ATN_May-June_2005 - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Transcription

MAY–JUNE 2005
ATN
APPALACHIAN TRAILWAY NEWS
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MAY–JUNE 2005
MAY–JUNE 2005
ATN
ON THE COVER
A feral goat awaits hikers on the Trail north
of the old Sarver Cabin, in the Sinking Creek
Mountain area of central Virginia. Photo
by Alexandra C. Daley-Clark. Inside: A hiker
coasts through the summer fog on the A.T. in
Connecticut north of the Silver Hill campsite.
Photo by C.W. Banfield.
VIEWPOINTS
SHELTER REGISTER ♦ L ETTERS
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OVERLOOK ♦ B RIAN T. F ITZGERALD
AND D AVE S TARTZELL
5
REFLECTIONS
26
WHITE BLAZES
PAPER TRAIL ♦ N EWS
H ARPERS F ERRY
FROM
TREELINE ♦ N EWS FROM
THE A PPALACHIAN T RAIL
7
ALONG
10
SIDEHILL ♦ N EWS FROM C LUBS
AND G OV ERN MENT A GENCIES
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GREENWAY ♦ L AND - PROTECTION
AND F UND - RAISING NEWS
13
BLUE BLAZES
A DAY IN THE LIFE
OF A RIDGERUNNER
♦ H EIDI L. W ITMER
16
NEW 2,000-MILERS
19
NEW DOCUMENTARY MAKES
LASTING IMPRESSION
♦ B ECKY B RUN
25
T R E A D WAY
MEMORIAL GIFTS
14
PUBLIC NOTICES
30
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SHELTER REGISTER
Letters from our readers
Appalachian Trailway
News
VOLUME 66, NUMBER 3• MAY–JUNE 2005
Appalachian Trailway News is published by the Appalachian
Trail Conference, a nonprofit educational organization representing
the citizen interest in the Appalachian Trail and dedicated to the
preservation, maintenance, and enjoyment of the Appalachian trailway. Since 1925, the Appalachian Trail Conference and its member
clubs have conceived, built, and maintained the Appalachian Trail
in cooperation with federal and state agencies. The Conference also
publishes guidebooks and other educational literature about the
Trail, the trailway, and its facilities. Annual individual membership
in the Appalachian Trail Conference is $30; life membership, $600;
corporate membership, $500 minimum annual contribution.
Volunteer and freelance contributions are welcome.
Observations, conclusions, opinions, and product endorsements
expressed in Appalachian Trailway News are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect those of members of the board or staff
of the Appalachian Trail Conference.
BOARD OF MANAGERS
Chair
Brian T. Fitzgerald
Vice Chairs
Carl C. Demrow Thyra C. Sperry
Marianne J. Skeen
Treasurer
Kennard R. Honick
Secretary
Barbara L. Wiemann
Assistant Secretary
Arthur P. Foley
New England Region
Pamela Ahlen Bruce Grant
Kevin “Hawk” Metheny William G. O’Brien
Stephen J. Paradis Ann H. Sherwood
Mid-Atlantic Region
Jane Daniels Walter E. Daniels
Charles A. Graf Sandra L. Marra
Michael D. Patch William Steinmetz
Southern Region
Bob Almand Phyllis Henry
Robert P. Kyle
William S. Rogers McKinney V. Taylor
Steven A. Wilson
Members at Large
Goodloe E. Byron Richard Evans
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
David N. Startzell
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Martin A. Bartels
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Brian B. King
Web site: www.appalachiantrail.org
Appalachian Trailway News (ISSN 0003-6641) is published bimonthly for $15 a year by the Appalachian Trail
Conference, 799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, WV
25425, (304) 535-6331. Bulk-rate postage paid at Harpers
Ferry, WV, and other offices. Postmaster: Send change-ofaddress Form 3575 to Appalachian Trailway News, P.O.
Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425.
Copyright 2005 The Appalachian Trail Conference. All
rights reserved.
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‘Engaging Trail Towns’
s a section-hiker who enjoys Trail
towns the way children enjoy Christmas, I found the “Engaging Trail Towns”
editorial in the November/December
2004 issue to be of special interest. Every
community on or near the Trail that I
have visited as a hiker had a unique environment and was a joy to visit. While
all hikers who are walking the entire Trail
pass through those towns that are directly on the Trail, other communities
that are off the Trail by varying distances
are more difficult to reach for many.
I commend the ATC for directing attention to Trail towns. With such leadership, hopefully, Trail towns will continue
to be a beacon of light for hikers.
But, I found the division of towns into
“friendly” and “unaware” or “unfriendly”
an oversimplification. Perhaps another
classification should be “improving.”
In recent years, Erwin, Tennessee, has
developed into a better Trail town. While
Erwin doesn’t have an established Trail
festival, the community has become
“Trail friendly” and is aware of the benefits of being a few miles from the A.T.
Two hostels now provide hikers with
Trail-town opportunities.
If hiking supplies are needed, some
area retailers have provided free transportation to their stores. Various restaurants and motels cater to hikers throughout the year. Other individuals offer religious or medical support. Many citizens
often provide hikers with free rides into
town. Other folks offer more distant
rides to Trailheads at reasonable costs.
Last spring, a hiking conference (again
planned for 2005) at the Erwin Methodist Church attracted a large audience and
offered experienced speakers from a variety of fields.
The town of Erwin is in the middle of
a project to construct a linear park from
Erwin to the Chestoa bridge (the A.T. location). At this time, the trail extends about
three miles south of town and is only one
mile short of the A.T. Town officials hope
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that, among other goals, this will encourage hikers to visit our community.
Certainly, through the combined effort
of local citizens and the ATC, Erwin can
become even more hiker-friendly. I bet
that, when the ATC officially communicates with other Trail towns, it will find
that many of those communities already
are involved in numerous “hiker-friendly” activities.
Lou Thornberry
Erwin, Tennessee
Things we don’t enjoy
looking at
ere is an excerpt from a journal entry
I wrote on November 14, 2004, after
a short hike from New Jersey 94 in Vernon to Pinwheel’s Vista on the Trail, high
above the towns and fields.
“The descent was quick and easy.
While crossing the flat fields just before
arriving back at the Trailhead, I felt the
warm air once again. It made me feel
peaceful. As I looked out over the expanse
of tall grass scattered with small evergreens, I noticed a powerline running
across the field. My first thoughts were
of how the powerlines had ruined the
view. But, reconsidering, I thought of
where the electricity in those wires was
flowing.
“It was flowing to homes where people
were enjoying the warmth and comfort
the power provides for them. It was powering their lamps, computers, TVs, microwaves, and refrigerators, and it was
H
Letters
Appalachian Trailway News
welcomes your comments. Letters
may be edited for clarity and length.
Please send them to:
Letters to the Editor
P.O. Box 807
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0807
E-mail: <editor@appalachiantrail.org>
MAY–JUNE 2005
Overlook
flowing to the businesses and factories
where they work. I thought of a life without that electricity. It was not a pleasant
thought.
“I then took another look at the towers
and the wires and realized that they had
to fit into this landscape. While we would
like to enjoy our hikes without such
unsightly obstructions, they are necessary to support the way we have chosen
to live. It would be nice if the wires didn’t
have to run over or within sight of our
trails, but, unfortunately, these two paths
must cross from time to time. Electricity
must be delivered from the power stations to the cities and towns where the
power is needed.”
The next time you are hiking and come
across those monsters in the wilderness,
take a moment to reflect on how you live
and what you will be doing when you
complete your hike and return home.
Remember that you enjoy the comfort and
convenience electricity provides for you.
Some of the electricity in those very wires
may just be headed for your home.
Frank Wassner
Westwood, New Jersey
Praise for ‘Felix’
ometimes, I realize I’ve been lazy. Two
letters in the January/February Appalachian Trailway News jolted me from my
sloth. James Bullard and Shane Steinkamp
reminded me that, for some time, I haven’t
been reading the “Ministry of Funny
Walks” column in your publication.
I have been reading your publication
several years and often don’t read articles
in their entirety nor letters from fellow
readers when they regard such things as
someone considering changing an initial
or the term for which an initial abbreviates. I am no longer shocked that an organization has meetings or that things are
discussed at meetings that have been
discussed before and which I anticipate
will be discussed again. And again.
As a photograph is said to be worth
1,000 words, some concisely written
S
Brian T. Fitzgerald
and Dave Startzell
s the changes called for in our strategic plan have been put in place, we
have heard one concern expressed over and over again: Don’t diminish the
role of volunteers in management of the Appalachian Trail. We have
touched on this issue in previous columns, but it’s important enough to
expand on here.
The concept of volunteer management is embodied in our mission statement:
“The Appalachian Trail Conference is a volunteer-based organization dedicated
to the preservation and management of the natural, scenic, historic, and cultural
resources associated with the Appalachian Trail … .” That statement emphasizes
the two aspects of ATC—preserve the A.T., and do it with volunteers.
During the Strategic Planning Summit we held in 2003, which was attended
by more than 100 volunteers from A.T.-maintaining clubs and affiliated groups,
we were told that ATC should be an “enabler” of volunteers: Give them all they
need to do their chosen work. We took that
advice to heart and have been mindful of
preserving the central role of volunteers
throughout our planning process.
In fact, one of our goals is to strengthen
that role, rather than diminish it. We’re doing that in several different ways. The first
is to create a governance structure that includes four regional partnership committees
(with representatives from each Trail-maintaining club) and a Stewardship Council (which includes representatives from each
partnership committee) to address issues associated with protection and management of the Trail and the Trail experience. The partnership committees will work
closely with the regional office staffs to address protection and management issues
and develop regional priorities and budgets. Issues that have Trail-wide significance
will be elevated to the Stewardship Council. Its membership will include not only
Trail-club volunteers but new volunteers from outside our traditional circle, who
bring additional expertise that can help us address the challenges of modern A.T.
protection and conservation.
A second approach we are taking that will strengthen the volunteers’ role is
shifting decision-making authority and resources from headquarters to the regional offices, closer to the Trail and the clubs. The idea is that, by building capacity at the regional level, we will be able to better support the on-the-ground volunteer. Once we have built up our regional-office capacity, we should be able to
respond more quickly to volunteer inquiries and requests for technical and financial assistance.
As we add staff capacity, both in the regions and at headquarters, the idea is
that the staff will not supplant volunteer efforts but catalyze them. That underlying philosophy is demonstrated by the promotion of three experienced regional
representatives—Morgan Sommerville, Karen Lutz and J.T. Horn—to new positions as regional directors. As a group, they have decades of experience working
A
Three ways
to reinforce
volunteer core
continued on page 6
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Shelter Register
Three ways to reinforce volunteer core …
continued from page 5
side-by-side with volunteers and are committed to the staff/volunteer partnership that is one of our greatest strengths.
A third approach is to develop new ways to draw more volunteers to the Trail
project. In some cases, we also will be helping clubs build capacity through
enhanced recruitment and training. We also will be working to attract volunteers
to take on responsibilities in new aspects of such program areas as resource
management and environmental monitoring.
Again, key hallmarks of the strategic plan are creating more opportunities for
volunteers to care for their A.T. and attracting more of them.
While many things about ATC are changing, our commitment to the core
tradition of volunteer leadership and effort remains a constant.
Brian T. Fitzgerald is chair of ATC; Dave Startzell is executive director.
words are worth more than many others
combined. Some have been called poetry.
They need not rhyme to qualify. I always
read the “M of FW,” and it has prompted
the most introspection.
Let’s face it, kids walk, and adults
drive. We are a collection of people,
mainly adults, who still love to walk. We
haven’t gotten over it. We pretty much
walk north and south, up hills and down
hills: That is the perspective of nonhikers. Poets can explain our love.
Steve Adams
Rixeyville, Virginia
As in life, the features of magazines
change from time to time. As we bring
new ones into the magazine this year, we
hope will you will find them equally
intriguing and provocative and directly
reflective of your Trail experiences.
Vandals’ fate decries
common sense
read the “Treeline–News from along
the A.T.” (“Arrests made in Jefferson
Rock vandalism”) in the March/April
2005 issue with great dismay. I am very
sad to see that, as a society, we have lost
common sense and proper perspective.
Once upon a time, a future president
of our country visited what is now a
park. Then, a group of people named an
ordinary large shale rock after him and
raised its profile. We began to guard the
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rock as if it were worthy of our worship.
Then came along two young brothers
from West Virginia and painted that highprofile gray rock with some red paint for
some mischief during a holiday week.
The citizens were outraged. The enforcers were sent out; they arrested the perpetrators, pressed the charges, and prepared
a case against them. The young men now
face the prospect of spending five to fifteen
years of precious time in jail and the possibility of up to $500,000 in fines.
West Virginia has a reputation of being
a poor state. It lacks good economic opportunities for advancement. The average
worker earns about $10 to $15 per hour.
How do we expect those young men to
come up with $500,000?
The Hopkins brothers did not steal any
one’s property. They did not harm any one.
They did not kill any one. They painted
an ordinary, large, flat, gray rock red and
face the prospect of spending five to fifteen
years behind bars. This is nothing but
“cruel and unusual punishment.”
We, as the rock worshippers, will now
spend thousands of dollars to clean up the
paint and send those boys to jail at even
larger expense to the taxpayers. A better
way to deal with it would be to compel
them (a) to clean up the paint at their own
expense and (b) to serve as volunteers to
guard the park.
Twenty years ago, while I lived in New
York City, countless youngsters spraypainted subway trains inside and outside.
At that time, it was considered a rite of
passage.
Truly, I am saddened by the prospect
of two (or three) young men wasting their
precious youth in jail, in the name of
American justice, for painting a gray
rock red.
Nick Palky
Stoneham, Massachusetts
Beware Buck Mountain Road
have been hiking the Appalachian Trail
in sections for the past ten years, from
Massachusetts to North Carolina. I have
walked more than 1,000 miles and always
had positive experiences in the small
communities I have depended on for
hospitality. The Trail itself is a national
treasure, impeccably maintained by its
local clubs.
On a recent hike, two problems arose
that I thought the Appalachian Trailway
News should know about near the Walnut
Road area in eastern Tennessee.
This March 25–26, I was hiking with a
friend from Dennis Cove Road near Hampton to Bear Branch Road just east of the
town of Roan Mountain. The mountains
in this area are beautiful, with many
stands of old rhododendrons amid rushing
streams, and we gloried in the lovely
weather and the first signs of spring.
On March 26, we left one of our cars
at an A.T. access point on Buck Mountain Road to hike about three miles on
the Trail to where Bear Branch Road
meets U.S. 19E. We were in the woods
two hours at the most. When we drove
back to Buck Mountain Road to pick up
my friend’s car, we found that someone
had flattened all four tires, probably with
an ice pick. It was late afternoon, and
our cell phones didn’t work in that area,
but we managed to get a tow truck with
the help of the local gas station. The
tow-truck driver told us we were lucky
only the tires had been ruined: Out-ofstate cars parked along that road had
been broken into, the windshields
I
continued on page 15
MAY–JUNE 2005
PAPER TRAIL
News from Harpers Ferry
AOL CityGuide director named to communications post
artin A. Bartels of Leesburg, Virginia, is the Appalachian Trail Conference’s director of marketing
and communications, a new
position called for under the
organizational restructuring
plan adopted by the Board of
Managers in November 2003.
Bartels started work in early
April, following the Easter
weekend selection by Executive Director Dave Startzell.
Until January, he had been
editorial director of AOL CityGuide for America Online. He
and his staff of multiple editors and freelancers developed
entertainment and nightlife
content for up to 317 markets
across the country. Bartels
created the AOL CityGuide
hub in Chicago in 2000 and
was promoted to director in a
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year, moving to AOL’s Virginia headquarters.
Prior to that, Bartels
worked for fifteen years for
Pioneer Press Newspapers, a
chain of more than fifty weekly newspapers in the Chicago
suburbs, concluding with a
seven-year stint as entertainment editor. He is a published
songwriter, graduate of Chicago’s famed Second City
school for improvisational
acting, and author of Native’s
Guide to Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs.
He will manage the activities formerly known as “public affairs” at ATC: the forsale-publications program;
other print and electronic
publications, including the
Appalachian Trailway News
and the Web sites; public-in-
formation services; and the
archives.
He also will implement a
vigorous marketing plan, developed by the staff and an
outside firm over the late fall
and winter, to support all activities of the Conference,
especially as it changes its
ATC director honored by hiking society
he American Hiking Society (AHS) this year presented David N. Startzell,
executive director of the Appalachian Trail Conference
since November 1986, with its
Butch Henley Award, “recognizing an outstanding career
of a trail professional.”
