Lauriep
07-30-2014, 12:13
A great friend of the A.T. left us yesterday. For many years, Hammer's name was synonymous with the ATC Konnarock trail crew based in southwest Virginia, where he was a devoted volunteer and supporter. He also volunteered at ATC Headquarters, at our warehouse, and for a number of years at our booth at Trail Days.
No one who ever met Hammer would forget meeting him. He was a lovable, colorful guy with a big heart who was always helping people out and trying to lift their spirits, whether it was a pat on the back for a trail worker or an ATC employee, doing trail magic for hikers, or wearing a ridiculous umbrella hat in the Trail Days parade. He was a Navy sailor who could be described as "salty" - he didn't mince words and was always telling jokes. Whenever Hammer was around, there was laughter and smiles.
I will share a tribute written by John Killlam, a very good buddy of Hammer's and a fellow volunteer. Some may know John as "Mulligan," "Big John," or "Dawdler," depending on which thru-hike you met him on or when he was volunteering at ATC, Bears Den, or the Konnarock trail crew.
Dan Hammer "took the hike" at about 6:30 a.m. July 29, 2014. He was in his early eighties."Hammer" had been in declining health for several years and had recently been moved from assisted living to a nursing home. He had asked to be taken off dialysis several days prior to his death.
Dan Hammer was a life member of ATC and a friend of A.T. volunteers, A.T. Conservancy employees, and hikers. I first met Hammer while we were working on the Konnarock Trail Crew, I believe it was in 1993. He had started what he hoped would be a thru-hike of the A.T. a year or so before. He did not complete the A.T., but he learned that there were trail crews that were building and maintaining the Trail and got involved as a volunteer.
In his later years, Hammer continued his contact with the crew program by participating in "Clean-Up Week" at the Konnarock basecamp. For years, he worked at the ATC booth at Damascus Trail Days and volunteered at ATC Headquarters. And, for a couple of days before the booth opened each year, he did "trail magic" at his favorite spot south of Damascus where the Trail crosses U.S. 421.
He attended most of the ALDHA Gatherings that were held in West Virginia over the last 15 to 20 years, and also attended some Gatherings in other states.
I already miss him. I understand from his son that Hammer's body will be cremated and that his grandson, Ben, who thru-hiked the A.T. in 2013, will scatter his ashes somewhere near the Trail this fall.
I hope to be there.
I'll post more as I learn more.
Laurie P.
ATC
No one who ever met Hammer would forget meeting him. He was a lovable, colorful guy with a big heart who was always helping people out and trying to lift their spirits, whether it was a pat on the back for a trail worker or an ATC employee, doing trail magic for hikers, or wearing a ridiculous umbrella hat in the Trail Days parade. He was a Navy sailor who could be described as "salty" - he didn't mince words and was always telling jokes. Whenever Hammer was around, there was laughter and smiles.
I will share a tribute written by John Killlam, a very good buddy of Hammer's and a fellow volunteer. Some may know John as "Mulligan," "Big John," or "Dawdler," depending on which thru-hike you met him on or when he was volunteering at ATC, Bears Den, or the Konnarock trail crew.
Dan Hammer "took the hike" at about 6:30 a.m. July 29, 2014. He was in his early eighties."Hammer" had been in declining health for several years and had recently been moved from assisted living to a nursing home. He had asked to be taken off dialysis several days prior to his death.
Dan Hammer was a life member of ATC and a friend of A.T. volunteers, A.T. Conservancy employees, and hikers. I first met Hammer while we were working on the Konnarock Trail Crew, I believe it was in 1993. He had started what he hoped would be a thru-hike of the A.T. a year or so before. He did not complete the A.T., but he learned that there were trail crews that were building and maintaining the Trail and got involved as a volunteer.
In his later years, Hammer continued his contact with the crew program by participating in "Clean-Up Week" at the Konnarock basecamp. For years, he worked at the ATC booth at Damascus Trail Days and volunteered at ATC Headquarters. And, for a couple of days before the booth opened each year, he did "trail magic" at his favorite spot south of Damascus where the Trail crosses U.S. 421.
He attended most of the ALDHA Gatherings that were held in West Virginia over the last 15 to 20 years, and also attended some Gatherings in other states.
I already miss him. I understand from his son that Hammer's body will be cremated and that his grandson, Ben, who thru-hiked the A.T. in 2013, will scatter his ashes somewhere near the Trail this fall.
I hope to be there.
I'll post more as I learn more.
Laurie P.
ATC