2021: A fast read on an engaging topic.

Like most adventurers, I have already read [b:A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail|9791|A Walk in the Woods Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail|Bill Bryson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388189974l/9791._SY75_.jpg|613469] and [b:Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail|12262741|Wild From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail|Cheryl Strayed|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453189881l/12262741._SY75_.jpg|17237712]. Both of those books are better than this one, and in fact inspired Lugo to decide to do the AT. However, this book IS better than all of the other thru-hiking memoirs I've read (including but not limited to [b:Thirst: 2600 Miles to Home|42969704|Thirst 2600 Miles to Home|Heather Anish Anderson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1543368565l/42969704._SY75_.jpg|66794152] and [b:Girl in the Woods: A Memoir|18635099|Girl in the Woods A Memoir|Aspen Matis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1427750639l/18635099._SY75_.jpg|41700117]).

Lugo is, as the title suggests, not someone you would immediately think to tackle one of the country's most ambitious hikes. This has less to do with the fact that he is half-Black and half-Puerto Rican, and more to do with his preference for being clean all the time. Not easily achievable on the AT!

Of course, Lugo talks about tackling the microaggressions and racism he encounters on the trail. But this is an extremely small portion of the overall story. Lugo spends most of his time detailing specific encounters on the trail, and less time reflecting on his completed journey. I wish I had learned a little more about his life off the trail, but I understand that wasn't the goal of this memoir.

In the end, this was a really easy, fast read from a unique perspective. If you enjoy trail memoirs, you'll like this one.