THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY / SPRING 2019 FOREST HEALTH and the Wild East Travel and Adventure in Trailside Communities Celebrating 2,000-Milers #optoutside 06 / CONTRIBUTORS 08 / PRESIDENT’S LETTER 10 / LETTERS 2018 2,000-miler Kevin “Hungry Cat” Kelly 12 / OVERLOOK with fellow hikers in Shenandoah National Park — a beloved destination for both day 18 / TRAILHEAD visitors and long-distance trekkers. What’s happening along the Trail 46 / APPALACHIAN FOCUS “Family photo” at Woods Hole Hostel / STEP OUT Adventure30 and culture await in 48 / RECOMMENDED communities along the Trail Bear-resistant food storage containers 14 / HEALTHY FORESTS 50 / INDIGENOUS A.T. Forests and the vitality of the Wild East Diverse habitat in pitch pine — srub oak barrens 52 / TRAIL STORIES 22 / 2,000-MILERS Postcards from paradise Congratulations to thousands of dedicated hikers on their A.T. completions 54 / PARTING THOUGHT A true sense of place 40 / HIKING WITH DOGS Tips on bringing your best friend along for the hike ON THE COVER 44 / A.T. INDULGENCE A.T. sunset near Newfound Gap in the Treat yourself to some of the finer things Trailside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. By Aaron Ibey Spring 2019 / A.T. Journeys 03 PUB22543134 11x8.5 THE MAGAZINE OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVANCY / SPRING 2019 ATC EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP MISSION Suzanne Dixon / President & CEO The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Stacey J. Marshall / Vice President of Finance & Administration mission is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail — ensuring that Elizabeth Borg / Vice President of Membership & Development its vast natural beauty and priceless / Vice President of Conservation & Trail Programs Laura Belleville cultural heritage can be shared and Cherie A. Nikosey / Chief of Staff enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for On the road to fewer roads? Brian B. King / Publisher centuries to come. We can help. From epic adventures to weekend trips, Enterprise has A.T. JOURNEYS the vehicles and the team to start your next journey. Wendy K. Probst / Editor in Chief BOARD OF DIREctoRS To reserve, visit enterprise.com or call 1 800 rent-a-car. Traci Anfuso-Young / Art Director / Designer Sandra Marra / Chair Reference account # W15509. Greg Winchester / Vice Chair CONTRIBUtoRS Edward R. Guyot / Secretary Jordan Bowman / Communications Manager Mary Higley / Treasurer Colin Beasley ©2019 Enterprise Rent-A-Car. J03070 2.19 Laurie Potteiger / Information Services Manager Beth Critton Brittany Jennings / Proofreader Grant Davies Shalin Desai J03070 AT Journeys Ad.indd 1 2/11/19 1:41 PM Norman P. Findley Thomas L. Gregg MEMBERSHIP ADVERTISING Daniel A. Howe For membership questions A.T. Journeys is published four times Robert Hutchinson or to become a member, call: per year. Advertising revenues directly James LaTorre (304) 885-0460 support the publication and production of Colleen Peterson the magazine, and help meet Appalachian Rubén Rosales Trail Conservancy objectives. For more [email protected] information and advertising rates, visit: PRESIDENT’S ADVISORY CIRCLE appalachiantrail.org/atjadvertising Hon. C. Stewart Verdery, Jr. / Co-Chair Hon. Stephanie Martz / Co-Chair Diana Christopulos The staff of A.T. Journeys welcomes A.T. Journeys is published A.T. Journeys ( ISSN 1556-2751) is editorial inquiries, suggestions, on Somerset matte paper published quarterly for $15 a year by Constance I. DuHamel and comments. Email: manufactured by Sappi North the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Lisa Koteen Gerchick [email protected] America mills and distributors 799 Washington Street, Harpers Jessica Herrera-Flanigan Observations, conclusions, that follow responsible forestry Ferry, WV 25425, (304) 535-6331. R. Michael Leonard opinions, and product practices. It is printed with Soy Bulk-rate postage paid at Harpers Robert Rich endorsements expressed in A.T. Seal certified ink in the U.S.A. Ferry, West Virginia, and other Journeys are those of the authors by Sheridan NH in Hanover, New offices. Postmaster: Send change- Thomas Torrisi and do not necessarily reflect those Hampshire. of-address Form 3575 to A.T. Sara Hazelwood Yanes of members of the board or staff of Journeys, P.O. Box 807, Harpers the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Ferry, WV 25425. © 2019 Appalachian Trail Conservancy. All rights reserved. ATMOS | AURA AG contRIBUtoRS A CHANGE OF SCENERY, NO MATTER WHAT THE SCALE, for me is always a refreshing way to reset my mind. Whether Russell Tours I’VE LEARNED THAT THE it is my husband and I taking our two dogs for a short walk Russell Tours in a nearby park or packing us all up for a road trip to a new KEY TO ROADTRIP SUCCESS“ destination. Every one of our contributors in this issue was Hiking in Beautiful Places IS TO NOT JUST VISIT THE inspired by an aspect of their lives that deeply influences them Hiking in Beautiful Places and delivers a fresh perspective, creating a collage of stories, BIG ATTRACTIONS, BUT TO voices, and images that is as varied as the landscape of the Hike the best parts SEEK OUT AND BE OPEN TO A.T. 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She graduated her husband and two children, He became fascinated with the from the University of Michigan from Dartmouth College and went she is on a quest to see all 50 beauty and solitude he found Stamps School of Art and Design on to get an MFA in poetry from U.S. states (with only three more there. His doctoral research Mont Blanc and is currently a freelance artist/ Warren Wilson College in North to go) and is a veteran of several at NC State focused on the Mont Blanc illustrator based in the upper Carolina. She has worked as an ambitious road trips. “I was drawn restorative benefits of hiking in peninsula of Michigan. Over the editor at Orion magazine and at to writing the story about Travel wilderness, which opened doors past six years, she has created Storey Publishing — and is the and A.T. Communities because for collaboration with researchers or several feature illustrations as author of the poetry collection Little I’ve learned that the key to road- and practitioners from other well as artwork for two covers for Terrarium as well as the book Forest trip success is to not just visit countries to better understand A.T. Journeys. Some of her other Bathing Retreat. She currently lives the big attractions, but to seek the connections between nature Dolomites clients include: Bon Appétit and in western Massachusetts with her out and be open to unexpected and human health. “Writing Dolomites Delicious Living. “Working on an husband Adam Brown, and son, experiences, food, and people,” about forests along the Trail illustration about healthy forests Amos. “One of life’s greatest joys, I she says. After a recent trip to was intriguing to me because of really appealed to me,” she says. think, is getting to really know Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, Kim its focus on us as the primary Alta Via “Having the opportunity to depict a place,” she says. “…whether that has now added visiting a long list stewards of their health,” he says. plants, animals, and humans in place is a mountain, a river, of A.T. Communities to her future “...not only for our own well-being, Hike 7, 10, 14 or 21 days. one peaceful setting felt like a a section of trail, a patch of woods travel plans with her family. but for the other species that Hike 7, 10, 14 or 21 days. sort of shout-out to the Peaceable in your backyard, or even the share the planet with us. Kingdom paintings by Edward teaming ecosystem of Do the best parts of these Hicks. It was such a treat.” a city block.” Do the best parts of these famous hikes without having 06 A.T. 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