A Walk in the Woods

Bryson discusses hypothermia, one of the many dangers that hikers can face on the AT. He explains that the common belief that most victims of hypothermia die in extreme weather events is a misconception: “Most victims of hypothermia die in a much more dopey kind of way, in temperate seasons and with air temperature nowhere near freezing” (313). Bryson is now hiking New Hampshire, the state where he and his family recently moved, so he’s excited to explore it. The state’s portion of the AT runs 162 miles through the White Mountains with 35 peaks higher than 3,000 feet. Naturally, Bryson is overjoyed when his neighbor and friend Bill Abdu, a gifted surgeon, offers to come along on some of the day hikes. Abdu is experienced in the mountains, so his company is welcome.

The pair begins with Mount Lafayette, which requires a climb of 3,700 feet and is notorious for sudden changes in weather. The weather is excellent at the beginning of the hike, but suddenly the sunshine disappears, the temperature drops drastically, and the forest becomes misty and foggy. Bryson forgot to pack his waterproofs, but the pair decides against turning back. Just as he begins to realize that he’s in distress, they reach the summit, and on their descent, the wind finally dies down.