ALDHA Gathering 2006

[MOWGLI]

In all seriousness, what needs to be discussed about "trail magic"?

The folks assembled in the panel are definitely worth listening to. I plan to sit in.

[Lone Wolf]

I'll probably sit in too but really don't understand what needs to be discussed.

[Tha Wookie]

In all seriousness, what needs to be discussed about "trail magic"? Hiker feeds like Billville in Duncannon take place well OFF the AT and other "magic" takes place at road crossings. Just don't leave stuff unattended and clean up after. End of discussion.

Very legitimate point, LW.

I didn't put the panel together myself, but I have seen the handout that will be available explaining what the dicsussion is about, and why it ought to be discussed. I'm not sure if it's finalized, so I'll let you pick one up there instead of posting it now.

But in sum....

There certainly is no effort to make any regulations or to stop great events like the Doyle hiker feed. It's not about restricting any behavior of any sort.

I think it's more of an attempt to established a focused dialogue with stakeholders in the AT experience about an issue that has raised some concerns about the impacts of organized trail magic events, and how they can be mitigated without unnessesary regulation (like education about animals getting into coolers, and trash left in camps, etc.).

My sense from hearing some panelist opinions already is that everyone appreciates all trail magic activities, and are willing to listen to thoughts and ideas of how these can continue in the future, in line with the AT experience that the ATC promotes.

They called me in to be a hiker representative on the panel. So speak your mind LW, and everyone else. I'll help relay it.

[Tha Wookie]

For this year's ALDHA Gathering, the ATC has put together a panel of people together to facilitate a discussion about the progression of trail magic from "small, spontaneous acts of kindness" to current forms like pre-planned trail magic events and how it relates to the AT experience.

This is your chance to be involved in an Applachian Trail discussion that matters. In person.

Each panelist will make a statement, and then the floor will be open for statements from anyone.

Our panel session is in the Subway (basement of the Student Center): Saturday, 11:15-12:15. You are encouraged to attend and participate.


Panel Members:

Laurie Potteiger
Moderator, ATC Staff

Dr. Jeff Marion
Scientist (Recreation ecologist/Leading expert on Leave No Trace, A.T.section hiker), ATC Stewardship council

Hawk Metheny
ATC (Stewardship Council Chair), A.T. thru-hiker

Pete Irvine
Agency Partner (Appalachian Trail Park Office USFS Liaison), Trail maintainer

Ray Ronin
Trail angel (off-trail feed-a-thon in the Bigelows), A.T. thru-hiker, MATC maintainer

Nate Olive, M.A.
A.T. thru-hiker, PCT, West Coast Trail, CT, Ph.D. candidate, active WhiteBlaze poster

Dr. Kip Redick
Spiritual/Philosophical Dimension (Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Christopher Newport University)

And you

[StarLyte]

Hello again friends-here at the Appalachian Folklife Center, Gathering update.......

Lots of firewood at the Folklife Center for the bonfire-can't wait for Friday & Saturday nights. There's a new sign for the center - you'll see it at the end of road, it's on their website too.

Had a great night in the main building at Folklife - good company....Billy Goat, Bear Bell, Weathercarrot, Noah, Jim, Tim, Skeeter....others pulled in last night at the State Park: LWOP, Mama Lipton, Wingheart a few others. Sly and Baltimore Jack to pull in around 1pm-ish.

Gusts of wind, rain, but nothing severe last night, no one complained of wet tents. Cooked a big pot of oatmeal this morning with sunflower & raisins, hot coffee. All of us again gathered in the main building, others are off rafting on the New River. Some of us cancelled.

Cool....but the sun is shining brightly, slim chance of rain today. Very pretty outside.

Off to store to buy some dinner stuff......Jack doesn't know it yet but he's cookin.....

Great day to be here. And no....there isn't wifi at the Folklife Center, I'm sitting here Pipestem Lodge, right next to a fireplace

[peanuts]

Well StarLyte, I am glad you and the rest are having a good time.....
I get to miss it ..... again....(.....make sure to follow up with a full report and lots and lots of pictures.....

Everyone enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!

[Trillium]

if you see fishinfred, be sure to tell him it was snowing here today and in mid-afternoon, we looked outside and it was practically a blizzard. 1/2 hr later the sun was out.

also tell him the Tigers won the first 2 in Oakland

[Alligator]

Clear skies, frost this morning, temp at 31F. Bring some warm clothes and sleeping gear.

[StarLyte]

Cold and frosty this Saturday morning-full campground at Folklife. Here at the college taking advantage of the wifi.....lots of Whiteblazers here. I'll give Fishin Fred your message.

A large turnout this year for the Gathering.

Friday night presentation was awesome.

I haven't taken any pictures. I sure hope Old Fhart and Walkin Home is taking them.

It's going to be a great day - warmer, bbq, and the bonfire tonight.

Sitting here with Woody. See ya'll

[emerald]

Due to work-related circumstances beyond my control, I needed to remain at home in the event I am needed, but I did manage to get in a hike on the A.T. yesterday.

[TOW]

wish i could have went...........had to work...........

[Lone Wolf]

Back from the Gathering. A great time was had by all. It's still going on. Weathercarrot did a superb job of putting together 25 years worth of photos, slides, video, etc. to create the 25th anniversary of ALDHA dvd. Great job Gregory! Jeffery Hunter (MOWGLI16), did the feature program last night on the Great Eastern Trail stretching from NY to Florida connecting to other trails to form a 5,000 mile interconnected network of trails. There's some really cool stuff just west of the AT. He had a great slide show to go with his talk. A lot of work goes into putting on the ALDHA Gathering. There were around 500 folks there throughout the weekend. Lotsa old faces and some new ones. Looks like next year's Gathering is gonna be held at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pa. Y'all make an effort to get there and join ALDHA. It's a great organization. Thanks Warren.

