Hiking: A Great Pastime

A man hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia

I don’t want to mislead anyone, I am not a hiker. But I did grow up in one of the most beautiful places in the South—The Blue Ridge Mountains (in the Appalachian Mountain range). I remember every year during the fall we would just drive around and appreciate the color of the leaves. Some weeks ago, I was listening to NPR’s Science Friday program titled The SciFri Book Club Takes a Hike. The first book spotlighted was Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. They had a guest who talked about ten things you should take on a hiking trip: map, compass, extra clothing, rain gear, a way to start a fire, headlamp or flashlight, extra food and water, pocket knife, first aid kit, and a whistle to alert search and rescue if you get lost. The recent death of two hikers out west trying to hike the Wave also made me want to spotlight these hiking and wilderness survival resources.

Books
60 Hikes Within 60 Miles, Birmingham: Including Tuscaloosa, Sipsey Wilderness, Talladega National Forest, and Shelby County by Russell Helms
Alabama: An Atlas of Alabama's Greatest Hiking Adventures by Joe Cuhaj
Backpacker, Trekking the Southern Appalachians: The Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia by Jack Igelman & Corey Hadden
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Backpacking and Hiking by Jason Stevenson
Let's Go Hiking by John McKinney
Smart Guide to Hiking and Backpacking by Nordstram Brian
The Survival Handbook: Essential Skills for Outdoor Adventure by Colin Towell
The Unofficial Hunger Games Wilderness Survival Guide by Creek Stewart
The U.S. Navy SEAL Survival Handbook: Learn the Survival Techniques and Strategies of America's Elite Warriors by Don Mann and Ralph Pezzullo

DVDs
Alabama Trails
Man vs. Wild. Season 4
Night Hike
The Southeast

Websites
Alabama Hiking Trail Society sponsors a three day conference every year.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is an excellent site if you are interested in hiking the Appalachian Trail or just need hiking tips.
Hiking Alabama is a website developed by an avid hiker.

Submitted by Maya Jones
West End Library