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Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes: A Geologist's Journal: 150 Days of Discovery on the Appalachian Trail

Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes is the captivating story of my five-month 2020 journey hiking the Appalachian Trail, as told from a geologist's perspective. It is written as a series of daily logs originally transcribed from my journals, then embellished with additional details resulting from further recollection and research. All the stories are true and contain elements of human interest relating to the fascinating hikers I met on my adventure. My goal in assembling this book is to provide entertainment and information for two main audiences. First, for those who have hiked the trail, I include stories relating to places and things all of us have seen, along with frequent observations about those mysterious rocks beneath our feet. For those new to the trail, or who have never hiked long distances, this is a glimpse into the wonders and excitement to be discovered, as told by just one of the many thousands of past thru-hikers. I hope you will enjoy reading about my 150 days of discovery on the Appalachian Trail!

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Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes: A Geologist's Journal: 150 Days of Discovery on the Appalachian Trail

Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes is the captivating story of my five-month 2020 journey hiking the Appalachian Trail, as told from a geologist's perspective. It is written as a series of daily logs originally transcribed from my journals, then embellished with additional details resulting from further recollection and research. All the stories are true and contain elements of human interest relating to the fascinating hikers I met on my adventure. My goal in assembling this book is to provide entertainment and information for two main audiences. First, for those who have hiked the trail, I include stories relating to places and things all of us have seen, along with frequent observations about those mysterious rocks beneath our feet. For those new to the trail, or who have never hiked long distances, this is a glimpse into the wonders and excitement to be discovered, as told by just one of the many thousands of past thru-hikers. I hope you will enjoy reading about my 150 days of discovery on the Appalachian Trail!

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Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes: A Geologist's Journal: 150 Days of Discovery on the Appalachian Trail

Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes: A Geologist's Journal: 150 Days of Discovery on the Appalachian Trail

by Craig Eckert
Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes: A Geologist's Journal: 150 Days of Discovery on the Appalachian Trail

Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes: A Geologist's Journal: 150 Days of Discovery on the Appalachian Trail

by Craig Eckert

Overview

Rocks, Roots and Rattlesnakes is the captivating story of my five-month 2020 journey hiking the Appalachian Trail, as told from a geologist's perspective. It is written as a series of daily logs originally transcribed from my journals, then embellished with additional details resulting from further recollection and research. All the stories are true and contain elements of human interest relating to the fascinating hikers I met on my adventure. My goal in assembling this book is to provide entertainment and information for two main audiences. First, for those who have hiked the trail, I include stories relating to places and things all of us have seen, along with frequent observations about those mysterious rocks beneath our feet. For those new to the trail, or who have never hiked long distances, this is a glimpse into the wonders and excitement to be discovered, as told by just one of the many thousands of past thru-hikers. I hope you will enjoy reading about my 150 days of discovery on the Appalachian Trail!

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781662837982
Publisher: MCP Books
Publication date: 04/12/2022
Pages: 308
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Craig Eckert is a retired petroleum geologist living with his wife near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During his career, Craig worked for numerous companies in the exploration and production sector of the petroleum industry while living in WV, PA, KY and TX. His passion and expertise were in combining geology and geophysics to accurately map the subsurface of the earth in search of hydrocarbons to fuel the ever-increasing energy demands of our civilized world. Today he is equally passionate about exploring the world on foot by long distance hiking. Craig has 2 grown children and three grandchildren is also an avid canoeist, skier and golfer. As a lifelong geologist, he is forever fascinated by those rocks beneath his feet wherever the trail leads.

Table of Contents

Foreword v

Acknowledgements vii

Introduction: A Brief Geological History of the Appalachian Trail 1

Part 1 It's Only Three States

Chapter 1 Georgia's Endless Mountain Wilderness 10

Chapter 2 Climbing Higher in North Carolina 22

Chapter 3 The Great Smoky Mountains 33

Chapter 4 The Balds 43

Chapter 5 Tennessee and the Road to Damascus 58

Part 2 Endless Blue Ridge Summer

Chapter 6 Return to the Trail 77

Chapter 7 Mt. Rodgers, Grayson Highlands and Exploding Fish Oil 80

Chapter 8 Virginia's Valleys and Ridgelines 88

Chapter 9 Virginia's Triple Crown 97

Chapter 10 Breaking New Records 105

Chapter 11 Raining Raccoons and Washed Out on the Priest 109

Chapter 12 The Shenandoahs 115

Chapter 13 Roller Coasters, Sandy Beaches and Hang-Gliders 125

Chapter 14 North of Mason-Dixon 131

Chapter 15 Pennsylvania's Valley and Ridgeline Trails 136

Part III The Long, Cold Hike Home

Chapter 16 Flip-Flop to Maine and the 100-Mile Wilderness 158

Chapter 17 River Crossings, Bigelows and Saddlebacks 169

Chapter 18 Navigating the Notches and the Mahoosucs 179

Chapter 19 The Whites 188

Chapter 20 Leaving New Hampshire 203

Chapter 21 The Green Mountains and the Long Trail 208

Chapter 22 The Berkshires 219

Chapter 23 Winter Arrives in Connecticut 226

Chapter 24 New York Highlands and Crossing the Hudson 231

Chapter 25 Boardwalks, Stairways to Heaven and Water Gaps 236

Chapter 26 Sun Up to Sun Down thru the Keystone State 242

Epilogue 279

Appendix 282

Selected References 295

Endorsements 299

Figures and Graphs*

Figure 1 Map of Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia

Figure 2 View of Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia from space

Figure 3 Geologic Time Scale

Figure 4 Position of early continents through geologic time

Figure 5 Geologic Map of Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia

Figure 6 Physiographic Map of Eastern US showing Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia

Graph 1 Type of night stay vs. Elevation

Graph 2 Miles per day hiked vs. Elevation

Graph 3 Miles per day hiked vs. Trail hours per Day

Graph 4 Miles per day hiked vs. iPhone steps per Day

Graph 5 Stride length: Feet per step (miles x 528o)/iPhone steps vs. MPH

Graph 6 Age and rock type vs. Stride length

*All graphs found in Appendix

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