Rest In Peace Appalachian Trailway News

[Beegfut]

I am still in shock sort of. I had no warning that Appalachian Trailways News would be replace by "Journeys," a much different publication. Did anyone? It arrived today. Inside the front cover there's a little notice informing the reader that ATN succumbed at Age 66. No cause of death was listed but I suspect foul play.

It's replacement is about 3 times the page count of ATN but the read goes very quickly. All that held my attention (fleetingly) was the Letters column, a disjointed story about a woman coming back to hike a section of the AT where she along with three friends had been raped many years earlier and some pretty photos of the Whites. Clearly, it outshines ATN in graphics but content-wise, I don't know. It's definitely not a one sit, cover-to-cover read. How disappointing. How sad.

ATN struck me as a genuine reflection of the AT hikers and maintainers. Among the many flavors of American: grit, friendliness, passion, sincerity, idealism, compent, earnest, stubborn, stoic, odd ball, and salt of the earth. "Journeys" is more uptown. It's a beauty no doubt but not a brainy. If the truth be told, it's sort of boring. Like other organization mags that come to my house - their purpose is neither to entertain nor inform the reader, but make him more yielding to their endless pursuit of MORE MONEY FOR GOOD PURPOSES. Who's kidding whom?

If the change brings the ATC more $$, then that's good I suppose and I wish them well. I admire the Board's gut's risk the wrath of the membership. Surely, they know they will be in for an unpleasant time as soon as the membership gets wind on what's coming down but they are doing what they think is in our best interests. I can respect that even if I disagree, but I will still grieve a bit for the dearly departed ATN.

Bigfoot

[Sly]

to the Bush era!

[Nean]

Why fix it if it ain't broke

[Frosty]

66 years of tradition gone, to appeal to flashier folk who will pony up $$$ to join.

Guess I can't blame them for going after a freer spending market.

But I'll miss the old name and format.

[Lugnut]

to the Bush era!

Exactly how is this Bush's fault? Bureaucrats have been around for decades.

[SGT Rock]

I haven't seen it yet. I'm waiting for my copy.

[Mr. Clean]

But I guess all clubs and groups are forced into going where the money is eventually. Hope it works for them, and looking forward to seeing it.

[Sly]

Exactly how is this Bush's fault? Bureaucrats have been around for decades.

Something about federal funds drying up for the niceties at home and billions of dollars going overseas.

[Peaks]

Well, first the ATC is going through a lot of changes. Why? I suspect mainly because of lack of recognition. Everyone knows about the AT, but how many know about the ATC. So, changing the publication is just another part of it. New editor, after Robert Rubin left. By the way, AT News is one of the few publications that did not have advertising. I assume that Journeys will include advertising, and hopefully help raise funds for the good work that ATC does for all of us.

[weary]

I am still in shock sort of. I had no warning that Appalachian Trailways News would be replace by "Journeys," a much different publication. Did anyone? It arrived today. Inside the front cover there's a little notice informing the reader that ATN succumbed at Age 66. No cause of death was listed but I suspect foul play.

It's replacement is about 3 times the page count of ATN but the read goes very quickly. All that held my attention (fleetingly) was the Letters column, a disjointed story about a woman coming back to hike a section of the AT where she along with three friends had been raped many years earlier and some pretty photos of the Whites. Clearly, it outshines ATN in graphics but content-wise, I don't know. It's definitely not a one sit, cover-to-cover read. How disappointing. How sad.

ATN struck me as a genuine reflection of the AT hikers and maintainers. Among the many flavors of American: grit, friendliness, passion, sincerity, idealism, compent, earnest, stubborn, stoic, odd ball, and salt of the earth. "Journeys" is more uptown. It's a beauty no doubt but not a brainy. If the truth be told, it's sort of boring. Like other organization mags that come to my house - their purpose is neither to entertain nor inform the reader, but make him more yielding to their endless pursuit of MORE MONEY FOR GOOD PURPOSES. Who's kidding whom?

If the change brings the ATC more $$, then that's good I suppose and I wish them well. I admire the Board's gut's risk the wrath of the membership. Surely, they know they will be in for an unpleasant time as soon as the membership gets wind on what's coming down but they are doing what they think is in our best interests. I can respect that even if I disagree, but I will still grieve a bit for the dearly departed ATN.

Bigfoot

The guy in charge's title is director of publications and marketing, or something like that. Journeys is more marketing than publications in my opinion. I found it largely unreadable. Too many confusing sidebars. I don't like having to jump around. It's my guess that it won't attract the audience ATC hopes to achieve.

The mere title of the director is a mistake. Marketing should be subtle. Announcing that the magazine is part of a marketing effort is dumb.

Trailway News needed a facelift. Journeys doesn't do it, for me anyway. It struck me as an amateur effort by someone who has looked at a lot of magazines and used a hodgpodge of styles because he doesn't really know what he's doing.

Weary

[Blue Jay]

I like the new format. The photography was great and I thought the article on 19E was one of the best since I started getting Trailways in 1998 and long over due. You show the new issue to a new thru or a day hiker who is not a member along with a recent old issue, which one do you think they would like better. There is no question in my mind as to which one is better and will increase membership. It's fine to live in the past but everyone does not wish to do so.

[rickb]

It's fine to live in the past but everyone does not wish to do so

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Its good to write about the past too!

