April 27th, 2010 
admin Every month, we pick wonderful books we’ve read to spotlight at Literarily Speaking. Today we’re happy to be reading Paul V. Stutzman’s new book, Hiking Through: Finding Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail. Paul will be with us until Wednesday and will be giving away a copy of his book at the end of his stay. Check back to find out if you’re the winner on Friday.
To become eligible to win, all you have to do is ask a question or leave a comment on all three days. One lucky reader who comments with their email address is put in a pot to win the book. However, they must sign up for our email updates prior to the author’s appearance.
To recap:
- ask a question or leave a comment on all three days
- leave your email address
- sign up for our email updates to the right ——->
That’s all there is to it!
Day Two: Literarily Speaking Book Club Selection: Hiking Through by Paul V. Stutzman
After losing his wife to breast cancer, Paul Stutzman decided to make some big changes. He quit his job of seventeen years and embarked upon a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, a 2,176-mile stretch of varying terrain spanning fourteen states. During his nearly five-month-long hike, he battled brutal trail conditions and overwhelming loneliness, but also enjoyed spectacular scenery and trail camaraderie. With breathtaking descriptions and humorous anecdotes from his travels, Stutzman reveals how immersing himself in nature and befriending fellow hikers helped him recover from a devastating loss. Somewhere between Georgia and Maine, he realized that God had been with him every step of the way, and on a famous path through the wilderness, he found his own path to peace and freedom.
Read the Excerpt:
But some plans just aren’t meant to be realized. This plan quickly hit a snag.
We unpacked and unrolled our sleeping bags. Water was boiling for my evening meal. Sailor was in a corner reading the shelter register, catching up on trail happenings.
“Hey, fellows. We’re in trouble. There’s a reason no one else is here.”
What? I’m all set to enjoy this little luxury of our own private shelter tonight and my moonlight hike, and you tell me this picture has some flaw?
“This shelter has bear problems!”
Entries in the register recounted the stories. A renegade bear had found his new food source in the packs hikers obligingly carried into the woods for him. The bear climbed the trees at night and knocked down food bags, eating everything, including toothpaste. One hiker noted the bear had even eaten his toothbrush; and if anyone should find a blue toothbrush in a pile of bear poop, yes, please return the toothbrush.
The bear had paid a visit just the night before. One hiker awakened in the night, feeling a tug on his sleeping bag, and was jerked to full alertness when he realized a bear had his front paws on the shelter floor and was tugging at his sleeping bag.
Book Club Questions:
Thank you being with us again today, Paul. I guess my obvious question is did you see any bears?
Paul: We hiked another three miles beyond that shelter and camped in the woods. We never did see that bear but we did find out the park service trapped it and released it at another location a distance away from the trail. My first bear encounter was in the Shenandoah National Park.
You mention throughout your book different characters you meet along the trail and they all go by certain names instead of their real names. What was yours and why did you choose it?
Paul: My trail name was Apostle. The word apostle means someone sent forth with a message and my message was for couples not to take each other for granted. To appreciate each other more. Four hundred miles up the trail was Damascus, Virginia so I was the Apostle Paul headed for Damascus.
In this excerpt, how far along are you on the trail and how much more do you have to go? Are you exhausted?
Paul: I was only getting started. I had hiked about 250 miles. Although I was getting whipped into shape rather quickly, I would be exhausted by the time I climbed into my tent at night.
Now it’s your turn to leave Paul a question. Do be sure to come back tomorrow for Day 3 of Literarily Speaking’s special 3 day book club marathon with Paul V. Stutzman, author of Hiking Through: Finding Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail!
(Click here to read yesterday’s post)
Related posts:
- Literarily Speaking’s Virtual Book Club Selection: Hiking Through by Paul V. Stutzman – Day One
- Interview with Paul V. Stutzman, author of Hiking Through: Finding Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail
- Literarily Speaking Virtual Book Club Selection: Small Change by Sheila Roberts – Day 1
- Literarily Speaking Book Club Selection: Small Change by Sheila Roberts – Day 2
- Literarily Speaking Book Club Selection: Small Change by Sheila Roberts – Day 3
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What great questions and answers! I love your trail name! Okay, I have a quick question – Paul, do you read Richard Paul Evans? I know, a bit of a strange question, right? The reason I ask is I wondered if you have or are planning to read his newest book The Walk. I posted an interview that I did with you on Blogcritics a while back. (by the way, this is what truly hooked me on dearly wanting to read your book) Well, the idea and thoughts of your story continue to remain with me. I recently read The Walk by RPE and loved the similarity of ideas. Though with RPE, the story is of a husband losing his wife and trekking across the US, rather than the hills of Appalachian. In any case, love the thought of being strong and brave enough to do such a thing!
April
ajpohren@iowatelecom.net
April´s last blog ..Mailbox Monday 4/26