Mountain Lions...in the North East? (Prompt # 12, Ch 16)

"In the late winter of 1994 a farmer in Vermont was walking across his property, taking some seed to a bird feeder, when he saw what appeared to be three mountain lions about seventy feet away. He stared dumbstruck for a minute or two--for mountain lions are swift fierce creatures, and here were three of them looking at him with calm regard--then hightailed it to a phone and called a state wildlife biologist. The animals were gone by the time the biologist arrived, but he found some fresh scat, which he dutifully bagged up and dispatched to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Laboratory. The lab report came back that it was indeed scat of Felis concolor, the eastern mountain lion, also variously and respectfully known as the panther, cougar, puma, and, especially in New England, catamount." (pg 201-202). This story was included in this chapter because Bryson was currently walking where the initial mountain lion sighting was. The mountain lion sightings were significant because mountain lions were thought to be shot out of existance. Bryson did not believe that he was going to be attacked by a mountain lion, or even see one; however, he kept his knife in his pocket and made sure it stayed there.

"'Chicken John!' Chicken John was famous. I was quite excited. Some people on the trail take on an almost mythic status because of their idiosyncrasies. Early in the trip Katz and I kept hearing about a kid who has equipment so high-tech that no one had ever seen anything like it. One of his possessions was a self-erecting tent. Apparently, he would carefully open a stuff sack and it would fly out, like joke snakes from a can. He also has a satellite navigation system, and goodness knows what else. The trouble was that his pack weighed about ninety-five pounds. He dropped out before he got to Virginia, so we never did see him." (Pg 206) I think that Byrson chose to talk about the "famous people" on the trail because he wished he was one of them. However, after telling why they are famous and what they have done on the trail, the people do not seem so special. The high-tech guy dropped out. Chicken John did not really know what he was doing. He didn't know how he got his nick name. He constantly got lost and, one time, was even thirty miles away from the trail. I think Bryson may have added this just to be like hey these people aren't that great.

PENNSYLVANIA - and everything I don't know about it (Prompt # 1, Ch 14)

This chapter was all about Pennsylvania ans the various problems it has encountered over the years. Interestingly enough, I didn't know about any of it.

"I never met a hiker with a good word to say about the trail in Pennsylvania. It is, as someone told a National Geographic Reporter in 1987, the place "Where boots go to die,'" (Pg 173) This is one part of the chapter I did not like. However, it is only because I am from Pennsylvania and wouldn't want Bryson to talk poorly about it. He was only explaining how Pennsylvania was not know for their trails, well in a good way anyways.

"In 1981, a twelve-year old boy was playing in his grandmother's backyard when a plume of smoke appeared in front of him, As he started at it, the ground suddenly opened around him. He clung to tree roots until someone heard his calls and hauled him out. The hole was found to be eighty feet deep. Within days, similar cave-ins were appearing all over town. It was about then the people started getting serious about the fire." (pg 181) This is about the anthracite (coal) fir in Centralia, Pennsylvania. I have never heard about the coal fires in Pennsylvania. Therefore, this part of the chapter surprised me and I enjoyed learning about PA. I learned that Anthracite is very hard to put out once it is lit. Also, there was an anthracite fire in Lehigh that lasted over 80 years.

Bryson, Chris McCandless, and Che.. (Prompt #16, the whole book)

Prompt # 16

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson relates to Into the Wild and The Motorcycle Diaries. A Walk in the Woods is about two friends, Katz and Bryson, traveling the Appalachian Trail. They encounter many problems along the way, such as excessive snow or rain, cravings, and pain from walking. They experience the beauty of nature for themselves. This relates to the story of Chris McCandless. Chris went to Alaska after traveling the country to experience life without luxuries and to figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He found out that he could not stay in civilization and that he needed to be away from other people. This is very similar to Bryson, after leaving the trail for a little while, he went hiking on the trail near his home. To him, it did not feel right. That point also relates to The Motorcycle Diaries. Che, once returning home, realized that his heart was not in Argentina and well, home is where the heart is. This book also relates to The Motorcycle Diaries because Che traveled around South America to find out what life was like in other places. This experience ended up changing him forever, which is the same for Bryson.

