Book Review The Last Englishman: A 2,650 mile hiking adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail [Kindle Edition] - Completed 13 May 14

The Last Englishman: A 2,650 mile hiking adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail [Kindle Edition] - Completed 13 May 14

I selected this book as my primary reading material on my recent abortive (another story to be told later) attempt to cross Scotland on the 2014 TGO challenge. I knew that the book had been shortlisted for the ‘Outdoor Book of the year 2012’ by TGO magazine and I follow Fozzie’s highly entertaining blog (http://www.keithfoskett.com/blog/) though I had not read his earlier book of hos walk of the Camino de Santiago (though I have since commenced it). I must say that this book was extremely enjoyable and I must have completed it in record time.

The book tells the Story of Foskett’s completion of the 2650 mile long Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican to the Canadian Border through California, Oregon and Washington States. Although over 300 hikers start this walk every year the dropout rate is very high - according to the book’s blurb more people have stood on the top of Everest than have completed the Trail. When one reads the book it is easy to see why as through hikers have to cover a high average daily mileage in order to hit the Canadian border before the onset of Winter – Foskett himself only just makes it and that with a re-jig of his planned route in order to cover the harsher hills and conditions of Washington State early – though I shan’t spoil the story. For a reader in the UK the scale of the walk only comes across when Foskett points out that the length of the Californian section of the trail alone is 500 mils longer than a walk from Land’s End to John ‘o’ Groats!

Foskett tells an excellent story with humour throughout; he tells of meetings with other hikers – both those with whom he becomes friendly and also those he dislikes. Tales of encounters with Snakes – which he both fears but finds rather tasty – and Bears as well as the at times fearsome weather are recounted. Foskett’s love of the outdoors comes across splendidly and a touch I really liked was the list at the end of the book that provides reason WHY one would do a walk like this.

I can heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys being out of doors – whether you plan to walk something like the PCT or not.