Blistered Kind of Love

“Last weekend, stopped in at Madison's REI to dispose of my measley dividend and picked up the book "A Blistered Kind of Love: One Couple's Trial by Trail." It's Angela & Duffy Ballard's book about their Pacific Crest Trail hike the summer of 2000.

Being on spring break this week, yesterday I gave myself the luxurious task of just sitting down to read a book and finished "Blistered" tonight, the first time in a long time that I got through a book that fast.

Has anyone else read this? It came out in 2003 and won the Barbara Savage Memorial Award from The Mountaineers. Nothing really fancy here, but the unique take on what it does to a relationship when put to the test on a thru-hike attempt.

At least it was a vicarious way to be on the trail when it is still busy snowing here in the northwoods. Beyond that, I'm still reflecting on their story (though I at least found it much better than Bryson's A Walk in the Woods -- it's an honest account afterall).”

“"Bryson's A Walk in the Woods -- it's an honest account afterall)."

bill bryson is a pansy

my next travelogue will be walkin on the happy side of misery

cant remember the exact title, but theres a book aboot the IAT, something about a city girls hike or something. short, good read”

“Not sure if I was clear, StormBringer -- the Ballards' book appears an honest account, while I found Bryson's to be anything but.

I'll go for sincerity in my trail accounts even if the "humor" is lacking. You're right about Bryson, that's for sure. Though others here have been entertained by him.”

“No reason a book about the trail can't be sincere and humerous. There's plenty of things that happen in every day life that are serious and have a side that's just funny as hell. I enjoyed Bryson's book, but took it for what it is.”

“Oh, I agree Snake Eyes. Just found Bryson to be insincere in the long run, though there were sections of his book that were better than others.

"Blistered" is a very readable account of a PCT thru-hike that has a few attempts at humor, though they fall a bit flat. I do appreciate its focus on what it takes for two persons to get along with each other on the trail -- something that all Bryson's joking about his pseudo partner never really addressed in a very helpful manner.

Stylistically, "A Walk in the Woods" is clearly written by a more polished writer than "Blistered." However, an interesting feature of the latter is that the two authors alternate sections, so you get some insight into how differently they perceive the endeavor at times, as well as what points of view they share.

All in all, the relationship struggle on the trail reminded me of what my wife and I went through in China -- constant stress in an intense endeavor will either rip a couple apart or temper them for any future difficulties. As the PCT couple conclude, it is all about finding a way to communicate.”

“Sounds like a good read, pekka. I may check it out. Thanks!”

“tarabull, I think I'm going to copy some excerpts from "Blistered" for my interpersonal communications curriculum. E-mail me with your mailing address if you'd like me to eventually send it to you. Then you can share it with the other MMers.”

“It does sound like a good read and I think it would do me a world of good since I'm planning a thru hike next year. However, from the thread title I thought this was about some new exotic social disease.”

“I thought it was about a pair of sex addicts finding each other...”

“Maybe it's about Stormbringer finding some burning love on the trail.”

“Well, they do cover the topic of thru-hiker sex, although not in nearly enough graphic detail for many (if not most) TTers.

One thing seems clear from their tale, the PCT is a tougher trail than the AT (particularly the early desert component), with considerably fewer Trail Angels and concurrent trail magic (though there is still a core of such support). Only 300 or so try a thru-hike of the PCT each year, with only about 1/4 completing, and that has only reached that success level with the advent of more ultralight gear apparently.”

“I wonder what the completion rate is for AT thru hikers? Considering that I am now at an age where I can walk into a room and wonder what I came in there for, is it conceivable I could start out on the At and forget why or where? BTW, you mentioned possibly coordinating a meeting with that thru hiker that did the presentation over in your area. I'm definitely interested. I was intending to be over that way again this weekend, but my daughter's boyfriend called to say he hadn't done sufficient groundwork to make my trip worthwhile (hanging sheetrock). Hope you're having a nice spring break. 42 and sunny here right now.”

“Snake Eyes, from what Mark said in his program, the AT completion rate is about 20 percent out of more than 2,000 who attempt a thru-hike.

My weekend will get shortened since I'll be in my office working Sunday to get caught up before going off to a conference for most of next week. Once I get back, let's see what we can do about getting you and Mark connected.”

“reading is so overrated, ask our president!”

“now now BB, the communist manifesto is overrated....”

“Buddha, just think, though. If we put everything in writing we can keep all of it secret from Dubya!

Snake Eyes, the Ballards also compare their perceptions of pluses/minuses of doing a thru-hike together versus as solo hikers.”

“Yeah, that's a tough one. The right partner would be a tremendous asset; the wrong choice could be living hell. Which poses the problem of where to stash the body? A lot like marriage. I have been alone for quite a few years which, I think, has been healthy in terms of getting to know myself and comfortable in my own skin. It wasn't that long ago that I realized I had gone through a good portion of a particular day without saying a word. However, when I get around people I have a lot of stored up words that can get rained upon them.”

“The big leap of faith (ignorance) by the Ballards was that Angela had only been BPing ONE (1) overnight on a PA section of the AT before doing the PCT! God, the glorious bonus of being young and fit.”