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Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail Paperback – February 16, 2021

by Heather Anderson (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 467 ratings
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Despite her success setting a self-supported Fastest Known Time record on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013, Heather “Anish” Anderson still had such deep-seated insecurities that she became convinced her feat had been a fluke. So two years later she set out again, this time hiking through mud, rocks, and mountain blazes to crush her constant self-doubt and seek the true source of her strength and purpose.

The 2,180 miles of the Appalachian Trail, from Maine to Georgia, did not make it easy. Anderson struggled with its infamous rain, humidity, insects, and steep grades for 54 days. But because she had to fight for every step, she knew when she reached the summit of Springer Mountain, the AT’s southern terminus, that she had fully earned the trail. Of greater value, she learned to love herself and her body, and to feel the depth of her power. Examining emotional scars as well as her relationship with her mother, Anderson’s deeply internal yet highly physical journey in Mud, Rocks, Blazes is an essential story.
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  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Mountaineers Books
  4. Publication date
    February 16, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    5.4 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1680513362
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1680513363
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

blaze, Appalachian trail

Excerpt from Mud, Rocks, Blazes

I sank onto a bench and tried to guide the shaking cup of coffee to my lips, eventually getting enough into my body to slow the shivering. I checked my watch. It had been eight minutes. I refilled my coffee a second time . . . and a third. Eleven minutes. The pad Thai wouldn’t be fully hydrated, but I didn’t want to wait anymore. I began wolfing down the half-crunchy meal.

“Are you thru-hiking?” a man asked, as two preteen boys beside him stared wide-eyed at me.

I hadn’t even noticed them come in. They looked wet and I figured they’d just returned from a hike up to Galehead Mountain.

“Yes, I am.”

The boys whispered something to their dad.

“Why don’t you ask her?” he said.

“Are you going south or north?” the older boy asked.

“South.”

“When did you start?”

“August 1.”

“That’s over forty miles a day!” the father couldn’t help but interject.

I smiled and wiped pad Thai off my face with the back of my hand. Then I tipped the package up and drank the rest of the liquid.

“She’s cooler than Bear Grylls!” the youngest one exclaimed. His stage whisper to his father was met with a roar of laughter.

“I think that’s the best compliment I’ve ever gotten,” I said, smiling at him.

I threw my trash away and took a deep breath. It was easier to step outside into the furor of the storm with their admiring eyes on me.

The warmth of the food and coffee in my belly only lasted a few miles. The trail along Franconia Ridge was exposed and, despite moving as fast as possible, I could not stay warm. The rain finally began to taper as I dropped below 4,000 feet near the Liberty Springs campsite. Even so, it seemed as though I would never thaw.

I lost elevation rapidly as the dirt trail caked my new shoes and socks in mud. My goal for camp was Eliza Brook shelter, eleven miles beyond the Kinsman Peaks. At the bottom of the descent I’d merge with easy trail and bike paths, which, combined with thinning clouds and lack of wind, would result in faster miles—I hoped.

I might be able to crack forty miles today after all.

It was a rueful observation. I knew the Kinsmans might crush me, but I was so far behind schedule I had to try to get past the two rocky, exposed summits that day. Suddenly my feet slid out from under me and I landed in the mud, banging my knee on a rock.

“I’m so sick of mud!” I couldn’t help but scream.

I sat for a moment. Just get to Hanover. Things will get better in Vermont. Just get through New Hampshire.

I got to my feet. I had told myself a hundred times to just make it past Hanover to the smoother trail of Vermont. Some days I felt like I could do it. Other days I didn’t. Some days I told myself I could quit at the New Hampshire border in Hanover. Other days I told myself I couldn’t quit until I finished Vermont—150 miles further. Most nights I felt an extreme hopelessness brought on by the bone-deep fatigue of the day as I crawled into my sleeping bag, physically destroyed and always short of my goal. Each morning it would lessen somewhat. But every setback along the way eroded my dream that what I was attempting was possible.

The Appalachian Trail - 2,190 Miles

Appalachian Trail Map

Editorial Reviews

Review

Even more inspiring [than Anderson's first book Thirst] for its universal message of grit, perseverance and love. -- Mary Vermillion ― Cascadia Daily News

Complete with a map of her route, the latest from Anderson will make hikers want to reach for their trekking poles and will satisfy armchair travelers looking for adventure. -- Stephanie Sendaula ― Library Journal

If it seems superhuman, all it takes is reading her latest book to see that it’s actually something more impressive. It’s Anish, flesh, blood, and fully human walking in the woods, falling, getting back up, and walking some more, just like the rest of us. -- Tina Mullen ― thetrek.co

Mud, Rocks, Blazes is a great adventure book. It’s a beautiful, flowing read that allows access to an experience that most of us will never have, and Heather is one of the key authors putting thru-hiking books into the adventure canon. -- Timothy Mathis ― dirtbagsguide.com

About the Author

Heather Anderson is a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, avid mountaineer, professional speaker, and author. She holds several Fastest Known Times and was the first woman to complete the Triple Crown of thru-hiking in a calendar year. Follow her adventures at anishhikes.wordpress.com and on Instagram @AnishHikes.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mountaineers Books (February 16, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1680513362
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1680513363
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.4 x 0.8 x 8.4 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 467 ratings

About the author

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Heather Anderson

Heather Anderson

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National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Heather Anderson is the only woman who has completed the Appalachian, Pacific Crest and Continental Divide National Scenic Trails each three times. This includes her historic Calendar Year Triple Crown hike in 2018 when she hiked all three of those trails in one March-November season, making her the first female to do so.

