Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association

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The Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1983 to support and promote the interests of long-distance hikers in the Appalachian mountain area and east of the Mississippi. It "was the first organization of long-distance hikers in the United States". [1]

Contents

Activities

The ALDHA authors the annual Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion, a guide to hiking the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). It also publishes a monthly email newsletter, The Blaze.

The ALDHA Gathering is an annual event with hiking- and trail-oriented workshops about trails worldwide. [1] It is held over Columbus Day weekend and has hundreds of experienced hikers in attendance. [2]

Backpacker ethics education

In 1990 the ALDHA published of a list of behavioral expectations for hikers staying in hostels to prevent problems and improve public perception of A.T. backpackers. [3]

Since 1995, the "Endangered Services Campaign" has provided backpacker etiquette education [3] and encouraged hikers to "act responsibly when they are in trail towns as well as on the trail." [4] One slogan in the campaign was "Just because you live in the woods doesn't mean you can act like an animal." [5]

The "Hike In Harmony" campaign uses the yin and yang symbol with boot footprints and distills and adapts Leave No Trace principles into three basic ethics rules for A.T. backpackers: [6]

See also

Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 Logue, Victoria; Logue, Frank (November 10, 2004). The Appalachian Trail Hiker: Trail-Proven Advice for Hikes of Any Length. Menasha Ridge Press. ISBN   9780897325837 via Google Books.
  2. Berger, Karen (April 30, 1998). Advanced Backpacking: A Trailside Guide. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN   9780393317695 via Google Books.
  3. 1 2 "Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association - Hike In Harmony". hikeinharmony.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011.
  4. Motz, Randy A.; Harris, Georgia L. (December 9, 2008). Solemates: Lessons on Life, Love and Marriage from the Appalachian Trail. Qualtech Resource Group. ISBN   9781440453656 via Google Books.
  5. Ray, Michelle (December 17, 2008). How to Hike the A.T.: The Nitty-Gritty Details of a Long-Distance Trek. Stackpole Books. ISBN   9780811740920 via Google Books.
  6. "Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association—Hike in Harmony" . Retrieved 2019-07-27.