Reviews > Books > General > A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike > Andrew Mytys > Initial Report

A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike

Initial Report

Product Information:

Publisher: Wayah Press (http://www.wayahpress.com) Title: A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike Author: Rick Allnutt, MD Year of Publication: 2005, 1st Edition ISBN: 0-9767227-0-4 MSRP: $11.95 + 2.50 shipping and handling (U.S. only),   + 7% state sales tax to Ohio-based destinations Weight as Delivered: 6.6 oz (187 g) Size: 8.5 x 5.5 x .4 inches or 215 x 140 x 10 mm (H x W x D) 126 pages, + copyright, dedication, table of contents, index, and ordering info

Product Description:

"A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike" is a short book filled with lessons on how to overcome some of hiking's most common physical and mental challenges. The lessons are described by Dr. Rick Allnutt, the author, based on what he learned while tackling multi-day hikes and preparing for and hiking a 200-mile segment of the Appalachian Trail (AT). While the book's lessons came about primarily while hiking the AT, what's proposed is valid, and indeed can be applied, on any trail, and for hikes of any distance. The sole picture in the book is on the cover - a color photo of the author relaxing along the AT near Cold Mountain, Virginia.

Test Unit Description:

My test copy of "A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike" came signed by the author, complete with a very nice bookmark and an introductory letter from the author, along with his business card.

What This Book is About - Who is it For?:

"A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike" contains a "physician's solutions to the most common reasons that cause people to prematurely end their hikes -- blisters, chafing, knee problems, and losing the will to hike." The book is short, and my take on it is that it is most useful to those readers who have actually hiked before. This is not a how-to book, nor does the text go into any great detail in explaining terms and general hiking concepts. Readers who's feet have some hiking experience should find themselves nodding along at the ailments that the author chooses to focus on, if not based on personal experience then based on recognition - how many of us have never encountered a hiker with a bad case of blisters before, or a pack that weighs in at over 50 pounds (20 kg)?

An Overview of the Text:

"A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike" is composed of six chapters - an introduction, two chapters on physical problems (blisters and chaffing, and knees), a chapter on the mental challenges found in hiking, a chapter on the benefits of lightweight hiking, and a final chapter that acts as a conclusion, weaving the concepts learned in previous chapters together through summation.

The author tells readers up front that he's simply offering the formula that works for him - his discoveries, his failures, his ideas. Through personal experience, observations, and reflection, along with applying his background as a physician and engineer, the author is able to engage in a candid presentation of common issues faced by many in the hiking community. The lessons are meant to help improve the reader's hikes. Readers are also advised from the onset to work out personal answers for themselves, a task that, for some, may seem a bit daunting, especially since so many books on hiking simply preach methodology. Thankfully, the book quickly eases the reader's anxieties, as the writing in itself becomes an introductory course in analysis - the author, through example, quickly shows how to dissect a problem and formulate a solution. Such dissection continues across many examples, throughout the book's entirety, and the author's casual style of writing allows for a general progression to occur - after each lesson, one tends to pause and think how their own experiences parallel those presented in the book, and how the lessons given can be applied in the field.

The lessons presented in the book all seem to follow a common format. Each type of hiking-related challenge, whether it be physical or mental, is introduced through a narrative that highlights personal example. These examples are straightforward and written so that readers can quickly relate to them. Next, the anatomy of the problem is discussed, including how and why it occurs, in addition to the fact that some issues are simply a manifestation of natural defense mechanisms. Common causes are then emphasized, including the physics behind many of the physical problems discussed. With the reader now well versed in the background of the problem, the author turns his attention to prevention, including personal accounts of what works, and what doesn't work. Finally, methods of treatment are discussed.

While I could give a chapter-by-chapter analysis, this book is rather short and I fear that, in doing so, I might divulge too much of the book's content. I don't consider myself a fast reader by any means, but found that, thanks in part to the large typeface, I was able to read the book, cover to cover, in about two hours. This in no way is meant to be a criticism of the book. In fact, its length forces the author to stick to a narrow set of topics and focus the writing on the points he finds most important - there's no room for any tangents.

What did surprise me was how the issues outlined in the book are limited almost exclusively to the personal experiences of the author. Because of this, they may or may not correlate with issues that plague the reader. When I saw that the author was an MD, I hoped that the text would contain a broader range of issues, perhaps collected from the stories of a number of hikers. Certainly, I would be more interested in hearing the thoughts of an MD than some self-described "expert." Many of the issues I've seen and experienced on the trail aren't even addressed, for example heat exhaustion, dehydration, diarrhea, and keeping food from becoming an unappetizing fuel that's ingested simply to provide energy for the hike. While I understand the author's point of seeking out personal solutions, I do feel that an opportunity slipped through the cracks. I would have gladly traded text referring the author's scrotum, reasons why people hike, or the book's entire final chapter for a bit more "meat" on issues more directly related to ensuring a "wildly successful 200-mile hike."

Wayah Press Website Feedback:

Test Plan:

I will use the lessons learned by reading the book, both direct and indirect, in various hikes throughout the test period, including hikes with experienced and novice backpackers. One of my hikes will be in the mountains, in excess of 100-miles, so I can definitely use all the tips regarding minimizing knee and chaffing problems that were given. I will also re-analyze my pack based on the author's lightweight packing principles and comment on how they affect my pack weight. I'll also stay mindful for any influences that the book's advice on conquering the mental challenges of the trail provides, and comment on their effectiveness.

Personal Biographical Information:

Reviewer: Andrew Mytys Email: amytys (at) backpacker (dot) com Homepage: Andy's Lightweight Backpacking Site Location: Michigan Age: 33 Gender: Male Height: 6'1" (183 cm) Weight: 165 lbs (75 kg)

     Backpacking Background:

I live in Michigan and have been hiking seriously for 15 years, although I've camped since I was 6 years old. I consider myself a lightweight hiker. I carry the lightest gear I can get my hands on which will provide a comfortable wilderness experience and adequately support the goals of my trip. Unless my goals are time/distance oriented, my pace is always slow. I rarely exceed 1.5 miles (2.4 km)/hour. I rest frequently, hike long days, and enjoy whatever nature throws my way.

Reviews > Books > General > A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike > Andrew Mytys > Initial Report