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October 31, 2007
Hiking in Afghanistan:
A Soldier's Perspective
Yesterday I came across an online article in Stars & Stripes, a paper published for the US Military. The article talked about how hiking can be a regular part of the routine for a member of the US Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade. Of course, hiking in Afghanistan is nothing like hiking in the US. These soldiers not only have to negotiate steep terrain carrying as much as 100 pound! They also run the risk of encountering enemy fire along the way. My hat is off to these brave young men!
Below is the article as it appears online. This article is "Used with permission from Stars and Stripes. © 2007 Stars and Stripes."
Photo gallery: Afghan terrain tests soldiers' hiking skills
Afghan terrain tests soldiers' hiking skills
Rugged obstacles challenge troops from Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade
By Les Neuhaus, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Tuesday, October 30, 2007
MANAGAI MARKESS, Afghanistan — There are worse places to be in a war than Afghanistan.
The wars in Iraq, Somalia and the western Sudanese region of Darfur, for example, are waged against backdrops that are both parched and apocalyptic.
But that is not the case with the northeastern corridor of Afghanistan, which stretches along the Pakistan border. An endless patchwork of jagged mountains in the east pushes ever northward into the famed Hindu Kush, just beyond the Khyber Pass, and is home to the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade.
Parts of the brigade hike the trails of four provinces — Lagman, Nangarhar, Nuristan and Kunar — in search of al-Qaida and Taliban operatives. It’s a network that reaches deep into the hundreds of valleys and mountain peaks of this region.
Last week, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment descended a mountain peak well over 7,000 feet tall after spending six days encamped along a ridgeline.
They had been on the offensive against Taliban militants holed up in the Pech River Valley, which meanders and winds throughout the volatile Kunar province.
They had all of their gear, guns and ammo — and water. Each man’s backpack was between 60 to 100 pounds.
All the while they were in combat mode, as the “ex-filtration” of the operation involved searches and keeping on general alert.
The walk took the men of Company A, led by Capt. Louis Frketic, 29, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., more than 10 hours. By the end, everyone was exhausted, with some just barely able to finish, having run out of water by the end of the trail.
The blue sky exploded overhead with occasional 155 mm howitzer and 120 mm mortar shells pelting ridge peaks opposite of Company A’s torturous trails, which only seemed to grow more and more steep.
Throughout the day, U.S. Air Force F-15 jet fighters also screamed by, with a constant pitter-patter of helicopter blades swirling within earshot.
Negotiating the trails required teamwork from the troops. Communication was crucial between companies descending different mountain peaks at the end of an operation.
They rested when they came across local Afghan villagers. They exchanged traditional greetings but also peppered the Afghans with questions about the Taliban.
© 2007 Stars and Stripes. All Rights Reserved.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 02:30 PM | Comments (0)
October 30, 2007
Trail Magic: What is it? Is it all good?
When I hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2000, I was the lucky recipient of something commonly referred to in the hiking community as "trail magic." Trail magic can manifest itself in many ways. In early March barely 50 miles into my trip, I met a woman named "Coosa" at a place known as Unicoi Gap in north Georgia. She was handing out cookies and candy to hikers - including me! People like "Coosa" are commonly referred to as "Trail Angels." Trail Angels are the folks who dispense trail magic. Needless to say, I was thrilled and delighted at her generosity. Two days later a group of elderly men from Toccoa, Georgia who were out on a day hike found me sitting despondently on the side of the trail just north of Kelly Knob. (Don't get me started about Kelly Knob!) I was trying unsuccessfully to dress some deep heel blisters that had formed days earlier. They asked me how I was and I said, "not very good." With that, two medical doctors stepped forward and offered me advice, bandages, and some ibuprofen. They also loaned me a cell phone to call a family member to fetch me so my blisters could heal properly. It was the tonic that I needed at just the right moment.
The next five months saw many similar instances of serendipity, which was defined to me long ago by a mentor of mine as an "unexpected blessing." There were rides from strangers into towns, the offer of a piece of fruit or cold soda by a stranger after we exchanged a brief greeting as our paths crossed. Then there was the amazing incident where a trail crew from the Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) gave me M&M's as I passed them by. Imagine that! People making the trail better for hikers like me, and they were handing out goodies to boot! Simply put, there was hardly a single state of the 14 that the Appalachian Trail traverses where I didn't receive some sort of kindness from a stranger.
After my hike was over, I decided to return the favor. One hot day in 2001 I left a Styrofoam cooler filled with ice cold soda at a trailhead near my home in Warwick, NY. Written on the cooler in magic marker was a note instructing hikers to take one, and to place the empties back in the cooler when they were finished with their beverage. When I returned the next day to retrieve the empties, I found that the cooler had been smashed to pieces, and my gesture, which was intended as a kindness, had resulted in unsightly litter. This caused me to pause. The unintended consequences of my actions had probably diminished someone else's hiking experience. I was bummed.
In the last few years, trail magic along the Appalachian Trail has seemingly become less spontaneous and more planned. This has raised some legitimate concerns and questions. Are there places along the trail where that kind of event is inappropriate? What sort of impact, if any, does this have on the hiking experience?
In the last year or so, a dialog inspired by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has begun to discuss both the positive and negative implications of trail magic. Some think it's "all good." Others, like me, think that there should be some thought give to when, where and how trail magic is dispensed. Does that make me a curmudgeon? Gee, I hope not. I'm just a hiker with an opinion.
This past summer a 3-part series on Trail Magic written by Trail Angel Noah C. Kady appeared in the Record-Herald in Waynesboro, PA.
After reading the articles, you might want to visit the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Trail Magic web page.
Afterwards, we welcome your thoughts and comments on the issue. You can add your thoughts by submitting a comment below.
Happy Trails!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 01:18 PM | Comments (0)
Cell phones on the trail?