Write Your Own Do Now

What was your overall opinion of the book? Would you suggest it for next year?

I chose this question because we already read the book and I think we need to sort of go over the book as a whole. Also, if i was a teacher, I would want my students opinion on whether or not it should be a part of next year.

Did my predictions come true? (Prompt #7, whole book)

Prompt #7

My predictions from Prompt #6 was that Katz and Bryson would come into contact with a bear sometime on their trip and they would not complete the Appalachian Trail. After Part 1, Katz and Bryon completely put their trip on hold. When I started reading this book, I thought they were planning to do the whole trail at one time. Therefore, I was surprised that they just put their journey on hold. Also, they skipped part of the trail from Gatlinburg to Roanoke. They were tired and sick of walking and just decided to not do that part of the trail. Even if later in the book they go back and re walk that sliver, I will not consider it what I thought to be finishing the trail because I was expecting Bryson and Katz to finish it at one time.
My predictions about the bear encounter was somewhat correct. While sleeping, Bryson saw woke up to a noise and saw two pairs of eyes outside of his tent. He threw things at it and yelled at it, but the animal was not scared. It stayed their for a while drinking water. Bryson believe that it was a bear and so do I.

Eyes in the darkness (Prompt # 15, ch 11)

I chose this picture to represent when Byson heard noises outside of his tent and was scared he would be killed of the unknown creature.
"I peered and peered, but I couldn't see anything but those two wide-set eyes staring from the near distance like eyes in a cartoon. I couldn't decide whether I wanted to be outside and dead or inside and waiting to be dead... 'I think I have a right to be a trifle alarmed, pardon me. I'm in the woods, in the middle of nowhere, in the dark, staring at a bear, with a guy who has nothing to defend himself with but a pair of nail clippers. Let me ask you this. If it is a bear and it comes for you, what are you going to do--give it a pedicure?'" (pg 142)
Katz ended up going to sleep and leaving Bryson awake and alone terrified of the unknown animal. His flashlight ran out of batteries and he was stuck in the dark. Eventually, the animal left and Bryson tried to go to sleep. They never found out what the animal was. I chose this scene because I think it is a funny part of the book and it breaks up the talk about the trees and various species that are going extinct.

Colombia & Venezuela

"I also know - and this won't alter the course of history or the your personal view of me - that you will die with a clenched fist and a tense jaw, the epitome of hatred and struggle, because you are not a symbol (some inanimate example) but a genuine member of society to be destroyed; the spirit of the beehive speaks through your mouth and motivates your actions." pg 164

"I saw his teeth and the cheeky grin with which he foretold history, I felt his handshake and, like a distant murmur, his formal goodbye."pg 164

"howling like one possessed, will assault the barricades or the trenches, will take my bloodstained weapon ans, consumes with fury, slaughter any enemy who falls into my hands." 164-165

I steel my body, ready to do battle, and prepare myself to be a sacred space within which the bestial howl of the triumphant proletariat can resound with new energy and new hope." 165


I think that Che has realized his purpose in life is to help others even if it means he has to risk himself in order to do it. It also seems that Che thinks that many people are at fault and that they will lose their lives in the name of the revolution. Che decided that he would always be on the peoples side and will take anyones lives who stand in his /the peoples way. I think that the last quote shows how he is willing to fight in order to have something new and better than now ( "new energy and new hope")

A bloody mess (Prompt #14, ch 7)

#14

I think one scene in a book that sheds light into what Katz and Bryson were going through is when they are in Birch Spring Gap Shelter. It is infested with mice and they continue to scamper all around the shelter and on top of Bryson and Katz.

