A recently-retired Great Smoky Mountains National Park wildlife biologist and an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, both of whom turned author following their experiences in and around the national park, will sign copies of their books at national park visitor centers in the coming weeks.
For Kim DeLozier, truth is stranger than fiction, especially when his job brought him into contact with “an extraordinary bear, hormonally-crazed elk, homicidal wild boars, hopelessly timid wolves, and 9 million tourists, some of whom are clueless.”
DeLozier will sign copies of Bear in the Back Seat and Bear in the Back Seat II on Tuesday, June 17, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center, which is located closest to Gatlinburg, Tenn.
In DeLozier’s world when sedated wild black bears wake up unexpectedly in the back seat of a helicopter in mid-flight or in his car as he’s driving down the highway, or in his office while he’s talking on the phone, it’s just another day in the park.
AT thru-hiker Jeff Alt will sign his books from 10 a.m. until noon at Sugarlands Visitor Center and again from 1-3 p.m. Clingmans Dome Visitor Center Sunday, June 22. Alt penned “A Walk for Sunshine” following his 2,100+ walk from Georgia to Maine. His book and subsequent hilarious talks retell his inspiring adventure along the Appalachian Trail with bears, bugs, blisters, skunk bedmates and enormous food cravings; all for a noble cause. Alt’s Appalachian Trail journey was doubly inspired by a desire to raise awareness for a charitable organization and by a boyhood family adventure in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. When his family grew to include a wife and two children, Alt followed his original book with “Get Your Kids Hiking” to inspire hiking adventures for the whole family.
– Great Smoky Mountains Association