The Maryland-based organization said Startzell’s “work
embodies not only a lifelong
commitment to completing
and protecting the 2,175-mile
Appalachian Trail but to all
national hiking trails.” He
also is a member of the AHS
board of directors and chairs
its conservation committee.
T
The award is named for
Susan “Butch” Henley of Haymarket, Virginia, one of about
sixty 1978 A.T. thru-hikers.
She was a longtime staff member at ahs and now is acting
executive director of the
American Discovery Trail.
Among others with A.T.
connections recognized in the
annual awards program were
Sgt. Tammy McCorkle, ranger
supervisor for Greenbrier
State Park in Maryland, “for
her work over the past three
years to improve environmental problems at Annapolis
Rock” [see November/December 2004 ATN).
identity in July to the A.T.
Conservancy.
“It is truly an exciting time
to become part of the ATC
team,” Bartels said. “I look
forward to working with the
many people who have made
the Trail such an incredible
national resource.”
Substitution for Board of Directors slate
ames E. Ditzel of Brunswick,
Maine, vice president for sourcing
at L.L.Bean, Inc., has been substituted on the slate of nominees for the
Appalachian Trail Conservancy Board
of Directors for Rol Fessenden, who
withdrew in March because of newly
arisen family commitments.
Although this would be his first
experience serving on a nonprofit
board, Ditzel said he has a lifelong
passion for the outdoors—exemplified by a 1994 voyage to
Antarctica and hiking all but three of New England’s 4,000footers—and would bring to ATC his extensive business
experience. He currently manages 130 people in seven countries who secure inventory for the retail outfitter.
Ditzel is a graduate of St. John’s University.
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Paper Trail
In Memoriam
Raymond F. Hunt, 1923 – 2005
A symphony of service
By Judy Jenner
he late Raymond F. Hunt undoubtedly is joking about
being “the late Raymond F. Hunt.” That was his
way—to blend truth and humor succinctly, humbly,
and often a bit mischievously.
The former Appalachian Trail Conference chair from
Kingsport, Tennessee, died March 8 after a twenty-year
struggle with cancer. Martha, his wife of fifty-eight years,
died less than two months earlier, also from cancer.
Mr. Hunt was active in Trail and Conference affairs right
up until his final illness, serving as a chair emeritus on the
Board of Managers. He was just as proud to be an 81-year-old
maintainer with the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club (TEHC)
as he was when, at a much younger age, he led the club’s
relocation efforts of the Trail on and near the Roan Highlands. That turned out to be a three-year, sixty-five mile
effort that Mr. Hunt once feared “would be the ruination of
the club.”
It wasn’t, and Mr. Hunt continued to serve TEHC in a
number of positions and, by the mid-1970s, was volunteering for ATC Board assignments. He was a strong advocate of
ATC’s publications program and edited two editions of the
Tennessee–North Carolina guide. In 1977, he created the
first Data Book. He was elected to the Board in 1979 and
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immediately started working on a publications manual. As head
of the Board’s publications committee, he continued revamping
and perfecting the annual Data Book until 1983, when he was
elected to the first of three terms as Conference chair.
A year later, in 1984, Mr. Hunt signed the historic document
that officially delegated management responsibility for A.T.
lands owned by the National Park Service to ATC. He called
the agreement “the most important document that I ever hope
to sign.” Years later, when reminded of the quote, he quipped,
“I had overlooked my marriage license.”
Throughout much of his tenure as chair, Mr. Hunt joined
other volunteers and staff members in urging Congress to
maintain Park Service and Forest Service appropriations each
year to purchase the remaining tracts of private lands along the
A.T. After his first such experience, he said, “We appeared as
volunteers and amateurs, rather than skilled professionals, and
that was probably helpful.”
Mr. Hunt extensively reorganized Board committees and
championed the organization’s first steps toward a more comprehensive fund-raising program, including corporate memberships. Late in his administration, he addressed the need for a
resource-management policy to protect natural features along
the Trail. ATC needed to add a land ethic “that goes beyond
what is required by laws and regulations but is a direct descendant of the values that inspired the Trail project in the first
place,” he said.
Of his many accomplishments as chair, he cradled each, as
Left: Hunt had no takers for the first meeting of his Society of
Those Whose Favorite Boots Wore Out. Below: Hunt prepares
to sign in January 1984 the first agreement delegating A.T.
management responsibility to ATC, with Interior
Secretary William Clark (behind his right shoulder)
and ATC and Park Service officials looking on.
(ATC photos)
MAY–JUNE 2005
if its success were yet to be determined. He worried out loud to hike the entire Trail since it initially was completed in
that managing A.T. lands for the Park Service could get bogged 1937. Mr. Hunt recalled last year that what made the event
down by “the complications of bureaucracy.” In 1989, as he “truly historic” was that he was joined by Brian King, ATC
completed his third and final term, Mr. Hunt wrote, “We are director of public affairs, for the last leg of the trip. (King is
not agents of government organizations but partners…. Gener- not noted for hiking.)
ally, we have achieved our desired results by being nonadverMr. Hunt said he never got used to hiking the Trail and
sarial and cooperative…[but] agreement should not be the objec- called it hard work: “When you’re hiking by yourself, it’s
tive in itself.”
easy to give up. When you’re with a group, and the car is
“Greater Trail-management responsibilities have resulted in waiting 80 miles away, it’s a disgrace not to get there.”
more bureaucratic rules, regulations, and paperwork, mostly
His frequent hiking companion was V. Collins Chew, a
originated outside our organization,” he wrote. “This trend close friend, member of TEHC, and former ATC board memshould be resisted, so that they…do not interfere with our do- ber, who Mr. Hunt often ribbed for his discourses on Trail
ing what is good for the A.T.”
geology.
He implored ATC members to keep focused on the target,
“Whenever we were going uphill, Collins would do all
which he identified as “the welfare of the Trail” and “avoid the talking; I’d save my breath and answer his questions
being diverted by alternative objecwhen we started coming down a
tives,” such as putting ATC, other
hill,” Mr. Hunt recalled.
causes, or relationships with other
After serving him for a thousand
organizations ahead of the Trail. This
miles, Mr. Hunt was forced to re“mantra” became the “Ray Hunt
tire his worn-out hiking boots, but
Rule”—“The business of the Appalanot without a fitting eulogy. “I felt
chian Trail Conference is the Appalalike an old man who had lost his
chian Trail.” That business must inpet dog. I knew I could get new
clude protecting the volunteer role in
boots, but it would never be the
the project, he often would add.
same,” he said. He launched the
Mr. Hunt quipped that his parting
“Society of Those Whose Favorite
comments as chair sounded “as if I
Boots Wore Out,” a short-lived,
were expecting to go to another world
tongue-in-cheek organization of
and never be heard from again. I hope
one.
this is not true, because I have other
Mr. Hunt’s love of the outdoors
plans.”
was honed as a child. Although
Earlier in that same decade, Mr.
raised in Pittsburgh, he once said
Ray Hunt finishes his hike of the A.T. in April
Hunt had survived two life-threatenhe always felt at home in the
1988 near Thornton Gap in Shenandoah National
ing illnesses, one almost on top of the
woods. He was a boy when he met
Park. (ATC photo)
other.
architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who
“Either illness could have taken me away in a flash…and designed the Fallingwater masterpiece southeast of Pittsthat would have disappointed me, not being able to finish [hik- burgh for Edgar J. Kaufmann, Ray’s uncle. Many of his childing] the Trail,” he said in 1988.
hood memories were of staying at the house (now operated
Over the years of his involvement with the Trail, Mr. Hunt as a museum) and playing with his brothers and cousins in
began keeping a log of his section hikes. As they strayed farther the woods amid the river and falls, all of which are intefrom the southern region, he believed that, if he persisted, he grated parts of the house. There were also family ties and
might well hike all of the A.T. The fact that it took him thirty- visits to remote areas of Georgian Bay, north of Toronto, that
eight years to become a 2,000-miler made the experience even remained throughout his life.
more bittersweet as he covered the final miles in Shenandoah
Soon after graduating with a degree in chemical engineerNational Park on April 3, 1988.
ing from Yale University in 1944, Ray Hunt began a 40-year
“I was never obsessed with it at all, although I was pretty career with Eastman companies, first in Oak Ridge, Tennesdetermined to finish,” he reflected on the experience, adding, see, moving later to what is now Eastman Chemical Com“I think that doing [the Trail] in pieces provides time to reflect pany in Kingsport. He joined the hiking club in the 1950s.
on the memories of each particular trip.”
It was at Eastman he met Martha Helen Morrow, a naThe section hikes, accomplished mostly in the company of
continued on page 15
friends, brought him recognition as the first Conference chair
9
TREELINE
News from along the Appalachian Trail
Smokies rescue prompts preparation messages
spring-break hike for four
nineteen-year-old college
students started at the
Fontana Dam, North Carolina,
entrance to Great Smoky
Mountains National Park
under warm, sunny Sundaymorning skies but ended that
Wednesday afternoon with a
helicopter medical airlift and
their names in newspapers
across the nation.
A better-prepared group of
four juniors and seniors from
Messiah College in Grantham,
Pennsylvania, accompanied by
two resident directors, walked
in on them at Derrick Knob
Shelter at midday Tuesday,
A
March 8, realized one needed
serious medical help (he was
convulsing and vomiting), and
arranged for a rescue by park
personnel and the Georgia
Army Air National Guard.
Sunny Sunday had turned
into rain and cold through
Monday and then eight inches
of snow on the Trail by Tuesday morning. The group did
not have foul-weather gear and
was soaked. Their cotton
clothing froze overnight Monday. “Basically, we weren’t
prepared enough. We didn’t do
our homework,” said Ryne
McCall of Asheville, North
Carolina.
“Red-handed” Jefferson Rock
defendants plead guilty
entencing is expected in late spring for three Jefferson
County, West Virginia, men who pleaded guilty in March
in U.S. District Court to involvement in a Christmas
Week spray-painting of Jefferson Rock—a landmark on the
Appalachian Trail inside Harpers Ferry National Historical
Park, overlooking the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers. (See
March/April ATN.)
Local police said that Robert O. Hopkins, 20, his brother,
Steven, 18, and a juvenile had been detained initially for
apparent speeding in Harpers Ferry between the rock and
ATC headquarters, after midnight December 22. All three
gave different reasons for having red paint on their hands
and clothes, the Martinsburg Journal reported.
The brothers could be sentenced in June to up to 10 years
in prison with $250,000 fines. Nicholas B. Vlachos, 22,
faces up to five years and $125,000 in fines after pleading
guilty to helping the three others hinder the federal investigation. National Park Service curators had been stymied
by uncooperative winter weather in trying to remove the
last remnants of the paint from the rock’s many pores and
crevices.
S
10
The rescue story prompted
area outfitters and some trails
groups to raise the attention
they had been giving to hypothermia as a highly possible
outcome of spring hikes in the
southern Appalachians, always subject in the season to
ice storms, snow, and low
temperatures.
McCall, Ivan Saldarriaga of
Graham, Virginia, and Bryan
Hendricks of Palmyra, Virginia,
hiked out of the park with
rangers. Matthew Schultz of
Raleigh, North Carolina, was
taken by military helicopter to
the University of Tennessee
Medical Center in Knoxville
because he showed signs of
hypothermia. He was soon
listed in stable condition.
The Pennsylvania students
had wrapped Schultz in a plastic sheet and fed him hot liquids while the resident directors walked out to find help
twelve miles away at a ranger
station. “Everyone cooperating the way they did saved
the Schultz boy,” said ranger
Chuck Hester.
The yong man’s mother
said, “You’re 19. You figure you
are invincible, right? I think
they realize now just how close
to the edge they came,” The
Associated Press reported.
ATC drops Alpine Rose appeal
he Appalachian Trail
Conference will not seek
to overturn an intermediate Pennsylvania appellate
court’s decision upholding
preliminary plans for a $25million drivers’ club and road
course adjacent to the Trail in
rural Eldred Township, near
Smith Gap. That ends a threeyear, $136,000 battle (see
March/April ATN).
Contrary to an opinion filed
by the state earlier in the case,
the three-judge panel of the
Commonwealth Court ruled
that the act and state constitution do not impose on the
township “an affirmative
duty…to enact legislation
providing for noise regulation
in or near the trail.”
The developer’s faulty esti-
T
mates of sound impacts from
the high-performance-car resort were at the heart of the
ATC case, but the appellate
court upheld the common
pleas court in saying that, if
the Alpine Rose operations
actually violate noise limits,
the township can enforce
them.
The Trail winds above the
planned resort property, slightly below the ridgeline and out
of sight of it.
ATC and the Blue Mountain Preservation Association
had argued that approval of the
development plan, even with
conditions, was contrary to a
township’s affirmative duty to
protect the Appalachian Trail’s
“natural, scenic, historic, and
esthetic values.”
MAY–JUNE 2005
SIDEHILL
News of clubs and government agencies
Three New England clubs receive Waterman grants
hree Appalachian Trailmaintaining clubs received $8,400 in 2005
grants from the Guy Waterman Alpine Stewardship Fund
for programs designed, one
way or another, to educate
hikers about their impacts on
fragile environments.
The Maine A.T. Club will
use its funds to educate staff
and volunteers through alpine
workshops in the fi eld and
produce support materials.
Many of the alpine parts of
the A.T. in Maine are visited
by more than 100,000 hikers
a year.
The Dartmouth Outing
Club’s alpine-steward program
on Mt. Moosilauke is another
beneficiary. A steward works
at the summit during the peak
summer months to mitigate
hiker impact through both
conversations with passersby
and light trail work. This year,
the steward will begin photo-
T
Trail erosion near the summit of Saddleback Mountain on the Appalachian Trail in Maine. A grant
will assist the Maine Appalachian Trail Club in educating hikers about the importance of staying on
the Trail to protect easily damaged alpine vegetation. (Photo by Sarah Herdan)
monitoring of the vegetation
and briefing camp and school
groups before the season
opens.
The Green Mountain Club
will be using its grant for a bilingual interpretive display for
French- and English-speaking
A.T. Museum charter
memberships available
he Appalachian Trail Museum is offering charter
memberships through December 31, 2005. The charter
memberships are intended to help raise the initial
funding to plan and launch the museum. Charter members
will be listed on a plaque as founders of the museum once
it opens. More information is available at the museum’s
Web site, <www.atmuseum.org>. Charter memberships,
for individuals or couples, can be obtained by sending a
check for $100 payable to “Appalachian Trail Museum
Society,” c/o Wayne Greenlaw, Treasurer, 8902 Tailcoat
Court, Springfield, VA 22153-1240. The museum is a Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
T
hikers in the busy Smuggler’s
Notch area at the base of Mt.
Mansfield (not on the A.T.).
The fund is named in memory of Guy Waterman of East
Corinth, Vermont, a long-time
author with his wife, Laura, of
trail-related books and articles
and maintainer of the A.T. on
Franconia Ridge. Mrs. Waterman’s memoir of their marriage, Losing the Garden, was
published earlier this year by
Shoemaker & Hoard, a division of Avalon Publishing
Group.
Legislature commends Georgia club
oth houses of the Georgia
legislature adopted resolutions in late March
praising the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC), as it
celebrates its 75th anniversary
this year, for its “commitment
and volunteer service to the
Appalachian Trail; for its contribution to recreational opportunities for Georgia residents and the many visitors
who are attracted to our state
to enjoy these opportunities,
[and] for its efforts to encour-
B
age an awareness of the value
of our natural resources and to
the need to protect and preserve them for future generations to enjoy.”
GATC volunteers maintain
75.6 miles of the A.T., 25
miles of side trails, and 22
shelters and related structures,
booking an average of 10,000
hours a year on Trail work.
President Herb Daniel and
three other club members
were on hand for the March 17
passage of the resolutions.
11
Sidehill
Park Service director joining Southern Highlands 2005 celebration
ran P. Mainella, director
of the National Park Service since 2001, is scheduled to join Appalachian Trail
Conference leaders and officials of the U.S. Forest Service
on stage for the July 2 opening
session of Southern Highlands
2005, the thirty-fifth meeting
of the Conference.
