Three Decades of Protecting Our Nation’s Trails

Since American Hiking Society’s creation in 1976, its path to success hasn’t always been a smooth one. Here is a look at some of the struggles and victories along the way, as well as some of the people who have guided the journey.

By William Kemsley, Jr.

HEN THE environmental Why American Hiking Society to come down to D.C. to testify on the movement burst forth in the Was Born Appalachian Trail’s behalf. I made a early 1970s, it overshadowed a When I started Backpacker magazine, I number of phone calls and was crisis in America’s foot trails. began receiving several management amazed at my ineffectiveness. WA five-fold increase in new master plans a week from public land All the major environmental organ- backpackers coincided with a boom in managers asking for input on trails izations—Sierra Club, Wilderness Soci- snowmobiles, dirt bikes, and off-road and trail management. I studied the ety, National Wildlife Federation, vehicles—all during a time when the first of these and responded. But I Audubon Society—told me they were number of miles of trails was dimin- quickly realized it would be all I could deeply involved in far bigger environ- ishing. do to respond to half of them if I had mental issues, and that hiking was a The silence of the woodlands was nothing else to do. lower priority. shattered by the roar of motorized ve- Then one day, shortly after Back- So I called the hiking clubs located hicles as they took over many miles of packer began publication, Destry near the AT corridor along the Eastern the more easily accessible footpaths. Jarvis, the legislative representative of Seaboard, asking them to testify. Their Land managers in the National Park the National Parks and Conservation response was generally lukewarm. The Service, the USDA Forest Service, and Association, told me that the Ap- only person I had called who showed the Bureau of Land Management rec- palachian Trail Oversight Bill was up for the hearings was Jim Kern, ognized the problem and tried their being considered by the U.S. Senate. founder of the Florida Trail. Of course best to deal with it, but they were at He suggested I get some hiking folks Destry was there, as was Paul the mercy of pressures from Pritchard, executive direc- vehicle users and their pow- tor of the Appalachian erful industry supporters. Trail Conference. The managers got no help After the hearings Jim from anyone—including and I said in chorus, hikers—in protecting hik- “There needs to be a na- ers’ interests. They did the tional trails organization.” best they could with what Paul agreed. I asked Jim if they had. he would be willing to lead Amidst the causes of the such an organization, and day—the anti-Vietnam War he surprised me with the movement, the women’s readiness of his answer. movement, and the broader Before spring flowers environmental movement— bloomed, Jim got Paul and trails were way down the list me together in Brevard, of concerns. Everyone JIM KERN North Carolina, in the thought someone else In the 1970s, Bill Kemsley, Jim Kern, and Paul Pritchard foothills of the Great would take care of the foot (left to right) were key founders of American Hiking Smoky Mountains. trails. Society and instrumental in its early development. That was the founding meeting of American Hiking Society. the National Park Service; Robert We came to agreement on a set of by- Lucas, Forest Service head of research laws, a list of goals, and a detailed plan on recreation land management; and “Congratulations to American for building a national organization. William Holman, head of trails man- Hiking Society on providing 30 We dreamed up an ideal board of di- agement for the Forest Service. rectors. The three of us were joined by We held the first annual member- years of leadership in protecting Congressman Goodloe Byron and ship meeting in March 1978 at Chuck and promoting trails for hiking in Louise Marshall, publisher of a Pacific Sloan’s office. The first 30 American Northwest hikers’ newsletter, Signpost. Hiking members crowded into that America. American Hiking Chuck Sloan was roped in as our small space, adopted our by-laws, and Society has been a stalwart attorney. The launching board was elected Jim Kern president. One of the intact. new members, Glenn T. Seaborg, the champion for the the National Nobel laureate former head of the Trails System—America’s American Hiking’s First Victory Atomic Energy Commission under Even before we formed an official legal Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and premier scenic, historic, and entity, American Hiking Society held a Nixon, introduced a motion for Amer- recreation trails—through dozens couple of critical meetings to oppose ican Hiking to take seriously our chat- an excise tax on hiking equipment ter about a hike from the Pacific Coast of Volunteer Vacations and that had been moving quietly through to the Atlantic and offered to work out National Trails Day events and the congressional legislative machin- logistics for the hike across California. countless hours of advocacy over ery. It was an innocent enough pro- HikaNation was born on that day. posal by well-meaning conservation- the years. The institution of and ists who thought that since so many The HikaNation Walk Across strong support for Hike the Hill, people hiked, the tax would be an ex- America Begins cellent way of funding important con- At Backpacker magazine, we publicized the annual Trails Advocacy Week servation measures. the event, inviting hikers to join in the in Washington, D.C., has We felt the excise tax, while being hike wherever they could. Kern started enacted for a worthy purpose, would a newsletter to keep everyone in- provided a tremendous service for unfairly place the entire burden upon formed of the hike’s progress. The the users, sustainers, and lovers hikers, only one outdoors group, when President’s Council on Physical Fit- all outdoors people would benefit. So ness and the Department of the Interi- of trails throughout America. we lobbied against the measure. De- or’s Heritage, Conservation and Recre- May the next 30 years bring ever feating that legislation was American ation Service endorsed HikaNation. Hiking’s first success. The official kickoff occurred in greater success to American In the meantime, Sloan was busy 1980, when the 87 who had signed up Hiking Society’s good endeavors.” doing his pro bono work. He drew up for the hike across America got togeth- our legal papers so that, on October er at an American Hiking meeting in 13, 1976, we signed the documents San Francisco. The next morning sev- —Gary Werner signifying there was a new force on the eral hundred of us dipped our boots in Partnership for the National national hiking scene. And a month the Pacific Ocean and began the east- Trails System later, on November 19, we held our ward trek. first official board meeting. Among this throng were 36 of the The first board was composed of original 87 who now began the long Congressman Byron, James Kern, march in earnest, intending to go the William Kemsley, Louise Marshall, entire distance to the Atlantic. Fifteen The rings of a tree are Paul Pritchard, and William Ruskin, of them made it all the way. Several of always farther apart on founder of the National Hiking and the original group took breaks here the tree’s southern Ski Touring Association. The advisory and there because of sickness or per-

