While preparing for a 2007 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, Ken Sarzynski read half a dozen books on the subject, dozens of websites, blogs and journals. He had long-distance backpacked and bicycled many times and felt ready for the physical demands a 2,200 mile hike could extoll. Nothing could have prepared him for the social responsibility thrust upon him. Southbound on the Appalachian Trail is one man's attempt to answer all the questions posed to him before, during and after his thru-hike from Maine to Georgia. In a humorous way it, manages to not only assist potential thru-hikers in their planning but also their family members who don't quite understand why on earth someone would want to walk 2,200 miles. Future thru-hikers will learn the art of surviving on convenience store groceries, how to trick a bear into thinking you don't see it, and how to make water out of thin air. Whether you're out for the long haul or just a short hike, Southbound on the Appalachian Trail has tips, advice and stories for everyone.