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judithkaye, February 12, 2008 (view all comments by judithkaye)
Jeff Alt is a motivational speaker, expert hiker, speech pathologist, teacher and author. We first got to know him in his first book, “A Walk for Sunshine” where he hiked the Appalachian Trail. His openness, humor, and purpose make this book a great read.

In A HIKE FOR MIKE, Alt hikes the John Muir Trail in California. The hike and book was dedicated to his brother-in-law, Mike, who committed suicide during depression. Throughout the book and his hike, he educates us and people he meets about the seriousness of depression. The last chapter, 24 – Depression: know the facts, is full of information and on-line resources for both the sufferer and family.

The John Muir Trail, JMT, is 218 miles of rugged, climbing trial through California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range which begins in Happy Isles, elevation 4,035 ft., and ends at Lone Pine beside Mt. Whitney, elevation 14,496 ft. All of it is exposed to extreme temperature swings, deadly lighting storms, flash floods, bears, and mountain lions (hikers have been attacked and killed by the lions and bears). That’s not including potential strange and dangerous people - Chapter 18, A Creep at 10,000 Feet - yikes!

Jeff and his wife, Beth, take on the JMT with humor and resolve. Jeff’s writing is so good that you experience the adventure, pains, fears, wonderment, and appreciation for nature’s beauty that they had. He writes with candor, telling everything.

Their underwear shopping, Chapter 5, Finished Basements, is funnier read than explained. From losing his clothes on the first day, to catching his first trout, to the arguments with Beth, to protecting her with a makeshift spear, to Beth’s almost deadly accident he tells all.

I really enjoyed this book. His description of what they did and explanation of why they did it shows what a great teacher and writer he is. The amount of detail is well integrated with the story and dialogue. Based on his book, I feel I can hike the trail and know what to expect. Personally, I now know I’m not going on that hike. It’s too rugged for me. The importance of Jeff and Beth’s purpose is Depression Awareness, which is highlighted by the stories from the other hikers and people they met along the trail.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780967948218

Subtitle:

An Uplifting Adventure Across the Sierra Nevada for Depression Awareness

Author:

Alt, Jeff

Publisher:

Dreams Shared Publications

Subject:

General

Subject:

Hiking

Subject:

Depression, mental

Subject:

General Travel

Subject:

Hiking - California - John Muir Trail

Edition Description:

Trade paper

Publication Date:

September 2005

Binding:

Paperback

Grade Level:

General/trade

Language:

English

Illustrations:

Y

Pages:

198

Dimensions:

8.56x5.60x.45 in. .61 lbs.