Arctic Sven: Finding Ki

The True Story of a Young Emt/School Teacher Who Found Inner Harmony on the Appalachian Trail

De: Dr. Loren Jay Chassels

Narrado por: David A. Conatser

The true story of a young EMT and school teacher who found inner harmony on the Appalachian Trail.

©2018 Loren Jay Chassels (P)2018 Loren Jay Chassels

Trail Journal

I've been listening to a lot of long distance hiking books lately. I keep hoping to find another "Where's the Next Shelter" or "Skywalker: Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail". While memoirs, those are also novels in their own right. "Arctic Sven" is a trail journal, not a novel. There is a lot of "I walked x number of miles today, I hope to walk x number of miles tomorrow, here is what I had for dinner, I'm going to sleep now, see you in the morning". Occasionally, the author becomes rhapsodic about his journey and, late in the book, begins to touch on the finding "Inner Harmony" mentioned in the title, but it never really gels.

Good Perspective

Long distance hiking books are becoming more common every year. This book is written from the first person immediate perspective of a 28 year old while he is hiking the Appalachian Trail. Subsequent reflection of a doctor 20 years after the hike helps anchor the tale. See the author develop inner harmony, and find out how the long distance hike becomes part of a hiker's life.

Boring Trail Journal

I've ready many stories from the AT and PCT and this is the only one that I've stopped listening to as I realized it was irritating like a bad song. In most cases it was simply boring. No great stories of adventure or cool characters. Just boring...

I miss AWOL

Where's the humility? I think I've listened to every available book on the AT and read others. This is my least favorite. Sven is obviously very competent in most areas of outdoor life and certainly a strong hiker. The story offers very little insight as to life on the trail (compared to other books) and I was disappointed with the lack of any thought-provoking content. I was expecting more from a MD. The whole thing feels a bit too gung-ho to me. I can't recommend "AWOL on the Appalachian Trail" enough.

Story time in the 4th grade

This book is read as if the narrator is playing the part in a grade school play. Emotions are over exaggerated, more than one voice is used for the purpose of separating the author from things the editor has supposedly added. This seems to be a self glorification . With very little or no actual content. The AT is an adventure not a contest. I can’t believe someone has found a way to make it uninteresting.