Karen Berger (writer)

Last updated
Karen Berger
Born New York, N.Y.
OccupationAuthor
CitizenshipAmerican
Education Northwestern University
GenreTravel, Hiking, Adventure, Music
Notable worksAmerica's Great Hiking Trails, America's National Historic Trails, Great Hiking Trails of the World
Notable awards Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards (gold), National Outdoor Book Award (silver)
Website
www.karenberger.com

Karen Berger (born 1959) is an American writer, long-distance backpacker, and speaker. She is the author of adventure narratives, guidebooks, instructional books, and essays about the U.S. national scenic and historic trails, worldwide trails, and hiking and backpacking skills and techniques. [1]

Contents

In 2000, she became the sixth woman to be recognized by the American Long Distance Hikers Association (West) for completing the Triple Crown of Hiking by hiking the Continental Divide Trail (1990), the Appalachian Trail (1994), and the Pacific Crest Trail (1997), a total of nearly 8,000 miles. [2] [3] She completed additional treks in the United States, Nepal, Japan, New Zealand, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, England, Scotland, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Switzerland, and Canada. These experiences, combined with her previous work experience as an editor, led to her career path as a writer specializing in hiking and adventure travel. She lives in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.

Biography

Berger was born in New York, New York. She grew up in New Rochelle, New York, and attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

After graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts in music, Berger worked as an editor first for the Instrumentalist (a music magazine), and later, for Longman Financial Services Publishing. In between, she took gap years to travel, hike, write freelance articles, and teach in outdoor education programs. [4] In 1987, she became a book acquisitions editor for Island Press, a Washington, D.C. based publisher specializing in environmental books. In 1988, she was married to Daniel R. Smith, a professor of history at Iona College in New Rochelle.

In 1990, Berger left Island Press and Smith took a sabbatical from Iona; the couple hiked the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail from Mexico to Canada. [5] On their return, they co-authored Where the Waters Divide, a book about their journey, which received national attention. Reviews in regional media (San Francisco Chronicle, [6] Flint Journal (Michigan), [7] Rocky Mountain News, [8] ) and national media (The Wall Street Journal, [9] E, the Environmental Magazine, [10] Publishers Weekly [11] ) discussed how the book combined an adventure narrative with digressions into western American history, western water policy, grazing on public lands, fire suppression policy, and the Endangered Species Act.

With publication of Where the Waters Divide, Berger embarked on her career as an author specializing in hiking and adventure travel. [12] She served as a technical consultant for Trailside, a PBS television show about outdoor adventure, for which she wrote three companion books published by W. W. Norton. She was a contributing editor for Backpacker magazine, [13] where she wrote feature articles and three books published by the Mountaineers Books. Berger became the hiking expert at GORP.com, one of the first outdoor websites on the Internet to combine community forums with activity, skills, and destination content. [14] She commissioned and edited articles, wrote feature stories, answered readers’ questions, and managed discussion groups. [15] She was one of four writers featured in a chapter in the 1997 book edition of Writer's Market about how to be a successful freelancer; [16] her career was also profiled in the American Society of Journalists and Authors publication, ASJA Monthly. [17]

Berger and Smith collaborated on two more books but separated in 2003 and later divorced. Berger moved to the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, where she divided her time between writing and teaching piano. [18] She wrote three books on music for Alpha Books' Complete Idiot's Guide series, as well as more books on hiking and adventure travel. Her articles for print and online periodicals were published in the Saturday Evening Post, [19] NBC News, [20] Outside, [21] and others. From 2000 until 2009, she wrote the instructional “Outdoor Smarts” column for Boy Scouts of America's Scouting magazine. [22] In 2012, she started the travel website, Buckettripper. [23] Starting in 2014, she wrote a series of books for Rizzoli covering the 11 National Scenic Trails, the 19 National Historic Trails, and 38 major global trails. The series received national media coverage from such publications and organizations as USA Today, [24] the Chicago Tribune, [25] Frommer's, [26] Forbes.com, [27] Afar, [28] the American Hiking Society, [29] and the Partnership for the National Trails System, [30] and was featured in best-of lists and in gift-book round-ups [31] [32] [33] in The New York Times Book Review, [34] in Associated Press-affiliated newspapers around the United States, [35] and in People Magazine. [36]

Media and Speaking

Berger has appeared as a speaker for organizations such as the Continental Divide Trail Alliance (later reorganized as the Continental Divide Trail Coalition), the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, [37] the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and the Smithsonian. In 2018, she added live piano music; her combination lecture-music-slide show was the opening night presentation at the annual meeting of the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association. [38] As a result of her books, speaking, articles, and media about her activities, she became a resource for journalists writing about hiking-related subjects in such publications as The New York Times, [39] Sports Illustrated, [40] U.S.A. Today, [41] and the San Francisco Chronicle. [42] She has appeared as a guest on radio shows on NPR, [43] [44] the Martha Stewart Radio Network, and the Outside Radio Network, as well as local stations. [45]

