“Dave Pruett's book is an enlightening and visually enjoyable journey that introduces readers to the beauty, moods, and magic of the Appalachian Trail in Virginia and West Virginia. Pruett aptly captures the lure of the Trail, which draws him back to hike sections year after year, despite injuries and setbacks. His observations and appreciation for the A.T. will inspire readers of all ages to plan their next adventure on this iconic recreational resource.”
—Sandi Marra, President and CEO, Appalachian Trail Conservancy

“David Pruett’s Hiking the AT in the Virginias: A Septuagenarian’s Journey is a deeply personal guide to an experience many people dream of having. The 559 miles of the AT that pass through Virginia and West Virginia draw hikers from across the U.S. and the world to the rugged beauty of a national park, national forests, and state parks. The proximity to major urban areas like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Richmond opens the door for extended walking experiences to large populations of city-bound outdoor enthusiasts. Pruett’s book, in its writing and photography, conveys a unique sense of place that makes each section of the trail accessible and attainable. It helps you imagine connecting the sections and completing the whole, whether in segments or in a single push. It is a wonderful sourcebook for information on everything from AT condition hotlines to resistance against environmental degradation. This is a book for inspiration and insight.”
—William Wylie, Commonwealth Professor of Art at the University of Virginia and author of Pompeii Archive, Carrara, Stillwater, and Riverwalk

“As Dave Pruett opines in this marvelous book: ‘The attentive hiker will never be bored on the AT. Every mile affords ample opportunities for surprise or awe.’ This is as true of Pruett’s book about the Trail as it is of the Trail itself. With engaging, often riveting prose and an abundance of beautiful photographs, Pruett celebrates the world-renowned footpath through the stunning and challenging landscapes of Virginia and West Virginia in intimate and honest detail. He is a perfect trail companion for the journey, affectionately recording his encounters with fellow hikers, both ‘day’ and ‘through,’ and celebrating the incomparable beauty of the mountains and valleys of the Virginias and the unparalleled biological diversity of the Appalachian region. Pruett tells it like it is—carrying a forty-pound pack is not for the faint of heart or weak of knee. As a day hiker and occasional back-packer who lives in Washington, D.C., and who has hiked the AT from the Pennsylvania border through Maryland and into Virginia—as well as many stretches in other states from Maine to Georgia—I reveled in every page of Pruett’s book. After reading the text and lingering longingly over the photographs, I can’t wait to get back out on the trail and hike south toward Mt. Rogers!”
—Melanie Choukas-Bradley, author of City of Trees: The Complete Field Guide to the Trees of Washington, DC, A Year in Rock Creek Park: The Wild, Wooded Heart of Washington, DC,and Sugarloaf: The Mountain’s History, Geology, and Natural Lore