Skywalker

Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail

By: Bill Walker

Narrated by: Bill Walker

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT )is the perfect place for an average person to do something extraordinary. Bill Walker ("Skywalker"), who stands 6'11", might seem like anything but average. Yet in a brutally honest tone, he lays to bare all his considerable weaknesses and fears. Among these are crushing weight loss and fatigue, along with a fear of getting lost or a bear stealing his food. Nonetheless, he is bound and determined to hike the PCT which - at 2,663 miles - runs all the way from Mexico to Canada.

The PCT's calling card is its stunning beauty. It has a diversity of geography unequaled by any footpath in the world. Haunting and beckoning the PCT hiker are the implacable desert, the towering majesty of the so-called High Sierra, and the ruggedly bleak, northern Cascade range. Indeed, the PCT hiker faces much greater extremes of terrain and climate than on the famed Appalachian Trail. Completing this demanding challenge calls for overwhelming clarity of purpose.

Walker's signature characteristic as a writer is his real talent in capturing people. Obviously, he is a people person because he runs into and vividly describes a truly colorful cast of characters from seemingly all walks of American life. Among these are Uber Bitch, Shit Bag, and Serial Killer; the listener learns how these hikers ended up with their names (hint: blunders).The listener need not worry that Walker is a bully. Throughout this irreverent narrative, he turns his considerable supply of humor back on himself in ruthlessly self-deprecating fashion. It all makes for a delightful experience.

©2010 Bill Walker (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Book focuses on women, sexual innuendos, and forced humor. Distracting listener from actual hike.

Author appears preoccupied with women, sexual innuendos, finds female simularities even in lipstick sunsets, and forced humor. His tone, dialect, and 'humor' distracts listeners from the hike. I really wanted to enjoy this book.

Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the PCT review

Easy listening of one man's adventures and observations (people and lanscapes) along the Pacific Crest Trail.

Informative Travelogue

I've read a lot of these travelogues over the past year as I prepare to embark on the Appalachian Trail myself this coming March. I enjoyed this one as it was more educational and thoughtful than some others. The author did a good job of explaining any major decisions about his successful thru-hike of the PCT. I enjoyed listening to this while I was doing my own training for the trail.

Fantastic!

Loved this book! Author has a great voice for audio! Great stories, funny, inspirational, heart wrenching at times.

Must Read!

Bill Walker is an amazing story teller! Do your self a favor and take a listen 😊