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Switching Gears: Rediscovering the Meaning of Life, Love, and Happiness While Backpacking Vermont’s Long Trail Paperback – January 24, 2022

by Martin Armitage (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 30 ratings
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★★★★★ "I love how Martin shows us not to get caught up in the stress and tension of goas and deadlines!" - Reader Review
_____

Martin Armitage never guessed that it would forever change the way he looked at his life when he decided to hike the entire 273 mile length of The Long Trail, stretching from the Canadian border in the north all the way to the southern end of the state of Vermont.

Just a few short days into the walk, and forced to call a halt as an injury prevented him from continuing, he was filled with anger and a sense of failure and frustration.

But what seemed like a flop on the surface was soon transformed into something else, as Martin came to recognize his own overconfidence and arrogance had played a significant part in his failure and galvanized himself to return to the trail with a very different attitude.

In his book, Switching Gears, Martin tells the story of how a sudden epiphany he experienced about Mother Nature led to a new respect for the great outdoors and how that change helped him to rediscover the meaning of his own life and what was really important in it.

He came to understand that, whether in life or hiking a trail, enjoying the journey is the most important part of it and not the final destination.

It is this understanding and practical life lessons that Martin now wants to share with everybody, helping people reduce unnecessary stress and live better, happier lives!

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  1. Print length
    245 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    January 24, 2022
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.56 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-13
    979-8407716815
  6. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09R3H8BB1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (January 24, 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 245 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8407716815
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.56 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 30 ratings

About the author

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Martin Armitage

Martin Armitage

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With a lifetime of outdoor experiences and over two decades as a Boy Scout Volunteer, the host of the popular podcast, Papa Bear Hikes and YouTube channel Martin Outside, Martin Armitage has combined his love for the outdoors with his background in online education to create an inspirational and informative podcast with diverse guests sharing a variety of outdoor topics from travel to sports, to outdoor adventures. Martin is also the author of Switching Gears: Rediscovering the Meaning of Life, Love, and Happiness While Backpacking Vermont’s Long Trail and working on an upcoming novel.

Outside of work and outdoor adventuring, Papa Bear and his wife Wendy enjoy local theatre, wineries, visiting museums & art galleries, and spending time with their sons.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
30 global ratings
A Thru Hiking Experience That Anyone Can Enjoy
5 Stars
A Thru Hiking Experience That Anyone Can Enjoy
Martin shares his experience Thru-Hiking The Long Trail in Vermont in a way that anyone could relate to. In Switching Gears, the author showcases many of the anxieties and challenges that almost all hikers experience before, during, and after a thru-hike in a way that is personal for them, but descriptive enough to make you feel like you are there hiking with him. My favorite thing about Martin’s writing style is that you experience every high and low through his own personal lens and perspective in an honest way. He does not omit the hardships and failures that he experiences, and by the end you really get the sense that an optimistic personality and stoic perspective can be immensely important tools for such a difficult trail like The Long Trail. You do not have to be a thru-hiker to get something important out of this book.
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Top reviews from the United States

Sally Siko
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding book for hikers & outdoor adventurers
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
What a wonderful book!
Once I finished, my first thoughts were this- that the man who loves walking more than the man who loves the destination, will walk further than the man who loves the destination.
It’s when you truly love the journey, the milestones we reach are but a joyful side-effect along the way while you’re embracing whatever life throws at ya.

I also like that Martin sees the value in taking the time to appreciate the kindness of strangers on the road or at camp, a hot cup of coffee, a dry bunk or a gorgeous sunrise.
It seems that he’s motivated by these encounters, each serving as emotional (or literal) fuel providing the energy along his hike.
As a fellow hiker and birding guide, I can definitely relate to the concept of finding peace and wellbeing by focusing on what’s good along a trail.
There is always a potential to be surprised and delighted by what’s around the next bend as long as we take the time to seek these things out.

Perhaps my favorite thing is that the author encourages us to appreciate that the only way we truly fail at something is by not taking the first steps to at least try.
Life is waiting.
So get out there and go!!!
10/10 a great read!
3 people found this helpful
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Barbara Battistuz
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for anyone considering doing some casual or serious hiking.
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2022
Verified Purchase
I'm not a long-distance hiker but Martin's book has sparked an interest in getting out and experiencing the love of the trail. For anyone that lives in or travels to Vermont to test their stamina on the trail, this book is a must-read with a great many details of campsites, shelters, lodgings, cafes and amazing sights. Martin's observations and appreciation for the beauty of nature throughout his journey give his story a very personal touch and makes the book quite interesting. His knowledge of long- distance hiking is invaluable, especially for a novice hiker.

My favorite part of the book were his reflections of life with its successes and supposed failures. Its also very encouraging to hear of all the kind people he met and his many positive interactions with them in a world that is increasingly filled with violence and hatred. I highly recommend this book for all those who need a timeout from the hectic pace of life or just want to enjoy reading about the highs and lows of one man's long anticipated and well loved journey.
3 people found this helpful
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marianne c bohr
5.0 out of 5 stars Breezy Read
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
Loved the honest, breezy, and personal tone of this totally enjoyable book. If you plan to hike or have hiked Vermont's Long Trail, you must read Switching Gears. I felt I was on the trail with the author and I didn't want the journey on the trail to end.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Thru Hiking Experience That Anyone Can Enjoy
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
Martin shares his experience Thru-Hiking The Long Trail in Vermont in a way that anyone could relate to. In Switching Gears, the author showcases many of the anxieties and challenges that almost all hikers experience before, during, and after a thru-hike in a way that is personal for them, but descriptive enough to make you feel like you are there hiking with him. My favorite thing about Martin’s writing style is that you experience every high and low through his own personal lens and perspective in an honest way. He does not omit the hardships and failures that he experiences, and by the end you really get the sense that an optimistic personality and stoic perspective can be immensely important tools for such a difficult trail like The Long Trail. You do not have to be a thru-hiker to get something important out of this book.
Customer image
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Thru Hiking Experience That Anyone Can Enjoy
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2022
Martin shares his experience Thru-Hiking The Long Trail in Vermont in a way that anyone could relate to. In Switching Gears, the author showcases many of the anxieties and challenges that almost all hikers experience before, during, and after a thru-hike in a way that is personal for them, but descriptive enough to make you feel like you are there hiking with him. My favorite thing about Martin’s writing style is that you experience every high and low through his own personal lens and perspective in an honest way. He does not omit the hardships and failures that he experiences, and by the end you really get the sense that an optimistic personality and stoic perspective can be immensely important tools for such a difficult trail like The Long Trail. You do not have to be a thru-hiker to get something important out of this book.
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4 people found this helpful
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Bash
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and insightful gear switching
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
Really enjoyed the pace and tone of this book. The author helps reinvigorate a love for the outdoors and it's light hearted and easy reading throughout.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
A great read whether you're on your 1st hike or 1,000th. I highly recommend everyone pick up a copy.
5 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and heartfelt
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
A fun book to read whether you hike or not, reminded me of A Walk in The Woods by Bill Bryson
4 people found this helpful
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Dar M
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for any outdoor enthusiast!
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2022
This is a great book for anyone with a real appreciation for the outdoors or someone that is interested in beginning section hiking or backpacking. Martin gives some great insight into the mindsight you should strive to be in to maximize your enjoyment of any outdoor experience. I enjoyed the funny anecdotes that Martin encounters along his journey in addition to his valuable hiking knowledge. His hiking partners must get a kick out of him – I heard they have a strange ritual of using mouthwash at the summit – weird.
5 people found this helpful
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