http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum WhiteBlaze is a Appalachian Trail discussion forum and information site, it also contains an exclusive photo section of Appalachian Trail photos. If you are preparing to hike the Appalachian Trail this is the site you want. en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:10:37 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/wb_style/misc/rss.jpg http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56001&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:07:44 GMT The Sheltowee Trace Association is up and running. Our goal is to promote the use and maintenance of Kentucky's Long Trail. Become a founding member before the end of the year (it'd be a great Christmas present)! To join the STA or volunteer go to www.sheltoweetrace.com , join our group on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. Many of us (including the driving force behind the STA) are members of wb and hammock forums, so you know we're a great group!!! ]]> Other Trails Pennsylvania Rose http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56001 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56000&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:22:43 GMT How much snow fall does the At recieve in Pennsylviania??? Ice on the trail?? How much snow fall does the At recieve in Pennsylviania??? Ice on the trail?? ]]> General BT01 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=56000 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55999&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:21:20 GMT I'm researching gear for a thru hike and the lightest gear for the price seems to be GoLite stuff. Has anyone out there had much experience with this brand? Any opinions? ]]> General Gear Talk Powell19 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55999 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55998&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:10:10 GMT I'm a newcomer to the forums, and I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Ryan. I've been browsing the site for a couple days gathering info because a long time friend and I are in the early planning stages of a thru hike. This seems like a great place to gather info and get to know the AT community. ]]> General Powell19 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55998 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55997&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:57:14 GMT Does any one have a list of places where a AT hiker can stay in Pennsyvania??? Does any one have a list of places where a AT hiker can stay in Pennsyvania??? ]]> BT01 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55997 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55996&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:23:10 GMT I'm planning on thru-hiking the AT immediately after I graduate from college in May, 2010. I've only done a small amount of research on it as of yet, but I've been 100% percent motivated to thru-hike the trail in my lifetime ever since I was young.

This summer two friends of mine and I completed a 4-day loop hike in the Smoky Mountains. We started at the Institute at Tremont, followed winding trails and streams up to Derrick's Knob shelter then to Spence Field, then back down to the Institute. The 7 mile hike between the two shelters along the AT I hiked alone, leaving my pals behind to dry their stuff out. All in all, it was a fantastic experience and motivated me to really begin thinking about hiking the trail as soon as I get the chance.

The only thing is, right now I don't have much money. I've read some articles on here explaining how to save money and hike inexpensively.

does anyone have any tips on fundraising for the trail?

I did start a website in hopes to raise some extra cash and describe my AT research and experience. ]]> zeejay http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55996 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55995&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:14:22 GMT Headed to VA for a long weekend in the Roanoke area for an interview. What hiker can resist being so close to the trail and not take a side trip?

I am looking to head to McAfee's Knob. Would anyone be kind enough to send me directions? I am headed in from MI
It looks like I will US 460 Pearisburg to 81 N ]]> General trailfoot http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55995 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55994&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:55:52 GMT :banana APALACHIAN TRAIL MUSEUM
The Old Mill / Pine Grove State Park, PA

Here are some excerpts from recent letters regarding the A T Museum which I want to pass along :

" 2009: The Year of the Museum Tipping Point
A tipping point can be defined as the time at which a change or effect cannot be stopped.
This was truly a watershed year for the Appalachian Trail Museum. What was at the end of 2008 only an uncertain hope has become a documented reality. We now have a signed lease for the old grist mill along the A.T. in Pine Grove Furnace State Park, with enthusiastic volunteer activity underway. "

" This is an exciting time for The Appalachian Trail Museum. We are in the home stretch before our Grand Opening on National Trails Day, at 11 a.m. June 5, 2010. We will mark the occasion with a grand celebration: a ribbon cutting ceremony, hikes sponsored by local clubs, and interpretative programs with children and families in mind. We will also have booths for interested clubs and organizations.

Currently, we are fixing up the historic 200-year-old Grist Mill and designing exhibits for our new home. The exhibits will feature a hiker center ~in effect a living exhibit~ introducing visitors to the Trail, the Earl Shaffer Shelter, artifacts from other early hikers, a Children's Discovery area, and the 13,000 thru-hiker photos we've digitized over the last year.

Most of the work will be done by volunteers but we need to raise money for construction materials, exhibits, and operating expences.

In true A.T. community fashion, the Museum effort to date has involved hundreds of people showing their support in many ways. If the Museum is to be successful in its mission of preserving the history of the trail and informing new people about the culture of hiking, it requires the Trail community's backing. As an example, on Columbus Day, 48 members of the Appalachian Long Distance Hiker's Association ( ALDHA ), who were meeting in nearby Gettysburg, had a work trip at the Old Mill. The crew scoured the building from top to bottom in preparation for renovation work, which is expected to take place this winter. Many others have volunteered to help with renovation work, to staff the building, or to do programs next year.

Ironically, this success has made the A.T. Museum Society's need for funds all the more acute. While much work will be done by our regiment of volunteers, we will need money to purchase supplies, as well as ready cash for other purposes.