"I buried myself in my bag and pulled the drawstring tight over my head. And thus passed the night, with repeated sequences of Katz being violent, followed by silence, followed by scamperings, followed by Katz being violent. I slept surprisingly well, all things considered. I expected Katz to wake in a foul temper, but in fact he was chipper. 'There's nothing like a good night's sleep and that was nothing like a good night's sleep,' he announced when he stirred, and gave an appreciative guffaw. His happiness, it turned out, was because he had killed seven mice and was feeling very proud-not to say pumped up and gladiatorial. Some fur and nubbin of something pink and pulpy still adhered to the bottom of his water bottle, I noticed when he raised it to his lips. Occasionally it troubled me (I presume it must trouble most hikers from time to time) just how far one strays from the normal measures of civility on the trail. this was such a moment." (pg 96)

I think that this is a key quote because it is showing clearly how much the both of them have changed since starting the Appalachian Trail. Obviously, at home, no one goes on a hunt to kill a mice that have gotten into their home. There are tools such as mouse traps and poison. But, on the Appalachian Trail there is none of those tools. So, Katz tapped into his bestiality, attempting to kill any mouse in sight, relying on the tools he had (a water bottle, a flashlight, and his boots). Of course, this seems insanely absurd, but no one would enjoy rodents crawling all over them while trying to sleep. I think this quote shows how we should appreciate the luxuries we have, and how different things were way back when. This taps into a reoccurring theme which is to be appreciative for what we have and not to take it for granted.

Independant Reading Post #4

#5

One thing that moved me in the book is when Katz begins to feel sorry for ditching Mary Ellen. "'Well, I just, I feel kind of bad- just kind of bad - that we left her out in the woods on her own.' ... 'She's probably still walking right now,' Katz said with a hint of sudden heat. 'Wondering where the hell we got to, scared out of her chubby little wits," (pg 68).

Mary Ellen was a very annoying character whom always made fun of Katz and Bryson. Katz always compalined about her and just barely tolerated her. All day Katz and Byson planned to reach a town to get food and a hotel room to wash up. Mary Ellen fell behind and they left her. The fact that Katz now feels bad moved me. This is because even though she was no friend of his, she was still a person and they were mean to her. Katz realized this and felt bad, which was very unlike him.

Independant Reading Post #3

#17

Plot: I think that the plot is very much similar to that of Chris Mccandless's story. Bill Bryson and Katz are going into the woods and are traveling on the Appalachian trail from Georgia to Maine, even though they do not do every single mile of the trail. Along the way, they encounter many people and hitch rides to town, like Chris. I find searching for yourself and changing your outlooks inspiring and therefore, I like the plot of this book a lot.

Setting: The setting is the Appalachian Trails and a few towns along the way. Bryson is always very descriptive and funny. "The parking lot was crowded with pickup trucks, and inside it was busy with meaty people in baseball caps. I had a feeling that if I'd said, 'Phone call for you Bubba,' every man in the room would have risen." (pg 66) . Bryson sets the scene really well and paints a picture for the reader.

Characterization: I think that one person Bryson gives a clear picture of is Mary Ellen. "And then of course there was the constant, prattling, awesomely brainless presence of Mary Ellen," (pg 59). I picture Mary Ellen as a dumb Blonde who just happened to stumble into the woods and decided to go hiking.

PERU Diction Word Splash

Traveling through the barren desert, Che and Alberto finally achieved the TEDIOUS task of hitching a ride to the ALLURING city of Cuzco. This, I find was the most important area of focus. Che seems to find the MESTIZOS a completely defeated race; a race with the DAUNTING task of finding their place in society and accepting themselves. Che and Alberto could see it in their faces.
They then reached Machu Picchu a very PLACID view. A place where the Natives hid from the TIRADE Spaniards and lived the last of their days. It was the only city that was not RAZED by the SPANIARDS. The two friends then travel to a large city where they use the letter Alberto has to get to the leper colony. They are given horses and a guide who has the ABHORRENT task of carrying all of their things. When they reach the colony, they are treated well. However, the facilities there are not so great. To me, the sanitary conditions would only EXACERBATE the condition the lepers were already in. I think the Natives and the Lepers has a huge impact on Che and maybe helped him to feel for the people less fortunate than him.

