Blind Man Hiking

I believe I missed this when it came out in the newspaper last October; but I have seen the mention of it in another hiking club newsletter: The Minneapolis-St. Paul Star-Tribune has an article dated 9 October 2007 by Stephen Regenold titled "Ultrafit: Tapping his way along the Appalachian Trail; With the help of a voice-enabled GPS, Minneapolis attorney Mike Hanson, who is blind, is training for the hike of a lifetime."

The subtitle pretty much explains it all: GPS unit, cane, no dog, Maine to Georgia. He's aiming on a solo hike, starting at the beginning of March. His web site doesn't give much detail, but does say he's aiming to start on 1 March 2009, and be done in about 7 months. (The newspaper article says 8 months, and starting March 2008.)

There was a lively discussion on WhiteBlaze.net, most of it negative with regards to Mr. Hanson's prospects. And amidst the discussion there is a link to the recording of a 21 minute interview with Hanson on the American Hiking Society web site.

Stay tuned.

Look Out for Redford!

Robert Redford seems to be carrying through with the reported film version of Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods. That is, if you put any stock in these media reports:

The CBC from Alberta, Canada has an Associated Press story on 26 January 2008 which it headlines "Robert Redford heads from Sundance to the Appalachian Trail." "Redford will star as Bryson and produce the film. Barry Levinson is expected to direct."

A website called "The Canadian Press" has what looks like an abbreviated versino of the same story under the title "Robert Redford headed for 'A Walk in the Woods' in next film role" on the same 26 January 2008 date.

And Idaho Falls, Idaho's television station KIFI news channel 8 has an even briefer version of the story under the headline "Redford headed for 'A Walk in the Woods'" also on 26 January 2008.

Redford thinks it'll be "fun."

Lost Pair in Vermont Now Found

Two lost Vermont hikers are located, safe and sound, in the early morning. That's the good news story line of these articles:

An Associated Press article in the Burlington Free Press" dated 25 January 2008 under the title "Lost hikers on Appalachian Trail found after night at camp."

A WPTZ-tv (Plattsburgh, NY) story titled "Hikers Found After Night On Mountain Near Killington" on 25 January 2008.

And a story on WCAX-tv (Burlington, VT) dated 25 January 2008 and titled "Lost Hikers Rescued".

The pair, aged 19 and 38, were hiking on the Appalachian Trail from Shrewsbury to Mendon when they became lost, and dialed 911 to ask for help. About 12 hours later they were located when rescuers followed their footsteps to a camp.

One Crazed Man....

Hendersonville, NC's Times-News Online called BlueRidgeNow.com has an article by columnist James Shea on 24 January 2008 titled "One crazed man can't keep me from the woods."

He reflects on the need for vigilance for one's own safety while in the woods - especially while there alone, and more especially in the wake of the Bryant and Emerson murders. Still, he says,

"I only hope, as the weather warms, and I get back into the woods more, my hesitancy will wane. I enjoy being out in nature too much to let one crazed man dictate my life."

Let the people say Amen.

Pennsylvania Bill Aims for Trail Protection

The Pocono Record has an article titled "State bill would protect Appalachian Trail corridor, prevent projects like Alpine Rose" by Adam McNaughton in its 23 January 2008 issue. It describes the import of Pennsylvania "House Bill 1281 that would require townships to enact and enforce zoning to protect the Appalachian Trail."

It goes on to explain that

"If the bill passes the Pennsylvania Senate and is signed by Gov. Ed Rendell, municipalities through which the Appalachian Trail passes will have the "power" and the "duty" to adopt zoning ordinances to preserve the trail."

This can't stop the Alpine Motorsports race track from being built one half mile off the Appalachian Trail, and that project is only waiting for final permits from the state's Department of Environmental Protection.

Was Ranger, Is Hiker

The Times-News from Hendersonville, NC has a 23 January 2008 article by Beth Beasley titled "Walking the Parkway; Tim Pegram may be the first person to walk the entire Blue Ridge Parkway." She talks about Pegram's 41 day hike in the early Fall of 2003, after retiring from the National Park Service. He wrote a book about rangering on the Parkway and about walking it: "The Blue Ridge Parkway by Foot: A Park Ranger's Memoir."

The occasion for the article was his talk about the book at Main Library in Hendersonville on 29 January.

"His plans to complete a through hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2008 don't include the same kind of book. Instead, Pegram wants to develop ideas for an illustrated book of poems."

...and, oh, by the way...

Jen Murphy has a "What's Your Workout?" column in the Wall Street Journal dated 24 January 2008 titled "Prepping for 50- and 100-Mile Races; Ultra-Runner Juggles Work at the IMF, Grad School and Ultra-Long Commute". The column describes the workout regimen of Brian McNeill, an information-technology manager at the International Monetary Fund. McNeill is an ultra-marathoner. After describing all his outdoor running, he says

"'I work in one of the prettiest cities in the country and live ten miles from the Appalachian trail,' says Mr. McNeill. 'Why would I not revel in the outdoors?'"

