When Bill Bryson introduces you to the AT in the beginning he explodes the reality of it and makes it seems as one monumentally impossible challenge. I think it was from the moment he knew what it took to complete the trail that Bryson failed inside. Though Bryson hiked on doggedly through near hopeless situations and when every muscle in his body yearned to turn back, I don't believe that deep inside he ever thought he could the complete the trail that only a few thousand ever had.
As he hiked, Bryson never came to truly enjoy the hiking. An undertaking, such as the AT, requires not only steadfast determination (which Bryson lacked) but a liking of what you were doing. Through the constant drivel about how hard the trail was and how miserable he was, Bryson showed that he simply did not fully possess the drive to win, which prevented him from sticking it out even after he grew more comfortable with the trail.
Hiking the entire trail, however, was never his real goal. His real reasons for hiking were to witness the American wilds for himself before they were gone, to get fit, and to write his documentary. For Bryson: done, done, and done.
Bryson is an esteemed novelist, and therefore he recognizes good literature. Probably somewhere before Roanoke, where Bryson skipped the trail, Bryson realized that so far all his goals were going smoothly. Bryson especially realized that he already had lots of things to write about in his book. Having his goals well on the way to being completed I don’t think that Bryson had any implications against skipping some of the trail, as it wasn't one of his primary goals or even one he intended to finish. I believe that if the book required more information then Bryson would have trekked onward to Virginia instead hitting the road.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Will Middour - Post 4
I think that Bryson did not accomplish his original goal of completing the Appalachian Trail. I also think that even though he didnt complete the trail that he gained many things from his experience on the AT like rekindling his friendship with Katz and getting a whole new look on life. Bryson didnt accomplish what he originally set out to do but I think that he did gain many things from the trip and if he had to do over again he would.
The ending was foreshadowed throughout the book. It was made clear that they probably werent going to be able to complete the trail in chapter five when they abondoned the trail for a while for some modern day comforts. Hints like this were given all throughout the book.
The ending was foreshadowed throughout the book. It was made clear that they probably werent going to be able to complete the trail in chapter five when they abondoned the trail for a while for some modern day comforts. Hints like this were given all throughout the book.
Cari Heinz Post 4
As Bryson and Katz journey finally comes to an end, i wasn't disappointed to see that the trail wasn't completed. I believe that it wasnt just finishing the trail they were walking on, but finding themselves along the way. Katz came on the journey at a point of struggle in his life. the trail allowed both of them to come to terms with themselves and each other. Throughout the book it is mentioned how many people just hike parts of the trail, and how rigorous the whole thing is. From the begining it is pretty much known that there is no way with Katz condition that the trail will be completed. though Katz and Bryson separate, i dont think Bryson would finish the AT alone with out his other half.
Jack Abbott Post 4
From the beginning of the book, it was very clear that Bryson and Katz wouldn't finish the Appalachian Trail. This was forshadowed in chapter number one, when Bryson talked about the the walking of the entire trail as a rigerous challenge that few complete. This forshadowing to me means that he doesnt necessarily finish the trail, but pushes physically and mentally to do as well as he can.
From the very beginning Bryson set out with a goal to push himself physically and mentally. His task was simply to walk the entire AP Trail, and even though he didnt complete his goal of finished the trail, he accomplished what he set out to do. The relationships and the eye opening experiences is worth more to him in the long run than actually finishing the trail. I think that even thouogh he didnt complete the entire trial he will satisfied with the part he did complete, and take all his experiences away to make himself a better person.
From the very beginning Bryson set out with a goal to push himself physically and mentally. His task was simply to walk the entire AP Trail, and even though he didnt complete his goal of finished the trail, he accomplished what he set out to do. The relationships and the eye opening experiences is worth more to him in the long run than actually finishing the trail. I think that even thouogh he didnt complete the entire trial he will satisfied with the part he did complete, and take all his experiences away to make himself a better person.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sarah Holt, Post #4
Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods” ends with him and his partner not completing the full length of the AT. This was foreshadowed, in the beginning chapter one, with Bryson thinking about how it wasn’t going to be so bad when deep down inside he really knew he was wrong. Throughout, Bryson had mindset that the trail was going to be hard. This mental picture was always in the back of his mind. During the tough times, he often thought about how long hiking would be. With that negative statement in his head it was very hard to complete the whole thing.
From the start Bryson was thinking of the length of the trip and how hard it was truly going to be. But soon after getting started the trip turned into a long tedious walk. After getting to the top of Clingman’s Dome, Katz and Bryson decided that they must go to Gatlinburg; this was their first big adventure back to civilization. It was here that they realized how hard the trip was going to be. While shopping for bootlaces, Bryson saw a full length map of the trail (4 feet total) and discovered that they only had covered 2 inches. At this point they both realized they weren’t going to walk to Maine. The map provided a scale of how extensive the trail truly was. The mental picture of the trip was a very long, hard walk; even more than they had already done. In chapter 9, Bryson wrote about some of the people who walked all the way to Maine and how it took a special person to make the whole trip. However, another way they could hike the trail would be to do it in sections. Because “The Appalachian Trail Conference doesn’t recognize speed records,” Bryson and Katz can complete the trail as they wish; if over the next 5 years or even 50 years.
Bryson and Katz discovered that though they had walked half a million steps, they didn’t need to walk the other 4.5 million to get the gist of hiking the whole Appalachian Trail. Bryson was thinking about how long of a trail it was and how long it would take. I believe that hiking the trail was all mental. Anyone can do it; they have to have the mind set that they are going to complete the trail during the duration of the experience-not just at some parts.