That evening meeting at
East Tennessee State University in Johnson City is being
designed not for speeches but
for a celebration—through
storytelling and mixed-media
p r e s e n t a t i o n s — o f AT C ’s
eighty years as an organization, in preparation for launching its new identity as the
Appalachian Trail Conservancy two days later.
The Forest Service is celebrating its centennial year that
weekend. The heads of both
agencies were “present at the
creation” of ATC in the Hotel
Raleigh in Washington, D.C.,
on March 3, 1925, and served
on its Board of Managers until
1941. The NPS and USFS
partnerships with ATC have
been essential to the success
of the A.T. project throughout
its life, as a private-citizen
movement and then as part
F
of the national park system.
The early-registration deadline for the week-long gathering is June 1.
In other developments since
the core registration packet
was published in the March/
April Appalachian Trailway
News and on the ATC Web
site (www.appalachiantrail.
org) and the site of the local
steering committee (www.
southernhighlands2005.org).
• ATC staff members are organizing a communityservice work project at a
local park on Tuesday, after
all the “business” is over
and before many participants head home. A sign-up
sheet with further details
will be available in the registration area at the conference.
• Professionally guided, evening storytelling sessions
are being added to the
schedule through Tuesday.
This is a way everyone participating can share their
“remembering our past”
theme with stories that
ATC hopes to collect and
share in both this magazine
and on the Web site.
S C H E D U L E AT A G L A N C E
Friday, July 1
Registration from 2 pm.
Low-key entertainment in evening
Saturday, July 2
Registration all day; workshops,
hikes, excursions
Evening: General meeting—
story-telling and celebration
of ATC history and future plans
Sunday, July 3
Registration all day; hikes,
workshops, excursions
Evening: Folksinger John McCutcheon (tickets required)
Monday, July 4
Morning: Appalachian Trail Conservancy
membership meeting
Afternoon: short hikes, workshops, excursions
Evening: barbeque and bluegrass
(Directions to various fireworks displays)
Tuesday, July 5
Daytime: Hikes and excursions
Evenings: entertainments, slide shows, etc.
Wednesday, July 6
Daytime: Hikes
Evenings: entertainments, slide shows, etc.
Thursday, July 7, and Friday, July 8
Hikes
For updates on conference events, please visit
<www.southernhighlands2005.org> or
<www.appalachiantrail.org> on the Internet.
Max Patch (Photo by Michael Warren)
GREENWAY
Land-protection and fund-raising news
n every edition of Appalachian Trailway News, we list
notable gifts. Some of the most poignant are those given
in memory of a loved one. We have been uplifted hearing
the stories of your loved one’s connection to the Trail. We
are truly grateful for your kindness in celebrating their life
and their Trail experience with gifts to the Appalachian Trail
Conference.
Your generosity serves to further our collective mission
to preserve and protect the Appalachian Trail, ensuring that
the Trail will continue to offer—to
this and future genBy Karen R. Kinney
erations—the kinds
of experiences that
made an impression on your loved one. Gifts have been made
to aid hikers through maintaining the footpath, building and
repairing bridges, and assisting with constructing or improving shelters.
Other gifts have helped our land-acquisition and protection efforts, ensuring that the Trail endures through time
and that the primitive experience many value, and that
Benton MacKaye envisioned, remains intact.
Still other gifts have supported ATC in our collective
efforts to address how we best ensure that the natural, cultural, and historical resources you encounter on the Trail
I
TRAIL GIVING
are cared for. The Trail has the most diverse ecosystem and
array of rare, threatened, and endangered plant and animal
species of any national-park unit in the United States. It is
a national treasure that deserves its icon status.
Each memorial gift-giver receives a letter with the following words, attributed in different places in our archives
to Myron Avery and later (by Avery) to his Potomac A.T.
Club colleague, Harold Allen. They were turned into poetry
form in the 1970s by Elizabeth Pritchard, wife of the thenexecutive director, Paul Pritchard:
Remote for detachment
narrow for chosen company,
winding for leisure,
lonely for contemplation,
the Trail
leads not merely north
and south,
but upward to the body,
mind and soul
of man
We remain ever grateful for all of the gifts to ATC.
Karen Kinney can be reached at <kkinney@appalachian
trail.org> or (304) 535-6331.
A story behind a name in a list
From time to time, the Appalachian Trailway News publishes
obituaries of better-known A.T. project figures, from elected
leaders to long-time maintainers to agency heads. Once in a
while, memorial gifts arrive from a great number of people,
but we have no information about the person’s connection to
the Trail. Since Christmas, more than $3,000 in contributions
have been made in memory of Shin Aizeki, some of them shown
on page 14. Development assistant Sarah Cargill went in search
of the connection and received this explanation, a story of the
A.T. community, from his children:
lthough born and raised in
the bustling metropolis of
Tokyo, our father, Shin
Aizeki, was the quintessential
mountain man. He had a long
goatee and a crazy mop of gray
hair that he secured with an
A
Appalachian Trail Conference
bandanna. He has always said
that nothing tasted as good as
fresh air in the mountains.
He took up hiking as a
hobby as a high school student—commuting to the
mountains via train
from Tokyo. A few
years later, when he
moved to the suburban community of
Ashigara to work
for Fuji Photo Film,
he began hiking in
earnest, frequenting
challenging slopes
such as those in the
Minami (Southern) Alps, not
accessible at that time by motor vehicles.
Our dad introduced us to
the many joys of spending a
day with nature by leading
weekend trips into the moun-
tains with his family, friends,
and colleagues. He met our
mom, Hiroko, through a corporate hiking club. (An avid
hiker herself, Hiroko had
scaled Mt. Fuji seven times.)
Dad always said he married
13
Greenway
Mom in part because of their
common love for hiking.
Before coming to the United States, our dad had read a
great deal about the Appalachian Trail. So, when work
brought him to the New York
metropolitan area in 1969, he
was delighted to find that he
had ample access to the beautiful trails in New York. He
worked superhuman hours
during the week, but his weekends were devoted to spending
time with his family, preferably in the mountains.
Shin instilled his love of
nature in his four kids early
on. Having children didn’t
stop him from taking on challenging trails. The eldest
among us remembers shivering above the tree lines in the
Yatsugatake Mountains as a
five-year-old with our brother,
then two years old, strapped
to Dad’s back. After moving to
New York, we frequented the
Catskills and Harriman State
Park. When we were all old
enough to take on some longer
trails, an annual pilgrimage to
the White Mountains in New
Hampshire became our tradition.
Shin was an accomplished
cook, and his culinary skills
extended to creating delicious
meals over the campfire. When
his job took him to South
Carolina in the late 1980s,
Shin’s weekend destination
became the trails in the Blue
Ridge Mountains and Pisgah
National Forest in nearby
North Carolina. Our mom
told us of a memorable overnight hike in the Pisgah, where
she woke up to the smell of
blueberry pancakes cooking
on the camp stove—made
from the wild berries that
Memorial gifts
January–February 2005
Shin Aizeki—by Florence P. Baskas, Leda Blumberg, Carol
Booth, Martin Chorich, Nancy E. Cowen, Erica Drake,
Suzanne Evanoff, E.J. and Barbara Fish, Lisa P. Fishler, Harry
M. Fleisch, Edward and Christine Fleischli, Fuji Photo Film,
Inc., G. Grande Construction Group, Inc., Stephen and
Patricia Galante, Michel and Elizabeth Gemme, Robert and
Cassandra Greene, Thomas and Diane Haley, Andrea Herron,
Koji and Tsuru Hiroshima, Lynne R. Hordern, John C. Howard,
Atsue Ishiguro, Jeanne L. Kostich, Kirstin Kraig, Tara
Magner, John and Leslie Manes, Ann Mollica, Beverley H.
Nalven, Carol A. Nevins, Lynn Nevins, Babette L. Newman,
Ann O’Leary, Douglas C. Orbison, Jr., Michael Oris, Edith
Perman-Allen, Kirk Richardson, Jonathan F. Rose, Eduardo
and Antonella Salvati Ttee, Shinano Kenshi Corporation,
Carol A. Stefanelli, Futoshi and Yumiko Sue, Vassar College,
Peter and Martha Welch, Bill and Paula West, Ayako Yoshida
Douglas Clark—by F. Michler Bishop
Herbert R. Coleman, Jr.—by Ned Kuhns, Lynnda A. Rapp,
Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club
Harold Crate—by Ned Kuhns, Lynnda A. Rapp
Louise Deal—by Jerome and Ann Redus
Chris Deffler—by Mrs. Margaret Deffler
14
Dad had picked that morning.
Although our father had
hiked many trails throughout
the world, the trail in the Appalachian Mountains always
had a special place in his heart.
His plan after retirement was
simple: He wanted to hike the
entire length of the Appalachian Trail—from Georgia to
Maine.
“We’ll stop at nearby towns
for supplies,” he told our
mom. “We’ll be old retired
folks—we’ll have plenty of
time to explore the entire
length of that country by
foot.” He dreamed of maintaining the Trail as a volunteer, “so that it can be enjoyed
by future generations.”
Unfortunately, Shin was
diagnosed with colon cancer
soon after his retirement. He
fought hard against the disease. As he battled the cancer,
he found solace by taking
short hikes on the A.T.
Dad went on his last hike
on August 22, 2004, on the
Silver Mine Trail in New
York. On the way home, he
pointed out an entryway to his
beloved Appalachian Trail to
our mom from the car.
Shin passed away peacefully at home on December 2,
2004. His wish to his family
was that, in lieu of a service or
flowers, people make a donation to the Appalachian Trail
Conference in his memory.
Although our dad was not able
to fulfill his dream of walking
the length of the Trail, through
generous gifts from our friends
and family, his dream to help
maintain the Trail for future
generations has—in part—
come true.
For this, we are most grateful.
Carolyn Hetrick—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Martha Hunt—by Margaret C. Drummond
Ralph Kinter—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Bill Leonard—by John and Anne Stokes
Rita Lewin—by Nancy Nardella
Ed Mentzer—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Dorothy Stanley Moore—by Kansas City Outdoor Club
Olga Murdock—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Walter Natishyn—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Syd Nisbet—by Chuck Hearon
Daniel Peffley—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Earl V. Shaffer—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Keith Shaw—by Ronald and Janice Adams, Macon A. Rathburn
Wallace E. Shissler—by Howard and Louise Baker, Mast
General Store
Gordon E. Sinclair III—by Candace M. Sinclair
Tom Spivey—by Eric and Christine Neff
Joan Stoner—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Gunther VanElden—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Gregory S. Walthall—by John H. Wilson
Mary Wheeler—by Rosalind M. Van Landingham
David E. Whitmoyer—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
John F. Wozniak—by Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
MAY–JUNE 2005
Letters . . .
smashed, the engines removed, and the rest set on fire.
When we returned after Easter Sunday to the local tire shop
in Roan Mountain to have four new tires put on the car, we
heard more stories from the men in the shop about other acts
of vandalism along Buck Mountain Road.
To avoid what happened to us, I suggest that hikers park
their cars at Bitter End (Howard Road) or on Walnut Road, both
of which go into the forest where vehicles will not be visible
from Buck Mountain Road.
We did meet many friendly and helpful people in Hampton
and Roan Mountain and as we drove up around Bear Branch
Road looking for access to the Trail. The mountains around
Moreland Gap, Walnut Road, and Black Mountain Road are
among the most beautiful I have ever seen, but our memory of
them will forever be stained by our experience in that community.
Helen Vo-Dinh
Burkittsville, Maryland
Ray Hunt . . .
tive of Ware Shoals, South Carolina. The couple married in
1946 and had two children: a son, Thomas Edward Hunt,
who died at age 16 from cancer, and a daughter, Judy Ann,
Notable gifts
January–February 2005
More than $25,000
Weyerhaeuser Foundation, Inc.—Osborne-tract acquisition
(Tennessee)
$10,000–$24,999
L.L.Bean, Inc.—Grants to A.T. Clubs
$2,500–$4,999
Virginia Power Company—general support
Garden Homes Management Corporation—general support
Upper Valley Community Foundation—environmental
monitoring initiative
XL Environmental—mid-Atlantic projects
$1,000–$2,499
Greater Piscataqua Community Foundation—general
support
Smoky Mountains Hiking Club—general support
$500–$999
The Okun Family Foundation—general support
who has two children, Mary Beth Morris and Ben Hunt.
Both Ray and Martha Hunt served their community and their
church in many ways. Both were volunteers for the Exchange
Place, a living-history farm in Kingsport. Mr. Hunt was also
active in Boy Scouts, the Bays Mountain Park Association, and
the local Civitan Club.
Judy Ann Hunt credited her father for instilling in her “his
love of the outdoors and for family. Both were very important
to him. He was very honest and loyal with his family and with
the causes he thought were important. He always tried to secure
more land to protect areas” for public use, whether they be
along the A.T. or adjacent to a Tennessee park, she added.
Her father told her often that “he had no regrets, that he
never looked to yesterday, but instead to what could happen in
the future.” She compared this philosophy to that which he
used to hike the A.T.: “Just keep putting one step in front of
the other.”
Ms. Hunt, who lives in a log cabin on a 50-acre tract of land
near Kingsport, recalled hiking and backpacking trips with her
father and hasn’t forgotten his insistence that she wear hiking
boots “at a time when no young person wanted to be seen in
hiking boots!”
Of course, she learned to respect his wisdom on the matter,
and, because of his own affection for his favorite footwear, she
made sure her father was buried with his hiking boots on.
Ray Hunt was known for being meticulous in his recordkeeping, and his daughter said she recently enjoyed discovering,
among his personal possessions, a journal in which he listed
every book he had read since sometime in the mid-1950s. “It
was sort of hidden away, as if he didn’t want anyone to find it
and think that he was obsessed,” she laughed.
Mr. Hunt’s penchant for making “to-do” lists carried over
from his involvement as a club maintainer to Board member
and chair to his duties as a father.
“He always showed up with a list of projects and jars of
nails,” his daughter recalled.
ATC Executive Director Dave Startzell also recalled Ray’s
penchant for lists. “When he served as chair, it was our routine
to have a telephone meeting once a week. And, each time we
did, Ray would have his list—usually with 15 or 20 items on
it. He would methodically cross through each action or issue
that had been addressed, but he also would add new items each
time,” he said, citing the “never-ending list.”
On his eightieth birthday, Mr. Hunt helped to patch some
holes in the loft of the Roan High Knob Shelter. He told his
club colleagues, eager to celebrate his birthday, they could hold
off until the renovation list was completed.
In 1979, Startzell, then director of education for ATC, wrote
about Mr. Hunt for the Trailway News. He touched on Mr.
Hunt’s unique giggle—“a flute-like laugh”—that could lighten
the heaviest of occasions or debates.
In retrospect, maybe it really was a flute—befitting the symphony of a life of service, lived by one remarkable man.
Judy Jenner was editor of the Appalachian Trailway News from May
1979 through 1999.
15
A Day in the Life
By Heidi L. Witmer
It’s that dusky time of day on
the Appalachian Trail when the light is soft and yellow, and I
know I’m about to stop walking. Then, I spot Steve’s tent—
which is pitched just about on the Trail. I had noticed a little
farther back a food bag dangling inches off the ground, looped
around a pitiful little sapling. To the right, I see evidence of a
failed attempt to build a campfire, despite a mountainous heap
of wood gathered.
My repetitive “Hello? Hello?” stirs some slow movement in
the tent at first and then some sort of mad scramble. A second
later, a smiling face pops out, followed by a tumble of words as
Steve stammers about how he is soooo glad to see someone,
Author Heidi Witmer on the Trail
16
and how he was starting to believe he was the only human being in these woods, and how it had been such a hard day, and
would I mind if he took my picture?
After a little more fumbling in the tent, a camera emerges from
behind the flap, in front of Steve’s head. I barely have a chance to
introduce myself before Steve’s story comes pouring out.
Apparently, the day before, he suddenly got fed up with his
stressful New York City life, took a trip to a downtown outfitter with just a plastic bag of clothes in hand, caught a night
bus out of the city, and found an early-morning shuttle to the
Trail. A few hours and a few wrong turns later, he was so worn
out he decided to take a nap by the side of the Trail. As I explain that I’m the ridgerunner for this central Pennsylvania
section, and that it’s my job to help hikers, Steve is about to
jump out of his tent to hug me but settles for an enthusiastic
handshake.
As a ridgerunner last summer, I realized that most people
who spend four months on the Appalachian Trail probably have
at least a few things in common—like an insatiable appetite,
“permafunk” clothing (retains hiker smell no matter how many
times you wash it), and an appreciation for the finer things in
life, such as water and flatness. And, they have probably walked
a few states’ worth of miles.
