5 comments about Our Southern Highlanders: A Narrative of Adventure in the Southern Appalachians and a Study of Life Among the Mountaineers.

1. Eventhough written many decades ago, the book is still current since things change so slowly in the mountains. I found it very interesting with many unusual facts about mountain people. The downside is that it is presented much like a textbook history lesson. Also the included photos were generally of such low quality as to be near useless; however, this does not really detract from the information given. I would recommend this book to anyone curious about the roots, beliefs, etc. of the southern mountain people as it is very thorough.



2. This is a paperback book. It is a thick paperback book (@460 pages). I paid a decent amount for it ($18.50)but wanted to read it after I saw the author (Horace Kephart) highlighted on the recent Ken Burns' special on national parks.
   
   The book arrived in very good condition so my quarrel is not with the shipment of the book. At my first attempt at opening, however, the "glue" or binding simply broke leaving the bottom part of the book disengaged from the binding. If I do not handle it with extreme care, the pages will fall out. I know not to break a book's back but this is simply very poor quality binding by the Land of the Sky publishers. This will make reading it difficult and will be an easy first give away for recycling. Too bad.



3. Product was in great condition and a good buy. Well packaged and shipped in a timely manner.



4. In the second chapter of his work, "Our Southern Highlanders: a Narrative of Adventure in the Southern Appalachians and a Study of Life among the Mountaineers" (1913, 1922), Horace Kephart wrote of some of the forces which had impelled him to leave his materially comfortable earlier life to live in primitive conditions in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina. Kephart wrote:
   
   "When I went south into the mountains I was seeking a Back of Beyond. This for more reasons than one. With an inborn taste for the wild and romantic, I yearned for a strange land and a people that had the charm of originality. Again, I had a passion for early American history; and, in Far Appalachia, it seemed that I might realize the past in the present, seeing with my own eyes what life must have been to my pioneer ancestors a century or two ago. Besides, I wanted to enjoy a free life in the open air, the thrill of exploring new ground, the joys of the chase, and the man's game of matching my woodcraft against the forces of nature, with no help from servants or hired guides."
   
   Kephart (1862 - 1931) sought the "Back of Beyond" to begin a new life. Born in Pennsylvania, educated at Yale, and trained as a librarian, Kephart had enjoyed a distinguished career as a scholar of the American West at the St. Louis Mercantile, Library. With the pressure of his job, an impending separation from his wife and six children, and increased problems with drinking, Kephart left his position and his family in 1903. He also suffered a nervous breakdown. In 1904, after a stay with his parents, Kephart moved alone to a small abandoned cabin in the Tennessee Mountains, which he describes as "far up under the lee of those Smoky Mountains that I had learned so little about. On the edge of this settlement, scant two miles from the post-office of Medlin, there was a copper mine, long disused on account of litigation, and I got permission to occupy one of its abandoned cabins." Kephart lived in the mountains and among mountaineers for three years. He continued to explore the mountains and study their people through the publication of both editions of "Our Southern Highlanders" and beyond.
   
   As the first quotation above shows, Kephart was looking for a simple life free of the pressures of consumerism and career that he had encountered in St. Louis. His was a romantic quest. He sought independence, and self-sufficiency. He sought to be neither the servant nor the master of any other person. He wanted a life which included wildness and danger, as opposed to the conformity that he found in city life. He wanted to life with a minimum of material possessions and to enjoy nature, the woods, and the hunt. In many respects, Kephart's quest was part of what became a traditional American vision that started with Henry David Thoreau and his "Walden". But Kephart also wanted to get to know and write about the Appalachian mountain people he found. In many respects, Kephart's study of the mountaineers mirrored the qualities that Kephart came to admire and the way of life that Kephart tried to find for himself. As I have suggested, Kephart intended his book to be read in this manner.
   
   "Our Southern Highlanders" is a passionate, personal portrayal of a people Kephart believed that their fellow Americans had long neglected and little understood. He portrays the rugged existence of isolated mountaineers in clearings eking out a subsistence living from farming with little knowledge, in most cases, of the world beyond their hollows. The traits Kephart emphasizes throughout in the mountaineers is their independence, freedom, and ability to make do with little.
   
