People who hike and do a lot of trail maintenance

imported
#1

Hi its A-train. I am a college student at the university of Vermont. I’m in the beginning stages of writing a piece on the AT for my college writing course. I was wondering if there was any people out there that have spent a good many years on the trail (be it hiking, maintaining, trail-angleing etc.) that would be interested in talking to me and giving me some info. This isnt anything that would be published in any way, just wanted to get some experienced folks’ opinions/theories/reasons for being connected to the trail and what it means to them. If you wouldn’t mind helping I would love it if you could respond or email me. Thank so much everyone, A-train

A-train

#2

If you are at UVM, why not contact the Green Mountain Club in Waterbury?

ps: Go Cats Go

Peaks

#3

Hey A-train, I’m Chug Chug on the trail. I’ve been involved in trail maintainence on the 75 mile long Foothills Trail in upstate South Carolina, and hiked both the Foothills and AT trails. I like hiking just to get away from the hassels of everyday life. A change of pace. It’s also one way of getting good exercise and breathing good fresh air. I do trail maintainence to help out on the trail. It too is GOOD EXERCISE. And also support the trail you hike. Being connected to the trail you meet people from all walks of life, different opinions and beliefs that would normally keep you apart in the community, but the trail community is close, and those differences don’t matter. The trail has a way of treating everyone as the same, a common denominator. I’ve met people I normally wouldn’t meet. Those friendships don’t end when you leave the trail. A couple we met a few months ago are planning another hike this month. The trail is where friendships start. Very valuable frienships I might add. Good luck on your course. If anything else I can help with give Chug Chug a hollar. God bless you. Norm(Chug Chug) Olsen

Norm Olsen

#4

A-Trail,

I ran the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s trail program (17 District Managers, 350 volunteer maintainers) in '90, '91, and again in '94. I can answer some questions, but you might also post question in the online Interactive PATC Trails Forum (which I currently manage) at http://www.hypernews.org/HyperNews/get/trails/PATC.html

Our current Supervisor of Trails hangs out there, as well as a couple District Managers and a few maintainers as well. Stop in and post a message.

Andy Hiltz

Andy Hiltz