Authors to describe Appalachian Trail trip at library

Whether you are a hiker, serious walker or a couch potato living vicariously through digital images, "You Can't Get There By Sitting Here" will take you on an enthralling adventure along the length of the Appalachian Trail.

Written by Chuck and Norma Sink this is a fantastic hiking journey of 2,175 miles covering 14 states, from Georgia to Maine. It is a story about perseverance and triumph.

The couple will be at the Putnam County Library Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. to describe their experience. The public is invited and copies of the books will be available for purchase from Fine Print Bookstore.

The Sinks developed a dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail in 1969 while living here in Indiana. The couple met in Marion in 1963 and spent their second date hiking at Turkey Run State Park in nearby Parke County.

But, it wasn't until their children were grown and starting families of their own and they moved to the Great Smoky Mountains area that the idea of actually hiking the trail gelled.

The couple that adopted the trail names of "Chuckles" and "Gotta Go" celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on the trail.

This book offers much more than just an account of a nine-month hike. It offers valuable information for anyone looking to make the journey 2,175 miles from the southern to northern end of the country.

They offer advice on how to prepare for an epic adventure like hiking the Appalachian Trail. From how to prepare and store food to taking pictures and writing a journal, the couple gives great advice.

They describe their bear bag--a contraption designed to keep critters from getting food.

"We carried a very small bag with a light cord inside and a carabiner attached. The bag was big enough to stuff a rock into for throwing over a tree limb and also to store the rope," wrote the Sinks.

"During the hike, I only lost one of thee bags. It is still hung up in a tree in Virginia. Contrary to Newton's law, what goes up does not always come down," they continued.

The descriptions of the scenic views, the fear after being caught above the tree line in New Hampshire with hurricane winds, and the people they meet along the trail carries the reader right along with them.

It feels as though we are walking the trails, climbing down the boulders, fighting the fatigue and feeling the exhilaration and indescribable beauty of walking through a rain shower or snowstorm.

This is a book not to be missed.

If you can't get to the library you can order one at Fine Print or contact Authorhouse at www.authorhouse.com or call 800-839-8640.