DECIDING ON TRAILS is for every local champion, thought leader, and dreamer who knows that trails can make a difference in their community if only their town would recognize the value of trails. Written by one of the first Trail Town practitioners, it covers the history of Trail Towns, recommended best practices, and how the concept has been adapted in dozens of places around the U.S. and Canada. This book is not a "how to" for structuring a Trail Town program. Rather, it is a call to action for trail communities and those dedicated individuals who want to cultivate a trail culture, embrace Trail Town best practices, and to once and for all "decide on trails." If you want more for your community and know that trails are part of the solution, this is the book for you. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT DECIDING ON TRAILS "Deciding on Trails is a 'must read' for communities that hope to integrate trails into their placemaking efforts. Amy's passion, knowledge, and empathy are evident in her work and make her the perfect person to tell this Trail Towns story." --Laura Torchio, Director of Education, Project for Public Spaces "This ground-breaking book addresses head on something that has long been missing from conversations about trails: that they are more than the sum of their economic impact. Amy perfectly captures the many reasons communities ought to connect to their trails. Easy to digest, fun to read, and full of inspiration, this book is destined to become a staple in my trail reference library. " --Mike Passo, Executive Director of American Trails "Deciding on Trails is a book for people who want more for their places. This carefully researched, heartfelt book will easily convince community champions to embrace their trails. And these pages are not only full on inspiration, but this book provides these champions with the tools they need to make the most of their community's trails." --Kent Spellman, Consultant at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

2020 Banff Mountain Book Competition Finalist in Adventure Travel In Journeys North, legendary trail angel, thru hiker, and former PCTA board member Barney Scout Mann spins a compelling tale of six hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2007 as they walk from Mexico to Canada. This ensemble story unfolds as these half-dozen hikers--including Barney and his wife, Sandy--trod north, slowly forming relationships and revealing their deepest secrets and aspirations. They face a once-in-a-generation drought and early severe winter storms that test their will in this bare-knuckled adventure. In fact, only a third of all the hikers who set out on the trail that year would finish. As the group approaches Canada, a storm rages. How will these very different hikers, ranging in age, gender, and background, respond to the hardship and suffering ahead of them? Can they all make the final 60-mile push through freezing temperatures, sleet, and snow, or will some reach their breaking point? Journeys North is a story of grit, compassion, and the relationships people forge when they strive toward a common goal.

"In 2009, while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Robert Moor began to wonder about the paths that lie beneath our feet: How do they form? Why do some improve over time while others fade? What makes us follow or strike off on our own? Over the course of the next seven years, Moor traveled the globe, exploring trails of all kinds, from the miniscule to the massive. He learned the tricks of master trail-builders, hunted down long-lost Cherokee trails, and traced the origins of our road networks and the Internet. In each chapter, Moor interweaves his adventures with findings from science, history, philosophy, and nature writing--combining the nomadic joys of Peter Matthiessen with the eclectic wisdom of Lewis Hyde's The Gift. Throughout, Moor reveals how this single topic--the oft-overlooked trail--sheds new light on a wealth of age-old questions: How does order emerge out of chaos? How did animals first crawl forth from the seas and spread across continents? How has humanity's relationship with nature and technology shaped the world around us? And, ultimately, how does each of us pick a path through life? With a breathtaking arc that spans from the dawn of animal life to the digital era, On Trails is a book that makes us see our world, our history, our species, and our ways of life anew"--Book jacket flap.

Nature can provide us with a way of reframing our minds, and dwelling in Gods creation can offer us a space to see, hear, and walk clearly. This clear thinking is what allows us to walk in harmony with the earth and with God, and as we traverse the paths and trails of nature, we can learn more about ourselves and our own personal journeys. In Connecting Trails: The Window of Life, author and naturalist Sean Jungo invites you to join him on his own journey through hundreds of miles of trails in our great National Park system. You will go off the beaten path to some of the most seldom-visited spots in America, and as you follow Seans journey, you will discover that each story has a unique lesson that provides a small piece of the greater puzzle. As each piece is laid down, you have the opportunity to think about your own life and what you can learn. Nature provides the setting for great reflections into the human drumbeat and Gods will for our lives. As we learn about the rhythms and seasons of nature, we learn bits of wisdom we can use to build more fulfilling lives. And no matter where you are on this great journey we call life, relishing in Seans experience of nature can offer a renewed desire to reflect and steadily build your own connecting trails.

Explore 79 of the best rail-trails and other multiuse pathways in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. All across the country, unused railroad corridors have been converted into public multiuse trails. Level and accessible, these paths are ideal for a brisk fitness walk, bike ride, or stroll with the family. In Rail-Trails Southeast, the experts from Rails to Trails Conservancy present the best of these routes, as well as other multiuse pathways, in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Many rail-trails are paved and run within view of the most scenic parts of town. Others offer rugged scenery on ungroomed, mostly dirt, and somewhat wild paths. Explore the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Alabama, voted “Best Recreational Trail” in the country in a USA Today poll. Take in a beautiful blend of nature and art along the famed Atlanta Beltline in Georgia. In the Carolinas, enjoy coastal beaches, hickory forests, abundant farmland, and more on segments of the East Coast Greenway; or travel from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks along North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Whether you’re on feet or wheels, you’ll love the variety in this collection of multiuse trails that total hundreds of miles! Inside you’ll find: Informative descriptions written by rail-trail experts Detailed maps for every featured trail GPS coordinates of parking waypoints Icons indicating the activities that each trail accommodates Information you can rely on from the official guide to rail-trails “You can now throw away all your self-help books on fighting depression, losing weight, toning muscles, finding something to do with your kids, and learning American history. Just use this guide, find a great trail—and enjoy!” —Peter Harnik, Director, Center for City Park Excellence, Trust for Public Land