Journeys The magazine of the appalachian trail conservancy Spring 2015

Celebrating 2,000-Milers National Forests and the A.T. / A Community Defends Its Landscape ATC 2015 Biennial Conference Ultimate Journeys Appalach ian The Magazine of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Trail Store

Volume 11, Number 2 Spring 2015 open 24-7

Mission The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail — ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. Get Ready for Spring! Board of Directors A.T. Journeys On the Cover: Sandra Marra ❘ chair Wendy K. Probst ❘ Managing Editor American Backcountry has been the Made of fabrics from cotton to performance 2014 2,000-miler Sabrina “Cliffwalker” Clark Wright Jr. ❘ Vice Chair Traci Anfuso-Young ❘ Graphic Designer anchor of the Apparel & Accessories wicking — in varying styles to suit any Wright takes on Mount Madison in Elizabeth (Betsy) Pierce Thompson ❘ Secretary section of the Ultimate Appalachian Trail taste — American Backcountry is a New Hampshire Arthur Foley ❘ Treasurer Contributors Beth Critton Laurie Potteiger ❘ Information Services Manager Store for more than two decades. And has partner with a solid feel for what outdoor “The day before this we hiked from Mizpah Richard Daileader Brittany Jennings ❘ Proofreader produced the most popular T-shirts the recreational enthusiasts want. And it has Spring Hut to Madison Spring Hut. As we Marcia Fairweather Appalachian Trail Conservancy has offered developed three styles of headwear just left the Lakes of Clouds Hut and ascended Edward R. Guyot The staff of A.T. Journeys welcomes for 20 years and running. for the A.T. and ATC supporters. Mount Washington, the weather turned. Mary Higley editorial inquiries, suggestions, and comments. About half way up it started hailing Robert Hutchinson Email: [email protected] sideways,” explains Sabrina. “The fog was Terry Lierman so thick you could only see about 20 to 40 Carrie Rodriguez-Tweeten Observations, conclusions, opinions, and product feet and we had to decide whether the Samuel J. Sarofeen endorsements expressed in A.T. Journeys are those summit buildings or the hut below was Nathaniel Stoddard of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those closer. We pushed for the summit. The hike Greg Winchester of members of the board or staff of the Appalachian was hours above tree line in freezing rain. It Trail Conservancy. was one of my most difficult days. So in this ATC Senior Staff photo, the next morning, I am struggling to Ronald J. Tipton ❘ Executive Director/CEO Advertising Mesh-Sides Cap Wander with Unplugged May the Forest A.T. Diamond A.T. Compass A.T. Trucker’s Cap This tan cap with Purpose For those who still Be with You The A.T. diamond Compass points The mesh around ❘ regain the optimism that carried me 1,858 Stacey J. Marshall Director of Finance A.T. Journeys is published four times per year. mesh sides has the A play on "not all prefer the sounds By day or night, Trail marker on a encircling a Trail the back half of miles — it was a turning point for me. I & Administration Advertising revenues directly support the A.T. symbol and who wander are of Nature . immersion in the soft purple, with the scene. The quote this dark-tan cap knew the Whites and Maine were physically Royce W. Gibson ❘ Director of Membership publication and production of the magazine, legend embroidered lost" from American eastern forests. legend, "A footpath on the inner circle helps keep you cool & Development above the hard brim. Backcountry. #T068 / green for those who seek is: "Those who physically, too. The the most demanding part of the Trail, so the and help meet Appalachian Trail Conservancy #T069 / royal blue #T073 fellowship with dream the most "patch" above the best I could do, the only thing I could do, Laura Belleville ❘ Director of Conservation objectives. For more information and advertising #349 #T071 $22.95 $22.95 the wilderness." do the most." brim is laid down on was keep walking.” Brian B. King ❘ Publisher rates, visit: appalachiantrail.org/advertising. $23.75 $22.95 $xx (member) $xx (member) a bed of topo. $xx (member) $xx (member) #T005-P #T010 ❘ Javier Folgar Director of Marketing $22.95 $28.95 #323 Photo by Sabrina’s husband and thru-hiking & Communications A.T. Journeys is published on Sterling Matte paper that $xx (member) $xx (member) $23.75 partner Douglas “Stakes” Wright John A. Csordas ❘ Manager, Graphic is manufactured by NewPage Corporation and Somerset $xx (member) & Web Design matte that is manufactured by Sappi North America — both are provided by mills and distributors that follow responsible forestry practices. It is printed with Visit the Ultimate Appalachian Trail Store to see them SoySeal certified ink in the U.S.A. by Dartmouth Printing Company, Hanover, New Hamphshire. all and get a complete catalog of all ATC merchandise.

A.T. Journeys ( ISSN 1556-2751) is published quarterly for $15 a year by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 799 Washington Street, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425, (304) 535-6331. Bulk-rate postage paid at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and other offices. Membership atctrailstore.org For membership questions or to become a member, call: (304) 885-0460 Postmaster: Send change-of-address Form 3575 to toll-free: (888) 287.8673 A.T. Journeys, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425. or email [email protected]. email: [email protected] © 2015 Appalachian Trail Conservancy. All rights reserved. Get Social With Us Buy direct from the Ultimate Appalachian Trail Store and ensure maximum return to the Trail. ❘ From the executive director Create your legacy Growing the ATC Brand at Age 90 with The Last month we began the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). Until 2005, we were the Appalachian Trail Conference, and that name represented the history of the volunteer role in constructing and managing the Appalachian National Scenic Appalachian Trail. That year we changed our identity to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in order to present the organization’s role in the long-term protection of the amazing natural and cultural heritage of the A.T. and the surrounding landscape and adjacent communities. Trail During the past decade we have evolved to assume new responsibilities that include broader constituency building and a focus on resource protection beyond the Trail corridor. However, at our core we are still focused on the Planned Giving is an easy and flexible way to For more information ongoing stewardship of the A.T. in partnership with our 31 Trail meet your philanthropic goals while maintaining clubs, the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Call: 304.885.0458 and the states along the Trail. protecting the Trail you love. Whatever your The TCA is engaged in enhancing its “brand” in ways that enable stage in life, your financial circumstances and Email: [email protected] Visit: www.appalachiantrail.org/legacy us to be effective in advancing our new five-year Strategic Plan. I your charitable goals, let us show you how to was able to see this happening first-hand in January when I attended the Outdoor Retailer’s winter show in Salt Lake City. make a gift that benefits you and your loved This is the largest gathering of the outdoor industry in the United ones as well as the Appalachian Trail. States other than the summer version of this same event. The TCA staff, consultants, and our board’s marketing and communications chair, Betsy Thompson, came to this event with the intention of expanding our corporate partnerships and relationships with outdoor merchandise manufacturers and retailers. We had many very positive meetings with current corporate partners such as REI, Woolrich, ENO, and Point6, and also talked with a number of other outdoor equipment and clothing manufacturers and retailers. It was exciting to hear the obvious 2014 2,000-Miler Trey level of enthusiasm for collaborating with the ATC by these companies. They clearly understand the broad “Bikini” Trawick takes appeal of the Appalachian Trail and the role of the volunteers and Trail clubs in providing a wonderful a selfie with his hiking hiking experience, which is accessible to such a large population in the eastern United States. pole along the A.T. at Three examples stand out: Woolrich has created a special blanket design for the Appalachian Trail, Tinker Cliffs in Virginia Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail, with all of the proceeds for the sale of the first 50 of each blanket going to the ATC, Continental Divide Trail Coalition, and the Pacific Crest Trail Association. One Card. Countless Rewards. ENO is marketing a line of its popular hammocks and giving the ATC a generous percentage of the sales receipts. And REI is both a donor and sells a large volume of the ATC’s books, maps, and merchandise OThene Appalachian Card. Trail Conservancy Countless Visa® credit cardRewards. – a credit card that gives back every time you make a purchase. Additional card benefits include: manufactured by our partners such as Woolrich blankets and ENO hammocks. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Visa® credit card – a credit card that gives This matters not only because it is an important source of revenue for the TCA , but also because it is back every• timeCompetitive you make arates purchase. and fees. Additional card benefits include: a clear demonstration of how valued the Appalachian Trail and ATC brands are to consumers and to 1 • AutoCompetitive Rental Emergencyrates and fees. Assistance Services hikers. This is a tribute to us, but, more importantly, to the amazing army of A.T. volunteers and the 31 1 • Travel Emergency Assistance Services 1 Trail maintaining clubs that manage and maintain the world’s most popular long-distance hiking trail. • Auto Rental Emergency Assistance Services 1 Our staff, Stewardship Council, and Board of Directors are proud to be part of the ATC and to work • TravelWarranty Emergency Manager Assistance Service Services1 2 with this unique and inspiring volunteer corps.” • WarrantyFraud Liability Manager Protection Service1 Apply for your own card at: • Fraud Liability Protection2 Ronald J. Tipton ❘ https://www.cardpartner.com/app/A162B Executive Director/CEO Apply for your own card at: Follow Ron on Twitter at: twitter.com/Ron_Tipton https://www.cardpartner.com/app/A162B

Cards issued by UMB Bank, n.a. 1See cardholder benefits for details.2 Visa’s Zero Liability Policy covers U.S. issued cards only and does not apply to certain commercial card transactions or any transactions not processed by Visa. You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and Cardsother details, issued please by UMB consult Bank, your n.a. issuer. 1See cardholder benefits for details.2 Visa’s Zero Liability Policy covers U.S. issued cards only and does not apply to certain commercial card transactions or any transactions not processed by Visa. You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and other details, please consult your issuer. ❘ ❘ 04 a.t. journeys spring 2015 One Card. Countless Rewards. OThene Appalachian Card. Trail Conservancy Countless Visa® credit cardRewards. – a credit card that gives back every time you make a purchase. Additional card benefits include: The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Visa® credit card – a credit card that gives back every• timeCompetitive you make arates purchase. and fees. Additional card benefits include: 1 • CompetitiveAuto Rental Emergencyrates and fees. Assistance Services 1 • AutoTravel Rental Emergency Emergency Assistance Assistance Services Services1 1 • TravelWarranty Emergency Manager Assistance Service Services1 2 • WarrantyFraud Liability Manager Protection Service1

Apply for your own card at: 2 https://www.cardpartner.com/app/A162B • Fraud Liability Protection Apply for your own card at: https://www.cardpartner.com/app/A162B

Cards issued by UMB Bank, n.a. 1See cardholder benefits for details.2 Visa’s Zero Liability Policy covers U.S. issued cards only and does not apply to certain commercial card transactions or any transactions not processed by Visa. You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and otherCards details, issued please by UMB consult Bank, your n.a. issuer. 1See cardholder benefits for details.2 Visa’s Zero Liability Policy covers U.S. issued cards only and does not apply to certain commercial card transactions or any transactions not processed by Visa. You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and other details, please consult your issuer. One Card. Countless Rewards. OThene Appalachian Card. Trail Conservancy Countless Visa® credit cardRewards. – a credit card that gives back every time you make a purchase. Additional card benefits include: The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Visa® credit card – a credit card that gives back every• timeCompetitive you make arates purchase. and fees. Additional card benefits include: 1 • CompetitiveAuto Rental Emergencyrates and fees. Assistance Services 1 • AutoTravel Rental Emergency Emergency Assistance Assistance Services Services1 1 • TravelWarranty Emergency Manager Assistance Service Services1 2 • WarrantyFraud Liability Manager Protection Service1

Apply for your own card at: 2 https://www.cardpartner.com/app/A162B • Fraud Liability Protection Apply for your own card at: https://www.cardpartner.com/app/A162B

Cards issued by UMB Bank, n.a. 1See cardholder benefits for details.2 Visa’s Zero Liability Policy covers U.S. issued cards only and does not apply to certain commercial card transactions or any transactions not processed by Visa. You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and otherCards details, issued please by UMB consult Bank, your n.a. issuer. 1See cardholder benefits for details.2 Visa’s Zero Liability Policy covers U.S. issued cards only and does not apply to certain commercial card transactions or any transactions not processed by Visa. You must notify your financial institution immediately of any unauthorized use. For specific restrictions, limitations and other details, please consult your issuer. contents ❘ Spring 2015 ❘ 22 ❘ ❘ ❘ 2,000-miler Max “Bear Bag” 22 30 Mishkin on the Trail at Lehigh Celebrating 2,000-Milers Gap in Pennsylvania – photo In 2014, a record number of hikers registered ❘ Trailhead by fellow thru-hiker (from their completion of all 2,189-miles of the 18 ATC and A Walk in the Woods; Thru-hiker Germany), Bernward Henkel A.T. — including section hikers and Registration Proves Popular; New Official Trail Length alternative style thru-hikers. 42 ❘ ATC Profiles 30 Terry Lierman leverages his professional experience When the Dealing’s Done and his natural talent for bringing influential Last Spring, an aggressive bid to construct a people together to benefit the A.T. sprawling casino and resort just a stone’s throw away from the Trail in New York’s 44 ❘ Trail stories Sterling Forest State Park met unexpected A Trail enthusiast finds inspiration, receives an on-line resistance from a large community of citizens. hiking education, and makes a new friend while following a particularly spirited thru-hiker’s blog posts.

36 46 ❘ ATC 40th Biennial Spectacular Terrain Conference A now protected 6,000-acre parcel of land, This July, the Shenandoah Valley — with its just downslope from the A.T. corridor and sweeping natural beauty and deep historical southeast of the Saddleback Mountain significance – provides the ideal location for ridgeline in Maine, is the poster child for workshops, outdoor education, local entertainment, climate change adaptation, working forest, and hikes for A.T. fans of all kinds. and multi-use access for recreation. 55 ❘ As I See It 38 A long-distance section hiker becomes “at home” with herself and learns that less can be more in tough love all areas of her life. Since 2001, the volunteer work project known as Hard Core has been notable because it entices current A.T. thru-hikers to take two days off from their long haul to do tough work on the Trail beneath their boots.

❘ ❘ 14 ❘ 38 ❘ guided by a plan The A.T. cuts through eight national forests from Georgia to 04 ❘ From the Executive Director New Hampshire, making the ATC’s involvement in forest 08 ❘ Letters planning essential to the protection of the Trail. ❘ 46 ❘ 12 ❘ Overlook 50 ❘ Trail giving Storm clouds and sunbeams over the Blue ❘ public notices Ridge Parkway in Nantahala National 54 Forest − by Jerry Greer spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 07 ❘ Letters

Your feature displaying last blaze. After seven hours of this frozen I read Sandra Marra’s Matt Gentry’s pencil sketches of his time hell, I finally made it to Blue Mountain “Overlook” column [Winter 2015] with on the A.T. is outstanding! (“When Time Shelter only to find it filled with snow. I some concern. Reading between the lines, REHAB Stands Still” Winter 2015). In this world was wet and cold and the forecast was I wondered if “volunteer registration of universal digitalization, his calling for another foot of mountain snow. systems to manage key bottleneck areas” your gear. painstaking impressions harken back to I couldn’t stay. I pushed on 2.5 more miles could potentially lead to a permit system an earlier time, to Whitman and Thoreau to GA 17/75. Totally exhausted, I ran and similar to what already exists in Great and others who took the time to look, slid that last 2.5 miles and arrived at the Smoky Mountains and Shenandoah consider, and play back their thoughts road just before dark. I was picked up by a national parks. Too many restrictions take and senses on paper. I would love to see firefighter from Helen, Georgia who was away from the freedom and impromptu BEFORE AFTER them all and ponder. heading into work early because the nature of a hike — whether it be a thru- Dirt and soaked-in Clean, waterproofed Mike Maffett weather was expected to be so bad. He told hike or day hike. I am also holding my water stops sweat boots allow water Lake Burton, Georgia me I was lucky to get there when I did breath regarding the movie A Walk in the escaping so it stays in vapor to escape and because no one would have crossed that Woods and if it will truly represent the After receiving the Winter mountain road after dark. I spent the night typical Trail experience. Although it has your boots keep your feet dry issue of A.T. Journeys, I was glad to see the and dried out in Helen. Fortunately the been many years since I read the 1998 article on “Flip-Flopping” (“Flip-Flop forecast was wrong and there was no new book, my primary impression was that my Kick Off”). Flip-Flopping is a great benefit snow overnight. I was relieved, when I 15-year section hike of the entire Trail was to Trail maintaining clubs by spreading started back on the next morning, to find absolutely nothing like what Bill Bryson out the bubbles of hikers (I work with tracks in the snow. Finally, someone else experienced and wrote about. I was very Piedmont A.T. Hikers in southwest was breaking Trail. I followed the fresh glad that what I had experienced was more Virginia). I was also glad to see that photo tracks to Tray Mountain Shelter where I aligned with the dozens of other books and of flip-floppers “Phoenix” and “Johnny found three other hikers. I was glad to see articles I have read about A.T. experiences. Appleseed” with whom I hiked in New that there were some other hardy (or crazy) For once, I hope Hollywood does not Hampshire in August 2014. I left them souls out there with me. It was a rough way “follow the book precisely” and that Robert just before Franconia Notch at the threat to start a 2,189-mile journey, but after Redford will present a more accurate of a really bad storm, and am happy to see enduring that first week, the rest was a account of the wonderful A.T. experience. they completed their hike. Many thanks piece of cake. Richard G Gabriel for a great publication! Jared “SPARK” Sparks Marietta, Georgia Ron “Tarheel” Hudnell Marion, Virginia Winston-Salem, North Carolina Response from the ATc: Our hope The new A.T. Journeys format is to keep the system voluntary and to keep The “Wilds of Winter Hiking” with [four issues per year] “Four Seasons the A.T. as unregulated as possible, in keeping from the Winter 2015 issue brought a flood to love the A.T.” is great. The Winter 2015 with the principles by which the A.T. has been Damascus, Virginia of cold memories to me. I started my issue was a fine start. On my 1951 hike, managed for decades. The more people who Nikwax Nikwax Footwear Footwear NOBO thru-hike last year on February 8. the Damascus Police chief saw me with participate in the voluntary registration Cleaning Gel Waterproofi ng I was prepared for the cold and snow but my backpack and hiking staff and duly system, and make an effort to select start is an eff ective, adds safe, May 15 - 17 easy to use cleaner high performance was surprised to be struck so hard by it asked “What are you doing in Damascus?” dates with fewer people or even choose non- designed for water repellency to before getting out of Georgia. On just my When I told him I was hiking the Appa- traditional itineraries, the less likely a formal Don’t miss the fun! Highlights outdoor footwear. outdoor footwear. fifth day on the Trail, I left Low Gap Shelter lachian Trail the excited chief drove me permit system will be considered. in eight inches of snow. The snow had been around, showing me the sights, gave me include a hiker parade, educational light on the previous two days but February free food from his restaurant, and put In reading the article programs, guest speakers, free gear 13 would prove to be one of the most stamps on the picture postcards that he “Priority Privies” in the Winter 2015 issue, repair, music, food, and more. Stop by the NIKWAX difficult, exhausting days of my entire had given me to send out. He even offered I was reminded of a couple of articles in GEAR REHAB thru-hike. I had yet to see another thru- the jail for overnight. The postmaster was the ATC’s membership magazine from Appalachian Trail Conservancy booth in 3 step program hiker as I left the shelter. I spent the day also friendly and helpful. As time went back in the 1980s. The one had to do with the town park to enter and win prizes. SEND YOUR breaking Trail in driving snow and frigid on it did not take long for Damascus to some M.I.T. students building a solar s 2014 − b y D an I nnamorato y temperatures. I stumbled, slid, and fell recognize A.T. hikers and grow into outhouse, the purpose of which was, not GEAR TO REHAB. numerous times. I crawled through laurel the busy A.T. town with “the Place” and to warm the structure but to dehydrate nikwaxna.com/gr thickets where branches were weighted the many Trail-related stores and activi- the waste. This was to allow for the build- T rail D a at down with the heavy wet snow. Knee-deep ties. I have participated in many of the ing not to have to be relocated so of- At Nikwax we do all we can to minimize our impact

drifts covered the ridgetops and I searched A.T. celebrations. The early parades had ten. Technology advances with time and on the environment and people’s health. We are

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their pri z es the only established outdoor aftercare company as

frantically for white blazes in the frozen no water guns! I have no clue as to whether the solar rB F

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For more information visit: t

a n white forest, losing the Trail countless Gene Espy outhouse experiment was successful or and fl uorocarbon (PFC) free range. We have always W o b r avoided using PFCs as we believe they are a risk to Z a Macon, Georgia www.traildays.us e oc times and retracing my tracks to find the not. The other article had to do with consumer health and the environment. ro Fluor H i k ers show off 08 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 New York someone’s selection of their ten favorite Happy Birthday to one of my favorite 225 miles outhouses on the Trail. This generated organizations and people. Thanks for all ORDER YOUR A.T. many letters from readers agreeing or you do to preserve the A.T. LICENSE PLATE AND SUPPORT THE Chambersburg disagreeing with the writer’s selections Rebecca Harriett Gettysburg who offered their “top 10” lists. I always GO enjoy reading each issue of A.T. Journeys I always experience an uplifting in body, APPALACHIAN TRAIL! Washington DC as I receive it. Keep up the good work. mind, and spirit when out in the wilder- 85 miles Paperless! Richard B. Lutz ness. I come back feeling refreshed and Louisville, Kentucky cleansed. I think it’s the most natural of scenarios for humans to be immersed in We have seen what happens nature — it’s what we are hardwired to do.

when too many people hike, camp, and It is our roots, and when we become discon- North Carolina use our great natural resources. I hope nected from it our soul starves a bit. Appalachian Trail that thoughtful policy will prevail. I have Vincent DiCostanzo License Plate hiked [in a few of these areas] and noted Application The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) now has a specialty license tag in the state of North Carolina.