Independant Reading Post # 2

#6

By the end of the book I do not think that Katz and Bryson will make it to the end of the Appalachian Trail. "'And do you think we'll make it?' said Katz. He looked at us each in turn. 'Oh you'll make it all right,' he replied, but his expression said otherwise." Pg 32. Their driver to the trail has driven many people to the Appalachian Trail and says he can tell who can make it. I believe that he can tell who will and who won't make it to Maine because he has been driving people for a while and seems to know what he is talking about.
I also believe that Katz and Bryson will come into contact with a bear along their trip. He talked about bears on the trail for numerous pages. "So let us imagine that a bear does go for us out in the wilds. What are we to do? Interestingly, the advised stratagems are exactly opposite for grizzly and black bear. With a grizzly, you should make for a tall tree, since grizzlys aren't much for climbing." Pg 17. He talks about black bears and grizzlys for 7 pages. I belive that if Katz and Bryson were not to come into contact with bears, there would be no point in giving this information.

Essential Question #2

I do not think that Che really had an idea of what he wanted to become initially. I think that he chose to go on the trip around South America just for fun and without a purpose. Che, I believe, always wanted to help people, which is why he became a doctor. When I think of doctors, I usually think of the type of person who gets their own sense of achievement from helping others rather than the monetary gain of the job. Throughout this book, Ernesto always seems to be mentioning the appalling conditions in the hospitals, where the lepers live, or the sanitary conditions in general. After Ernesto arrived back in Argentina, he realized that rather than living his comfortable life at home he would go out and help the other citizens of South America. He obviously took this to heart and ended up traveling all over the world and killing those whom opposed his ideals. I think that killing people for the gain of his political party or more so for Castro's benefit was a little hypocritical. However, I do believe that Che became who he wanted to be and truly believed in what he was doing in the world. He also fully encompassed what he believed in. I think that Che died a man who completed his purpose in life which is really all we as humans can do.

Independant Reading Post #1

11. I think that Bill Bryson writes in a very unique way. He writes very well and uses elegant words and then throws in a few curse words here and there.

"'Are you saying, Dave, that I pay $250 for a pack and it doesn't have straps and it isn't waterproof?' He nodded. 'Does it have a bottom in it?' Mengle smiled uneasily. I was not in his nature to grow critical or weary in the rich, promising world of camping equipment. " Pg 10

I think that this quote is a good representation of how Bill Bryson writes. However, sometimes, he seems to ramble on about some topics such as bear attacks and can be hard to focus. I like to read books that use slang and words that are not fancy. I think this book is written well and I enjoyed reading what I have so far. I think that Bryson is also very sarcastic. I like this a lot and it definitly adds to the enjoyment of reading the book.

Chile

While staying at the fire house, Alberto and Che got to go help put the fire out. "The flames hadn't reached a small part of the house and from there came the whimper of a cat who, terrorized by the fire, just meowed and meowed and refuse to escape through the small space left, Alberto saw the danger, and measuring it with one quick look, lept over the 20 cm of flame, saving the little endangered life for its owners." pg 65

I think that this experience is kind of like the strong helping the week which, in my opinion is what socialism is. I also think that people work for the good of the people and Alberto risked his life to save the cat's life and kept the owners from losing even more than their house and all of their belongings. Although this may not have changed his views greatly, I think it shows sort of where Che came from. I also think that maybe the cat could be looked at like the general population whereas they might have an escape route from the problems they are in but it would take a brave soul to come and save them from their misery.

A Walk in the Woods Introductory Post

My task is to chose an Independent Reading book that related to Travel Narrative/Diaries & Latin America and then create 10 blog posts (about 2 per week) relating to the book. I chose A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. It is a book about two friends traveling the Appalachian Trail and everything that they encounter. Bill Bryson is known for writing funny travel diaries and is a best-seller.