Thoreau in the mountains

By Henry David Thoreau

Book Overview

During his brief, energetic life (1817-62), and long before backpacking became popular, Henry David Thoreau climbed a number of New England mountains -- at the time remote wilderness areas where only Indians and a few pioneering botanists regularly traveled.Walking with Thoreau gives Henry David Thoreau's writings on nine New England mountains -- Wachusett and Greylock in Massachusetts; Katahdin and Kenio in Maine; and Wantastiquet, Fall Mountain, Washington, Lafayette, and Monadnock in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont. William Howarth's expert and illuminating commentary, printed alongside Thoreau's text, allows the present-day hiker to retrace Thoreau's foot-steps up some of New England's most popular mountain destinations. This innovative resource combines specially drawn state maps, original itineraries (William Howarth climbed all of Thoreau's trails), and modern-equivalent route information to make Walking with Thoreau the essential literary hiker's guide.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374276439
• ISBN13: 9780374276430
• Release Date: January 1982
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 394 Pages
• Weight: 1.62 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Climb every (major New England) mountain

In this book, editor William Howarth compiled Henry David Thoreau's journal accounts of his lifetime excursions to the major mountains of New England. Through these extensive descriptions, we can accompany Thoreau to Wachusett and Greylock in Massachusetts; to Katahdin and Kineo in Maine; and to the Vermont and New Hampshire peaks of Wantastiquet, the Fall Mountains, the White Mountains (Washington, Tuckerman Ravine, Lafayette), and Monadnock. Howarth periodically added sidebars of contemporary geography to the naturalist's words and experiences so that the devoted reader could have directions to attempt to retrace the 19th-century naturalist's steps. Obviously Howarth did the hikes himself. But we discover through Howarth's notes that sometimes Thoreau wasn't even sure of his location. Sometimes he flat out misidentified landmarks or tree species. Therein lies part of the fun, of course: correcting historical documentation. We can also see how the New England landscape has changed over the past century and a half. We know that we have more woodland than Thoreau saw or encountered, and that our current views from mountain summits aren't the same as his were. Still, it's interesting to read about the way it was and to share in Thoreau's continual wonder at the natural world. This volume has been updated by a newer edition called "Walking with Thoreau: A Literary Guide to the New England Mountains." Either book is especially recommended for hikers.

A great book for those who love the beauty of the hills!!

This book gives you a spectacular, vivid, and unique look at the mountains of New England as only Thoreau could provide. This book is a compilation of peak-by-peak short stories which include Thoreaus' own journal writings along with commentary by the author. You join Thoreau as he explores many of New England's more famous mountains. Originally published in the 19th Century, Thoreau gives a glimpse of the mountains before roads, well-graded paths, or even maps gave the average tourist easy access to their beautiful heights. Thoreau explores such peaks as Katahdin in Maine, Lafayette, Monadnock, and Washington in New Hampshire, as well as Greylock and Wachusett in his home state of Massachusetts. The author gives modern day reference points as you follow Thoreau on his adventures across New England. Thoreau even teaches, unintentionaly, some important do's and don'ts for the modern day explorer. As you will discover Thoreau even learned a few lessons that can still be seen to this day! Overall, a very interesting read, especially for anyone at home in the mountains of New England. A book sure to bring out the adventurer in you.