She holds self-supported Fastest Known Times (FKT) on the Pacific Crest Trail (2013) and Appalachian Trail (2015). She has logged over 45,000 foot-miles since 2003 including 16 thru-hikes. She is also an avid mountaineer.

As a professional speaker, Heather speaks regularly about her adventures and the lessons learned on trail.

You can find her online at wordsfromthewild.net or follow her on Instagram and Facebook @ _wordsfromthewild_

To stay up-to date on events, book releases and more sign up for her monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/g_Tt5D

As a welcome bonus you'll receive a deleted chapter from Mud, Rocks, Blazes …available only to newsletter subscribers! 

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
467 global ratings
Set your soul on fire with renewed ambition
5 Stars
Set your soul on fire with renewed ambition
Truly inspiring story of getting out of your own way. Very easy read. This is a book I would recommend for someone looking to dig deep within themselves and set their soul on fire
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Top reviews from the United States

LW
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
This was such a great read. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and her journey. I felt like I was right there next her on the AT. Great book, incredible accomplishment!
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Epic Adventure must read
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2024
Verified Purchase
A great accounting of the challenges of competitive hiking, especially competing with your own emotions and safety. Great story! Do yourself a favor, read this one.
One person found this helpful
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K. Beane
5.0 out of 5 stars Hikes Like A Girl
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
Having a female hold the FKT has meant so much to me, for more reasons than I can explain here. But Amish has proven that the feminine is strong. In a small frame and handmade dress she has shown the world that the things we have often been told are weak - emotions, vulnerability, humility, spirituality - these are strengths. She shows us the demons we all battle of self criticism and doubt can be vanquished; and not by “winning” but by learning to love ourselves. This is such an honest and artfully written memoir that took a lot of courage to write. Thank you for giving us your best, Heather <3
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read for hikers
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2024
Loved her thoughts and experiences of the mental and physical challenges that are a long hike. Brought back memories of my challenges.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational story of personal growth
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2023
Verified Purchase
I don't normally go for Appalachian Trail memoirs, most are too self indulgent for my liking.
But this one breaks the mold, as the author brings you inside the world of thru hiking and her quest to set the female record for the Fastest Known Time for Hiking the Appalachian Trail unsupported. Heather "Anish" Anderson is a talented writer who relates how she overcomes her self doubt to achieve that goal. The book is compelling and an excellent sequel to her first book, "Thirst". A great read!!
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Drew Boswell
5.0 out of 5 stars Anish keeps getting better
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2021
Verified Purchase
Hikers who write are many. Hikers who write well are more rare. Heather "Anish" Anderson is the latter. She deserves to be read, not because of who she is or what she has accomplished on trail, but for her ability to create prose that reads like poetry. I barely began reading "Mud, Rocks, Blazes" the day I bought it and immediately found Chapter One more than worth the cover price, bringing literal goosebumps. In just three short pages Heather evokes the transformative power of willing suffering, a topic of great interest to me personally. This is a powerful, deeply personal story by someone who is turning out to be an impressive wordsmith. Forget the hiker; celebrate the writer. Read this book.
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Tim Deatherage
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
A very inspiring account of a huge accomplishment. I really like Anish’s style of writing, as it truly captures the reader. I couldn’t hardly put the book down. Being a thru-hiker myself, it’s refreshing to read a book that puts the experience into words - although an unsupported FKT is definitely harder than thru-hiking. I had the honor of meeting Anish at Rainy Pass in 2013 after her PCT FKT and that will always be a special memory.
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D. Rogers
5.0 out of 5 stars Going for the Self Supported FKT on the AT meant digging very deep..
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
Heather bares her soul though this journey. As she puhes her limits she must reformulate what drives her or succumb to failure once again. As demons of the past taunt her she must recomcile body, mind, and spirit, as well as past, present, and future. By the time she reaches the terninus of the trail she is reborn and refreshed.

I crossed paths with her as I headed Nobo, her sobo on the edge of the Wind River range in WY when I section hiked 2k miles of the CDT. Since the we have corresponded brifly at times. At some point we both aknoledged that we felt closer to God while thruhiking than any other time. I wondered if she might share this experience in mud, rocks, and blazes. Excellent book!
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Jaime N. Maynard
5.0 out of 5 stars Author is such an incredible storyteller
Reviewed in Canada on July 12, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is the second book by this author; after devouring the first one, I was super psyched to get my hands on her newest release which has not disappointed at all. When I tell friends about her books I always say, the mind can be the weakest part of our body and these stories prove it. The body will come along for the ride if we can convince the mind it's worth pushing on and with some determination, humans are capable of overcoming such tremendous difficulties. So inspiring and so enjoyable to read. I just blew through half this book from my hammock while camping last week, the perfect way to take it in.
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David Herdman
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
Absolutely brilliant, it’s amazing what some humans can endure, Anish writes with professionalism, realism and a warmth to her pain.
Recommend
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