While I routinely eat two dinners and have cultivated a potent
odor in my own clothes, I have only seen sixty-five miles of the
Trail in the last four months, but I’ve hiked them all at least
ten times.
Before my season got underway, I was worried that I would
start to feel like Bill Murray in the movie “Groundhog Day,”
in which he keeps repeating the same day over and over and
over. Thankfully, things do change. New people come in and
out of my section every day, and I get the chance to watch the
Trail move through the seasons and cycles. I meet new hikers,
like Steve, who see the Trail as a new adventure but lack the
basic outdoor-living skills, long-distance hikers who have
already walked about half the Trail, and local day-hikers who
enjoy the Trail as part of their backyards.
MAY–JUNE 2005
of a Ridgerunner
As part of a strategic-planning
evaluation of its seasonal programs, ATC over the winter
asked hikers visiting its Web
site what they thought about
ridgerunners and crews. The
response was the highest of any
on-line survey there (more than
500 answered).
Answering hikers’ questions, here in Michaux
State Forest in Pennsylvania, is the major—
and most appreciated—part of the ridgerunner’s job. Picking foil out of old fires, left, is
an all-too-frequent chore. (ATC photos)
■
■
■
The day I met Steve, I woke up
at the Tagg Run Shelter with an eclectic mix of thru-hikers. As
I groggily crawled out of my tent and retrieved my bear bag, I
noticed a heap of aluminum foil in the fire pit along with
someone’s large cotton T-shirt, presumably left as a “fire
starter.”
I figured the task of cleaning out the fire pit would be a little
more tolerable after a cup of tea, so I joined the hikers discussing their plans for the day at the picnic table and debating a big
mileage day to the Doyle Hotel in Duncannon.
They asked me a bunch of questions about what lay ahead
of them, so I spread my maps out on the picnic table. Big smiles
and cheers broke out all around as the hikers checked out the
elevation profile of the fifteen-mile stretch across the Cumberland Valley. I talked a little about the terrain—that there was
more sun exposure than normal—and that they would have to
carry enough water to get them 10.3 miles across the farmlands
because the creeks in the valley are contaminated with agricultural run-off. The corn is high enough to make part of the Trail
feel like a fun maze, I told them.
Then came the constant query about why camping is prohibited in the Cumberland Valley. In order to do my job well,
I always have to gauge the interest and intent of the person
asking the question, because there are so many strong opinions
81.4 percent were familiar
with ridgerunners.
59.4 percent had been helped
by one or more.
49.9 percent felt the assistance was valuable.
and positions on the valThe top six kinds of “help”?
ley. It is such a noted part
Friendly conversation, information
of the Trail, with a comon Trail conditions, general Trail
plex history, and, for me,
information, location of water
these farmlands are
sources, Leave No Trace instruchome. I explained a little
tion, and weather forecasts.
bit of what it took to
transform this section of
Trail from a seventeen-mile road walk into a walk through
meadows, young woods, and farmland.
The National Park Service (NPS) acquired a lot of land, most
of it amicably, but some not so amicably—all after a protracted argument within the community over the exact route.
Through the valley, the corridor is often pretty narrow, and a
lot of the section is still cultivated under special permits issued by NPS and administered by the Appalachian Trail
Conference mid-Atlantic regional office in Boiling Springs.
Having people camp in cornfields would just invite problems
into a delicate situation.
By midafternoon, it was hot and
sunny, which is why it was so odd to see people in jeans and
long-sleeved cotton shirts ahead of me on the Trail. When I got
17
Ridgerunner making notes at Birch Run Shelter in southern
Pennsylvania. (ATC photo)
For the 2004 season Heidi Witmer writes about here,
L.L.Bean, Inc., contributed an unprecedented $75,000 to
under write ATC’s ridgerunner program, which suppor ts
twenty-three men and women in eight states, including
fourteen who are directly super vised by Trail-maintaining
clubs that receive grants from the Conference. Four clubs
wholly fund and operate their own ridgerunner/caretaker
programs.
The program also is supported by annual grants to ATC
from the Friends of the Smokies, the state of Pennsylvania,
and the USDA Forest Service.
This year, as several have in the past, a number of other
outdoor-recreation companies have provided gear to outfit
the ridgerunners almost literally head to toe:
T-Shirts—from Layers, a division of Great Outdoor Provision
Company
Shorts—Mountain Hardwear
Socks—Thor•Lo
Gaiters—Outdoor Research
Boots—Merrell Footwear
Water bottles—Nalgene
Water filters—Katadyn
First-aid kits—Adventure Medical Kits
Trekking poles—Leki USA, Inc.
18
a little closer, I saw the gloves
and the berry buckets—these
people were serious about
harvesting. Looking down the
Trail past them, I could see
exactly where they had been
picking by the two feet of
tramped-down brush on both
sides of the Trail. All my
Leave No Trace sensibilities
were jangling from the sight
before me, but I smiled and
asked how their day was going. It turned out that they
own some property close to
the Trail and are frustrated
about the wineberry season
they are having. Apparently
the A.T. is the only place they
can find them this year.
I started by telling these
neighbors about some other
places I’ve found wineberries
and then delicately brought up that idea that it is better not
to have such an impact on this public backcountry footpath.
After talking about the Trail for a bit, they also shared their
frustrations about the way the maintainers let the downed
trees just lie in the woods so close to the Trail. I explained
that downed trees return nutrients to the ground they came
from. In the end, we had a really interesting conversation
about different ways to manage land and how the NPS plan
had preserved one of the few wild places readily available to
the public. Later, all three of us were smiling and trading
wineberry recipes. I realized that I had to get going if I were
going to make it to the shelter that night, so I said my goodbyes and continued hiking north.
Just a few hours later, I ran into
Steve and his Trailside tent, glowing in its newness. For about
an hour, I explain some of the basics of backpacking, such as
how to treat water, hang a bear bag, and reduce one’s impact
on the backcountry by setting up a tent out of view of the Trail.
Soon, Steve and I are sitting around camp, laughing together,
and sharing stories, just as hundreds of other people at this
moment are doing from Maine to Georgia.
Late nights on the Trail are, for me, the perfect place to do
some good thinking, and, as I’m sitting around with Steve, I
realize that I do have something in common with Bill Murray
in “Groundhog Day.” After repeating the same day a bunch of
times, Murray’s character realizes that he has the knowledge,
and therefore the power, to help people, which is not all that
different from my role as a ridgerunner.
And like his character, I will be a little sad to see this day
come to an end.
MAY–JUNE 2005
2,000-Milers
NEW
The Appalachian Trail Conference has received from the following persons 616 reports of
complete hikes of the Trail—either by thru-hikes or in sections over a number of years—since
a similar list was published a year ago. Reports of hikes are accepted for inclusion in the ATC
registry but have not been verified independently. Of those reporting completed hikes through
the beginning of March 2005, 531 finished in 2004, compared to 530 at the same point a year
ago for 2003. The records from which this list is derived are maintained by volunteer Fred
Firman, who reported his second Trail completion in 2004.
1959
James L. Burson, “Dusty,” Jasper, Ga.
1976
Dana I. Flowers, Snellville, Ga.; Emery L.
Toulouse, Vassalboro, Maine
1979
James R. Adams, Gold Beach, Ore.
1982
Louise M. Senior, Princeton, N.J.; Wesley
H. Wolfrum, “Captain Kangaroo,” Bel Air,
Md.
1991
Andy Bastin, “Pig Pen,” Delaware, Ohio;
Heather M. Richards, Albuquerque, N.M.
1992
Scott D. Pummill, “J.S.,” Long Beach,
Calif.
1993
Geoffrey L. Allen, “Alpha,” Pembroke,
Va.
1994
Dennis J. O’Connell, “The Roadrunner,”
Epsom, N.H.; Norma K. Pfeiffer, “Miracle
Whip,” Fairbanks, Alaska
1995
Brian D. Losi, “Hacky Sack,” Missoula,
Mont.
1996
Rick Huber, “Dr. Duct Tape,” Avon, Colo.
1997
William S. Ballenger, “Popocat,” Boca
Raton, Fla.
1999
Mitsuru Saito, “Tama,” South Portland,
Maine; Jason T. Steger, “Sierra,” Perrysburg,
Ohio
2000
Thomas A. Daly, “Blaze,” Crawfordville,
Fla.; Bob J. Hickox, “Ganoosh,” Frederick,
Md.; J Starling Johnson, “Huck Finn,”
Laurel, Miss.; Bryan Nurnberger, “Chin
Man,” Naugatuck, Conn.
2001
Matthew W. Bowler, “Sleepy the Arab,”
Bedford, N.H.; David F. Cook, “Wildman,”
Winter Park, Fla.; Lisa Garrett, “Cartwheel,”
San Francisco, Calif.; Will Kemeta,“Windchill,” Somerville, Mass.; Francis A. Tapon,
“Mr. Magoo,” Hillsborough, Calif.
2002
Robert J. De Young, “Tin Man,” Byron
Center, Mich.; Beth A. Denton, “Cheddar,”
Mechanicsville, Va.; Amy J. Johnson,
“Pigpen,” Wolfeboro, N.H.; Andy C. Johnson,
“Mass 4,” Wolfeboro, N.H.; Kevin M.
LeBlanc, “Pinecone,” Fayetteville, Ark.;
Matt A. McAdoo, “Reggae,” Chattanooga,
Tenn.; Frank Pardi, “Rael,” Peabody, Mass.
2003
Daniel Thor Alvarez, “Sunshine/Tick,”
Tallahassee, Fla.; Jason A. Ar nold,
“Snakeheadfish,” Hollywood, Ala.; Devin
M. Beliveau, “Johnny Walker,” Palo Alto,
Calif.; Ari L. Berkowitz-Shelton, “Ari/
Awry,” Newton, Mass.; Brad H. Bishop,
“Spielberg,” Cranford, N.J.; Rodney A.
Blacker, “Dirty Harry,” Burns, Ore.;
Elizabeth R. Blackmer, “Broot,” Lexington,
Va.; Hugh A. Blackmer, “Pogo,” Lexington,
Va.; Joseph F.K. Brady, Sr., “Easy Money,”
Stow, Ohio; Daniel A. Brown, “D-Bone,”
Birmingham, Ala.; Preston E. Chronister III,
“Loser,” York, Pa.; Cynthia S. Clemence,
“Commander in Chief,” West Newbury, Vt.;
Benjamin A. Clements, “Indiana Ben,”
Keystone, Colo.; Frank O. Clouser, “Miles
to Go,” Miami, Fla.; Joseph I. Deckro, “Joe
Hiker,” Sharon, Mass.; Peter M. Dennehy,
“Slacker,” Barrington, R.I.; Graham P.
Dewey, “Grambler,” Westmoreland, N.H.;
James J. Dirlam, “Jimbo Trek,” Brooklyn,
N.Y.; Angela M. Duffy, “Sharkey Coral,”
Clinton, Vt.; Michael Esarey, “Dr. Pepper,”
Corydon, Ind.;
Joseph D. Fanning, “Joe/Gus/Kenny,”
Springfield, N.J.; Emiko J. Fergusson, “Maude,”
Rochester, N.Y.; Taryn S. Friedman, “T-Bird,”
Raymond, Maine; Jason J. Goodman, Edison,
N.J.; Jonathan B. Guessford, “Yo-Yo,” Smyrna,
Del.; Jill Jackson, “Goosebump,” Colmesville,
Texas; Jeremiah J. Kelley, “Butter,” Taylors
Falls, Minn.; Robert H. Kinzel III, “Lion Cub,”
Shamong, N.J.; Melissa M. Lim, “Zero,”
Arlington, Mass.; Timothy C. Lohrenz, “Big
Blue,” Billings, Mont.; Scott A. Louis, “Foz,”
Frederick, Md.; Charles Brian McCann,
“Hotrod,” Steubenville, Ohio; Andrew W.
McKenrick, “Groovy,” Decatur, Ga.; Benjamin
R. Newman, “Tampopo,” McMinnville,
Tenn.; Nancy Nixon, “Chim Chim,”
Colmesville, Texas; Alex N. Noel, “Wonderboy,” Midland, Texas; Marcia A. Pfeil,
“Aloha!” Fredericksburg, Va.; David M.
Rinker, “Superfoot/Nuge,” Grand Rapids,
Mich.; Drew Shields, “Sprite,” Lansdale, Pa.;
Dale A. Slack II, “Slack,” Montpelier, Vt.;
Field B. Slade, “Field,” Montgomery, Ala.;
Susan W. Spring, “Mama Lipton,” Lakeville,
Conn.;
L. A. “Jack” Tarlin, “Baltimore Jack,”
Hanover, N.H.; Erica L. Thatcher, “Pipes,”
To p s f i e l d , M a s s . ; K e v i n T h u r m a n ,
“Spiderman,” Knoxville, Tenn.; Gerald R.
Trzybinski, “Gapper,” Springport, Mich.;
David F. Walker, “The Fisher King,” Durham,
N.C.; Samuel C. Wallace, “The Fox,”
Goshen, Mass.; Susan V. Wallace, “Tang,”
Dayton, Ohio; Stephen J. West, “The
19
Pilgrim,” Livonia, N.Y.; Sarah Woodruff,
“Blip,” Mt. Pocono, Pa.; Andrew C. Young,
“King Harvest,” Powhatan, Va.
2004
Dennis Abraham, “Badger,” Appleton, Wis.;
Mark B. Abrams, “Trunks,” Los Altos,
Calif.; Cat Addison, “Catdog,” Cary, N.C.;
Daniel Aitchison, “Goldfish,” Shenorock,
N . Y. ; C o u r t n e y A l a m p i , “ P o d i n i , ”
Middleburg, Va.; David Aldrich, “DocNarly,” Sebastian, Fla.; Olivia Allan,
“Wipeout,” San Marcos, Calif.; Scott Allen,
“Red Beard,” Groveport, Ohio; Mary
Anders, “Cheeky Monkey,” Henderson,
Nev.; Glenn Anderson, “Dr. Jones/Baloo,”
Palo Alto, Calif.; Gwyann I. Anderson,
“Angel,” Belleville, Ill.; Lori E-M Andrews,
“Tangent,” Bluefield, Va.; Brian Arms,
“Arms,” Rochester, Minn.; Karen Arnold,
“Walkabout,” Needham, Mass.; Lindsey J.
Asselin, “I-ching,” West Springfield, Mass.;
Sean T. Auclair, “First Light,” Nashua,
N.H.; Michael Badeau, “Hemingway,”
Downingtown, Pa.; Gayla Baker, “Baglady,”
Knifley, Ky.; John Balmut, “Pa Pa Bear,”
Alabaster, Ala.; Keith H. Bance, “Northern
Harrier,” North Wales, Pa.;
South Strafford, Vt.; Richard Bazley, “Saint
Rick,” Bristol, United Kingdom; Katherine
Anne Becksvoort, “Moon Pie,” Signal
Mountain, Tenn.; Gregory D. R. Behringer,
“The Friar,” Hampton Cove, Ala.; Len
Bennett, “Trog,” Groton, Mass.; David
Benson, “So Co,” Athens, Ga.; Doug Bisset,
“Heat Miser,” Stamford, Conn.; Jennifer M.
Bittner, “Chipper,” Cleveland, N.Y.; Cathy
A. Black, “CeeBee,” Gill, Mass.; Heather
Blaikie, “Koi,” Wilton, Conn.; Darren
Blaszka, “Enigma,” Torrington, Conn.;
Jennifer Blesh, “Weber,” Athens, Ga.; Adam
Bliss, “Ward (Ratpack),” Yorktown, Va.;
Dave Boettcher, “Camel,” Winchester,
Mass.; Arnold Bolling, Jr., “Whitetop,”
Kingsport, Tenn.;
Chris Bont, “Momma’s Boy,” Grand Haven,
Mich.; Andrew W. Borghese, “Switchback,”
Manchester, N.H.; Peter Borowski,
Schwenksville, Pa.; John B. Braswell, “Tree
Frog,” Pasadena, Texas; Harry Braunstein,
“HDEB,” Southampton, N.Y.; Andrew
Breecher, “Haiku,” Hopkinton, Mass.; John
Breed, “Aussy John,” Duncraig, Australia;
Ernest Brees, “Hobbes,” Corydon, Iowa;
Tyler C. Brooks, “Achilles,” Canton, Ga.;
Andrew P. Brown, “Rowboat,” Holland,
Mich.; Andrew S. Brown, “Captain Hook,”
Dayton, Ohio; Maxwell L. Brown, “Bigfoot
( R a t p a c k ) , ” S e a f o r d , Va . ; J e f f r e y
Brownscheidle, “Mountain Man,” Seattle,
Wash.; Laura Buhl, “Laura,” The Dalles,
Ore.; Clint Bunting, “Lint,” Ingleside, Ill.;
Elly Bunzendahl, “Elly,” Houghton, Mich.;
Casey Burnett, “Father Ounce,” Sylvania,
Ohio; Sally L. Burroughs, “Grandma Sally,”
East Lansing, Mich.; Jeremy Burton,
“4wnds,” Bridge-water, Conn.;
Darren Blythe Busbee, “The Fugitive,”
Clarksville, Tenn.; Mike F. Caetano,
“Cimarron,” Pensacola, Fla.; Gordon J.