Have you ever spent the day hiking a trail, and when you finally reach your destination, some inconsiderate boob is yacking away on his cell phone? I vividly recall an instance from 7 years ago when I was awoken in Icewater Springs Shelter in the Smokies at 6 AM by a VERY LOUD hiker who felt compelled to call his wife to remind her to bring diet soda to trailhead later that afternoon. What an awful way to start a day!
Recently Leave No Trace released guidelines for cellphones on the trail. They are as follows;
- It is recognized that many outdoor recreationists carry cell phones for safety and emergencies. Be considerate of other visitors: carry and use cell phones out-of-sight and sound of other people. Keep them turned off until needed or left in a pocket on the "vibrate" or "silent" ringer setting.
- Be self reliant, whether carrying cell phones or not. Don't leave ill-prepared or engage in risky actions just because you have a cell phone to call for rescue. Remember that in many remote areas cell phone coverage is limited or non-existent.
- Many people go to the out-of-doors to get away from technology. Please respect their desire for solitude and be considerate when using a cell phone.
What do you thing of these loose guidelines? Please think about it and submit a comment to let your voice be heard.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)
Forever Wild to purchase nearly 10,000 acres of forest in Alabama
This morning I read with great excitement about a pending purchase of a nearly 10,000 acre tract of forest land in The area is home to rare mountain longleaf pine, similar to what is found on the Alabama section of the Pinhoti Trail. The land is being acquired by Forever Wild.
To read more about this acquisition, please visit the link below.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:15 AM | Comments (1)
October 27, 2007
Climbing Kilimanjaro:
An Account in the NY Times
A couple of months ago I had the honor of meeting Gerald Bigurube, Director General of Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA). He stopped by the offices of American Hiking Society to learn about our work with trails. After our meeting, Director general Bigurube extended an invitation to us to travel to his beautiful country. It's an opportunity I hope to someday accept. After hearing about climbing Kilimanjaro from a fellow thru-hiker (Hollywood Mike) on the Appalachian Trail in 2000, the thrill of standing high atop Africa on a frozen peak has remained alluring.
Today in the NY Times, and article by Tom Bissell entitled "Up the Mountain Slowly, Very Slowly" appears. This account of climbing the tallest peak in Africa is accompanied by a great multimedia presentation.
Enjoy!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 12:03 PM
October 23, 2007
Appalachian Trail in the Classroom:
Nantahala Hiking Club coordinates a teacher training
Click on above image to launch a PDF of this article (3 MB)
Following up on their successes from last spring, the Nantahala Hiking Club has completed another workshop to introduce hiking to classroom teachers. This project known as A Trail to Every Classroom is a joint project of the National Park Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and their local trail and community partners. American Hiking Society supported this local effort with a National Trails Fund grant.
To learn more about this effort, you can visit the National Park Service's Trail to Every Classroom website. You can also click on the image above to launch a PDF version of an article that recently appeared in the Franklin Press.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 04:24 PM
Bill McKibben to speak in Chattanooga November 6
Join the Benwood Foundation, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and the Community Research Council for a lecture by Bill McKibben at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.
McKibben is the celebrated author of The End of Nature, which is considered to be a classic work on the worldwide environmental crisis. His most recent projects include the novel Deep Economy and Step It Up 2007, the largest day of protest about climate change in our nation’s history.
The lecture is open to the public and admission is free. It will be held in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall, which is located inside the UTC Fine Arts Center at the corner of Vine Street and Palmetto Street. For a campus map and directions, click here.
More information on the George T. Hunter Lecture Series is available at www.benwood.org.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 12:08 PM
Kindred Spirits in Washington, DC
Kindred Spirits by Asher Durand
The past 8 days I have been in Washington, DC to attend the fall 2007 meeting of the American Hiking Society Board of Directors meeting. While in town sandwiched around work, I managed to get out and about and enjoy some of the many wonderful things that DC has to offer. That includes museums, hiking, cycling, movies, and fine dining.
One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the exhibit entitled Kindred Spirits: Asher B. Durand and the American Landscape at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It was a spectacular exhibit containing more than 50 paintings from this master of the Hudson River School of Art. It will remain on display in Washington through January 6, 2008. If you plan to be in the vicinity of our Nation's Capitol, I highly suggest that you carve out some time to see this spectacular exhibit of landscape paintings from the 1800s. The museum's permanent collection includes a number of treasures including works by William Merritt Chase, Jasper Cropsey, Edward Hopper, and so much more.
The Goat (L) and Seth Levy (R) along the Potomac Heritage Trail
Yes, that's Kudzu along the trail.
I was also able to spend a little time hiking with some Kindred Spirits along the Potomac Heritage Trail in NW Virginia along the banks of the Potomac River. We got together for a leisurely hike, a few laughs and some good conversation. The Potomac Heritage Trail is one of 8 trails to receive the designation of National Scenic Trail. That's the same status bestowed upon the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails. Although not nearly as long or as well known as some of those longer trails, the Potomac Heritage Trail is definitely worth the hiker's attention!
Jeffrey Hunter on the C&O Canal along the Potomac River
Early morning light on the C&O Canal
On Sunday morning I took in an adventure of a type that I haven't undertaken in perhaps 30 years. I rode approximately 30 miles on a bicycle with my co-worker Seth Levy! We started at Seth's apartment in the chilly pre-dawn hours and made our way to the C&O Canal by way of Rock Creek Park. Once on the canal, we rode 13 miles to the Billy Goat Trail. Once there, USGS Trail Ecologist and American Hiking Society board member Dr. Jeff Marion led us on a tour of the Billy Goat Trail. Jeff has been performing research to try and minimize user impacts upon this biodiversity hot spot where more than 50 rare plants are found. If you'd like to learn more about Dr. Marion's work to protect biodiversity along the Billy Goat Trail you can download and read his progress report on the project. (PDF 1 MB)
Dr. Jeff Marion's work along the Billy Goat Trail is protecting rare native plants from trampling
A hiker's view of the Potomac River Gorge from the Billy Goat Trail
They don't call it the Billy Goat Trail for Nothin'!
