Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes (Revised Edition)

Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes is the captivating story of my five-month 2020 journey hiking the Appalachian Trail, as told from a geologist's perspective. It is written as a series of daily logs originally transcribed from my daily journals, then embellished with additional details resulting from further recollection and research. All of the stories are true, and many contain elements of human interest relating to the many fascinating hikers I met on my adventure. Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of doing such a trek is encountering so many interesting people along the way. My goal in assembling this book was to provide entertainment and information for two main audiences First, for those who have hiked the trail, I included stories relating to places and things all of us have seen, along with frequent observations about those mysterious rocks beneath our feet. For those new to the trail, or who have never hiked long distances, this is a glimpse into the wonders and excitement out there to be discovered, as told by just one of the many thousands of past thru-hikers. The book contains three parts with 26 chapters and reads like a journal log, capturing my challenges and experiences each day on the trail. In addition to the 240 pages of text, there are over 100 beautiful color photos, 6 figures and 6 charts. Hopefully you will find this book both informative and entertaining, as you read and enjoy my tales of 150 days of discovery on the Appalachian Trail!

I am a retired geoscience advisor since 2017 living near Pittsburgh, PA. Throughout my 38-year career as a geologist, I have worked for numerous companies in the exploration and production sector of the petroleum industry, while living in such places as West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Texas. During that time, my passion was exploring the earth in the search for hydrocarbons. Today, I am equally passionate about exploring the world on foot via long distance backpacking adventures. I am also an avid canoeist, golfer, and skier, forever fascinated by the rocks beneath my feet wherever that path may lead me. Website: https: //www.rocksrootsandrattlesnakes.com