Canning, “Slo-Motion,” Dexter, Maine;
Luke P. Cantrell, “Boo’s Goose,” Jackson,
Miss.; Steven S. Cardwell, “Goose,” Rocky
Gap, Va.; Kristin H. Carman, “Kristin,”
Lake Placid, N.Y.; Raymond F. Carpenter,
“Sojourner,” Meredith, N.H.; Jon D.
Carrick, “Hawkeye,” Harrisonburg, Va.;
Alice H. Carroll, “Double Nickels,” Clifton
Forge, Va.; Brittany Carroll, “Mallory,”
Peachtree City, Ga.; R. Steven Carroll,
“Endorphin,” Augusta, Ga.; Jacob L.
Cartner, “The Solemates,” Greenville, S.C.;
Tricia T. Cartner, “The Solemates,”
Greenville, S.C.; James Chambers, “Just
Jim,” Augusta, Maine; Craig N. Chapman,
“Chappo,” Cambridge, England; Michael
Chen, “Fu-Man,” Bernardsville, N.J.;
Clayton Chiles, “Pacemaker,” Bethlehem,
Pa.; Don Chorley, “The Abominably Slow
Man,” Lakeshore, Calif.;
Susan Christiansen, “Gaiter Woman,”
Berlin, Vt.; Dawn Cicanese, “Flounder,”
Punta Gorda, Fla.; John Cicanese, “Little
Bump,” Punta Gorda, Fla.; Steven M. Clay,
“Poco y Poco,” Missoula, Mont.; Cathleen
A. Close, “Shooting Star,” Tullahoma, Tenn.;
Arthur R. Cloutman, “Gabby Art,”
Gilmanton Iron Works, N.H.;
Allison Cohen, “Pilot,” New
Southbounder Dan Baranello in the mountains of northern Pennsylvania in early January 2003.
York, N.Y.; Kevin Coles,
“Mustard,” Reno, Nev.; Severin
Condon, “Sevy,”Shepherdstown, W.Va.; Megan Connors,
“Burnie,” Fairview Park, Ohio;
Case Conover, “Dragonfly,”
Freeport, Maine; Andrew
Conrad, “Caterpillar,” Ellicott
City, Md.; Daniel H. Conrad,
“Mouth,” Hillsborough, N.C.;
Caroline J. Cook, “Bees Knees,”
Medina, Ohio; Gary E. Cook,
“Relentless,” Medina, Ohio;
Jonathan Cooley, Levittown,
Pa.; Wilbur Cooley, “PA Mule,”
Doylestown, Pa.; Alexandre
Corriveau-Bourque, “Le Buick
R o a d m a s t e r, ” M o n t r e a l ,
Quebec, Canada; Patrick
Cortright, “Willy Wonka,”
Franklin, Wis.;
Daniel M. Baranello, “Fuman,” Northport,
N.Y.; Shaun Bardell, “Beatbox,” Glen
Burnie, Md.; Al Barkley, “Tapeworm,”
Providence, R.I.; Philip J. Barnes, “Gandalf,”
Pahoa, Hawaii; Lee Barry, “Easy One,”
Shelby, N.C.; Al F. Batts, Jr., “Pop-up,”
Davidson, N.C.; Frank Batty, “Ashtray,”
David Coupland, “Raven,”
Ann Arbor, Mich.; Gary A.
20
MAY–JUNE 2005
Couse, “Scorpion,” Swainsboro, Ga.; Robert
Coveney, “Lwop,” Boca Raton, Fla.; Jim
Cox, “Chimpy,” Van Wert, Ohio; Steve
Cozza, “Southernman,” Merritt Island, Fla.;
Martha Crandell, “Tortoise,” Boone, N.C.;
David J. Cranford, “Bone Dancer,” Wake
Forest, N.C.; the Rev. John L. Cromartie, Jr.,
“Pastor John,” Gainesville, Ga.; Jesse L.
Cromwell, “Rally,” Jacksonville, Fla.; Kaya
Crook, “Kaya,” Dothan, Ala.; Donald H.
Crook III, “Alabama,” Dotham, Ala.; Emory
Cullen, “Cotton,” Atlanta, Ga.; Thomas M.
Cunningham, “TBott,” Given, W.Va.;
Alyssa M. Cutter, “Wings,” Cornish, N.H.;
Karen W. Cutter, “Feather,” Cornish, N.H.;
Caleb Dagg, “Jethrow,” Watersmeet, Mich.;
Rachel S. Dagg, “Chief,” Watersmeet,
Mich.; Rob S. Dahlenburg, “Foggy-Bottom,”
Danville, Ill.; Richard Dailey, “Truck,”
Orange Park, Fla.; Beth Damon, “Pokey,”
Otisfield, Maine;
Patrick Danaher, “Music Man,” Palo Alto,
Calif.; Jonathan Dandois, “Castro,”
Bethesda, Md.; Patricia J. Davidson,
“Hobbit,” Durham, N.C.; Patrick Deaner,
“Sleeping Beauty, the Sole Brother,” APO,
AE; Bryan K. Deiman, “Wounded Knee,” St.
Paul Park, Minn.; Yoli Del Buono, “Pegasus/
Rogue Witch,” Chevy Chase, Md.; Gregory
T. Denham, “Chafe,” Sewell, N.J.; Gerald
L. Denney, “Bald Legal,” Loudon, Tenn.;
Roger J. Dietsch, “Early Riser from Ohio,”
Clayton, Ohio; William M. DiGiacomo,
“Icecold,” Morrisville, N.C.; Michel M.D.
Dionne, “Mystic Onion,” Quebec, Canada;
Matt Donath, “Matt,” Waukegan, Ill.; John
J. Donovan, “Sea Breeze,” Petersburg, Va.;
Tara L. Douce, “Rally,” Tifton, Ga.; Kenneth
L. Downey, “Circuit Rider,” Pinewood, Ill.;
Chris J. Drake, “Bull,” Brookfield, Ill.; Peter
Benjamin Dunlap, “Shredder,” WinstonSalem, N.C.; Jim Eagleton, “Rambler,”
Ambler, Pa.; Dale E. Easton, “Just-a-lad,”
Branson, Mo.;
P. Joel Eckel, “Bean,” Philadelphia, Pa.; Root
Eckel, “Root,” Philadelphia, Pa.; Chris
Edlin, “Chris,” Houghton, Mich.; Loren
Allan Edwards, “Speak Up!” Grant, Mich.;
Bert E. Emmerson, “Wildcat,” Maryville,
Tenn.; Brenden Epps, “Sugar Daddy,”
Peekskill, N.Y.; Amy Errington, “Waterloo,”
Muncie, Ind.; Colin Evans, “Slim,” West
Stockbridge, Mass.; Jerry L. Evilsizor,
“Patience,” Comstock Park, Mich.; Tricia
L. Evilsizor, “Slow Motion,” Comstock
Park, Mich.; Zach Ewell, “Zach,” Shelburne,
Vt.; Georgina Fall, “Canada Goose,”
Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada;
Edward L. Faron, “Yankee Turtle,” Rochdale,
Mass.; Kathryn H. Farquhar, “Brick House,”
Fred Firman, a 1995 thru-hiker, finishes a section-hike of the A.T. in July 2004 on
Baxter Peak. During the past decade, Firman has volunteered at ATC headquarters
for more than 3,000 hours, much of it in maintaining the 2,000-miler registry from
which these reports are drawn.
Potomac, Md.; Scott Fecher, “Crash! Bang!”
Kokomo, Ind.; Eric Feeley, “Poky,” North
Miami Beach, Fla.; Terry E. Feezel,
“Mushroom,” Bethalto, Ill.; Michael Fiedler,
“Myst,” Ft. Myers, Fla.; Larry J. Filion,
“Flint,” Chesterfield, Mo.;
Frederick E. Fir man, “Greybeard,”
Columbia, Md.; the Rev. Dr. Roger Raymond
Fischer, “Ironman,” Washington, Pa.;
Gregory M. Fisher, “Dolphin,” Manchester,
Conn.; Chris Fithian, “Meerkat,” Brookside,
N.J.; Christopher Fitzgerald, “Paparazzi,”
North Grafton, Mass.; Joseph J. FitzPatrick,
“Bilbo,” Hillsboro, Ore.; Peter A. Flanagan,
“Shagbark the Evil Cur,” Portland, Maine;
Stephan Frazier, “Wideload,” Jackson,
Tenn.; Kevin Fuller, “Kev Dog,” Indianapolis,
Ind.; Sara J. Fulton, “Blue,” Brooklyn, N.Y.;
Robin Furth, “Yogamonkey,” Sunderland,
Md.; Steve A. Galat, “Stair master,”
Mishawaka, Ind.; Clinton T. Galbraith,
“Hoss,” Atlanta, Ga.; Audrey E. Gale-Dyer,
“Wounded Knee,” Lansing, Mich.; Curtis S.
Gale-Dyer, “Doc,” Lansing, Mich.; Jeffrey
E. Galvin, “Jeff,” Cleveland, N.Y.; Peter
Bryan Garcia, “Boo Boo,” Clewiston, Fla.;
Jeremy Gardner, “Han SoBo,” Athens, Ga.;
Christopher Gates, “Leki-less,” East
Taunton, Mass.;
Benjamin T. Gazy, “Roobi,” Bozeman,
Mont.; Thomas L. Geiger, “Chasqui,”
Alexandria, Va.; Julia Geisler, “Yippie!”
McHenry, Md.; Kevin Gibbins, “Celtic,”
Ellicott City, Md.; Michael Gloden,
“Timber,” Apex, N.C.; Mitchell Goforth,
“Country,” Ferguson, N.C.; Pete Gomez,
“Dharma,” Ellington, Conn.; William S.
Goodman, “Willy Seay,” Atlanta, Ga.;
Brianne L. Goodspeed, “Deja Vu,” Westford,
Mass.; Jerry Linsey Gouger, “Sun Pig,”
Melbourne, Fla.; Frank J. Grandau, “Still
Frank,” Hoffman Estates, Ill.; Allan K. Green,
“Greylocks,” Hillsborough, N.C.; Benny H.
Green, “Just Do It,” Jenison, Mich.; Brent M.
Gregory, “Snap,” Richmond, Minn.; Dennis
L. Gregory, “Easy Strider,” Richmond,
Minn.; Jay S. Gregory, “Jaywalker,” Charles
Town, W.Va.; Joel M. Gregory, “Crackle,”
Richmond, Minn.; Kyle A. Gregory, “Pop,”
Richmond, Minn.; Harold T. Grube-O’Brien,
“Tuckleberry,” Leonardtown, Md.;
Paul J. Guyon, “Bear Bag Hanger,” Ft.
L a u d e r d a l e , F l a . ; M i c h a e l H a a s e r,
“Oxymoron,” Grant, Mich.; Trevor R. Hain,
“Tapeworm,” Lincoln, Neb.; Benjamin
Hale, “Gentle Ben,” Holden, Maine; Jorma
Hale, “Slimer,” Lexington, N.C.; James R.
Hankerson, “Baloo,” Aledo, Texas; Tom
Hanley, “Ghost,” Oak Grove, Mo.; Donald
L. Harris, “Tank,” Dawson, Ga.; Alexander
L. Hausrath, “Scuba,” Waynesboro, Va.;
Richard D. Haveland, “Bearbait,” Groton,
Conn.; Joshua Haynes, “Pop Tart,” Hopewell
21
Lonnie C. Johnson, “Dart (part of Ratpack),”
Seaford, Va.; Mc Minan H. Johnson, Salem,
Va.; Seth Johnson, “Hoss,” Midland, Ga.;
Laura Judy, “Steady,” Roswell, Ga.; Brad M.
Kaeser, “Austin,” Waynesboro, Va.; Chris
Keefe, “Whiz Kid,” Willington, Conn.;
Charlie G. Keefer, “Charlie the Tuna,” Holly
Springs, N.C.; Sarah Marie Keister, “Dragon
Slayer,” Bishop, Ga.; Ruth Kennedy, “Maine
Dish,” Holden, Maine; Steven Kimball,
“Saltlick,” Bridgewater, Mass.; Charles
Kinney, “Pipesmoke,” Hampstead, N.H.; Jack
Knight, “81,” Jasper, Ga.; Karen Knispel,
“Michigoose,” Washington, D. C.; Todd A.
Koenig, “T,” Colgate, Wis.; Wayne Krevetski,
“Mad Hatter,” Middlebury, Conn.; Andy
Kruse, “P**** in Wind,” Roswell, Ga.; Bjorn
P.F. Kruse, “Windsock,” Wellesley, Mass.;
Robert P. Kyle, “Sneck,” Richmond, Va.;
Beverly R. LaFollette, “High 5-R,” Erie, Pa.;
Jason S. Lalancette, “Seeker,” Campton, N.H.;
Chris Lamm, “Tailwind,” Durham, N.C.;
Beverly LaFollette (“High 5-R”), shown here on Saddleback Junior in Maine, sectionhiked from 1993 to 2004, becoming at age 80, when she finished, the oldest woman
section-hiker in the registry.
Junction, N.Y.; Sally Head, “Aunt Mabel,”
East Kingston, N.H.; Robert Heilman,
“Lefty,” Washington, D. C.; John A.
Henderson, “Pilgrim Soul,” Endwall, N.Y.;
Dan Henslee, “Sexual Chocolate,”
Columbia, Tenn.; Wayne F. Herrick,
“Smiley,” Lakewood, Colo.; Julie Hethcox,
“Skippy,” Coos Bay, Ore.; Denise C. Hill,
“Ladybug,” Cincinnati, Ohio; Jim Himburg,
“Palm Tree,” Miami, Fla.; Vick Hines,
“Spock,” Austin, Texas;
Peter C. Hirst, “Zipoff,” Edgewater, Fla.;
Russell D. Hobby, “Enoch,” Sugar Valley,
Ga.; Christopher E. Hoffpauir, “Han S.,” San
Antonio, Texas; Robert E. Holley, “Wicomico
Walker,” Heathsville, Va.; C. Colin Hollister,
“C. Legs,” Pittsfield, Mass.; Dan Hollister,
“Wildhorse,” Columbia Crossroads, Pa.;
E l i z a b e t h H o l l o w a y, “ L i t t l e t r e e , ”
Summerland Key, Fla.; Sarah Holt, “Coyote,”
Harpswell, Maine; Robert E. Hoopes, “The
Mad German,” Witchita, Kan.; Beth Horrell,
“Lefty,” McGrady, N.C.; Larry C. Horrell,
“Dusty,” McGrady, N.C.; Casey Horrigan,
“Dingle,” Fall River, Mass.; Brandon Hoult,
“Spin Cycle,” Russellville, Ariz.; Catherine
A. Hovey, “Ranger,” Parma, Ohio; Lee
Howell, “Guy,” Arlington, Va.; Mark A.
22
Huckeba, “Trail Dawg,” Roswell, Ga.;
Jeffrey W. Huebuer, “Condor,” Crescent
Springs, Ky.; Mark Hughes, “Postcard,”
Williamstown, N.J.; Tim Humphrey,
“Rooney Tunes,” Boylston, Mass.;
Karl Hunsicker, “Leapfrog,” Sierra Madre,
Calif.; Jay F. Hunt, “Hustler,” Gunnison,
Colo.; Jerome Alexander Hunt, “Numskull,”
Goose Creek, S.C.; Keith Hunt, “Chestnut,”
West Greenwich, R.I.; Soshua Hurley,
“Allnight,” Salem, N.H.; John C.
