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.
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 â 2192 miles from Georgia to Maine. Mud Turkey is Tireyâs 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 âdumb Mud Turkeyâ can set a big goal and achieve it, especially if he accepts help along the way.
Serious hikers will find Tireyâs 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 arenât âpostcardâ photos, but candid shots of trails, shelters, and views.Â
From March 23 to September 9, 2019, every day is recorded â 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 âtrail magicâ (people waiting along the trail to greet thru-hikers and offer food or rides to town.) Tireyâs 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 donât know what giardia is, you will after you read this book!
Many people write trail memoirs. Iâve read a few. Tirey has, too. He writes, âI read A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson and I got the Appalachian Trail bug.â 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.Â
But he didnât 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 didnât really belong in this book. A short tribute to his father, who passed soon after the hike, would be a better ending.