Good Trail Book

“Im not talking about a trail guide book , but what kinda book do you like to read when your out in the sticks. Do you like the romance thing , or maybe scary stories, are you into Archie comics, maybe ya like picture books , I donno?? Let everyone at TT know and let everyone know a good book to take with them next time. Cheers”

“Websters Dictionary.”

“walkindude , I've already read that one , gimme something else”

“Stephen King. The scarier the better, after dark.”

“Biz's Little Black Book?


Naw......That would be too heavy.”

“I usually don't take a book, I take a "Little Fat Book" notebook. I jot down notes to jog my memory of the trip for my trip log when I get home, and to remind me of place names for photos. Otherwise I sit, staring stuporously into the fire or up at the skies, until I tumble to bed.”

“Anything by Louis L'amour...a friend stashed 2 of them in his pack my very first backcountry backpacking trip..and lent me one ..and i've been hooked since...i can say i own every published title”

“As a writing teacher, I like Pathman's suggestion. But if you want something to read that is compact and light in physical weight for the trail, but expansive and mentally stimulating, take a small volume of good poetry. The compression & distillation of thought and imagery in the best poetry allows multiple readings and encourages your imagination to take new paths. Maybe that will prompt some thoughts for that notebook.

Ah, now you ask, what is "good" poetry? There is so much out there and most readers have had such bad experiences with poetry in school (taught poorly, redundant selections). But consider: Wallace Stevens, Theodore Roethke, Walt Whitman, Gary Snyder, Emily Dickenson, A.R. Ammons, and on and on. Several of these have considerable focus on nature in their work.

And National Poetry Month is April -- a nice coincidence with Earth Day can be acknowledged.”

“The real reason I now keep notes and write trail logs is that I find when I do so, I pay much more attention to my surroundings and enjoy myself even more.”