of bears and snakes, as well as getting lost, also loomed large. Skywalker was especially struck by the rich culture this jewel of a trail has developed over the years.
Included is a history of how the Appalachian Trail has become such a stunning American success story over the decades. It is a model public-private partnership. As many as 4,000,000 people hike some part of it each year. Mortals are compelled - or perhaps cursed - to relive their lifetime adventure. This is Bill Walker's unforgettable version, leavened with ruthlessly self-deprecating humor. Some have joked that the book is as much about what not to do, as what to do. Skywalker couldn't agree more!
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- Narrated by: Jennifer Pharr Davis
- Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Jennifer Pharr Davis, the former record holder of the FKT (or Fastest Known Time) on the Appalachian Trail, tells the story of her meteoric rise in the world of endurance hiking and, in doing so, unpacks key traits that make women uniquely suited to endurance. With a storyteller's ear for fascinating detail and description, she takes us with her as she sets the record on the Appalachian Trail and introduces us to the mentors who helped her to identify and unlock different facets of her endurance capabilities.
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Not uplifting
- By M on 05-15-18
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Run!
- 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss
- By: Dean Karnazes
- Narrated by: Daniel May
- Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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In his follow-up to the best-selling Ultra-Marathon Man, world-renowned ultra marathoner Dean Karnazes chronicles his unbelievable exploits and explorations in gripping detail; Karnazes runs for days on end without rest, across some of the most exotic and inhospitable places on earth, including the Australian Outback, Antarctica, and the back alleys of New Jersey.
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Great stories. Horrible narrator.
- By Alberto Medellin on 08-20-15
By: Dean Karnazes
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My Year of Running Dangerously
- By: Tom Foreman
- Narrated by: Tom Foreman
- Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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As a journalist whose career spans three decades, CNN correspondent Tom Foreman has reported from the heart of war zones, riots, and natural disasters. He has interviewed serial killers and been in the line of fire. But the most terrifying moment of his life didn't occur on the job - it occurred at home, when his 18-year-old daughter asked, "How would you feel about running a marathon with me?"
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ESPECIALLY Good for Those of Us Who Don't Run!
- By Gillian on 04-12-16
By: Tom Foreman
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Lassoing the Sun
- A Year in America's National Parks
- By: Mark Woods
- Narrated by: Corey M. Snow
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Many childhood summers, Mark Woods piled into a station wagon with his parents and two sisters and headed to America's national parks. Mark's most vivid childhood memories are set against a backdrop of mountains, woods, and fireflies in places like Redwood, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon national parks. On the eve of turning 50, and a little burned out, Mark decided to reconnect with the great outdoors. He'd spend a year visiting the national parks.
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great narrator, lackluster story, wonderful themes
- By MT on 08-21-18
By: Mark Woods
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Denali's Howl
- The Deadliest Climbing Disaster on America's Wildest Peak
- By: Andy Hall
- Narrated by: Jim Manchester
- Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1967, 12 young men attempted to climb Alaska's Mount McKinley—known to the locals as Denali—one of the most popular and deadly mountaineering destinations in the world. Only five survived. Journalist Andy Hall, son of the park superintendent at the time, investigates the tragedy. He spent years tracking down survivors, lost documents, and recordings of radio communications. In Denali's Howl, Hall reveals the full story.
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Disappointing
- By David Shear on 07-07-14
By: Andy Hall
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Still Life with Brook Trout
- By: John Gierach
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 6 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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John Gierach demonstrates once again that fishing, when done right, is as much a philosophical pursuit as a sport. Gierach travels to Wyoming and Maine and points in between, searching out new fly-fishing adventures and savoring familiar waters with old friends. Along the way he meditates on the importance of good guides, the challenge of salmon fishing, and the zen of fishing alone. On a more serious note, he ponders the damaging effects of disasters both natural and man-made.
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A problem with casting
- By GrayKnight on 01-18-19
By: John Gierach
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Almost Anywhere
- Road-Trip Ruminations on Love, Nature, Recovery, and Nonsense
- By: Krista Schlyer
- Narrated by: Marisa Vitali
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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What do you do when your world ends? At 28 years old, Krista Schlyer sold almost everything she owned and packed the rest of it in a station wagon bound for the American wild. Her two best friends joined her - one a grumpy, grieving introvert, the other a feisty dog - and together they sought out every national park, historic site, forest, and wilderness they could get to before their money ran out or their minds gave in.