FUN FACTS side. Woodsmen often board included Boyd Evison, superin- sonal affairs and rejoined the hike read tree rings to find tendent of Great Smoky Mountains along the way or at the end. the compass points.

National Park; David Richie, Ap- The oldest to hike the full distance Hiking palachian Trail project manager for was 69-year-old John Stout. The TM ERNST

Right: HikaNation participants joined with other hikers on the U.S. Capitol steps in Spring 1981, then continued on to Cape Henlopen, Delaware—the hike’s final destina- tion. Above: a HikaNation reunion in Arkansas in 1984. youngest, Jamie Pyle, learned to walk Hiking was so great on the HikaNation route and was on that she joined the her own feet with the rest of the Hika- board, then worked Nation group as they walked up the as administrative di- U.S. Capitol steps to be welcomed by a rector for ten years at little to no pay, began to wield influence in Washing- congressional delegation. The group putting in 60 to 80 hours a week keep- ton. One of its most notable achieve- was joined there by a contingent of ing the records, organizing, and fol- ments was leading a coalition of other hikers to hoof it to the hike’s lowing through on legislative matters. organizations in getting the National final destination—Cape Henlopen, But no matter what American Hik- Trails System Act Amendment signed Delaware—where they dipped their ing did in those years, it simply could into law in 1983 by President Ronald boots into the Atlantic. not build membership to more than a Reagan. It established three new na- few thousand and was astonishingly tional scenic trails—Florida, Potomac American Hiking Society Gets a unsuccessful in attracting any signifi- Heritage, and Natchez Trace. Second Wind cant number of hiking clubs to join Despite this success, American One hiker who trod the entire 4,236- the effort. Trails at the national level Hiking was faltering. In the winter of mile HikaNation route, Susan “Butch” simply did not have any sex appeal. 1988, Chuck Sloan and I bumped into Henley, felt the need for American Nevertheless, American Hiking each other in the Catskill Mountains,

American Hiking Society • ORGANIZATIONAL MILEPOSTS First issue of American Hiking American Hiker and SnowSports American Hiking magazine Industries America American Hiking kicks off HikaNation, published create Winter a coast-to coast walk Society is incor- Trails® porated as a Volunteer Vacations™ starting in San Fran- becomes an official cisco to increase 1988 501(c)(3) and 1995 holds its first program of American awareness about 1989 board meeting. Hiking Society hiking trails. American Hiking 1993 and Backpacker magazine found American Hiking Society establishes 1976 1978 1980 the American Discovery Trail National Trails Day® where we discussed the sad plight of the organization. Chuck agreed to take his turn at the wheel. That was a stroke of luck for the hiking community. In a few years, Chuck breathed life back into Amer- ican Hiking, obtained contributions to hire our first paid staff, and launched a number of impressive ac- tivities before he stepped aside for other leaders to take over.

