The virgin forests of the Smokies, the pasturelands of Pennsylvania, the abandoned stagecoach roads of Connecticut, and the exposed craggy peaks of New Hampshire's White Mountains are only some of the vistas that await the backpacker -- whether of the real or armchair variety -- hiking along the 2000 mile footpath known as the Appalachian Trail. Robert A. Browne, the hiker in this book, describes not only the flora and fauna he finds along the way, but delves into local history and ecology, and shares his experiences with the many characters he meets along the way. In some respects, this journey is a personal experience set in a certain time and place, but in others, it is a timeless journey that can be shared by all.