This enthusiastic account of one woman's hike of more than 2,000 miles from Georgia to Maine on the legendary Appalachian Trail established her as a new voice among A.T. authors soon after its initial publication in 1982. Today, it's a classic.Artist/writer Cindy Ross split her trek across two years in the late 1970s, before the A.T. became popular for long-distance hiking. That, in no way, diminished the adventure of hardships and joys, loneliness and new friendships, physical and spiritual self-discovery, and radical change that mirrored the ridgecrests and valleys she crossed. Her sketches and vivid descriptions bring to life not only the personalities encountered along the way but also the true spirit of the Appalachian Trail community-a far-flung yet tightly knit family of all ages and backgrounds who share a love for a simple footpath where all are, simply, hikers.