Book Review: Going to Maine

Reviewed by Kristine Eckart

The adventure of a lifetime on the Appalachian Trail

An ode to the author’s best friend Erin and to the transformations one can experience in nature, Going to Maine is an unforgettable memoir chronicling two friends as they hike through the Appalachian Trail, the AT, starting in Georgia and ending with Katahdin in Maine.

What does one do in the time before law school or med school? Spend almost six months hiking of course! That’s precisely what BFFs Erin and Sally decide to do. After preparing with a generous amount of research and acquiring supplies, the duo hits the trail full of optimism. 

However, they quickly discover that even their detailed preparations cannot fully prepare them for the journey they’re about to have. From getting their trail names, Sweet N’ Low and Not Yet, to meeting trail angels, people who help hikers out with meals or rides to hostels, and meeting other hikers on the trail and experiencing injuries like knee pain or foot blisters, Sally and Erin experience a wide range of what the AT has to offer. Along the way, Sally also wonders if her relationship with her long-distance boyfriend Kevin and her upcoming law school attendance is what she wants. 

“I resolved to spend more time thinking about who I was, who I wanted to be and about how to go be her.” 

The humor and dialogue make this AT memoir stand out from the rest. From frank discussions on bodily functions to misunderstood song lyrics to making fun of each other’s trail personalities, there are plenty of moments chronicling the comic relief that boosts one’s spirits in hard times. I especially liked Sally’s belief that JonBon is Jon Bon Jovi’s first name, their made-up words like ‘mom-a-palooza’ and ‘mom-apocalypse,’ and their eventual adoption of a Justin Timberlake poster as their group mascot. 

The camaraderie and friendships found on the trail are the cherry on the sundae of this memoir. Many hikers adhere to the “Hike Your Own Hike” principle, which can make it a solitary endeavor, but the bonds Sally and Erin form in the wilderness are a part of what helps sustain them and make it to their final destination. Readers are treated to the kindness and hijinks of Mike, Pilgrim, Ben, Sugar High, and so many more that eventually form a kind of family that is only forged on the peaks and valleys of the Appalachian Trail. 

“If it was the mountains that had worn away my bullshit, I knew it was the people that had built me back up.”

Going to Maine is a captivating adventure memoir full of heart and genuine fun.

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