__A life-changing journey begins with a single step__   
After Paul Stutzman lost his wife to breast cancer, he sensed a tug on his heart--the call to a challenge, the call to pursue a dream. With a mixture of dread and determination, Paul left his job, traveled to Georgia, and took his first steps on the Appalachian Trail. What he learned during the next four and a half months changed his life--and can change yours as well.  
  
In Hiking Through, you'll join Paul on his remarkable 2,176-mile trip through fourteen states in search of peace and a renewed sense of purpose. Along the way, you'll meet fascinating and funny people, experience trail magic, and discover that every choice we make on the path has consequences for the journey. More than that, you'll come away with a new understanding of God's grace and guidance--even in the smallest things.   
  
  
"Hiking Through is a page-turner! Being a hiker, I have read a number of books about the AT; this one is different. It is about accomplishing a goal but it is also about love, family, friendship, change, discovery, healing, and so much more. Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did!"--Dr. Steve Wingfield, founder of the Steve Wingfield Evangelistic Association and author of Live the Adventure   
"For a serious backpacker to be interested in yet another version of how it is to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, a book must have a unique twist. Some writers use romance to delineate them from the others, some use spirituality to be different, some humor, some life's struggles, and some the trail itself and the challenges that it presents. Hiking Through has it all!"--Bill Irwin, speaker, author of Blind Courage, counselor, and executive director of Free Indeed Ministries, with Orient, hero dog-guide of the Appalachian Trail  
  
  
Paul Stutzman is a restaurant-manager-turned-captivating-storyteller who left his career after his wife's death from breast cancer. His passion and mission is to share what he learned on his thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. When he is not hiking or biking cross-country, he makes his home in Ohio.

__Paul Stutzman__ is a former restaurant manager who left his career after his wife's death from breast cancer. He hiked the Appalachian Trail in search of peace, healing, and freedom. His passion and mission is to share what he learned on that remarkable journey. Paul grew up in the Mennonite church. When he is not hiking or on a cross-country bike ride he makes his home in Berlin, Ohio.

After Paul Stutzman lost his wife to breast cancer, he sensed a tug on his heart--the call to a challenge, the call to pursue a dream. Paul left his stable career, traveled to Georgia, and took his first steps on the Appalachian Trail. What he learned during the next four and a half months changed his life--and will change readers' lives as well.  
  
In Hiking Through, readers will join Paul on his remarkable 2,176-mile hike through fourteen states in search of peace and a renewed sense of purpose, meeting fascinating and funny people along the way. They'll discover that every choice we make along the path has consequences for the journey and will come away with a new understanding of God's grace and guidance. Nature-lovers, armchair adventurers, and those grieving a loss may not be able to hike the AT themselves, but they can go on this spiritual pilgrimage with a truly humble and sympathetic guide.

With breathtaking descriptions and humorous anecdotes from his 2,176-mile journey along the Appalachian Trail, Paul Stutzman reveals how immersing himself in nature and befriending fellow hikers helped him recover from a devastating loss.

Stutzman, Paul

Cover

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Author’s Note

Prologue

1. The Big C

2. The Plan

3. The Narrow Path

4. The Narrow Way

5. My New Life

6. A Cold, Rainy, Miserable Mess

Photos 1

7. Butterflies

8. The Smoky Mountains

9. Let’s Go Left

10. Words Have Meaning

Photos 2

11. Instead, I’m Happy

12. Choices and Consequences

13. It Is What It Is

14. Chasing Dreams

15. The Storm

Photos 3

16. Pilgrim’s Progress

17. Summer Solstice

18. The Pharmacy Shelter

19. Kindness and Courage

20. The Path to Freedom

Photos 4

21. Golden Days

22. The White Mountains

23. The Maine Event

24. Trials and Tears

Photos 5

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Back Cover

After Paul Stutzman lost his wife to breast cancer, he sensed a tug on his heart--the call to a challenge, the call to pursue a dream. Paul left his stable career, traveled to Georgia, and took his first steps on the Appalachian Trail. What he learned during the next four and a half months changed his life--and will change readers' lives as well.  
  
InHiking Through, readers will join Paul on his remarkable 2,176-mile hike through fourteen states in search of peace and a renewed sense of purpose, meeting fascinating and funny people along the way. They'll discover that every choice we make along the path has consequences for the journey and will come away with a new understanding of God's grace and guidance. Nature-lovers, armchair adventurers, and those grieving a loss may not be able to hike the AT themselves, but they can go on this spiritual pilgrimage with a truly humble and sympathetic guide.

After Paul Stutzman lost his wife to breast cancer, he sensed a tug on his heart--the call to a challenge, the call to pursue a dream. Paul left his stable career, traveled to Georgia, and took his first steps on the Appalachian Trail. What he learned during the next four and a half months changed his life--and will change readers' lives as well.In Hiking Through, readers will join Paul on his remarkable 2,176-mile hike through fourteen states in search of peace and a renewed sense of purpose, meeting fascinating and funny people along the way. They'll discover that every choice we make along the path has consequences for the journey and will come away with a new understanding of God's grace and guidance. Nature-lovers, armchair adventurers, and those grieving a loss may not be able to hike the AT themselves, but they can go on this spiritual pilgrimage with a truly humble and sympathetic guide.

Eden Customer

I offered this title to several reviewers but they chose other titles. I am so glad! The title intrigued me though I knew nothing about the Appalachian Trail. I know a lot more now, and if you put ?Appalachian Trail? into a search engine you will find a wealth of information including pictures from a variety of websites. What Paul found though, was that however much information you gather before you start a thru-hike it does not tell the full story. Paul lost his wife to cancer after a traumatic illness that left him bereft. He left his job and his comfortable life style to hike the 2,176 miles from Georgia to Maine; fulfilling a dream and seeking the peace and freedom referred to in the sub-title. His chosen ?trail name? was Apostle Paul . One particular paragraph on page 35, summed up the journey for me. ?Had I known....all the details of the next months, all that waited for me on the trail, I probably would have rapidly backed away from a path so difficult. But I would also have missed the most incredible journey of my life. It was not only an incredible journey on my own two feet wandering through spectacular creation, but also a journey of discovery through the landscape of my mind and heart.? What could have been just a tedious record of the journey is actually a book with much to ponder upon, many amusing anecdotes along the way, of discovering a relationship with and trust in God, of finding that peace and freedom that he sought.

What could have been just a tedious record of the journey is actually a book wit

The Good Book Stall

I offered this title to several reviewers but they chose other titles. I am so glad!  
The title intrigued me though I knew nothing about the Appalachian Trail. I know a lot more now, and if you put ‘Appalachian Trail’ into a search engine you will find a wealth of information including pictures from a variety of websites. What Paul found though, was that however much information you gather before you start a thru-hike it does not tell the full story.  
Paul lost his wife to cancer after a traumatic illness that left him bereft. He left his job and his comfortable life style to hike the 2,176 miles from Georgia to Maine; fulfilling a dream and seeking the peace and freedom referred to in the sub-title. His chosen ‘trail name’ was Apostle Paul . One particular paragraph on page 35, summed up the journey for me.  
‘Had I known....all the details of the next months, all that waited for me on the trail, I probably would have rapidly backed away from a path so difficult. But I would also have missed the most incredible journey of my life. It was not only an incredible journey on my own two feet wandering through spectacular creation, but also a journey of discovery through the landscape of my mind and heart.’  
What could have been just a tedious record of the journey is actually a book with much to ponder upon, many amusing anecdotes along the way, of discovering a relationship with and trust in God, of finding that peace and freedom that he sought.

Hiking Through

Hiking Through [eBook]

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