Hiking presents a unique joy, offering a retreat from the digital world into the embrace of nature, which can be revitalizing, especially during extended treks. However, with two young children and chronic back pain, my days of backpacking are behind me. Instead, I find joy in reading about others’ adventures on trails like the Appalachian or the Pacific Crest Trail. That expectation led me to pick up Robert Moor’s On Trails: An Exploration, but I discovered it was far more enriching than anticipated.
The book opens with Moor’s decision to undertake a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. The first chapter stays true to these themes, focusing on Moor’s journey to Western Brook Pond in Newfoundland and exploring the broader notion of wilderness.
Moor’s writing prowess is evident from the start. A gripping scene unfolds where he finds himself caught in a storm on a ridge:
This scenario hints that this book is not your typical travel narrative or memoir. By the second chapter, Moor delves into unexpected topics like ant trails and the nuanced meanings of words describing paths.
On Trails joyfully meanders across various subjects, from game trails to fiber optic cables, and even Moor’s experiences as a shepherd. Throughout, Moor skillfully shifts tones, seamlessly transitioning from poetic reflections on nature to humorous tales of accidentally losing a flock of sheep, and then to thoughtful discussions on the impacts of colonialism.
Moor’s talent ensures the book is not only captivating but also cohesive, despite its wide-ranging subject matter. From exploring early internet concepts by engineer Vannevar Bush in 1945 to quoting poet Gary Snyder, Moor masterfully weaves an engaging narrative.
It’s a testament to Moor’s skill that the book not only manages to be compulsively readable, but never feels disjointed as he swings wildly from exploring a proto-internet envisioned by engineer Vannevar Bush in 1945, to quoting poet Gary Snyder.
On Trails starts with a simple idea: how did the Appalachian Trail, or any hiking trail for that matter, form? And from there it branches off endlessly into a thousand different tributaries, exploring how the very concept of trails can help us understand the world.