Hutchinson, “Hutch,” Livingston, Texas;
William J. Hyland III, “Ranger Jim,” Wading
River, N.Y.; Nicholas J. Iglowski, “Skeet
Skeet,” Houston, Texas; Steven Irwin,
“Screamin Steven,” Roswell, Ga.; Linda
Smith Ivey, “Mountain Mamma 94-04,”
Utica, Ky.; Patrick Jacaruso, “Hogwalker,”
Jewett City, Conn.; Edward N. Jackson,
“Happy,” Loogootee, Ind.; Len Jeffery,
“London Len,” Stevenage, Herts, England;
Robert P. Jenkins, “Burning Boots,” Brewer,
Maine; Robin L. Jenkins, “J-bird,” Brewer,
Maine; Jared Jennings, “Sardine,” Mountain
Home, Ariz.; Seth E. Jenny, “Marathon,”
Grove City, Pa.; Jason C. Jernigan, “Crank,”
Elkin, N.C.; Brad G. Johnson, “Pickle,”
Statesville, N.C.;
Robert Lane, “Uncle Bob,” Andrews, N.C.;
Michael Langan, “K2,” Hartford, Conn.;
Leon K. Lantz, “Neon Leon,” Myerstown,
Pa.; Rufus L. Lapp, “Stubby,” Myerstown,
Pa.; Amos Lapp, Jr., “Slider,” Myerstown,
Pa.; Kirk Larsen, “Litefoot,” Andover,
Mass.; Richard Larson, “Skittles,” New
Ulm, Minn.; Michael Latham, “Stumble
Bum,” Columbus, N.J.; Mark R. Laviolette,
Jr., “Pegleg,” Worcester, Mass.; Michael
Leaveck, “Michael,” Palos Verdes Estates,
Calif.; Kate Lee, “Skate,” South Hadley,
Mass.; Lawrence R. Lehman, “Shush,” Mt.
Sterling, Ohio; Aime G. Lemire, “65 &
Alive,” Newport, N.H.; James Lentz, “Chef
Vegan,” Portland, Ore.; Robert Leon,
“Mayagues,” Elyria, Ohio; Jeff Lerman,
“Squish,” Sutton, Mass.; L. Kit Letchworth,
“Don’t Matter,” Lanexa, Va.; Lisa Lynn
Letchworth, “Don’t Mind,” Lanexa, Va.;
Remy Z. Levin, “2 cents,” Woodside, N.Y.;
Kevin C. Linebarger, “Gnome Sherpa,”
Cumming, Ga.;
Joe Lofton, “Jo-Jo Hiker,” Huntsville, Ala.;
Tom C. Logsdon, “Ace,” Upper Arlington,
Ohio; John Lomachinsky, “Beater,” Shelton,
Conn.; Alex Long, “Mello,” Troy, Ala.; Ryan
Lorah, “Duch,” Hellertown, Pa.; Willie
Lorenc, “Willie Goat,” Chantilly, Va.; Bill
Lundin, “Easy Duzit,” Harrison, Tenn.; John
Lundquist, “Jolly Time,” Des Moines, Iowa;
William G. Luttge, “Fire Ball,” Cross Creek,
Fla.; Matthew Lynn, “Bojangles,” Columbia,
S.C.; Alan MacKenzie, “Spirit Al,”
Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada;
Kathleen Mague, “Nana K,” Worcester,
Mass.; John K. Magullian, “Archaeopterix,”
Paihia, New Zealand; Josh Mahoney,
MAY–JUNE 2005
“Slainté,” Tallahassee, Fla.; Jessica Mancino,
“Jessica (of Eric & Jess),” Garner, N.C.;
Danie L. Martin, “Mouse,” Philadelphia,
Pa.; Frank D. Masters, “Sunset,”
Jonesborough, Tenn.; Adam Matherne,
“High Octane,” Tallahassee, Fla.; Jan
Matson, “Swan,” Rochester, Minn.; Kel
Mattice, “Coyote,” Verona, Wis.;
David Maynor, “Hawk,” Marietta, Ga.; Josh
McAteer, “Satori,” Knoxville, Tenn.;
Andrew McCabe, “Megabite,” Park Ridge,
N.J.; Kevin McClellan, “Buckeye,” Toledo,
Ohio; William J. McDaniel, “The Admiral,”
Oak Harbor, Wash.; Nathaniel J. McKenzie,
“Forester,” Swansea, Ill.; Rick McKinney,
“Jester Jigglebox,” Idyllwild, Calif.; James
W. Mc Nulty, “Dozer,” Fairfax Station, Va.;
K a t h e r i n e M c P h e e , “ F l a v a F l a v, ”
Weddington, N.C.; William H. McRae III,
“Cactus,” Helena, Ga.; Pablo Medina,
“Pablo,” The Dalles, Ore.; Roger P. Mellen,
“Mooseless-no-more,” Arlington, Va.;
Anders Meyer, “Hermes,” Lincolnshire, Ill.;
G a r y P. M i c h a u d , “ F o o t L o o s e , ”
Lawrenceville, N.J.; Ty Middleton,
“Valentyne,” Gaylord, Mich.; Christine A.
Miller, “Epiphany,” Union, Mich.; Phillip
Miller II, “Mad Scientist,” Lake Charles,
La.; Philip M. Moldenhauer, “Shepherd,”
New Ulm, Minn.; Anne Morain, “Giggles,”
Lamoni, Iowa;
Gregory A. Morath, “The Cincinnati Kid,”
Cincinnati, Ohio; Barry Morgan, “Lost in
Woods,” E. Woodstock, Conn.; Chad R.
Morgan, “Road Runner,” Adams, Tenn.;
Simon Morris, “M TDoo,” Willow Street,
Pa.; Scott Mosser, “Fly,” Mukwonago, Wis.;
Robert Motz, “Chicago/Rob,” Des Plaines,
Ill.; Greg Mu, “Nameless,” Jacksonville,
N.C.; Dennis Mulligan, “Jersey,” Hawthorne,
N.J.; Mark Mullinix, “Monkey Man,”
Milwaukee, Wis.; L. Elizabeth Munkwitz,
“Mother Nature,” Hatfield, Pa.; Alexander
Myers, “Focus,” Winston-Salem, N.C.;
Barbara Nash, “Late Start,” Bethesda, Md.;
Jeremy L. Neidens, “Drifter,” Topeka, Kan.;
Andrew J. Neill, “Papa Bear,” Naperville, Ill.;
Robert H. Nicholson, “Andante/Now or
Never,” Norridgewock, Maine; Andy J.
Niekamp, “Captain Blue,” Kettering, Ohio;
David K. Nikkel, “Dave,” Littleton, Colo.;
David Norris, “Diego,” San Diego, Calif.;
Richard Norris, “T O M (The Old Man),”
Manassas, Va.;
K a n s a s C i t y, M o . ; J o n - P a u l O l i v a ,
“Underhill,” Pine Knoll Shores, N.C.;
Andrew Oliver, “Optimus,” Manchester,
Maine; Thomas A. Ollila, “Nightmare,”
Glenside, Pa.; Robert Olson, “Deeds,”
Duluth, Ga.; Eric Oogjen, “Reverend Yukon
Jack,” Rochester, N.Y.; David S. Osborn,
“Freebird,” Kapaa, Hawaii; Christian R.
Oslund, “Ludachris,” Denver, Colo.; John
Overbey, “Yoda,” Aldie, Va.; Jason Oversmith,
“Machine,” Strongsville, Ohio; Jill E. Pak,
“Bluebird,” Carrollton, Texas; Wendy P.
Palmer, “Li’l Bit,” North Bend, Wash.; Logan
O. B. Park, “Hop Lite,” Cincinnati, Ohio;
Celeste Pasquale, “Down (of Up and Down),”
Austin, Texas; Jason D. Pass, “Hamish,”
Waynesville, N.C.; Richard R.P. Paxton,
“Packrat,” Greenfield Park, Quebec,
Canada;
Timothy Paylor, “Homefry,” Oakland, Maine;
Sandi Payne, “Beagle,” Stony Creek, N.Y.;
Jennifer L. Pearson, “Kismet,” Long Grove,
Ill.; Kenny Pearson, “Neon,” Pewee Valley,
Ky.; Joshua M. Pelletier, “A-1,” Moncton,
New Brunswick, Canada; James Dale Peoples,
“Brood X,” Altoona, Pa.; Cathy Percy, “Moo
Juice,” Stony Creek, N.Y.; Douglas Perkins,
“Trip,” Pittsburgh, Pa.; Heidi Peters, “River
Otter/Heidi Hobbit,” Montpelier, Vt.; Holly
Peters, “Popeye/Holly Hobbit,” Shaftsbury,
Vt.; Simon J. Peters, “S.A.M. Headhunter,”
Flowery Branch, Ga.; Wayne P. Petrovich,
“Krispy Kritter,” Deland, Fla.; Alexa Pezzano,
“Skywalker,” Conshohocken, Pa.; Everett
Philen, “Blue Bell,” Hitchcock, Texas; O.
Taylor Pickard, Jr., “Pokeypine,” Kingsport,
Tenn.; Scott A. Piddington, “Voyageur,”
Sanbornton, N.H.; David Aaron Pigue,
“Gator,” Melrose, Fla.; Ben Pinnell, “Atlas,”
Maryville, Tenn.; Jordan D. Plasse, “Smokey
Da Bear,” Warren, Mass.;
David K. Points, “Bonespur,” Dover, Pa.;
Michael Polic, “Rabbit,” Manitowish
Waters, Wis.; Robert Polic, “Comfortably
Numb,” Manitowish Waters, Wis.; Eric
Pope, “Hotrock,” Southborough, Mass.;
Marty Precheur, “Short Job,” Saratoga
Springs, N.Y.; Holly Proctor, “Tumbleweed,”
Taylorsville, N.C.; Wilson Pruitt, “Tex,”
College Station, Texas; Tasha Marie Purcell,
“Tinkerbell,” McLean, Va.; David M. Purdy,
“Pop-O,” Harrisonburg, Va.; David F. Puzzo,
“Goggles,” Brandon, Fla.; Dan J. Reid,
“Reider,” Cambridge, England; Benjamin T.
Reuschel, “Officer Taco,” Hamilton, Mich.;
Parker Richardson, “Up (of Up and Down),”
Austin, Texas; Andrew J. Rivers, “Shaggy
Sticks,” Stafford, Va.; Peter E. Rives, “The
Wicked Lobstah,” Banner Elk, N.C.; Murray
J. Robbins, “Carp,” Perth, Australia; Brian
Robinson, “Flyin’ Brian,” Mountain View,
Calif.; Sophia Lewis Robinson, “Silver
Girl,” Mountain View, Calif.;
Raymond L. Roese, “Grey Panter,” Moscow,
Pa.; Thomas M. Rogers II, “Southern Boy,”
Memphis, Tenn.; Josh A. Roland, “Curious,”
Vernon Hills, Ill.; Lewis R. Rose, Jr.,
Rick Huber (“Dr. Duct Tape and Faithful Dog Kiona”) completing their 1996 southbound
thru-hike.
Tara Novakowski, “Spork,” Wilmington,
N.C.; Ben Nunnallee, “Boonie,” Sebring, Fla.;
Keelan P. O’Brien, “Irish,” Fort Collins,
Colo.; Eric Oelschlaeger, “Eric,” Waxhaw,
N.C.; Clinton B. Ohmstede, “Hornet,”
23
Australia; David J. Skelly,
“Ramblin’ Man,”
Ogdensburg, N.Y.; Steve
Slaback, “Diesel,”
Westerville, Ohio; Donald
R. Slick, “Slick,” Lancaster,
Pa.; Adrian F. Smith, “Just
Pete,” Pickerington, Ohio;
Andrew L. Smith,
“Traillite,” Griffin, Ga.;
Melvin Bradley Smith,
“Rooster,” Hodges, S.C.;
Mike Snyder, “Jaberwock,”
Frostburg, Md.;
Jen Sober, “Figit,”Alexandria, Va.; Sean Sober,
“Dinner Short,” Alexandria,
Va.; Reid Spain-Strombom,
“Lost & Found,” Steamboat
Donna Stowe (“Masey”) was in a tie in 2004 to be the
Springs, Colo.; Sean M.
second-oldest woman thru-hiker, “flip-flopping” to finish
Spatz, “Keytone,” Matthews,
N.C.; Greg Spencer,“Roadher trip in Harpers Ferry in December.
runner,” Broken Arrow,
Okla.; Sheila Spitzak,
“Bones,” Monson, Maine; Carl D. Rosenthal, “Lonesome Dove,” Concord, Mass.; Gregory
B r i d g t o n , M a i n e ; M i c h a e l R o w e n , Staley, “Bear Behind,” West Hartford, Conn.;
“Tortoise,” Dillingham, Alaska; Nathan Adam Stanley, “Stanimal,” Verona, Wis.;
Russell, “Swix/Barking Spider,” Grand Patrick B. Stanley, “Daybreak,” Leominster,
R a p i d s , M i c h . ; Wi l l i a m B . S a e g e r, Mass.; Edward J. Stehna, “Deadhorse,”
“Longshot,” Miami, Fla.; Bradley Sale, Jackson, Mich.; John Steinbrunner, “Mello
“O’day,” Carlisle, Ky.; Casey Sanders, Yello,” Ft. Mitchell, Ky.; Dan Stone,
“Sundown,” Marietta, Ga.; Sylvia Sanford, Lexington, Mass.; Kenneth M. Stone, “Gray
“Ursa Minor,” Petal, Miss.; Leah M. Panter,” Williston, Vt.; Brian C. Stoudt,
Scandurra, “Giddyup,” West Barnstable, “Rockhound,” Boyertown, Pa.; Donna M.
Mass.; Fred Schaltenbrand, “Publix,” New Stowe, “Mosey,” Gastonia, N.C.; Bill
Port Richey, Fla.; Laura A. Schmid, Strickland, “Jakebrake,” Westminster, S.C.;
“Sundance,” Hilliard, Ohio; Paul A. Schmid, M a r k S . S u i t e r s , “ S t u m p k n o c k e r, ”
“Skyline,” Hilliard, Ohio; Joseph H. Sumterville, Fla.; Kaye Sullivan, “Pleiades,”
Schmidt, “Stretch,” Westerly, R.I.; Ann Hamden, Conn.; Christopher Paul Sussman,
Schulte, “Pilot,” Louisville, Ky.; Stephen “Shivers,” Williamstown, Mass.;
Schulte, “Vapor Trails,” Louisville, Ky.;
Jason T. Schwartz, “Chef T. B.,” Katonah, S t e p h e n C . S w e n s e n , “ M a i l m a n , ”
N.Y.; Christopher Scott, “Critter,” Baldwinsville, N.Y.; Robert J. Szendroi,
“Wounded Face,” Chula Vista, Calif.;
Lyndonville, Vt.;
Cynthia Taylor-Miller, “Mrs. Gorp,”
David R. Scott, “Iodine,” Houston, Texas; Wallingford, Vt.; Craig W. Ten Broeck,
Christopher W. Sellars, “Brun,” Hampton, “Wizard,” Washington, Maine; Sharon
N.H.; Eric G. Sgambati, “Nobody,” Terhune, “Poler,” Sheridan, Wyo.; Kara
Aurora, Colo.; Albert Shane, “Just Al,” Tholen, “Fauna,” Garnett, Kan.; Kyle
Leverett, Mass.; Aaron Shaw, “Snowman,” Tholen, “Flora,” Garnett, Kan.; Charlie M.