By getting your tag today, you’ll help the ATC protect and maintain America’s that where they [encourage itineraries] Can’t imagine our country without the Favorite Long Distance Trail! Facts  You must already have The ATC will receive $20 annually for each AT plate purchased or renewed. the vehicle registered in and limit how many can be in a group National Parks. In a nation filled with the North Carolina.  How Much Does It Cost? You receive a FREE with  ATC Membership $30 Regular Appalachian Trail plate* the purchase of your NC helps with the preservation, and the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life and  $60 Personalized Appalachian Trail plate* AT Tag. You are allowed four (4) spaces for a personalized message.  *The $30 or $60 annual ______1st Choice ______2nd Choice ______3rd Choice fee is in addition to regular annual license sounds of nature. I am a 60-year-old per- with all of the problems life brings to the Name (as shown on certificate of title): fees you have already paid.  Personalized tags may son who has, like many others, dreamed table, it is good to know there is an escape FIRST MIDDLE LAST be relinquished to someone else, but once a numerical tag expires ADDRESS without renewal, that to one day walk the long path of the A.T. from reality just down the highway — a number can never again CITY STATE ZIP CODE be reissued.  If you change your mind, you can go back to a And with some luck and good health I place where nature provides the enter- HOME PHONE OFFICE PHONE regular license plate at

Current North Carolina Vehicle any time. There will not be a refund of unused ______portion of special fees. hope to. And I hope that it’s not a highway. tainment. Teaming wildlife, nature’s PLATE NUMBER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER  Additional applications

______can be found online at

DRIVER’S LICENSE # YEAR MODEL MAKE BODY STYLE www.appalachiantrail.org If it takes limiting the hikers per day or laboratory of geysers and mineral pools,

Owner’s Certification of Liability Insurance I certify for the motor vehicle described above that I have financial responsibility as required by law. some other method, we need to do so. And waterfalls in abundance, and towering All proceeds received from each state will help manage and protect the Trail. FULL NAME OF INSURANCE COMPANY AUTHORIZED IN NC – NOT AGENCY OR GROUP

I want to thank all of the people who are trees lining a padded forest. Jagged TO ORDER, VISIT APPALACHIANTRAIL.ORG/PLATES POLICY NUMBER – IF POLICY NOT ISSUED, NAME OF AGENCY BINDING COVERAGE ______working on this problem. We cannot stick mountain peaks and deep caverns. A get- SIGNATURE OF OWNER DATE OF CERTIFICATION

Mail your check or money order made out to NC DMV Thanks for your generous support of the our heads in the sand. away where nothing exist but time and and application to: Appalachian Trail! Questions about the NC AT License NC Division of Motor Vehicles, Specialty Plate Division Tag can be directed to Leanna Joyner 828-254-3708. 3155 Mail Service Center Daniel Knott wonder. It saddens me to think these Raleigh, NC 27699-3155 www.appalachiantrail.org Lambertville, New Jersey refuges would ever disappear. Suzanne Grayson-Clarke MAY 2-3 | HARPERS FERRY, WV [Reading your] most recent issue (while sitting out a blizzard here in Thank you all present and past who have Maine) was most enjoyable. But the pic- helped maintain the treasure that is the ture on page 46 (“One Day at a Time”) is A.T. for all who have hiked it, those who Receive A.T. Journeys not Tuckerman’s Ravine, but rather the dream of hiking it, and those who are Great Gulf, a huge glacial ravine anchored just grateful that it exists — a place of right in your inbox, by Mount Washington, then ringed by beauty and tranquility in a busy and while reducing your Mount’s Jefferson, Adams, and Madison. noisy world. carbon footprint. The A.T. skirts the first two peaks but goes Carl DeAndrade over Madison then down the Osgood and Madison Gulf Trails as it crosses the lower portion of the Great Gulf on its way to the Old Jackson Road and Pinkham A.T. Journeys welcomes your comments. Notch. My first visit was in 1956, and it is The editors are committed to providing GAMES, GIVEAWAYS, still, in my view, one of the very special balanced and objective perspectives. places in the White Mountains. Interest- Not all letters received may be published. HIKING WORKSHOPS, LIVE MUSIC ingly, it was the first designated “wild” Letters may be edited for clarity and length. & FLIP FLOP HIKER SEND OFF! area, later re-designated as a wilderness area, in the White Mountain National Please send them to: Forest. Thanks for the great magazine and Email: [email protected] Subscribe today all you do for the Trail. appalachiantrail.org/paperless Ken Gordon Letters to the Editor To learn more visit: Enter your contact information and Windham, Maine Appalachian Trail Conservancy facebook comments www.appalachiantrail.org/flipflop Click “Go Paperless” P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0807 ❘ overlook

Coming out of what has been a long and snowy winter, our thoughts turn to sunny and warmer days along the Appalachian Trail. After late winter emergency weather alerts by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) to those planning a long hike, spring is more than welcome! For hikers it is time to plan both long treks and short outings. For volun- teer maintainers it is time to see what the winter has wrought along their sections. The promise of spring helps to renew our energies and our love of the outdoors. I have to be honest, though, that while the East Coast has been in a deep freeze I was lucky 2015 Appalachian Trail Conservancy to observe it from a distance. My husband and I spent January through March on a small Island off of Puerto Rico called Culebra. Just seven miles long, it boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. It is also home Biennial Conference to some lovely coral reefs, which allow for great snorkeling. It’s a far cry from the mountains of the Appalachia’s — yet my short time here has shown that “Hiking Through History” all caretakers of valuable resources struggle to balance use with protection. The island depends on tourism; yet as the visitor numbers grow, the impact to the beaches and the reefs are of concern. In addition to increased tourism, the resources are also being impacted by climate change and warming water temperatures. A large swath of the island and coast fall under the protection of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, yet some of the beaches are owned and managed by Culebra and in turn the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. As with the A.T., there is much to do and little money to support the work. The paral- lels are striking. So while I have been away I have also been reminded of the challenges facing the ATC and its Trail clubs in maintaining the delicate balance between increasing attention to the A.T. and our brand while recognizing the resource itself requires sensitive management and protection. This issue of A.T. Journeys celebrates those who have completed the Trail in the past year. It is a great accomplishment, which deserves ample acknowledge- ment — 901 people registered their completion of the A.T. in 2014. We are sure Shenandoah University Winchester, Virginia to see at least as many if not more this year. In addition, we continue to prepare for the possibility that after the movie A Walk in the Woods is released later this July 17 – 24, 2015 year our 2016 numbers could grow exponentially. One way we are looking to better manage thru-hikers and overnight sites Fun for the Entire Family! is through instituting a voluntary registration system that enables hikers to ■ Hike Where Rich History Meets Natural Beauty self-disperse their start dates to reduce crowding. This is expected to be es- ■ Excursions to Historic Locations & Wineries pecially important at the southern end of the Trail, where thousands of thru- ■ hikers start in March and April. The system also promotes alternative start Kayaking, Canoeing, Rafting, Biking & More locations, such as Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which further disperses use. ■ Informative Workshops So far the voluntary registration has received a very positive level of accep- ■ Exciting Presentations tance ­— as of March 15, more than 1,250 prospective A.T. thru-hikers have ■ Evening Entertainment participated. A longer-term goal is ensuring that all users learn at least the Special thanks to ■ 2014 2,000-miler Paul basics in Leave No Trace principles. Exhibits Platinum Sponsor “PapaPaul” Eveland The board and staff of theTC A continue to commit to effective Trail stewardship and protec- takes on Katahdin during tion. “Effective Stewardship” is the first of the five goals in our new Strategic Plan. We also his alternative-style “flip recognize that in order to have the resources necessary to be successful in this endeavor we flop” hike of the Trail – must continue to build and expand our constituency. By taking a measured and thoughtful For more information and to by Michael Eveland approach we believe we can successfully ensure the Trail’s relevancy while also protecting its register visit: www.atc2015.org Gold Sponsors natural and cultural resources as well as the intangible characteristics that draw us all there in the first place. Hosted by: The Appalachian Trail Conservancy The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Sandra Marra ❘ chair The Mountain Club of Maryland

12 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 By Jack Igelman

If engaging in lengthy and complex bureaucratic procedures sounds backbreaking, then national forest land management planning may not be for you. But for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) conservation leadership team, nothing could be more crucial for the long term protec- tion of the Appalachian Trail. “We would put national forest planning at the very top of our priority list,” says the ATC’s director of conservation operations Bob Proudman. “[Land management] plans are the way we protect what we consider the most important aspects of our mission within the national forests.”

hile the Trail itself is a unit of the National Park Service, the national forest system is the Trail’s largest land-owner: 45 percent of the Trail cuts through one of eight national forests from the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia to the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. And the strategy for managing each federal forest is dictated by a land management plan that, by law, requires a revision W every 15 years and is driven by an elaborate public revision process that is designed to generally take three to four years. Guided The purpose of a forest plan is strategic, and while it doesn’t approve any site-specific projects, it does however, set overarching goals and desired conditions for the well-being of each national forest. Currently there are 127 national forests in the United States and its territories by a Plan that require a plan. Among those, many are overdue or were delayed as the federal government developed a new planning process. Recently, the George Washington National Forest in Vir- ginia completed a plan revision, and currently underway is a plan revision that manages the For A.T. advocates, forest planning Pisgah and the Nantahala national forests in North Carolina. “National Forests are such an important part of the A.T. Landscape,” says Laura Belleville, is a prime opportunity to share the ATC’s director of conservation. “We care about forest planning because it’s such a big part of the broader protection [of the A.T. experience].” And since backpacking is just one of dozens of the values of one of the nation’s recreational and economic uses allowed in national forests, for A.T. advocates, forest planning is a prime opportunity to share with forest planners the values of one of the nation’s most most treasured trails. treasured trails. But forest planning hasn’t always been open to the public. Organized in 1905, the U.S. Forest Service was created to manage 21 million acres of forests in the western United States set aside by President Grover Cleveland in 1897. Eventually, the Forest Service turned its attention to the east: the passage of the Weeks Act in 1911 gave the federal government the ability to purchase private land from willing Beauty Spot — a sellers in order to protect the headwaters of rivers and watersheds. treasured portion But until 1976, the public was excluded from participating in the of the A.T along the process of deciding when, where and how to manage public forests. The Tennessee/North passage of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 became the Carolina border in the central legislation governing the management of the nation’s public Unaka Mountains — is forests and enabled greater environmental protection of public forests surrounded by Cherokee through increased citizen and scientist participation by requiring that National Forest lands each national forest be guided by a plan. The legislation also empowered − by Jerry Greer citizen groups and conservation organizations, such as the ATC, to use

spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 15 forest plans as a means to influence policy, which can include the National Forest system has a multi-use mandate, which logging practices, recreational uses, and other resource-har- means it manages the forest for a wide range of uses: from vesting practices. timber harvesting, mining, and a plethora of recreational uses, to snowmobiling and paddling. The mandate makes it difficult he ATC’s southern regional director Morgan Som- to balance the inevitable conflicts among recreational users merville says the ATC has been participating in forest and economic interests. policy in one form or another since 1925, when the Kristen Bail, supervisor of the National Forest’s North Appalachian Trail Conference was established and Carolina office, which manages the four national forests in the whose executive committee included Forest Service state, is overseeing the Pisgah-Nantahala revision that is T representatives. But nearly a century later, the threats slated to be completed in late 2016. The Pisgah and Nantahala to the Trail are different and safeguarding the A.T. experience forests management plan are among eight national forests to for hikers more challenging. implement new planning guidelines, known as the “2012 “Since the Trail is so long and skinny, we’re very vulnerable planning rule,” that will govern the process. Bail said that to external threats,” explains Proudman. “For us, protecting there are two pillars of the revision process directed by the the experience is critical.” That means new guidelines: collaboration with users of the regulating impacts from other uses of the forest and using the best available science. national forests — such as timber har- “That’s the difficult balance,” Bail says, vesting projects that may impact the pointing out that what the public wants viewshed, energy infrastructure projects, We care about and the best-available scientific informa- related road building, or protecting the tion may not necessarily align. Neverthe- night sky from light pollution. “ less, she said the Forest Service wants to forest planning For example, the ATC’s New England be responsive to the intent of the public. Regional director Hawk Metheny says because it's such a big “Allowing folks to engage with each other they appealed the Deerfield Wind richens the conversations,” she said. project in Vermont — the first wind part of the broader Sommerville is paying especially close project approved within a National attention to the management plan revi- Forest. In that case, the ATC withdrew protection of the sion process on western North Carolina’s the appeal after the Green Mountain 1.1 million acres of national forest that National Forest supervisor agreed to A.T. experience. are home to 239.6 miles of the Trail and mandate the use of radar-activated some of the A.T.’s most beloved sections lights on the wind turbines that flick on — including the Roan Highlands. And only when aircraft approach. “Forest plan- three decades ago, the last round of ning is a very important process; it’s what national forest planning in North Caro- will hold our standards,” Metheny says, adding” lina wasn’t so smooth. that forest planning is the ATC’s opportunity to ensure each In the late 1980s, citizen groups mobilized in droves across forest plan includes clear language regarding potential threats western North Carolina to respond to what they felt was a to the A.T. wrongheaded forest plan that called for extensive clear-cutting Metheny participated in the Green Mountain and White and mineral exploration. Fueled by widespread opposition to Mountain national forest plan revisions in the mid 2000s and an early draft of the plan, a grassroots effort by citizen groups was pleased with the outcome, in particular, each plan recog- led to an appeal and a major overhaul of the original Pisgah- nized the Trail corridor as a distinct management area that Nantahala land management plan. The resulting plan, final- provides additional protection. The A.T. management area or ized in 1994, was considered one of the most environmen- prescription area may be a mile wide in national forest plans tally sensitive management plans in the nation. centered on the footpath and zoned for protection or retention as viewed from the Trail using Forest Service scenery manage- ecently, planners were reminded of the discord that ment criteria. can occur in forest planning, when a draft land While the next forest plan revisions in New England may be management area proposed by the Forest Service in more than a decade away, Metheny says the ATC is also looking the fall of 2014 raised the ire of environmental ahead to other large landscape altering threats, in particular, advocates who are concerned that the proposal, if Insets from top: Kinsman Mountain, White Mountain National Forest − by Laurie energy infrastructure. For instance, he points out that future R implemented, would open ecologically sensitive Potteiger; A.T. George Washington National Forest − by Andrew Downs; Sunset over Blue natural gas pipelines serving southern New England will bisect areas to timber harvesting and road building. Sommerville Ridge Parkway — Nantahala National Forest; A.T. Max Patch, Pisgah National Forest. This the Trail and may have a scenic impact, require new service has stayed abreast of the concerns, but says that the ATC stays page: A.T. Unaka Mountain, Cherokee National Forest – photos by Jerry Greer. roads, or fragment the forest, among other concerns. focused on issues that directly impact the A.T. specifically, While the National Trails System Act provides guidelines rather than commenting on forest planning as a whole. and standards to protect the scenic value of the Trail corridor, Continued on page 54

spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 17 ❘ tr a i l h e a d ❘ Early morning on Jo Mary Lake, Maine − by Gerard “Jury Duty” Casey New Official A Walk in the Length of the A.T. License Plates Generate Re-measurements and relocations of Woods Presents Big the Appalachian Trail have brought the Record Funds in Virginia total official mileage of the footpath to A record amount of funds generated from sales of the Virginia Opportunities and 2,189.2 miles, an increase of 3.9 miles A.T. specialty license plate have been applied to the protection and stewardship of the Trail in Virginia. The from last year’s mileage of 2,185.3. $45,000 generated enabled the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) to fund numerous projects including Challenges This mileage is carefully documented in open area management in Shenandoah National Park, Trail construction projects with the Konnarock Trail the Trail’s official guidebooks, which Crew program, outreach to young people throughout the state, and the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail When the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) executive Scene from A Walk in the Woods include the Appalachian Trail Data Club’s efforts to replace a critical bridge in southwest Virginia. director Ron Tipton attended the premier for A Walk in the Woods at the Sundance Film Festival this past − by Frank Masi − image courtesy Book and the Appalachian Trail “While it’s no silver bullet to the vast array of challenges facing the Appalachian Trail, license plate January, he felt it was not possible to watch the Robert Redford production without comparing it to “its Pacific Sundance Institute Thru-Hikers’ Companion. Both books funds are a critical part of Trail stewardship and allow us to empower our volunteers and engage Virginia’s Crest Trail counterpart,” Wild. “While Redford and his sidekick Nick Nolte (playing book author Bill Bryson are published by the Appalachian Trail communities in protecting the Trail and the Trail ex- and his long-lost high school buddy Stephen Katz) are far removed from Reese Witherspoon, there are important Conservancy (ATC). perience,” said Andrew Downs, the ATC’s central and thematic connections that make A Walk in the Woods very special in its own way,” says Tipton. This point Every year, the latest mileage and southwest Virginia regional director. “Along with an was driven home during an introduction of the movie by Director Ken Kwapis, who said that the film had three shelter information is updated through Appalachian Trail Conservancy membership, owning co-stars: Redford, Nolte, and the Appalachian Trail. volunteers who are constantly working an A.T. license plate is an excellent way to directly turn Not only does the movie present the experience of hiking the A.T. in a very positive way, the ATC is pleased to improve the Trail, with volunteer your contribution into improvements that can be seen that it emphasizes proper hiking and backcountry ethics, which are paramount to the Trail’s continued protection Daniel D. Chazin of Teaneck, New Jersey first-hand on the Trail. If you’d like to see license plate and to the unique experience that the 2,189-mile footpath has to offer. leading the efforts since 1983. This year, funds at work, visit the new sections of the Appala- Because the ATC anticipates a major surge in hiker use of the Trail as a result of the movie, we are in the There are important more than half of the changes in the chian Trail at Thunder Ridge, or visit a meadow in process of creating a comprehensive management plan to preserve the “A.T. experience” over the next several thematic connections that mileage are in southwest Virginia, with Shenandoah National Park and see the great work the years. In addition to all of our partners along the Trail, the ATC staff has created A Walk in the Woods Task make A Walk in the Woods two miles added to the total following a Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is doing.” Force, led by southern regional director Morgan Sommerville, that will work with the Georgia Appalachian re-measurement by volunteers. Funds generated by the Virginia A.T. specialty li- Owning an A.T. license Trail Club, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and others among our volunteer leadership on a plan very special … This point Increases were also reported in New cense plate were applied to Trail projects by the ATC’s plate is an excellent with many features that will engage the public through education and increased resources. As part of this task was driven home during an York and New Jersey (0.1 mile); central Central and Southwest Virginia Regional Office in force, a voluntary thru-hike registration system, which will help disperse overnight hikers, especially during introduction of the movie by Virginia (0.1 mile); Tennessee-North Roanoke in cooperation with a task force from the way to directly turn early spring at the A.T.’s southern terminus of Springer Mountain, has already been implemented and has Carolina (1.5 miles); and North eight official Trail maintaining clubs in the state. “The your contribution into received a positive response from the hiking community so far. Director Ken Kwapis, who Carolina-Georgia (0.2 mile). “The ATC’s Potomac Appalachian Trail Club was quite delighted improvements that can The ATC has received Leave No Trace’s Master Educator designation — eight staff members are certified said that the film had three guidebooks are invaluable planning to receive funds that enabled the clearing of several as trainers and two as master educators. In addition to our Leave No Trace certified staff training and our co-stars: Redford, Nolte, resources for any Appalachian Trail large pastures that preserve the Trail viewshed and be seen first-hand on volunteers and Ridge Runners, our goal is also to provide Leave No Trace training courses in communities along hiker, whether they are out for a day that also assisted in reducing the spread of highly the Trail. the Trail in places like local REI stores. (We hope to partner with REI and other outdoor manufacturers and and the Appalachian Trail. hike or hiking the entire length from invasive vegetation,” said Potomac Appalachian Trail retailers to implement our strategies for these Trail management initiatives.) The ATC currently has 12 to 15 Maine to Georgia,” explains the ATC’s Club president, John Hedrick, emphasizing the critical Ridge Runners and would like to expand that number to 20 by the end of 2015. These on-the-Trail Ridge information services manager, Laurie support that the A.T. specialty license plate program Runners will be on high alert looking for inexperienced hikers, vandalism, poor Leave No Trace practices, and Potteiger. “These guides contain the provides to Trail maintaining clubs. will also offer educational opportunities for visitors. latest information from volunteers who In addition to the A.T. specialty license plate in Virginia, plates are also available in Georgia, North The ATC is also working with the film producers to promote the movie and to do so we have assembled measure, maintain and manage the Trail Carolina, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. Depending on the state, a portion of the cost of each plate (between a team of experienced staff and volunteers who have worked with similar high-profile events. Redford’s and those who hike it regularly.” $10 and $20) is returned to the ATC. “I can’t overstate the importance of every hiker becoming a member Wildwood Enterprises has a distribution partnership with Broad Green Pictures, a new distribution company of the ATC, and every member in Virginia proudly displaying an A.T. license plate,” said Downs. “This form that has bought the rights to several major motion pictures recently, including A Walk in the Woods. The ATC Current editions of official A.T. of engagement will help ensure that the A.T. and its natural beauty will be around for our children to enjoy. plans to partner with Wildwood and Broad Green on promotion of the movie because it is a unique opportunity guidebooks and maps are available It’s also a good-looking plate and a great way to make your support for the Trail visible — no wonder it’s to present the A.T. experience in theaters around the world. “We believe our connection with the movie will from the Ultimate A.T. Store at: gaining popularity!” result in an increase in members for the ATC, positive exposure for the organization (and our “brand”), Trail atctrailstore.org or by calling clubs, and volunteers. In addition, it will provide major opportunities for us to raise money to manage the 1-888-287-8673 For more information about A.T. specialty license plates visit: appalachiantrail.org/plates. expanded use of the entire Trail by long-distance and day-hikers as a result of the film,” says Tipton.