Bibliography

Rizzoli Series

America's National Historic Trails

Great Hiking Trails of the World,

America's Great Hiking Trails

Outdoor Guidebooks and Instructional Books

Knots

The Pacific Crest Trail: A Hiker's Companion (with Daniel R. Smith)

Backpacking and Hiking

Be Prepared: Hiking and Backpacking

Hiking the Triple Crown

Backpacker Magazine Series

Hiking Light Handbook

More Everyday Wisdom

Everyday Wisdom

Trailside (PBS TV Show) Companion Books

Scuba Diving

Advanced Backpacking

Hiking and Backpacking

Outdoor Literature

Where the Waters Divide (with Daniel R. Smith)

Along the Pacific Crest Trail (with Daniel R. Smith, Photography by Bart Smith)

Music Books

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Piano Exercises

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Teaching Music on Your Own

The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Piano Chords

Anthology Contributions

Journeys of a Lifetime, National Geographic, 2007. ( ISBN   978-1-42620-125-7)

Appalachian Trail Reader

You Can Do It! The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown Up Girls

Awards

National Outdoor Book Award , Silver in 2021 in “Journeys” [49] for America's Natiomal Historic Trails

Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award, Gold in 2015 for “Best Travel Book” for America's Great Hiking Trails [50]

Foreword Reviews/Indie Book of the Year Awards

North American Travel Journalists Association: 11 awards in 2012 [54] and 2013. [55]

Official Websites:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appalachian Trail</span> Hiking trail going through fourteen US states

The Appalachian Trail, also called the A.T., is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost 2,200 miles (3,540 km) between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy claims the Appalachian Trail to be the longest hiking-only trail in the world. More than three million people hike segments of the trail each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hiking</span> Walking as a hobby, sport, or leisure activity

Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Religious pilgrimages have existed much longer but they involve walking long distances for a spiritual purpose associated with specific religions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuscarora Trail</span> Long distance eastern U.S. hiking trail

The Tuscarora Trail is a 252-mile (406 km) hiking trail in the eastern United States, following the Appalachian Mountains through portions of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Its route is roughly parallel to, and to the west of, the Appalachian Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backpacking (hiking)</span> Outdoor recreation of carrying gear on ones back, while hiking for more than a day

Backpacking is the outdoor recreation of carrying gear on one's back while hiking for more than a day. It is often an extended journey and may involve camping outdoors. In North America, tenting is common, where simple shelters and mountain huts, widely found in Europe, are rare. In New Zealand, hiking is called tramping, and tents are used alongside a nationwide network of huts. Hill walking is equivalent in Britain, though backpackers make use of a variety of accommodation, in addition to camping. Backpackers use simple huts in South Africa. Trekking and bushwalking are other words used to describe such multi-day trips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Trails System</span> System of trails in the United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Outdoor Book Award</span> Annual literary awards

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Elizabeth Thomas is a thru-hiking champion and former women's unassisted speed record holder for the 2,181-mile (3,510 km) Appalachian Trail. She holds the hiking "Triple Crown," having completed the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. She is the pioneer of the Chinook Trail in Washington and the Wasatch Range in Utah. She is Vice President of the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West, an ambassador for the American Hiking Society, and an outdoors writer for Wirecutter, a New York Times publication. She is also Editor-in-Chief of Treeline Review, a hiking gear publication. As of 2018, she completed 20 long-distance wilderness hikes.