After 8 days in DC it was finally time to head back to Chattanooga. My flight out of DC was delayed because some much needed rain was falling in the southeast.
So here I am back in Chattanooga. After work I head to Nashville to see Ryan Adams live at the Nashville War Memorial. I just finished downloading the new Neil Young record Chrome Dreams II, so that'll tide me over on the ride to Music City. Yes, the American Hiker lifestyle is good!
If you're not already a member of American Hiking Society, I hope you'll start your adventure with us, and become a member today. After all, every great hike starts with a first step.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 11:02 AM
October 22, 2007
Trekking across N.C., one weekend at a time
On Friday I found an article in the Charlotte Observer about two friends who are section hiking the Mountains to Sea Trail. I thought some of you might enjoy reading about this great trail. Enjoy!
Trekking across N.C., one weekend at a time
Pals have started hiking the Mountains to the Sea Trail
By KIRSTEN VALLE
Reprinted by Permission
After three weekends and 85 miles in the wilderness, Frank Potter and Jim Walters have some tales to tell.
They've slept atop boulders, nursed sore muscles and trudged through the dark by the light of a mining helmet. Then there was "the angel in the pickup truck" who helped them out of a jam -- more about that later.
Potter is 65 and Walters is 62, and they are hiking the Mountains to the Sea Trail, a rugged route that stretches more than 930 miles across the state.
"Most people say, `You're doing what? And why?' " Potter said. "I say, `I don't know. But we've gone beyond that stopping point. We can't stop now.' "
The men, who live in south Charlotte, have both hiked before; Potter as an Eagle Scout, Walters with his daughter when she was growing up.
Walters, who is retired from Bank of America and now runs an online golf merchandise business, decided to hike this trail after reading "A Walk in the Woods," by Bill Bryson, about "two old guys hiking the Appalachian Trail," he said.
Potter, a longtime general manager at Brodt Music Co., agreed to come along a few months ago.
The pair raided their attics and their children's homes for supplies. Walters prepared by walking on his treadmill with his backpack.
The men decided to hike on the weekends only, and they set a timeline: "I've got to do this in two years, because I'm getting old," Potter said.
The Mountains to the Sea Trail, created in 1973, runs from Clingman's Dome near the N.C.-Tennessee border to Jockey's Ridge State Park.
The route gained popularity in the 1990s after a guide book was published, said Jeff Brewer, president of Friends of the Mountains to the Sea Trail.
Still, just 12 people have finished it since 1997, he said.
"It's pretty strenuous," Brewer said. "It's definitely not a cakewalk."
Potter and Walters set off one Saturday in early July for Clingman's Dome, driving two cars and parking them at the beginning and end of the section of trail they planned to hike. They quickly learned that the hike wouldn't be easy.
"I thought the first half-mile was going to kill us," Walters said.
The next day, the two were so sore they could barely lift their legs.
"If someone came up and got me, I'd quit," Walters thought at one point. "Then I realized that the only way I'm going to get out of here is to hike."
The pair emerged from the woods late that afternoon and embarked on their second hike later that month.
Potter and Walters were in high spirits until their third trip.
The men started on a Saturday in August on a narrow trail, moving at a rate of less than a mile an hour.
They ran low on water. And then it got dark. For about 1 1/2 hours, Walters lighted the way with a miner's helmet.
Potter and Walters finally reached their campsite and fell asleep -- only to wake up a few hours later to find their tent sliding off the rock where they'd pitched it.
It got worse. The next day, after hiking six hours through the Nantahala National Forest, the pair realized they hadn't seen a trail marker in awhile. They were lost.
Potter and Walters eventually came to a gravel road. An old man in a pickup pulled up, and they offered him $20 to take them back the way they came.
The man agreed to drive them for $30. The ride took 1 1/2 hours. Potter and Walters gave their new friend $40 and nicknamed him the "angel in the pickup truck."
"We would have still been lost if it wasn't for him," Walters said.
Later this month, the pair will try again, picking up where they left off for a 32-mile hike. Walters has invested in a GPS and mapping software, he said.
There have been a few complaints along the way, including some half-joking gripes about dull conversations and each other's snoring.
But the trail will get easier as the men trek east, and friends and family along the way have offered to help and even hike with them.
"Our friends are going to throw us a party if we get halfway through," Walters said.
He and Potter know it's about more than that, though.
"Just to take on a challenge of something that's physically hard, mentally hard and a lot of planning," Walters said. "Just to say you've done it."
And anyway, they've started, they say. There's no stopping now.
Mountains to the Sea Trail
• Started in 1973 under the N.C. Trails System Act.
• Stretches 934.5 miles across the state, from Clingman's Dome in Great Smokey Mountains National Park to Jockey's Ridge State Park, winds through 37 counties on footpaths, roads and state bike routes.
• Still under construction. Friends of the Mountains to the Sea Trail plans to build a complete foot trail across the state. The group has built 485 miles and has about 450 to go.
• More details: www.ncmst.org.
• Details about Frank Potter and Jim Walters' trip: www.trailjournals.com/pottwalt
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:20 AM
October 19, 2007
Autistic Hiker Released from Hospital
By KELLEY SCHOONOVER
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — An autistic teen who was lost for four days in the West Virginia wilderness was released from a hospital Friday, a day after his rescue from the rugged, foliage-filled terrain.
Jacob Allen's sister, Brittany, waved to onlookers as he was rolled out of Davis Memorial Hospital in a wheelchair. The 18-year-old was given a clean bill of health by the doctors who examined him, said Chris Stadelman, a spokesman for the search effort.
What happened to Allen during his four days in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in the Monongahela National Forest may never be known. Allen does not speak, and uses body language and pictures to communicate with his family.
From what rescue crews have been able to piece together, Allen didn't stray too far from where his parents lost sight of him Sunday while hiking the Boar's Nest Trail in the Randolph County section of the wilderness area.
