A Walk in the Woods - Don’t be an Ass
A true tale of two guys trying to hike the Appalachian Trail. It’s got a good sense of humor and will give you a few chuckles. Bill Bryson does not capture the beauty on the trails but he does a good job of relying the problems the trail encounters. Invasive species and human expansion are two of the main ones. Overall the book was a pleasure to read but not one to dwell on. You get a few laughs but the story does not feel like that of discovery and learning.
The Irony
The book is rather ironic in a way. Two overweight guys start a dangerous hike knowing that they are not hikers and manage to get through the first part safely. After the first part of the trail they consider themselves hikers. Yet it’s the second part of the trail where they give up on the trail as one of them gets lost and almost dies. They get off the trail and conclude that they “Hiked the Appalachian Trail”. They know they didn’t hike all of it but they believe they have done enough to be able to say it.
A Lack of etiquette
Bryson makes fun of a lot of people. His humor is of my taste and I found a lot of it funny. I also think he’s a bit of an Ass. He makes fun of other hikers for being bad company and has no self awareness. Katz is Bryson’s trail buddy. Katz is depicted as an Ass who knows little about hiking and should not be on the trail. Bryson is an Ass as he brought another Asshole on the trail with him. Katz is often portrayed as rude and as somebody who knows nothing about trail etiquette. He constantly litters his gear and who knows what is. Bryson should have taught his friend better.
Disillusion
By the end of the novel they decide to quit the Appalachian Trail and consider it “Hiked” on their own terms. In a way they are correct as they did hike bits of it but this declaration seems a bit disillusioned. Katz gets lost and almost dies. They both realize they don’t really want to do this and dying in the woods is a real possibility which is why they decide to quit. The Appalachian Trail kicked their ass and they have the arrogance to say that they “Hiked” it. Bryson taking somebody who knows little about hiking & back packing is irresponsible. He never comes to the realization that Katz is partly his responsibility as he brought them on the trail. They don’t acknowledge the trail defeated them. They started on it ill prepared and they ended up giving up. Overall it is a humorous read but one whose characters lack the self awarness they should.