18 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 19

Voluntary Thru-hike Candidates for 2015-2017 Volunteers Registration Proves Popular ATC Board of Directors Needed In order to enhance the Appalachian Trail experience for The slate of nominees for the next two-year term of the The Appalachian Trail thru-hikers and better manage this natural resource, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), in cooperation Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) Board of Directors beginning in July 2015 includes six new board Conservancy (ATC) is with its partners, has launched a new voluntary registration system for those attempting to hike the estimated members as well as nine returning board members. All positions will be voted upon July 18 during the ATC seeking volunteers to 2,189-mile-long Trail in one year. This registration system was begun to ease impacts from the increased business meeting at the Biennial Conference membership meeting in Winchester, Virginia. assist with the 2015 number of hikers expected after the release of two hiking-related films, Wild and A Walk in the Woods. A nominating committee chaired by member Bob Almand is proposing the following individuals for ATC Biennial Conference As of March 15, more than 1,250 prospective A.T. thru-hikers have used the ATC’s new thru-hike reg- officer positions: chair, Sandra Marra of Alexandria, Virginia; vice-chair, Greg Winchester of Milton, Geor- “Hiking Through istration system to help disperse overnight hikers during the high-use March/April period at the A.T.’s gia; secretary, Elizabeth P. Thompson of Ridgefield, Connecticut; and treasurer, Arthur P. Foley of Colorado History,” co-hosted southern terminus of Springer Mountain, Georgia. We are very pleased to see such a level of acceptance Springs, Colorado. by the Potomac of this system, which allows A.T. users to help solve persistent A.T. management problems in the least Nominated for their first terms on the board in director positions are: Norman Findley of Atlanta, Appalachian Trail Club and the impactful way. Hikers who register will also receive an A.T. commemorative thru-hiker hangtag that they Georgia; Ruben Rosales of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Colleen Peterson of Frostburg, Maryland; Jennifer Mountain Club of Maryland. can wear on their packs to let others know that they have taken part in helping to protect the Trail through Pharr Davis of Asheville, North Carolina; Daniel Howe of Raleigh, North Carolina; and John Noll of Fred- Scheduled for July 17-24 at Shenandoah their voluntary registration. ericksburg, Virginia. University in Winchester, Virginia, the In recent years, the A.T. thru-hike experience has at peak use times suffered severe overcrowding at the Nominated for reelection as directors are: Mary Higley of Naples, Florida and Plymouth, Massachusetts.; conference will feature hikes, work- From above: Hikers who register will southern end of the Trail. Crowding intensifies because hikers tend to start thru-hikes around specific dates, Beth Critton, of West Hartford, Connecticut; Edward Guyot of Keene, New Hampshire: Rob Hutchinson of shops, entertainment, and more. receive an A.T. commemorative thru-hiker such as March 1, March 15, and April 1 — and on weekends. Overcrowding puts undue pressure on the Atlanta, Georgia; Nathaniel Stoddard of Eagle, Colorado. Volunteers are needed to lead hikes and hangtag that they can wear on their finite number of shelters and campsites and on the water, plants, and wildlife near these accommodations. Leaving the board at the end of this term are Clark Wright (vice-chair) of New Bern, North Carolina; excursions, help with registration, packs to let others know that they have When too many people are crammed together at campsites, vegetation is trampled, trash may accumulate, Carrie Rodriguez-Tweeten of Raleigh, North Carolina; Samuel Sarofeen of Auburn, New York; Marcia provide information to guests, support taken part in helping to protect the Trail; A and unsanitary conditions can ensue. Outbreaks of norovirus have occurred several times in the last few Fairweather of Silver Spring, Maryland; Terry Lierman of Chevy Chase, Maryland; and Richard Daileader workshops, promote the conference 2015 thru-hiker who registered with the years, and can spread rapidly in locations where there are high concentrations of hikers. These issues that of Charlotte, North Carolina. and assist with parking, camping, and voluntary system displays his hangtag on arise due to overcrowding can be detrimental not only to the A.T. but also to the hiker’s overall experience. Alternate candidates for officer and director positions can be nominated through petitions signed by reception coordination. Springer Mountain − by Jim Fetig “With a large number of new hikers expected along the Appalachian Trail in 2015 and especially in at least 50 ATC members and sent before June 18 to Executive Director Ron Tipton at ATC headquarters Volunteer shifts range from four 2016, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy hopes that this new voluntary thru-hike registration system in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Votes by ATC members must be cast in person at the Biennial Conference hours to a full day and are open will allow hikers to know in advance when overcrowding along the Trail will exist, membership meeting in Winchester this July. anytime during the week. All volunteers and then adjust a thru-hike start date to their advantage — the solution is simple, will receive a free T-shirt and are invited the hikers need to spread out,” explains Morgan Sommerville, the ATC’s southern to attend a special volunteer apprecia- regional director. tion reception on the evening of The biggest surprise of the registration system has been the popularity of non-tra- Tuesday, July 21. “Volunteers have ditional itineraries, often called “flip flops,” among the class of 2015. Some hikers may always been critical to the Appalachian not even be aware that options other than starting at Springer and Katahdin exist. The Tick-Borne Diseases Trail Conservancy’s operations, and this voluntary registration process itself helps raise awareness of these alternative ap- Ticks, which carry Lyme disease and other serious ill- conference is no different,” said proaches and provides links to an in-depth page on the ATC’s website that explains nesses, are a risk on any hike. The northeastern United Steering Committee co-chair Lee more about the advantages of these variations. States, from Maryland to Massachusetts, has the high- Sheaffer. “We are expecting well over To date, just under 100 prospective thru-hikers have indicated they would start at est concentration of reported cases of Lyme disease. Al- 1,200 people to attend, so we need a location other than Springer or Katahdin — more than twice the number of those though Lyme disease is the most common, there are six hundreds of volunteers to make the signing up for southbound, and several times more than any previous year. About half tick-borne illnesses present on the A.T. The characteris- event a success.” of those are choosing to start in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and hike northbound. A tic “bulls eye” rash sometimes occurs with Lyme disease, The Biennial Conference brings desire to help conserve the Trail is the motivation for some; for others it’s to avoid the but not always. Symptoms that may indicate tick-borne illnesses and a need for medical attention include; together hikers from across the United crowds. Starting mid-Trail also means beginning in easier terrain than at either end of the Trail and allows fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches. Most humans are infected by nymphs, which are about the States who are passionate about the The ATC hopes that a longer window to complete a thru-hike, even while waiting for milder weather to start. size of a poppy seed and difficult to see. Check yourself for ticks daily. When hiking in prime tick habitat, Appalachian Trail. The event features this new system will The biggest concern we’ve heard from hikers about the registration is the fear that this system is simply (grassy, brushy, or woodland areas) your chances of being bitten by a tick can be decreased by taking hundreds of organized hikes on the A.T. allow hikers to know a step toward further regulation and required permits. In fact, it is our hope that the voluntary system will these precautions: and other trails in Virginia, West give hikers enough information to allow them to spread out on their own so that regulation is not needed. Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. in advance when The A.T. already has successful models for voluntary registration: the Green Mountain Club, Appalachian Prevention: Attendees will also have the chance to overcrowding along the Mountain Club, and Maine Appalachian Trail Club all have voluntary registration systems for groups in their  Use insect repellent that contains 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin attend informative workshops and go Trail will exist, and then heavily-used areas.  Treat clothing with permethrin (kills ticks on contact) / wear light-colored clothing on a variety of adventure and history Users of this voluntary registration system should keep in mind that it does not provide hikers with  Perform daily tick checks; removing an embedded tick within 24 hours reduces risk of illness excursions. Each evening of the adjust a thru-hike start guaranteed spaces along the A.T. or serve as a substitute for any required permits. At this time, registration conference includes music by local date to their advantage. is only open for 2015. Registration for 2016 will be available on December 1, 2016. The ATC welcomes your Removing embedded ticks: bands and inspirational presentations comments and feedback on the 2015 trial process as we expect to provide an improved system for 2016.  Use tweezers to grasp tick as close to skin as possible — pull away in an upward motion on a wide array of topics.  Disinfect site with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide For more information, to view updated charts, and to register your thru-hike visit: For more information and to sign up as appalachiantrail.org/thruhikeregistration For more information about tick-borne illnesses and symptoms visit: www.cdc.gov/ticks/diseases a volunteer visit: atc2015.org

20 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 21 From left: Jasmin and Derrick Faunce; Ryan Macy; This listing includes those who have reported hike completions of the entire Appalachian Trail Joanne Renfro, Hannah Allen, and Sarah Stanishewski to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) since the last listing in A.T. Journeys a year ago. A record number of 1,041 2014 ■ Andrew Adair E ❘ Bud 2,000-miler applications (1,041) were received during this ■ Abler Joe ❘ Yo Joe ■ Annan Richard ❘ Hawksbill 12-month period. Of this year’s listing, 901 are from 2014; ■ Abramson Larry ❘ Low Gear Anthony Travis ❘ Marathon Man the rest are from previous years going back to 1973 (there Accomando Katie ❘ Voodoo ■ App Lawrence ❘ App-Man Adams Connor ❘ Wise Guy Archer Kaelan ❘ ramble is no time limit on reporting a hike completion). The Adams Gordon C. ❘ Crazy Chester ■ Armbruster Michele ❘ Pintsize breakdown of 2,000-milers in 2014 includes 127 section- Adams Steve ❘ Mighty Blue Armstrong Mark ❘ Ireland hikers, 633 northbound thru-hikers, 71 southbound thru- ■ Agee Gary ❘ 50/50 ■ Arndt Alexander ❘ Odysseus hikers, and 70 alternative-itinerary thru-hikers (those who Ahern Devin ❘ InfraRed Asplin Amanda ❘ Pretty Bird either started or ended their hikes at a location other than Ainscough Darrell ❘ Darrell Asplin Christopher ❘ Big Gulp ■ Akers Ashley ❘ Tricks Atkins Thomas ❘ Sprout Springer Mountain , Georgia, or Katahdin, Maine). ■ Akers Colton ❘ Aquaman Aton Alexis ❘ Doc The smallest category of thru-hikers is also the fastest- Akers Emily ❘ Nails Bacon Shareen ❘ Squirrel growing and has all but caught up with southbound in Albert Michael ❘ Stealth ■ Bahnson Bahne ❘ Mosey popularity. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy actively Alford Colby ❘ Hero ■ Bailey Thomas ❘ Freerange encourages these thru-hikers following alternative ■ Allen Hannah ❘ Tatiana ■ Baker Alana ❘ Lotus Alles Zach ❘ Shaggy Moe ■ Baker Lee A. ❘ Ye Olde C.O. itineraries, often known as “flip flops,” to help spread out Alspach Steve ❘ Chuckwagon Baker Troy ❘ Rough Bananas the flow of hikers. Hiking sequences that start mid-trail, Ambrus Adam ❘ Ace Baldwin Ashli Katniss ❘ Neverclean (KAT) heading northbound on the first leg and staying ahead of Ammenheuser Alexandra ❘ Oops! ■ Ball Anna K. ❘ Birdy the “bubble” of the thousands who started in Georgia, are Andersen Matthew ❘ Bagger ■ Banjak Carolyn ❘ Freckles most helpful in reducing crowding. Flip flop thru-hikes are ■ Anderson Cory ❘ Silver Stag Bareuther Erica ❘ KOKO ■ Anderson James D. ❘ Night Wind Barkell Leland H. ❘ Forester Gump not just good for the Trail; variations can also offer hikers Anderson Jeff ❘ Chef Barnett Abigail ❘ Simba benefits in terms of starting in gentler terrain. If timed right, Anderson Meagan ❘ K-Womp Barrett II Thomas H. ❘ High Loon they can also allow for a longer window of mild weather. The grand total of 2,000-miler hike completion reports From left: Sharon O’Hara; Amanda Soto; Phil and Thea In the past year, a record 1,041 2,000-miler applications now stands at more than 15,500. The TCA extends a heartfelt thank you to the many dedicated volunteers who did most Hanood; Alessandra Pistore and Tedeschi Giancarlo were received. The grand total of completed hikes of the work of processing the 2,000-miler applications, sending out certificates, and compiling this listing. ■ life members / ■ current members / We would like to express our appreciation stands at more than 15,500. for those 2,000-milers who have chosen to support the Appalachian Trail as Appalachian Trail Conservancy members.

“Flip flop” thru-hiker Chris “Six Slash” Schlack − by Finn “Politician” Melanson spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 23 Barrow Benjamin ❘ Socrates Bock Melody ❘ Songbird Carson Matthew ❘ Ferris Cornell Brian ❘ Knots Despres Jack ❘ Rowdy ■ Fernald Alice ❘ Kozi Glynn Travis ❘ Easy Rider ■ Harris Travis M. ❘ Billygoat Barth Joshua ❘ Ketchup Boles Matthew ❘ Cool Breeze Carter Christopher ❘ Shea Cornell Nick ❘ Top Nach ■ Dinges Mark I. ❘ Plantman Fersch Brian D. ❘ Owl Gokey Reed ❘ Sky Eyes Harrison Adrian Felix ❘ Felicis Bartkow Piotr ❘ Zebra Bolstridge April ❘ Toots Carter Kayla ❘ Blossom ■ Couzins Jeff ❘ Simple Diviesti Dean ❘ Snowbunny ■ Fetig James ❘ Sisu Goodrich A. K. ❘ Sky Chicken Harver Emma Bartlett Tripp ❘ Tomahawk Booker, Jr. Donell O. ❘ MECCA ■ Casey Gerard ❘ Jury Duty ■ Cowden Rex ❘ Willis ■ Dodds Steve ❘ MDot Fewtrell Warren ❘ Swayed Gordon Glenn ❘ Thin Mint Hasenauer William Michael ❘ Route Step Bartmann Simon ❘ Gargamel ■ Borden Timothy R. ❘ Big Spoon Cash Caitlynne Presti ❘ Sweet Puddin ■ Cox Amberle A. ❘ Foxy Doebley Valerie ❘ Tenzing Figulski Rob ❘ Figgy Goretoy Eduard ❘ Spiderman Hatton Dale ❘ Redleg Bauter Noah ❘ Sloth Borelli Rita Jett ❘ Jett Cat Caskey Brian ❘ Pooh Bear Cox Gabriel ❘ XLer8 ■ Donahoo Rex ❘ Fifteen Fincher Curtis ❘ Smiles Gosiak Andy Hayes Jeffrey G. ❘ Speedo Beatrice Sarah ❘ Too Long Bowe Jack ❘ Jack Attack Casson Kevin ❘ Crocs Cox Kimberly ❘ Firebolt ■ Donnelly Matt ❘ Machine Fincher Sable ❘ Sabertooth Sabe Graff Adam Robert ❘ Hesychast ■ Hayes Nancy L. ❘ Grunt ■ Beauchamp Sue ❘ Rerun Bowman Jordan ❘ Yo Teach! ■ Cate Tom ❘ Casper Cox Rachel ❘ Save the Snails (with Warrior Hike) ■ Finn Chelsea ❘ Canary ■ Graff Christine ❘ Nepsis ■ Healy Thomas J. ❘ Toasted Toad Beaulieu Ryan J. ❘ Fresh Branch Andrew ❘ Spiff Cathro James ❘ Caveman ■ Cox Spencer Wayne ❘ Deuce Donoghue Kimberley ❘ Twist Finseth Arlen ❘ Naked Ninja ■ Grant Bruce ❘ Bruce Hebert Kevin Abear ❘ (in the Woods) Becker Aaron ❘ Gilligan ■ Brantley David ❘ Cabo Cathro Lindsay ❘ Lightfoot Coy Ian ❘ Timber Doucet Kaitlyn ❘ Hiccup Fisher Emily ❘ Sunshine Grant Russell ❘ 3 x 5 Heiser Katie ❘ Trippy Beckett Ellie ❘ Sparky ■ Braunstein Jessica ❘ Socs ■ Chaney Matthew ❘ Sweet Craft Virginia ❘ VA Downey Randolph W. ❘ ROCK Fitzpatrick Eli ❘ Trudge Grayson Isaac T. ❘ Hoosier ■ Hellewell David ❘ GOLIATH Bendel Brittany ❘ Peaches ■ Bredlau Patrick ❘ R.W. as a Peach Cramer Jeffery J. ❘ Jeff ■ Doyle-Jones Patricia ❘ Red Robin Fleetwood Sara Gail ❘ Little Foot Greene Michael S. ❘ Grasshopper ■ Helm II Harold H. ❘ Slomosey Bennett J. Scott ❘ Coach Breinke David ❘ Problem Bear ■ Chapoton Dan ❘ HighLiner Craver Ben ❘ ☼ Neon Drozd Ronald ❘ Tonto ■ Fletcher Charles ❘ Dean Right Here Grieg Chris ❘ Long Haul Trucker ■ Henkel Bernward ❘ Isnt Black Bentley Larry ❘ Big Mac Brocar Jason ❘ MAV Chedsey Meredith ❘ Blaze Crosby Jeffrey ❘ Chainsaw Drzaszcz Joanna ❘ Spider Fletcher Richard ❘ Fletch Grigsby Jessica ❘ Gia ■ Hennessy Phillip A. ❘ Happyfeet Benton Ian T. ❘ Coconut ■ Brooks Kenneth H. ❘ Mailman Chew Andrew ❘ Chewy ■ Crowley Casey Timothy ❘ Rza ■ Berbert Rebecca ❘ Zig Zag ■ Brown Anne ❘ Nubbins Chiles Eric J. ❘ Pundit Crume William Hayden ❘ Chair Bergstrom Paul ❘ Sun Bear Brown Caleb ❘ Thunderfoot Chism Jessie ❘ Safety First Cucciniello Emilio ❘ Turbo Bernaiche Nicholas F. ❘ Alpine Monkey ■ Brown Caleb S. ❘ Green Ghost Chrobot Benjamin ❘ Shybear Culhane John Berry Nigel ❘ Timeout ■ Brown Ian S. Cintron Sean A ❘ The Priest ■ Culley Eric ❘ Ajax ■ Berryman Al Aggie ❘ Al ■ Brown Kathryn A. ❘ Painted Lady Clark Alora ❘ Spoons Cunnington William ❘ Cornwall Beyer Thomas ❘ Geo ■ Bucklin Stacey ❘ Stylez ■ Clarke Key ❘ Bird Legs ■ Curtis Christopher Scott ❘ Puzzle Bianchi Christopher ❘ Baguette Bunting Clint ❘ Lint ■ Clemmey Lisa A. ❘ Hobo-Nobo & Sidekick the Penguin ■ Bibby Thomas A. ❘ Mr. Bibby ■ Bush Christiana ❘ Torta-lean-y Coate Patricia ❘ TeeBird Cypcar Rebecca ❘ Persistent Bickford Robert ❘ World Star Bush James ❘ The Mechanic ■ Cocherell David ❘ Doc Damon Dustin ❘ Dirt Biggerstaff Gordon ❘ Celtic Bush Paul ❘ Just Paul Cockfield Alexandra ❘ Balloo Davenport John ❘ Spaghetti Biggerstaff Kate ❘ Babs Bunny Bushnell Alexander ❘ Waldo Cole Nina ❘ Hyperbole Davis Christopher ❘ Boston Chris Binder Erik ❘ Bottle Cap! Butler Jared ❘ Tree Collins Tyler ❘ CLAM de Korver Erica Sumo ❘ the Fire Maiden Bird Tim ❘ Shakespeare Byrum Hunter ❘ Yeti Legs Compton Aelin ❘ Birch ■ de Sosa Michael A. ❘ Mad Jac Bison Jacob ❘ Bison Calkins Matthew ❘ Flatlander ■ Conway Kelly ❘ Baby Steps ■ Deckebach Michael ❘ Predator Bispham Jim ❘ Milky Calloway Joseph ❘ Lonestride Cook Douglas ❘ Spock ■ Decker Dan ❘ Walk Worthy Black Garrett ❘ Unplugged Campbell Michael ❘ Midnight Sparkle Coombs Evan ❘ Toast DeGregorio David ❘ Digger Blake Erica ❘ Braveheart Canup Elijah ❘ Impact Corbitt Christina ❘ Flea Bag Dehnen Tim ❘ Pocketfive Blakeley Justin ❘ Pine Cone ■ Cappello Deborah ❘ Flinch Corcoran Robert XC ❘ Crow Dempsey Michael Al ❘ Borland ■ Blevins Haley ❘ Murphy Carey Michael ❘ Superman Cordle Nicholas S. ❘ CHANCE Denny David ❘ Denny the Kid ■ Drzymala Chelsea ❘ Sunrise Flood Kyle ❘ Macgyver ■ Grimm Pat ❘ The Machine Henry Megan ❘ Violet ♥ Blunk Collin ❘ Teton Carley Don ❘ 3 Thumbs Cordova Josh ❘ Rocky Denton Jacob ❘ Blazing Sandals ■ DuBose Tom ❘ Taz ■ Flynn James ❘ Solo Groce Matt ❘ HYDRO Henschel Kevin ❘ Seabiscuit ■ Bock John ❘ Bypass ■ Carlson Steven ❘ Just Steven Cormier Luke ❘ Monkey Depenbrock Christopher ❘ Solitude Dunlap Brandon ❘ Peaches Flynn Landon C. ❘ Fruit Punch Grunke Michael ❘ Chopsticks Herbert Kathryn ❘ Mary Poppins Dunlevy Sarah E. ❘ Faith Flynn Matthew ❘ Wolf Burger Grunstra Timothy ❘ Timon ■ Hess Steven ❘ SherPA Dwyer Joseph W ❘ Ground Score Fogg Neil ❘ Marathon ■ Guerrero Meghan ❘ Kid Hessell Tolin ❘ Tinder Earl Anthony ❘ The Greatest of All Time Foley Erin ❘ Tigger Gwozdek Michael ❘ Gameshow Hettig Roxanne ❘ Huffle Puff Ebstein Ian ❘ Swayze Forbes Derek ❘ SPOT Hahn Roger ❘ Deja Vue Hevrin Bill ❘ Hemlock Edwards Anthony E. ❘ Hydro Foster Jesse ❘ Dr. Zoom ■ Haimowitz Jerry ❘ 42 Hewitt Dylan Edwards David ❘ Trigger Fox Corey ❘ Shaman ■ Hajduk Greg ❘ Wiki Heying Mark R. ❘ Cruces Edwards Michael ❘ The Mad Scientist Frederickson Casey ❘ Funsize Halberstadt Anna Ruth ❘ Purple Blaze Hiatt Cathrine Brown ❘ Watermelon Ehlers Jule ❘ Cowboy Freehoff Scott ❘ Baird ■ Hale Jeffrey ❘ Lightning Bolt ■ Hiatt Joseph Harrison ❘ Bellows Ehrgott Cristin ❘ Dragonborn ■ Friedman Edward M. ❘ Fast Eddie Hall Charles ❘ Two Forks Hicks Benjanin ❘ Happy ■ Elder Linda ❘ Heartwood ■ Frost Dharma ❘ Raindancer ❘ ❘ Elia Ashlee Cheeky Chi Fullam Tim Just Tim From far left: Catherine Hiatt; Christina Montello; Ellis Steven R. ❘ Journeymen Furmanski Elizabeth ❘ Moose Ellis Thomas ❘ SABRETOOTH Fussner Isaac ❘ Bio-Hazard Shawn Olsavsky, Thomas Gasser, Silvia Kirchner, Ellison Kevin ❘ Sock Fat Gale Jacob ❘ Hiker Monkey Epling Muriel ❘ No ra V. Galloway Kevin ❘ Hummer and Allan Olsavsky; Jason Brocar Evans Brett ❘ Cruise ■ Gamble Lucy ❘ Peppa ■ Eveland Paul ❘ Papapaul ■ Gardner Guy ❘ AstroGuy Everson Tristan ❘ Sockless ■ Garrett Darrel W ❘ Sore Toe ■ Hall Ken ❘ Lighterknot Higginbotham Luke ❘ Hansel ■ Ewing Charles ❘ Boomer Gasser Thomas ❘ Chocolate Hall Wayne ❘ Crinkle root Higginbotham Rachel ❘ Gretel Farrell Jesse ❘ Gentle Spirit Geer Alexander S ❘ okrates Halterman David ❘ Liver Hilbrands Catherine ❘ Tuesday ■ Farrington Laura ❘ Navigator Geer Elizabeth Dawn ❘ Honeybun Hamilton Kaden ❘ Mother Earth Hill Jim ❘ Dos Equis Fast Julie Kickapoo ❘ Pogono ■ Gentry Matthew ❘ Sharpie ■ Hammonds Kristo ❘ The Lion Hilla Joshua D. ❘ Pippin ■ Faulk Dianna ❘ Das Slöth Gerardot Justin ❘ Bud Hamner Jason ❘ Radagast ■ Hines John ❘ Top O’ Faunce Derrick ❘ Gramps Giancarlo Tedeschi ❘ Italian Stallion ■ Hanavan Teri ❘ Hopper ■ Hinman Tim ❘ Lord Willin Faunce Jasmin ❘ Grams Giannis Mark ❘ Arbor Hancock Erik ❘ Hard Head Hnatow Joel ❘ Cowboy Feather Marshall ❘ Mambo #5 Gieschen, Jr Michael P. ❘ Rocky ■ Hanood Phillip ❘ Runaway Hohle Aaron ❘ Sole Power ■ Felts Kyle ❘ Kalpaca ■ Gift Jennifer ❘ One Day ■ Harlacher Drew ❘ Mr. Jingles Holderfield Casey ❘ Roots Feminella Matthew J. ❘ Red Foot Gilfeather Michael ❘ Wingin’ IT Harmon Max ❘ Pan Holleman Hank ❘ Stevie Wander Fenn Maegan ❘ Sweet Tooth ■ Gilfoy Tom ❘ Pelican Harps Alex ❘ Gearhead Hollingshead Patricia ❘ Landslide Ferguson Benjamin ❘ Gargoyle Gilliland Jacob ❘ Fish Harrington Nancy Claire ❘ Chicklette ■ Holyoke Alban ❘ Grease ■ Ferguson Tom ❘ Caribou Glafcke Andrew T. ❘ Bamboops ■ Harris James R. ❘ Frog Fellow Homkes Austin ❘ Birdman