   It is a romantic study, but Kephart insisted that it was also an accurate one. In the Preface to the Revised edition he wrote: "No one book can give a complete survey of mountain life in all its aspects. Much must be left out. I have chosen to write about those features that seemed to me most picturesque. The narrative is to be taken literally. There is not a line of fiction or exaggeration in it".
   
   In detailed chapters, Kephart portrays the geography and topography of the Great Smoky Mountains. Some of the chapters describe his own experiences, such as camping and hunting expeditions, in remote dangerous parts of the highlands, while others describe the history of the mountain people, their farming, family life, and dialect. The business of moonshining gets a great deal of attention, from the perspective of the mountaineers themselves. Kephart emphasizes the violent character of the region, with its lengthy history of blood feuds, tolerance of murder, and attempts to minimize the impact of the judicial system. While critical of the mountaineers in many ways, Kephart obviously loves them and their cherished independence. He makes the reader care about them as well.
   
   Kephart's book has been criticized. He exaggerated the degree of isolation of his mountaineers. He tended to focus on the most back country part of the population and minimized the farmers in the lower regions who had prospered and adopted many of the traits of rural Americans elsewhere. Much of the criticism may be accurate, but I believe it misses the point. The book offers a romantic vision of a people with an undeniably distinct and harsh way of life. It celebrates the diversity of American experience in the portrayal of a group of people who were, and proudly so, outside the mainstream. The book is better read as a highly personal, insightful work than is a work of rigorous scholarship. It combines a picture of the particularized life of the mountaineers with Kephart's own ideals together with longstanding aspects of the American dream of independence and freedom. "Our Southern Highlanders" is a moving and classic American book.
   
   Robin Friedman



5. Great read. A classic tale for the anyone interested in life in the appalachians.

4 comments about The Best in Tent Camping: Tennessee: A Guide for Car Campers Who Hate RVs, Concrete Slabs, and Loud Portable Stereos (Best in Tent Camping - Menasha Ridge).

1. Just what I was looking for! I live in Middle Tennessee and was surprised at the tent camping places in my own backyard that I didn't even know about. The easy directions and important information like camping rates, opening and closing times, and a detailing of all the fun activities at each campground, really make life easier. I have been looking for fun tent camping with my child that's close to home and this really helped me to narrow my options. I can't wait to get camping! Molloy did the leg work, now I get to have the fun! Mr. Molloy, you are my camping guru!



2. As an avid camper, although one who seems to have less and less time to camp the older I get, I often buy guidebooks to steer me in the direction of destinations I may find interesting. Usually I am disappointed, either by the format of the book, the accuracy of details, or the quantity of info. Molloy has surpassed my expectations. The book is user friendly, accurate in detail (I've been to many of the sites reviewed, and now plan to go to many others with this as my guide), and the quantity of sites reviewed will fill many many trips. It would be very easy to plan an entire trip using nothing but this gem. Way to go Molloy, I'll definitely check out your other guides in the future.



3. This book is excellent. The author lives in East Tennessee and has spent untold hours in the woods of this state. His detailed account of each campsite is a wonderful resource for those wanting to go camping away from it all. He details many sites which I would not have known exist if I hadn't bought this book. The layout of is great, with a 1-5 star rating of each campsite's privacy, spaciousness, quiet, security, and beauty. Also included is a (semi) detailed map of the campsite itself.
   I like his candid writing: he is not afraid of PC, and so if he likes or dislikes a site, he will come right out and say it, even indicating which sites are his personal favorites in the book.
   I own one more of his books, and any time I camp in another state, this will be the first authority I check, because of his ability to steer you in the direction of nature and not just some commercial campsite.



