Steve Adams, a retired, overweight, 61-year-old Brit, who had never hiked in his life, decided one day that he wanted an adventure. Not willing to settle for just any old adventure, he decided to hike the entire length of America's Appalachian Trail, a beguiling attraction for many hikers, both home-grown and from all corners of the globe. Stretching from Georgia to Maine, taking its travelers on a whimsical journey through national forests and parks, along ridges and over mountains, the A.T. is the longest hiking-only trail in the world. The Appalachian Trail is physically strenuous and emotionally taxing, involving a commitment of about six months to complete the entire 2,200 miles: only one in four of the people who start in Georgia will actually complete the hike. Steve was completely unprepared for the myriad challenges that the trail offered him, but took them on with gusto. My Appalachian Trial II: Creaking Geezer, Hidden Flagon takes up the story when Steve returns to the trail after his unplanned visit home.

The reader shares his journey, walking alongside him as he falls constantly, laughs loudly, and observes wryly. You'll be cheering Steve on as he doggedly heads north in search of his destiny at the top of Mount Katahdin.