24 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 25 ■ Horton Lucas ❘ Big Bear ■ Keener Isaac ❘ Pilgrim Lebrija Alex ❘ Tex McCabe-Marcell Patrick ❘ Marshmallow Hoskins Dani ❘ Swiper Kegel Christine ❘ Mononoke Lecompte Mike ❘ Scuffy of the Mountain Houghton Bethany ❘ Indie Kelley Evan ❘ The Professor Leffel R. Dawkins ❘ Walkabout ■ McCallum Jared ❘ Scout Hudetz Naomi ❘ The Punisher Kelly Matthew ❘ Chewie Leighnor Mike ❘ Ravencloud McCarthy Kayla ❘ Popeye Huebner Wolfgang ❘ Wogg Kempenich Shannon ❘ Princess Lepore Roni ❘ Ram Sham ■ McCarthy Molli ❘ Bad Camel Hughes Jeffrey ❘ Legs North Star Leslie Kirk ❘ Iron Man ■ McConville Garry ❘ Naturally Hob Hull Christy ❘ Blood Root Keplinger Bryan ❘ Roc Doc Lessner Matt ❘ Reboot McDaniel Eric ❘ Wanderbus ■ Huneycutt Johnny ❘ Big Daddy Keul Kris ❘ Gazzelle Lesswing Frederick ❘ Gizmo McDevitt Jack ❘ South Bound Hunt Derrick ❘ Dunt Khurana Neha ❘ Sprout Letellier Jessica L. ❘ Emerald (Headin’ North!) Hunter-Duvar Josh ❘ Skippy ■ Kidd Brent ❘ Belch ■ Levendusky Thomas ❘ Green-Bean ■ McDowell Gretchen ❘ Crabapple ■ Hutchinson Keith ❘ Cheyenne Kieffer Alison ❘ Homestretch Lewis Jenna ❘ Sassafras ■ McGann Timothy ❘ Tadhg Walking Bird Kiel James W. ❘ Ronin Lim Jhong Hyuck ❘ Rodeo McGill Colleen ❘ Holy Mackerel “Mack” Iannotti Michael ❘ Lieutenant Dan Kiernan Kevin ❘ WEATHERMAN Lim Jung Y. ❘ Catch Me If You Can ■ McGrapth Adama-Malkia ❘ Wild Child Inman Matt ❘ just matt Kiffney Tom ❘ Prom Queen Linder Suzanne ❘ Dr SML McHenry Erin ❘ Blazer Jackson Alexis ❘ Flex Kimberly Chris ❘ Growler ■ Lipps, Jr. Donald G. ❘ Bucketlist McKasson Kenton ❘ Kodiak Jackson Gilliam ❘ Doyi Kinder Becky ❘ Wilson yes Little Terry ❘ Canyon Man McKee Ryan D. ❘ Texaco Jackson Jillian Joy ❘ Pockets ■ Kinder Darrell ❘ Sharkman Liu Daniel ❘ Cloudwalker McKeith Ryan ❘ Hollywood full of Diamonds ■ King Charles ❘ Shellback Locke III Charles T. ❘ mOnk McKenna Joseph ❘ Handsome Jackson Kevin ❘ Two Pack King Kyle ❘ The Hungarian Revolution Loen Jeffrey S. ❘ Forty year plan ■ McKeon Jeremy ❘ Mayonnaise Pockets Jacoby Jeremy ❘ Knives ■ King Peter C. ❘ Lucky Pierre Lorenz Martin ❘ Alpine Pirate McKinney John ❘ Cactus ■ Jaconetty John ❘ Gadget ■ Kinnick Michael ❘ Z ■ Lottman Sean ❘ Dingo ■ McMahon Linda Elaine ❘ Moose ■ James Amy ❘ Mossy Kirchner Silvia ❘ Cheese Luce Megan ❘ Knee Deep whisperer James Charlotte ❘ Invisible Bear Klein Maximilian ❘ Mad Max Mackay Jason ❘ Side Show McMahon Mitchell ❘ Snorlax Montello Christina ❘ Frogmonkey Olsavsky Shawn ❘ Indiana Jones Provencher Jake ❘ Camel/Bullseye Robertson Tavis ❘ Moses ■ James Jason D. ❘ Beanhook Klockenga Nick ❘ Twizeler ■ Mackay Kyle ❘ Took ■ McNealy Maxwell ❘ Rocksloth ■ Montgomery Jim ❘ Old Blue O’Neil Rachel ❘ Dairy Queen Pruitt Joshua ❘ Fresh Robinson Jared ❘ Grizzly Grouse James Susannah ❘ Flicka Klopfer John ❘ Lynx Macy Ryan ❘ Treefrog McPeak Jay ❘ Hat Trick Montgomery Rodney ❘ Rotten ■ O’Neill Mark ❘ Opus Pruner Marcia K. ❘ Sweet Peace ■ Robinson Jim Gray ❘ Squirrel ■ Moore Theron ❘ Thistle Oots Joseph Taylor ❘ Space Blanket ■ Pulver Aaron ❘ Yankee ■ Robinson Marji ❘ Flossie Morris Christopher ❘ Yoda Ordemann Emma ❘ BEAST Punch Benjamin ❘ Jolly Robinson Marty ❘ Iron Will yes Morrison Carl ❘ Cardinal Ostovich Jacqueline ❘ Scout ■ Purcell Mark Count ❘ Daddy Rodenhauser Tristan ❘ Vista Morton David ❘ Ghostbuster ■ Ouellette Phillip ❘ Honky ■ Pyle William C. Daddy ❘ Long Legs Rodriguez Christopher ❘ Neck Bone Moyer Phillip ❘ Moses Pagonis Dion ❘ Dion Quesinberry Sam ❘ Spruce Rodriguez Julie ❘ 5Star Mraz Curtis ❘ Fancy Pants Palmer Charles ❘ Ground Floor Quinn Tyler ❘ Thirsty ■ Rodriguez Melissa ❘ Da Vinci Mullen Greg ❘ Spoonful Paquin William ■ Quitmeyer Henry ❘ Peg Leg Romano Jessica ❘ J-Rex Mullen Ryan M ❘ Ryan Paradine David ❘ INDIANA ■ Rakowsky Edward D. ❘ “D” Rombach Milan ❘ Pyro Munnelly Leslie ❘ Lately ■ Parkinson Gary ❘ AZ Cruiser Randall Christopher ❘ Quiet Flight Rosenbaum Jon ❘ UPS ■ Murray Mollie ❘ Double Dog ■ Partin Danny ❘ Blueberry Bear Randle James ❘ Poncho Rosenberg Michael ❘ Marathon Murray Zach ❘ H²O Parton Dwayne ❘ Jellly Bean ■ Rapp Jason ❘ Clifty ■ Roth Ramsay ❘ Stardust ■ Murray, Jr. Philip ❘ ONWARD Patton Joseph ❘ Bearjuice ■ Myers Craig ❘ G-Pa Paul Brandon ❘ Maverick From far left: Akhil Reddy; Anne Brown; ■ Nadeau Christopher ❘ Blue ■ Pedersen Richard ❘ Geardog Nagle Lauren ❘ Rosie Pendleton Michael T. ❘ Survivorman Jeff Loen; Adair Andrew; Chris Bianchi ■ Nantz Doug ❘ Chivo Perry Jacqueline ❘ Gun Powder Napolitan Joseph ❘ Crush Perry Stowe ❘ Flint Ratchford Jamie Diane ❘ Glorious ■ Rough David ❘ Rowdy Nardella Felicia ❘ CANADIAAAH! Pesci Kristopher T ❘ rue Story Laughter Routon Christiana ❘ Critter Narron David ❘ Osprey Peterson Doug ❘ Down Rauch Steffen ❘ White Spot Rowland William A. ❘ the Runaway Janisko Cheryl ❘ Movin’ On Klumpp Jim ❘ Slim ■ Magee Thomas ❘ Trip the Light Meek Benjamin Bengus ❘ Khan Naseri Noah ❘ Botany Peterson Lindsey ❘ Low ■ Reck Gregory M. ❘ Rocketman Rudzinski Julia ❘ Ninja Turtle Jaworski Brian ❘ TRAIN Knighton Christopher ❘ Junco Magerowski Greta ❘ Early Bird ■ Mendelsohn Loren D ❘ The Professor Neal Brittany ❘ Rodeo Petri Eric ❘ Pound Puppy Reckard Margaux ❘ Chuckles ■ Rue George ❘ Caribou Jeanes Mary ❘ Soleil Knowles Kenneth ❘ Real Talk Mahan Gabriel ❘ Archangel ■ Merchant Rachel ❘ Bama ■ Nelson Christopher ❘ Uff Da Pettifor Joseph ❘ Union Jack ■ Reddy Akhil ❘ Samwise Russell Brianna ❘ Blitz Jen Michael ❘ CAT Kochetta Nicholas ❘ Gulliver Mahoney Ryan A. ❘ Chops Merriman Thad ❘ Lunch Neufeld Alex ❘ Frodo Phillips William M. ❘ Rumbles Reeks Helen ❘ English Girl Russell Chris ❘ Mosley ■ Jepson Susan ❘ Preacher Koenig Michael ❘ Go FAR Mahony Hillary ❘ Duff ■ Messick John ❘ Dare Ya Neumann-Chun ❘ Benjamin Banyan Pike Terry ❘ Thor the Red Reen Gavin ❘ Mio ■ Russillo, Jr. Alfred G. ❘ Data ■ Joffrion Susan ❘ Dallas Kool Hannah ❘ Pockets ■ Maidment Jonathan ❘ Money Maker Meyer Brandon ❘ Hotspot Neumann-Chun ❘ Nicholas Koko ■ Pirie Robert E. Reichstadt Derek ❘ Hobo/Minnesota Ryland Rachel ❘ (Ice) Cream Johnson Blaize ❘ Haiku Koons Larry Malagrifa Richard ❘ Hog Driver ■ Meyer Thomas ❘ Panzer ■ New Ricey Clarkson ❘ Papapuchi Pistore Alessandra ❘ Dragon Fly Reinis Dan ❘ Pumba Salvatori II Paul A. ❘ Bubba Johnson Christopher Krosnick Adam ❘ Sweet Tea Malatia Randall S. ❘ Sharpknife Michael Nathaniel Newman Grant ❘ Golly Green Giant Plona Kristofer ❘ Timber! ■ Reisinger Nan ❘ Drag’nfly ■ Sammut Richard S. ❘ WHIP Johnson Jake ❘ Professor Kuehn Dawn Elisha ❘ Ginger Malchow Forest ❘ Slowbro ■ Miklic Michael C. ❘ Springside Newman Matthew D. ❘ HEET Porteous James N. ❘ Shivers ■ Renault Tracy ❘ SaS Sanders Brandon ❘ Flash Johnson Jeffrey ❘ Baby Steps Kuehn Jeremy Paul ❘ Gilligan Malchow Ryan ❘ Slumberjack Miles Christian ❘ Vagabond Nichols Grant ❘ Lucky B Porter Jessica ❘ Messy Renfro Joanne ❘ Johawk Sands Nathaniel ❘ Sunshine Johnson Peter ❘ Samurai ■ Kuhn Jackie ❘ Left Turn ■ Maness Merritt S ❘ hakin ■ Miller Alex ❘ Padre ■ Niedenthal Alexis ❘ Moxie Potter Eugene K. ❘ S³ Resler Lindsay ❘ Flow Santore-Tovar Arthur ❘ Sasquatch ■ Johnson Tom ❘ Mex B Kuhn Joshua S. ❘ Trotter Mangan Peter ❘ Dependable Pete Miller Jenna ❘ Rain Nitsch Sophia ❘ Dinosaur Poulin Roger ❘ Ad-Cane Resler Michael R. ❘ Hustle ■ Sardelis Brenden ❘ Smudge Jones Jacob ❘ Shakes Lackey Anna Caitlin ❘ Rocket Girl Manning Daniel ❘ Handsome Dan Miller Jessica R. ❘ Dancing Feather Noel Thomas ❘ Moe ■ Powers Brandon ❘ Grizzzelle ■ Rich Robert E. ❘ Panama Jack Saults Andrew ❘ Human Torch ■ Jordan Andrea ❘ Scuttlebutt Laemmer Volker ❘ Wild Boar Mantay Jonathan ❘ Pop ■ Miller Stephen J. ❘ Nugget Nogly Hubertus ❘ Running Nose Prater Evans ❘ Jukebox ■ Riggs Edward ❘ Phys Ed ■ Saver Erin ❘ Wired Josefowski Robert ❘ Mumbles Lakis Maggie Martin Terry J. ❘ Birdman Mills Samatha ❘ Ar Norton Roger ❘ Taz Preiss Ines ❘ Trail Snail Ritter Adam ❘ Big Ups ■ Scarpa Michael ❘ Keep Walker ■ Joseph Adam T. ❘ Surge ■ Lalich Christopher ❘ Dune Martin Timothy ❘ Half Rack Mills Wesley ❘ Cowboy Nourse Van Meter Abby ❘ Spice Kit Preller Drew ❘ BOOTBURNER Rittwage James ❘ Turbo Schadler Devon ❘ Skittles ■ Judy Richard ❘ Peregrine Lamar Thaddeus ❘ No Pants Martin II Thomas N. ❘ White Rabbit Minnich Christopher ❘ Studmuffin ■ Nowak Keith ❘ One-a-Day Price Hannah ❘ ListeN ■ Rivard Rita ❘ Mrs. Goinhome Schlack Chris ❘ Six slash ■ Kaeck Eloise ❘ Tailgate Lambert Timothy ❘ Captain Rico Martin, Jr. Kenny ❘ Kenny ■ Mishkin Maximillian ❘ Bear Bag Nowak Maxwell ❘ Mad Max Prill Andrew C. ❘ Mr. Truth ■ Rivard Ronald ❘ Mr. Goinhome ■ Schmidlin Kate ❘ Tigger Kaltenhauser Benjamin ❘ Misty Pony Langer Philipp ❘ Pillow Matson James ❘ Lazor Cat Mishler Emily J. ❘ Fiver Nowatnick III Robert ❘ Scout ■ Pritchard II Robert D ❘ Fifer/chester ■ Robbins J. Michael ❘ Solo Amigo ■ Schmidt James F. (Frank) ❘ Frankie ■ Karakowski Tom ❘ Tom Sawyer Layne Christopher ❘ Fifty Mawdsley Alan ❘ Double Nickel Missi Rachel ❘ Ray Charles Oakes Isobel ❘ Road Runner ■ Procopio Dennis ❘ Mr. Fusion Robbins Rebecca ❘ Rabbit the Sleeper Kassay Joe ❘ Seymour ■ Leach Cathey ❘ Mama Bear Mayer Joachim ❘ Joe Mondragon Samantha ❘ Sweeps O’Brien Stephanie ❘ Turtle Profit Kristopher ❘ Motown ■ Roberts Dave ❘ Elusive Schnuck Max ❘ Roshambo Kee W.J. Wesley ❘ Outback LeBlanc Christopher ❘ Chickenfat McBride Kelly ❘ Pocket Monroe Trevor ❘ Sharkbait ■ O’Hara Sharon ❘ Cozy ■ Prouty Jonny ❘ Rockman ■ Roberts Jammie Lynn ❘ Atlas Schoenberger Art ❘ Hoyt

