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"A WALK FOR SUNSHINE"
An award winning adventure story that will fill you with inspiration to go after your dreams. Jeff Alt takes you along every step of his amazing 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail adventure filled with humor and inspiration. Alt takes you along on an entertaining walk with bears, bugs, blisters, skunk bedmates, and hilarious food cravings. Jeff dedicated his journey to his brother who has cerebral palsy inspiring an annual fundraiser which has raised over $100,000 for the disabled home in which his brother resides. As you walk along with Jeff, you experience perseverance, surviving with only the bare essentials, the success of goal setting, and overcoming obstacles. His story sheds light on the pursuit of a simpler life and the American spirit.
Award-Winning Finalist in the travel essay category of the "National Best Books 2007 Awards."
Award-Winning travel essay finalist in the 2007 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year contest.
A Writers Notes Notable-Book Award Winner!!!
On September 8, 2007, Alt anounced the release of the new edition of A Walk For Sunshine. New to this edition: Epilogue focusing on Alt's Life Lessons from the trail and how he has applied them to his life. The new cover is displayed on this page. printed on environmentally friendly paper in compliance with the Green Press Initiative.
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288 pages, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
4-page photo insert
and follow along maps
Published by
Dreams Shared Publications
$15.95 trade paperback.
ISBN-13: 978-096794822-5
A portion of the profits
from the sale of
A Walk For Sunshine
are donated to
the Sunshine Home.
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| THE REVIEWS ARE IN! |
"A WALK FOR SUNSHINE is Jeff Alt's account of his 147 day odyssey [on the Appalachian Trail]. He tells about how he made friends with fellow hikers and others along the trail, tried to court his future wife, and what happens when a trail-thin hungry hiker comes to town and meets up with Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Jeff Alt encountered sore feet, bad weather, wild animals, a skunk bedmate, marginal cleanliness and other adventures to hike the entire 2,160 mile Appalachian Trail, all to raise money for the Sunshine Home in Maumee, Ohio. Alt's brother Aaron, who has cerebral palsy, lives at Sunshine."
-- Associated Press
"…When Jeff Alt hiked the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail in 147 days almost 10 years ago, he did not suspect the experience would have turned into such a life-changing event. But it has, and he writes about it in – A Walk For Sunshine –a new chapter, an epilogue, to his wonderful account of the Trail..."
-- Steve Pollick, The Toledo Blade
"Jeff wrote a book about his 147 day hiatus from civilization. Give him an afternoon and he could write a book on the art of hiking as well."
-- ESPN-2 Inside Americas National Parks
"A WALK FOR SUNSHINE tells the tale of a man who trekked 2,000 miles to honor his handicapped brother. Mr. Alt gathered donations, turning the trek into a fundraiser. That's all in the book. So is the now funny, but then ugly story of the day he put his arch supports in the wrong boots and developed such enormous blisters he had to wrap his feet in duct tape. So is the miserable stretch of 10 days when constant sleet evolved into a snow storm and dumped 10-foot snow drifts along the trail."
-- Jim Knippenberg, The Cincinnati Enquirer
"LIVELY...HUMOROUS...UPBEAT...A WALK FOR SUNSHINE is about the human spirit and following your dreams. It will make you feel good. Alt's effervescent personality and zest for life shine through on every page. His words amply convey the camaraderie among fellow hikers, the beauty of the eastern mountains, and the physical hardships that must be endured on a walk of over 5 million steps." Selected as Book-of-the-Month!
-- Walt Young, Outdoor Times
"Surviving the 2,160 mile Appalachian Trail is as much a mental challenge as a physical one and gave Alt a new perspective. Life on the Appalachian Trail was non-stop nature. No television, no steak dinner, no fluffy pillow. Just trees and rocks and sky. Three walled shelters, dirty water, and mosquitoes. It was blistered feet, a growling stomach and weary bones."
-- Pamela Davis, The St. Petersburg Times, FL
"FASCINATING...A WALK FOR SUNSHINE is an absorbing, humorous, and inspiring true life adventure travelogue."