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No a travelogue - its a diary
- By Jonathan on 12-29-20
By: Krista Schlyer
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Mud, Sweat, and Tears
- The Autobiography
- By: Bear Grylls
- Narrated by: Tom Patrick Stephens
- Length: 9 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Already a number-one London Sunday Times best seller, Mud, Sweat, and Tears is the adrenaline-fueled autobiography of the mega-popular star of the hit survival series Man vs. Wild, adventurer Bear Grylls. A former British Special Forces commando, a man who has always sought the ultimate in dangerous challenges, Bear's true story reads like an outdoors action-and-adventure novel. But Bear's story is true - full of breathtaking escapes and remarkable exploits that would make any Jack London or H. Ryder Haggard hero proud.
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Love this book
- By Aaron on 04-07-13
By: Bear Grylls
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Running Up That Hill
- The Highs and Lows of Going That Bit Further
- By: Vassos Alexander
- Narrated by: Vassos Alexander
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Vassos Alexander shares his insight from interviews with legends of the sport and his own gruelling but rewarding experiences of extraordinary endurance racing - including the legendary 152 mile Spartathlon, widely regarded as the world's most relentless race. Vassos dissects and explores the tenacity that propels many to keep on running and running and running....
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Enjoyable
- By Paul on 05-28-23
By: Vassos Alexander
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Wild Men, Wild Alaska
- Finding What Lies Beyond the Limits
- By: Rocky McElveen
- Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies
- Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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In Wild Men, Wild Alaska professional hunting and fishing guide and outfitter Rocky McElveen tells the stories of his own adventures as well as those of some of his well-known clients. The book takes listeners directly into the Alaskan bush, and shares the intense challenges of a majestic wilderness that pushes a man to his limits.
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Too Much Religion
- By Chris D. on 06-05-18
By: Rocky McElveen
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Turn Right at Machu Picchu
- Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time
- By: Mark Adams
- Narrated by: Andrew Garman
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Writer for the New York Times and GQ, Mark Adams is also the acclaimed author of Mr. America. In this fascinating travelogue, Adams follows in the controversial footsteps of Hiram Bingham III, who’s been both lionized and vilified for his discovery of the famed Lost City in 1911—but which reputation is justified?
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Spellbounding, exceptional vocals
- By KLewis on 09-19-15
By: Mark Adams
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Epic Survival
- Extreme Adventure, Stone Age Wisdom, and Lessons in Living from a Modern Hunter-Gatherer
- By: Matt Graham, Josh Young
- Narrated by: Tom Perkins
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
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Early on in his life, Matt craved a return to nature. When he became an adult, he set aside his comfortable urban life and lived entirely off the land. In this riveting narrative that brings together epic adventure and spiritual quest, he shows us what extraordinary things the human body is capable of when pushed to its limits. He learns the secrets of the Tarahumara Indians, which help him run the 1,600-mile Pacific Crest Trail in just 58 days and endure temperature swings of 100 degrees.
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Missed opportunity for what could have been a great book.
- By A. C. on 01-11-20
By: Matt Graham, and others
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Just Passin' Thru
- A Vintage Store, the Appalachian Trail, and a Cast of Unforgettable Characters
- By: Winton Porter
- Narrated by: Jones Allen
- Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Like a well-crafted stage play, Just Passin' Thru delivers one suspenseful scene after another. But in this historic setting a store on the Appalachian Trail called Mountain Crossings the characters who show up are no fictional creations. Like any good drama, there are the good guys (and gals) and the weirdos, too. Some show up once (and that’s enough), and some appear again and again. But all are united by two things: the author’s story-capturing talent, and whatever it is that lures them to attempt (or conquer) a 2,200-mile path that climbs and plummets from Georgia to Maine.
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Well Worth it!
- By Pamela M. on 11-13-14
By: Winton Porter
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Despite her success setting a self-supported Fastest Known Time record on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013, Heather “Anish” Anderson still had such deep-seated insecurities that she became convinced her feat had been a fluke. So two years later she set out again, this time hiking through mud, rocks, and mountain blazes to crush her constant self-doubt and seek the true source of her strength and purpose. The 2,189 miles of the Appalachian Trail, from Maine to Georgia, did not make it easy.