26 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 27 Bolster Ellie ❘ Rigs Patton III John R. ❘ Walking Stick ’11 Bland Gil ❘ WreckDiver 1999-1973 Schoff Adam J. ❘ Aquaman Soash Douglas ❘ Toto Treanor Keith ❘ Happy Hiker Wells Tom ❘ Cardioman Boyle Riley ❘ Wiki Powers Brian ❘ Frodo ■ ’11 Carlin Tom ❘ CRUZ Doggie ’99 Anderson John A (Jay) ❘ Dodger Schreck Rodney J. ❘ Rodn Real ■ Soto Amanda ❘ Pizzazz Tresch Bathia ❘ Swiss Miss Wells William ❘ Cola ■ Brown Jim ❘ Tuesday Powers Joanne Kay ❘ Winterborn ’11 Crites David ❘ Niners ’99 Bonder Scott ❘ Grizwaldo Schreiner Drew ❘ Juke Box ■ Sparks Jared ❘ SPARK Tresch Marco ❘ Nobody Wendling Alexandra ❘ Shrimpette Cloud Destry ❘ Atreyu Price Jared ’11 Leighton Keith ❘ Big Country ’99 Browand Benjamin K ❘ Gandalf ■ Schroeder Jack ❘ Tye-Dyed Bandit Spence Randy ❘ Oconee Trevett Martial ❘ Martial Arts Wersing Elliott E. Costello Joe ❘ Pressure “D” Prince Scott ❘ Sherpa ■ ’11 Purro Christopher ❘ MOJO ’99 Hedgepeth III Albert William Schuette Chandler ❘ Cape Spong Erick ❘ Ghost Tsao Craig ❘ Affirm ■ Weschler Matthew ❘ Hungry Horse Cyr Wayne ❘ O.S.D. Purvis Josh ❘ Maverick ’10 Rosengarten David ❘ Mohawk ❘ Prince Albert Schwing Christopher ❘ Sandals Spong, Jr. Robert E. ❘ Shortcut ■ Tsigounis Mark ❘ Achilles Wetherington Eric ❘ Gumby Diamond William ❘ Slider Quinn Chris ❘ Sir Stooge ’09 Cowart Richard Tyler ❘ Six String ■ ’99 Loomis, Jr. Corydon M. ❘ Beaver 1 Scott Jeff ■ Springer Robert E. ❘ Bob Tubbesing Carmen ❘ Pickles (Wees) ■ Whatmoor Scott Dean ❘ Dos Lekis ■ Dugan Gerald D. ❘ Sherpa Chief ■ Ratliff Betty J. ❘ B.J. ’09 Dunlop Matthew A. ❘ Squatter ■ ’99 Moundalexis Nancy ❘ Natty Scott Laura ❘ Bugout Squire James ❘ Ski ■ Tustin RayLynn ❘ Bluebird White Tucker ❘ Timon Dzurny Gabriel ❘ McLOVIN ■ Ratliff Roger E. ❘ Ever Ready ’09 Iverson Aaron ❘ Double Bag ’98 McElyea Rob ❘ Faith Walker ■ Scott Monte ■ St John Mark ❘ Gandalf ■ Unger Mike ❘ 3D Whited Sam ❘ Thespian Feider-Sullivan Clayton ❘ Tugboat Rutter David ❘ BLAST ’09 Jones Dustin ❘ Son ■ ’98 Popovich Nicole ❘ Hey Hey Go Away Sease Molly ❘ Smilie ■ Staggs Eli ❘ Shinbone ■ Upcavage Marly ❘ Joules Wiant Curtis ❘ Fireball ■ Fenik Sharon ❘ SOHO Ryan Jeff ’09 Jumper Laura ❘ Lulu ’98 Rock James ❘ Mountainman Seifarth Bryan ❘ Swiper. . . that sneaky fox ■ Stanishewski Sarah ❘ LYONS Upchurch Betty Wiggans Ethan ❘ Chip Gallucci Michael ❘ Woodrow ■ Sherman Robert ❘ Twitch/(Twitchy) ■ ’09 Platz Adam ❘ Dinnertime ’98 Stephens Zach ❘ Smiley Selden April ❘ Ladybug Stauffer J. D. ❘ Moose Upchurch Jonathan Willette James Gentry Carlie ❘ Rainbow Braid Siebert Garrett ❘ White Rushin ’09 Slay Jon ❘ Salty ■ ’96 Gentry J. Eril ❘ Bhoota Sexton Dillon ❘ Schweppes Steele Ethan H. ❘ Torch Van Keuren Jaime ❘ 19 Williams Kyle ❘ Titan ■ Giblin Nathan ❘ Big Yankee Smith Joshua Capel ❘ Milkrun ’09 Stone Christopher ❘ Spurrojo ■ ’94 Crose Hunter ❘ Hinckley ■ Shanahan Paul ❘ Lone Wolf Steeves Christian ❘ K-Bar Van Wingerden Robyn ❘ Dory ■ Williams Sam ❘ Short Haul Gong Cathy ❘ Bear ■ Sobalsky Katie ❘ Piper ’09 Sullivan Anna ❘ A (of T & A) ’94 Donley Ross ❘ Blue Mummy ■ Sharpe Steve ❘ Not Worthy Stephansky Ryan ❘ Mowgli Vance Mat ❘ ‘Merica! ■ Williams Scott A. ❘ Shroomer Grant Byron Andrew ❘ Bugaboo Song Ian ❘ Kiwi ’09 Sullivan Tomas ❘ T (of T & A) ■ ’94 Kerr Loren ❘ Turtle ■ Sheffer Phyllis ❘ Saybak Steuk Katerina ❘ Wall-E Vanderlinde-Abernathy David ❘ Croc Williamson Josh ❘ 2 Putt Griffith Jr. Thomas B. ❘ SNO Stofko Matthew J. ❘ Steel Matt ’09 Troeger Laura ❘ L-Train ’91 Borden J. Allen ❘ Dawg Doc Gunther Michael ❘ Dirty Rice Struttmann Brent ❘ Danko ’08 Cole Anna Blinn ❘ Bluebird ’91 Stein Mitchell ❘ Maingey Moose Hartranft Jonathan R. ❘ Johnny Blaze Stutterheim Katelyn ❘ Giggles ’08 Cole Garrett ❘ Buster ’90 Post Tim ❘ Maine or Bust Heady John M. ❘ John & Blue Dog Tolton Sam ❘ Bon Air ’08 Hillyer Robert ❘ No Car ■ ’89 Piper Robert E. ❘ The Bellkeeper Heinbockel Thomas ❘ Tarzan ■ Torrey Raymond J. ❘ Ramblin Ray ’08 Hulsey Jason ❘ Freestyle ’88 Foote Theron ❘ Dudeth Hopkins Scott ❘ Sweet Brown VanderEspt Scott ❘ HoverJob! ’07 Hickenlooper Tom ❘ Gopher ’83 Monahan Kevin ❘ Space Howe Will ❘ Bailer Wagner Richard ❘ Rich ’06 Chambers Jim ❘ Just Jim ’82 Stout David Layton ❘ Traveler Hughes David ❘ Candyman Weiss Vaughn ❘ Half-Life ■ ’05 Martin A. Dale ❘ New Heart ’80 Schwartz Susan E. ■ Johnson Maggie Winzler Julie ❘ GIGS ■ ’04 Aulick JoAnn G. ❘ Crazy ’78 Secrist James ❘ Jim Johnson Matthew ❘ Cerveza Womack Garrett ❘ String Bean Quiltin’ Mama ’76 Gudger David T. ■ Karst Lisa ❘ Peru ■ ’04 Johnson Alice Knox ❘ Manic Mama ’76 Wallace Edwin Kellenberg Alex ❘ Whistler 2012-2001 ’03 Harwell W. Raleigh ❘ Space Monkey ’74 Fortunato Donald J. King Jeffrey ❘ Pivot Dude/Pivot Man ’12 Belcher Carey ❘ Carry-On ’02 Chambers Jim ❘ Just Jim ■ ’73 Judy Richard ❘ Peregrine Kingsbery Alexander ❘ Scott Buckeye ’12 Bonham Zach ❘ Cliff-hanger ’02 Grosenbeck John ❘ Turtle ■ Kirk Brandon ❘ Lone Wolf ’12 Claytor Hannah ❘ Antsy ■ ’02 Grosenbeck Kerrie ❘ Willow Lehman Nicholas K. ❘ Pretzel ’12 Edwards Kevin ❘ Polaris ’02 Howard Peter ❘ Trail Blazed Maney Wil Vinson ❘ Coon ■ Heater Monica L. ❘ Dimples ’01 Pfeifer Teresa ❘ Bluebird Mason Amy Renee ❘ Honey Badger ’12 Horan Ryan ❘ River Sherman, Jr. ❘ Henry T. Generâl ■ Strain Katie ❘ Cupcake ■ Vann Lelia B. ❘ Princess ■ Willner Albert S. ❘ Wingnut Miller Brent Y. Yul ❘ The Mule ’12 Janssen Herma ❘ Socks Shirley Angela E. ❘ Talkie ■ Strout Keith ❘ DblR Varga Balazs ❘ Figure 8 Wilson Cody James ❘ Swash ■ Moriarty Nicholas ❘ Wicked Miner ’12 Johnson Walt ❘ Robo Jesus Shirley Bradford E. ❘ Walkie Stutz Ian ❘ Pneumo Vargas Joseph C. ❘ Dr. ■ Wilson Judge ❘ Kentucky Nelson Eric ❘ Moto! ’12 Mann Kelly ❘ Jo Tink From far left: Jeff and Chris Johnson; A.K. Goodrich ; Shissler Daniel ❘ Almost Suantika Christine ❘ Crunchie Vince Jacob ❘ Brace ■ Winter Mike ❘ Cannonball O’Rourke Cian ❘ Lucky (Irish) ’12 Simms Andrew ❘ Bootleg Sicheneder Rachel ❘ Spike ■ Sullivan Bradley ❘ Owlbear Vincent Jeffrey ❘ Lost Boy Wolf Eric Papa ❘ Wolf Rodger Poulin and Roni Lepore; Caitlynne Cash ■ Silberblatt Whitney ❘ Tip Toe ■ Swan Hallie ❘ Sonic Voigt Alex ❘ Paperboy Wood Chelsea S ❘ quirrel Simondi Delight V. ❘ Cowgirl ■ Sweeny Rob ❘ Bacon Dog ■ Vuolo John F. ❘ J5 ■ Woods Jeremy C. ❘ RARE BREED ■ Sincell Daniel ❘ The Nearly-Weds Sweitzer David ❘ Bagheera Wadsworth Ian ❘ Longlashes Woolf Elizabeth Ann ❘ Friday XIII ■ Sincell Shanna ❘ The Nearly-Weds ■ Swensgard Jesse ❘ The Viking Waechter Tobias ❘ Rotmann Wresilo Gregory J. ❘ Spirit Hawk of Love Siornicki Dean ❘ Pitstop Taber Louis ❘ Ground Fault ■ Wakefield Mark ❘ The Lorax Wright Cori ❘ Raven Sitarski Adam ❘ Paperweight ■ Tamsen Dustin V. ❘ Fuji ■ Walker Jim ❘ Reset Wright Douglas ❘ Stakes ■ Sizer II Gary L. ❘ Green Giant ■ Tandy III Thomas K. ❘ TK Walters Murphy ❘ Papa Skwatz ■ Wright Sabrina Rose ❘ Cliffwalker Skelton Caman ❘ Bones Tate Hunter ❘ Hot Sauce ■ Walther Michael David ❘ Guy Yeager Aaron ❘ Little Spoon Sklar Emily ❘ Giggles Taylor Jesse M. ❘ “Iron Chef” on a Buffalo Yontz Alex ❘ Breakfast Slay Kent ❘ O.K. Taylor Kasie ❘ Moxie Ward Richard ❘ 42 Young Frank ❘ Mission Slaybaugh Brittany ❘ Flashlight Teich Greg Warners David ❘ Whiffle ■ Young Pat ❘ Hudson Smith Andrew ❘ Finn Terry Jay ❘ Putter ■ Warrington John ❘ Dreamer Zay Chayse ❘ Science Tooth ■ Smith Andrew Lester ❘ Racewalker ■ Thayer Cecil E. ❘ Stitch ■ Warrington Justin ❘ Wazi Zickefoose Kevin ❘ Fire Bird ■ Smith Brooks H. ❘ Wing It ■ Thill Terry ❘ Tbird Warzinski Alexander ❘ Grubnugget Ziegler Christopher ❘ TODD Smith Clayton ❘ Hunter & the Fat Kids Thomas Christian ❘ Buddy Backpacker Watercutter Neal Winston ❘ REDHAWK ■ Ziegler Michael J. ❘ Backstroke ■ Smith David S. ❘ ShortStop Thomas Dayna ❘ Chin-Up Watson Nicola ❘ Tesla Zucconi David G. ❘ ZooMan Smith Elizabeth ❘ Poho ■ Thomas Dustan ❘ Dawg ■ Watts Randy ❘ Coach Zukas Ethan ❘ Blood Cookie Smith John Paul ❘ West ■ Thomas Eric ❘ Worldly Weaver Luke ❘ Dr. Hatchet Zukas Zachary ❘ The Conductor Smith Kevin ❘ Smurf Thomas Kolton ❘ Koltrain Weber John T. ❘ Moaglee ■ Zumsteg Elaine Cadigan ❘ Cadishack Smith Lindsay ❘ Hunter & the Fat Kids Thomas Leah ❘ Stumbles Weber Marci ❘ Mariposa ■ Zumwalt James W. ❘ Ishmael ■ Smith Michael J. ❘ Eastwood Thomsen Charles F. ❘ Charlie “T” Weber Samuel ❘ Muffin Man ■ Smith Sam ❘ Forrest Thuma Dean ❘ Roadrunner Wecht Tyler ❘ Chinook 2013 ■ Smith Sean ❘ Santa ■ Thyssen Christopher ❘ Emperor Wedel Joseph ❘ Sprinkleburst ■ Annett Taylor ❘ Yardsale Smith Trevor ❘ Hafftu ■ Tomczyk Thomas ❘ Laughs a Lot ■ Weismiller Lisa ❘ diet coke Backus Adam ❘ Planet ■ Snyder Janet K. ❘ Cherry Cola ■ Tomlinson Joan ❘ Blue Jay Weiss Alex B ❘ Trademark ■ Baker Thomas J. ❘ Radar ■ Snyder Mark K. ❘ Chasing Travers Bennett ❘ Tandem Weiss Henning ❘ The Captain Barnett Clint ❘ Howbout… Cherry Cola ■ Travers Jerry ❘ Buzz Weissman David ❘ Fifol ■ Blemings Ryan ❘ Echo Snyder Steven ❘ Bangarang Trawick Trey ❘ Bikini Line Weister Jason M. ❘ Tumbles Blubaum Edgar L. ❘ Cobweb

28 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 When the

Dealing s By Rodger Friedman ' Last spring, one of the world’s largest and most aggressive multinational conglomerates tried to win approval to build a sprawling casino on a parcel of land surrounded by New York’s Sterling Forest State Park, a stone’s throw from the Appalachian Trail. The sponsors rolled into town broadcasting money and inevitability. They met Done unexpected resistance from a large community of citizens devoted to maintaining the integrity of the forest. Rag- tag and underfunded, this community of volunteers challenged the casino through legal, social, and media channels. By the first day of winter, the casino’s bid had failed, its office had closed. Its envoys had been chased away. Here is the story.

Protected waters: 288-acre Sterling Lake is a visual and ecological gem in Sterling Forest State Park – by Michael Adamovic

spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 31 In the off-year election of 2013, voters in New York approved eventually flowered into a strenuous opposition movement. an amendment to the state’s constitution to expand casino Tuxedo residents began gathering in neighborhood living rooms, Parks Service A.T. Park Office, from several other regional and Clearly the wallets were open. (Goode publicly justified these gambling. The amendment, enticingly called “the Upstate Gaming seeking leadership in local neighborhood associations and inter- national foundations, including the Linnaean Society of New over-the-table payouts as “sharing economic benefits,” which, he and Economic Development Act,” invited the gambling industry est groups such as the Sterling Forest Partnership (a longstand- York, the Senate of the State of New Jersey, and even former New said, is “respectful and appropriate.”) For the purposes of this to establish casinos on non-tribal land, to bring much-needed ing forest advocacy group). As the meetings gathered mass, they York Governor George Pataki. Several organizations, including account, the most significant of these financial rewards was relief to economically deprived regions of the state. The first four moved from living rooms to larger halls; and the local interest the ATC, urged letters from their general membership. The board pledged to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC), the licenses would go to locations upstate, including the desperate groups formed alliances with regional forces. The Appalachian informed us in response to a Freedom of Information Law query bi-state managerial body, created by Governor Theodore Roosevelt Catskills region, where the weedy shells of Borscht Belt resorts Trail Conservancy (ATC) was one of the very first to provide that by December it had received 3,278 letters opposing the in 1900, that oversees Harriman and Sterling Forest state parks, lay just outside of boarded-up towns. much-needed encouragement and financial assistance to the Genting casino, and only 150 supporting it, by far the most among others. PIPC compliance was a key element in Genting’s New York Governor Andrew Cuomo established Sterling Forest Partnership. By late June, a full working correspondence of any of the casino proposals. a Location Selection Board to examine the coalition had emerged, with the Sterling Forest In response to this unexpected density of proposals and mete out the four licenses. Partnership, the ATC, the Appalachian opposition, Goode and his PR team scrambled The two-mile traffic jam between the thruway Initially, 19 offers in various locations Mountain Club, the Adirondack Moun- to present the project as though it was sensitive were submitted into competition tain Club, the New Jersey Highlands to environmental concerns. With increasing interchange and the main entrance to the for the four approvals. When the Coalition, New Jersey Sierra Club, frenzy, the PR pitch shifted emphasis, going so hotel would have sliced across known wildlife proposals came in, the most the Natural Resources Defense far as to claim positive improvements over opulent projects were not up Council (NRDC), the New York existing conditions in Sterling Forest, and migration routes, and would have divided the in the Catskills, but closer to New Jersey Trail Conference, enhancements to the state park. “We are state park into two separate fragments. the city, in relatively affluent Parks & Trails New York, the committed to building an environmentally Orange County, which is not Palisades Interstate Parks sustainable resort that will complement and commonly considered “up- Commission, several locally- enhance the surrounding parkland,” Goode wrote to Scenic scheme, as the casino required building a dedicated exit off the state.” The biggest, most focused groups in neighboring Hudson. “We believe the resort adheres to the spirit of the New York Thruway, and that exit would encroach onto a slice of expensive, most lavish, and counties, and, unofficially, the Highlands Conservation Act by taking all possible measures to Harriman State Park land, under PIPC’s control. potentially most lucrative Open Space Institute (OSI), and preserve the water, forest wildlife, recreational, and cultural In early June, Goode presented an elaborate 35-page document proposal came from Malay- Scenic Hudson, Inc. resources of the Highlands region.” Genting arranged formal to PIPC offering to solve practically every lingering problem on sia’s Genting Group. Genting meetings with the OSI, NRDC, the New York New Jersey Trail the commission’s to-do list (improving infrastructure, restoring scouted out a pocket of private courting disaster Conference, and the New Jersey Highlands Coalition to rehearse trails, preserving the archives, maintaining camps, shining up land as near to New York City as The casino project would have this line. Even though none of the targets bought in, Genting the modest museum at headquarters). He also promised that the new law would permit, just constructed 1.5-million square feet of re-purposed these meetings, frequently displaying the groups’ Genting could provide “general financial support.” This “general off the New York Thruway, right commercial space enclosed by Sterling familiar logos in subsequent public presentations as if they were financial support” was later clarified as a percentage of the in the middle of Sterling Forest Forest Park, including a seven-story 1,000- seals of approval, along with words to the effect of “we based our casino’s earnings, a contribution Genting estimated to amount State Park, in view of the Appala- room casino-hotel (with spires projecting 218 feet plans on discussions with NRDC, OSI, the New York - New Jersey to $30,000,000 annually. In return, Goode wanted the PIPC to chian Trail. The casino project would into the sky), parking for 9,000 vehicles, which would not Trail Conference, and the New Jersey Highlands Coalition.” A send a letter of support to the Location Selection Board, and Genting officers, led by a corpo- have constructed 1.5-million have been sufficient for the 7,000,000 projected visitors per year real stretcher. accede to a land swap or provide easement that would permit the rate VP named Christian Goode, square feet of commercial arriving in some 19,000 cars per day. The two-mile traffic jam thruway interchange plans to go forward. rode into the unsuspecting town of space enclosed by Sterling between the dedicated thruway interchange and the main promises made On September 14, 2014, at the regular meeting of the Palisades Tuxedo in early Spring with basic Forest Park, including a entrance to the hotel would have sliced across known wildlife From the beginning, the Genting Group established a policy of Interstate Park Commission, Genting’s momentum crashed. In plans in place for “Sterling Forest seven-story 1,000-room migration routes, and would have divided the state park into two promising very large sums of money in return for support and response to Genting’s pleadings and promises, the commission Resort,” a vast pleasure palace with casino-hotel (with spires separate fragments. The Ramapo Aquifer, with headwaters in advancement. A week before the deadline for the Tuxedo Town passed a resolution that declared that granting access to PIPC piercing spires, set off against the projecting 218 feet into Sterling Forest, lay downstream of the project, affecting drinking Council to vote whether or not to submit a “letter of support” to property “is not in accordance with our stewardship mission and backdrop of the abutting forest the sky) and parking for water for millions as well as wildlife habitat. the Location Selection Board, Goode promised the Town a the public trust to preserve the scenic beauty, natural resources, preserve. Their job was to garner 9,000 vehicles. Over the summer, Genting cleared several of the hurdles that million-dollar incentive, purportedly to cover the cost of and public enjoyment of Sterling Forest and Harriman State local support (one of the criteria for were part of the selection process. It secured the Tuxedo Town consulting fees; by week’s end, the incentive figure had tripled to Parks.” There would be no thruway interchange, and that meant, licensing), to smooth out obstacles, and then to prove to the Selec- Council’s vote of support, it convinced the town council to re-zone $3 million. Over the following weeks, he promised Tuxedo in effect, there would be no casino. tion Board that no other proposal could match their potential for the property for gaming, it signed a “host agreement” with the $50,000,000 off the top if the Sterling Forest site was successfully Goode and his subordinates continued the pursuit, claiming vacuuming up the New York City gambling market. town, and it managed to guide the town through the process of licensed, and many millions more in tax revenue and material they did not need PIPC’s permission, and that they would go Perhaps they expected to be greeted as liberators in the little finalizing a scoping document for the environmental review benefits. When a local school budget referendum failed, Genting ahead with the interchange. If they had, they would have town of Tuxedo. However, after the first special town meeting at process, deflecting almost every challenge to the draft. wrote a “goodwill check” to the school district in the amount of encountered several legal obstacles. Overriding the PIPC the end of April 2014, when Goode revealed the project to local Meanwhile, the Gaming Location Selection Board began to $340,000 to cover its shortfall. Goode negotiated a deal with the resolution would have required acts of legislature in both New citizens with much razzmatazz, the morning papers reported receive mail. Ron Tipton, executive director and CEO of the ATC, Village of Tuxedo Park (an enclave within the Town of Tuxedo) York and New Jersey (PIPC is a bi-state agency). Furthermore, that “his reception was not exactly warm.” Local people who sent two vigorous letters to the board spelling out the ATC’s awarding $10,000,000 upon licensing in return for a pledge to PIPC executive director James Hall indicated the possibility of spoke at the meeting “slammed the project,” according to the dedication to protect the A.T. corridor, as well as the state and withhold opposition to the casino during the selection process covenants and restrictions in the property deeds that limit (Middletown) Times Herald Record, including one who mourned federal obligations to preserve the scenic nature of the lands — not even to support it. Ultimately, he even offered to pay commercial construction on the site to less than one tenth the for the stars he would never again see from his home. adjacent to the Trail. Tipton’s letters were joined by strong $450,000,000 to the State of New York in return for a gaming casino’s projected 1.5 million square feet. Subsequently, Those grumblings from the crowd at the first town meeting statements from Wendy Janssen, superintendent of the National license (more than six times the required fee). attorneys working with the Sterling Forest Partnership, in

