Celebrating 2,000-Milers Widening the Scale of Trail Protection Hammocking Gsi 2016 Minimalist Atjourneys 4.2016 R.1.Pdf 1 3/4/2016 1:33:31 PM
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THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY / SPRING 2016 Celebrating 2,000-Milers Widening the Scale of Trail Protection Hammocking gsi_2016_Minimalist_ATJourneys_4.2016_r.1.pdf 1 3/4/2016 1:33:31 PM 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. ON THE COVER 2015 flip-flop thru-hiker Norma “Dropknife” Minar snaps a selfie on THE MAGAZINE OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY / SPRING 2016 Mount Moosilauke in New Hampshire while “having a good time even without any ATC SENIOR STAFF views.” She is Osprey packs is prOud Ronald J. Tipton / Executive Director, CEO from Munich, Germany. Stacey J. Marshall / Senior Director of Finance & Administration tO partner with the Royce W. Gibson / Senior Director of Membership & Development BOARD OF DIRECTORS Laura Belleville / Senior Director of Conservation Sandra Marra / Chair appalachian trail cOnservancy Brian B. King / Publisher Greg Winchester / Vice Chair Javier Folgar / Director of Marketing & Communications Elizabeth (Betsy) Pierce Thompson / Secretary Arthur Foley / Treasurer A.T. JOURNEYS Beth Critton Norman P. Findley Wendy K. Probst / Managing Editor Edward R. Guyot Traci Anfuso-Young / Graphic Designer Mary Higley Daniel A. Howe CONTRIBUTORS Robert Hutchinson Laurie Potteiger / Information Services Manager John G. Noll Brittany Jennings / Proofreader Colleen T. Peterson ORDER YOUR A.T. Jennifer Pharr Davis ORDER YOUR A.T. Rubén Rosales LICENSE PLATE AND SUPPORT THE Nathaniel Stoddard APPALACHIAN TRAIL! ADVISORY CIRCLE H. Jeffrey Leonard / Co-Chair MEMBERSHIP ADVERTISING Terry Lierman / Co-Chair For membership questions A.T. Journeys is published four times Donald Ayer or to become a member, call: per year. Advertising revenues directly Colin Beasley (304) 885-0460 support the publication and production of Constance I. DuHamel the magazine, and help meet Appalachian North Carolina Wendall T. Fisher Trail Conservancy objectives. For more Appalachian Trail Destry Jarvis [email protected] information and advertising rates, visit: License Plate R. Michael Leonard Application appalachiantrail..org/atjadvertising Hon. Jim Moran 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 Favorite Long Distance Trail! Facts You must already have Robert Rich The ATC will receive $20 annually for each AT plate purchased or renewed. the vehicle registered in North Carolina. How Much Does It Cost? You receive a FREE with ATC Membership Ann Satterthwaite $30 Regular Appalachian Trail plate* the purchase of your NC $60 Personalized Appalachian Trail plate* AT Tag. The staff of A.T. Journeys welcomes A.T. Journeys is published A.T. Journeys ( ISSN 1556-2751) is 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 Brent Thompson regular annual license editorial inquiries, suggestions, on Somerset matte paper published quarterly for $15 a year by Name (as shown on certificate of title): fees you have already paid. Hon. C. Stewart Verdery, Jr. Personalized tags may and comments. Email: manufactured by Sappi North the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, FIRST MIDDLE LAST be relinquished to someone else, but once a numerical tag expires ADDRESS without renewal, that [email protected] America mills and distributors 799 Washington Street, Harpers number can never again CITY STATE ZIP CODE be reissued. Observations, conclusions, that follow responsible forestry Ferry, WV 25425, (304) 535-6331. If you change your mind, you can go back to a HOME PHONE OFFICE PHONE regular license plate at Current North Carolina Vehicle any time. There will not opinions, and product practices. It is printed with Soy Bulk-rate postage paid at Harpers be a refund of unused _______________________ ____________________________________ portion of special fees. PLATE NUMBER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Additional applications endorsements expressed in A.T. Seal certified ink in the U.S.A. Ferry, West Virginia, and other ______________________ ____________________________________ can be found online at DRIVER’S LICENSE # YEAR MODEL MAKE BODY STYLE www.appalachiantrail.org Journeys are those of the authors by Sheridan NH in Hanover, New offices. Postmaster: Send change- © 2016 Appalachian Trail Conservancy. All rights reserved. Owner’s Certification of Liability Insurance and do not necessarily reflect those Hampshire. of-address Form 3575 to A.T. All proceeds received I certifyfrom for theeach motor vehicle state described will above help that I have manage financial responsibility and asprotect required by law.the Trail. FULL NAME OF INSURANCE COMPANY AUTHORIZED IN NC – NOT AGENCY OR GROUP of members of the board or staff of Journeys, P.O. Box 