Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Walking with Spring  By  cover art

Walking with Spring

By: Earl V. Shaffer
Narrated by: Danny Campbell
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.99

Buy for $13.99

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In 1948, the Appalachian Trail had been a continuous, 2,000-mile footpath for eleven years, but no one had walked its length alone in a continuous journey—until Earl Shaffer, a quiet Pennsylvanian, became a hiking legend and the first of what is now more than 5,500 A.T. "thru-hikers," walking from Georgia to Maine as spring arrived to each area. In 1998, he hiked again as a 50th-anniversary celebration, to far greater publicity. This is the lyrical account of his fabled 1948 walk.

Written soon after the first of his three thru-hikes, Walking with Spring chronicles Shaffer's adventures along a path that at the time was showing neglect of the war years and has since been rerouted significantly to its permanent location. His simply stated story has served as an inspiration for more than 9,000 men and women who have since followed in his footsteps . . . and many more who have tried.

©2004 Earl Shaffer Foundation (P)2022 Tantor

What listeners say about Walking with Spring

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    11
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

AT thru hike origin story

Like many others, I have wanted to hike the AT either as a thru or a section hike. I've read or listened to other thru-hike books set since the turn of the century and was recently reminded that Shaffer's book existed.

Shaffer's approach is to tell the story of his walk, the story of the trail, and frequently the history that interacted with various parts of the trail.

You won't find modern equipment suggestions and Shaffer points out many parts of the trail that have been re-routed around but you do get to see the mindset of the original thru-hiker and receive his inspiration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The original sin!

If you’re a hiker you should already have read this book—so get it now and participate. I was surprised by Shaffer’s writing ability—he has a lovely way with words—and by his literary references. His tales of his thru-hike are believable and entertaining. And if you know anything about the various waypoints along the AT you’ll recognize many of the locations.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Story is good just didn’t like the narration

Obviously this is an iconic story of the first through hiker on the AT…but the narrator talks quickly and without any inflection so it sounds like someone reading off a page not telling an engaging, important story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just a great account of what it was like

A great account of a tremendous accomplishment. It open the door to many who would come afterwards

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!