32 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 33 natural resources and on quality of life in the surrounding area. As if in collusion with the developer, the council opened this nine-pound document to scrutiny and public comment for the briefest period allowed under state statutes. The town council agreed to one public hearing (which extended over two sessions in early December), where expert consultants and lay citizens alike exposed the failings, falsehoods, anomalies, insufficiencies, and shoddy research in the DEIS. Karen Lutz, the ATC’s Mid-Atlantic regional director, spoke eloquently at the hearing about the protection of the A.T. corridor. She reminded the dais of the region’s natural gifts, saying they came as a The park’s unbroken deep- result of sacrifice, money, and hard forest habitat is important work. “Those precious resources did for the survival of many not come without significant resident and migratory investment of public funds required species; A closed sign at for both the Appalachian Trail the now debunked “Sterling corridor and Sterling Forest,” she Forest Resort” visitor said. “This proposal would diminish center — there would be that investment and betray the no casino – photos by public trust. This area was given to Rodger Friedman you as a gift by the hard-fighting advocates … who ensured the protection of the Appalachian Trail and Sterling Forest. It seems that you are now willing to gamble “The thing that impressed me the that gift away.” Her presence helped demonstrate to the town council that the project before them held national implications, most was the patient vigilance and wasn’t simply a local matter. particular Neil Woodworth of the Adirondack Mountain Club, Finally, on December 17, 2014, the Location Selection Board confirmed evidence of the deed restrictions and developed a announced its findings. Only three of the four licenses would be of a passionate, well-educated, legal argument for them. granted, one to a proposal in the Catskills, one near Albany, and At the end of September, the Location Selection Board held one in the Finger Lakes region. No applicant in Orange County and informed group of local a 12-hour public hearing on the Hudson Valley and Catskill was licensed. From the platform, Kevin Law explained that any region casino proposals. Any individual could sign up in advance casino in Orange County would diminish the chances of success to deliver a four-minute statement to the board. With few for the Catskill region. citizens who refused to give exceptions, everyone who addressed the Genting proposal spoke Yet Law elaborated to reporters that some Orange casinos —he against it, including attorney Albert K. Butzel, who informed didn’t name which — “had legal and environmental issues, as up the battle to protect the the board of the many legal challenges the project would face if well as local opposition, and that was taken into consideration.” it were approved. While Orange County was swept off the table with a stroke, landscape they love.” Goode and his PR department, however, hatched a stunt to in retrospect we understand that the Sterling Forest casino was overwhelm the public hearing with a pro-Genting presence. the most promising proposal in the pool from a financial They bussed in hundreds of employees and their families from perspective, and that the board was charged with making 70 Genting’s facility in New York City, all dressed in uniform percent of its decision on the basis of economic prospect alone. T-shirts emblazoned with pro-casino slogans. None of these Had so many people and organizations and environmental interlopers approached the microphone, but they presented a agencies not convened to make the choice of Sterling Forest Sterling Forest State Park comprises 21,935.08 visual message of mass support. The Selection Board was not impossible to consider, the board would have had a difficult time acres of pristine natural refuge and serves as fooled. When asked about the massive pro-Genting audience, justifying its dismissal. “The thing that impressed me the most a watershed for millions — the project would Selection Board chair Kevin Law told a reporter, “We didn’t was the patient vigilance of a passionate, well-educated, and have affected drinking water as well as wildlife just fall off a truck yesterday. We sort of know the testimony informed group of local citizens who refused to give up the battle habitat. Photo by Michael Adamovic we are getting from genuine people versus hired guns.” to protect the landscape they love. And of course that landscape Stymied by the PIPC, and facing legal obstacles galore, Goode includes the A.T.,” says the ATC’s Mid-Atlantic regional director nevertheless steamed ahead. In compliance with New York law, Karen Lutz. “[They] were very appreciative of, and grateful for Genting presented a draft environmental impact statement ATC’s investment of time, money, and commitment to help with (DEIS) to the Tuxedo Town Council, detailing (or more accurately, the fight. This one truly was a David and Goliath story, with an minimalizing) the consequences of the casino and its traffic on extremely satisfying ending.”

spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 35 One of the study’s focus areas was a 6,000-acre parcel of land Linkletter. Rather than finding a businessman whose concerns in Madrid Township, just to the south and east of the Saddleback were limited to harvesting, McKinley, himself a former forest Mountain ridgeline. A ski resort sits on the northwestern slopes products company scientist, was pleased to find an outdoorsman of Saddleback Mountain but the south side of the ridge is remote, who was intrigued by what McKinley was saying about the forests forested and accessible only on foot or by a network of logging of Orbeton. He was happy to take McKinley out on the logging roads and snowmobile trails. This parcel, just downslope from roads in his truck to show him the land. He was open to the idea the A.T. corridor, abuts 1,300 acres owned by MATLT and a smaller that this land should be conserved. parcel owned by the ATC. McKinley named this the Orbeton What McKinley had in mind, based on his field work and data Stream parcel. mining, was a different kind of large landscape conservation, one The land is owned by Linkletter Timberlands, LLC, a family which had its genesis in the stance of Drs. Born and Davis at the business located in Athens, Maine and the majority is actively Maine Mountain Conference in 1972: the mountain is as much managed for timber production. Like many timber companies in the valley as it is the summit and ridges. It was a conscious effort the state, however, the Linkletter to look beyond novel features family keeps their property open like unharvestable alpine areas to outdoor recreation in areas or views from summits. The where active logging is not occur- It was a conscious effort to Orbeton Stream project was the ring. The entire southern portion poster child for climate change of the property is crossed by look beyond novel features like adaptation, working forest, and Maine’s Interconnected Trail unharvestable alpine areas or multi-use access for recreation. System for snowmobiles and the After the publication of An Moose Loop for all-terrain vehi- views from summits… [It was] the Ecological Study of the High Peaks cles. A number of foot trails, in- poster child for climate change Region of Maine’s Western Moun- cluding the Fly Rod Crosby Trail tains, McKinley and Griscom (the brainchild of MATLT board adaptation, working forest, and both joined the MATLT Board. member Lloyd Griscom, which The two met with Linkletter and was named for Maine’s first reg- multi-use access for recreation. began to talk about a conserva- istered guide), also now traverse tion easement over the property the property. In the east, the that would allow for the contin- parcel is bisected by Orbeton Stream, which was the site of the ued harvesting of forest products according to best practices. successful reintroduction of spawning Atlantic Salmon in 2012. Future development would be strictly prohibited. “Plain old vanilla forest” is how McKinley recalls one conser- MATLT’s efforts significantly raised the visibility ofM aine’s By William L. vation official referring to the Orbeton Stream parcel. What High Peaks, and in 2012 the land trust joined with the Trust Spectacular McKinley saw was nothing of the sort. He saw a landscape that for Public Land and Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust to obtain Plouffe and Terrain Claire Polfus can anticipate climate change, with a diversity of ecological funding from the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program communities along an elevation gradient that range from eastern for the Orbeton Parcel. With further assistance from the High hardwood forests through the subalpine spruce fir areas and up Peaks Alliance, an organization dedicated to ensuring and to the alpine tundra on the area around the Appalachian Trail. enhancing public recreational access and opportunities in the In other words, the ecological communities in the Orbeton parcel Maine’s High Peaks, and a variety of other partners in the The Appalachian Trail does not cross a single determined that this section of the The Orbeton Stream are already coping with a range of climatic conditions. As the region, the Orbeton Parcel was finally placed under a working paved road for more than 30 miles as it climbs over six 4,000- A.T. and its environs should be a Easement area protects climate changes, it is more likely that areas such as the Orbeton, forest conservation easement at the end of 2014. foot mountains, down steep ravines, and across unbridged focus for its land conservation efforts 6,000 acres on the south which already host a diverse range of species and topography, will Today, due to these efforts, over ten miles of spectacular mountain rivers in western Maine between the towns of and began to call the area the Maine flank of Saddleback be able to adapt more quickly than areas without topographic or terrain on the Appalachian Trail is buffered by what was once Rangeley and Stratton. From the traverse of the Saddleback High Peaks Region. The name stuck Mountain (shown here), one species diversity. The forests of the Orbeton parcel not only referred to as “plain vanilla forest” but is now recognized as Range, the broad vistas of the western Maine mountains inspire and is now used by multiple groups of the premier alpine ridge provide habitat for Canada lynx, pine marten, moose, black bear, of great economical, ecological and recreational importance. a thirst for adventure in hardy hikers, but the mountainsides in the area to characterize the region. hikes in Maine. Photo by and countless species of songbirds and birds of prey — they MATLT’s Saddleback property and the Orbeton easement also provide habitat for many of Maine’s most iconic forest In 2006, after the success of the Claire Polfus provide an area through which species can migrate in response combined with the state lands on Mount Abraham, the species. The area has seen a long history of timber management. ATC and our partners to conserve to the host of climatological changes in our future. Crockers, and the Bigelow Preserve add thousands of conserved Narrow gauge railroads carted off hundreds of trees from Mount Abraham, a mountain adjacent to the A.T. with the One local landowner McKinley contacted felt the same way. acres to the A.T. realm, thus ensuring that the wildness, remote high elevation camps around the turn of the last century. second largest alpine area in the state, the MATLT commis- Lloyd Griscom’s family owned a number of properties in Madrid remoteness, and solitude that is at the very heart of the Today, although the timber industry continues to utilize the sioned an ecological study of the High Peaks by Peter S. Township, including a few camps within the Orbeton Stream Appalachian Trail experience, will remain forever a part of forest, the remote camps have faded into the regenerating forest. McKinley, Ph.D. The study provided guidance about future Linkletter parcel. He also lived in on the edge of the Orbeton Maine’s High Peaks. In 2002, when the majority of the region remained in large conservation goals in the area, where large tracts were changing property, and from his house Griscom would lead McKinley to private holdings, the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust hands and the future of the vast forests, remote mountains, see some of the undocumented features of the area, like the (MATLT), the land conservation-focused partner of Appalachian and important wildlife habitat — all critical to the A.T. experi- Orbeton Gorge and the trails leading to the ridges jutting from Claire Polfus is the ATC’s Maine conservation resources manager. William L. Plouffe Trail Conservancy (ATC), and the Maine Appalachian Trail Club ence — was uncertain. the Saddleback massif. He also introduced McKinley to Robert is a former ATC board member.

36 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 37 It is no secret that volunteerism has always been integral to the existence of the Appalachian Trail. For nearly a century, from its very inception, the overwhelm- ing majority of the work done to build, improve, and maintain the Trail has been performed by volunteers. For some 14 years, one such volunteer effort has been unique. Since May of 2001, the two-day work project known The unlikely lure of as Damascus Hard Core (based out of Damascus, Virginia two straight days of during Trail Days) has at times been the largest annual main- tenance program on the entire A.T., and it is further note- rugged work with worthy because many participants are actually hiking — in rocks and roots keeps most cases thru-hiking — when the event takes place, and decide to devote precious time off from their journeys to give thru-hikers coming something back to the Trail that they have come to love. back — and giving back Longtime Trail maintainer Bob Peoples, who has also By Jack Tarlin operated the legendary “Kincora” hiker hostel for two decades, — for years to come. is one of Hard Core’s founding fathers, and, along with his friends and colleagues from the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club (TEHCC), helps co-ordinate the event every May. From a humble and simple beginning, Hard Core has grown in popularity and participation every year. The work that the Hard Core crews have accomplished is nothing short of astounding. TEHCC Trail projects coordinator Carl Fritz, who has helped oversee Hard Core since its early days, reports some amazing statistics: by the time the 2015 weekend is over, Hard Core workers will have contributed more than 20,000 hours to the A.T. And they’ll have built, re-located, re-furbished, and repaired more than 50,000 feet of the Trail. Over the years, Hard Core workers have done remarkable things. At the very first event, more than 15 tons of gravel was hauled to the Trail, by hand, in five-gallon plastic buckets. On another occasion, lumber for a new shelter was carried, again by hand, over a mile-and-a-half to the jobsite. Since 2001, Hard Core crews have built new Trail, re-located or re-habbed miles of damaged or worn out Trail, created new campsites, built bridges, and even put up entirely new shelters. In 2006, Mountaineer Shelter was essentially completed in just two days.It should also be remembered that all of this labor is entirely voluntary. Project manager Fritz estimates that if the combined work of Hard Core From far left: Thru-hikers crews had been performed by by outside contractors, the labor costs would have run carry a log that will be cut half a million dollars. into steps farther up the Since a modest start, with perhaps 30 participants, the annual event has become Trail at Pond Mountain; so popular that work spots are coveted, and must be reserved ahead of time in order Lewis “Camo” Moyers, to guarantee a place. Many of the participants are affiliated with TEHCC. TEHCC “Lumpy”, “Kbar”, Scott members Bruce and Mary Cunningham, and Ed Oliver, have been with the project “Flying Porkchop” Ourth, since its first year. Just by themselves, along with Peoples and Fritz, these five Michael “Moose” Laude, stalwarts have contributed more than 40,000 hours of volunteer work to the A.T. and Adama-Malkia “Wild Of the others who sign up to work, half of each year’s reserved spots are for people Child” McGrapth take a who’ve worked on the project previously. Many of these folks, almost all of them break from their Hard Core former thru-hikers, return time and again to help out. Many have come back five work. Bob Peoples signs times or more. A few have been there ten times, and a handful, like Lewis “Camo” up eager thru-hiker “Big Moyers, haven’t missed a single Hard Core since 2001. The annual enthusiasm of E” for the crew. Photos Trail club members and hikers is wonderful, but according to Bob Peoples, the best by Laurie Potteiger and thing about each succeeding year is the part played by new hikers (half of each year’s Adama-Malkia McGrapth

spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 39 By Marian Orlousky

The Appalachian Trail removal efforts before the seed pods mature in in a batch of mashed potatoes; they are tasty, reserved spots are saved for them) who are actually hiking on the Club and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area to Conservancy (ATC) would like to invite all Trail early summer. The mature basal rosettes of first versatile and high in vitamins C and A. The A.T. that year. For most of these individuals, this is the very first identify work that might benefit from an annual “army” of volunteers to join the 2015 A.T. Garlic Mustard year plants can also be pulled in late fall since seeds also contain a variety of beneficial Trail work they’ve ever done. help from A.T. hikers. “Hardcore gets too much good work done Challenge. Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) has they won’t develop seeds until the next summer. nutrients and can be used just like traditional “Getting new folks involved is really what it’s all about,” to sit idly by and watch the program slip away,” says Downs. been chosen as the invasive Trail plant of the year, Garlic mustard is however also a wild edible. mustard seeds. The large tap root can be says Peoples. “What we’re doing here is creating the next gen- Andrew and the team from Mount Rogers hope to have an year; so the ATC is encouraging volunteers to It was originally introduced to the U.S. by collected from late fall into early spring and has eration of stewards for the A.T. Some of these announcement at this year’s Hard Core event. remove garlic mustard along the A.T. Beginning European settlers for its variety of dietary uses. a tangy, spicy flavor often compared to that of guys are going to stay involved with Trail work, Looking back, Peoples is proud of what he and in April, the ATC and its Trail maintaining clubs The leaves, flowers, roots, and seeds are all horseradish. So, before you take all the garlic and will be helping the Trail for the rest of their Clockwise from top left: his friends have managed to accomplish. “We got will host a series of work projects geared toward palatable. Most commonly, the young leaves of mustard out with the trash you might want to lives.” Peoples is correct, and has the letters and 2,000-miler Paul “Ole more than 600 hikers to take part,” he said. “All of teaching volunteers how to identify garlic second year plants are added to salads or tossed try making a savory pesto. post cards to prove it. One year, his personal Man” Renaud from them were happy to take time off from their own mustard and prevent its spread. The goal for the group of “rock crew” workers, included thru- Millinocket, Maine; Kim hikes in order to help out. And most of them had 2015 challenge is to collectively remove 2,189 hikers from Germany, Russia, Australia, and Peters of TEHCC; ‘97 never done an hour’s work of Trail maintenance in pounds of garlic mustard, representing one Israel. All of them went on to contribute to Trail thru-hiker Franklin “Ox” their lives. But we hope, in fact we know, that for pound of garlic mustard for every mile of the Trail. projects in their own countries. Another long- LaFond of TEHCC; ‘04 some of these men and women, this won’t be their We are encouraging all of our members to help time Hard Core participant, Laura “1 Pint” Reed, thru-hiker and volunteer last time. These are some of the people who will be us reach our goal. is presently helping to build trail in her new from the Green Mountain preserving the A.T. for years to come. The work they “Invasive” is a term given to non-native spe- home — Antarctica. Hard Core Damascus evi- Club, Wayne “Mad Hatter” do now will remain there to benefit their children cies, which when removed from their native dently has a very long reach. Krevetski; 2014 thru-hiker and grandchildren.” And he’s right. It’s already range, have proven to be extremely problematic This year’s project will be in the southern Alice “Kozi” Fernald paints happened. Recently, ten-year-old Kendall Abruzzese and detrimental to native species. Garlic mustard, Garlic Mustard Pesto Roan Highlands, a particularly spectacular a blaze after earning her received her first volunteer Trail patch, a reward for also known as Poor Man’s Mustard, is an invasive stretch of Trail near the Tennessee/North 50-hour patch last year. completing 50 hours of work on the A.T. Her father, herbaceous plant native to Eurasia. It is capable 1 cup garlic mustard Carolina border. According to Peoples, the crew, Photos by Laurie Potteiger “Forest Phil” Abruzzese is credited with coming up of out-competing native plants by depriving them 1/2 cup basil 125-strong, will be “re-furbishing” up to three and Tim Stewart with the original idea for Hard Core. of sunlight, moisture, and space. It also uses a 3 cloves garlic and a half miles of Trail, which will mainly My own favorite memory form of competition called allelopathy, which 2 oz. toasted pinenuts 4 oz. olive oil means it releases a chemical compound into the involve improving the present Trailbed, making of Damascus Hard Core and its juice of 1 lemon it more comfortable, and in fact, safer for hikers. first-time Trail maintainers ground that can inhibit the growth of surround- “Basically,” says Peoples, “it’s two days of lots of took place many years ago. A ing plants. Garlic mustard is a biennial plant, rocks and roots for everyone, but with this many perennial highlight of the end meaning it has a two-year life cycle. In its first In food processor combine all ingredients except olive oil. Puree and then add people involved, all working together, we can of a long day’s work has been year it develops kidney-shaped leaves that grow olive oil with processor running. really make a difference.” the opportunity to paint white close to the ground in what is called a basal ro- Attendance at the 2015 Hard Core is expected blazes on brand new or newly sette; the leaves smell like garlic when crushed. to be an all-time high, and after a decade and a repaired sections of the Trail, In their second year, the plants grow upward and half, it has appeared that this year’s event would and the freshly minted A.T. develop small flowers, each with four white pet- sadly mark the end of Damascus Hard Core. The maintainers always take great als arranged in a cross. By middle to late June How to Participate in the Challenge reason was simple: there are no more sections of pleasure in this task. On that the flowers are replaced by slender seed pods, ■ Join one of the scheduled Trail club pulls or confirm a new work site with local ATC regional staff. the Trail in this area that require Trail work of this day, a very enthusiastic young each capable of spreading hundreds of seeds ■ Get a supply of industrial weight trash bags of 33 or 45 gallon capacity. magnitude. In short, after 14 years of un-remitting hard work, thru-hiker asked me to check out her just completed new blaze. once mature. ■ Pull all the garlic mustard you can! Be careful not to pull or trample any native plants. Hard Core may have rendered itself obsolete. Recently however, “I guess you’ve seen a bunch of these before,” she said. “How does Because it is so easily pulled from the ground, ■ Tie and mark the bags as “invasive plants” and properly dispose of in the landfill. a conversation in the Mount Rogers highlands has breathed this one look?” I told her I thought it looked just great. “It’s a garlic mustard is an excellent candidate for ■ Email [email protected] and report the size and number of bags you filled, or new life into the future of the storied Trail crew. Andrew Downs, special one,” she explained. Not in any way intending to impugn manual control efforts. The best time to pull the exact weight of all garlic mustard you removed. the ATC’s regional director in Virginia, a former thru-hiker her ability to slap six inches of white paint on a tree trunk, I asked garlic mustard is early spring when the second and five-year veteran of Hard Core, has been working with her what exactly was so special about it. “This one is special, Jack,” year plants have grown in height and produced To participate in any of the planned events email: [email protected] Terry Walker, president of the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail she said, “because it’s always going to be mine.” flowers. To prevent spread, it is best to conduct Marian Orlousky is the ATC’s northern resource management coordinator.

