On Trails: A Journey Through Nature, Science, and History

Hiking is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Disconnecting from screens and immersing yourself in nature for an extended period, maybe even several days, can be incredibly refreshing. However, as a parent of two young kids with a bad back, I find myself unable to go backpacking these days. Instead, I often try to experience the adventures of others who share their journeys along the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. That’s what I expected when I picked up *On Trails: An Exploration* by Robert Moor, but it turned out to be so much more than I anticipated.

The prologue opens with Moor discussing his choice to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, and the first chapter stays close to this theme, focusing on his visit to Western Brook Pond in Newfoundland while broadly contemplating the idea of wilderness.

From the very beginning, Moor’s writing talent shines through. He describes being caught in a storm on a ridge:
> For the better part of an hour, awash in mounting waves of tympanic rumble, I had time to reconsider the merits of hiking. Stripped of its Romantic finery, the wild ceased to inspire; only a gauzy scrim separated sublimity and horror.
This moment hints that you’re not just reading a travelogue or a straightforward memoir using the trail as a backdrop. The second chapter quickly reinforces this, diving into a discussion about ant trails and the nuanced differences in English terms for various paths of movement.

*On Trails* joyfully hops from one topic to another: game trails, fiber optic cables, Moor’s experience as a shepherd. Throughout, he effortlessly shifts tones. One moment he’s reflecting on the majesty of nature, the next he’s sharing a humorous story about losing an entire flock of sheep, then delving into philosophical musings on the impacts of colonialism.

Moor’s skill is evident as the book remains engaging and cohesive, even as he leaps from discussing a proto-internet envisioned by engineer Vannevar Bush in 1945 to quoting poet Gary Snyder.

The book begins with a straightforward question: how did the Appalachian Trail, or any hiking trail, come to be? From there, it branches out into countless directions, exploring how the very notion of trails can deepen our understanding of the world.

*On Trails* is available at most ebook retailers, but I highly recommend picking up a physical copy at your local independent bookstore or supporting your local library.