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  • Skywalker

  • Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail
  • By: Bill Walker
  • Narrated by: Bill Walker
  • Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (20 ratings)
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Skywalker

By: Bill Walker
Narrated by: Bill Walker
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Summary

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.

What listeners say about Skywalker

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Makes you want to put on your boots and walk!

Would you consider the audio edition of Skywalker to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but Bill Walker telling his own story in his own inimitable way definitely adds to the story!

What other book might you compare Skywalker to, and why?

The obvious comparison is Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods, which is about the Appalachian trail - it also bears similarities to Simon Armitage's Walking Home.

What does Bill Walker bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

It's his story, told in his own unusual voice - his reading adds a lot to the story.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Walk from Mexico to Canada in size 15's!

Any additional comments?

Before Bill wrote this, he wrote a book covering his experiences on the Appalachian Trail. As he refers to his time on the AT a lot in this book, it would be great to have an audio version of the first book.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

poor writing style

If I hear another I said, they said I'll scream, poor story telling? no depth, some idiot gave the nod to this book..

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