From the Bookshelf by Deb Blick
I was delighted when Wayne “KrispyKritter” Petrovich showed up at the FTA office with his brand new book and asked if we would write a review for The Footprint. After reading his online journals I knew I would be getting more than “March 2 - Spent the night at Icewater Spring Shelter with 6 other hikers.” And what I got was much more than I expected. Turning to backpacking and nature as a way to recharge from his high-stress work as an paramedic with the Fire Service, the first chapter details his introductory trips here in Florida and the Rockies where he made all the rookie mistakes most of us go through. Each story was more humorous then the last and I was constantly chuckling to myself, “Oh yeah, been there, and made that same mistake.” But he learned from each challenge and continued on to the next level to learn more - about the natural world and about himself. The succeeding chapters chronicle his long distance trips on the AT, PCT and CDT - the “Triple Crown” of long distance hiking followed by other long hikes in England and Scotland and on the JMT. His stories recount, with self-deprecation and humor, all the ups and downs of long-distance hiking. The glory of a sunset seen from a mountain top, the worries of what is happening back home with family, visits to the doctor praying your injury is not bad enough to knock you off the trail, the unforgettable characters you meet hiking any trail, the kindness of strangers in trail towns along the way, the loneliness that grabs you when you realize you cannot share a fleeting moment of beauty with someone you love, the days of rain and mud that are saved by experiencing a natural wonder that makes your breath stop and your heart clinch. In the final chapter, Wayne recounts what it is like to work at a major outfitter (Travel Country Outdoors) and deal with the wide variety of hikers who come in for advice - from the sublime to the ridiculous. I chuckled throughout the chapter because I could identify with all of them. If I have a favorite section it’s Wayne’s account of his hike on the West Highland Way in Scotland and “The Aftermath”. The story of his “nasty-wee-beastie” bite, while I’m positive was dangerous and nerve-wracking at the time for both KK and Lady Kritter, had me laughing out loud. Wayne was very modest in titling his book “Tales and Trails of KK”. It could just as easily be callled “The Wit and Wisdom of KK” because the book is loaded with lessons learned - about hiking, the natural world, and coping with “civilization”..
And just as The Footprint was about to go to the printer, we received word that Ernie Baldini, past FTA President, has published a new book. We haven’t gotten a copy to read yet but if it’s written as elegantly as Ernie speaks, it will be great. Here’s what Ernie said in his message to us. This is to announce that I have written an autobiography titled “A TwentiethCentury Argonaut”. I was honored to have Jim Kern, founder of the Florida Trail Association, and co-founder of the American Hiking Society, write the foreword. Some of my experiences with FTA and hiking are in the story, including a Grand Canyon hike experience, and ascent of Mt. Rainier. - Ernie.
19