Doesn't say that he runs on the Trail, though.

High Adventure - Low Risk - Make Your Choices

The Times of Trenton (NJ) has a 22 January 2008 article by N.J. DeVico titled "Despite isolated tragedy, lone hikers have little to fear on the trail." Actually, it's more of a personal opinion piece.

She writes that a friend sent her an article about Meredith Emerson's murder "in case you went back on the trail. Do you want to do something that has very low risk but a very high cost if it happened?"

DeVico writes

"I hiked 1,500 miles of the AT and was alone most of the time be cause I was so slow that I couldn't keep up with anyone. I didn't always make it to a shelter before dark or before I was exhausted, so I just set up camp when I found a flat spot. I was alone many nights.

"Was I scared? The first time I did it, yes. Maybe spooked is a better word. It's dark out there. But I was more concerned with bears than people."

She also includes some safety words of wisdom from Laurie Potteiger at ATC headquarters in Harpers Ferry.

Meredith Emerson Memorial

Jessica Jordan's article in the Gainesville (GA) Times of 21 January 2008 is titled "Hikers honor murder victim Meredith Emerson." It describes the memorial gathering for Emerson by "roughly 150 hikers ... and about 50 dogs" in Meeks Park in Blairsville on the 20th -- relocated from Blood Mountain both because of the icy roads and because of the large number of people.

"A photo of Emerson and Ella was posted above a memorial stone placed near the covered bridge at Meeks Park. The stone read, 'Remember Meredith Emerson: She hiked the path of life with Ella, love and wonder.'"

Guns and Hikers

A King Features Syndicate journalist named Charley Reese uses Meredith Emerson's murder as a platform for a 22 January 2008 opinion piece named "Arm Yourself" in which he suggests doing that -- even if, as he admits, it is illegal:

"The young lady recently murdered while hiking the southern tip of the Appalachian Trail might be alive today if she had tucked a pistol into her backpack or fanny pack. Yes, I know it's against the law to carry a pistol on the trail, but which would you prefer – breaking a bureaucratic rule or getting your brains knocked out and then being decapitated?

"I'm afraid too many of us have spent our lives in an urban environment and have thus lost touch with the reality of the outdoors. When you go into the woods by yourself, you leave not only your car behind, but the protection of the law. When you are by yourself, whether on an urban street or in a forest, and someone comes along with the intention of assaulting you, you are on your own. There is no help. Your choice is run or fight. And a fight is a physical thing, not an intellectual matter."

My opinion? Reese has indeed "lost touch with the reality of the outdoors"!

[Also appears in the Ft. Myers, FL News-Press under the title "Guns good for self-defense, but think about it" on 23 January 2008.]

New Trail Sections in Canada

The Western Star, a newspaper from Corner Brook - Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, has a Cory Hurley article titled "Appalachian trail section will be built through Bay of Islands area this year" in its 22 January 2008 issue. That would be the International Appalachian Trail. And, as the article explains, "The International Appalachian Trail is a network of trails extending from Georgia in the southern United States to the tip of the Northern Peninsula."

Northeast Georgia Hiking Safety Tips

Tracy Armbruster, from WNEG-TV News channel 32 had a 21 January 2008 report on the station's web site titled "Hiking Safety Tips" which relies on standard hiking safety tips (which bear repeating) from Appalachian Trail hiker and Toccoa police chief Jackie Whitmire.

You know the drill: let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back; don't hike alone; be alert for strange activity; take a whistle. Oh, and "weapons are not necessary."

Mt. Rogers and Grayson Highlands Described

Jack Horan has an article in the Charlotte (NC) Observer dated 20 January 2008 and titled "Having a high old time; Great views, pony herds among attractions in Mount Rogers area." It's a sort of trip report about winter hiking the Mount Rogers area.

Some interesting notes about the ponies:

"One of the prime attractions in the Crest Zone and adjacent Grayson Highlands State Park are four herds of 120 or so feral ponies that range within two fenced areas. They resemble Shetland ponies with stocky bodies and long manes.

"Sara Schell, NRA recreation officer, said by e-mail that some of the ponies are believed to have originated from stock owned by a local farmer who was trying to develop a small stature, hardy mountain horse. She said three herds live in a fenced area of nearly 3,000 acres. The fourth herd of about 30 ponies roams state park land."

I didn't know there were actually separate herds up there. And I think it's great that some of the people 'in charge' don't really know exactly how the horses got there ("...are believed to have originated..."), leaving a little mystery in life.

