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Mud, Rocks, Blazes

Letting Go on the Applachian Trail

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Mud, Rocks, Blazes

By: Heather Anderson
Narrated by: Chelsea Stephens
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About this listen

Following her best-selling memoir, Thirst, here is the next step in Heather “Anish” Anderson’s adventurous life journey - one of deep emotion and self-discovery

Despite her success setting a self-supported Fastest Known Time record on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013, Heather “Anish” Anderson still had such deep-seated insecurities that she became convinced her feat had been a fluke. So two years later she set out again, this time hiking through mud, rocks, and mountain blazes to crush her constant self-doubt and seek the true source of her strength and purpose.

The 2,189 miles of the Appalachian Trail, from Maine to Georgia, did not make it easy. Anderson struggled with its infamous rain, humidity, insects, and steep grades for 54 days. But because she had to fight for every step, she knew when she reached the summit of Springer Mountain, the AT’s southern terminus, that she had fully earned the trail. Of greater value, she learned to love herself and her body, and to feel the depth of her power. Examining emotional scars as well as her relationship with her mother, Anderson’s deeply internal yet highly physical journey in Mud, Rocks, Blazes is an essential story.

©2021 Heather Anderson (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing
Adventure Travel Biographies & Memoirs Travel Writing & Commentary United States Walking Outdoor Adventure Hiking Inspiring Heartfelt Travel Memoir
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What listeners say about Mud, Rocks, Blazes

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  • Overall
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Obsession and determination

I haven’t read her first book, Thirst, but this one came up in my recommendations for books included in Audible’s Plus Catalogue (a library of free for members), so I thought I’d give it a go.
Heather “Anish” Anderson tells a story of striving to crush her constant self-doubt and seek the true source of her strength and purpose. Hiking the Appalachian Trail – super quickly – is more than just a physical endeavour, it’s a mental one, too. During the 54 days of her FKT attempt, Heather deals with rain, humidity, insects, steep gradients, running out of food, falling over, and plenty of other challenges. The book is incredibly detailed with interesting anecdotes, I really got a sense of this hiker’s obsession and determination.
Most importantly, there is much talk in this tale of how Heather learns to love her herself and her body. A worthy listen, especially if you like hiking.

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the best thru hiking book of all time?

I love this book. Anish is hard.core! the opening is mind blowing. you ain't never walked like this girl. what a legend. and it brought all my memories back of the AT '12 and the JMT as well. loved it. she writes so well. it's utterly inspiring and I've been doing 10 miles a day and losing weight since I read it... going to do some thru hiking this summer as a direct result of this book

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Inspiring

Really good! I am now more than I was before listening. I give a 4 star only in light of some utter masterpieces I have listened to.
This book reminds me that true self respect needs to be well earned. we owe it to ourselves to be the best version of ourselves we can be.

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Relentless

There is a certain repetition in the description of the constant challenges and mental battles Heather faces throughout the hike. However, this does suit the nature of the undertaking , and it's a compelling story of obsession and determination in pursuit of a big goal.

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Inspiring and comforting

loved this honest account of how even when we push through our limits and achieve our heads can give us a hard time accepting we are good enough. a great read and an amazing story. 👏

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Enjoyable listen but robotic narrator

I enjoyed the story but I struggled at first to get past the very robotic sounding voice. I even thought it was an automated reader at times! However, once I got into it I wasn’t so aware of it and enjoyed listening to an awesome adventure.

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love the route..

awesome and lively narrative of a journey to find ones limit. so good to consume (not 4k calories worth) in the car via audio.

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Great inspirational story

Grit and determination. Great adventure book. If anything it could do with a bit more background to The challenge, trail walking and herself.

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A Strong Woman

What an achievement Heather has made in this book and her life. Every step brought her not only closer to her goal but also to herself.
I completely understand her journey and am thankful for her well written account of her journey onward and inward.

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not bad

struggled with this one. seemed very ego driven. not for me but a decent enough listen.

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