He was found — hungry and thirsty but otherwise in good shape — on Thursday afternoon. He was curled up asleep, beneath the protective canopy of a rhododendron.
"The most frustrating thing, given how well this went, is that we don't have any idea and probably won't have any idea" about where he went or what he did, said Stadelman. "Ultimately we don't care if we know where he was because we know where he is. That's home."
Searchers feared for his safety during the time he was lost because of the cold. Overnight temperatures dropped to as low as 38 degrees the first night Allen was in the woods, wearing only a wind jacket and wind pants over his T-shirt and hiking boots. But as the days wore on, temperatures slowly began to rise.
"Every day, it just got warmer and warmer and warmer," Karen Allen told NBC's "Today" show on Friday morning. "It was like God breathed some warm breath on us here in the mountains."
Authorities don't believe he ate anything during his ordeal, and his mother said he was alert and hungry after his rescue. He ate two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before he was even out of the woods Thursday, she said.
Later that night in the hospital, he wolfed down some broth and Jell-O, said Stadelman. Before he was released, Allen also had eaten chicken and french fries, french toast, bacon, oatmeal and three servings of ice cream, he said.
Associated Press writers Tom Breen, April Vitello and Shaya Tayefe Mohajer, all in Charleston, and Vicki Smith in Morgantown contributed to this report.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:27 PM
The National Landscape Conservations System:
An Interview with American Hiking Society's Seth Levy
In 2005, American Hiking Society created it's second regionally focused program when we hired Seth Levy to manage our Western Public Lands Initiative. Before joining American Hiking, Seth worked for US Senator Susan Collins. Senator Collins represents Seth's home state of Maine. That's right, he's a Mainer!
Seth is responsible for promoting protecting great trails and natural resources found on 26 million acres of western lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Seth has been working diligently to organize week long volunteer trips on BLM lands through our Volunteer Vacations program, and to promote the National Landscape Conservation System through our National Trails Day program.
To listen to a 21 minute interview with Seth about this unique system of western public lands, please visit the link below.
Interview with Seth Levy, Manager of American Hiking Society's Western Public Lands Initiative (10 MB)
If you are inspired by our work, please support American Hiking Society by becoming a member!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:03 PM
Southern Appalachians Highland Conservancy acquires 430 acres in Roan Highlands
Roan Highlands in June
Anytime land adjacent to a trail is acquired and protected in perpetuity, it's a good thing. When land near the Appalachian Trail in the Roan Highland, it is a special occasion. The Roan Highlands are beloved by hikers, and many cite the area as one of their favorite places along the entire 2,175 mile length of the trail.
Today the Asheville Citizen Times is reporting that a 430 acre parcel known as the Powdermill tract has been acquired after many years of complicated negotiating. Here is the full article from the Citizen Times;
Conservation partnership protects part of Highlands of Roan
Paul Clark
October 18, 2007
NEWLAND - A pristine 430-acre tract of land in the globally significant Highlands of Roan has been purchased by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, adding to a network of protected lands that are rich in wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.
The land in Avery County is near the Appalachian Trail and the Pisgah National Forest and includes a high altitude ridge more than 5,000 feet in elevation.
The conservancy closed the deal on the property, known as the Powdermill tract after the creek that runs through it, last week. The purchase was a complex transaction, taking years to complete and involving partnerships among various government agencies, non-profit organizations and individuals.
The project is intended to further the goals of the North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan, adopted by the state of North Carolina in 2005 as its blueprint for fish and wildlife conservation for the next half-century. The plan calls for conservation of a wide array of aquatic and terrestrial species and their associated habitats and prioritizes the need for conservation of key large-acreage areas of high-quality habitat like the Powdermill tract.
“Several developers had approached the landowners, offering to buy the property,” said Carl Silverstein, the conservancy’s executive director. “If we were not buying it now for conservation and protection of wildlife habitat, it would very likely have been lost to development.”
The Powdermill tract is part of a 24,000-acre ecological network that is beloved by the public for its scenic value and recreational opportunities and is enjoyed by thousands every year, including Appalachian Trail hikers and campers; wildflower lovers, bird watchers, and other naturalists; students and classroom field trips; fishing and hunting enthusiasts; and winter recreationists such as cross-country skiers. The Highlands of Roan are also a key wildlife corridor for game and non-game species including black bear, grouse, turkey, and neo-tropical songbirds and is prime habitat for native speckled trout.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 08:21 PM
Today Show Interview with Autistic Hiker's Family and his Rescuer
Matt Lauer of the Today Show interviewed Jacob Allen's mother, brother and sister, along with the man who found him - Jeremy Reneau. You can view the 5 minute interview at the link below, but unfortunately, you'll have to endure a commercial in order to reach the interview. Sorry about that. That's NBC's doing.
Family of autistic teen recall his rescue
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:08 AM
AP: Autistic Hiker Found Alive in W.Va.
By TOM BREEN
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — An autistic 18-year-old lost in the wilderness for four days was found sleeping under a bush Thursday, weak but apparently fine, and reunited with his family, searchers said.
"To the best of our knowledge, he was just hungry and thirsty and fatigued," Jim Reneau, one of the nine searchers who found Jacob Allen, said at a news conference at the command post near Davis, about 150 miles south of Pittsburgh.
Allen, who wandered away from his parents while hiking Sunday, was found lying in a clearing about a mile from where his hat was found Monday.
Allen, who has the mental capacity of a 3- or 4-year-old, opened his eyes and rolled over to meet his rescuers when Reneau's son, Jeremy Reneau, called out his name.
"He was very quiet, he was nonverbal," said Jeremy Reneau, 25, the first to spot Allen. "But you could tell by his body language he was hungry."
Rescuers fed him candy bars and peanut butter sandwiches and tried to walk him out of the wooded Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, part of the Monongahela National Forest. When he became too tired, they carried him out on a litter, Reneau said.
"The family is all together," search group spokesman Chris Stadelman said. "As soon as they heard the report he was alive and doing fairly well, they gathered in a prayer circle."
