Only When I Step on It

One Man's Inspiring Journey to Hike the Appalachian Trail Alone

By: Peter E. Conti

Narrated by: Peter E. Conti

What if you could experience the thrill of an epic voyage through insurmountable obstacles without leaving the comfort of your own home?

It was 23 months after his accident, and Peter was still dealing with constant excruciating pain. He'd seen dozens of doctors and tried a myriad of medications, but nothing seemed to work. Faced with the impossible choice of suffering through the rest of his life, he had an unlikely epiphany, "If I could somehow hike 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail, then my leg will have to be better."

He set a starting date three weeks out, cobbled together a novice's pack, and set off on a journey destined to change his life forever—though not exactly how he had envisioned it. From the bleakest breakdowns to hilarious adventures, Peter's story is equal parts entertaining, enthralling, and enlightening. Join him on the trail, one step in front of the other, as he searches for some way to heal his body and soul while struggling with chronic pain, anxiety, and depression.

Can listening to this audiobook really change your life?

• Discover how to overcome insurmountable obstacles one step at a time.
• Experience the joy and freedom of hiking the Appalachian Trail (while wrapped up in a blanket at home).
• Get a boost for your body and soul as you laugh your way through his hilarious antics and adventures.
• Enjoy the relief you experience as you walk with the author while escaping from your day to day concerns.

If you've enjoyed best-selling memoirs and biographies by authors like Cheryl Strayed, Bill Bryson, and Grandma Gatewood, then you'll enjoy this inspiring memoir about hiking the Appalachian Trail. If you're struggling to find hope and healing after trauma, you'll find encouragement to get back up. You might even find the courage to give solo travel a try yourself. Scroll up to buy this audiobook now!

©2021 Peter E. Conti (P)2022 Peter E. Conti

Perseverance

I appreciated Peter’s story of his injury and how hiking the AT helped improve his physical, mental and emotional health. His story provides inspiration and hope for those of us who would also like to thru-hike the AT but face assorted challenges.

Honest and real

I liked how it was easy to relate and see myself taking on an adventure like Peter did. Thank you for the inspiration! I to am in my 50s, suffer from depression, and just life in general. I plan on hiking the AT in hopes I can walk off 40 plus years of pain and anger. This book puts me a step closer and keeps me motivated for such a journey. Thanks again!!

Excellent, Inspiring, Meaningful True Story

I love this book and being part of Peter's journey through it. My copy is audible. I did need to slow down the speed on the narration but that was my only issue. The book is full of inspiring moments, and a true picture of difficulties on the AT. I appreciate the author's transparency and humility when acknowledging poor decision. I have a 18 year old friend trying to overcome injuries in a traumatic car accident. Will definitely share. Thank Peter, for sharing your life, struggles and victories. You have a remarkable outlook on life.

Amazing Story! I highly recommend!

I am so inspired by Peter’s story. I have spent many days backpacking on the AT and recognize a lot of the places referenced. I have already shared this inspiring story with several of my friends. Every time I think I can’t accomplish something, I will think about what Peter has gone through to come to terms with his situation and reach Katahdin!

Inspiring Story

This book needed much more editing and the author should have done more research on pronunciation, wildlife, and other things. The way he pronounced words and names of cities made me cringe. I have friends from Dahlonega, Georgia and he butchered that name along with many others. It made him sound a bit simple minded. Also, if he knew the wolf was extinct why did he keep calling it a wolf? A bit of research into modern day coyotes would have helped. I thought editors helped with these types of errors. A professional narrator would have made this so much better.

Overall, it’s an inspiring story, but I was relieved when I came to the end of this book! It didn’t leave me wanting more.

Acceptance... the journey

Really enjoyed listening to Peters book. While I, like him, really longed for the fairytale ending of complete healing, the conclusion did not disappoint. Life is what we get, just got to figure out to deal with what comes our way! Peter does that in a way that is relatable and real, he does inspire. In the last year I've been diagnosed with an arthritic spine pulling up a life so packed full of adventure; ocean sailing, ocean and river paddling, hiking, building, cycling and just endless physical activity that its been incredibly hard to deal with. In my quest to overcome I am 3 weeks off starting an 800km walk on the Camino Frances, hoping to manage my issues and get to Santiago and a new place in my head. I came across Peters book quite happenstance and love that it has been so totally on point! I am sure when I am dealing with difficulties along the way of my journey, your determination and attitude will whisper in my head - great story Peter, enjoy keeping on!!