4. My son and I wanted to go camping in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee this summer and the title of this book made it sound like the ideal reference. Unfortunately the description for the campground that we finally picked did not match what we saw. The description of the North River Campground called for extremely spacious campgrounds (5 stars), beauty and quiet. While it was located on the river, which was nice, it was also next to the road - not so nice. The campground was full of RV's and the space between sites was nothing to write home about! We decided to drive around and explored another back road in the Cherokee National Forest. We actually found a campground with NOBODY in it and the sites were really huge. If we hadn't found this kind of site, I might have chalked up the author's description as being maybe relative to other TN campgrounds, and that there are some really awful spots. Having found this other site, less than 10 miles away made me question Mr. Malloy's evaluations on everything else in the book. Hopefully this was only an anomaly, but based on this one data point, I wouldn't recommend this book.

2 comments about Streetwise Nashville Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Nashville, Tennessee - Folding pocket size travel map.

1. the information was good but the map is a bit confusing since you have to flip it over for the other half of the map. Would not purchase another map like this.



2. This map is very disappointing. I never use it because it doesn't have detailed areas of Brentwood, Cool Springs, etc. The only thing I look at is for is the close-up of downtown. The best quickie-type map I've found is the one handed out by rental car companies at the airport for Nashville.

2 comments about Trekking The Southern Appalachians: The Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia (Backpacker Magazine).

1. For backpackers wanting to do tough trails with 12-18 mile days. Clear information, excellent photos, nice little maps too.
   
   This is so much better than your typical Falcoln 3 mile loop hike book with scattered, inaccurate information. I used this book for the Art Loeb Trail and it was extremely helpful. I hope to do more of the trips in the book too.



2. If you are interested in the premier long trails of the SE US, then I recommend this book. This book is a great planning aid. The trail descriptions have just enough detail for planning but not specific "every turn" descriptions. I have hiked several of the featured hikes in this book. I have found that the maps and overviews are accurate.
   There are some good photos in the book too.

4 comments about 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Nashville: Including Clarksville, Columbia, Gallatin, and Murfreesboro.

1. This book is fabulous! I get in such a habit of going to the same park all the time for hiking...it's beautiful, but I like to have a change of pace and scenery. Molloy's collection of easily accessible hikes from the city has taken the "same-ol-same-ol" out of my weekend hikes, and has helped me to see new and different (but of course still beautiful) areas around Middle Tennessee. From enjoying views of the Cumberland River I've never seen, to exploring different section of the Natchez Trace, Molloy gives very accurate trail descriptions and length of hikes, making for an enjoyable day outside alone or with a group.



2. There are quite a few typos in this book, some of which are quite frustrating - it's hard to find a hike when the street names in the directions are incorrect. Additionally, the information given on the hikes is insufficent for us retentive types. Elevation gains aren't given (you have to guess what "moderate" means), maps don't include segment lengths, and sometimes the maps aren't very detailed.
   
   That said, it's the only hiking book centered on Nashville, and it includes a good selection. Do be aware that many of the hikes are short, and whether they're worth the drive from Nashville is a toss-up - but that's the nature of the hikes within 60 miles of town.



3. I never received the book I ordered. Would love to review it, if I had it!



4. Good hiking book for people living in the Nashville area. I've gone on about 5 of the hikes and so far the books been pretty accurate.

5 comments about Exploring the Appalachian Trail: Georgia North Carolina Tennessee.

1. If you're planning to hike a small day or two-day section of the Appalachian trail in or around NC, this is the book for you. I wanted to hike a small section of the trail, but I only had two days and had to finish at a very specific point. I used the book to help me plan the hike and it was amazingly easy; none of the obstacles I expected caused problems. The hike went off without a hitch, thanks to the brilliantly organized hiking guide. Aside from the planning aspect, the topographical maps were priceless along the trail. I considered doing the hike without a planning book, but I'm thankful that I used such a quality source.



2. I used this book to plan my first trip to the AT with a group of Boy Scouts. It was extremely useful in selecting my route. Especially useful was the trail summary in the beginning of each chapter. Also equally useful was the hike itinerary, giving distances between significant points. I found, however, the linear trail profile to be slightly misleading on a few sections of the trail. (More useful was the profile found in The Appalachian Trail Official Map from the Appalachian Trail conference.) This day hike book was perfect for my 5 day trip because each hike begins where the other left off. This was vital in my planning and I would highly recommend it for anyone needing a detailed description of the trail. Oh, and don't forget your hand lens. :)



3. I'm probably spoiled by the AMC guides for New England, but I found this book to be somewhat uninvting and lacking in some key areas. The maps weren't all that great they clearly aren't for a guy from the north east who's trying to find his way through the red dirt maze that is North Georgia. Directions to the trailheads could be markedly improved, as some (particularly the ones I used) use forest service roads that park rangers (let alone easily purchased maps) don't know well.

