Hike Your Own Hike: 7 Life Lessons from Backpacking Across America (Wanderlearn) - Hardcover

Francis Tapon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0976581205 ISBN 13: 9780976581208

Publisher: Wanderlearn Pr, 2006

Synopsis

Hike Your Own Hike is about hiking the entire Appalachian Trail and how its key lessons apply to everyday life.Who would enjoy this book? Anyone who: Loves reading outdoor adventure books. Has a good life, but wants to have an amazing one. Wants to learn more about the Appalachian Trail. Dislikes preachy self-help books, but doesn't mind getting some useful ideas presented in a light tone. Is stuck in a rut and is looking for some inspiration to make important changes. Likes to support starving writers. Unlike the typical self-help book, Hike Your Own Hike: Provides an entertaining, flowing tale as a backdrop. Draws all its lessons from the adventure of walking the entire Appalachian Trail. Doesn t take itself so darn seriously! Unlike the typical travelogue, Hike Your Own Hike: Is not all about the author, it s about what YOU can get out of the story. Delivers practical ideas that help you squeeze more out of life. Recounts a challenging southbound thru-hike versus the typical northbound thru-hike (only 5% hike southbound). The Seven Principles on how to get the most out of life are: 1. Hike Your Own Hike.2. Beware of Summit Fever.3. Hike with Passion.4. Learn from Trail Lore.5. Eat Well, Walk Hard, and Sleep Soundly.6. Practice Trail Magic.7. The Journey is Too Important to Take Seriously.Each chapter in the book is devoted to each concept. Chapter One starts in Maine where Francis learned the First Principle. Chapter Seven ends in Georgia where he learned the Seventh Principle. Summary: Hike Your Own Hike will inspire you to change your life without lecturing you. With over 50 photos and two color maps, this book will transport on an intense and remarkable journey that is filled with wisdom, insight, and mosquitoes. Visit www.FrancisTapon.com to download the first chapter for free!

About this title

About the Author

Francis Tapon was born and raised in San Francisco. He has hiked across America four times, walked across Spain twice, backpacked over 12,500 miles in the mountains, and was a finalist in the California Outdoors Hall of Fame. He was the first to do a round-trip on the Continental Divide Trail (5,600 miles). It was a 7 month journey.
He has been covered in The New York Times Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, National Geographic Adventure and Backpacker Magazine.
Amazon & Lincoln Mercury selected him as the best example of someone who is fulfilling the dream of traveling the world.
He has a BA in Religion from Amherst College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

From the Back Cover

Francis Tapon thought so when he quit his Silicon Valley job, donated most of his belongings, and set off to hike the Appalachian Trail. He and his walking partner, Lisa Garrett, traversed the 2,168 mile footpath by hiking for nearly four months from sunrise to sunset. The pilgrimage gave him insights that not only apply to backpacking, but to life itself. It also taught him that there sure are easier ways to go from Maine to Georgia.

While you enjoy the intense journey, you'll learn:

• Why the Appalachian Trail's credo is relevant to your life.
  
• How to control your finances and have the freedom to do what you love.
  
• How to discover and pursue your passion.
  
• How to avoid costly mistakes and conquer your fears.
  
• How to dramatically improve your health.
  
• Why the Appalachian Trail teaches you more about human nature than Mother Nature.
  
• How to shrug off misfortune and live stress free.
  
• Why mosquitoes just want to be your friend.
  

Packed with a color foldout map, photographs, sidebars, and quizzes!

"Don't expect a dull trail log. Don't expect a humdrum self-help book. Instead, expect to laugh and learn as Hike Your Own Hike weaves practical wisdom with an epic journey as the backdrop." -- Dave Roberson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Hitachi Data Systems


"Francis Tapon shares the useful insights he gained after hiking over 2,000 miles in the wilderness. Hike Your Own Hike is not a book about how to backpack, but how to live. It will reawaken your spirit and energize your soul." -- Liz Bergeron, Executive Director, Pacific Crest Trail Association


"It's hard to imagine a book that combines the strengths of Bill Bryson's Walk in the Woods and Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, but Hike Your Own Hike has done it!" -- Marco Iansiti, Harvard Business School Professor


Have you settled for a good life, but not an amazing one?

From the Inside Flap

Francis Tapon knew he had a good life--he had a great career, fantastic friends, a nice home, and a cool electric shaver. However, something was missing. His life was good, but not great. It was quite predictable and safe, but thoroughly uninspiring. He wondered how to take his life to the next level. He thought it would be smart to do what the sages do: hang out in the woods for several months and get some wisdom.

Although he ultimately found wisdom, finding it wasn't as easy or as romantic as all those spiritual books say it is. They neglect to mention that during the hot humid summer months there's no air conditioning in the woods.

Hike Your Own Hike balances the story of an adventurous and insightful trip across the Appalachian Mountains with practical advice on how to squeeze the most out of life both on and off the trail. It's enlightening, educational, and entertaining. It's a serious book that doesn't take itself so seriously.

Hiking the entire Appalachian Trail in one season has soared in popularity over the last 20 years. Compared to 1985, there are eight times more people trying to "thru-hike" it! What accounts for this phenomenon?

Today people are overly stressed and need a break to return to the fundamentals. Feeling disconnected from the rhythms of life, hikers go on these multi-month trails to recalibrate their perspective. Hike Your Own Hike is about this incredible pilgrimage, what we can learn from it, and how to enrich our lives without getting too muddy.

"Francis Tapon's book is a marvelous addition to the very best outdoor and personal development books available. Against the backdrop of a rich and unique journey along the Appalachian Trail, Hike Your Own Hike offers the reader a wealth of practical how-tos blended masterfully with the wisdom of the ages. This isn't another boring hiking guidebook, it's a wonderful guidebook for life." -- Kim and Demetri Coupounas, Co-Founders, GoLite

Edition details

• Publisher: Wanderlearn Pr
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0976581205
• ISBN 13: 9780976581208
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 351