I was pleasantly surprised to see a review of THREE HUNDRED ZEROES in a national journal, QST magazine, in their October 2010 issue. QST is the official journal of the American Radio Relay League, in Newington, Connecticut. The magazine has a circulation of 170,000 and is available at many magazine news stands.
The review was very favorable to the book and points out that the book is a good read for the general public as well as radio amateurs. Here is what the review said:
Get on the Trail With THREE HUNDRED ZEROES
By: Dennis R. Blanchard, K1YPP
Reviewed by Steve Ewald, WV1X
How would you like to go on a hike? How about a real long hike that is 2176 miles long and covers 14 states in the eastern United States?
Three Hundred Zeroes by Dennis Blanchard, K1YPP, captures the adventure of hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) all the way from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Because of heart surgery, Blanchard’s excursion took place over a two-year period, even though he had first set out to hike the AT in one extended hiking season.
What challenges and difficulties did he face along the way? What personal goals kept him going forward when circumstances beyond his control seemed to dictate otherwise? These questions about life on (and off) the Appalachian Trail are answered in a very interesting, informative and entertaining manner. Dennis’ writing style takes the reader right along for the hike.
One begins to understand the joys and rigors of living in the wilderness, facing the elements and meeting fellow hikers. The book’s subtitle, “Lessons of the Heart on the Applachian Trail,” is most appropriate.
In addition to his hiking equipment, K1YPP carried and operated his homebrew low power CW transceiver with a wire antenna. The book provides a good general explanation of Amateur Radio for newcomers, and it gives references for further information. (See his “An Appalachian Journey” in the March 2010 issue of QST, pp 67-69 for details about his on-the-trail radio operations.) After reading this enjoyable book you just might be inspired to “hit the trail” in your own personal way.
It has been a while since I have had the time to update this blog. Life has a habit of getting in the way. Hopefully I can post more here soon.
Thanks for reading!
Dennis “K1” Blanchard