   The copy and descriptions are good once I got to the trailhead, and organized linearly along the trail. I really enjoyed the plots of trail elevation over distance.




4. I checked this book out of my local library and found it to be the most informative book on the AT. The sections of the AT that I have personally hiked were very well covered in this book.It is very difficult to find accurate maps with tons of land marks and information the terrain. As well as a well thought out itinerary so you may better gauge your time and enjoy the trail, rather than worrying about where you are going to find water and shelter. So now I'm on amazon.com to buy this book to use on my next visit to the AT.



5. PLEASE NOTE: THERE are NOT 170 hikes in the book. The whole series must contain that many.
   
   I own 3 books in this series. The Southern Appalachian, the Virginias, and the Mid-Atlantic States guide. I have found these books to be a great aid in planning hikes, especially 2-3 day backpacking trips. Since most of these hikes are either one-way or round trip (as opposed to circuit hikes) you either need to have two cars or plan on seeing the same sites twice. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but other books have better circuit hikes.
   
   This series IS very informative, not only with regards to the actually hike, but also the history both natural and otherwise of the area you are hiking in.
   
   I have not used this edition as much as I have the other 2 guides that I own in this series, but it did come in handy during a spur of the moment trip to NC/TENN. The maps could be a little better, as they are topographical maps with a green line for the trail.. They are adequate, but I've seen better.
   
   All 45 hikes come with a description, a map, an elevation profile, and an itinerary, as well as various other information.
   
   When planning for a hike I do tend to use this book in conjunction with other books, but I usually take this book (or copies of the pages) on the actual hike itself. The fact that the pages are so small allows for easier handling and storage of the laminated pages during the trip.
   
   So if you enjoy hiking and are near the AT while in the 'Southern Appalchians', you may want to take a look at this book. It is well worth the money.

5 comments about Camping and Woodcraft: A Handbook for Vacation Campers and for Travelers in the Wilderness (2 Volumes in 1).

1. This is probably the most exhaustive and authoritative book on outdoor craft that I have read. Very dry and detail oriented so you have to be interested in the science for it to work. It is not extreme lke the 60/70's survivalist dogma but presented matter of fact and unpretentiously by someone who lived it. With this book you could eke out a living off the land just about anywhere. There are many books that are a better casual read. But it will be hard to beat this book for its pure reference capacity. A classic that makes a great gift to anyone who is outdoors person, wants to know more, about how and why or just curious.



2. As a practical guide this is a very good book, but it serves just as well as a history book. Most people panic when the electricity goes down for a few hours. This book goes back to a time not that long ago when most people were handy and knew how to survive with basic shelter and food.
   It's sad in a way that America was once a nation of independent and self-reliant people. Work that is considered gruelling or even punishment was once just part of everyday life. This book goes back to that time on some level. Most of us aren't going to trek through the woods for months at a time but I think it's important to have some basic woodcraft and survival skills no matter who you are and what you do. A good book to have and enjoyable to read. Also, if you get the book try some of the camp cooking recipes...they are quite good.



3. This book was written by Horace Kephart, who was featured in the recent National Parks special as one of the people instrumental in establishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
   I bought the book for my husband, a Boy Scout leader and avid camper. He found that it had information he hadn't seen before, such as obscure knots and recipes for game.
   Mr. Kephart wrote the book to try to interest others in the outdoor life. It is well worth a look, whether for practical use or as a historical curiosity.



4. Why weren't the pictures included in this book ? I have camped all my life (71 years)& was so excited to have some really old fashioned ideas, but was disappointed the pictures were not included. Guess i didn't read the details of this printing. :-(



5. this reprinting is incomplete,there are no illustrations,which should make up a good part of this book.

5 comments about Tennessee Atlas & Gazetteer.

