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    Hiking Through: One Man's Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail
    Hiking Through: One Man's Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail
    Hiking Through: One Man's Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail
    Audiobook9 hours

    Hiking Through: One Man's Journey to Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail

    Written by Paul Stutzman

    Narrated by Mike Chamberlain

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    After Paul Stutzman lost his wife to breast cancer, he sensed a tug on his heart-the call to a challenge, the call to pursue a dream. With a mixture of dread and determination, Paul left his job, traveled to Georgia, and took his first steps on the Appalachian Trail. What he learned during the next four and a half months changed his life and can change yours as well.

    In Hiking Through, you'll join Paul on his remarkable 2,176-mile trip through fourteen states in search of peace and a renewed sense of purpose. Along the way, you'll meet fascinating and funny people, experience trail magic, and discover that every choice we make on the path has consequences for the journey. More than that, you'll come away with a new understanding of God's grace and guidance, even in the smallest things.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateNov 24, 2015
    ISBN9781494589912
    Author

    Paul Stutzman

    Paul Stutzman was born into an Amish family in Holmes County, Ohio. Shortly after his birth, his family left the Amish lifestyle and joined a strict Conservative Mennonite church. Paul continued to live among and mingle with his Amish friends and relatives his entire life, married a Mennonite girl, and remained in the Amish community working and raising a family. He is the author of Hiking Through, a memoir about the Appalachian Trail. He lives in central Ohio and can be found at PaulStutzman.com.

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    Reviews for Hiking Through

    4/5

    99 ratings13 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Great book and narration of the authors experience at AT, makes you think you are walking with him. Love that he gave an opportunity to share his belief and what to do gain eternal life
    • 5/5
      i enjoy books about hiking the appalachian trail for some reason. This was a great story , with its own perspective.
    • 1/5
      This was awful. It really needs a RELIGIOUS disclaimer. I don’t feel as if I’ve been on the AT, I feel like I’ve been force fed Christian BS. This book is about the author’s make believe relationship with a fairy tale character. Hopefully he made enough money to get some professional help.
    • 3/5
      It’s a preachy book disguised as an adventure story.
    • 5/5
      Emotional depth, real life discovery. More than I was expecting from a travelogue.
    • 5/5
      It would be hard not to get lost in the woods...errr....this book. I have this desire to be by the authors side, to feel the journey step by step white-blazing from Georgia to the top of the mighty Katahdin.
      Thank you for taking me on this journey page by page, blaze by blaze. Now I’m off to go grab my pack.
    • 5/5
      Mr. Stutzman faced one of the biggest fears we married people face; he lost his beloved wife far too soon. They worked hard. They had plans for retirement. Big dreams. But because of cancer Mr. Stutzman was left with an overwhelming feeling of loss, of why and of not having appreciated his wife nearly enough. So with not just a little bit of fear but a lot of faith in his God he set off on one of his biggest dreams - a hike through of the Appalachian Trail.I think this book appealed to me because when I was in my late 30ies I discovered I had a brain aneurysm. Fortunately for me, doctors were able to operate and I am still here. Another progressive brain abnormality was found (yes, I have a bad brain) and I have lots of problems now - but I am alive. It caused my hubby and me to totally re-think our retirement plan. This is why I am now on a goat farm in Montana instead of living in Hawaii but that is another story.Mr. Stutzman's writing style is very easy. He is honest about himself and the characters he meets along the trail. His mission is to spread the word to men - appreciate your wives while you have them because they can be taken in a heartbeat. He learns so much on his seemingly endless hike - about life, about himself and about his faith.I have been to several of the stops along the Appalachian Trail that are described in the book and this made the book all the more interesting to me. It brought back some great memories of my travels around in the fifthwheel with my hiking hubby. He did several sections of the trail. He also read the book and enjoyed it. I can tell you that he does appreciate me very much.This is an amazing book with a powerful message. I am very thankful to have read it.
    • 5/5
      From my blog...Hiking Through is an astonishingly beautiful memoir of a man struggling to reconcile his grief while rediscovering whom he is while learning to truly see everything that the world has to offer. Paul had always enjoyed hiking as a release, and a dream of his was to hike the Appalachian Trail. However, Paul was busy working and raising a family so the Appalachian Trail dream remained unfulfilled. Paul's world is turned upside down when his wife Mary is diagnosed with cancer, and being strong in their faith, they held out hope. Within a few years, Paul is a widower going through the everyday motions and felt a calling to the Appalachian Trail. A year passes and Paul is still grieving the passing of Mary and realises he needs a change so he quits his restaurant management job he held for 17 years and decides to fulfill his dream to hike the Appalachian Trail. Paul's goals in the beginning were to heal and spread the message to all men to cherish their families, their wives and so as he begins his journey he chooses the trail named Apostle for his journey. Paul writes his memoir as though he is sitting and conversing with the reader. One could easily envision having coffee, though Paul would want a Coke, with him while he describes the preparations for the thru-hike (hiking the entire Appalachian trail through 14 states and over 2,176 miles), in and of itself a daunting task. Paul Stutzman is a man of faith and also readily admits his mistakes, miscalculations and errors; he is human and definitely a person I would be honored to know. Hoping to gain insight while pushing the bounds of his beliefs, Paul set off on his 5 month journey, revealing to the reader advise on hiking, revelations, life lessons, while introducing the reader to various hiking companions, along will vivid descriptions of the various scenes he encountered on his journey. One of my favourite lessons comes in Chapter 10 and hopefully I shall be able to impart the same wisdom I have gained from Hiking Through to my children. Hiking Through is a wonderful narrative of Paul's journey to rediscover himself, to shed stress and grief, renew his faith and to learn to be truly happy. Hiking Through is written in a warm, witty, and friendly tone, as though he is speaking directly to the reader. Throughout the book, Paul shares his life experiences, those of fellow hikers, and the lessons he learned throughout his long journey hiking the Appalachian Trail. I would recommend Hiking Through to everyone.
    • 2/5
      Too much religion. Just too much Christianity. The author is shocked that he gets along with a Catholic priest--that kind of Christianity. I am completely lost as to why the subtitle does not reflect this, especially has he tries to convince the reader that God talks to him (and you too! just listen!). GAH.

