One man’s remarkable challenge. 2,200 miles of unforgiving wilderness. Can he escape the mundane to become a thru-hiker?
Shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year by The Great Outdoors magazine.
Keith Foskett’s dream of escape started with a single step. Thru-hiking all 2200 miles of the Appalachian Trail, he left ordinary life behind for five months. Enduring an incredible test of physical and psychological strength, Foskett was pushed to his limits…
Accompanied by an array of eclectic characters – including a drug dealer, a world-champion juggler and a sex-starved Minnesotan – he weaves a route through some of America's wildest landscapes and history, and writes with insight, honesty and reflection. Attempting to keep his English wit alive amidst the bumps and bruises, can Foskett survive his journey of self-discovery to emerge victorious?
Shortlisted for The Great Outdoors magazine’s Outdoor Book of the Year, Foskett’s novel-like tale is as entertaining as it is insightful. Venture beyond the journal-style of many outdoor books and join Foskett’s adventure of a lifetime.
Balancing on Blue is a superb standalone travel memoir. If you like living outside the box, escaping into the wild, and journeying deep into the unknown, then you’ll love Keith Foskett’s courageous trek.
Discover how this wilderness escape can change you too.
Editorial reviews:
'A highly anticipated Appalachian Trail memoir, and well worth the wait.'
Daniel Neilson (The Great Outdoors Magazine)
'With thru-hiking gaining in popularity, many look to the Appalachian Trail to test their trail legs, and discover why it holds the reputation it does.
The wilds of this planet are serene, peaceful and offer the chance to break away from a normal existence. Keith’s wonderful perspective of the trail reflects this freedom.'
Jennifer Pharr Davis (Author and previous record holder for the fastest ever thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail).
'An entertaining and inspiring account of one of the world’s longest hikes and the people who walk it. Keith is a perfect walking companion for the ups and downs of the trail – his easy and understated style kept me turning the pages.
Essential reading for those contemplating their own big adventure.'
David Lintern (Outdoor Enthusiast Magazine)
'Long distance backpacking trips can be monotonous, and it’s often the same story for most books about them. Balancing on Blue is something completely different and once again, Keith invites you to the world that he calls home.
Be prepared for great story telling, unique and interesting characters, wit and insight.'
Andrew Skurka (Long distance hiker, adventurer and National Geographic Adventurer of the Year 2007).
What Amazon readers are saying:
★★★★★ Not since Bill Bryson have I found a series of nonfiction books as entertaining as those written by Keith Foskett.
★★★★★ Having read his other two fine efforts, I was straight into his most recent book and again it didn't disappoint.
★★★★★ One of the best books on hiking the entire Appalachian Trail.
★★★★★ Loved this book; I have read 10 or more books on hiking the AT, PCT and this one is informative about practical details (ie what happens with skin chafing from not showering for 10 days and what works?).
★★★★★ Balancing on Blue is told from the heart. It exudes a deep sincerity and love regarding all that encompasses the trail.
Hundreds more five-star reviews. Thousands of copies sold. Find out why readers fall for Keith Foskett's adventure memoirs!
For those who hear the call of the wild - a lifetime of wonder and danger await. It is one of the last great callings of the outdoorsman that keeps the passion for exploration alive in this day and age. Keith Foskett is no stranger to its sprawling song, having grown up against a backdrop of rolling hills in the English countryside. His passion for hiking and the outdoors was nurtured in this place, leading to a lifetime of exploration and discovery that his taken him across thousands of open miles across the planet.
Beginning with three hikes of El Camino de Santiago in Spain, Keith’s appetite for long-distance hiking evolved. Since then he has completed all 2640 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in America as well as 2200 miles of the famous Appalachian Trail.
His deep respect for the natural wonders of the world has left him in awe, and ever vigilant for the next great adventure.
Perhaps it is a combination of his early years fostering a love and deep connection to the world around him and his later travels that spoke to the storyteller within. For Keith has found success and acclaim off the trail as well, sharing his stories and his knack for narrative in both books and outdoor publications. In recent years, two of his titles have been shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year and his blog was voted #1 of the year. Always hands-on in all that he does, Keith finds time to bare his wandering soul with other nature lovers on his blog.
Nurturing a strange fascination with down sleeping bags and woollen underwear, Keith knows that for all the adventure that await there is no place like home - the rolling green hills of West Sussex, England.
