• Skywalker

  • Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail
  • By: Bill Walker
  • Narrated by: Bill Walker
  • Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (315 ratings)

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Skywalker  By  cover art

Skywalker

By: Bill Walker
Narrated by: Bill Walker
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Publisher's summary

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT )is the perfect place for an average person to do something extraordinary. Bill Walker ("Skywalker"), who stands 6'11", might seem like anything but average. Yet in a brutally honest tone, he lays to bare all his considerable weaknesses and fears. Among these are crushing weight loss and fatigue, along with a fear of getting lost or a bear stealing his food. Nonetheless, he is bound and determined to hike the PCT which - at 2,663 miles - runs all the way from Mexico to Canada.

The PCT's calling card is its stunning beauty. It has a diversity of geography unequaled by any footpath in the world. Haunting and beckoning the PCT hiker are the implacable desert, the towering majesty of the so-called High Sierra, and the ruggedly bleak, northern Cascade range. Indeed, the PCT hiker faces much greater extremes of terrain and climate than on the famed Appalachian Trail. Completing this demanding challenge calls for overwhelming clarity of purpose.

Walker's signature characteristic as a writer is his real talent in capturing people. Obviously, he is a people person because he runs into and vividly describes a truly colorful cast of characters from seemingly all walks of American life. Among these are Uber Bitch, Shit Bag, and Serial Killer; the listener learns how these hikers ended up with their names (hint: blunders).The listener need not worry that Walker is a bully. Throughout this irreverent narrative, he turns his considerable supply of humor back on himself in ruthlessly self-deprecating fashion. It all makes for a delightful experience.

©2010 Bill Walker (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Skywalker

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Skywalker: Highs and Lows on the PCT review

Easy listening of one man's adventures and observations (people and lanscapes) along the Pacific Crest Trail.

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Informative Travelogue

I've read a lot of these travelogues over the past year as I prepare to embark on the Appalachian Trail myself this coming March. I enjoyed this one as it was more educational and thoughtful than some others. The author did a good job of explaining any major decisions about his successful thru-hike of the PCT. I enjoyed listening to this while I was doing my own training for the trail.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic!

Loved this book! Author has a great voice for audio! Great stories, funny, inspirational, heart wrenching at times.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Must Read!

Bill Walker is an amazing story teller! Do your self a favor and take a listen 😊

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • JM
  • 06-13-16

Not Bad

Stayed on PCT hiking subject matter fairly well. Story was more documentary style than well crafted storytelling.

Narration is a bit rough in places, but the narrator is also the author.

Reasonably entertaining if you are interested in thru hiking.

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Excellent, Entertaining

Just finished this book for the 2nd time and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great story and the Author did very well narrating. Just like "being there" absent all the hardship.

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One persons account

I found his experience on the PCT interesting. To get another point of view other than Cheryl Strayed's was good. I may now read his account on the AT. Appalachian Trail.

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5 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Good Story, but Narration is weird

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Dialog seems a little clunky, no one talks like this in real life.

Any additional comments?

The narration is weird.

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  • JW
  • 01-29-24

I enjoy most trail books

Overall the story is pretty good. As a disclaimer. I’m one who will watch YouTube hiking videos of the AT and PCT, it may give more rose colored lenses for anything hiking. (Long as it is a book about hiking and not a platform for something else.)

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Loved it

I need 15 words to be able to submit. I really liked the book thanks.

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