-- The Midwest Book Review
"I am not a hiker and I have hardly been farther east than the New Mexico State line but I could not put this book down. Alt is articulate amusing and best of all normal. He sets a goal and lets us cheer him on as he achieves his Appalachian trail hike for the benefit of the Sunshine Home. A Walk For Sunshine was inspirational and highly entertaining."
-- Book Sense 76 Review Mary Ann Steele--Mary Ann's Mostly Books
FOR ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS...[A WALK FOR SUNSHINE]...is wonderful to sense the excitement, danger and adventure [of the Appalachian Trail] as the pages unfold."
-- Maureen Darby, Book Reviewer, The Lebanon Daily Record, MO
"ALT NAILS THE TRAIL EXPERIENCE...His accounts of foot care, lightening his backpack, and obsessing about food all rang true. A WALK FOR SUNSHINE shares top billing on my book list."
-- Dale Bowen, The Chicago Sun Times
"Some of the most engaging stories in Alt's book are about eating while on the trail...THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL DIET...On the trail, Alt ate and ate. He burned 6,000 calories a day...He lost 30 pounds...When his future wife met him along the trail, instead of the opportunity to be more romantic with Beth, he found himself staring at the chicken on her plate... 'I'd trip and fall at least once a day,' Alt told me in a telephone interview. 'I'd lie right there and eat a snickers bar before I even got up.' At a mothers day buffet, some women watched Alt eat and when he returned with a hot fudge sundae stacked three times higher than the bowl and a fudge brownie, one woman exclaimed 'that's it! I'm going to walk the AT so I can eat like that.' "
-- Sylvia Carter, Newsday, NY
"THE LONG WALK...Alt didn't quite because he had a powerful motivation for completing his 1998 hike: his brother Aaron. Aaron was born with cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Alt used his [2,160 mile] experience as a fundraiser to buy communication equipment where Aaron lives."
-- Amanda Boyd, Cincinnati Magazine
"...Charming, inspiring, and often funny, A Walk for Sunshine gives readers a good feel for both the logistics involved in undertaking such a journey and the culture of "thru-hiking" the AT. It's also a moving reminder that "living your dream is one thing, but sharing it lets everyone live it with you."
-- Shawn Carkone, Amazon.com
"...Alt shares ample anecdotes about life on the trail and the personalities he met walking this unique swath of wilderness through the hubub of 21st-century America. Alt quickly disabuses the reader of the notion that walking the trail simply involves awaking one morning, tying on a pair of shoes and hitting the road."
-- Mary O. Bradly, Patriot-News, PA
"A Fascinating interview. This story is for anyone seeking inspiration to achieve there own goals."
-- Roger, WNRI, TN
"One of the most entertaining guests we have had on the air. Our listeners were riveted to the radio."
-- Peter Anthony Holder, Canada, CJAD AM
"If your looking for an adventurous, humorous, and inspirational read, try "A WALK FOR SUNSHINE," which is really a testament on the pursuit of a simpler life and the American spirit."
-- Don DeNEVI, Book Reviewer, Palo Alto Daily News, CA
"Alt's Journey had rats, mosquitoes, and naked people too"
-- Katie Mosier, City Beat, OH
"Jeff enthusiastically shared his story with my listeners in an articulate fashion. I've invited him back to join me again. Jeff's 'can do' spirit is an inspiration to everyone who has a dream of making a difference."
-- John Quaintance, WJCW radio, TN
"THIS IS A BOOK TO READ FOR IT'S HUMANITY. Alt captures very successfully the difficulty in doing the AT in half a year. Alt's experiences provide a humorous touch. The night the skunk cuddles on his sleeping bag is a memorable one, but my favorite is when he tries to comfort a deaf child whose mother has been injured hiking. Knowing the rudiments of sign language, he signals to her, "Your mom is OK," Later when he shows some friends what he signed , they react hysterically. He actually told the little girl, "Your beer is OK."
-- Justin Askins, Book Reviewer, The Roanoke Times, VA
"A humorous and inspirational account of a man who thru-hiked as a fundraiser, emphasizing the importance of pursuing dreams."