Abingdon, Virginia Profiled

I'm not sure how far off the Appalachian Trail a place can be and still be called a "trail town". If it's about 15 miles, then Abingdon qualifies.

Abingdon is profiled in the Louisville, KY Courier-Journal in an article by Cathy Summerlin titled "Enjoy life your way in historic Abingdon, Va.; Hike, see a play, visit The Martha" on 20 January 2008. The Trail is mentioned here:

"Then there's the 34-mile Virginia Creeper Trail, a rails-to-trails conversion at the western edge of the mountains. The trail crosses the Appalachian Trail about 15 miles east of Abingdon and enters Mount Rogers National Recreation Area farther east."

Sounds like there's a good bit to do and see in the area.

Indiantown Gap vs. Stony Valley

The Harrisburg, PA Patriot News of 20 January 2008 has an article by Al Winn titled "Study minimizes effect of shells on game lands" that describes the current state of wisdom surrounding the Stony Valley and its behemoth neighbor the Fort Indiantown Gap military post.

Of course one person's 'minimize' could be another person's "Duck!!". The article says that

"The study found that 779 shells a year would likely ricochet into a 900-acre area of the game lands along the border of Dauphin and Lebanon counties."

Theoretically,

"The designated buffer zone does not include Stony Creek, the Schuylkill and Susquehanna rail trail or the Appalachian Trail."

but you never know. Once those artillery shells start ricocheting around, I don't think there's any way to be absolutely sure where they'll end up.

"The assessment said the shells would have little impact on the area where they land, beyond killing an occasional tree or animal."

Or maybe someone who wanders a little off the Trail for a stealth campsite? Let's hope not.

Bear Mountain Rerouting Funded

"Local groups receive Greenway funding" is the headline in the Mid-Hudson News for 20 January 2008 which mentions a number of projects in the area that have received funding. Among the projects are:

"The NY-NJ Trail Conference was awarded $5,000 for bridge construction. Part of the ongoing Bear Mountain Trails Project, a 28-foot bridge is needed to span a wet sloping section of bedrock in order to successfully reroute a segment of the Appalachian Trail that has suffered from overuse and erosion."

Kristina Dean Finishes Fund-Raising Thru-Hike

The Knoxville News-Sentinel has Chandra Harris-McCray's article titled "After 2,175-mile solo trek that raised money for shelter, hiker says she now knows how women in crisis feel" in its 19 January 2008 issue. The article chronicles the successful southbound Appalachian Trail thru-hike by Kristina "Tina" Dean.

Dean began in June and finished 11 days shy of Christmas. Along the way she managed "to raise money for Knox Area Rescue Ministries’ Serenity Shelter for women." By Dean's account people along the Trail were not always welcoming, or even friendly, to her, which increased her sense of identification with the homeless women the Serenity Shelter aids.

Videographer Mike Daniel Still Walking

Chris Casey's article in the Greeley, CO Tribune on 18 January 2008 is titled "Path to bliss: Man finds his passion on America's byways." It's about the cross country hike by 39-year-old Mike Daniel on the

"American Discovery Trail. It's 6,200-6,800 miles long, depending on routes you take. He started in mid-June from the Atlantic-side trailhead in Delaware and hopes to be the first person to cover the trail's expanse -- including the loop between Denver and Cincinnati -- nonstop on foot."

"Since ditching his day job in 2002, he has filmed documentaries of his journeys on the Appalachian and Pacific Crest trails, selling 5,000 copies of the former and 1,000 of the latter."

And, of course, there's a web site.

"Mike Daniel plans to chronicle his American Discovery Trail trek in a book filled with tales, characters and historical facts, accompanied by a pair of DVDs. His Web site, including daily journal and video logs, is www.walkingwithfreedom.com."

The web site describes Daniel this way:

"an addictive long distance hiker with over 10,000 miles hiked since 1998. He has section thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine with over 8,000 combined miles in over 8 years, he has thru-hiked the John Muir Trail in 2002 as well as The Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada in 2006."

William F. White, 100, Hiker

The Boston Herald has an 18 January 2008 obituary for William F. White "of Reading, a World War II veteran and a retired Boston newspaperman, [who] died Saturday at his home in Reading. He was 100." It mentions that "In his youth he loved fishing, hunting, camping, and hiking on Long Trail in Vermont and the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire."

2001 Thru-Hiker Nakaji Does PCT in 2007

Johnny Buck has an article titled "Less is more: Lesson learned from 2,650-mile trek" in the 17 January 2008 Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times. The hiker under discussion is Asheville resident Lane Nakaji who finished a 143 day thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail on 13 September.

"Though offering a more gradual grade than the Appalachian Trail — the 2,175-mile footpath from Georgia to Maine that Nakaji thru-hiked in 2001 — the PCT is no less formidable."