[ShakeyLeggs]

Great it is gonna be in my area. Last time I was able to make it to one it was here in Carlisle PA. I am looking forward to attending another one.

[Cookerhiker]

Sounds like a worthwhile event - sorry I missed it (due to family obligations). Leaving tomorrow heading SW for some hiking near Damascus plus NC & TN. Maybe I'll run into some of you...

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

The dinos survived the ALDHA gathering. While it was pretty chilly a couple of nights - 23 F with 15 - 20 mph wind one night - we were a couple of toasty reptiles.

Saw many old faces and met some new ones. Finally met bfitz, hopeful hiker and got a long overdue hug from gypsy (she's always been busy when I've seen her before). The proud papa, Baltimore Jack, and I shared several hugs and laughs (despite how things look in the political forum, we really are friendly - well, most of the time ). Jack has been going without his signature knee braces for several days and the knees were giving him some trouble - been there / done that - hang in there Jack, the strengthening of the muscles around the knees you get from going without the braces really is worth it.

I talked at length with Miss Janet about the impending paternity suit in regard to Fabyan's pups . Miss Janet brought a young dreamer from her hostel, Ben, who is section hiking now in prep for a thru next spring. Fiddlehead was camped right in front of our tent, but we never did see him or the goat. Met matthewski (mweinstone). Sly has gone uptown on us and had a butler in a tux at his tent's door. StarLyte was as lovely as always - she's beautiful inside and out. Mother Nature, Smokestack and Hammock Hanger were there. Mother Nature's back was not doing well - she recently did the Foothills trail in SC. Woke up every morning to Mala's famous cowboy coffee and conversation. ( and pondered the old question - why do people drink city coffee from syrofoam cups when this is available?)

Briefly touched base with a lot of WB'ers - bearbag hanger, zulu, hikerhead, twofiddy, pilgram, kinnickiki (sp?), mowgli, skeeter and many, many more that I'll remember after some morning coffee.

Had a wonderful time and learned a lot. Six Moon has a new double model coming out that looks great - similar in size and weight to Shire's double rainbow, but sets up with two hiking poles on either side that fit into a couple of rounded T's - great design.

Got one of Fishing Fred's new WB logo stickers - these are really nice.

[Hammock Hanger]

Had a wonderful time. Great seeing old friends, putting a face on a cyber-friend and meeting/making new friends.

[Sly]

Sly has gone uptown on us and had a butler in a tux at his tent's door.

What, everyone doesn't have their own butler? I must live a sheltered life...

[Panzer1]

Well, the weather was a lot better than the last Gathering (the rainy one). No rain... I never needed to put up that new canopy that I just bought for this Gathering. It probably would have just blown away. I'll bring it to the RUCK in January. It rained briefly at the last RUCK.

This Gathering was the windy Gathering. Lots of people got "wind burn" on their faces. At least us city people did. I saw at least 6 tents blow away on Saturday. Matthewski was kept busy retrieving the tents and staking them back down while everyone was at the college. If your tent was somewhere else when you came back, It was because of the wind got it. At one point my truck was actually chased across the field by a big orange dome tent.

I guess our next get together will be the PA RUCK in January. That's only about 3 hours drive for me. A short drive compared the 11 hours to get home from the Gathering in WV... If the next Gathering is in Gettysburg I'll be very happy.

Actually the drive down to the Gathering was more fun because we got to stop over at the Doyle and do some heavy partying. It helps to break up that long drive.

Panzer
(don't party during daylight hours!!!)

[the goat]

At one point my truck was actually chased across the field by a big orange dome tent.

panzer- that was one of the funniest things i saw all weekend! that tent took a turn and headed right for you, it was amazing it didn't hit your truck as fast as it came at you. matthewski and i were dying laughing.

[StarLyte]

The highlight of the Gathering was having a conversation with Gene Espy. I'd like to spend a few days with him; listen to his hiking stories.

Second best thing is that I met Billy Goat.

The only thing(s) I would have changed at the Gathering would have been the weather and extending the days. There is not enough time to attend all my favorite forums PLUS socializing.

Friday night's presentation blew me away. THEN I experienced Saturday night's presentation. Mowgli---you are an excellent spokesperson. I could say more, but I don't think anyone would understand, so tell your wife to give you a big hug for a job well done. I have new ideas on hiking, and so excited about the new trail networks.

I really enjoyed meeting Hammock Hanger (though very briefly), Frolicking Dinosaurs, Matthewski, The Goat, Hemingway, Krewzer, Medicine Man, Fishin' Fred, Singer, so many others......I cannot remember them all.

Walkin'Home & Old Fhart are a lot of fun. Wait until you see the surprise we have for Whiteblaze.

Panzer if you think that night was windy, you should have been there Wednesday night. We put a tarp over my tent and had to tie it to a tree. The wind caused the tarp to slap real hard all night. Then the dogs howled. Then it rained hard, temps dropped.

Jack...thank you

Thanks to everyone that made donations to the Appalachian Folklife Center.

Loved spending time with friends and old friends. Never enough time. Parting is very hard for me.

Hopefully, next year, the Gathering will be in Gettysburg. ALDHA board members will tour the college and grounds early spring and make decisions on this.

Warren Doyle - I have your name tag. You were most definitely missed. You have affected Appalachian Trail history. You have positively affected my life. Thank you.....sincerely.