• How the Wild Effect Turned Me into a Hiker at 69: An Appalachian Trail Adventure

  • By: Jane E. Congdon
  • Narrated by: Andrea Gappmayer
  • Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (363 ratings)

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How the Wild Effect Turned Me into a Hiker at 69: An Appalachian Trail Adventure  By  cover art

How the Wild Effect Turned Me into a Hiker at 69: An Appalachian Trail Adventure

By: Jane E. Congdon
Narrated by: Andrea Gappmayer
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Publisher's summary

This is a terrific audiobook. It's interesting, well-written, and timely. It's the story of a textbook editor who retires, reads the popular book The Wild Effect and decides to hike the Appalachian Trail - and have an unexpected adventure!

The tone is wry humor, tongue in cheek - the author has a great sense of humor, is perky, and as she learns in this adventure, is often in over her head! She is a very likeable character.

©2018 Jane E. Congdon (P)2018 Bettie Youngs Book Publishers

What listeners say about How the Wild Effect Turned Me into a Hiker at 69: An Appalachian Trail Adventure

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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A Little Disappointed

I will keep this brief... I did not dislike this book, but I ended up feeling like I had listened to a lot of personal whining. The basic information about the AT was good, very informative, but the decisions about personal relationships got a bit tiresome.

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11 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyable Book! LOVED IT.

Makes me wanna go hike! Very enjoyable book! Hope she hikes the PCT and writes a book!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great motivation!

This book was recommended to me because I am scared of everything too. Especially wild animals and bugs. This was a great story about persistence and facing your fears and mind over matter and never giving up, even when you are with someone who judges you constantly and makes you feel inferior. I have read "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" by Cheryl Strayed, which is referenced in this book a lot. I am glad i read that book before this one. They go together very well. So not to give spoilers, I will say the ending was very inspiring, and validation is always so nice!

I wish the narrator had an older sounding voice, but she was good, with the exception of mispronouncing Cheryl Stayed's name the entire time. So be prepared to overlook that.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Am I Old Enough?

I love reading stories about the Appalachian trail and anything to help me feel better about trying to make the difficult hikes. I am 61, at the writing of this review, and Miss Jane has helped me see and understand that not only can I do these things but I should get off my butt and do these things.
I really enjoyed hearing her insights into the relationships part of her story ~ from the home that she saw growing up to how it even affected her with different people on the trail, including Miles.
Thank you for the story. Thank you for the insights! Thank you for the inspiration!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Old age inspiration

For anyone over a certain age who longs to hike and fantasizes about the AT, this story will make you really seriously consider at least section hiking the AT!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Wild Effect

I loved listening about the Appalachian trek from a woman's perspective and her honesty between herself and her hiking partner was appreciated.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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review if book

nice book about an older woman, like me, struggling with the AT. interestingly, her struggles are more with her hiking partner and self esteem than the trail.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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If you have ever felt the “Wild Effect”…

Loved the book! Love the real life experience with humor and humility! Inspirational!!
Great narrator as well!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I was hoping for no more false summits.

This book is entertaining and overall I enjoyed it. I’m a hiker and backpacker as love to hear stories about others adventures.
I did notice a theme of complaining about her hiking partner and wondered why she didn’t just finish on her own. The complaining made me want the book to end. Much like when you’re hoping that you’ll see the trails end with your next steps over the rise. Only to be disappointed to learn you’re not done yet.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Sweet

Love listening to her journey. I will listen to this audio book repeatedly I’m sure. I no longer have a burning desire to be a thru hiker, but will continue to go on day hikes. Oregon has so many trails to do so. Thank you Jane

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