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After graduating from college, Jennifer isn't sure what she wants to do with her life. She is drawn to the Appalachian Trail, a 2,175-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Though her friends and family think she's crazy, she sets out alone to hike the trail, hoping it will give her time to think about what she wants to do next. The next four months are the most physically and emotionally challenging of her life.
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Just read WILD again.
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What listeners say about Skywalker: Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 01-22-15
Great Trail Hiking Literature! !
I read this after being so disappointed and disgusted by Oprah's recommendation of Wild. Skywalker is what I was really after in this classification of travel and adventure. Bill Walker's sense of humor and enthusiasm for lie and adventure have made this one of my Audible favorites.
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4 people found this helpful
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- stampmom9 Dawn Gallop
- 10-13-17
Funny and down to earth
I loved this book. Being from North Carolina his narration was just fine!!! I enjoyed the stories the adventures and his funny humorous times. My husband and I laughed and would recommend this and Winton Porters book. Just passing thru. Of course we have listened to almost all hiking books. Thanks for the info and the good laughs.
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- monkoman
- 05-23-22
So you want to hike the AT
Found the down-home feel very comforting yet his story is an excellent adventure. This is the gentleman you would love to hike with on the Appalachian trail.
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- Roxy
- 06-20-16
Great story told from a real person
If you could sum up Skywalker: Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail in three words, what would they be?
Bill Walker is an interesting character. He is over 7 feet tall and has a down home way of speaking. As he reads along, you find yourself correcting his pronunciation. One could chalk that up to Southern, but I am southern and do not mispronounce words. But, it is endearing and he weaves a funny and informative tale along the AT. I liked it.
It was relaxed and he tells of his mistakes as well as his triumphs.
He gave me good insight into my sections hikes of the trail.
Have you listened to any of Bill Walker’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Yes. Getting High. I plan to hike the Annapurna Circuit next year and I gave me insight into the challenges there.
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- D. Corcoran
- 11-25-15
Liked the story, but the recording quality was fair.
I've been reading and listening to AT related stories as I prepare for my section hikes. I've been pleased with the personalities and perspectives of various authors, and Skywalker is no exception. The difference in speaking and writing style between AWOL and Skywalker is noticeable, and took a few chapters to embrace; however, I was able to quickly enjoy Walker's story telling style.
I was rather disappointed in the recording quality of the story though. It is obvious that parts of the story was recorded at different times and in different locations. Some sections echoed, and other sections are nasally.
Overall, I like the story, enjoyed the reading, and am glad I bought the audio book. I am interested in the PCT audiobook by Walker.
I would recommend this to any through/section hiker, or to anyone preparing for the AT.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Jonathan
- 12-30-19
Great listen
Lots of books about people hiking the AT out there and this one is great - the authors positive attitude and outlook was perfect - nicely written and just the right length!
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- David Poisson
- 02-26-24
Thesaurus?
The reader with his Southern draw probably made the story better than it was. All and all I enjoyed it but I feel like the author went out of his way to exercise his vocabulary too often and in places that made his word choice stick out. In all seriousness there's no need for a thesaurus, nor would the story lose you because of his word choice. I just found myself constantly thinking there wasn't a need for it and in a group of people who spend more time talking about food and poop, just plain out of place.
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- Tim
- 01-07-15
Was like a bad sequel
In the same vain as "Home Alone 3" or "Caddyshack 2" this book was a different story about the same thing as "A Walk In The Woods" but it was by far inferior to that book. I enjoyed listening to it, but it will not be a book I would listen to again and again as I have the aforementioned. The author was really not the best choice of narrator in my opinion. I do admire that he is a true "thru hiker". Often times I would get lost in the abundance of trail names.
I liked the book but I did not love it.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Bruce
- 06-19-20
The poor narration detracts from the story.
Bill Walker reads through his story as if he was running a speed race. while there are entertaining portions of the book, overall it is exhausting to listen to.
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Story
- megloves.portland
- 08-25-16
Must read!
This book is a breath of fresh air! I loved every moment of it 😊
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