      The hiking parts (other than when he thinks God is talking to him) are pretty good. I find it fascinating that so many middle aged men head out on the trail after their wives have died. As a woman who really wants to do a thru hike (and whose husband has no interest)--did their wives not like hiking, or not like anything more than a day hike, so this vague dream came forward when they were at a loss as to what to do? Or do they all not think this is for women? Other than 1 overnight hiker who came in high heels and people from a few church groups, Stutzman mentions no female hikers. None. I know male thru hikers outnumber women by a lot--but what about section hikers? No women really?

      And how can he have spent 25 years in the restaurant business yet have no idea about "pasta and beans" in soup? Minestrone? Or pasta fagioli? (p 286). He thinks it's weird--too Catholic maybe?

      And why the racing? I appreciate he likes the sounds and sights of nature (or God, as he says) and enjoys hiking without headphones to hear what's out there. So why does he race to Maine, 20 miles on many days? He was not racing winter, or a scheduled break from work, he just wanted to get there faster? This was not clear to me.
    • 3/5
      Paul Stutzman decides to hike the AT after the death of his wife from cancer. I enjoyed the book, learning about some of the facts of the trail, knowing I don't think I could ever complete something like this. I admire him for that. I am not religious, so I didn't need some of the religious talk so much. BUT whatever helps the man get through...more power too him. I would/have recommended this book to friends.
    • 5/5
      One half travelogue and one half religious -- I enjoyed both halves immensely.
    • 5/5
      I was a little nervous when I heard about this one. The author is a deeply religious man and I always fear being preached to, but my fears were never realized. Although religious, the thoughtful author warned the reader when he was going to delve deeply into faith issues. I was grateful, but read the sections anyway.After the death of his beloved wife, Paul Stutzman decided to walk the Appalachian Trail. Yes, he walked over 2000 miles. This little hike takes a lot of planning, my friends, and it sounds like he planned well. He left the job that no longer gave him joy, and hiked.The story of his hike, the characters he met, and their stories, were beyond fascinating. I wish I had his courage, and resolve. Travelling through many states, he met amazing people, and had delicious conversations. I would love to have been a mouse in his pocket (a tiny skinny one, so as not to be heavy). Through really rough weather, wind, rain, cold, exhaustion, sunshine, flowers, loneliness, he hiked, on and on. I am not an outdoor person, but if anything could inspire me, it is this book.I highly recommend this book to anyone, struggling or not. It is an amazing journey, and one you will enjoy.I received this book from Maia at Phenix & Phenix publicists. Thank you so much for this journey!
    • 5/5
      Mr. Stutzman faced one of the biggest fears we married people face; he lost his beloved wife far too soon. They worked hard. They had plans for retirement. Big dreams. But because of cancer Mr. Stutzman was left with an overwhelming feeling of loss, of why and of not having appreciated his wife nearly enough. So with not just a little bit of fear but a lot of faith in his God he set off on one of his biggest dreams - a hike through of the Appalachian Trail.I think this book appealed to me because when I was in my late 30ies I discovered I had a brain aneurysm. Fortunately for me, doctors were able to operate and I am still here. Another progressive brain abnormality was found (yes, I have a bad brain) and I have lots of problems now - but I am alive. It caused my hubby and me to totally re-think our retirement plan. This is why I am now on a goat farm in Montana instead of living in Hawaii but that is another story.Mr. Stutzman's writing style is very easy. He is honest about himself and the characters he meets along the trail. His mission is to spread the word to men - appreciate your wives while you have them because they can be taken in a heartbeat. He learns so much on his seemingly endless hike - about life, about himself and about his faith.I have been to several of the stops along the Appalachian Trail that are described in the book and this made the book all the more interesting to me. It brought back some great memories of my travels around in the fifthwheel with my hiking hubby. He did several sections of the trail. He also read the book and enjoyed it. I can tell you that he does appreciate me very much.This is an amazing book with a powerful message. I am very thankful to have read it.