Allen was in good condition Thursday night at Davis Memorial Hospital in Elkins, where he was to be kept overnight for observation, hospital spokesman Bill Phillips said.
"I think the whole state's relieved," said Lara Ramsburg, spokeswoman for Gov. Joe Manchin, who visited the Allen family Wednesday night. "We're all relieved for him and his family."
Allen wandered away from his parents Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of volunteers and trained professionals had been combing the woods, calling for him to come to them for candy bars, ice cream and other food.
Allen had no food or water with him, but Stadelman had said there were natural water sources in the search area, which consists of about 10 square miles of often steep and brush-covered terrain.
Overnight temperatures dropped to as low as 38 degrees on the nights Allen was missing. He was wearing hiking boots, a long-sleeved T-shirt, a wind jacket and wind pants.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 12:32 AM
October 18, 2007
CNN: Autistic Hiker Found Alive After 4 Days
Breaking News:
Great news that we hope is accurate. CNN is reporting that a spokesman for the Search & Rescue operation has informed the Associated Press that the missing hiker has been found alive. Stay tuned for more developments as they emerge.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 05:17 PM
Search Continues for Autistic Hiker
DAVIS, W.Va. (AP) — A severely autistic hiker was not expected to shy away from strangers calling his name as they searched the dense woods for a fourth day, a spokesman for the rescue effort said Wednesday.
More than 300 people, volunteers as well as trained professionals, trudged through the rugged terrain of the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, shouting for 18-year-old Jacob Allen, or "Jake," to come to them to get ice cream, candy bars and other food.
"He has no fear of strangers," search spokesman Chris Stadelman said.
As night fell, the volunteers went home and were replaced by about 15 seasoned professionals skilled in night searches.
The family and the rescuers remained confident Allen would be found. "We're planning to find him tonight," Stadelman said. There were no plans to scale back the rescue effort, he said.
Gov. Joe Manchin visited the Allen family Wednesday evening and pledged the state's resources to help find the teen, spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg said.
Allen's sister earlier told CNN the family worries that Jacob, who uses pictures to communicate with his family, isn't able to respond when called to.
"That is our biggest concern, that someone calls for him and he cannot say, 'I'm here,' you know, 'Help me,'" said Brittany Allen.
Jacob Allen wandered away from his parents Sunday afternoon while hiking on the Boar's Nest Trail in the Monongahela National Forest.
He had no food or water with him, but Stadelman said there are natural water sources in the search area, which consists of about 10 square miles of often steep and brush-covered terrain.
Though overnight temperatures have dropped to as low as 38 degrees since Jacob Allen got lost, hypothermia is not a concern as long as he stays dry, Stadelman said. Some parts of the region got rain Tuesday night, but the search area remained dry, Stadelman said.
Allen was wearing hiking boots, a long-sleeved T-shirt, a wind jacket and wind pants.
Editorial Note: Here at American Hiking Society, we send out our thoughts and prayers to Jacob and his family, and hope that a happy ending will occur in the very near future. To learn more about autism from an autistic hiker, you can listen to a 26-minute interview with Jeff Smith.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 03:10 PM
Our Work: American Hiking Society on Capitol Hill
Jeffrey Hunter (L) meeting with US Congressman Zach Wamp
On Tuesday October 16, Jeffrey Hunter was on Capitol Hill to meet with Staffers from the offices of US Senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander. While there, he also met with US Congressman Zach Wamp to discuss the childhood obesity epidemic, and how hiking can address this very serious issue. Congressman Wamp recently introduced the FIT Kids Act (H.R. 3257), which seeks to integrate regular physical education into the No Child Left Behind Act.
If you find our work inspiring, please support our work by joining American Hiking Society. Thank you!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:20 AM
Recognizing and Eliminating Barriers to Participation in Hiking by the Visually Impaired
In April 2006 American Hiking Society Southeast Trail Program Director Jeffrey Hunter presented a poster entitled "Physical Activity Policy for People with Disabilities: A Trail Program that meets the Call to Action." This poster was co-authored by Jeffrey Hunter, Vision Teacher Suzanne Goodemote, and Health Scientist Dr. John Librett.
The "Call to Action" refers to the Surgeon General's 2001 report seeking to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity.
To download and view a PDF copy of our poster, which can be used to inspire and plan field trips for the visually impaired or other disabled populations on hiking trails, please visit the link below. In the coming weeks, American Hiking Society will be releasing a template for planning special events involving disabled populations on trails.
Physical Activity Policy for People with Disabilities: A Trail Program that meets the Call to Action. (157 KB) (PDF)
If you find this work inspiring, please support our work by joining American Hiking Society. Thank you!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 08:50 AM
Interview with Blind Hiker Michael Hanson
Michael Hanson and his inspiring message
On Wednesday afternoon October 17 I had a long chat with Michael Hanson from St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Michael, who is blind, is planning to attempt a northbound thru-hike of the entire Appalachian Trail starting on March 1, 2008. He will be using a GPS unit and a white cane to navigate his way 2,175 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. You can learn more about Michael's quest by visiting his website www.blindhiker.com. That site is currently under development, so you may want to book mark it and return at a later time.
To listen to a 21-minute interview with Michael about his hike, please visit the link below.
Interview with hiker Michael Hanson (10.2 MB)
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 08:22 AM
October 16, 2007
Hiking with Autism:
An Interview with Jeff Smith
American Hiking Society Staff at a trailhead in Montreat, NC
Jeffrey Hunter is the second from the right, and Jeff Smith is
next to him holding the map
Autism according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is a developmental disability that affects an estimated 1 in 150 births.
This week, a young man with autism hiking in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia became separated from his family, and as I type this, a search & rescue operation is taking place to find the young man. Here at American Hiking Society, we send our thoughts and prayers out to the family, and hope that this story has a happy ending.
