Colin Fletcher

Colin Fletcher (1922-2007) was a well-known author, environmentalist, and backpacking enthusiast. Born in Cardiff, Wales, Fletcher went to school in Britain before joining the Royal Marines during World War II. After leaving the military, Fletcher traveled to Kenya, where he farmed for four years. In the 1950s, Fletcher relocated to Canada where he became a prospector and then moved to California in 1956.

Fletcher's career began with his first book, The Thousand Mile Summer, published in 1964 after Fletcher had walked the entire state of California. Fletcher's next two books, The Man Who Walked Through Time and The Complete Walker, both published in 1968, sealed Fletcher's destiny as a sort of spiritual godfather to hikers worldwide. The Complete Walker was revised several times, often with input from readers, and is often referred to as the "Hiker's Bible."

In 1963, Fletcher and a friend took a side trip to the Grand Canyon...