The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is showcasing a new A.T. film called "The Appalachian Trail: An American Legacy" as part of its fall membership drive. The film by Sam Heneger is about the trail itself and the extraordinary story of how it came to be. There is a lot of beautiful footage of the A.T. in all four seasons, historic footage, and interviews with a variety of people whose work it is to take care of and protect the A.T., as well as hikers.
At each showing there is a featured speaker beforehand. The events are intended to be a membership drive, to bring new supporters to the A.T. For those of you who are not ATC members, there's no better time to join. The price is a special discounted membership rate and you get to see the film too. If you're already a member and you want to see the film, then you'll need to buy a gift membership for someone else and keep the ticket for yourself. Membership materials are usually sent after the membership drive is over, before the year's end.
There's a special excitement about being in a theater full of A.T. enthusiasts. Or maybe that's just me. The only places you'll see as many A.T. people crammed together in a small space in the dark is at Trail Days and The ALDHA Gathering. It won't look the same (nor will it smell the same). Some of the people will be coming from work wearing clothes you'll never see on the A.T. A lot of the people are new to the A.T., but there are always some 2,000-milers and volunteers, old and new, sprinkled throughout the audience too.
You can buy tickets and find out more at www.relivetheat.com.
Here are the dates, locations, and speakers:
Washington, DC
Thursday October 9, 2014
Avalon Theatre
from 8:00pm-10:00pm
Guy Gardner "AstroGuy"
Retired NASA Astronaut and 2014 A.T. Thru-hiker
Cincinnati, OH
Thursday October 16, 2014
Cintas Center at Xavier University
from 7:00pm-9:00pm
1624 Herald Avenue,
Jesse Swensgard
US Air Force Vet, Participant of the Walk Off The War & Warrior Program, 2014 A.T. Thru-Hiker
Carlisle, PA
Thursday October 23, 2014
The Carlisle Regional Performing Arts Center
from 7:00pm-9:00pm
40 West High Street,
Pam Underhill, Retired Superintendent of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Atlanta, GA
Saturday October 25, 2014
Academic Complex - Atlanta Technical College
from 7:00pm-9:00pm
Susan Powell
A.T. Thru-Hiker, Coordinator for Outdoor Recreation at UGA, Smokies Ridgerunner, GATC Member, Trail Maintainer, and Ultralight backpacking expert. You can read an interview with her while she talks about being a ridgerunner in an article about coolest outdoor jobs here.
Charlotte, NC
Sunday October 26, 2014
Blumenthal Performing Arts - McGlohon Theatre
from 6:00pm-8:00pm
Hayne Hipp, A.T. 2,000 Miler
Gary Barrigar
President of the Friends of Roan Mountain, Environmentalist, Outdoors Youth Advocate, and featured in the film "The Appalachian Trail: An American Legacy"
Laurie P.
ATC