Today, I interviewed Jeff Smith from Raleigh, North Carolina. Jeff is an avid hiker who also happens to be autistic. Jeff and I talked about hiking and autism. Both Jeff and I hope that this interview helps people understand a bit more about autism, and how many folks with autism are not only capable of hiking, but enjoy participating in all kinds of outdoor activities.
To listen to this 26 minute interview, please visit the link below.
Interview with Jeff Smith
(12.5 MB)
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 06:01 PM
Friend to Hikers and Appalachian Trail Mourned
Miss Tilly on the porch of her cabin
Photo by Ruth Babylon of Virginia Outdoors Foundation
Used by permission
Matilda "Miss Tillie" King Wood 1918-2007
Next year Appalachian Trail hikers will miss a twenty-year tradition, hot biscuits at Wood's Hole Hostel at the head of Sugar Run Valley, Virginia, cooked by Tillie Wood. Tillie passed away on Sunday, October 14, 2007. Matilda King was born February 27, 1918 in Adalee, Oklahoma, the first child of Carl Lomas King of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Mary Smith King of Winslow, Arkansas. Her education began in a one-room school for Cherokee Indians. At her mother's insistence, the family, including her younger brother, Ben, and sister, Tinky, moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas for a better education. Tillie worked her way through the University of Arkansas where she met Roy K. Wood of Augusta, Arkansas. After Tillie graduated with a Master's in Biology, she married Roy and moved to Sugar Run, Virginia where her husband was studying an elk herd for his Master's thesis in Wildlife Conservation. They spent the first year of their marriage in a hand-hewn chestnut log cabin, with a fireplace for heat and a creek for water. They later bought the cabin which is now the Wood's Hole Hostel. Roy went to work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Atlanta, and Tillie moved into an old farm house on Woodstock Road outside of Roswell, Ga. There, Tillie raised her three children, Mary Jo, Ben, and Jere. Tillie taught school; started the first kindergarten in Roswell, which grew to become High Meadows School; organized the first Girl Scout troop; helped organize the Roswell Historical Society; served as president of the Women's Club; traveled with Jimmy Carter and the "Peanut Brigade" to New Hampshire and other states in his Presidential Campaign; was a real estate agent; knitted and gave hundreds of sweaters and dolls to local hospitals for newborns; operated a hostel on the Appalachian Trail; and was involved in establishing many of the institutions that form the foundation for the City of Roswell. Tillie was most proud of the successes of her children and grandchildren. Tillie's husband, Roy Kellum Wood, and her brother, General Benjamin Hardin King, USAF, predeceased her. She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Mills of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; her children, Dr. Mary Jo Harris Osteen, D.V.M., of Ball Ground, Georgia; Benjamin Travis Wood, AIA, of Shanghai, China; and the Honorable Jere Wood, Mayor of Roswell; and her grandchildren, Jere Harris Metcalf, Neville Harris, Amy Wood, and Roy Travis Wood. Tillie's love will be missed by many. The memorial service for Matilda King Wood will be Wednesday, October 17, at 2:00 PM in the Roswell Presbyterian Church, 755 Mimosa Blvd., followed by a reception in the Courtyard Room of the Church. The Reverend Dr. Lane Alderman, assisted by The Reverend Richard Hill and The Reverend Margaret Turney-Ayer, will preside. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, Georgia 30075.
Editorial Note: Miss Tilly will be dearly missed by the hiking community. Here at American Hiking Society, we thank her and her family for the lasting legacy that they have left in the form of a conservation easement on the property around the cabin.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 01:53 PM
Blind Hiker to take on Appalachian Trail in 2008
In March 2008, Minnesota Resident Mike Hanson will attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail. While that story in and of itself is not unique, the fact that Mike is blind and will be hiking without a guide dog is.
To read about Mike's upcoming challenge, please visit the link below. Stay tuned for an interview with Mike Hanson, here at the American Hiking Society Southeast Trail Program blog.
Blind Hiker to Take on Appalachian Trail
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 11:12 AM
Flashback 1990: Blind Hiker Completes an 8 Month Journey
Nearly 17 years ago, Bill Irwin and his guide dog Orient completed their hike of the Appalachian Trail. To read about this remarkable feat, please visit the link below. It contains the NY Times story on Bill's hike from November 22, 1990.
Blind Hiker Completes an 8-Month Journey
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:58 AM
AP: Crews search for Autistic Hiker
Crews Search for Autistic Hiker
By SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Crews combed rugged terrain early Tuesday in the hopes of finding an 18-year-old autistic hiker who wandered away from his parents.
For a second night, temperatures dropped to around 40 degrees in the region where 18-year-old Jacob Allen is believed missing.
When he disappeared two days ago, Allen had no food or water with him. He was wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt, wind jacket, wind pants and hiking boots in the Dolly Sods Wilderness, said Chris Stadelman, the search group's spokesman.
Emergency responders and volunteers found his hat Monday, near where he had last been seen Sunday afternoon.
Search crews are focusing on 10 square miles of often rugged, steep and brush-covered terrain in the Randolph County section of the wilderness area, which is in the Monongahela National Forest.
"Some of it is back country where it's so thick you can't see five feet in front of you in the daylight," Stadelman said.
About 45 people searched overnight Monday, deliberately lighting campfires to make themselves visible in case Allen was nearby. More than 100 searchers were expected to help in the effort Tuesday, and dogs and helicopters also were being used.
Allen wandered ahead Sunday afternoon while hiking with his parents, Jim and Karen Allen of Morgantown. He didn't answer when they called his name, Stadelman said.
While Allen is described as severely autistic by his mother, Stadelman said, he is in good physical shape and likes to hike.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:50 AM
October 14, 2007
20,000 Days Down the Road, a Night on the Path
I haven't been purchasing the print edition of the Sunday NY Times very often lately. At $5, it's a lot of money to pay for a newspaper. With a mountain of laundry to do today in prep for 9 days of business travel, I broke down and picked it up.
