Keith Foskett - Taking Wanderlust to the Extreme

Keith Foskett - Taking Wanderlust to the Extreme
author of the day

Keith Foskett is a writer/hiker with a serious case of dromomania (wanderlust) and a knack for taking his readers along on unforgettable adventures. His descriptions of his epic thru-hikes are vivid, interesting and contain a healthy dose of humor. His latest book, Balancing on Blue, which describes a 2180 mile hike of the Appalachians, is no exception. Today Foskett chats with us about his book, how his wanderlust was born and how much a 5-month hike impacts one's life.

Please give us a short introduction to Balancing on Blue

Balancing on Blue is my travel memoir about a thru-hike of the 2180 mile Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States. Several thousand intrepid adventurers attempt to hike the entire trail in one attempt every year, of which only around 30% are successful.

Why did you decide to attempt the crazy 2180 mile hike of the Appalachian Trail?

In a word, dromomania, or the uncontrollable urge to wander. This has been with me since a child and I fought it for years, thinking it was unacceptable to indulge in such a strange addiction for fear of what others might think of me. Gradually, over time, I realised that being different was a good thing, not a bad one. So, now I embrace it and indulge as often as possible.

Hiking is my chosen method to placate my wanderlust, more importantly hiking long distance. Not only does it feed my nomadic tendencies, but it also feeds my other passion, to be out in the wilds of this planet.

The Appalachian Trail is a classic, regarded as the most famous long distance hiking trail in the world. It is where most hikers go to cut their teeth. Having been on my list for many years, I finally decided to experience the trail in 2012.

What was the most memorable moment of your hike in the Appalachians?

Not one I can answer! There was no, definitive moment, more a collection of different experiences that made up the whole adventure. From watching the sun sink over the Appalachian mountains, illuminating clouds surfing a silhouetted ridgeline, to all the other hikers I met and became friends with. Even simple things like the appreciation of a hot shower after seven days on trail, the chill of fresh spring water sliding down my throat on a hot day or the camaraderie of fellow travellers. They all stitched together to form one, amazing memory.

You tell the story with a lot of humor.  Is a healthy dose of humor essential in order to pull off such a feat?

I have a very dry, English sense of humour (sorry, English spelling!). I wouldn’t say it’s essential to pull off a hike of this distance, but it certainly helps. An old friend once told me that if you can make people laugh, then they’ll like you, something I have never forgotten. It helped me to make friends on the trail, which in turn made the adventure that much more fun. And I also believe that if you can make the reader laugh, they appreciate the book even more.

It’s a natural part of me, my books and yes, it helped me on the trail.

How was your love for the outdoors born?

I have fond memories of playing around in the outdoors when I was a child. My parents always encouraged it, and we often went out for walks or took holidays in wonderful locations such as Wales. We had a dog when I was younger so I got to appreciate my surrounding countryside quickly. No one had smart phones or computers back then, we made our own entertainment, and mucking around in the woods was always a favourite.

This passion stayed with me, and I spent much of my twenties and thirties travelling around Europe and America. I love the wild places this world has to offer, I relish the chance to escape to them, and I revel in calming effect they bring.

Your companions were quite an eclectic bunch of people.  Did they add to the challenge?

I have started all of my long distance hikes alone, I don’t mind the solitude. However, over the course of the first few weeks, you meet a lot of fellow hikers and begin to gel with a few of them that appeal to you. The Appalachian Trail was no different.

Thru-hikers are an eclectic bunch, anyone who is brave enough (and indeed crazy enough) to tackle such an adventure, often has a different outlook on life. Some even call us mis-fits!

Despite my yearning for solitude, I also enjoy company and the group I spent most of my time with added to the challenge yes. If you have such a generous amount of time with others, you get to know them, and often these bonds last a lifetime.

What was the biggest difference between the Appalachian hike and the 2640 mile Pacific Crest Trail that you did before that?  Which of the two did you find the most challenging?

Both trails hold different challenges. The Pacific Crest Trail is generally the second thru-hike that most attempt after the Appalachian Trail. It is considered harder because firstly it’s longer by around 460 miles, and weaves a route through a harsher environment. There is 700 miles of desert from the outset, then the challenges of the Sierra Nevada, the volcanic landscapes of Oregon and the vast forests of Washington. The elevation gains are also greater.