40 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 41 ❘ ATC Profiles by Wendy K. Probst

was then the Majority Leader of the U.S. House of With his background in founding and working Representatives, former ATC executive director with so many organizations that are focused on Dave Startzell would stop by Terry’s office during youth, health, and public service, it should come as Hike the Hill (an annual event where ATC staff no surprise that Terry’s three children have fol- members travel to Washington, D.C. to renew lowed in his footsteps by serving others in their relationships and inform congressional staff of the professional careers (his daughter is a civil rights status and needs of the Appalachian Trail and lawyer and a Delegate in the Maryland legislature, request appropriations to support key federal land one son works in the White House, and another son acquisition projects along the A.T.). Dave’s visits works for CASA — a national organization that only served to further stoke his interest and works to protect immigrants, civil, and human awareness of the work the ATC does to promote and rights). “I am living proof that apples fall a long way protect such an incredible natural resource. His from the tree,” he jokes, then says with sincerity, close friend and long-time A.T. hiker and supporter, “The bottom line is that I want to be my kids when Virginia Congressman Don Beyer, who often enjoys talking about the Trail, encouraged Terry to become more involved. So he did — as a member of the ATC’s Board of Directors. “Terry is a great, great “As precious as time is, there is also friend of the Trail and of ATC,” says the ATC’s time to do a lot of work that will executive director Ron Tipton. “He leverages his political savvy, policy expertise, and wide range of benefit a lot of people.” friends and colleagues in many different ways for the benefit of the A.T.” And after four years as a board member, his genuine desire to help the ATC is never trumped by his busy schedule. “I appreciate also served on numerous boards such as Children’s that Terry is always available,” says the ATC’s Hospital National Medical Center and UNICEF, and director of membership and development, Royce common currently serves as the Chair of the board for the Gibson. “He has a hundred irons in the fire but Institute of Human Virology and on the board for makes you feel like your project is the only one on PeacePAC. When asked how he keeps up the his plate.” momentum, Terry simply says, “It’s genetic — I get As a board member, Terry has two primary goals: cause it from my parents.” He says this with both honesty oversight and helping financially. He also believes Terry Lierman has a knack for and wit but he has a deep appreciation for using that, as a protected corridor along the eastern U.S., bringing people together to support a common time well. “Time is the most precious thing we have the Appalachian Trail has the capacity to safeguard Terry (right) and cause. That is because he has a particular fervor for — I take it seriously.” key natural resources — keeping the East Coast and Congressman Jim getting involved and participating in what matters These days, he has expanded his focus by decid- therefore a portion of the U.S. more environmen- I grow up.” And his three young grandchildren are Moran at the 2014 to him. He passed this message on as the keynote ing it is time to do something for the environment tally sound. “Think of the Trail as the spine of this of course, the apples of his eye — three terrific ATC Leadership in From left: Terry’s Son speaker to the graduating class at his Alma mater, as well — and as with everything else he puts his country going from Georgia to Maine and all the reasons for why protecting and promoting the Conservation Awards Kyle with his friend Winona State University. “I stressed the importance mind to, he means business. That is where his air coming from the west to the east,” he says. “The future of a place like the A.T. means so much to Gala in Washington, D.C. Amanda, his daughter of being involved — as a human being, as a citizen, service on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s A.T. helps clean the air that we breathe.” Terry’s Terry. “It is good for the environment, good for our Brooke with grandson and as a family member,” he explains. And, for (ATC) Board of Directors comes into play. The TCA ’s vision of moving the ATC forward includes a con- health, and it’s beautiful,” he says. Teddy, son Trent with Terry, there is never a moment to waste. “As pre- board chair, Sandi Marra describes Terry as “the tinued expansion of programs that make the Trail Terry continues to pass his support of the Trail grandson Tre, and Terry cious as time is, there is also time to do a lot of work quintessential matchmaker” because he is so more available and obvious to the public — spe- on, not only by serving on the ATC’s board, but by with grandson Christian that will benefit a lot of people,” he says. His sincer- respected and liked by so many influential people cifically so that it will attract more minorities and spreading the word about the A.T. and the ATC as ity in this matter is as obvious as his good humor in the Washington, D.C. area. Through these con- people from a more diverse group of communities. often as possible. One way he does this is by giving and seemingly endless energy. nections, he has worked to introduce the ATC to “To me, the A.T. is a national treasure, that is 2,189 multiple subscriptions of A.T. Journeys as gifts to Terry is steeped in public service. For more than both political and industry leaders who can help miles long going through 14 states, that we have to friends and family members — he hopes that more 40 years he has put his time and professional move the organization forward. do a better job of expanding accessibility to,” he people will do the same. “It’s just the natural expertise in health and public policy into the cre- Terry became a member of the ATC more than a says. “[We need to] increase our outreach to every- magnificence of it all,” he says. “The whole idea of ation of successful organizations including the decade ago because the A.T. was so close to his home one.” This all ties into his belief that health is a major the Appalachian Trail being a national treasure is Children’s Research Institute, National Coalition in the Maryland metropolitan area. With each issue factor in what the A.T. has to offer: a healthier to encourage others to understand its value and for Cancer Research, Pancreatic Cancer Network, of A.T. Journeys he became more interested in the environment, protected water sources, protected support its success — not just for the sake of the Partnership for Prevention, and NOFAS — Nation- Trail and all that it involved. When he worked as wildlife and plant life — but also something to be areas surrounding and near the Trail but for the al Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. He has Chief of Staff to Congressman Steny Hoyer, who utilized to improve physical health. whole country.”

42 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 43 ❘ trail stories by Marsha Conner

actually on the Trail by following them via There was no given day or moment that I officially she walked covering Stratton Mountain and Killing- trailjournals. I randomly began picking hikers to began “shadow hiking” the A.T. with Red Robin. It was ton Peak. In mid-August she spotted an elusive moose follow in the April flood of entries. Male and female, just a process that began with a discussion about ham- while at the Lonesome Lake Hut in New Hampshire. solo and groups, young and old; I followed a diverse mocks and grew into genuine dialogue week after Looming ahead were the Presidential Range and group of twelve hikers. I laid out maps on my desk, week. In the evenings, I would find out what the 10, Mount Washington in the White Mountains. No car pulled resource books to have available, and I began a 15, or 20 miles that day had been like: the views, the ride or cog rail up Mount daily process of tracking “my hikers” northbound on swims in the rivers and lakes, the hostel stays, the Washington, Red Robin stayed their journeys. wildlife, and the interesting hikers she encountered. on the Trail to reach the top of Within the first week of my armchair adventure, My “need to know” intensified as Red Robin moved one of the most rugged moun- the Georgia mountains had claimed two of the hikers northbound. My questions were steady and there were tains in the U.S. I felt guilty due to medical injuries. Early into North Carolina, cold always answers, explanations, and pictures. In late that I was not at least hiking and loneliness took its toll on more. Slowly but surely, May, Red Robin had covered 600 miles in 47 days and up Blood Mountain in Georgia one of them was really beginning to catch my atten- was “loving it.” every day to pay my dues for tion. No major gear issues, none of the typical injuries, When the rain and storms rolled through, it was shadow hiking the New Eng- a sure pace right through Georgia, and really upbeat hard to tell if she was happier walking in the rain or land states with her. blogs; my goodness, this hiker seemed to really be sleeping in it. She was in her element and was enjoy- On August 26, one of the enjoying the miles on the Trail every day. The ham- ing every change in the weather, the terrain, and the toughest miles on the Trail mock-sleeping system she used caught my interest, so scenery with an open heart. It was all part of the awaited Red Robin. The Ma- I sent her an email to see if I could learn more about total experience. Daily mileage began to increase hoosuc Notch is one long mile it. I was pleasantly surprised when I not only received slightly as the Virginia section of the Trail ran in of boulders, not rocks mind you, but vehicle-sized Patty gets ready to start a reply, but a mini-lesson from the field with pictures conjunction with part of the Blue Ridge Parkway and obstacles. I felt fairly certain it was not calling my her journey in Georgia; to follow — wow. It was at about this time that this Skyline Drive. Shoes were being replaced monthly. name anytime soon. When it was time to take the One of Patty’s carefully hiker also received a Trail name — “Red Robin” — for At the ATC Visitor Center in Harpers Ferry, West ferry ride in a canoe across the Kennebec River in constructed hammock- her red hair and early morning routine. It would be Virginia, Patty Doyle-Jones signed in as thru hiker Maine in early September, she knew the ultimate prize sleeping systems at weeks before the fact that she had a given name reg- # 867 and had her picture taken. was not far away. There were still tough miles to go, Hog Camp Gap along istered with me: Patty Doyle-Jones. As Red Robin continued northbound, the warmth with the Hundred-Mile Wilderness ahead. Red Robin the A.T. in Virginia An equine veterinarian, Patty, had recently lost her of the summer brought the berries out on the Trail took the wilderness by storm, “strolling” up to 20 miles vet practice partner of 10 years, Dr. Rick Doran, to ALS. along with the bugs. At that point she was close a day, taking a cold swim in Cooper Falls, and even They had worked together performing countless surger- enough to her home territory of New Jersey that finding time to become a poet in the evenings. On ies on horses, and training other young surgical vet- friends and family met her to share a few miles to- September 13, she exited the wilderness, saw Katahdin erinarians. Losing him at the young age of 59 was not gether. From Pennsylvania north, I was in unfamiliar in the distance for the first time, and remarked, “the vicarious supposed to happen and it jolted her into grasping the terrain as I followed the daily journey. This only made idea that I would summit that rock ahead was surreal.” reality that time does not wait for anyone to empty their my shadow hiking more interesting. Matching the I could only imagine the emotions that any thru bucket list. She needed to burn her footprint on the pictures uploaded with the daily blogs was like having hiker feels at this point. Appalachian Trail, from Springer Mountain to Katah- my own photojournalist online. The geography was Patty registered as hiker # 494 at Baxter State Park Venture din. Patty wanted to accomplish the big one: A.T. thru- changing week by week. to climb the 5.8-mile Trail to the top of Katahdin. A During the summer of 2013, I attended hiker, class of 2014. So she scheduled a leave from her In early August, as Red Robin entered Vermont her very strenuous eight-to-twelve-hour round trip, hikers the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) Biennial practice and decided her A.T. hike would be dedicated blog mentioned that she had less than 500 miles to must launch no later than 10 a.m. On September 14, Conference in Cullowhee, North Carolina. At the end to the memory of Dr. Doran, and would also serve as a go. With 11 states covered, she was down to the last the first summit climb was started, but with low ceil- of a workshop I attended, the speaker told everyone fundraiser for research to find a cure for ALS. three — maybe the toughest mileage she would hike ings and questionable weather, the decision to turn about the website: trailjournals.com. I made a mental Patty displayed a passion for hiking the A.T. that yet. The beauty of the Vermont’s Green Mountains around was made at Thoreau Springs. You do not want Patty takes a note to research it later. Later, turned out to be in seemed well above the norm, as were her level of held my attention and hill after hill, vista after vista, to finish a journey of this magnitude lost in the clouds. moment at the March of 2014. Within days, I was reading blogs from fitness and emotional demeanor. I decided that she Back on the Trail the next day, the clouds had lifted end of her hike hikers on trails around the world, but the A.T. was my would be a great teacher. Her blogs were full of de- and the mountaintop was visible. Today would be the focus. Potential thru-hikers were blogging rapidly and tailed information about the Trail, her daily perfor- day, and emotions became stronger as she hiked their enthusiasm became my enthusiasm. I currently mance, and the geography and history of each day’s steadily higher. When she first saw the iconic wooden live within an hour of the arch at Amicalola Falls in journey. I emailed her more questions and I received sign for Katahdin, she felt “overwhelmingly honored.” Georgia and have hiked numerous sections of the Trail more answers. I found myself following her hikes It was for real, the journey complete, her goal had been in the southern region, but a thru-hiker on the A.T. daily, studying Trail locations, watching weather reached. Patty sat on the summit for a long time; as — well, that is a badge I may not ever earn. There is a forecasts, and calculating mileage during the day. By long as she needed to absorb it all. Then she walked big difference in being a day hiker on the Trail several the time Red Robin took her first “zero day” at Nan- through the twilight and into the dark to decend. At times a year, and hiking for six straight months from tahala Outdoor Center, I felt certain only an unfore- 9 p.m., Patty blogged: “The day, the summit, the hike Georgia to Maine. So, in 2014, I decided to try and seen injury or circumstance would prevent her from was done. She was definitely one of many that won.” virtually “hike” the A.T. through the footsteps of those reaching her goal. When I read the news, I felt like I had won too.

44 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 45 ❘ trail towns By Randy Motz What to Do and See at the Biennial Conference hiking The rich history of the Shenandoah Valley blends with its natural beauty in 70 unique and carefully selected guided hikes; some of which are offered up to four times with many on the A.T. That’s 180 hiking opportunities during six days. In addition to amazing scenic areas, there will be nature, history, and photography themed hikes, plus five sunset hikes. Many hikes showcase the Civil War, Revolutionary War, Civilian Conservation Corps construction and/or WWII POW camp sites. The hikes take place, not only on the Appalachian Trail, but on other beautiful trails in nearby national

Clockwise from left: A.T. at Little Stony Man overlook in Shenandoah National Park; A group from Princeton University at White Oak Canyon in Shenandoah National Park – photos by Lee Sheaffer; Commemorative statue of “the hiker” near the Memorial Bridge and Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia – by Georgia Harris; The Entrance to historic Old Town Winchester − by Chris Slabinski

militiamen under his command ambushed a French patrol. In the ensuing years, Washington continued to protect the val- ley’s settlers from the French and the Pontiac Indians to the Oh west. Washington’s headquarters, which are open to the pub- lic, still stand on Cork Street. Shenandoah Winchester again came to the forefront of American his- tory in the 19th century due to its strategic location during The serene beauty and rich history of the the Civil War. General “Stonewall” Jackson, whose legendary Valley Campaign and envelopment of the Union Army at and state parks and forests in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Shenandoah Valley provides the backdrop Chancellorsville are still studied worldwide as examples of of course, Virginia. Several hikes will conclude at a local restaurant or innovative and bold leadership, quartered in Winchester dur- winery, and there are numerous hikes where you can take a swim. for a week of unforgettable experiences. ing the winter of 1862. His headquarters at North Braddock This is a “family-friendly event, so a team of family hiking specialists have Street are a must-see on a visit to the area. During the Civil designed 30 hikes suitable for most families that are five miles or less, plus 115 War, control of the Shenandoah Valley was critical to the fate hikes suitable for most children eight years and older that are nine miles or less. Nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and the Confederacy. Because of this, seven major to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west, and battles occurred in the valley around Winchester between 1862 excursions stretching 200 miles from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia to and 1864, including General Philip H. Sheridan’s final cam- Thirty-five exciting excursions are scheduled to highlight the beauty, culture, Roanoke, Virginia, lies the Shenandoah Valley; an area well- paign to crush Confederate hope in the valley. This campaign history, and opportunities for adventure that abound in the Shenandoah known for its spectacular natural beauty and deep historic roots. included “the Burning,” the fiery destruction of the region’s Valley and surrounding areas. Trips to Washington, D.C., Harpers Ferry, At the very heart of the valley stands the city of Winchester, agricultural wealth. Gettysburg National Battlefield Park, Antietam Battlefield, the Appalachian Virginia, the site of this year’s 40th Appalachian Trail Conser- Winchester is also the hometown of legendary country Trail Museum, historic Front Royal, the Virginia Arboretum, Rapidan Camp, vancy (ATC) Biennial Conference, “Hiking Through History.” music singer, Patsy Cline. Her home still stands on South a scenic train ride along the Potomac River, stargazing at Sky Meadows From July 17-24, hiking enthusiasts from across the country Kent Street, and although it is now closed, you can still see State Park, visits to local wineries, and trips along the C&O Canal offer will converge on the beautiful campus of Shenandoah Univer- Gaunt’s Drug where she was a soda jerk and Triangle Diner many opportunities to experience all the area has to offer. Close to the sity to participate in this fun and informative, weeklong, where she waitressed. university, there will be excursions to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley family-friendly event. and a walking tour of Old Town Winchester, with stops at many of the Winchester’s origins go back to 1729 when Quakers moved the campus historic sites located there. And for the adventurous, there will be kayaking south from Pennsylvania into what would eventually be called The Shenandoah University campus is located near hundreds of miles of and canoeing, tubing and rafting trips, zip lining, rock climbing, horseback the Shenandoah Valley. The promise of religious toleration outstanding hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail, which is only an riding, and a trip to the spectacular depths of Shenandoah Caverns. brought a steady stream of Lutherans, Quakers, Presbyterians, 18-minute drive away. The University is also close to numerous Civil War and Anglicans to the area. However, beginning in 1754, the battlefields, such as Manassas, Gettysburg, and Antietam, and is only 90 workshops peace and serenity of the valley was suddenly shattered as the over Winchester from the top of the hill on what is now known minutes from Washington, D.C. Winchester is a delightful small town with Exciting and informative workshops will be held during the day on Saturday, dark clouds of war gathered over Winchester with the start of as Loudoun Street. It was from here that twenty-two-year-old a vibrant culture and history — a city with one foot still firmly rooted in the July 18 through and into the evening of Monday, July 20. Workshops are the French Indian War. In the 1750s, Fort Loudoun guarded George Washington got his start, when, in May 1754, Virginia past and the other moving toward the future. being offered in 11 different tracks, including: A.T. — The Trail, A.T. — The

46 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 47 Help Celebrate Our 90th

Whitewater rafting on the Shenandoah River – photo courtesy of River Riders; Black bears are often spotted in Shenandoah National Park − by Lee Sheaffer Anniversary with a new Foldable Water Bottle or Communities, Creative Arts, Environment, Hiking and Backpacking Skills, Club of Maryland, along with many other Trail clubs from all along the A.T., an Osprey Day Pack! History, Natural Wonders, Other Trails, Youth/Outreach, Trail Maintenance will host exhibits in the registration area. Representatives from local tourism and Management, and Volunteer Leaders and Club Management. Experts bureaus, state and national parks, local outfitters, as well as companies For more information visit: in all these areas will provide valuable information and insight that will be and organizations involved with the Appalachian Trail or outdoor recreation beneficial to both you and your trail organization. in general, will be on hand to provide valuable information, services, and appalachiantrail.org/90th products. The hours for lunch at this year’s conference have been extended, special activities so that you will have more time to discover all the amazing things in the “Hiking Through History” will have something for everyone. In addition to exhibit hall. And, if you bring your children or are involved in youth outreach, all the hikes, excursions and workshops offered, there will also be special be sure to visit the special Leave No Trace (LNT) Youth Activities Center T rail C rew k the Konnaroc activities such as classes in basic bicycle maintenance, First Aid certification, located in the Exhibit Hall. Volunteer for an Appalachian a two-day wilderness First Aid class, field workshops about traditional edged Trail Crew This Season! tools and rigging, and even classes on knitting hats and T-shirt design. And, For more information and to register visit: www.atc2015.org appalachiantrail.org/crews for the first time at an ATC Biennial Conference, there will be two-day and y of courtes P hoto four-day slackpacking trips on the A.T., with overnight stays in Potomac Appalachian Trail Club cabins and hostels. In addition, each day there will Become a sponsor soon be yoga classes to help you limber up for the day’s activities or unwind after for maximum exposure at the conference a long day on the Trail. ■ Reach thousands of outdoor enthusiasts with your message at this week-long event family activities ■ Exclusive marketing opportunities from “Event Supporter” Many of the hikes, workshops and special events at this year’s conference to “Silver,” “Bronze,” “Gold” and “Platinum” sponsorship levels are appropriate for families with both small children and teenagers. ■ Vendor and not-for-profit opportunities ♥♥ ■ I the A.T. Shenandoah University adjoins Jim Barnett Park, which offers miniature Provide raffle items to receive exposure for your company I the A.T. golf, hiking and biking trails, fishing, tennis, and indoor and outdoor pools. or organization Winchester is also the home of the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum with displays and activities for all ages. Current conference sponsors include Platinum Sponsor entertainment & presentations ■ FiftySense – Common Sense Ideas for Thriving After 50: An amazing and diverse offering of entertainment concludes each day’s fiftysense.net/outdoors activities, beginning with a special hammer dulcimer performance to open Gold Sponsors the ATC Business Meeting on Saturday evening. Every other evening, ■ Appalachian Outdoor Readiness & Essentials, LLC: conference attendees will be delighted by stand-up comedy and quality appalachianreadiness.com bands performing every style of music from bluegrass and classic rock, to ■ Road Scholar – Non-Profit Leader in World Travel: roadscholar.org folk, country, and pop. If music is not your cup of tea, each evening there ■ River Riders: riverriders.com will also be informative and inspirational presentations on a range of topics, Silver Sponsors such as Alaska’s Wild Peninsula, Exploring Wild and Remote Patagonia, ■ River & Trail Outfitters: rivertrail.com Raptors of the Shenandoah Valley, A Pictorial History of Virginia’s ■ H.N. Funkhouser – Handy Marts: handymart.com Appalachian Trail, An Unsupported Thru-Hike in Record Time, and Best Foot Bronze Sponsors Forward, the inspirational story of a one-legged A.T. hiker. ■ Bluemont Vineyards: bluemontvineyard.com ■ Sweet Nola’s Restaurant: sweetnolas.com your love exhibits Share Beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 17 until Sunday, July 19, at noon, the To become a vendor, exhibitor, supporter or sponsor, contact: − M c A fee Knob S unrise and E mma H arver with a gift membership ATC, conference hosts, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and Mountain [email protected] appalachiantrail.org/giftmembership lan H ewitt Dy 48 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015

❘ trail giving

december 2014 – february 2015

new Advisory Supporter Circle $1,000 - $2,999 ANNUAL FUND Terry Lierman, Co-Chair Appalachian Long Distant H. Jeffrey Leonard, Co-Chair Hikers Association LEADERSHIP CIRCLE LEVELS Colin Beasley Ron & Jill Balistreri Lenny Bernstein Dr. John R. Ball Our Annual Fund giving program has expanded Destry Jarvis Lt. Col. Ann H. Bransford The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) continues to change with new levels and exciting benefits to help us Hon. Jim Moran Ken & Jo Beth Bunning Ann Satterthwaite Philip Byers and grow along with our new five year Strategic Plan, and I am excited to share with enhance our ability to build a strong foundation Brent Thompson Wesley Callender & Pat Davis you some new ways to support that critical effort. and capacity to fund our Five-Year Strategic Plan. C. Stewart Verdery, Jr. Irad Carmi A.T. Blue Ridge Mountains − by Peng Wang First, we have created a Leadership Circle for supporters Michael Conn giving $1,000 or more annually with a new and expanded set Individual Cumberland Valley Athletic Club of benefits and recognition (see details on the next page). Gifts James E. Davidson Dolly Dieter Benefits include tickets to our annual Leaders in Conservation Leader $100,000+ Charles & Jill Dixon Awards Gala, invitations to exclusive events with ATC experts LEADER Estate of Joan Sibley David Eddy and executive director Ron Tipton, and direct access to a $100,000 OR MORE Elizabeth Estes personal ATC liaison. Funds raised through the Leadership Advocate Marcia Fairweather* Circle support our core programs and ongoing commitment PARTNER $25,000 - $49,999 Robert & Constance Fletcher $50,000 - $99,999 William W. Farkas John W. Grumm to preserve, manage, and enhance the Appalachian Trail for Greg* & Jan Winchester Brenda & Kevin Hamm today, tomorrow, and centuries to come. Eli V. Hestermann Second, we have invited a diverse group of select individuals Protector Arthur & Eloise Hodges ADVOCATE $10,000 - $24,999 John Hodgson — an Advisory Circle — to provide expertise and broader $25,000 - $49,999 outreach for the ATC. Members of the Advisory Circle are Robert W. Becker June Horsman Danny & Lenny Bernstein Isis Restaurant & Music Hall LLC characterized by the following: connections to key decision Richard* & Catharine Daileader Geoffrey & Christine James makers, policy experts in areas critical to the ATC’s success, Robert* & Catherine Hutchinson Judy Jenner & Dave Startzell experience in philanthropy and /or conservation, and a strong Robert Salerno Brian B King Donald H. Kirkland knowledge of and devotion to the Appalachian Trail. We PROTECTOR Nathaniel Stoddard* welcome them to our leadership and are grateful for their $10,000 - $24,999 Ron Tipton* & Rita Molyneaux Bob Klemme Elizabeth* & Robert Thompson William Lamar & Rebecca Harriett commitment. We are especially pleased that board member Donna & George Lawson Terry Lierman and supporter Jeffrey Leonard have agreed to Steward Tom Lingan co-chair the Advisory Circle. $5,000 - $9,999 Judy & Bart Lipofsky These are exciting times and important times for the TCA STEWARD Megan Beyer & the Hon. Donald Beyer Douglas & Marie Liu and the Trail as we expand our capacity to steward this im- $5,000 - $9,999 SUSTAINER Harold & Rosemere Croxton Mike Lynn Funds raised through $2,500 - $4,999 Courtney A. Daragan James Martineau portant cultural and environmental treasure. I thank each and every one of our Audrey H. Duane Gayle Maslow the Leadership Circle volunteers and supporters at all levels, and feel lucky to work with so many dedi- Arthur* & Denise Foley McLeod Foundation cated men and women in such a focused and effective organization. Mary Higley* & Kyran Kennedy Larry & Phyliss Miller support our core H. F. Gerry Lenfest Henry Westmoreland & programs and ongoing Marie E. Uehling ❘ Major Gifts Officer H. Jeffrey Leonard Charles Milligan Terry Lierman* Jack & Nancy Milne commitment to preserve, SUPPORTER $1,000 - $2,499 Chris Brunton & Sandra Marra* Preston & Christy Mitchell manage, and enhance H.O. Peet Foundation Frank Morrison Carrie* & Rolf Tweeten Richard M. Morten the Appalachian Trail for Clark Wright* Alan & Janet Nye today, tomorrow, and Kevin O’ Brien Sustainer Edward E. Oliver centuries to come. $2,500 - $4,999 Bruce & Alice Parker Join our Leadership Circle! Tockie Baker Lewis Parker & Family For more information, contact: Liz Bratter Roger D. Pawsat Beth Bryan Critton* Shawn Remacle Marie Uehling at 304.885.0462 or Sam Ferguson Rochester Area Community Foundation [email protected] Edward* & Janelle Guyot Samuel Sarofeen* Ned Kuhns Linda A. Schlueter Judith McGuire & Arthur Tsien Jim & Kathleen Schrock Therese Phillips Truman Semans Mary Minor Smith Kathleen Donaghue & Linda Tindal Kimball Simpson www.appalachiantrail.org/annualfund

