An Interview with Author, Jeff Alt
 A Walk for Sunshine
Jeff Alt : After my expedition, I had a full schedule of speaking events about my Appalachian Trail journey. I couldn't fit all my stories into each lecture and everyone wanted more. With each lecture, someone would suggest that I write a book so that I could share all my stories. The rest is history.
Lauren Smith: Tell us about your journey and your brother, what prompted you to take this on?
Jeff Alt : I dreamed of walking the Appalachian Trail for years. When I was a young boy, my family took me on vacation to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. My brothers and I left our parents and a cooler full of food-ill equipped--and hiked along the Appalachian Trail for one night and two days. We were so glad to return to our parents and fresh food after one night in the woods. But, the seed had been planted for me to walk the Appalachian Trail. Fast forward to the early 90's. My step father and I returned to the Smoky Mountains for a three day hike. During that trip I decided that I wanted to hike the entire trail. I planned my five month sojourn after graduate school. As the opportunity grew closer I realized that I had the physical and mental ability to pursue my dreams but my brother who was born with cerebral palsy is limited in the dreams he can pursue. I decided to share my journey with my brother who lives in the Sunshine Home. My brother, Aaron, is nonverbal and wheelchair bound. He relies on others for all his basic needs. My family placed Aaron in the Sunshine at the age of 12. He is medically fragile and was becoming difficult for us to provide all the necessary care. Sunshine was able to fill this need. Aaron always has a happy face and seems content. Aaron's smile has a way of lighting you up. He loves the outdoors and enjoys strolls along forested paths and sitting outside.
Lauren Smith: What was the most surprising aspect of your journey?
Jeff Alt: I had many surprises so it’s hard to pick one. Sleeping all night with a skunk on my sleeping bag tops my list. But then there was the time I was charge by a bear and chased by a bull. My appetite surprised those dining at nearby tables in restaurants. I could eat an entire pizza and half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. The humanity of the folks I met in the woods was awesome. You would think walking the AT is a lonely experience. But you meet all sorts of people out there. The outpouring of support from everyone who heard of my adventure was humbling. It’s amazing how my five month journey changed my life. It's almost 10 years since my expedition and I remember it as if it was yesterday. The lessons I learned from my journey remain intact and strong. I wrote an epilogue chapter for the new edition of A Walk For Sunshine titled "Life Lessons From The Trail."
Lauren Smith: Would you do it again?
Jeff Alt: Yes! I definitely plan to walk the AT again before retirement age. My current journey is being the best father I can to my two children and that involves many excursions along sections of the Appalachian Trail and other national parks. I would love to walk the entire trail with my family one day. But, everyone has their own dreams and goals. My children may have other pursuits. So who knows, it might just be me or perhaps my wife and I trekking along. In the mean time, I'm exposing my children to routine hikes and nature outings at a very young age to instill the importance the outdoors plays in our lives.
Lauren Smith: What do you hope people will learn from your book?
Jeff Alt: A Walk For Sunshine is full of examples of perseverance, survival, goal-setting success, and overcoming obstacles. A Walk For Sunshine sheds light on the pursuit of a simpler life and will fill readers with inspiration to go after their dreams. If you have no inclination to walk the Appalachian Trail, you may gleam some insight from the life lessons from the trail that I gained and apply them to your own dreams and goals.
Lauren Smith: A "green" book is a pretty hot thing right now in publishing, how tough is it to publish an eco-friendly tome?
Jeff Alt: I learned from the Green Press Initiative that most books are printed on paper made from virgin forest and manufactured in facilities that pollute the environment. As a hiker, I practice "leave no trace" back country ethics to preserve the wilderness. I live by my hiking principles in many aspects of my life and my book about my "green" hike should definitely be an environmentally friendly book. The book industry is going through a transformation much like many other industries due to global warming/climate change. The Green Press Initiative is a great resource to learn more http://greenpressinitiative.org/.
Lauren Smith: Tell us about the Sunshine Home and the work they do?
Jeff Alt: Sunshine Inc. of Northwest Ohio is located in Maumee, a small community near Toledo. Roy and Georgette Engler created Sunshine in 1949. The couple was raising five children with mental retardation, and they learned to appreciate the need for more services to support children with dependent needs. The Sunshine Children's Home grew from 27 children in 1952 to its current capacity. Today, Sunshine supports the needs of more than 850 mentally retarded and developmentally disabled residents and clients throughout northwest Ohio. I never feel that I'm in an institution when visiting Sunshine. The staff and atmosphere makes you feel right at home. Sunshine relies on donations to support the extra services that make the living standards so good.
The tenth annual Walk with Sunshine inspired from my Appalachian Trail journey will occur in September. We have raised more than $100,000 for adaptive equipment and animal programming for the residents of Sunshine Inc. of NW Ohio, where my brother Aaron resides. Hundreds of volunteers and friends of Sunshine have planned, organized, and participated in this walk and have made it a huge success. The Sunshine home continues to provide excellent care for those with disabilities who are dependant on others for their daily needs.
Lauren Smith: How's your brother doing these days?
Jeff Alt: Although my brother Aaron's health is fragile, during the ten years since my original hike he has been healthier than ever. He has rolled along in every Walk With Sunshine since my thru-hike. Aaron loves the outdoors. The Sunshine home has a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk that rambles into the forest behind the facility. Aaron beams from ear to ear during strolls in the forest. He is nonverbal, but his enthusiasm for life is strong.
Lauren Smith: What's the most surprising piece of your publishing journey?
Jeff Alt: In many ways publishing a book is as difficult as walking the Appalachian Trail. There are so many hurdles (mountains) you need to get over. You need perseverance to walk 2,160 miles. You need the same perseverance to write a 288 page book. What surprised me were the scores of people who helped me out on my publishing journey. On the trail, when someone helps you out with a ride, drink, or meal they are referred to as a trail angel. I encountered many trail angels on my publishing journey. I enjoy sharing my Appalachian Trail journey through my book. What's really rewarding to me is when people find their own inspiration to go after their dreams after hearing my talk or reading my book. I've received hundreds of heartfelt letters over the years.
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