Like a modern-day Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales, Cary Segall, a former award-winning newspaper reporter, has captured the stories of the hikers, hostel owners, trail angels, volunteers and others along the nearly 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail. As he hiked the entire trail, he interviewed hundreds of people about their experiences, dreams and aspirations, and about their motives for attempting the scenic and arduous hike through 14 states from Georgia to Maine.

His reporting skills led those 21st-Century pilgrims to open their hearts about their lives and their journeys on the venerable, public footpath along the crests and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains. And why was he on the trail? Find out for yourself, as his personal story unfolds along the way.

— Terry Shelton, editorAPPALACHIAN TRAIL BACKPACKERS PRAISE A TALK IN THE WOODS:"If you've ever wondered about the people who travel and surround the Appalachian Trail, A Talk in the Woods is the book for you. Cary Segall provides snippets and profiles of hundreds of people whom he encountered during his time hiking the entire iconic AT, providing a glimpse into their motivations and personalities.

"Heather "Anish" Anderson, author of Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail and Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home“Cary Segall has written a must-read book for anyone interested in the Appalachian Trail and the people who hike it. I love the book, which is a wonderful account of hikers and their stories and makes you feel as if you're sitting around the campfire listening to them.

”— Andy “Captain Blue” Niekamp, section-hiked the entire AT five times“Cary does what few other Appalachian Trail writers do: He relates his journey through the people he encounters on the trail…rather than enumerating his 5-million steps. His straightforward prose brings to light both the adventure oflong-distance hiking and the people who make it such a compelling journey.

…you can drop in on almost any page to experience the richness of the other lives that make the trail what it is today. ”— Cosmo Catalano Jr.

, a longtime AT volunteer, has hiked 600 miles of the trail“What distinguishes this book from the many others written about the Appalachian Trail is Cary’s genuine interest in hikers’ stories. …while we come to know Cary, we learn even more about the trail and the people who love it…This book is a much-needed addition to AT lore.

”— Joanna “Seeker” Ezinga, thru-hiked the AT“Cary's interactions with people really make the book stand out from most other hiking books I've read. I kept smiling as I read it.

…I felt like I was right on the trail. ”— Maury “Deacon” Hall, section-hiked the entire AT“…full of potential tips related to the Appalachian Trail and insights that would help any novice or potential hiker looking to tackle a hiking adventure.

…this is a human-interest book with wonderful tales of the microcosm that is the AT hiking community. …valuable insights for those contemplating their own AT adventure or just seeking entertainment.

”— Pete “NoBigDeal” Smith, thru-hiked the AT“Cary has accurately captured what life is like when hiking the Appalachian Trail through the stories he sought from the individuals who hike it…a pageturner…You won't want the story to end. ”— Jeffrey “Baby Steps” Johnson, section-hiked the entire AT“…a testament to human-interest journalism… it restores a sense of shared humanity to a topic that is normally rather deceptively solitary, and to a trail that is probably one of the most social in the world.

”— Angela "Walkie" Shirley, thru-hiked the AT at BackBurnerBooks. com.