50 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 51

Jeff Wagner Eric Medina by Charles Carol Core, Lee Futrelle, Mary & Hugh Thomason by Jean Thomason Jeff Walden & Harriet Lightner Alan Harrop, Wilma Steele, Lewis Hy Wallis by Peggy Wallace Kathryn L. Weaver Hawk Metheney by & Elizabeth Ware, William & Jeffrey Weaver by Barbara Beaudry, William Roy Baker, Jr. Family Clark Wright Mary Jeanne Weber Barrie Fisher, Marlin & Mary Foundation John Owen by Jack & Gideon “Gid” Fryer by Stephen Hershey, Cathy Jabara, William Jim Williamson Carlyn Hutchens & Jean Ash, Donna Hartman, & Glenda Sterling, Milton & The Esther & Morton Wohlgemuth John Parsons by Barbara Magnan- Martie & John Ulmer Joan Weaver, Edward Weiler Found., Inc. Dagnillo Bob Fullton by William & Betty Wolfe by Carl & Janet Ledo Ed & Sandy Wood Laurie Potteiger by Clark Wright Louise Latture David Woolf by Naola Blair Woodward Bob Proudman by Clark Wright William Glynn by Robert Glynn Gersten-Woolf Christina L. Wtulich Charles & Kristen Richardson by Chris Grindberg by Collier Fountain Kirt Zeigler Nina Anderson Herman Hodapp by Collier Fountain Corporate & *Denotes ATC Board Member Marty Ritzet by Janet Luff Steve Hyde by Kathleen McGuffin Foundation Gifts Floyd Sollenberger by Delores Jeffers by Pamela Roy, Diamond In Honor Of Charles Anhor, III John & Oliva Cavaluzzi $25,000 to $49,000 Robert & Louise Albertini by Morgan Sommerville by Paul Koch by Veva & Ralph Ketchum Dorr Foundation giving continued Southbounder Virginia Craft — the Pinnacle – by David Halterman Frances Carroll Clark Wright Denny “Swamp Fox” Livingston Foundation for the Carolinas ATC Board of Directors by Ten88 by Victoria Rabinowe by Selby Weeks Katten, Muchin, Rosenman LLP Clark Wright Marsha Thrift by Donna Torreyson Peter Llewellyn by Raphael Abada, Mary Small Stephen L. Cloues Harry Shields Netzer Brent Senseny & Linda Cluck Namie Bacile by Janet Jennings Ron Tipton by Clark Wright Sharon Murphy, Patricia & John Visionary Douglas & Lynn Smith Roger Colberg Gene O’Brien Jody Sindelar & Roger Ibbotson John Ball by Barbara Ball Terri Welfare by Donna Torreyson Plate, Fred & Dina Rescott, Cheryl $10,000 to $24,999 Kevin St. Clair Bryan J. Collier Timothy & Debra O’Rourke Charles W. Sloan Robert Barney by Michelle & Robert Whaley by Susan Seidler & Paul Senzer, George Vadasz Eagle’s Nest Outfitters, Inc. (ENO) Andrew & Darlene Stokes Wade C. Crow Mr. & Mrs. George Ohrstrom Ernest E. Smith Matt Birth Christine Wolfe by Susan Davis Ben Mabry by Buford Mabry Google Mountain View Mary E. Szpanka Merrill Cutting Steve Paradis Stewart Taylor Bill Bazemore by Rick Maerker by Kenneth Trimble Harney & Sons Fine Teas Lisa A. Teot Tamra Dann Roger Perry G. Carleton Thackston Donna Torreyson Michael Manes by Kevin Burd L.L. Bean Inc. Lee & Beverly Thompson Joe DeLoach Robert Potter David E. Thomas, Jr. In Memory of Bob Beam by The Girlfriends Frank Adams by Daniel Blevins Tom Mattee by Dale & Patton Boggs, LLP Marie Uehling Jay Dement David Quave Bill & Sharon Van Horn Laura Belleville by Clark Wright Zach “Shady” Adamson by Theresa Gerhardt Lelia Vann Bob & Sarah Douthitt Michael & Debra Ramey Chris VanBuren Grace “Stearman” Brayley Dwayne & Janice McNutt George Matthews by Col. & Trail Blazer Stephen & Nina Waite Roy A. Dray Tip & Ann Ray Laurence R. VanMeter Childress by John Brayley Michael Aloysius McGuire by Mrs. Bill Davis USA (Ret.) $5,000-$9,999 William A. Weary Jane Dugan John Rhodes & Elizabeth Allman Veterinary Classmates At Oklahoma Kay Doton by Ron & Beth Bryan Critton Mebane McDonald Archer by Garden Homes Management Lisa Weismiller Everett Ehrlich Martha F. Roberts State University Class Of 1969 Barry Meade William Roy Baker by William Dr. John Archer, III Billie Whittaker Stephen Eickhoff Elaine R. Rockett Michael & Linda Vitelli Andrew Downs by Clark Wright Baker, III, Emily Runser Sam Miele by John & Donna Purdy, Leader Judge Wilson Diana R. Ellsworth Brad & Jill Seibert Judd Volino Javier Folgar by Clark Wright Andrew Bequaert by William Rose Marie Weston Kathy & Oak Winters Nick Engelman $2,500-$4,999 Tom & Anne Gamble by William & Betsy Kingery Shay Moorman by Veal Moorman American Back Country Bob & Carol Wolf Dr. & Mrs. Hal Evans & Cassie Gamble Mercer “Turtle” Blankenship by Tim Myrick by Rebekah Young Bloomberg Philanthropy Edward Wood David & Sally Field Remembering John Harney — ATC Royce Gibson by Clark Wright Richard Spare Darroll Nickels by Joe DeLoach Ingen Technologies, Inc. The Esther & Morton James Fields Samuel Gilmore by Paul Henry Blosser by Elizabeth Derath John “Butch” O’Meara by Network for Good Wohlgemuth Found., Inc. Fred & Joanne Firman supporter for many years & Marje Richter Richard Buchholz by Beverly O’Meara Six Moon Designs Scott Zimmerman Erin Frackleton Andrew Hammer by Joan Peggy Buchholz Nancy Pate by Dr. & Mrs. Henry Bohn, Turkey Hill Dairy Tommy Funderburk Elyse Harney smiles when recollecting the many years that she and her late & Russell Yohe Jeffrey Burnett by Bette Winfree Charlotte Dietz, Veterinary Benton MacKaye Society Arthur D. Gaudet husband, John Harney, spent getting to know Appalachian Trail thru-hikers as Martha Harper by Donna Robert Burwell Fulton, III by Classmates at Oklahoma State Ambassador $500 - $999 Glenda George their journeys took them into the Harney’s hometown of Salisbury, Connecticut. Torreyson Employees of Mid Atlantic University Class of 1969 $1,000-$2,499 William Anderson Christopher & Nancy Gibbs Charles Harrison by John Solutions, Inc. Marguerite Peet Foster by Elementem Photography Shelley Anderson Douglas M. Godine, Jr. “There were blueberries everywhere that summer,” she says. Through raising & Alice Harrison James “Jaybird” Byrd by Carl Rockwood Foster And Trust Exchange Anonymous Robert B. Gottschalk, Jr. five children and having owned Salis- Kathryn Herndon by Joseph & Lyna Anderson Steven Peters by Thomas Alderson, Outdoor Edutainment, LLC Jeffrey Arle Claude H. Grizzard bury’s White Hart Inn, Elyse and John Frisina, Anne Herndon Daniel Cramer by Marc Rhonda Ball, Betty Jean Peters ULA Equipment Bill & Liz Armstrong William Hawley Jr. developed a strong connection with Brittany Hoeferer by Braunstein, Diane Heller, Robert Rickert by Jamie Naab Patricia G. Barnett-Brubaker James L. Heaney the Trail’s Berkshire Range. John spent Karen Hoeferer Judy & David Van Auken Paul Schnare by Dorothy Schnare Partner Michael Beard The Heins Family Rick Jenkinson by Tim Fenton Don Cutting by Merrill Cutting Katy Sexton by H. Jay Sexton $500-$999 Laura & Buzz Belleville Landis Heistand endless days getting to know and love John by Rev. John Cromartie, Jr. Chris Deffler by Margaret Deffler Avanell Sinnett by Katie Babin, BSA Coille Limited Partnership, LP The Louis Berkowitz Family Phillip Hodges the ins and outs of the area’s mountain Jeff Johnston by John & Edwin Deffler by Margaret Deffler Troop 993, Charity Burd, John & Equinox Environmental Consultation Lynn Beville Konrad H. Jarausch range; sometimes for the enjoyment Amy Bronassisi Walter Disher by Software Dina Haines, Sally John, Stacy & & Design, Inc. Scott Birchman Kurt & Donna Johnson of skiing and others as a diligent par- Brian King by Clark Wright Projects Consulting, Inc. Shane Kihara, Nicole Luther, LMAC Foundation, Inc. Mike & Laura Bouldin John Killam ent trying to stay one step ahead of his Thad Lamar by Rebecca Roger Dixon by Charles & Jill Dixon Luann McNaney, Tracy Nasca, Road Scholar Elderhostel, Inc. Marcus & Lynda Brumfield John & Junith Koon Harriett, William Lamar Francis Dugan by Thomas Kilcoyne, Joanna & Paul Ostrowski, Frank Brummer Charlotte Lackey & Don Barnett sons who were innately drawn to the Mary Lou Lee by Phillip Neuman, Tracy & Jeff Stephanie Robertson Bill & Marlene Bryan Rebecca Lewis mountain’s untamed adventure. Elyse Donna Torreyson Powers, Siobhan Pritchard & Slweets by Kim Lang Peggy W. Buchholz Joseph & Patricia Libera Membership dues and additional enjoyed hosting hikers at the inn where they were offered a brief respite of meals, Karen Lutz by Clark Wright Family, Richards Tool & Supply, Eric Snyder by R. Bruce Snyder Cathy & Ron Butler Mark Lynch donations are tax-deductible showers and soft bedding in exchange for stories of adventure and good com- Mark Mahoney by Kathleen Schwab, Scott & Lyn Helen Streepey by Alice Bower, Don Robert Cameron Sarah Lynch as a charitable contribution. pany. Even after their children were grown and the inn was sold, Elyse and John Barbara Baethke Teepe, Andrew Wasiniak & Kathy Craig, Mr. & Mrs. James Dr. Joseph Campbell Alan Mazzola The ATC is a Section 501(c)(3) Sandi Marra by Clark Wright John Fletcher by Robert & Curry, Floyd Physicians Melissa & James Cardon David McKinney remained active supporters of the Trail — John through the A.T. Rescue Squad Stacey Marshall by Clark Wright Constance Fletcher, Jacqueline Corporation, Edna Gaston, Jo Ann educational organization. J.P. Carlin Sam Molinari and Elyse through her continued hospitality out of their Salisbury home. The A.T. Glenn Martin by Ronald & Bob Lahnemann Griffin, Derek & Michelle Hendrix, To make a contribution or San H. Choi Kristina & Erik Mollenhauer in the Salisbury area has continued its attraction for the Harney family — its & Lois Underwood Martin Fossett by Paul & Sue J John Pillitteri, Jane Needham,. renew your membership, call Charles Clarke Frederick Morse rolling mountains are filled with memories of adventure, passion, tranquility, Amy McCormick by Fossett, Guy Steucek, Susan Wolf Edward Summers (304) 535-6331 ext 119, or visit: Arthur L. Clayton Scott Moyer youthfulness and a strength that has always endured. Clark Wright Richard “Rick” Franklin by Ken & Hugh Tarbutton by Gartine Davis Rob Cleveland Bob Myers appalachiantrail.org/donate

52 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 53 As I See It ❘

❘ public notices Each summer, I pack up the dehydrated meals I prepare during the Guided By A Plan spring months, re-seam my tent, kiss my husband goodbye, strap on my backpack, and take off for three Continued from page 17 weeks with two close friends to “LASH” the Appalachian Trail. Over the past nine years, I have section As for the current plan under revision, Sommerville is Hiking will be available. Always plenty hiked approximately 75 percent of the A.T. and I hope to complete the remaining miles of the Trail over content. “There may be a few little tweaks,” he says. “But the Partners to do in Hot Springs. Come and the next few years. current plan offers excellent protection for the A.T. That said, Hiking Partner wanted. Male, join us! For more information Last year, while out on the Trail, I learned that some members of the hiking community refer to section we understand the need to revise the plans.” Belleville adds 66-year-old experienced hiker visit: www.hsclc.org/ hikers as LASHERs: Long A** Section Hikers. I found the word lash interesting because it conjured up images that participating in forest planning helps ensure that each (A.T, BMT, PCT, etc.) seeking newsevents/trailfest.html. of receiving abusive punishment. I know my non-hiking family and friends think this. When I return home of the eight forest plans is consistent in the protection of the partner(s) (male or female) bruised, scratched, and bug-bitten, they shake their heads in disbelief that anyone could actually enjoy A.T. corridor with strategies and guidelines related to timber to trek the Long Trail. ATC Summer 2015 extended time away from the comforts of home out in nature without a shower, washing machine, or indoor harvesting and energy infrastructure. For example; the ATC’s Contact Tom: (828) 349-4629 Internships. The Appalachian plumbing. Although I have hiked some challenging sections of the A.T. in less participation in the recently-revised George Washington or [email protected]. Trail Conservancy is recruiting than ideal conditions including a slippery fall on Wildcat Mountain, blizzard- National Forest plan may impact how other forest plans along for several internship positions like snows and gale wind on top of Mount Madison in New Hampshire, and the A.T. corridor address hydraulic fracking. For Sale for the Summer 2015 including: raging flood waters while trying to cross the Piscataquis River in Maine, I In 2011, the ATC publicly expressed environmental con- Cocoon MicrofleeceM ummy Trail Skills Training; Public find nothing abusive or torturous about “LASHing” the Trail. I love it! I did cerns related to hydraulic fracturing (“fracking” for short) in Liners. Liner will add 11 Relations; Marketing Assistant; find this term to be an accurate descriptor for my mindset during my early the George Washington National Forest during its plan degrees to sleeping bag temp Event Planning; Visitor years out on the Trail. But, the encouraging thing is I have learned some revision that was finalized in November 2014. Belleville range; or use alone as summer Services; Development important life lessons from backpacking the A.T. wrote in the winter issue of A.T. Journeys that “the ATC is bag. Easy wash and dry, full Database; and Development I began section hiking the Trail in celebration of my empty nest. After pleased with the U.S. Forest Service decision to significantly length YKK zipper mates L&R & Events; and Land Stewardship. helping to launch three independent young adults out into the world, it was balance and limit the extent of possible drilling” in the forest. stuffsacks included. For position descriptions, more my turn to pack my sack and nudge myself forward out of my own safety While the planning process can be contentious, the ATC Drawcord,hood, and boxed information, and to apply visit: zone. So, with my husband’s blessing, I joined up with two compatible has maintained an excellent relationship with the Forest foot. One Left zip and one appalachiantrail.org/jobs. friends that also enjoy hiking and backpacking and we donned our Trail Service and stays in close contact at all levels — from the Right zip. $35 each. Brand new names, our 50-pound packs, and off we went on our first three-week adventure in 2006. (We have since Patricia on the district ranger stations to the Forest Service chief in the condition (retail $60 www. Photography volunteer replaced outdated gear and cut our pack weight down to under 32 pounds.) Although I expected to learn A.T. at Lehigh Gap nation’s capital. In general, says the ATC’s executive direc- campmor.com/outdoor/gear/ needed. ATC HQ in Harpers about my strengths and personal resiliency while out on the Trail, I did not realize how much I would in Pennsylvania tor Ron Tipton, the Forest Service has done an excellent job Product___45926). Contact: Ferry, West Virginia needs learn about my relationship with myself and how much I was in need of practicing self-compassion. planning and protecting the A.T. “They’ve been great [email protected]. volunteers who enjoy meeting My first year section hiking, I quickly discovered that my greatest threat while out on the Trail was not stewards, but we have bigger opportunities on the horizon,” people and can take candid rattlesnakes, mother black bears protecting their cubs, falling trees, or fear of injury, but my own mind he says. Six acres only a few yards snapshots of thru-hikers and — my fears of not doing enough, being good enough, or competent enough. I packed my insecurities right While maintaining the relationship with the nation’s from Appalachian Trail and section-hikers during June and along with my dehydrated yogurt and the added weight held me down from being completely present to the public foresters is vital, Proudman adds that the ATC is able a five minute walk to the early July. Volunteers can assist beauty around me. My second year on the Trail showed me that if there is an easy way to do something, I to participate at the highest level of forest planning thanks Nolichuckey River, parks, and any day of the week, but are will complicate it because I errantly think that something has to be difficult to be done right. I grew to see to a dedicated cadre of volunteers. “While we think national rafting. Three-bedroom needed especially on how less can be more in all areas of my life. Less planning, less control — more spontaneity, more fun. forest planning is extremely important, frankly, it can be a two-bath home on property. weekends. For more info or a After my third year on the Trail, I was finally loosening up andI can now confidently affirm that my bit mundane,” jokes Proudman who is grateful to the volun- (Serious inquiries only.) For volunteer application contact inner “lashings” are down to a dull murmur that I hardly hear at all. As a student of yoga, I find backpacking teers who have donated countless hours to understand the more information contact Laurie at: lpotteiger@ the A.T. to be an impressive teacher to any student walking its path. My spirit craves the simplicity of forest plans in a professional capacity. “What motivates them Rusty: rpetersonw25@gmail. appalachiantrail.org. Trail life: I carry only what I need; I need only what I carry. My pack is not burdened with extraneous is their love of the Trail and the national forests.” com (423) 743-7069. things. On the Trail, I have to make choices about what I really need to sustain myself for six or seven As for future forest plans, Belleville and her colleagues are days until I re-supply in town. A constant emptying and refilling. I have to literally weigh my wants and focused on the cumulative impacts of energy infrastructure For Your needs. I resupply in town, fill my backpack and the process starts again of unburdening myself, not just throughout the A.T. corridor, such as natural gas pipelines, Information physically but mentally too, until my consciousness empties all the nonessential thoughts and is free to wind power, and hydraulic fracking, to name a few. And while The 19th annual Trailfest in be totally present to the beautiful universe around me. the ATC will continue to advocate in the public process, Hot Springs, North Each year, I exit the Appalachian Trail more confident and more at home with my sense of self than Belleville hopes even more A.T. users and advocates will get Carolina will be April when I stepped onto it three weeks earlier. The time spent hiking brings me closer to my own center. The involved in national forest planning. 17- 19. Trailfest began as a more challenging the terrain, the more present I am in the moment — breathe in, step up, reach hand “We don’t take the current protections that we have for celebration for the hikers up on rock, scramble up, exhale until there is no separation between my concept of myself and the path granted,” she says. “That’s when things change; when you coming through Hot Springs on Public Notices may be edited below my feet. stop paying attention.” their way to Maine and has for clarity and length. Patricia “Traildancer” Steely continued to attract hikers as Please send them to: lives in Palmyra, Pennsylvania well as others who want to join [email protected] Jack Igelman is a writer based in For more information about forest the festivities. Food, music, Public Notices “As I See It” is a column from guest contributors representing the full range of ATC partners, members, and volunteers. To submit Asheville, North Carolina. planning visit: www.fs.usda.gov/ hiker games, and other events P.O. Box 807 a column (700 words or under) for consideration, please email [email protected] or write to Editor/As I See It, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0807 planningrule Appalachian Trail Conservancy, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425.

54 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ spring 2015 spring 2015 ❘ a.t. journeys ❘ 55 www.appalachiantrail.org P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425-0807

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2014 2,000-milers Chris “Baguette” Bianchi, Lane “Bangarang” Spanbauer, Brandon “Grizzzelle” Powers and Jessica”Dancing Feather” Miller; A.T. Pochuck Boardwalk, New Jersey. Photo by Michele Papaleo