And with a scheduled opening less than seven months away, we need the money fast ! *****
~Exhibits and exhibit housing will need to be constructed and installed.
~Most challenging of all will be the reconstruction of the Earl Shaffer
Shelter inside the Museum. Volunteers will do much of the work, but there will be various related expenses that require cash.
~A variety of internal improvements to the building must be made before approval can be granted for opening it to the public. This work is likely to require some professional services that will need to be hired.
~Once the physical needs have been satisfied there will come all the routine expenses that are required to keep a facility such as this operational ~everything from paper clips to telephone service.
~In addition, as most of us know, there will be the totally unforeseen expenses that are bound to come along. "

In consideration of the vast amount of work that must still be done, combined with the menacingly short time frame available, a traget of $75,000 has been set for this GRAND OPENING FUND DRIVE . Additionally, the giving levels have been revised and expanded :~HIKER LEVEL for a minimum of $50; ~CARETAKER LEVEL for $100; ~TRAIL ANGEL for $250; ~MAINTAINER LEVEL for $500;and ~A2 Society Level for a $1,000 gift . Of course, you can select any other amount that may better fit your circumstances. Donors will be recognized in the Grand Opening Program as well as on a plaque in the Museum. "

Make checks payable to: "Appalachian Trail Museum Society"
Mail them to:Appalachian Trail Museum Society / Rich Evans, Treasurer /
2125 Church Street / Mountain Top, PA 18707
( his email is museumtreasurer@gmail.com
NOTE: if you prefer to pay online, go to :
http://www.atmuseum.org/fundraising.htm
To make the giving process as painless as possible, we invite you to do either monthly or quarterly payments, and send us your pledge in installments obver a twelve month period.

"A2: THE MISSING LOG. The marquee exhibit for the Museum's Grand Opening will be the Earl Shaffer Shelter from Peters Mouintain in Pennsylvania. The last surviving shelter built by Earl's own hand, this structure was lovingly disassembled by a team of volunteers and stored awaiting eventual reconstruction in the Appalachian Trail Museum. Before this dismantling began,however,each log was marked to identify its position in the shelter to facilitate reassembly when the time came. At the end of the moving day, in the process of putting the logs into storage, it was discovered that log A2 was missing. A search was promptly initiated, continuing into the following day, but to no avail. Despite much subsequent search and speculation, the log's whereabouts remains unknown. ~In acknowledgment of this misfortune the highest giving category ( $1,000 ) has been designated the A2 SOCIETY."

*Follow the fund drive's progress on the Museum Society's web site : http://www.atmuseum.org/

~Robert "Red Wolf o'da Smoky's" Croyle-Membership Secretary ]]> Trail News and Updates Red Wolf http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55994 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55993&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:53:28 GMT I'm currently looking into buying a down jacket for winter backpacking use .. LLbean has a rather nice one i've seen but interested in what others have to say first ...

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...Value_2=Garnet ]]> General Gear Talk darkage http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55993 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55992&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:45:30 GMT how close are these places to the AT? how close are these places to the AT? ]]> Trail Towns and Hiker Services fordtuf http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55992 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55991&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:40:26 GMT looking to hike with minimal load (water, snacks and emergency gear ). i know that this is strenuous hiking and i am wondering if this is doable during the month of december in 1 day. looking to hike with minimal load (water, snacks and emergency gear ). i know that this is strenuous hiking and i am wondering if this is doable during the month of december in 1 day. ]]> Trail Towns and Hiker Services fordtuf http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55991 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55990&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:31:36 GMT Interesting video link. The race starts with the hardest part first -- 2 on a road, then about 13 miles on the AT, then 26 miles along a river, then 8 on a road.

The nation's oldest ultra.

More trivia -- Pres. Teddy Roosevelt required his officers to run/walk 50 miles in 20 hrs. to keep their commission. That's pretty cool -- bet it'd be a helluva challenge for today. That's how JFK got the idea for a 50.

http://www.runnersworld.com/video/1,...tid=2468260001 ]]> Trail Running and Speed Hiking John B http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55990 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55989&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:28:59 GMT I've finally gotten my old PDA phone replaced with a fairly good one, although only a small screen. I'm stuck with it, so no suggestions for replacement. But with the additional chip I have for it (and others are easily available if I need larger) I can hold a lot of data on it

1) Is the Data Book available for download?
2) Are there usable maps (1":1000' scale) available?
3) Can any guidebooks be purchased in PDF or similar formats?
4) Is there any other ATC-specific information that it would be useful to carry that can be efficiently downloaded/stored?

Thanks,

TW ]]> General The Weasel http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55989 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55988&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:16:59 GMT Does anyone have any names/numbers of shuttle operators in the area? I am hoping to do that section after Thanksgiving. Does anyone have any names/numbers of shuttle operators in the area? I am hoping to do that section after Thanksgiving. ]]> Trail Towns and Hiker Services Mocs123 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55988 http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55987&goto=newpost Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:04:51 GMT On Friday, 12/4/2009, I'd like to go from Pa.873/Lehigh Gap to Leroy A. Smith Shelter... then in the morning, I'll be meeting my AMC group in Wind Gap around 9:00am (4mi from the shelter) where we'll go to Kirkridge for Saturday Night (8mi) then hike out to DWG on Sunday.

Anyone want to tag along for the Friday (even Sat / Sun?) or can provide a ride from either DWG (preferred) or Wind Gap to Lehigh Gap on Friday? Or know of a reputable cheap shuttle/taxi? ]]> Hooking Up Totem http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=55987