[brother-seamus]

That was exactly my take as well. Absolutely loved On the road, found Dharma Bums to be too incoherent.

[mruts]

I think On the Road and Big Sur are his strongest works.

[jddj]

I agree 100%. Reading On The Road first is essential, but Big Sur for me was the best example of that sharp, cynical ennui which for whatever reason was exactly what I was looking for during that period of my life when I read as much Kerouac as I could find.

Great book.

[redwood]

I once tried to trek up Matterhorn Peak in the eastern sierra but it was a rainy day and we felt we had to give up the plan. As a result I permanently have an association of sort of a foggy confused state of affairs staring up at the mountain that I can't even see. Apt perhaps

[superhuzza]

Huh, I had no idea there was a 'Matterhorn peak' in California. I'd only heard of 'the Matterhorn' in the Alps.