Updated information about Spring Trail Festivals and Trail Crew trips
Check out the Upcoming Activities section below for the*which highlights newly added events.
Coordinator's Corner March 2019
With the month of March comes the keen desire to be somewhere on the Appalachian Trail, and ALDHA is more than ready to support and promote the long distance hiking experience in 2019. The recent AT Kick Off in Georgia was highly successful, the ALDHA Companion is being well received, and the ALDHA Outreach and Preservation Programs are already in full swing. As we look ahead to Trail Days and beyond, ALDHA members have once again set themselves up for a successful year, and it’s this kind of effort that will set ALDHA apart as a new hiking season begins. Thank you all for your service to the trail, and I look forward to seeing you very soon.
Jim Chambers explains ALDHA's programs to an interested 2019 ATKO attendee.
Appalachian Trail Kick-off
ALDHA Members who attended the ATKO (Appalachian Trail Kick-off) reported that all participants at this year’s event had a great time. This annual event provides hikers who are starting the AT this year an opportunity to ask their last questions, shake down their packs one last time and attend workshops presented by ALDHA members and ATC Ridge Runners.
Vendors are available showing new gear choices, books and trail information. The ALDHA store is open where attendees learn more about ALDHA and have an opportunity to join and/or sign up to join an ALDHA trail crew.
Look for a more detailed review of this event in the up and coming, ALDHA Spring 2019 Newsletter.
Check out the newly updated 2019 Hostel Binder at your favorite Appalachian Trail Hostel! Didn't know that ALDHA had information in Hostels? Ask to see it.
Hello from ALDHA's 2019 Gathering Team!
An exciting slate of presenters is coming together for the annual Gathering of our ALDHA family in October 2019! An emphasis is being placed on getting back to the basics of hiking and backpacking, with presentations on gear, food preparation, botanicals, hiker safety, and new technologies in equipment. And as always, there will be workshops on many exciting trails from around the country and around the world. A Saturday evening keynote speaker from the long-distance hiking community has been selected, who is a role model and a phenomenal achiever. You won’t want to miss the big screen presentation in the fabulous 62 Center Auditorium.
The agenda for Friday evening will include our annual hiker roll call, singing of the Gathering song, baking contest, reception, Billy Goat Award presentation, and recognizing the class of 2019 (and 2018 SoBo hikers). Our top-notch keynote speaker will present on Saturday night. Throughout the weekend we’ll have contests, raffles, hiker fair, and campfires. Keep an eye out for our new exciting category in the photo contest: video clips.
Workshops will run all day Saturday, and Sunday afternoon, and will range from an AT 101 program to ultra-lite hiking, from nutrition on the trail to trail first aid, from search and rescue to a hostel managers workshop, from hiking on the AT to hiking El Camino in Spain, and lots more.
And, of course, this is not possible without you. We need workshop presenters to share with us their passion for hiking and for the trail. To volunteer to be a presenter, click on [Workshop Presenters Form] on The Gathering home page: https://aldha.org/gathering
It is not too early to register for this year’s Gathering. You can register by clicking on [Gathering Registration Form] on the Gathering home page: https://aldha.org/gathering
We're always looking for volunteers to help with activities and contests at the Gathering. If you're interested in volunteering, email us at: gathering@aldha.org
Remember to mark your 2019 calendars as the Gathering returns in 2019 to the Columbus Day weekend!
Ron Burger spreading the news about ALDHA at the 2019 ATKO.
ALDHA Outreach UpdateRon Burger, Outreach coordinator for ALDHA, has been busy this winter attending trail related events in support of ALDHA and all National Trails.
As ALDHA's designated spokesperson, he participated in this year's Hike the Hill event where he provided a paragraph, pictures, and video of ALDHAs 50th Anniversary of the National Trails Act celebration. This presentation was premiered at the 2018 Gathering in Shippensburg, PA on Sunday night.
He has, also, been invited to attend the ATC's Northeast Regional Partnership meeting at Dartmouth College Outing Clubhouse, Hanover, NH on 16 March.
Look for Ron Burger and his ALDHA Outreach Team at local trail Festivals throughout the year.
More detailed information concerning the impact that the ALDHA Outreach program is having on the trail community can be found in the upcoming ALDHA 2019 Spring Newsletter.
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.*Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Flip Flop Kick Off Apr 20 - 21 Harper's Ferry, WV Don't like the cold or heat, want to learn about how to take advantage of seasonal weather conditions and avoid A.T. hiker crowds? Attend this festival and learn the advantages of flip flop hiking the AT. The festival offers a full schedule of family-friendly activities and guided short hikes highlighting nature and history. *Appalachian Trail Museum Volunteer Kick-off Appalachian Trail Museum
Pine Grove Furnace State Park, PA Event honoring the trail crew of the Appalachian Trail Museum. For invitation and information, follow the link. https://www.atmuseum.org/news/2019-volunteer-kickoff-celebration-on-march-23 *Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Induction May 4, 2019 U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, 950 Soldiers Dr, Carlisle, PA 17013, US
Banquet honors this year's AT Hall of Fame Inductees. See link for more information. https://www.atmuseum.org/hall-of-fame.html *Hiker Festival May 5, 2019
Appalachian Trail Museum Pine Grove Furnace State Park Check the AT Museum for more information. https://www.atmuseum.org/ *Appalachian Trail Days Festival May 17 - 19, 2019 Town Park, Damascus, VA Appalachian Trail Days festival annually celebrates past and present hikers and trail maintainers who love the AT. This event, for all to enjoy, brings music, food and vendors together in this AT trail town where friendships are made and renewed. The Hiker Parade is a must attend. See the website for more details! http://www.traildays.us/
ALDHA Work Trips - South Work Trip *March 27, 2019- Trail Work Day with SAWC, ALDHA, and TEHCC members in Roan Mountain State Park. Meet at the Roan Mountain State Park Visitor Center, 9 AM *April 3, 2019- Trail Work Event with SAWC, ALDHA, and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC), building a new trail in the Elk Hallow region of the Roan Highlands. Breakfast will be provided by Bob's Dairyland in Roan Mountain. Volunteers meet at the Christ Church in Roan Mountain at 9am for further transportation to the work site. May 19-20, Damascus Hardcore, more information to come. Jim Chambers, jimathiker@yahoo.com, (423) 440-2518, http://www.southernappalachianworkcenter.org/ Mid-Atlantic Work Trips March 28-30, 2019, lodging until Sunday at PATC Blackburn Trail Center, Virginia. Volunteers are needed to walk the boundary lines and COOK! May 8 - 11, 2019, Harriman State Park, Ramapo, NY. Follow link to ALDHA webpage and for more information contact, Ron Bungay atronbungay@verizon.net or call 410-627-6367, https://aldha.org/news Northeast Work Trips April 6 - 7, 2019, Come help open RPH cabin for the season. Activities to include: cabin clean up of the RPH Cabin vine pruning, trail repair and possible painting. Please visit website for special instructions. July 19,20, 21, 2019, Annual work weekend at RPH Cabin.
For more information about these two events contact: Tim Messerich at bascomgrillmaster@yahoo.com, 845-401-8817 http://rphcabin.org
