Balancing on Blue: Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail

158 Pages·2015·1.52 MB·English

by  Foskett

BALANCING on BLUE
A Dromomaniac Hiking

KEITH FOSKETT
Praise for Balancing on Blue

A highly anticipated Appalachian Trail memoir, and well worth the wait.
Daniel Neilson (The Great Outdoors Magazine)

Following on from his entertaining account of his Pacific Crest Trail hike, The
Last Englishman, Keith Foskett tackles the Appalachian Trail. Written with his
usual energy and style the book covers motivation and the story of the trail as
well as his personal hike. A good read for anyone interested in long distance
journeys.
Chris Townsend (Author and hiker)

Long distance hikes are simultaneously life-affirming and total agony. Walking
2000 miles would be a phenomenal journey wherever in the world you did it. To
tackle the legendary Appalachian Trail is a truly special experience, and one I
dream of attempting sometime in my life. Amongst the bears, moose and
rattlesnakes, climbing to 2000 metres, and countless aches and pains lives the
memory of a special journey, the wonderful people who briefly share the
experience with you, and the knowledge that lasts long after the final blister has
healed. It’s a lifetime’s worth of adventurous memories crammed into one simple
walk.
Alastair Humphreys (Author, adventurer and A National Geographic
Adventurer of the Year 2012)

With thru-hiking gaining in popularity, many look to the Appalachian Trail to
test out their trail legs, and discover why it holds the reputation it does.
The wilds of this planet are serene, peaceful and offer the chance to break
away from a normal existence. Keith’s wonderful perspective of the trail reflects
this freedom.
Jennifer Pharr Davis (Author and record holder for the fastest ever thru-hike of
the Appalachian Trail).

An entertaining and inspiring account of one of the world’s longest walks and
the people who walk it. Keith is a perfect walking companion for the ups and
downs of the trail – his easy and understated style kept me turning the pages.
Essential reading for those contemplating their own big adventure.
David Lintern (Editor – Outdoor Enthusiast Magazine)

Long distance backpacking trips can be monotonous, and it’s often the same
story for most books about them. Balancing on Blue is something completely
different and once again, Keith invites you to the world that he calls home.
Be prepared for great story telling, unique and interesting characters,
humour and insight.
Andrew Skurka (Long-distance hiker, adventurer and National Geographic
Adventurer of the Year 2007)

This book is for anyone who’s ever dreamed about a big adventure, as Fozzie
spins a funny, thought-provoking and inspiring tale of thru-hiking the
Appalachian Trail. You’ll be handing in your notice and packing up your
rucksack as soon as you’ve finished reading.
Jenny Walters (Country Walking Magazine)
Other books by Keith Foskett

The Journey in Between
(ISBN: 978-1480176393)
A 1,000 mile walk along El Camino de Santiago in France and Spain.

The Last Englishman
(ISBN: 978-1480169111)
A 2,640 mile hiking adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail.
This book is dedicated to the Appalachian Trail Class of 2012.

And – to those who didn’t come home:

Dwight Cope, Dagan Cope, Thomas Andersen,
Carmen Kotula and Paul Bernhardt.
Thru-Hiker
Someone who hikes a long-distance trail end to end, usually in one, continuous
attempt.

The Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, known simply as the AT, is a 2,180 mile
hiking route in the eastern United States. Starting at Springer Mountain in
Georgia and passing through fourteen states to finish on Mount Katahdin in
Maine.

Dromomania
From the Latin dromas (runner) and mania (excessive or unreasonable desire,
even insanity) is an uncontrollable impulse to wander.
Acknowledgements