Buffalo, N.Y.; Melissa Shaw, “Mr. T,” Thomas, “Jr (part of “The Ratpack”),”
C h e s t e r f i e l d , M o . ; To m S h e r i d a n , Seaford, Va.; William S. Tinney, “Stumbling
“Sojourner,” Fairlawn, Ohio; Brian Sherk, Bear,” Newark, Del.; Hannah Joy Todd,
“White Patch,” St. Petersburg, Fla.; Gen “Willow,” Bangor, Maine; Nick Tomecek,
Shimizu, “Magnet,” Pomfret Center, “Blues Brothers,” Louisville, Ky.; Vincent
C o n n . ; A l a n S h o r b , “ P o n d e r e r , ” Tomecek, “Blues Brothers,” Lexington, Ky.;
Merrimack, N.H.; Chris P. Sibilia, “M,” Rebecca Tomlinson, “Wife,” Shelton,
Portland, Ore.; Dawn M. Sibilia, “Rising Conn.; Craig Tor moen, “Wigwam,”
Sun,” Portland, Ore.; Richard L. Siewert, Portland, Ore.; Garth Tormoen, “OCHO,”
“Grey Wolf,” Belleville, Ill.; William Port Edwards, Wis.; Narciso Torres, “Junior,”
S i n clair, “ Aussie Bill,” Fremantle, Denmark, Maine; David W. Tosten,
24
Partridge, Kan.; Warren F. Tracy, “Possum,”
Centreville, Va.; Gregg Treinish, “Skibum,”
Pepper Pike, Ohio; Elizabeth Trosper,
“Sarvis,” Newland, N.C.;
John S. Truesdell III, “Sierra Marmot,”
South Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Susan F. Turner,
“Hammock Hanger,” Jacksonville, Fla.;
Hans C. Uecker, “Mickey,” Arlington,
Texas; Holli M. Valentini, “Peanut,”
H i c k o r y, N . C . ; J o s e p h E . Va l e s k o ,
“Lightweight Joe,” Seneca Castle, N.Y.;
Katie Varatta, “I Need a Hug,” Cincinnati,
Ohio; Adam Varga, “Doctor Space Monkey
5000,” Flushing, N.Y.; Arwen T. Vaughan,
“Camera 2,” Houston, Texas; Heather M.
Vaughan, “Camera 1,” Houston, Texas;
Samuel A. Ver Planck, “Good To Go,” Silver
Lake, N.H.; Tova Carol Vitiello, “Sabra,”
Iowa City, Iowa; Craig T. Volpe, “Flare,”
Winooski, Vt.; Brian E. Waldo, “Waldo,”
Pittsburgh, Pa.; Clifford A. Walker, Jr.,
“Kip,” Atlanta, Ga.; Jason Walonoski,
“Rainy Jay,” Winsted, Conn.; Kevin Watkins,
“KP,” Terre Haute, Ind.; Robert Wehr,
“Quest,” Tarpon Springs, Fla.; Robert A.
Weidmann, “Def Balance,” Ft. Collins,
Colo.; Richard R. Wentzel, “Shadowman,”
Edgar, Wis.;
James Bobby West, “Driller,” Mocksville,
N.C.; Michael G. Weyrauch, “Clown,”
Virginia Beach, Va.; Kimball S. White,
“Zippy,” South Harpswell, Maine; A.
Harrison Williams, “Mousetrap,” Opelika,
Ala.; Andrew S. Williams, “Einstein,” Cary,
N.C.; Stephen Williams, “Sven,” Farmville,
Va.; Jeffrey Wilson, “Stickman,” Exeter,
N.H.; Joe E. Wilson, “Commando,”Ridgeway, Va.; John Wilson, “Canada Goose,”
Brampton, Ontario, Canada; Erik W. Wintturi,
“Erik/Professor,” Westminster, Mass.; Mary
Wise, “Poppins,” Princeton, N.J.; Robert M.
Wisnouckas, “Sweetfish,” Whitefield, N.H.;
Luke Wolcott, “Cool Hand Luke,” Rhinebeck,
N.Y.; Douglas Wood, “Kinloch,” Santee,
Calif.; Abygail Wright, “Clueless,” Glenside,
Pa.; Brian W. Wright, “Aussie Brian,” Perth,
Australia; Wayne Wright, “Pace Car,”
Melbourne, Fla.; Scott H. Wyatt, “30-30,”
Bethesda, Md.; Joe Yarmac, “Joe Flamingo,”
Lebanon, Conn.;
Joshua C. Yates, “Happy Feet,” Bristol,
Tenn.; Joseph P. Young, “Jukebox/
MightyJoy,” Oakland, Calif.; Naomi Sultana
Young, “Applecheeks,” Oakland, Calif.;
Stephan Young, “Nightrider/Rider,” Medina,
Ohio; Ryan M. Zajac, “Goose Dreams,”
Claysville, Pa.; Chris Zimmerman, “Doc,”
Boston, Mass.
MAY–JUNE 2005
VIDEOS
Releases of Interest to A.T. Hikers
New documentary makes lasting impression
By Becky Brun
hether you’ve hiked ten miles of the
Appalachian Trail (A.T.) or all 2,175
miles of it, you’ve probably seen some
pretty extraordinary things along the way:
wild animals mating, snow falling in June,
people hiking barefoot, backcountry lemonade stands, and more.
So, hikers were not too surprised when,
during the summer of 2003, they often found
a video camera waiting for them at a scenic
overlook, arduous switchback, or vacant
outhouse. Miles from television and movie
theaters, those hikers were becoming backcountry movie stars as filmmaker and previous thru-hiker Mark Flagler captured the
spirit of the A.T. in what became his debut
documentary, Appalachian Impressions.
When Flagler completed the A.T. in 2001, the thought of
returning to the Trail was as appealing as eating oatmeal and
peanut butter. Yet, after moving to the West Coast with his
newfound hiking partner (and future wife), he eventually packed
his bags and drove from Portland, Oregon, back to Springer
Mountain, Georgia, with a new goal in mind: to make a documentary about the trail that changed his life.
“I wanted people to learn what the Appalachian Trail experience is really like,” he says, looking back on a year and a half
of filming, editing, producing, and marketing his film. “I
wanted people to see what I saw and understand why more than
8,000 brave souls have had the desire and determination to
successfully hike the entire Trail.”
In order to share that experience, Flagler revisited 1,000 miles
of the Trail, interviewing hikers, rangers, volunteer Trail crews,
hostel owners, and others who help paint the A.T.’s distinctive
identity. He toted his camera and 65-pound pack for six months,
following thru-hikers from Georgia to Maine.
While it took a few weeks for word to spread about Flagler’s
project, hikers soon came to know the “Carolina Cruiser” (Mark
is a native of Wilmington, North Carolina) as a compatriot.
They paused along their journeys for 10-minute interviews,
sharing their frustrations, jubilations, cravings, loneliness, and
other feelings with the camera. Now that the film has been
released, viewers can almost taste the burgers in Georgia where
a local Boy Scout troop provides free hiker dinners two weekends out of each summer. They are chilled as they watch hikers
slog through the wettest hiking season on record. And, they
W
can feel a burn in their legs as hikers make
their way up one mountain after another.
Yet Flagler does not focus entirely on the
people hiking the Trail or the hardships that
they encounter. The film meanders from the
footpath to explain historic landmarks and
discuss the importance of land preservation,
Leave No Trace ethics, and more. And, for
those who have never undertaken a longdistance hike, the film explains the importance of packing lightly, planning resupplies,
filtering water, and other basics. Viewers
watch as hikers learn those lessons the hard
way—through blisters and stomach aches
and lonely nights without even a book to
read (in the name of saving weight!).
After reaching Katahdin in Maine, Flagler
dried the snowflakes from his camera and returned to Portland
with 105 hours of raw footage, to begin the editing process.
With the help of his fiancée, Terri, he chose the panoramic
views and alluring interviews that best symbolized the true
A.T. experience.
Hours of footage were often heartbreakingly pared down to
126 minutes, fitting onto two DVDs. A thru-hiker herself,
Terri helped Flagler write the script, brought to life by narrator
Peter Thomas. After adding music and final polishing, Appalachian Impressions was released last December.
Many people wonder which was a bigger feat—hiking the
entire Appalachian Trail or completing a documentary about
it. When asked, Flagler’s answer does not come easily.
“Making the documentary was probably harder,” he says. “I
wanted to film as many hikers as possible, which is easier said
than done.” Filming hikers often meant waiting hours at a
camping shelter or summit. “One day that sticks out in my
mind is a time that I hiked 12 miles, waited at a camp for four
hours, took 30 seconds of footage, and then hiked six miles
back to my car—in the dark.”
Appalachian Impressions can be ordered from ATC via (888)
287-8673 or <www.atctrailstore.org>; the DVD set is item #539
at $29.99 retail, $25.49 for ATC members. If you would like to
learn more about Mark Flagler, visit <www.flaglerfilms.
com>.
Becky Brun, a freelance writer from Portland, Oregon, is the editor
of Outdoors NW magazine.
25
REFLECTIONS
Finally Finished
By William J. McDaniel
hiked a few weeks last June and early July, only to be felled
by right-knee tendonitis, left-plantar fasciitis (heel spurs to
the uninformed), and the fact that Mom was to undergo
major surgery.
So, there I was, 114 miles from completing this never-ending
Trail hike, a saga of pain, destitution, and only mild fortitude,
and I jumped ship. Well, actually, I limped painfully off ship
and headed for Oklahoma. There, Mom was recovering. My
aches abated somewhat, although my left foot continued to
prevent me from doing anything more strenuous than sitting
quietly on a bar stool with my foot resting on a constantly cold
can of beer. Ice does the trick.
Shirley, my wife, was fed up with my hiking saga. When
finally I got home, I told her that perhaps I might just skip those
last 114 miles. After all, I had done the majority of the Trail
since 2000, and that should count for something. She fixed her
blue eyes on me in a rather steely and, I admit it freely, a frighteningly intense, fixed stare.
“William, I’m not going to sit around for the next 30 years
and listen to you moan about not completing your hike. You
are not welcome to relax here until you have completed it.
Now, go away!” (Actually, she was a little more direct.)
With that endorsement, I tentatively planned my last leg,
beginning in late September, hopefully well ahead of the snows.
Unfortunately, my left heel continued to hurt, and I was worried. I knew that, if I were to remain in the good graces of my
wife, a most important consideration, once I started, I was going to finish even if I had to hire someone to push me in a
wheelbarrow.
I went to see a friendly podiatrist, a nice young lady. I explained
my plight and asked if she had some podiatry magic in the form
of inserts, or perhaps a cream I could rub on? She looked my foot
over and said, sweetly, “Admiral, you need a shot.”
I begged her to reconsider. All I wanted was simple magic.
Nothing complicated. She just smiled and pulled out a needle.
The fact that I am writing this is an indication that I lived. My
motto thereafter became, “A numb foot is a good foot.”
On September 22, I met my college roommate, Dr. Perry
Taaca, in Monson, Maine, to resume my aborted summer-vacation hike. Perry and I wrestled in college. Although he remained
in good shape, he had never hiked. Run, yes. Hiked, no.
Gordon “Slow Motion” Canning, who finished the A.T. last
July, gave us a ride to Monson, and we donned our packs. Perry,
who has never had the occasion to don a pack, being a person
of normal good sense, looked somewhat uncomfortable.
We headed down the Trail, with Perry carrying maybe ten
I
26
pounds more weight than me. Should I have taken some of his
excess weight? Do I look stupid? He was carrying an eight-pound
Bowie knife in case he had to fight a bear or a moose or something. He adopted the Trail name “Long Knife” for about two
hours and then started trying to find a way to rid himself of the
excess weight. He did scream, “Why in the world does anyone
do this for fun?”
I won’t burden you with too many details. We marched over
roots and rocks and mountains and bogs and met an occasional stray moose. Perry remained morose for a few days, especially on the fourth day, when he carefully surveyed a babbling brook before crossing, then promptly fell flat on his back.
He learned, painfully, that it is a good idea to put your cell
phone, very good digital camera, and recorder in Ziploc bags if
you are plan on swimming. He took no more pictures and made
no more calls. I think he blamed me for not pointing out the
Ziploc-bag rule. On the other hand, I thought it painfully obvious that one should not step on green, wet rocks.
We were trying to make time, so we stocked up on water and
hiked vigorously most of the way up White Cap Mountain, where
we hastily set up camp in an increasingly heavy downpour. During the night, Perry’s three liters of water slowly leaked out of
his water bag, into his sleeping bag. He was not happy.
However, in spite of all the above, Perry’s masochistic side
came through. He began to believe that he was actually having
fun. We hiked on, getting ever faster and faster. We diverted to
White House Landing and partook of their famous one-pound
hamburger. That was the meat. The bun weighed close to that,
and the twelve tomatoes piled on top added another pound.
Wonderful! We were both in good spirits, especially after the
one-pound brownie with Ben and Jerry’s ice cream on top. It
took a lot of Ben and Jerry’s, but we persevered.
Send us your stories
Reflections has been for two decades where we have published your stories about your Trail experiences. A new
format for your magazine will allow many more opportunities to showcase your adventures (with photographs, too).
At the moment, we are looking for two types. One is firstperson articles that recount what members find (spiritually, physically, emotionally) when they visit a certain
place. The second is short profiles of members that answer
these questions: name, age, hometown, last section hiked,
last great book read, best advice ever received, wisdom for
novice hikers, can’t hike without. We will publish the best
we receive. Submissions are best sent by electronic mail
to <editor@appalachiantrail.org>; if mailed, they should be
typed and double-spaced.
MAY–JUNE 2005
Reflections
We arrived at Baxter Park on September 30, gazing wonderingly up at Katahdin. Perry arrived with a new Trail name. We
had met a thru-hiker—ravenous, pale, long beard, a feverish
look in his eye—several days previously. He introduced himself,
“Hi, I’m Southern Man. Who are you?”
“I’m the Admiral, and this is my friend, whose name is
evolving.”
“Hello, Admiral. Good to meet you. Hello, Evolving, happy
to make your acquaintance.”
So, Perry is “Evolving.” Sounds right to me.
We did climb Katahdin on October 1 along with “Slow Motion” and a 67-year-old ex-Marine buddy of his who swore he
could hike up backwards. Unfortunately for him, he chose to
hike up frontward and became very, very tired. So, after taking
all the compulsory pictures, “Slow Motion” told us he would
take his friend down the mountain via the Abol Trail, a 1.8mile-shorter and necessarily steeper route to the bottom. Perry
and I went down the A.T. and arrived at the bottom just before
dark. That is not an easy mountain!
We collected “Slow Motion’s” car and drove over to the Abol
Trail terminus, where, in full darkness, there was no sign of
him or his friend. They had left the top without flashlights.
With protestations from the ranger that we were not allowed
to ascend the mountain after dark, Perry and I donned warmer
clothing and lights upon our heads and headed up to see what
party our friends had stopped at. We met them about a mile up,
descending, not really needing our help, but happy to see us,
nevertheless. We made it back to the bottom and drove to Millinocket, where “Slow Motion” bought us dinner and drinks
(an expensive proposition; if only he had known us better!) and
we celebrated our victory.
I’m done.
recorded in this section since 1987. One species on our list that
is at home on the high open balds and in the open understory
of hardwood forests is the beautiful Gray’s lily (Lilium grayi).
Conspicuous by a beautiful bell-shaped, deep red-orange
flower and erect stems with three- to nine-inch-long leaves
growing in up to six whorls on a stem, Gray’s lily stands out
among the subdued colors of other plants.
We found many Gray’s lilies on our first monitoring trip.
One plant stood out from the rest. Instead of the usual one to
five blooms on a stem, this plant had sixteen (photograph below). It was breath-taking. Three days later, we came back to
find healthy seed pods. On our next trip, the plant was gone.
Someone or some animal had removed it.
Many interesting and common plants are part of the plant
communities that grow within the site we monitor for ATC,
the National Park Service, and a state agency. A member of the
parsley family, Angelica, considered poisonous, is in bloom at
the time we check. The umbrella-like clusters of white flowers
attract many butterflies and bees. The bees are affected by the
nectar to such an extent that, when we lead hikes, we can pick
one up and hold it, and, when it is let go, it drops to the ground
and walks as if it were drunk.
Some plants have been seen only once during our seven years
of monitoring. Those include the purple-fringed orchis, in two
Retired Admiral Bill McDaniel was 61 when he completed his fouryear A.T. section-hike in October 2004. He lives in Oak Harbor,
Washington.
A monitor’s view
of wildflowers
By Rosalie Russo
e are on a hunt in late June. The location is a three-mile
section of the Appalachian Trail along the Tennessee–North
Carolina border on the highlands of Roan Mountain between
Yellow Mountain Gap and Bradley Gap. My husband, Daniel, and
I are volunteer monitors with the Appalachian Trail naturalheritage monitoring program. We “hunt,” count, and attempt to
assess the health of rare and endangered native plants.
Our list contains six species, some of which have not been
W
Not long after monitors took this photograph of a 16-blossom
Gray’s lily, the plant was gone. Photo by Daniel Russo.
27
Reflections
different locations, and the white-fringed orchis. The white
orchis disappeared while we were elsewhere on the A.T. doing
our count.
