Frank Carter set out in the spring of 2012 to rediscover his family's southern roots, his own essence, and the earth itself by walking 500 miles through America's greatest wilderness path--the Appalachian Trail. The lessons sprawl over the miles, coming from myriad sources, from an ant-riddled worm to a path-guarding bear to a battle-damaged soldier recovering from his horrors through nature's tonic. In a time of environmental crisis and human separation from nature, Feather Beard explores through art, music, and storytelling the act of walking as a mode of reconnecting to the more-than-human world. It re-examines the sojourn as a lost art, a modern take on the walkabout, vision quest, or religious pilgrimage--experiences cultures around the globe seek out, knowing that our personal journeys begin with a thousand steps.

Author Biography

Frank Carter earned a master's degree certificate in Environmental Education from the Teton Science School and a master's of science in Environmental Humanities at the University of Utah. He is an award--winning and passionate teacher, writer, -naturalist, artist, and musician. Frank is the communications, outreach, and development -director for the Taft-Nicholson Center for Environmental Humanities -Education in Montana's Centennial Valley. He halfway grew up in Big Sky Country and lives in Bozeman with his wife, Louisa. Feather Beard is his first book. Bozeman/MT/USA Terry Tempest Williams (born September 8, 1955), is an American author, conservationist and activist. Williams' writing is rooted in the American Westand has been significantly influenced by the arid landscape of her native Utah and its Mormon culture. Her work ranges from issues of ecology and wilderness preservation, to women's health, to exploring our relationship to culture and nature.