[Cdt-l] Walk in da woods

[Bob Sartini]

In the book Bryson decided that he would call himself " a thruhiker" when
of course he didn't complete the trail.  I think that was what rankled
those that care about such things. He inspired me, and I've read everything
he's written, so  if it bothers people I can understand that.

On Sun, Nov 11, 2012 at 8:45 PM, Jim and_or Ginny Owen <
spiriteagle99 at hotmail.com> wrote:

>  Iceaxe -
> Didn't mean to imply that the book was entirely fiction.  Bryson actually
> did hike some of the Trail.
> And he wrote about those experiences - but NOT as they actually occurred.
> He writes caricatures - of
> the people , the places, the events - as he sees them.
>
> Which is why so many hikers hate him - they see themselves in his
> writing.  And I saw them, too.
> Every character he wrote about was someone I saw, hiked with or interacted
> with in some way on the AT.
> I also saw myself in there.  Yes, the book was real in that sense
> Fortunately, I do have some capacity to
> laugh at myself. Some people don't. Those are the ones I think should
> apply for a "sense of humor" implant.
> But - it's their life.
>
>  btw - you should maybe know that I came very close to quitting south of
> Erwin.  A good friend saved me.
> Not to mention the other times on other trails that I nearly quit - or the
> several times that I did quit.  Lotsa
> stories there.  But not right now.
>
> Also btw - more than one person has initially attempted and not completed
> the AT - and then gone on to
> succcess on the PCT.
>
> Sorry I missed you on the AT in 92.
>
> Jim
>
> http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/
>
> > Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:02:41 +0000
> > From: iceaxehikes at gmail.com
> > To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
> > Subject: [Cdt-l] Walk in da woods
> >
> > Spirit Eagle, i think a lot of folks take the VERY graphic account of
> Bill Bryson on the AT as nothing less than the truth.
> > If you mean to say it is fictional, i have not seen that anywhere nor is
> it implied.
> > Like i said, i liked the book even though it differed from my experience.
> > I liked it because the few things similar to mine were extremely close.
> > Such as; i totally and completely failed at mile 43 back in 1992 on the
> PCT.
> > It was quite spectacular having been sent off by 100 friends and family
> to return one week later in utter shame.
> > It took 18 years to recover my pride and succesfully thru hike the PCT
> with a continuous line of steps.
> > Bryson's book hit very close to home.. In fact TOO close to home on that
> exact theme to be fiction.
> > Amazing that we are all so different, with different ideas, politics,
> and interests, to yet end up sharimg so much emotion.
> > In fact your site: SpiritEagle is a great inspiration to myslef and
> others.
> > Cheers my friends
> >
> > ----------
> > Sent via Nokia Email
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>
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-- 
Everything is in Walking Distance
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