A young man flew from Philadelphia to Maine to follow his dream. This is not his story. Instead, it is the story of another young man in search of a dream, any dream. Through the mud, the mosquitoes, and near moose misses, he found the path that to take him from where he began to where he had to go - and that made all the difference. It is a story of wrong turns, failed relationships, courage, and fear. It takes place on a hike, but this is no more a book on hiking than Huckleberry Finn was a book on navigation. Sure, Huck Finn had something to do with a boat - but that misses the point. The Long Green Tunnel digs into a young man's soul as he wrestles with his place in the world and searches for his right path. It follows the travails of two young men who talk about communication but do not have a clue as to how to actually discuss what matters. It wanders through family and the community in which he grew up and how one shaped the other. It delves into the traumatic period when neighborhoods were flipping from all White to all Black and explores why one community remained in balance, and has remained that way until this day. This book also proves, once again, how a good dog can go a long way toward healing wounds and worries. Truth or fiction? The hike really did happen, the people are real - only the names of the dogs have been changed. It is not a hiking book but it is a book about journeys. It is a book about saving the world, one lonely hiker at a time.

"The Green Tunnel, A Hiker's Appalachian Trail Diary" is the true-life story of a retiree's joys, challenges, and physical rigors while thru-hiking the entire 2,185 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one great epic walk. The book's title refers to the nickname, Green Tunnel, given by hikers for deeply-shaded trail sections that cut through dark and densely-wooded forests. All too often, tree canopies block out all sunlight or views of the sky, sometimes for hundreds of miles. Readers follow RW as he walks north, starting out from the cold winter mountains of Georgia, until he finally reaches Maine during the height of New England fall colors. Along the way, readers encounter a fugitive from the FBI, internationally-known backpackers, the homeless, plus many other hikers seeking adventure or redemption. Trail angels often come to the rescue. Journal entries are frequently peppered with humorous and historical anecdotes, along with colorful descriptions of the swiftly changing scenery and seasons. Readers will also find a good deal of useful backpacking information, from the many firsthand tips and advice on equipment, food, trail culture, lodging, and the hazards of wilderness hiking. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Patrick Bredlau (Trail name: RW) has lived most of his life in the flat lands of Illinois. His life-long enthusiasm for the outdoors was fostered by the Boy Scouts of America during his childhood, and later as a Boy Scout leader on many hiking and backpacking trips. His favorite sports are backpacking, fishing, and sailing. His passion for backpacking led him to hike some of the most spectacular natural locations in the United States and Canada, including the Rocky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, and Banff National Park. As a sailboat racer, he has participated in the prestigious Chicago to Mackinac Island race, as well as other races on Lake Michigan. After a long and successful 38-year career as a federal bank examiner and instructor, Patrick retired in 2013 to spend more time with his family and enjoy the outdoors. His first major adventure after retirement was to successfully thru-hike the entire 2,185 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 2014.