Foskett - Balancing on Blue: Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail

BALANCING on BLUE

A Dromomaniac Hiking

KEITH FOSKETT

Balancing on Blue

By Keith Foskett

Produced by Createspace.com

www.keithfoskett.com

ISBN: 978-1480176416

Copyright 2015 Keith Foskett. All rights reserved.

The right of Keith Foskett to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988

This book is sold subject to the conditions that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the authors prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is produced and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Edited by Alex Roddie

www.pinnacleeditorial.co.uk

Illustrations by Derek Smith

Praise for Balancing on Blue

A highly anticipated Appalachian Trail memoir, and well worth the wait.

Daniel Neilson (The Great Outdoors Magazine)

Following on from his entertaining account of his Pacific Crest Trail hike, The Last Englishman, Keith Foskett tackles the Appalachian Trail. Written with his usual energy and style the book covers motivation and the story of the trail as well as his personal hike. A good read for anyone interested in long distance journeys.

Chris Townsend (Author and hiker)

Long distance hikes are simultaneously life-affirming and total agony. Walking 2000 miles would be a phenomenal journey wherever in the world you did it. To tackle the legendary Appalachian Trail is a truly special experience, and one I dream of attempting sometime in my life. Amongst the bears, moose and rattlesnakes, climbing to 2000 metres, and countless aches and pains lives the memory of a special journey, the wonderful people who briefly share the experience with you, and the knowledge that lasts long after the final blister has healed. Its a lifetimes worth of adventurous memories crammed into one simple walk.

Alastair Humphreys (Author, adventurer and A National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2012)

With thru-hiking gaining in popularity, many look to the Appalachian Trail to test out their trail legs, and discover why it holds the reputation it does.

The wilds of this planet are serene, peaceful and offer the chance to break away from a normal existence. Keiths wonderful perspective of the trail reflects this freedom.

Jennifer Pharr Davis (Author and record holder for the fastest ever thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail).

An entertaining and inspiring account of one of the worlds longest walks and the people who walk it. Keith is a perfect walking companion for the ups and downs of the trail his easy and understated style kept me turning the pages.

Essential reading for those contemplating their own big adventure.

David Lintern (Editor Outdoor Enthusiast Magazine)

Long distance backpacking trips can be monotonous, and its often the same story for most books about them. Balancing on Blue is something completely different and once again, Keith invites you to the world that he calls home.

Be prepared for great story telling, unique and interesting characters, humour and insight.

Andrew Skurka (Long-distance hiker, adventurer and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2007)

This book is for anyone whos ever dreamed about a big adventure, as Fozzie spins a funny, thought-provoking and inspiring tale of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Youll be handing in your notice and packing up your rucksack as soon as youve finished reading.

Jenny Walters (Country Walking Magazine)

Other books by Keith Foskett

The Journey in Between

(ISBN: 978-1480176393)

A 1,000 mile walk along El Camino de Santiago in France and Spain.

The Last Englishman

(ISBN: 978-1480169111)

A 2,640 mile hiking adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail.

This book is dedicated to the Appalachian Trail Class of 2012.

And to those who didnt come home:

Dwight Cope, Dagan Cope, Thomas Andersen,

Carmen Kotula and Paul Bernhardt.

Thru-Hiker

Someone who hikes a long-distance trail end to end, usually in one, continuous attempt.

The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, known simply as the AT, is a 2,180 mile hiking route in the eastern United States. Starting at Springer Mountain in Georgia and passing through fourteen states to finish on Mount Katahdin in Maine.

Dromomania

From the Latin dromas (runner) and mania (excessive or unreasonable desire, even insanity) is an uncontrollable impulse to wander.

Acknowledgements

First and most importantly, thank you for buying this book. Following an unconventional dream of hiking and writing is a long road, full of setbacks which require a strength and stubborn determination to follow. It is people like you, who buy my books that allow me to continue to live it.

The proof readers who took time out to help me: Caroline Morse, Chris Partridge, Dan McCormack, Tom Moose, Cliff Martin, Derek Vreeland, Charley Seger, Frank Patriot, Sarah Van Vliet, Nina Smirnoff, Michelle Markel, Patti Kulesz and exceeding the call of duty honourably Kate Bryant.

Alex Roddie of Pinnacle Editorial for pointing out my dangling participles, and for his top notch editing.

Jeremy Obs da Blobs Rowley and Samantha Mumfa Rowley for the continued dedication to the formatting cause.

For those who provided quotes Daniel Neilson, Alastair Humphreys, Jennifer Pharr Davis, David Lintern, Andrew Skurka, Rosie Fuller and Chris Townsend.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, whose help with trail and history facts was much appreciated.

Those that helped me prior to starting the trail and their hospitality; Gariele Marewski, Keith Hiker X Baitsell, Sarah Sami Van Vliet, Lauren Swiss Miss Moran and Kathryn Dinosaur Herndon.

The group that I hiked most of the trail with comprised of Peter PJ Semo, Sam Daffy Ridge, Chris Juggles Chiappini, John Thirsty Beshara, Dallas Bush Goggles Nustvold and Phillip Lazagne Colelli. My thanks to them for keeping such a great group together and also for their individual work on the first and last chapters.

All the hikers I met on trail, friendships made, and missed; PJ, Lady Forward, Chatterbox, Bowser, Byline, Pork Chop, Lazagne, Daffy, Bill, Kindle Ninja, Juggles, Bush Goggles, Thirsty, Desperado, Ninja, Jack, Shakespeare, Eastwood, Susan, Poco n Poco, Beacon, Mousy, Cheryl, Patrick, Cassie, Daniel, Tom and his dog Dakota, Tyler, Dirt Farmer, Central Booking, Jonathan, Grady, Turtle, Funny Bones, Slayer, Wildflower, Ken, Hoot, Lord Horatio Fonsworth Belvidere Bentley Tiberius III Esq, Tree Hugger, Mary Poppins, Honey Badger, Road Runner, Walking Man, Ninja Turtle, Jonah and his dog Dingleberry, Onespeed, W, Balls, Sunshine, Pops, Earthling, Carrie, Willy, One Speed, Honey Badger, Margaret, Roadrunner, Spam, Mattress Pad, Chez 11, Nito, Bonk, Saint, Cheddar, Hill Walker, Snot Rocket, Anchor, Tripping Yeti, Embassador, Flint, Tyvek, Wiffle Chicken, Apollo, Ken, Yodler, K9, Tarp Water, Tinkerbell, Rainbow Eyes, Plant Man, Socks, White Wolf, Kaleidoscope, Not Worthy, Chef, Turtle, Day-Glo, Sun, Slims, Turbo Toes, Wise Guy, Socks, Atlas, Hotshot, Hippity Hop, Medic, Easy Rider, Dog Whisperer, Easy Mile, Danish, Don Quixote, Two, Bad Dinner, Grok, Metric, Willie, Indiana, Warlie, Johaness, Cat Woman, Meat, Connect 4, Stingray, Resource, Whoop, Danish, Houdini, Pedestrian, Great Dane, Banjo, Skunkape, Roadhouse, Chesty, Stingray and Poncho.

The immense artistic talent of Derek Smith, whose sketches illustrate this book. David Taylor and Faye Fillinghams advice and tweaks to the front cover.