American Hiking Founds the American Discovery Trail (ADT) On Chuck Sloan’s first day in office in 1989, Backpacker editor John Vieh- man and its publisher Peter Spiers The American Discovery Trail, conceived by American Hiking and Backpacker suggested that American Hiking So- magazine in 1989, links many trails into a coast-to-coast network. ciety develop a coast-to-coast trail linking principal north-south trails period in 1990 and 1991. American national historic trails, 23 recreational and the shorter local and regional Hiking worked with Congress to pass trails and 10,000 points of historic, trails into a nationwide network. The the legislation for a feasibility study to scenic, cultural, and natural signifi- idea appealed to American Hiking be- move the ADT toward congressional cance. cause of its success with HikaNation designation as a national trail. The in 1980. ADT was a program of American Hik- Partnership for the National Trails While the ADT was conceived as a ing for seven years until it was turned System Is Formed hiking trail, many sections would be over to the newly organized American American Hiking quietly went appropriate for bicyclists and equestri- Discovery Trail Society in 1996. about its business of forming trail ans. The concept was described by Since then, many have hiked, run, coalitions with other organizations American Hiking and Backpacker mag- and bicycled long sections of the trail. and government agencies. In 1992, we azine as a “Route 66 for the self-pro- In 2002 and 2003, Joyce and Peter Cot- held the first meeting of the national pelled.” trell, a couple in their 50s, were the scenic and historic trails organiza- An ad hoc group was formed to first to hike the ADT along the entire tions, with representatives of 16 of the raise funds and identify the route. Eric official route. Along the way, the 17 trails groups in attendance. As na- Seaborg and Ellen Dudley were ap- Cotrells hiked through 14 national tional coordinator of the American pointed as field crew, and they began parks and 16 national forests and tra- Discovery Trail and an 18-year mem- scouting the route over a 14-month versed five national scenic trails, 10 ber of the Appalachian Trail Confer-

American Hiking 2001 American Hiking launches Society establishes National American Hiking Western Public Trails Fund spearheads Lands Initiative 1997 creation of South- 2003 American Hiking eastern Foot Trails 1998 2006 Society creates Coalition and American Hiking opens 2005 Hike-the-Hill: American Hiking holds first South- its first regional office in More than 1,200 Trails Advocacy Society announces eastern Foot Trails Chattanooga, Tennessee, National Trails Day events Week its Southern Conference as part of its Southern register with American Appalachians Appalachians Initiative Hiking Society Initiative ence finance committee, Reese Lukei were held in all 50 states, Canada, and and Europe. First as conservation di- was sought out by others at the meet- Puerto Rico. rector, then as president, Mary Mar- ing, particularly Gary Werner of the garet helped nurture the organization Ice Age Trail and Leo Rasmussen of National Trails Fund into the most authoritative voice for the Iditarod Trail. Bob and Dee Leggett figure promi- trails in the nation with a streamlined, In an evening session that stretched nently among the most dedicated, dili- efficient operation, ranking it among into the wee hours of the most respected the morning, all 16 rep- conservation organiza- resentatives pumped tions. In March 2005, Reese’s wisdom more the American Hiking fully, discussing how to board selected Gregory persuade Congress to Miller as its new presi- fund all of the congres- dent. Greg brought to sionally designated American Hiking more trails. They finally than 20 years of experi- agreed to operate as a ence in conservation Committee of 17, with and a life-long passion Gary Werner heading it for hiking. up under the wing of American Hiking the American Hiking has grown into an im- Society. pressive organization Since then the group, representing 240 local now known as the Part- clubs at the national nership for the National IVAN LEVIN level, for a combined Trails System, has Since its creation 13 years ago, National Trails Day has grown membership of more grown to include 28 into a highly successful annual event, with events in all 50 than 500,000 hikers. member organizations states, Canada, and Puerto Rico. As a nonpartisan or- and has succeeded in ganization, it believes obtaining funding for all national sce- gent, and strategic of our supporters. that cooperation is the most effective nic and historic trails. Bob served on the American Hiking means of achievement. Hikers cross all board for more than ten years and, to- layers of the political spectrum, and National Trails Day gether with his wife Dee, provided those sympathetic to the trails’ needs It may not be possible to identify in considerable funding for a number of often include many whose only trail whose head National Trails Day important American Hiking projects, experience is reading about it. (NTD) was hatched. When Chuck including the Alliance of Hiking Orga- Over the past 30 years, American Sloan asked that a long-range plan be nizations, the Partnership for the Na- Hiking Society has made a huge differ- developed for American Hiking, Butch tional Trails System, its website, and ence on behalf of the nation’s trails argued for National Trails Day’s inclu- all-important operational support. and all the hikers who enjoy them. sion in the plan. Peter Spiers of Back- But one of their most important and Throughout this special anniversary packer magazine was right by her side lasting contributions was helping to issue, you will discover how this or- pushing for it. He and Backpacker edi- launch the National Trails Fund. ganization has served effectively as the tor John Viehman offered the maga- Since 1998, the fund has provided voice of America’s hikers for the past zine’s financial support, which en- more than $290,000 to trail organiza- three decades. abled National Trails Day’s successful tions for land acquisition, tools, sup- launch. plies, and trail marking. Founder of Backpacker magazine and co- In its first year, 1993, National founder of American Hiking Society, Trails Day attracted more than a mil- American Hiking Society Today William Kemsley is considered by many to lion participants. Each year since then, From 2000 to early 2005, American be the father of modern hiking and back- NTD has occurred on the first Satur- Hiking Society was guided under the packing. This article includes excerpts from day of June, with hikes, educational ac- proficient leadership of Chuck Sloan’s Kemsley’s forthcoming book, The Back- tivities, and new trail openings. In daughter, Mary Margaret Sloan, who packer and Hiker’s Handbook: An Au- 2006, more than 1,200 NTD events grew up hiking in the United States thoritative Guide.