From the start Bryson was thinking of the length of the trip and how hard it was truly going to be. But soon after getting started the trip turned into a long tedious walk. After getting to the top of Clingman’s Dome, Katz and Bryson decided that they must go to Gatlinburg; this was their first big adventure back to civilization. It was here that they realized how hard the trip was going to be. While shopping for bootlaces, Bryson saw a full length map of the trail (4 feet total) and discovered that they only had covered 2 inches. At this point they both realized they weren’t going to walk to Maine. The map provided a scale of how extensive the trail truly was. The mental picture of the trip was a very long, hard walk; even more than they had already done. In chapter 9, Bryson wrote about some of the people who walked all the way to Maine and how it took a special person to make the whole trip. However, another way they could hike the trail would be to do it in sections. Because “The Appalachian Trail Conference doesn’t recognize speed records,” Bryson and Katz can complete the trail as they wish; if over the next 5 years or even 50 years.
Bryson and Katz discovered that though they had walked half a million steps, they didn’t need to walk the other 4.5 million to get the gist of hiking the whole Appalachian Trail. Bryson was thinking about how long of a trail it was and how long it would take. I believe that hiking the trail was all mental. Anyone can do it; they have to have the mind set that they are going to complete the trail during the duration of the experience-not just at some parts.
Janine Marill Post 4
Throughout the book, Bryson makes plenty of comments about magnitude and difficulty of the Appalachian Trail. Bryson discusses dangers on the trail, ranging from wild animal attacks to hypothermia. He mentions the discouraging statistics regarding the number of thru-hikers who hike the actually hike the entire trail. These comments seem to prepare the reader for the inevitable; Bryson would never hike the entire trail.
However, the reality that Bryson was not going to hike the entire trail didn’t sink in until Bryson decided to skip the chunk of the trail between Roanoke and Virginia. I found Bryson’s decision to skip this portion of the disappointing because he had invested so much hope in hiking the entire trail.
The worst letdown occurred when Bryson and Katz separate after having hiked over 500 miles together. I had gotten used to reading about Bryson and Katz hiking as a dynamic pair, and their separation was further reminder that they had failed on their original plan to hike the entire trail.
When Bryson described his hikes without Katz, I knew that the adventure wasn’t the same without Katz. Bryson confessed that hiking in small day hikes was wimpy, and I had to agree; day hikes were not part of his original goal.
Therefore, I was happy when Bryson and Katz got back together for the hike in Maine. However, the hike in Maine was challenging in several ways. Katz borrowed Bryson’s money to buy alcohol, even though he was a recovering alcoholic. Fortunately, Bryson was able to forgive Katz for drinking, and the pair was able to enjoy a portion of their hike in Maine.
Initially, I was disappointed that Bryson and Katz didn’t hike the entire trail. I came to realize that the partnership that existed between Bryson and Katz was an accomplishment in itself, and they set an example of sharing and compromise that anyone can learn from.
However, the reality that Bryson was not going to hike the entire trail didn’t sink in until Bryson decided to skip the chunk of the trail between Roanoke and Virginia. I found Bryson’s decision to skip this portion of the disappointing because he had invested so much hope in hiking the entire trail.
The worst letdown occurred when Bryson and Katz separate after having hiked over 500 miles together. I had gotten used to reading about Bryson and Katz hiking as a dynamic pair, and their separation was further reminder that they had failed on their original plan to hike the entire trail.
When Bryson described his hikes without Katz, I knew that the adventure wasn’t the same without Katz. Bryson confessed that hiking in small day hikes was wimpy, and I had to agree; day hikes were not part of his original goal.
Therefore, I was happy when Bryson and Katz got back together for the hike in Maine. However, the hike in Maine was challenging in several ways. Katz borrowed Bryson’s money to buy alcohol, even though he was a recovering alcoholic. Fortunately, Bryson was able to forgive Katz for drinking, and the pair was able to enjoy a portion of their hike in Maine.
Initially, I was disappointed that Bryson and Katz didn’t hike the entire trail. I came to realize that the partnership that existed between Bryson and Katz was an accomplishment in itself, and they set an example of sharing and compromise that anyone can learn from.
post 4!!!
In A Walk in the Woods, Bryson and Katz do not finish hiking through Maine. Even though they do not finished, they were able to tackle 870 miles of pure nature. Through out the book it was foreshadowed that they weren’t doing to be able to finish. During the story both Bryson and Katz took breaks and skip out on parts of the trail. For example, when the took a cab to Knoxville instead of hiking their way there. I think that as much as Bryson may have wanted to hike the whole trail, he knew that he wasn’t going to be able.
I believe that when Bryson sets out, his main goal wasn’t to just hike the WHOLE trail. I think that he wanted to not only discover himself but to grab a new understanding of nature. I think that Bryson wanted to prove to himself that he could hike at least some of the trail. I think that Bryson very much accomplished this. He hiked over 870 miles, some of which he hiked by himself. I don’t think that he thought that he could even hike that many miles, much less in the wilderness. In chapter 21, Bryson says that he has gained a profound respect for nature and the wilderness. And that he finally understood the colossal scale of the world. I think that Bryson now has a new out look on life, one that he would only gain by walking on the trail.
I believe that when Bryson sets out, his main goal wasn’t to just hike the WHOLE trail. I think that he wanted to not only discover himself but to grab a new understanding of nature. I think that Bryson wanted to prove to himself that he could hike at least some of the trail. I think that Bryson very much accomplished this. He hiked over 870 miles, some of which he hiked by himself. I don’t think that he thought that he could even hike that many miles, much less in the wilderness. In chapter 21, Bryson says that he has gained a profound respect for nature and the wilderness. And that he finally understood the colossal scale of the world. I think that Bryson now has a new out look on life, one that he would only gain by walking on the trail.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)