Weary, I wish I had been at the ATC meeting for a whole host of reasons, but especially to hear what they had to say about your contributions.

I hope you got a free Conservancy hat or something ;-)

Rick B

[Jeff]

Change is a good thing!!

If we cannot appeal to a larger audience, we will pushed aside by stronger special interest groups.

[Tha Wookie]

I like the new format. The photography was great and I thought the article on 19E was one of the best since I started getting Trailways in 1998 and long over due. You show the new issue to a new thru or a day hiker who is not a member along with a recent old issue, which one do you think they would like better. There is no question in my mind as to which one is better and will increase membership. It's fine to live in the past but everyone does not wish to do so.

I thought the best ATN article was the one with Earl on the front that told his fascinating story.

[Jack Tarlin]

Damn, what a whiny thread.

Yes, the magazine has changed its name, graphics, and some of its format.

So what?

I think the new version is just fine.

The articles and features were well written and presented,and included such things as a great short feature on the town of Harpers Ferry; some spectacular photographs;several features on Trail volunteers; and a very well done insert on the Conference's new name and direction, which was included in the "Annual Report."

One critic of the magazine spoke disparagingly of one of the articles, which dealt with a horrible incident that took place on the Trail in June of 1978. I did not find this article to be poorly written or "disjointed." I thought it was fascinating and informative, and I thought it was forthright and honest for the magazine's first issue to contain a story on an element of Trail life that is all too often hushed up,i.e. the possibility of encountering violent crime.

In short, I thought the new magazine was fine. Surely folks have more important things to worry about than this.

Two minor quibbles: In a very hasty scan of the magazine, two notable errors were in evidence: On page 3 of the Annual Report section, it was stated that the estimated thru-hiker completion rate for 2004 was 24%. I feel that this figure is ridiculously inaccurate. Also, on Page 26 of the magazine, a quiz question appears: "Who has more complete hikes of the A.T. recorded in ATC's 2000-mile registry: Dan "Wingfoot" Bruce of Conyers, Georgia; Warren Doyle of Elk Park, North Carolina; or "Baltimore Jack" Tarlin of Hanover,New Hampshire?" On Page 30, the answer reads as follows: "Jack Tarlin, of Hanover, New Hampshire,with eight complete hikes of the A.T., has the most recorded in ATC's 2000-miler registry."

At present, as written, this may well be true, as I'm not sure all of Mr. Doyle's hikes were reported to the ATC, and, as a result, may not appear in their registry or official records.

But the quiz answer is mis-leading, as it may well lead some readers to believe that I have more complete thru-hikes than anyone else, and this would be a gravely mistaken assumption. It is widely acknowledged,with good reason, that Warren Doyle has hiked the A.T. more than anyone else...I'm not sure of the actual numbers, tho I believe that if and when he completes his present hike in September, he will have hiked the the Trail in its entirety fourteen times. Those interested in this subject should seek out his Trail registry entries from this year, which seldom fail to mention the number of his hikes or his accumulated mileage over the years. And while of course these "updates" assiduously fail to mention that that the majority of his "backpacking" miles were achieved withous a backpack, I'm not entirely sure this is relevant.

In any case, the comment in AT Journeys, while perhaps more accurate in speaking of recorded or registered complete AT hikes, is somewhat misleading,and may well lead some readers to think I've hiked the Trail in its entirety more than anyone else,and this is certainly NOT true; I've never made this claim, and I hope nobody reading this in the magazine would think this was the case.

I plan to send a letter to the editor making this clear.

Other than these two flaws, I thought the new magazine was just fine.

[Frosty]

I thought the new magazine was just fine.

Well, the new format IS geared to people living in Hanover NH, Princeton NJ and Cambridge MA. Obviously they've done an excellent marketing demographics job.

[Tha Wookie]

Well, the new format IS geared to people living in Hanover NH, Princeton NJ and Cambridge MA. Obviously they've done an excellent marketing demographics job.

yeah, they're trying to target all the 8-time registered AT thru's. It's not a big market but it sure is loud. just kidding, jack

[rickb]

I like the new format. The photography was great and I thought the article on 19E was one of the best since I started getting Trailways in 1998 and long over due

.

I agree 100% with Blue Jay.

Not sure what to say about her article, other than simply to say "thank you" to Robin Johnston for writing it. And thanks to the ATC for including it in the first issue of the new magazine as well.

Rick Boudrie

[Mags]

One thing I noticed missing from the magazine is the part I always loved: The stories and essays found in the back of the magazine written by the readers . Typically there would be 2-3 short articles about a person's experience on the AT. They ran from funny to poignant to inspiring. Loved it.


IT was my favorite part of the magazine. Really showed the AT community side of things. I hope it not permanently gone.

Perhaps I should write a letter rather than post on an Internet forum.

[orangebug]

Totally agree with Mags. The new magazine is quite nice, but does lack the newsletter quality of the old ATN. If the magazine is to help enlist new members, this change might be a very good idea.

I wasn't impressed that this was a new magazine riding on a wealth of ad copy. Page 27 is the Nature Conservancy, and all ads were of non-profit organizations.

It would be nice if there is a way to include the newsletter / amateur writing that many of us have come to love and anticipate each month. I think that the Internet will serve to replace that fix.

Bill....