Check out the Upcoming Activities section below for the*which highlights newly added events.
Coordinator's Corner November 2019
With another successful Gathering gone by, it’s time to move forward with ALDHA’s three “P’s”: Programs, Publications, and Plans. Your board is meeting at the end of the month to coordinate and budget for these activities.
Bill O’Brien and Vera Hurst are always looking for articles to place in “The Long Distance Hiker” newsletter and our electronic “ALDHA Blaze” respectively. Their email addresses are in the Directory. Just be sure to identify on the subject line that you are sending a proposed article.
We are all grateful for “Sly” Sylvester and his dedicated team of volunteer Field Editors who throughout October and November are putting the final touches on the 2020 “Thru Hiker’s Companion.” Don’t forget, that as an ALDHA member you will be able to download a PDF version from the website.
Our newest program, Hiker Awareness, Safety, and Trail Education (HASTE), is moving forward developing educational programs for dreamers, first timers, and experienced hikers. Penny Vann, our HASTE Program Coordinator is also looking into venues for us to give workshops at trail festivals.
As individual members, there are multitude of ways you can participate in ALDHA year round. All of our programs provide opportunities; whether trail or boundary marking work trips, assisting at trail festivals to promote outreach, volunteering your skills or presenting at the Gathering. Your involvement is both wanted and needed.
Meanwhile, at the Fall ATC Regional Partnership Committee meetings we were made aware that ATC Federal land managers are stepping up actions to standardize food storage requirements along the length of the Appalachian Trail. These actions are ultimately being driven by increased trail use and subsequent increases in bear-human interactions. Food storage on the Appalachian Trail cannot be taken lightly. Traditional bear hangs may become a thing of the past with the use of bear resistant containers moving to the forefront. Increased interaction, safety, and the cost of placing new infrastructure are driving a paradigm shift. ALDHA is working with the ATC to ease this transition through increased awareness, education, and where possible, hiker friendly food storage options.
I hope you all have an abundant Thanksgiving and are able to share it with friends and family.
Dr. Ken “Nimbus” Bunning
ALDHA Coordinator
Be Safe Be Seen
Hiking during hunting season requires hikers to be vigilant and more importantly, seen.
Enter blaze orange. Before people start to snicker, a cool thing about blaze orange is it can be seen clearly at long distances even in low light environments like dawn, dusk, and light fog. That quality makes it also helpful in search and rescue efforts. Another benefit of the color is none would mistake it for an animal's fur.
How much blaze orange? Many AT states require hunters to have an area between 200 to 500 square inches that is visible from 360 degrees. This would include head gear and a shirt, vest or coat being covered with the color. Hikers could put some blaze orange on the back of the pack as well. While most states do not require hikers to wear blaze orange, PA does in their game lands.
Whether it is required or not it remains important to be easily seen. “Orange on your shirt or you may end up in the dirt, “ Jeff Vann.
Stay safe, stay seen.
Penny (Reverse) Vann
New At-Large Board Member
HASTE Program Chair
ALDHA member Bob Huff blazes a boundary line during the Gathering boundary work trip in North Adams, Mass. on Monday, Oct. 14. Seven ALDHA members were joined by ATC staffer Dan Hale, who oversees the New England boundary maintenance program, for pruning, painting and monument locating. Meanwhile, over a dozen ALDHA members installed step stones on the AT in North Adams in the companion ALDHA trail work trip. Many thanks go to these volunteers for their hard work!
