Throughout the book Katz, who always trails hundreds of yards behind Bryson, repeatedly lightens his pack by dumping such necessities as clothing, water, and food. As a result many meals consist of Slim Jims, Snickers bars, and raisins. It never escaped me for a moment that he didn't have to be there. And so the pair trudge on. Bryson learns to appreciate hiking's Zen-like qualities.
Time ceases to have any meaning.
When it is dark, you go to bed, and when it is light again you get up, and everything in between is just in between. One comically black passage offers an interesting juxtaposition to Trail hiking. His suburban hike proves more challenging and dangerous than some sections of Trail, which explains why, as he states, Americans drive for 93 percent of all trips regardless of distance and purpose. As the book's subtitle implies, the subtext is about discovering America. Bryson reports about each of the ecosystems they hike through.