Giveaway: A Walk for Sunshine, an Inspiring Tale of Hiking the Appalachian Trail

If I asked you to go come take a walk with me, you’d probably think that I was talking about a walk around the corner, along the beach, or maybe a short hike.  You’d say yes, and we’d share a pleasant little bit of time.

But if Jeff Alt asks you to go for a walk, you’d better be ready to make a serious commitment!  Confucius may have begun his journey of a thousand miles with a single step, but for Jeff that step was the beginning of a 2,160 mile journey.

It began ten years ago, when Jeff started what was to become a five month hike along the Appalachian Trail.  The journey, which was dedicated to his brother Aaron who has cerebral palsy, began in Georgia and ended in Maine, covering 14 states and about 5 million steps along the way.

Jeff’s book, A Walk for Sunshine, is an award winning story of Jeff’s walk, full of humor, setbacks, determination and survival, and a bit of reflection on the meaning and purpose of life.  It’s a story about having a dream, setting goals, and then going for it.

Outdoor enthusiasts will be reading it with an eye toward creating their own marathon walk.  Travel enthusiasts will delight in the local color it brings to the Appalachian corridor.  And if you’re looking for an inspirational story, you’ll find that here as well.

As I was reading it, I wavered back and forth between admiring Jeff for his courage and grit, and thinking that the guy was a certifiable nut!  Come on, we’re talking 2,160 mile and five months living in the outdoors – and it wasn’t all sunshine!  (The Sunshine of the book’s title refers to the Sunshine Home where Aaron lives.)

I found some of the practical stuff very interesting:

• His pack weighted 50 pounds, and he shipped 22 supply boxed to spots along the way
• He went through 3 pairs of boots
• He averaged about 17 miles a day
• He carried a tent, but generally slept in shelters
• By the end of the trip, he had lost 30 pounds
• Great maps of the journey

And the Post Script how-to on organizing your own charitable expedition was both practical and inspiring.

But it was the Epilogue, an addition to this 2nd edition of the book, which I found most inspiring.  Full of Life Lessons from the Trail, there’s a real message to reflect upon, so that, like Jeff, we too can find perspective in life with enough time left to apply it.

Jeff has been kind enough to donate a copy of his book for our Countdown-to-Christmas giveaway.  One lucky reader will receive a copy of A Walk for Sunshine, Jeff’s story of hiking the Appalachian Trail.

This book would make a wonderful gift for any traveler or outdoor enthusiast on your holiday list.  A portion of the proceeds of book sales goes to Sunshine House, making it a gift that gives more than once.  To date, over $120,000 has been raised for the home to benefit its residents.

To win this book, just leave a comment answering this question:

Where is you favorite place to walk, or where would you like to walk?

The contest runs through tonight, Monday, December 8th, 2008 at 11:59pm (PT). On Tuesday, a random winner will be selected from all the comments to receive a copy of the book A Walk for Sunshine.  Please enter only once, and leave your email address in the appropriate spot so that we can contact you.

Check back tomorrow for the winner of this giveaway, and to see what great gift Kori has for Tuesday.  Remember, we’ll be giving away a travel gift each day right up till Christmas.

Image credit:  Jeff Alt

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