Changes at the ATC
The following are selected highlights from a letter sent by Sandi Marra, new President and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. This letter was presented at the ATC’s New England Regional Partnership Committee (RPC) Meeting in November and attended by: Ron Burger, ALDHA Representative. First, she states that her initial focused efforts “are dedicated to correcting and strengthening our (ATC’s) foundation". Second, Mr. Shalin Desai has been selected as the new Vice President of Advancement. This new Department combines Membership, Development, Communications, Advocacy, Education, and Outreach. We should also note that he is a “triple-crowner” (AT-PCT-CDT) and has also hiked the Long Trail and the Oregon Coast Trail. Third, the last two years have seen a significant overall drop in both membership and major donor supporters. While we are beginning to evaluate in depth why this is the case, we have made some immediate changes in both our messaging and our approach. Basically, we are going back to our roots – focusing on our core mission of maintenance and protection of the Appalachian Trail. But we will continue to use “Wild East” as an advertising campaign tool, we are making sure that all the work we do is identified as the work of the Conservancy.
The Overmountain Victory National Historic and Virginia Creeper Trails are leading us on Columbus Day Weekend to the 39thGATHERING
October 9-12, 2020 Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA)
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Abingdon, Virginia
39th Annual Gathering - Abingdon, VA
As we move into the new year, ALDHA board members begin the initial planning for next year's Gathering. Although, there is as of yet, no appointed Gathering coordinator we hope to also begin some new traditions and ways of work. We are considering establishing a committee with regional representatives that will assist the Gathering Coordinator identify potential presenters.
The Gathering Coordinator usually must start from scratch to find program presenters and key note speakers. This committee would work mostly behind the scenes to identify a pool of high quality speakers from each region which could carryover from year to year. This resource would provide a base from which to start developing the program each year.
If you are at all interested in assisting in any way with next year's Gathering, please contact Vera atBlaze@aldha.org.
Nine dedicated ALDHA members gathered in Northern Virginia’s Bear’s Den Hostel on the weekend of November 9, 2019 to bushwhack three sections of the AT Corridor. The weather was challenging as the AM temps were in the low 30’s, then gradually warmed to the low 40’s in the afternoon. There was no complaining from this hearty group though. At the end of the work days, the crew feasted on ham & sweet potatoes one day and homemade sloppy Joe’s the next. Ron always treats his crew with exceptional food.
A big thank you goes out to Ryan Seltzer for providing hand warmers that were very handy!
One of the highlights of the weekend was gathering at the Bear Chase Brewery for fine food and exceptional craft brews. We may just have to make this type of outing a regular part of the work schedule.
Another highlight was that each volunteer was the recipient of an ALDHA long sleeve work shirt.
Once again a big thank you goes out to Glen at Bear’s Den and PATC for supporting ALDHA’s work crew.
A.T. Museum News
Under the collaboration of Joe Harold and Jim Foster, the Museum obtained A/V equipment and put together several short films on the Museum. This is the first step in a long-held goal of the Museum to develop an oral history project. The five minute video can be found on the Museum website and the Museum’s Facebook page or at this link: http://tiny.cc/27e0fz. The video features a brief history of the Museum and walks viewers through a video tour of the Museum.
The Museum recently completed its 10th season which included the opening of five new exhibits, the completion of a pollinator garden and the announcement that beginning Jan. 1, 2020, the Museum will take over operation of the Ironmasters Hostel. Also, the Museum will soon begin taking nominations for the A.T. Hall of Fame.
Operation of Ironmaster's Hostel, pictured above, to be taken over by the A.T. Museum starting January 1, 2020.
Upcoming ActivitiesAre you looking for an activity to motivate you to stay in shape? Are you missing trail family? Would you like to give back to the trail? Here is the latest info on upcoming activities. * Indicates that this event is a new addition to calendar.ALDHA Work Trips - South Work Trip For information concerning additional work trips between Blaze emails see: https://aldha.org/ Mid-Atlantic Work Trips Nov 14 - 17, 2019 For information concerning additional work trips between Blaze emailscontact, Ron Bungay atronbungay@verizon.net or call 410-627-6367, https://aldha.org/news Northeast Work Trips For information concerning additional work trips between Blaze emails see: https://aldha.org/ and/or for more information contact: Tim Messerich at 845-401-8817 http://rphcabin.org