First and most importantly, thank you for buying this book. Following an
unconventional dream of hiking and writing is a long road, full of setbacks
which require a strength and stubborn determination to follow. It is people like
you, who buy my books that allow me to continue to live it.
The proof readers who took time out to help me: Caroline Morse, Chris
Partridge, Dan McCormack, Tom Moose, Cliff Martin, Derek Vreeland, Charley
Seger, Frank Patriot, Sarah Van Vliet, Nina Smirnoff, Michelle Markel, Patti
Kulesz and exceeding the call of duty honourably — Kate Bryant.
Alex Roddie of Pinnacle Editorial for pointing out my dangling participles,
and for his top notch editing.
Jeremy ‘Obs da Blobs’ Rowley and Samantha ‘Mumfa’ Rowley for the
continued dedication to the formatting cause.
For those who provided quotes — Daniel Neilson, Alastair Humphreys,
Jennifer Pharr Davis, David Lintern, Andrew Skurka, Rosie Fuller and Chris
Townsend.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, whose help with trail and history facts
was much appreciated.
Those that helped me prior to starting the trail and their hospitality; Gariele
Marewski, Keith ‘Hiker X’ Baitsell, Sarah ‘Sami’ Van Vliet, Lauren ‘Swiss
Miss’ Moran and Kathryn ‘Dinosaur’ Herndon.
The group that I hiked most of the trail with comprised of Peter ‘PJ’ Semo,
Sam ‘Daffy’ Ridge, Chris ‘Juggles’ Chiappini, John ‘Thirsty’ Beshara, Dallas
‘Bush Goggles’ Nustvold and Phillip ‘Lazagne’ Colelli. My thanks to them for
keeping such a great group together and also for their individual work on the
first and last chapters.
All the hikers I met on trail, friendships made, and missed; PJ, Lady Forward,
Chatterbox, Bowser, Byline, Pork Chop, Lazagne, Daffy, Bill, Kindle Ninja,
Juggles, Bush Goggles, Thirsty, Desperado, Ninja, Jack, Shakespeare, Eastwood,
Susan, Poco ‘n Poco, Beacon, Mousy, Cheryl, Patrick, Cassie, Daniel, Tom and
his dog Dakota, Tyler, Dirt Farmer, Central Booking, Jonathan, Grady, Turtle,
Funny Bones, Slayer, Wildflower, Ken, Hoot, Lord Horatio Fonsworth
Belvidere Bentley Tiberius III Esq, Tree Hugger, Mary Poppins, Honey Badger,
Road Runner, Walking Man, Ninja Turtle, Jonah and his dog Dingleberry,
Onespeed, W, Balls, Sunshine, Pops, Earthling, Carrie, Willy, One Speed,
Honey Badger, Margaret, Roadrunner, Spam, Mattress Pad, Chez 11, Nito,
Bonk, Saint, Cheddar, Hill Walker, Snot Rocket, Anchor, Tripping Yeti,
Embassador, Flint, Tyvek, Wiffle Chicken, Apollo, Ken, Yodler, K9, Tarp
Water, Tinkerbell, Rainbow Eyes, Plant Man, Socks, White Wolf, Kaleidoscope,
Not Worthy, Chef, Turtle, Day-Glo, Sun, Slims, Turbo Toes, Wise Guy, Socks,
Atlas, Hotshot, Hippity Hop, Medic, Easy Rider, Dog Whisperer, Easy Mile,
Danish, Don Quixote, Two, Bad Dinner, Grok, Metric, Willie, Indiana, Warlie,
Johaness, Cat Woman, Meat, Connect 4, Stingray, Resource, Whoop, Danish,
Houdini, Pedestrian, Great Dane, Banjo, Skunkape, Roadhouse, Chesty, Stingray
and Poncho.
The immense artistic talent of Derek Smith, whose sketches illustrate this
book. David Taylor and Faye Fillingham’s advice and tweaks to the front cover.
Thanks to David ‘Awol’ Miller, whose excellent book — The AT Guide, I
used both on trail and in writing this book. It was invaluable for both.
The equipment manufacturers, and suppliers who helped me with gear for the
trip; Rand Lindsly of Trail designs, Jake Bennett at Numa Sport Optics, Dan
Thompson at Rab, Chris McMaster at ULA Equipment, Niels Overgaard Blok of
Backpacking Light Denmark, Richard Codgbrook from Smartwool, Ron Bell at
Mountain Laurel Designs, Tom Hennessy at Hennessy Hammocks and Joe
Valesko at ZPacks.