An Appalachian Trail Book

"Nancy writes in such a personal and descriptive style that, by the time I finished the book, I felt like I had walked with her every exhausting and exhilarating step of the way. But this book is about far more than just a trail hike. This book is about life. It is about finding yourself when you thought you were lost---challenging yourself and meeting the challenge--about making choices and then re-thinking those choices--starting out just when the race was ending--finding out that you like yourself a lot more than you thought you did. This book is for everyone who has ever thought, 'Should I or shouldn't I?'"
G. Miller, freelance writer

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"Reading it was so easy, it just flowed right along in a language that I could relate to."
T. Clark, retired machinist

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"As someone who has often imagined thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, but known absolutely nothing about hiking that kind of distance, I was excited to read about this woman's journey. What I found was not only the story of a hiker, but also the story of a woman who learned to count on herself and follow her dreams, even when those dreams were scary. Ms. Shepherd's account is riveting in its descriptions of the places she sees and the adventures she has, and I felt like I was right there with her, cheering her on. In reading her words, I felt her grow as a person along with her growing as a hiker, and I wished I could have been there with her at the very top of Katahdin at the end of her amazing journey." -- E. Morse, writer

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"Motivation? It's here. Courage, determination, truth? Yes, that too. Have you ever thought...I can't do that! But...did you want to learn how to gain the courage to accomplish something out of the ordinary for someone like yourself? Yes, you can learn how to undertake The Big Outdoor Adventure. Read this book for insights into gaining the right to say 'I did that! How the h--- did I do that? Yet... I did it!'" -- J. Jones, entrepreneur

Nancy Shepherd is a provider of vicarious adventure. She risks undertakings for which few people would be willing to give up their comfort, even though they secretly wish they could; then she shares her experiences through her writings.

Nancy's adventures include van dwelling and long-distance backpacking. In 2001 she backpacked the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, and in 2003, the 700-mile International Appalachian Trail. In July, 2009, she completed a year-long bicycle tour that took her more than 9,000 miles around the perimeter of the United States.

In the fall of 2004, Nancy quit her job, liquidated most of her possessions, and headed southwest in her Astro van. For several months she lived in her van and worked at a hot springs spa in Arizona. The rest of the winter she spent camped on a beach near Corpus Christi, Texas.

Born in Wooster, Ohio, Nancy grew up with a love of the outdoors and of books. Mother of three and grandmother of seven, she attended college as an adult and earned degrees in Equine Management and Business Management. She is the author of My Own Hike: A Woman's Journey on the Appalachian Trail. Her other writings have appeared in The Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. Visit her website at NancyShepherd.net