After reading all the regular sections of the paper that draw my attention (Front Section, Week in Review, Sports, Magazine, Arts & Leisure, and Book Review), an article caught my eye that nearly slipped by. Entitled '20,000 Days Down the Road, a Night on the Path', this article tells the tale of an elderly New Hampshire couple, Jim and Eleanor McQueen, who in their early 80s after 55 years together decide to take a hike and end up spending the night outdoors.
Although the story has a happy ending, it could just as easily ended in tragedy. If you plan to head out in the woods for an hour or six hours, you should have certain things with you at all times.
For a full listing of the 10 Essentials to carry in your backpack, click here to download the American Hiking Society Hike Checklist. Or, you can email Jeffrey Hunter and request a copy be sent to you.
Have fun out there on the trails, but please, be careful!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 05:12 PM
October 12, 2007
Mountains-to-Sea Trail segment to be dedicated
From the Asheville Citizen Times
Partners in the development of the 1,000-mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail will dedicate a 15.1-mile segment near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Ashe and Alleghany counties Saturday.
The trail segment stretches along the corridor of the Blue Ridge Parkway between N.C. 16 and U.S. 18. The trail’s construction was a joint effort of the North Ashe County Task Force, the Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the National Park Service and the State Trails Program of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
“Our division and its partners are committed to the completion of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the west to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the coast,” said Lewis Ledford, director of the state parks system. “And the vision is being realized through successes such as the completion of this important trail segment.”
Martha Bogle, deputy superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, said: “Without the tireless dedication of the volunteer community and support of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation and Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, this fine hiking opportunity would not be available. The National Park Service looks forward to the continued opportunity to partner in providing this recreational trail to the residents and visitors in western North Carolina.”
Construction of this Blue Ridge Parkway segment received a boost when the American Hiking Society organized crews to help through its Volunteer Vacation Program. Volunteers from as far away as Wisconsin and Florida arrived for a concentrated session of trail building in September 2006.
The dedication will be held at 1 p.m. at the Sheets Gap Overlook at Parkway Milepost 252, about 4.7 miles south of the parkway’s intersection with N.C. 18. Attendees are invited to bring a picnic lunch at noon and a short 1.2-mile hike is offered at 2 p.m.
Organizers have also invited the public to participate in a hike of the entire segment beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday. To register, contact Allen de Hart at (919) 496-4771 or ADH4771@aol.com.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 12:11 PM
Interview with Jeff Brewer of the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail
Jeff Brewer atop Forester Pass on California's John Muir Trail
This morning I interviewed Jeff Brewer, President of the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail. Jeff is an excellent leader in the trails community here in the southeast, and in this 17 minute interview he shares some of the highlights of the Mountains to Sea Trail (MST), and how folks can get involved to help complete the construction of the trail.
To learn more about the MST, please visit the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail website. You can also pick-up Allen de Hart's book "Hiking North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea Trail." You can also visit Jeff Brewer's trail journal from his 2003 thru-hike of the MST.
Enjoy!
Launch the 17 minute interview with Jeff Brewer. (8.4 MB)
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 11:47 AM
The Nobel Peace Prize 2007
Albert (Al) Gore Jr. and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change".
To read more about this award you can read the NY Times coverage of the story. To learn more about climate change and what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, please visit the Alliance for Climate Change website, or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) website.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 08:26 AM
October 11, 2007
The last Wood Thrush of the season?
Finally, fall has arrived in Chattanooga! On Monday I was in Memphis where it was a record high 95 degrees. Crazy! Today the skies were blue, the air was nearly crisp, and the expected low tonight is 45. As the sun was sinking low, I put on a hooded sweatshirt and headed outside to do a little evening birding at Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden.
American Robins were everywhere. In the air. In the trees. In the grass. I also caught sight of a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We have been inundated with them lately, and that's a nice situation to have. The males are not quite as gaudy in their alternate plumage, and I actually find the females more striking. Though drab at first appearance, I caught sight of a female Grosbeak preening under her wing. Beautiful shades of yellow were revealed as she primped and preened for me. Wow!
As I walked along the gravel roads, squirrels were scurrying everywhere, looking for and storing food. Eastern Bluebirds were in the fields and on the fence posts, and an Eastern Wood PeWee sallied forth from a barbed wire fence catching gnats in the soft evening light.
At about the mid-point of my hike I encountered a lone Swainson's Thrush in the woods. Sitting quiet and still, I was able to ID this beautiful migrant in the low light of the forest understory. Just a few weeks ago, the area was "covered up" in Swainson's Thrushes. This was the first one I've seen recently. Most of them have already pushed through Chattanooga on their way to the tropics.
I stepped out of the woods onto a gravel road and found myself surrounded by Robins. A pair of Northern Flickers flushed from the grass, and as I watched them fly, my eyes locked onto a bird on the gravel road about 50' in front of me. It was a Wood Thrush. With the light fading, the Thrush would soon be taking off for it's evening migration. By morning it would probably be somewhere in Alabama. Within a few weeks, the bird will find itself in Costa Rica or somewhere in the tropics where it will remain until April. It's a perilous journey, and there's a good chance the bird won't make it back to breed here next year. Would this be the last Wood Thrush for me in 2007? I hope not. They are one of my favorite birds. Especially when the males are singing during the spring & summer.
I moved slowly off the road into a meadow and flushed a group of sparrows. Sparrows and fall Warblers confuse the heck out of me, and I couldn't identify any of the small birds flitting around in the meadow in the low light.
I worked my way over to Lookout Creek. There' across the creek stood a pair of White-tailed Deer silently watching me. Does, both of them. As I raised my binoculars for a closer look, they ran off into the dense undergrowth.
Continuing along, I encountered a Muskrat gliding quietly along in the creek, only to disappear underwater. A hundred feet downstream stood a Great Blue Heron on a log. Stock still and awaiting a meal, the large bird paid me no attention.
With the sun slipping away I headed home to feed the cats and dog and myself. It was a nice day to be outside. Thank goodness fall is finally here.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 08:12 PM
Hiking Alabama!