-- Appalachian Trail Conference
"THE AUTHOR'S SENSE OF HUMOR IS REFRESHING... An easy and enjoyable read strewn with laughter at natures antics and stark realities of life. As Jeff is faced with daily dilemmas in out of the ordinary circumstances, he begins to reach deep within himself to discover what most of us may never take the time to find out -- his true being. I thoroughly enjoyed this book."
-- Karen Martin, Nature Society News
"With humility and charm, Alt tells his tale with awe for the people and his surroundings. This book is both inspiring and entertaining."
-- Today's Librarian
"This book is an excellent source of inspiration for living your life the best you can. This book has given me a better outlook on life and the people around me. There are so many funny parts to this book, you will laugh from cover to cover, in between the sob and pain you feel for Jeff as he details his adventure."
-- Joey Coakley, Roanoke City Magazine, VA
"This easy reading book is full of many tales of how Alt got through the daunting hike from Georgia to Maine with humor...Perhaps Alt's favorite moment was seeing his college friend, Beth, who came to visit him in Virginia. She would later become his wife, but Alt thought he lost her when he spent the weekend focusing more on his food than on Beth."
-- Karen Chavez, Asheville Citizen-Times, NC
"THOREAU'S SUCCESS UNEXPECTED.' If the dream toward which one advances happens to be hiking the entire 2,167-mile-long Appalachian Trail, he may also meet with sleeping bag hogging skunks; scary knife-wielding fellow hikers; and maybe even God-or whatever force it is that narrowly deflects lightning bolts and charging mother bears from the paths of unwary hikers. Jeff Alt met with all those experiences... If you've fantasized about walking the AT yourself...Alt's trail stories will terminate your pretty fantasies...Your feet will hurt. A lot...You will worry about running into suspected bomber, Eric Rudolph, wanted by the FBI. You will be hungry, and you will still have bills"
-- Cindy Burda, Mountain Xpress, NC
"Not to give away the ending, but A WALK FOR SUNSHINE has a happy one. Jeff...ended up marrying the woman who didn't recognize him the day they met up along the AT. He had lost 20 pounds and had a new beard."
-- Chris Graham, The Observer, VA
"Alt awoke from a deep sleep one night to find a plump fuzzy creature on his sleeping bag, sporting distinctive black fur and a white stripe. Alt spent the rest of the chilly night with the critter snuggled between his lower legs. Alt's encounter with the strange bedfellow marked the beginning of a journey that would change his perspective on life."
-- Paula Brandon, The Naperville Sun, IL
"AN AMAZING STORY...He did it to raise money for the home where his brother with cerebral palsy lives. A portrait of a modern American adventurer fulfilling lofty dreams, while discovering what lies beyond the physical and mental boundaries."
-- Art Lander Jr., Lexington Herald-Leader, KY
"A MUST READ...A WALK FOR SUNSHINE illustrates the magic of involving others in achieving your dreams."
-- Kathryn Sargent, Aquarius A Sign of the Times, GA
AN EMORSONIAN ADVENTURE...Though excited about the wildlife encounters with boars...bears...and skunks, Alt is even more impressed with the diversity of people hiking the trail, from millionaires to people dodging creditors."
-- Steven Tweddell, Ace Weekly, KY
"JOURNEY TOWARD HOPE...The money raised from Alt's hike and the annual fundraiser it inspired has helped buy devices for the disabled."
-- Kevin Lamb, Dayton Daily News, OH
"One of the best interviews we have had on the air."
-- Anne Marie Welty, NPR, Cincinnati
"A WALK FOR SUNSHINE serves as an inspiration to anyone who has ever had a dream."
-- Angela Mitro, The Sylvania Herald, OH
"A WALK FOR SUNSHINE ably tells Alt's tale of braving everything from freezing cold, driving rain, and a bear encounter to boredom, exhaustion, charging bulls, and trail angels who offer food and support."
-- Steve Pollick, The Blade, OH
"Our ratings were high during the interview with Jeff Alt. The phones were ringing off the hook."
-- Producer, Fox-Tampa, Kathy Fountain Show, FL
"A Walk for Sunshine is an inspirational and humorous story that my be the definitive how-and how not to-hike the Appalachian Trail. I had trouble putting it down."