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References

  1. ↑ "Karen Berger Author Page". Amazon.
  2. ↑ "Triple Crown Award". ALDHA-West.
  3. ↑ Gardner, Karen (Nov 30, 2014). "Hiking the Great Trails". Frederick News-Post (Maryland).
  4. ↑ "Travel the World Like a Pro". TravelPulse.com, Northstar Travel Group . Oct 23, 2017.
  5. ↑ Greene, Donna (Oct 10, 1993). "Westchester Q&A with Karen Berger". The New York Times .
  6. ↑ Zimmerman, Michael (Aug 8, 1993). "Two Travelers Trek Across a Continent's Backbone". San Francisco Chronicle .
  7. ↑ Powers, Tom (Sep 5, 1993). "Travel Tales of the Continental Divide, Grand Adventure Guide to the West". Flint Journal .
  8. ↑ Buchholtz, C. M. (Dec 12, 1993). "Take a 2600-mile hike without leaving the comforts of home". Rocky Mountain News .
  9. ↑ Sheridan, David (Aug 3, 1993). "Beach Novel Alternatives". The Wall Street Journal .
  10. ↑ Anderson, Scott Edward (Jul 1, 1993). "Walking Out West". E the Environmental Magazine.
  11. ↑ "Where the Waters Divide (review)". Publishers Weekly. May 3, 1993.
  12. ↑ Heltzel, Ellen Emry (Oct 5, 1997). "Hiking 2600 Miles to Your Coffee Table". The Oregonian .
  13. ↑ "Table of Contents and Masthead". Backpacker . May 1997. pp. 10–11.
  14. ↑ Connors, Philip (Sep 2, 1999). "Web Links Nature Lovers To Travel Tips, Companions". Wall Street Journal.
  15. ↑ "Hiking Expert Bio and Contents". GORP. Archived from [http:/gorp.com/gorp/activity/hiking/expert/kb_bio.htm the original] on 2000-12-05.{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  16. ↑ "Featured Interview, Writer to Writer". Writer's Market. 1997. pp. 28–36. ISBN   9780898797428.
  17. ↑ "Focus on Karen Berger: Addicted to Travel and Travel Writing". ASJA Monthly. May 1, 2003.
  18. ↑ Drew, Bernard A. (Jan 27, 2007). "Our Berkshires: Backpacker, Pianist (Conversation with Karen Berger)". The Berkshire Eagle .
  19. ↑ "Author Archive". Saturday Evening Post .
  20. ↑ "High Flying Adventures". NBC News . Aug 8, 2008.
  21. ↑ "Beginner's Guide to the Appalachian Trail". Outside . Jun 28, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Outdoor Smarts (partial archive of articles originally published in print)". Scouting Magazine .
  23. ↑ "Awards". Buckettripper.
  24. ↑ Bleiberg, Larry (Oct 16, 2020). "Paths to the Past: National Historic Trails Lead Travelers through Time, US History". USA Today .
  25. ↑ Sawyers, June (Oct 8, 2014). "America's Great Hiking Trails is a Beautiful Book with Great Tips". Chicago Tribune .
  26. ↑ "America's Greatest National Historic Trails (based on Karen Berger's book)". Frommer's .
  27. ↑ Manske, Laura (Oct 8, 2020). "Walking Across America: Hundreds Of Inspiring Travel Photos And Stories". Forbes.com.
  28. ↑ "Afar". Ala Kahakai Book Excerpt. Sep 28, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Great Hiking Trails around the World". American Hiking Society . 27 October 2017.
  30. ↑ "National Historic Trails Featured in New Book". Partnership for the National Trails System. 12 October 2020.
  31. ↑ "America's National Historic Trails review and awards summary". Rizzoli.
  32. ↑ "Great Hiking Trails of the World review and award summary". Rizzoli.
  33. ↑ "America's Great Hiking Trails, review and awards summary". Rizzoli.
  34. ↑ "The Great Outdoors: From Your Backyard to a Garden in Japan". The New York Times Book Review . Nov 30, 2017.
  35. ↑ "A look at travel books to inspire trips or to give as gifts". Associated Press . Nov 13, 2017.
  36. ↑ Hubbard, Kim (Dec 28, 2020). "The Best Coffee Table Books". People . p. 30.
  37. ↑ "Compass: Paces to Go, Things to Do". Frederick News Post (maryland). Nov 23, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Speakers announcement for annual meeting". Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association . Oct 12, 2018.
  39. ↑ Gunderson, Amy. "Great Homes and Destinations: Rural Retreats". The New York Times.
  40. ↑ Ballard, Chris (Jul 23, 2001). "Walking the Walk one day Brian Robinsons dreamed up the preposterous idea of conquering hiking's triple crown in a single calendar year. He's not out of the woods yet, but he just might do it". Sports Illustrated.
  41. ↑ "Best Park for Hiking Winners (2015)". USA Today.
  42. ↑ Graham, Tom (Dec 2, 2001). "Profile: Brian Robinson, hiker: Crowning Glory". San Francisco Chronicle.
  43. ↑ "Guest Expert, "How to Plan a Life Changing Hike This Summer"". Minnesota Public Radio . May 13, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Guest Expert, "Book-Inspired Travel," Minnesota Public Radio". Minnesota Public Radio. Oct 10, 2012.
  45. ↑ "Interview with Karen Berger". Local Celebrities.
  46. ↑ "Travel Books Best Sellers List". The New York Times Book Review .
  47. ↑ "Translations of Karen Berger's work". WorldCat .
  48. ↑ "Najnakup". Slovakian bookstore.
  49. ↑ "Winners List, 2021". National Outdoor Book Awards .
  50. ↑ "Winners List, 2015". Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards .
  51. ↑ "Winner's Page, 2020". Foreword Reviews/Indie Book Awards.
  52. ↑ "Winner's Page 2017". Foreword Reviews/Indie Book Awards.
  53. ↑ "Winner's Page, 2014". Foreword Reviews/Indie Book Awards.
  54. ↑ "Winners List, 2012". North American Travel Journalists Association.
  55. ↑ "Winners List, 2013". North American Travel Journalists Association.
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