Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail [Kindle Edition]

By Bill "Skywalker" Walker



Skywalker's trail name undoubtedly has something to do with his 6'11" stature. In 2005 the self described average hiker successfully thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, then he wrote the book "Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail" which he published in 2008. The following summer he thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, and the experience turned out to be quite different than the AT.

I love reading books written by thru-hikers, probably because I aspire to be one some day. Skywalker does a nice job of describing the feeling of life on the PCT, and it isn't always a John Muir love affair of wilderness. He makes some pretty amateur mistakes along the way, and his fear of snakes, bears, icy cliffs, etc. become apparent. This may not be your vision of a mountaineer, but it does show what an average person can accomplish when he puts his mind to it.

Since he successfully thru-hiked the AT, you might think the PCT was just another long trail, but it proved to be much more difficult for Skywalker. In the end he did start and finish the PCT, but there were some large sections that he was forced to skip along the way due to injury, fire, and inclimate weather.

For me, this wasn't one of those books that's so intriguing that you can hardly put it down, but it is recommended reading for anyone who aspires to hike very long distances. Hs honest, and sometimes self defacing writing style gives you a good dose of the reality of life on a long trail, which I think is an important step in preparing for a thru-hike.

Book Review - Tenkara, Radically Simple, Ultralight Fly Fishing

Rating: 3 out of 5 - Average



As the first book written in English about Tenkara, many will consider this a breakthrough and a big win for those involved in the sport. It's exciting to see this ancient Japanese version of fly fishing spreading to the west. With rods weighing less than 3 ounces, and complete fishing kits as light as 6 ounces, Tenkara is a perfect fit for the ultralight backpacker who enjoys a distraction from walking with minimal weight penalty.

The author does a nice job of touching on several different topics on the subject, but he doesn't get too in depth on any one. If you haven't read about Tenkara's history, you might find it interesting that it dates back hundreds of years to commercial anglers fishing small mountain streams in Japan. They used long lightweight bamboo rods to extend their reach, lightweight horsehair lines, and a simple artificial fly as their main source of income and sustenance.

Gear simplicity, rigging, and casting techniques are covered pretty well with good descriptions and illustrations. He even touches on entomology, fly tying, and how to make furled and level lines, which I found interesting but left me wanting more.

Don't let the less than flattering rating stop you from reading this book...if you are new to Tenkara, it has some very good information. There were just no big "ah ha" moments in it for me. Being new to the sport, I am glad I read it, but I guess I expected to get more out of it.

Book Review - A Thru-Hiker's Heart: Tales of the Pacific Crest Trail

Rating: 4 out of 5 - Recommended

When I get into a book I really enjoy, I tend to savor it rather than rush to the end. This is one of those books that I have been slowly reading and pondering over the past couple of months. Finishing it, I am somewhat saddened that it is over, much like the emotions you feel after a long adventure.

"No Way" Ray completed the 2,663 mile long Pacific Crest Trail as a solo trip section hiking it over 5 summers between 2001 and 2005. In 2006 he began to hike the trail in 1 continuous journey with his wife (and editor of this book) Alice Tulloch. Unfortunately, Ray was killed when he fell from a 200 foot cliff some 300 miles from the start of their last adventure together. His trail journals and previous publications are nicely compiled into this book.

Read this book and you will be treated to a man's life long love affair with nature and the Sierra's. His PCT journey was the first time he had backpacked by himself even though he spent most of his life hiking and backpacking. Very long hikes are as much mental as they are physical, and Ray wrestled with fears and apprehension just like any of us would. Hiking through desolate areas and small trail towns, he takes you through laugh out loud highs and emotional lows, while telling history lessons of town and trail. In fact, the history lessons from this career teacher are inherent in his writing style, and are a pleasurable side trip along the way.

The story is incomplete due to Ray's untimely death, as there are some major gaps in trail sections, but don't let that stop you from reading it. In the end it's not about the trail but more about his journey, about the people he met along the way, and of the peace he was able to find in the solace of the trail.

Thanks Ray and Alice for sharing this with us!

Book Review - The Wilderness World of John Muir

Rating: 5 out of 5 - Highly Recommended

You will not learn anything about ultralight backpacking by reading this book. So why am I writing about it? One word - Inspiration. Muir had a style of writing like no other. Some said he abused adjectives, but I couldn't disagree more. See for yourself...