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Binding: PaperbackDewey Decimal Number: 917.9 EAN: 9780061376931 ISBN: 0061376930 Label: Harper Perennial Manufacturer: Harper Perennial Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 400 Publication Date: June 01, 2008 Publisher: Harper Perennial Release Date: May 20, 2008 Studio: Harper Perennial Editorial Review: Product Description: The Pacific Crest Trail stretches from Mexico to Canada, a distance of 2,650 grueling, sun-scorched, bear-infested miles. When Dan White and his girlfriend announced their intention to hike it, Dan's parents—among others—thought they were nuts. How could two people who'd never even shared an apartment together survive six months in the desert with little more than a two-person tent and some trail mix? But when these addled adventurers, dubbed "the Lois and Clark Expedition" by their benevolent trail-guru, set out for the American wilderness, the hardships of the trail—and one delicious-looking cactus—test the limits of love and sanity. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - DisappointedI was hoping for an engaging story akin to "A Walk in the Woods". Instead I found myself disgusted with Dan's behavior toward his hiking companion and annoyed that the story didn't talk more about the adventure of the trail. This story should have remained a diary. I gave it three stars because I did read all 400 pages hoping to see Dan "almost find himself" and become less of a jerk. No luck. Rating: - Cactus Eater (not Eaters)...So as not to be spoiler, I won't explain my quibble with book's title, except to say it is symptomatic of the author's attitude. He spreads the blame to include his hiking companion, Allison, when things go wrong. I noticed in the book's Author's Notes that Dan thanks everyone on the planet except Allison, which seems very petty. I give him credit for frankly admitting his many mistakes and stupidities along the trail, which gives the book its humor and spice. It is obvious he was very immature when ... Read More Rating:  - Utterly Joyless BookI did not think it was possible to write a book about hiking the PCT without conveying the joy, beauty and spirituality of the experience, but Dan White has managed to do it. If you are looking to understand what it is like to hike the PCT, this is not the book. This book about two inexperienced, unprepared hikers portrays the worst of the experience and almost completely misses explaining the hike itself. Instead of descriptions of the terrain, we get long reminisces about the authors ... Read More Rating:  - How to be self-absorbed on the trail and nearly lose itAfter finishing Cactus Eaters, I walked over to the next room where my wife was in bed, hugged her hard, and repeated that I loved her at least six times. She winced a little: "Please. I'm trying to relax and go to sleep." She had no idea that I was overcome with emotion by this allegory of trail and the outdoors as a search for love and life's meaning. While I won't give the details away, I had been breezing through Dan White's frequently lighthearted and often self-deprecating ... Read More Rating: - Too bad the cactus didn't eat himOK, I love books about long distance hiking. I collect all books concerning the Appalachian Trail. I hike whenever I can. I work for a major outdoor retailer. That said I really disliked this book because I found Dan White to be a very dislikable person. Oh sure there are a few chuckles in the book but not enough. His humor is High School and sophmoric at best and the way he treats his girlfriend it's a wonder she did not leave him sooner. I had high hopes for this book based on the publishers blurb but my ... Read More |