-- Bill Jones, The Greeneville Sun, TN
"Jeff combined a physical challenge with a worthwhile cause and ended up with a personal victory. His story reminds us that when we follow our heart, no mountain is too high, no journey is too long."
-- Jean Deeds, author, There are Mountains to Climb
"A Walk for Sunshine has touched numerous people in many significant ways and continues to touch the lives of those who read it."
-- Douglas Siebenaler, Sunshine Incorporated
"If you doubt the power of your dreams, consider Jeff Alt."
-- Marat Moore, The ASHA Leader
"A lively story engagingly told in a straight forward and humorous style, A WALK FOR SUNSHINE could serve as a primer for anyone planning even part of an Appalachian Trail hike."
-- Cynthia Nowak, Toledo Alumni Magazine
Jeff Alt has a mission: reacquaint the world with the beauties and the challenges of Nature and find inner peace and the source of human kindness. And if that sounds like a hopelessly impossible task for these times in which we live, then his A WALK FOR SUNSHINE just may change that. It is difficult, if not impossible, to read this entertaining and meaningful book and not rearrange mindsets as to priorities and the significance of living in the moment….A WALK FOR SUNSHINE makes a great bedside inspiration book, a thoughtful gift for friends and family who are struggling with apparent insurmountable odds, and an excellent reference for 'youths' of all ages. December 07. Read the entire review at http://www.amazon.com/Walk-Sunshine-expedition-charity Appalachian/dp/0967948223/ref=cm_cr-mr-title
-- Grady Harp, Top Ten (#7) Amazon.com reviewer
"...A Walk For Sunshine provides an emotional and exciting experience that makes the pain and discomfort of walking the Appalachian Trail seem insignificant..."
-- Robie "Jumpstart" Hensley, An Appalachian Trail Legend
"...I have thoroughly enjoyed reading A Walk For Sunshine. I could not put it down. It brought back many memories..."
-- Gene Espy, the second person to ever hike the entire Appalachian Trail in 1951. An AT trail legend.
"A WALK FOR SUNSHINE kept me turning the pages. Alt had become a friend, someone I was pulling for everyday of the way...It's a quick read that introduces you to a cherished American Trail."
-- The Northwest Herald
…Rarely do I find a nonfiction book as charismatic as this one. For anyone considering an Appalachian Trail hike, this book is a must. For readers like me, who do as little outdoor planning as possible, yet love an adventurous book, it hits the spot. He’ll even have you laughing out loud…
-- Judith Kaye, Good Reads; Book Reporter; Library Thing; Chainreading; Shelfari.com; Wordpress
…An entertaining read...he [Alt] encounters both extreme cold...as well as having a skunk fall asleep on his sleeping bag...one cannot forget the appetite that such an excursion will bring on. In addition to describing the mounds of food he'd consume while in towns in order to maintain his energy...Alt managed to lose 30 pounds by the end of the journey...A Walk for Sunshine is funny, cheerful, and deserves your readership… full review: http://themoderatevoice.com/entertainment/reviews/16433/guest-book-review
-- Jessica Schneider, the moderate voice; Monsters & Critics
...A Walk For Sunshine is a book well worth reading even if your trail hiking is in an armchair before a blazing fire. Jeff Alt has proven himself an inspiration to many...full review: http://www.bookloons.com/cgi-bin/Review.asp?bookid=8873
-- Mary Ann Smyth, Bookloons.com
...I loved this hiking book. Jeff certainly has a writing style that should appeal to everyone. There are also many amusing chapters that had me laughing out loud…Read this book and I can guarantee you’ll have lots of laughs, smiles and at the end be inspired to perhaps do your own walk for Sunshine...
-- Jessica Roberts, Bookpleasures.com
...A Walk for Sunshine is a quick read…his words do bring you out into the woods…, bug bites, blisters and all…the Appalachian Trail affected him…instilling a deep appreciation for life outdoors, an affinity for simple routine, a profound respect for the body’s boundaries and pure joy at going for a long walk...full review: http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/11/11/174840.php
-- Friend Mouse, Blogcritics.org
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