The Don's Brother Method: How I Thru-Hiked the Appalachian Trail and Rarely Slept in the Woods

When Mike Stephens departed Georgia's Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, his goal was to complete a 2,186 mile thru-hike to the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine. After less than a week on the trail, however, he realized that to be successful he would need to adopt a less-traditional approach to the hike. Rather than spending nights on the trail, Stephens ended most days at a road where he could access nearby trail towns by foot, a hitchhike, or a shuttle. He would then return to the same spot to continue his hike the following day. By maintaining a "light pack, big miles, and beds" philosophy over the 164 day hike, Mike only spent 19 of those nights in the woods. Other hikers that Mike encountered on his journey began referring to his strategy as The Don's Brother Method. In this humorous account of Stephens’ adventure, you’ll learn not only about the famous trail but also about a variety of types of lodging and restaurants near the A.T. You will also be introduced to many of the kindhearted people in the surrounding towns. In this memoir, Stephens demonstrates his unconventional approach to a long-term hiking mission. For those who love experiencing the great outdoors but prefer sleeping indoors and eating hearty meals, the Don’s Brother Method is for you.