The Trail in our monitoring area displays cheerful yellow
ragwort, primrose, common daisies, and strawberries just ripe
for picking.
Threats to rare, endangered, and even common plants that
we have seen include picking of the flowers, illegal harvesting,
ATV and horse use on the Trail and around the area, and large
groups of people who wander off the Trail on the open balds.
We would like to encourage hikers to visit this site. It is one
of the most beautiful and scenic areas on the A.T. The only
request we have is that you please help us educate everyone
not to pick the flowers.
Rosalie Russo lives in Jonesborough, Tennessee.
People or adrenaline?
I wasn’t supposed to be impressed by this trail anyway.
But, I was.
I loved the simplicity of hiking, the full-bodied joy of what
I was not doing: not working, not driving, not hurrying. An
introvert in buildings, suddenly I seemed to fit in. I was making
friends, helping to invent Trail names for the holiday hikers we
encountered. I met a tattooed guy who picked up the book I’d
left in a hiker box. I discovered the impact Trail magic can have
when I chugged a forest-cooled Orange Crush.
When I returned from my very expensive mountaineering
trip, I thought about which trip was more enjoyable. I felt surprised by my answer. No doubt, Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier were
adrenaline-packed adventures, but I’d connected with people
on the A.T.
I felt I could see anyone I met on the A.T. tomorrow and pick
up where we left off. Somehow, a beautiful trail through southeastern forests had brought an inwardly focused person like me
to treasure relationships. There it is: I daydream, not just of
this special trail, but of the friendships woven there.
Elizabeth O’Connor lives in East Ridge, Tennessee.
By Elizabeth O’Connor
left my boot prints on only 150 miles of the Appalachian
Trail, shelter mice crawling over my hair gave me the willies,
my modest attempt to “yogi” for food on a holiday weekend
didn’t even net a cookie, and I feared I might never experience
ache-free knees again.
So, why this incessant daydreaming about returning to the
A.T.?
I had no plans to get attached to it. Bah, I thought at first: a
trail threading through southeastern forests won’t compare to
the grandeur of the sculpted mountains I once hiked in the
Pacific Northwest. And, who needs people? I’ll hike alone, so
I can get in shape for my upcoming mountaineering trip.
“You’re not going alone,” my wise husband said. I looked at
him hopefully, eyebrows raised, but he tilted his head at me,
his expression saying, “You want me to hike for two weeks
without a shower or a refrigerator? Think again.”
Thanks to a great response to my ad in the Appalachian
Trailway News, a group was assembled quickly from five different states. In a letter, I warned my unmet hiking partners,
“I do have the goals of Hood/Rainier in mind, so I can’t really
‘slack off’ as long as I’m feeling good.”
In other words, I’ll let you come along, but, if you can’t keep
up, I’m leaving you by the Trail like a discarded jar of peanut
butter.
So, why was I close to tears on day four of our trip, when
we reunited with two members of our group (mother and son)
who had dropped back, way back, on day two? And, why was
I torn by indecision on day five, when another of our group
decided to slow down and hike with the mother and son? I
was keeping my aggressive pace, sticking to my itinerary, and
I
28
Max Patch is not just
magnificent grass
By Jerome Drown
t is a Friday in May, a cold, cloudy, fog-shrouded morning
that threatens rain. Twenty-eight shivering hikers strap on
their daypacks a half-mile below the summit of Max Patch,
invisible in the cloudy nothingness above. We are the Retired
Citizens of Gatlinburg, and we hope to see the magnificent
views of Mt. Mitchell and the Black Mountains to the east and
the peaks of the Smokies to the west.
We pull on every available jacket in an effort to combat the
biting wind, then silently climb the stile and plod up the winding Trail, noting the sturdy, white strawberry blossoms deep in
the wet grass beside us. The fog swirls around us like a tangible
force; we are suspended in a ghostly dream that goes nowhere.
Slowly, the top of the bald emerges from the mist, and the
white-blazed markers of the Appalachian Trail loom dimly ahead,
but the views we have come for are denied us. The persistent
wind persuades us not to dawdle. We fall into line single-file on
the narrow A.T. and follow the blazes northeasterly, a faceless
group of cloaked figures moving stealthily through the clouds.
The grassy bald of Max Patch retains its mystery, but the
forest lies ahead with its treasures.
We pass buttercups and squawroot, blankets of wood anemone, and the tiny Canada mayflower just opening its delicate
blossoms as we descend into the woods. Tall blue violets and
I
MAY–JUNE 2005
straggling leftover trout lilies, still dripping from the fog, remind
us that the day is young, and golden alexanders nod in agreement. Foamflower and sweet white violets join the May apple
in their morning greetings; we walk beside serviceberry trees
on a path strewn with their discarded flower petals. A few largeflowered trilliums are a forecast of things to come. Suddenly,
we spot a clump of magenta-striped painted trillium, the first
of a series.
Now, we are in the deep woods, the fog has lifted, and the
Trail is more intimate. The wind is in the treetops above us,
and flowers surround us like gathering friends—yellow mandarin, blue cohosh, sweet cicely, trillium, doll’s eyes—in luxuriant, unabashed joy at being healthy and unrestrained. The
hillsides flourish with so many different kinds of blossoms that
we stand and marvel at the ebullient growth.
Below us, we hear the music of the stream, the Roaring Fork
that will keep us company most of the day. Above us, the cry of
the pileated woodpecker punctuates the stillness. Fragile fiddleheads of woodferns rise around us, among the last of the ferns
to open, and beech leaves shuck off their leaf covers and taste
the air. Spring is in full celebration on the Appalachian Trail.
Two young hikers, wearing shorts and heavy backpacks and
exuding a lot of energy, pass us early in the day. They have allotted themselves a week to hike 106 miles and will complete
their trek tomorrow.
We eat our sandwiches in a pleasant glade by the stream,
with toothwort and lettuce saxifrage as overseers, and continue on our way. Pink lady’s-slipper and white Clinton’s lily
are among the first of our after-lunch treats, along with what
seems like acres of white (grandiflorum) trillium cascading
down the hillsides in glorious profusion.
Perhaps the dominant impression we come away with on
this section of the A.T. is the sheer extravagance and lushness
of plant growth, overpowering in its richness and zest for living.
Flowers are not just frequent or common, they are rampant.
Jack-in-the-pulpit is not occasional, it is ubiquitous—growing
on the trailsides, up and down the hills, in deep humus and on
mossy rock outcrops, some small, some huge.
We meet a thru-hiker, alone on the long Georgia-to-Maine
trek, eating his lunch on a large, moss-covered boulder that
harbors many Jack-in-the-pulpit. “I hope you’re not sitting on
any Jacks,” I say. He answers blandly, “I don’t even know what
a Jack is.” Imagine, walking the A.T. from Georgia to Maine
and neither knowing nor caring about the plants you share the
Trail with!
The cove-hardwood forest has taken over now. Canada violet, purple phacelia, and meadow rue line the Trail, and we find
hiding beneath the Solomon’s seal many lovely showy orchids.
In streamside seeps, the huge umbrella leaves support their
small white blossoms, and wild geraniums add a splash of brilliant color. Painted trillium have been with us all the way,
smaller and quieter than their cousins but never out of sight.
Now, as we approach the gentle climb to Lemon Gap, wood
betony is massed on both sides of the Trail, and hundreds of
rattlesnake ferns escort us to our waiting cars.
The day has become warm and sunny, and there is no wind.
Jerome Drown lives in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Resolutions at the biennial meeting
ll resolutions intended for consideration by the membership at the July 4 meeting must be in writing (typed
or legibly handscripted) and accompanied by the name,
address, ATC membership number, and telephone number
of the sponsor, if submitted prior to June 28 (or the sponsor’s room number in Johnson City if submitted at the
conference). Under Board policy, resolutions are in order
only if they “relate to matters concerning the Appalachian
Trail or the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.”
Resolutions can be sent to ATC’s central office in
Harpers Ferry—if sent to reach there by June 28—or left
before noon, Sunday, July 3, in a collection box that will
be at the ATC sales booth at the meeting. (Resolutions
can be brought up from the floor of the business meeting
only if a majority of those present vote to permit consideration.) A Resolutions Committee will hold an open
meeting Sunday afternoon to discuss all submitted resolutions; the time and place will be posted above the
A
collection box and at other areas during the conference.
All resolutions will be read by the committee chair
during the business meeting July 4, but each must be
properly moved and seconded before discussion will proceed.
The bylaws of the organization can be amended either
by “a two-thirds vote of the members of the Conservancy
present at any meeting of the members when a quorum
(one hundred members in good standing) is present or by
a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.”
ATC members who wish to propose bylaws changes
may do so at any time. However, to be considered at the
biennial meeting this July, they should be submitted (typed
or legibly handwritten) not later than June 28 to David N.
Startzell, executive director, at the Harpers Ferry address.
A committee will review any proposed changes on July 3,
and they will be presented to the membership in a manner
similar to resolutions.
29
PUBLIC NOTICES
Research
Women A.T. thru-hikers needed.
I am conducting a doctoral research study in psychology on the
power of wilderness to transform
lives. It is a chance to relive your
A.T. thru-hiking experience
through story-telling. The research will be conducted through
June 2005. If you are a woman 21
years of age or older who has thruhiked the A.T. within the past 15
years, please contact Merry Coburn at <chrysalis@frontiernet.
net> or (607) 587-8790 for further
information.
Book. Journalist Phyllis Austin is
writing a book about Buzz Caverly and his service in Baxter State
Park since 1960. She would like
to talk with A.T. hikers who got
to know Caverly, as well as other
rangers, over the last four decades
and have interesting stories to tell
about the personalities and the
way the park was in the “good old
days” of the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s.
Contact her at <trout1@gwi.net>
or (207) 725-8885.
Hiking partners
Looking for a partner to hike the
high points of New England.
Would like to do them in late
summer or fall. Male, 60s, dayhiking only. Kenneth Novak,
e-mail, <nuken3339@aol.com>.
Section-hiker looking for a partner
for an overnight hike from Stecoah Gap, N.C., to NOC (13.6
miles). I am 66 years young but a
strong hiker. Planning this hike
for May 13–15, can be contacted
at <anaryates@info-ed.com> or
Public Notices—We are developing new ways—probably online, to be more timely—to publish members’ advertisements
elated to the Trail or hiking/conservation matters. Please
regularly check our Web site, <www.appalachiantrail.org>, for
updates on this, as well as an announcement in the next
magazine. In the meantime, you can continue to send them
to <editor@appalachiantrail.org> or mail them to: Public Notices, ATC, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. We will
include whatever we get in the new format and location.
(931) 258-3295; Arthur “Rowdy”
Yates.
615 Laurel Lake Drive, A-305,
Columbus, NC 28722.
Section-hiker, 65, female in good
health, looking for female
partner(s) or mixed group to hike
in May–June or August–September; prefer to start near Franklin,
N.C., but open to other options in
the South. Have hiked 200+ miles
of the A.T. and love the challenges. Jan, (850) 535-5149.
Summit magazines, spring 1991–
summer 1996, includes four
“Guide” issues. Clean, in good
condition. Free to a good home;
buyer pays postage/shipping. Contact Betsy Taylor-Kennedy, e-mail,
<betsy@taylor-kennedy.com>.
2,000-Miler looking for upbeat,
experienced hiker to share joyful
journey of the Long Trail in August
2005. Call (603) 823-8780 or e-mail
<gebo@pathofharmony.com>.
For sale
Books. Hiking the Appalachian
Trail, volumes 1 & 2 from Rodale
Press, 1975, with dust jackets;
very good condition; collectors’
items; $200 for the set, includes
postage. The Best of the A.T.–
Overnight Hikes (1994), The Best
of the A.T.–Day Hikes (1994), The
Thru-hiker’s Handbook (1998),
Walking with Spring (1983) by
Earl Shaffer, and the A.T. Data
Book (2000); all in good condition,
$30 includes postage. H.S. Ezzard,
Backpack. New, never-used
Mountainsmith Basecamp Pursuit; telescopic waistbelt, 2 external side pockets w/ pass-thru
functionality, 2 side water-bottle
pockets, internal sleeping-bag
compartment, hydration reservoir
pocket w/ drinking-tube exit port.
Capacity is 4,100 cu. in.; weight,
4 lb., 8 oz.; fits torso of 17–23".
New $125, will sacrifice for $100
+ shipping. Contact Arthur “Rowdy” Yates at <anaryates@infoed.com> or call (931) 258-3295.
Marmot Mountain Swallow 2person tent with matching footprint; like new/excellent condition; paid $400, will sell for $150
plus shipping. Gregory Mountain
Palisade backpack (large); like
new/excellent condition; paid
$230, will sell for $100 plus ship-
ping. Al McIntosh, (803) 2857362.
Backpacks: Jansport externalframe with extra new hip belt and
cover, blue, $50; Peak, with cover,
$50. Will pay shipping. Dave Bigard, (816) 795-9185 or (816) 2179320.
Found
On the A.T. in March near Laurel
Fork, Tenn., a neck piece with
what may be a Maori fishing hook
on it. To identify and reclaim,
contact Carolyn Novak, (423) 9281682.
For your information
Long-distance hiking workshops:
October 14-16, 2005 (women
only), and November 4-6, 2005
(co-ed). Designed for the beginner
or experienced backpacker who
dreams of a long-distance hike, be
it 100 miles or all 2,175 miles of
the A.T. Required backpacking
skills will be discussed and demonstrated by Melody Blaney, cofounder of Wildside Adventures
for Women and a 1996 thru-hiker;
everything from purchasing gear
to planning mail-drops. Plus,
some time to hike. The 2-night,
2-day October workshop will be
held at Sunrise Cabin in Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area in
Virginia and is for women only;
$155 per person. The November
workshop will be held at Backcountry Wilderness Lodges in
Damascus, Va.; $155 per person or
$275 per couple. For details, visit
<www.wildsideadventures.com>,
e-mail info@wildsideadventures.
com, or call (540) 384-7023.
Appalachian Trail Maintaining Clubs
Maine A.T. Club
Wilmington Trail Club
York Hiking Club
Outdoor Club of Virginia Tech
Appalachian Mountain Club
Batona Hiking Club
Cumberland Valley A.T. Club
Piedmont A.T. Hikers
Dartmouth Outing Club
AMC Delaware Valley Chapter
Mountain Club of Maryland
Mount Rogers A.T. Club
Green Mountain Club
Philadelphia Trail Club
Potomac A.T. Club
Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club
AMC Berkshire Chapter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Climbing Club
Old Dominion A.T. Club
Carolina Mountain Club
Tidewater A.T. Club
Smoky Mountains Hiking Club
Allentown Hiking Club
Natural Bridge A.T. Club
Nantahala Hiking Club
Susquehanna A.T. Club
Roanoke A.T. Club
Georgia A.T. Club
AMC Connecticut Chapter
New York–New Jersey
Trail Conference
30
MAY–JUNE 2005
I am the Appalachian Trailway News.
I turned sixty-six years old this January. I have been
published two hundred and sixty times.
One member of the Appalachian Trail Conference paid
for me at first. Today, I am supported by more than
thirty-five thousand.
I have gone from ivory-and-black to two-color to fullcolor. I have been fourteen pages long, and I have been
eighty.
I have been “set” in hot type and cold type and computer-to-film and even been converted into a portable
file for the World Wide Web.
I have had seven editors: founder/first financier Jean
Stephenson, a force within ATC for more than three
decades, from January 1939 to May 1964; Florence
Nichol, through 1973; Peter Dunning, until 1975; Lyn
Anderson, until October 1978; Steven Kazan, only until
May 1979; Judy Jenner, from May 1979 through November 1999; and Robert A. Rubin, until October 2004.
I have brought people of many lands and lifestyles together and perhaps rent some apart.
I have captured in my pages every possible emotion
experienced on Appalachian Trail journeys and carried
more than a few dry, but important, facts as well.
On July 4, my publisher is changing its name, to better
express its modern work as the conservator of the lands
through which the Trail passes. So, too, will I—to better
express those journeys.
I will remain the magazine for, and the voice of, the
members of ATC. And, your experiences, your excitement as hikers and Trail workers, will be at our core.
See you on the next level … . You’ll know it’s me.
31
Hillsides north of Max Patch are alive with trillium in early May. See story on pages 28–29. Photo by Jerome Drown.
Appalachian Trail
Conference
P.O. Box 807
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0807
Address Service Requested
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Appalachian Trail
Conference

ATN_May-June_2005 - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Transcription

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