The Appalachian Trail is a similar environment for its entirety. It’s shrouded in trees for most of the way, which drives some people crazy. In fact it is referred to as the long, green tunnel. Although the mountains are not as high, the trail takes a more direct route up, often being far steeper. There’s also the elements to consider, with far more rain to deal with.

If you had to pin me down I’d say the Appalachian Trail was harder but they both hold their own challenges.

How much preparation does a hike like this require?

Planning has never been my strong point! I like a certain amount of uncertainty when I go on an adventure. I like to be open to circumstance, events, and if I have a strict plan in place then I wouldn’t be able to indulge in this.

However, there is a certain amount I need to make preparations for. I try and gain fitness during the 3 months prior to a hike, purely by getting out and walking. As the trail is already defined, then navigation isn’t a major point but the logistics such as where to rest and re-supply, how much food to take for the section, getting to and from the trail, water sources, equipment and such demands attention.

I do what I need to do but leave as much planning as possible for when I’m on the trail, and deal with this as I progress.

You also chose to flesh out the story a bit by including information on the history of the people and places along the trail.  Why did you take this approach?

One thing that always strikes me about my American friends is that they think the US lacks history, and they admire our old buildings, past events and such that we enjoy in the UK. But, I disagree. Yes, Europe enjoys richer visual reminders of this, but the US has a rich past too.

This was the point I was trying to bring across.

Also, the Appalachian Trail has a wonderful history itself. From the intriguing place names that always made me wonder about their past. The First Nations, who have left their mark, especially during the first few weeks on the trail with many mountains and other geographical features named by them. Old settlements, homesteads, and the rich past of places such as Harpers Ferry.

I think the reader would be interested in the story of the trail, and this is why I strived to include such details.

Which part of the trail did you find the most challenging to do?

The start in Georgia was difficult but the beginning of any trail is because hikers often aren’t as fit, or prepared, as they could be. New gear is being worn in, shoes are rubbing and a whole host of other battles are raging.

The White Mountains in New Hampshire were a tough section. It’s a hilly area, there’s a long ascent and descent to the highest mountain on the trail; Mount Washington, and I just took a battering there.

And the end, the end is always hard. Not for physical reasons, more the psychological ones. Mount Katahdin where the Appalachian Trail finishes, is near. The fear of returning to civilisation after so long is always difficult and many emotions rising to the surface affect all hikers. It's not unusual to see a lot of people break down and cry on Katahdin.

Did you have a deadline by when you wanted to finish the hike?  Did you reach that deadline?

I wasn’t out to set any records, my goal was purely completion. However, I wanted to complete the trail in under five months (which I did by one day!). I also knew that come September, the weather turns in North America, and I hoped to finish by the end of August to avoid that, which I did.

After spending so many months on a trail like this, how hard is it to adjust to life back home again?

This is something I used to struggle with, especially after the Pacific Crest Trail, and many hikers battle the return to civilisation. There are novelties such as a hot shower whenever you need one, fresh food and not the dehydrated stuff we hike with, even light switches are a novelty for a while!

I struggle with many aspects of modern society. The lack of freedom, despite many people thinking we live in a free world. I disagree with how we are dictated to by the government. It upsets me to read about how we treat each other, war, terrorism and such.

Although these aspects of modern life carry on when we hike, it gives us the opportunity to escape from them for a few months and return a changed person. Many thru-hikers come back having had time to evaluate how they live their life, and they make brave changes to improve themselves.

What are you working on now? Are you planning another great adventure any time soon?

This year I have dedicated to my writing. I gave up my job as a painter and decorator to pursue my dream of writing for a living, which I have now realised.

So, no adventures this year unfortunately, at least not long ones.

I am working on my next book, which is about hiking across Scotland last year. It also focuses on my battle with depression, which is interwoven into the story, and how the outdoors has helped me come to terms with it.

I hope to have it available by the end of the year.

Where can our readers discover more of your work or interact with you?

My website (keithfoskett.com) is where I hang out. My blog was voted outdoor blog of the year and I try and update it regularly with outdoor news, and details of my writing and books.

I’m on the usual social media sources:

Twitter: Keith Foskett@KeithFoskett (https://twitter.com/KeithFoskett)

Facebook: Keith Foskett (https://www.facebook.com/Keith-Foskett-Fozzie-270894196286427/)

Google+: Keith Foskett (https://plus.google.com/113908004264550761421)

This deal has ended but you can read more about the book here.
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