Guide opens trails throughout Alabama
by Scott Morris for the Decatur Daily
Sink your toes into sugar white sand or climb a rock outcropping in the high country and do it all without leaving Alabama.
If there can be a theme to a field guide, that might be it for “Hiking Alabama.”
Daphne resident Joe Cuhaj includes some of your favorite trails and offers many lesser-known choices.
Many of the best trails are here in the Tennessee Valley, including several popular destinations in Bankhead National Forest.
But, have you heard of Caney Creek Canyon Preserve, a privately owned trail open to the public near The Shoals? What about Mountain Mist Trail in Huntsville?
The third edition of “Hiking Alabama” scores high for good directions to trail heads, simple trail maps and mile-by-mile directional cues.
It also includes difficulty ratings, trail contacts, fees and other information.
If the guide contains a weakness, it’s in the sections labeled “The Hike,” which are supposed to be the meat of the book. Some of this information reads more like filler material than interesting details of the trails.
But, overall, I recommend “Hiking Alabama.”
Treat it like a good compass or trusty flashlight. Toss it into your daypack so it’s there when you need it.
It might become one of those field guides that inspires you to visit every suggested hiking trail in Alabama, cutting another notch in your hiking stick as you go.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 05:51 PM
October 05, 2007
Benton MacKaye Trail Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers on the Benton MacKaye Trail in winter 2004
Now that you've learned about the fabulous Benton MacKaye Trail, how about getting involved to help maintain this masterpiece?
To learn about volunteer opportunities in fall '07, please visit the Benton MacKaye Trail Association's Activity Calendar.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 09:33 AM
October 04, 2007
Benton MacKaye Trail Featured in NY Times
View of the Great Smoky Mountains along the Benton MacKaye Trail
In the Friday October 5 edition of the NY Times in the Escapes section, an article entitled "Appalachia's Other Trail" appears. This article profiles the 290-mile long Benton MacKaye Trail, and the folks who made it possible.
To view this article, please visit the link below. Enjoy!
Appalachia's Other Trail - NY Times - 10/5/2007
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 11:46 PM
Volunteer Opportunities on the Cumberland Trail
Cumberland Trail volunteers are all smiles!
The Cumberland Trail Fall 2007 Schedule
The Cumberland Trail Conference is looking for volunteers and support this fall! We need help building bridges and continuing efforts on building this great trail. It’s not all work though, we like to have fun too. There are also back country hikes and a race you can attend, so come join us this fall!
- October 6, 2007: Stump Jump Race, 50k and 11 miler on the Cumberland Trail. Chattanooga, TN; visit www.rockcreek.com/stumpjump for details. A portion of the proceeds from the race will go to the CTC.
- October 11-17, 2007: College Week, Smoky Mountain Segment CT, near Caryville, TN; college students volunteering to build trail in the Smoky Mountain segment of the Cumberland Trail. We will be building trail from Coffin Springs to The Garden Spot. Lodging and meals will be provided at Stony Fork Community Center. Volunteers will need to bring a cot or some type of bedding. Camping is also available. Work will be from 8:00am to 4:00pm. This program is open to all adult volunteers.
- October 12-14, 2007: TTA Annual meeting, Crossville, TN, visit www.tennesseetrails.org for details
- November 3-4 2007: Smoky Mountain segment backpack, Cove Lake to the New River, 17.5 miles, rated strenuous. Join the CTC staff on an over-night backpack trip. Participants will be responsible for their own gear and how to use it. This will be a one-way hike a shuttle will be necessary. There will be a limit of 10 hikers. To sign up contact Tony Hook. tony.hook@frontietnet.net
• October-December, 2007: Soddy-Daisy, TN; Bridge building in the Rock and Possum Gorges, details TBA
Please register for these events on the CTC website www.cumberlandtrail.org
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 02:00 PM
October 03, 2007
Interview with Whiteblaze.net's SGT Rock
SGT Rock
Ernest Engman is a hiker and family man from East Tennessee who is better known in the hiking community as "SGT Rock." Sarge is a career military man who just completed his second tour in Iraq. He is also one of the driving forces behind Whiteblaze.net, which is a website that focuses on the Appalachian Trail. He is also a trail maintainer along the Benton MacKaye Trail in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness in North Carolina.
On Tuesday October 2, Sarge and I sat down for a 26-minute interview about a wide range of topics related to trails and hiking. In addition to discussing volunteerism, we discussed his upcoming thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. To follow along on Sarge's upcoming hike, you can visit his online trail journal. This hike will be unique, Because Sarge will use the 300-mile Benton MacKaye Trail between Springer Mountain, GA and Davenport Gap at the north end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Enjoy the interview!
26-minute Interview with SGT Rock (12 MB)
SGT Rock (far right) and Family
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 04:05 PM
October 01, 2007
Music of the Cumberland Mountains:
A Podcast with Bobby Fulcher
Bobby Fulcher playing music for students along the Cumberland Trail
Bobby Fulcher is the Manager of the Cumberland Trail State Park. Bobby is a naturalist, musician, as well as a folklorist who has chronicled the history of music along the Cumberland Plateau. He also has a weekly radio show entitled Cumberland Trail that airs Sunday nights at 8:30 (Eastern Time) on 89.9 WDVX.
Recently Bobby sat down for an interview in the studios of 91.9 WUOT in Knoxville. Host Matt Shafer Powell has a wide ranging discussion with Bobby about the rich musical heritage of the Cumberland Mountains. To launch this Podcast, please click on the link below. Enjoy!
Dialogue- Music of the Cumberland Mountains
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 01:28 PM
86 Years Ago Today...
On October 1, 1921 Benton MacKaye's article entitled "An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning" was published in the Journal of the American Institute of Architects. This article turned out to inspire thousands of Americans to build the Appalachian Trail. Today the "AT" as it is affectionately known, is arguably the most well known hiking in the world.
To learn more about Benton MacKaye, or to download his visionary article, please visit the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:58 AM