807, Harpers TO ORDER, VISIT APPALACHIANTRAIL.ORG/PLATES POLICY NUMBER – IF POLICY NOT ISSUED, NAME OF AGENCY BINDING COVERAGE the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Ferry, WV 25425. ______________________________________ _________________________________________ SIGNATURE OF OWNER DATE OF CERTIFICATION Mail your check or money order made out to NC DMV Thanks for your generous support of the 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 Raleigh, NC 27699-3155 www.appalachiantrail.org WELCOME The A.T. in 2016 could be an AD I AM WRITING THis COLUMN AS At the other end of the Trail, Baxter I look out my window at home at what State Park recently announced a new A.T. will likely be the last snow of the season hiker registration system for 2016. The for our neighborhood. It is March and park now requires any long-distance A.T. several thousand aspiring A.T. thru-hik- hikers, except for those who are south- ers will make the pilgrimage to Springer bound, to pick up a registration card and Mountain over the next couple of months have it in their possession as they summit to begin a nearly 2,200-mile trek from Katahdin. There is no fee for the card and Georgia toward Katahdin. From past ex- no limit on the number of cards distrib- Iperience, we know only a fraction of them uted to A.T. hikers. (perhaps 25 percent) will complete the It is certainly a sign of the times that entire Trail this year. Baxter has adopted this new hiker regis- At the same time there will be many tration requirement. Since 2012, the Great other A.T. hikers in north Georgia up to the Smoky Mountains National Park has re- Great Smoky Mountains National Park. quired a permit and a $20 fee to hike the These include day hikers, overnight camp- Trail across the 70-plus miles within the ers, and in the Georgia section of the Trail, park, and Shenandoah National Park also Spring 2016 an ever increasing number of students has a permit requirement for any over- 04 backpacking during college spring break. night hiker. All of these rules are a result It is a serious challenge for the Appalachian of the growing popularity of the Appala- Trail Conservancy (ATC) and our federal chian Trail. and volunteer partners to manage the in- The ATC works collaboratively with MasterEducator Courses A.T. Journeys A.T. creased popularity of the world’s most fa- national parks, national forests, national Follow Ron mous long-distance hiking trail. wildlife refuges, state parks, and many on Twitter at: THE EXCITING FIVE-DAY MASTER EDUCATOR COURSE MAY 2 — 6: The ATC and its partners have devel- other state and local jurisdictions to pro- twitter.com/ TEACHES PARTICIPANTS THE SKILLS AND ETHICS oped a thoughtful and detailed approach tect Trail values and to assure a high Ron_Tipton SOUTH EGRemONT / MA NECESSARY FOR SAFE, FUN, AND RESPONSIBLE to this challenge, with special emphasis on quality hiking experience. We would JUNE 27 — JULY 1: the north Georgia section of the A.T. This prefer not to have permit and registration OUTDOOR RECREATION, AND PERHAPS MORE new initiative builds on decades of manag- systems for any section of the A.T. The IMPORTANTLY, HOW TO EFFECTIVELY SHARE GARDNERS / PA ing growing use of the Trail. We have best alternative to even more rules and AUGUST 8 — 12: named this program “Protecting the A.T. regulations is for Trail hikers to follow THESE LESSONS WITH OTHERS. Hiking Experience” (PATHE). For Georgia, Leave No Trace principles; to accept and Students, teachers, recreation managers, rangers, SUGAR GROVE / VA it includes the following strategies for 2016: follow existing restrictions on group size, outdoor program directors, scout leaders, and Trail use of shelters and campsites, and to treat club maintainers are all encouraged to apply. Through For more information visit: fellow hikers with respect. classroom discussions, demonstrations, and a three- appalachiantrail.org/lnt ❚ A full-scale voluntary thru-hiker registration system, which has Hiking the A.T. continues to be a spe- night backpacking trip, participants explore the seven Or contact morlousky@ been available since December, to all aspiring thru-hikers cial experience that is being enjoyed by principles of Leave No Trace, as well as their personal appalachiantrail.org to apply. ❚ An increase to five in the number of on-Trail ridge runners to larger numbers of people. Let’s all work backcountry ethics. The Leave No Trace Master Educator To learn more about Leave No interact with hikers in Georgia (There was only one ridge runner as together to protect that experience for the qualification is recognized and valued throughout the Trace visit: www.lnt.org of several years ago for this section of the A.T.) next generation. outdoor industry. ❚ A large number of new campsites near Hawk Mountain Shelter — the first major camping area on the Trail for northbound thru-hikers Ronald J.