American Camino: Walking as Spiritual Practice on the Appalachian Trail

American Camino: Walking as Spiritual Practice on the Appalachian Trail explores the relationship between long-distance hiking and spiritual pilgrimage, showing how the Appalachian Trail concretizes existential connections between hikers' spiritual experiences and intersubjective relationships with nature and communities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 358 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

Hikers have embarked on the Appalachian Trail since 1948, when Earl Shaffer completed the inaugural hike. Some enthusiasts hike purely for the pleasure of immersing themselves in the breathtaking scenery, while others view the trek as a profound spiritual journey. In American Camino: Walking as Spiritual Practice on the Appalachian Trail, Kip Redick delves into a phenomenological exploration of the profound connection between long-distance hiking, specifically traversing the Appalachian Trail, and spiritual pilgrimage. This captivating book showcases how the Appalachian Trail concretely manifests existential connections between hikers' spiritual experiences and intersubjective relationships with various constituents along and around the trail. These constituents include the majestic mountainous wilderness, its diverse flora, fauna, geology, and watershed, as well as the social interactions with fellow hikers and the communities near the trail. Redick distinguishes "spiritual rambling" from other approaches to hiking, such as scenic hikes where the primary focus is on experiencing the landscape, or a series of other aesthetic encounters that involve hikers' connection with nature. This book interprets the Appalachian Trail as a sacred site of spiritual journey and those who embark on the wilderness trail as contemporary pilgrims on a profound quest for meaning and fulfillment.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666916690