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Hike along with "Mud Turkey" for 2192 miles on the Appalachian Trail. Hikers will pick up good info from this honest insightful diary.

Synopsis

Mud Turkey writes a memoir detailing some of his hikes through the years which eventually led to his thrilling 2019 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike. The story includes the challenges forcing Mud Turkey off-trail on two different occasions: once for three weeks after traversing the first 344 miles. Then, once again in Maine after approximately 2000 miles are behind him, he is side-lined from the trail for ten days. Learn from his mistakes so you are ready for your Appalachian Trail thru-hike, and people won't say, "You are dumber than a Mud Turkey!" Upon completion of the Appalachian Trail, Mud Turkey learns about the Forrest Fenn treasure and embarks on a trek to find the gold and precious artifacts hidden somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. In pursuit of the summit of Mt. Katahdin and the treasure, he recalls scripture relating to the various circumstances encountered along the way while providing numerous photos of breathtaking views only seen from on high.

Diary of a Dumb Mud Turkey, by Charles Tirey, describes his through-hike of the Appalachian Trail — 2192 miles from Georgia to Maine. Mud Turkey is Tirey’s trail name. His audience is other hikers.

Tirey comes from Kentucky; the son of a Baptist minister. His family is warm and wonderfully supportive. He wants adventure and to prove to himself that he can hike the trail. He saves enough money to leave his job for six months and hits the trail.

Tirey encourages readers to dream and make it happen. He shows that even a “dumb Mud Turkey” can set a big goal and achieve it, especially if he accepts help along the way.

Serious hikers will find Tirey’s clothing, sleeping quilt, boots, and tent choices informative, as he explains why he made changes. He scatters photos throughout the book; helpful in understanding the terrain. These aren’t “postcard” photos, but candid shots of trails, shelters, and views.

From March 23 to September 9, 2019, every day is recorded — miles covered, who he met and where he slept. While this sounds tedious, it was fascinating. As a hiker myself, I wanted to know about trail conditions, finding the way, and where he found “trail magic” (people waiting along the trail to greet thru-hikers and offer food or rides to town.) Tirey’s self-effacing chatty style made me feel I was hiking with him. His descriptions are evocative and insightful. He shares what worked and where he flubbed up. If you don’t know what giardia is, you will after you read this book!

Many people write trail memoirs. I’ve read a few. Tirey has, too. He writes, “I read A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson and I got the Appalachian Trail bug.” Some, like Bryson, make you laugh at their incompetence. Tirey just takes you along for the hike. I like that.

I finished the trail with Mud Turkey feeling satisfied with the journey.

But he didn’t end the book at the end of the trail! He should have. Instead, we accompany him through the death of his father, including a few pages of Bible quotations and admonitions to be ready for our own death. Then we hunt for treasure in the Rocky Mountains. While these events are interesting, and of great import to Tirey, I feel they didn’t really belong in this book. A short tribute to his father, who passed soon after the hike, would be a better ending.

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A lifelong bookworm and career reading tutor. I can totally nerd out over a great sentence. Especially interested in neurodiversity. Author of Dyslexia Tool Kit Expanded Edition: What to do when phonics isn't enough. In lieu of tips, please follow me on Goodreads or Amazon.

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Diary of a Dumb Mud Turkey: A.T. Thru-Hiker & Treasure Hunter

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