M. J. Eberhart, aka the Nimblewill Nomad, was a 60-year-old retired doctor in January 1998 when he set off on a foot journey that carried him 4,400 miles (twice the length of the Appalachian Trail) from the Florida Keys to the far north of Quebec.
Written in a vivid journal style, the author unabashedly recounts the good (friendships with other hikers he met), the bad (sore legs, cutting winds and rain), and the godawful (those dispiriting doubts) aspects of his days of walking along what has since become known as the Eastern Continental Trail (ECT).
An amazing tale of self-discovery and insight into the magic that reverberates from intense physical exertion and a high goal, Eberhart’s is the only written account of a thru-hike along the ECT. Covering 16 states and 2 Canadian provinces, Ten Million Steps deftly mixes practical considerations of an almost unimaginable undertaking with the author’s trademark humor and philosophical musings.
In Where Less the Path is Worn, M. J. Eberhart — the Nimblewill Nomad — recounts an extraordinary 347-day, 5,000+ mile foot journey spanning the entire Appalachian Mountain Range, from Cap Gaspé in Quebec to Key West, and onward to Newfoundland’s remote Belle Isle.
Told through vivid, first-person journal entries, this is the first known trek to traverse the full spine of the Appalachians across North America. With grit, humor, and introspection, Eberhart captures the raw beauty, solitude, and spiritual depth of a path truly less traveled — inviting readers to walk beside him in a journey of endurance, wonder, and deep discovery.
Ditties is a heartfelt collection of 70 poems written by M. J. Eberhart — the Nimblewill Nomad — over years on and off the trail, originally published in 2001 and updated in 2005. Spanning themes of inspiration, time, inner fire, nature, and the hiking life, these verses offer a window into the soul of a wandering poet.
Dedicated to his late parents, this volume reflects the depth of a man who has walked far — not just across continents, but through life’s most profound questions. Purchase ‘Ditties’ on Amazon, or find them in the Poetry/Ditties section of Nimblewill’s site.
In this soulful account of his trek along the North Country Trail, M. J. Eberhart — the Nimblewill Nomad — invites readers into a journey that is far more than miles walked. It’s a spiritual exploration of self, shaped by solitude, connection, and reflection. With vivid memories and quiet wisdom, Nimblewill shares a path less followed — not merely from point A to B, but deep into the heart of what it means to truly live.