1. I am well satisfied with the service, however, the Gazetteer was dated 2004. Perhaps it hasn't been reissued since 2004.



2. GOOD SERVICE, GOOD PRODUCT, GOOD PRICE.
   
   GOOD = 5



3. I'm just an amateur but there are several tools I use if I really want to get to know a state well; Delorme Topo USA &/or an online map (Google, Yahoo!, etc.), a GPS Navigator, a fold-out state map &/or USA atlas & a Delorme state Atlas & Gazeteer. The different methodologies provide a better perspective on an area. Generally I use the latter three on the road & the former before & after for serious review. The state Atlas & Gazeteers look pretty much like Delorme Topo USA except some of the smaller roads are sometimes not labelled. I'd like to see that corrected. Once you get used to the topological look to these maps, you won't want to go back.



4. I have used these maps for several states over the last 5 years for travel in the southeast. I have never been disappointed. They are great for navigating small county roads to get you to a remote destination. They list most publicly known outdoor recreation opportunities and represent local roads in enough detail to help you find lesser-used and thus unlisted trail heads, etc. These maps are extremely good for the price. They aren't travel guides or highly detailed topo maps for back country navigation (nor do they claim to be), just good gazetteers. Those desiring more detail should either get a travel agent/tour guide or research their destination and send for a trail map.



5. Delorme gazeteers are wonderful products. However, Amazon seems to have purchased a defective print run on this one. Several pages are repeated while the next in sequence are missing. I reported this to Amazon and ordered a replacement. The replacement had the same problem. I returned both. I will find a map store where I can actually look at what I am buying before purchasing another one.

4 comments about 100 Hikes in The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Second Edition.

1. You don't have to just hike the Appalacian trail if you visit the Smokey Mountain National Park....and this book proves it. Packed with information about the parks and it's trails and non-trail hiking, it's a good book to pack for that vacation you are taking to the area. For day hikes, overnight hikes, or thru hikes of the area, this is a good resource.



2. I love this book as well as the other Russ Manning guide books. Although I try to keep books in great shape this one is so well used that it is dog-eared, written in, and just generally bent from all of the backpacking it has done. I rely on the guide book to get me to new heights in the Smokies. Russ Manning does a great description with the maps and with the hikes. And I know that he keeps up with the changes in the terrain since I have met him on one of my hikes in the Smokies.



3. This is a great book for locating trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. It is organized well and the maps are great. You can do your research before you leave, or you can just take the book with you on the hike. Excellent.



4. This book is great for anyone visiting or living nearby the smoky mountains. With one hundred trails detailed in the book it has most every trail you have heard of. Each section covers regions of the park and their popular trails. Each of the trails has a little history, trail description, elevation, directions, etc. I bought this book after researching all the other books on these mountains. This one I found to be the most informative if you are looking for a book that guides you along most of the trails in the park. Not only does the book walk you through the trail, it gives you a brief history which is really interesting. Definitely a bargain of a book with what it packs in the pages.

4 comments about Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN - Trails Illustrated Map # 229 (National Geographic Maps: Trails Illustrated).

1. The map is made of weatherproof material that looks like it will last a long time. The map is easy to read and has a lot of color-coding to make it easy to follow. I am very happy with the purchase.



2. They are very weatherproof. Mine has been through a lot and it is still in pretty good condition. I always take it on my frequent GSMNP hikes. It's very detailed and the trail distances seem to be right on. I highly recommend it to anyone who plans on hiking the Smokies.



3. These Natl Geo maps are incredible! They may be a little pricey and they aren't quite as water-resistant as they claim to be, but the general aesthetic qualities of these maps are squarely better than anything else on the market...including the maps contained within the ADK Trail Guide series -no offense to anybody. The reason why I say this is because these maps coincide with the previously mentioned "Trail Guide" series, so the trail numbers (along with a bunch more information all in full color) are on these maps as well.
   
   I get mine laminated with a super-thin laminate and keep them rolled up in a wicker basket...just to prevent wear and tear along creases and whatnot.



4. This is a great map that gives you an excellent overview of all the trails in the Smoky Mountains. Put it in your backpack and you're set.