Very inspiring. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this excellent book.

If Peter can walk 2,189 miles of the Appalachian Trail, you can too. We can do more than we think we can. Break complex scenarios into smaller parts, then complete the small objectives in sequence. You can accomplish more than you may now think feasible. This book edified me and I think it can edify you as well.

Great book.

I enjoyed the author’s honesty. This is truly an uplifting story of perseverance during great personal adversity.

Inspiring story

This story is well developed, well written and inspirational. A real life, hard fought story of perseverance and accomplishment. I would list as a top 5 or top 3 of the dozens of AT hiking stories I've read or listened to. The only place for improvement is Peter's narration performance. Some missed words and awkward pronunciations are a distraction and the performance is somewhat flat emotionally. All in all a winner that I wanted to keep listening to and was well worth my time.

I started out not liking it…

As an audio book read by the author, a professional public speaker whose voice, if he were present before me, would presumably be much enhanced by an engaging stage presence, Only When I Step On It is an excruciating account of an excruciating experience with excruciating pain. (I selected the audio book since I knew I would be spending as much as 60 hours on long car rides this summer.) Starting with the opening copyright statement I began wishing I had chosen to listen to almost anything else — even AM radio — instead.

Then why did I stay with the book? (And I will add that I’m glad I did.) I’m not especially interested in the Appalachian Trail. The mountain, Katahdin (the northern terminus of the A. T.), is a daily sight from my home in Lincoln, Maine, and from my family’s camp on Ambajejus Lake. I had lived in Katahdin’s nearby town of Millinocket for a quarter century before moving to Lincoln and had met many A.T. hikers. I’ve hiked portions of the A.T. that lie within and approaching Maine’s Baxter State Park. (I’m a Registered Maine Guide and wildlife biologist, so hiking the rest of the A.T. for the “wilderness experience” doesn’t hold any special allure for me.) I’ve read other, more entertaining and more enlightening, accounts of hiking the A.T., so I had no curiosity about that. I have never suffered with chronic pain, and consequently I have no curiosity or sympathy there. So what kept me listening?

Well, I had started a trial with Audible, and this was the first book I had chosen. As Peter Conti began narrating his story I became more interested in the clinical side of chronic pain, and I did begin to empathize with the author. Gradually I came to admire his determination and even felt as though I was cheering him on. I wanted him to do it. I am interested in people, and I have found that everyone has a story. I know that I can learn something useful, something encouraging, something humbling from almost anyone.

In time, as Peter’s experience unfolded, I felt as though I was present with him alone — paying attention perhaps in the way I would if he had cornered me after church when I had somewhere else to go, but also as if a higher power were suggesting that I listen nonetheless. For I understood that he needed to tell it, as difficult as it was for me to stay still and stay attuned, and that my role was to be his audience. It was not a suggestion that I would necessarily be enlightened or entertained, but that I was there so that he did not suffer, alone and ignored, in his pain.

I am the more human for it, the more patient, the more available to others. Sometimes I immerse myself too deeply into my own cares and interests and need to be reminded of my usefulness to the people close to me who live with chronic conditions. Indeed, I could some day land in that space myself.

Peter lamented that he could seldom find anyone to walk with him for long and with whom to share victuals and vistas on the A.T. His therapy lay in writing his story. A tale being told, like a symphony being performed, needs to be heard. This is not like listening to a suite by Tchaikovsky, though. OWISOI is more like the dodecaphonic oeuvres of Schoenberg — which also have their place in the world of music.

I was entertained nonetheless by Peter’s admissions of subterfuge and enlightened by his confessions of understandable emotions on his journey. And, while he did not escape the pain that set him on his course, I was impressed by the wisdom he shared at the end, especially what he called his superpower, summed up in two “A” words. I won’t forget that. And I deeply admire dear Joanna, Peter’s long-suffering wife, for sticking with him from the day of his serious accident to the end of the long hike and beyond. If not for her, Peter neither would have covered over 2,000 miles of the A.T. nor had a story to tell about it. Hats off to you, Joanna! And thank you, Peter, for telling it yourself. We can’t all speak like Ronald Reagan or sing like Elvis. I became familiar with your disembodied voice, friendly, brotherly, and authentic. If, hereafter, I hear that voice coming up behind me somewhere, I will know who it is.