Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association

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]

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]

• "Leave no trace in trail towns, not just in camp."
• "Follow the rules as you would the white blazes."
• "Help keep the Appalachian Trail a good neighbor."

See also

• Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Appalachian Trail Museum
• Leave No Trace

Further reading

• Berger, Karen (2000) Hiking the Triple Crown" Seattle Washington: The Mountaineers Books, 2001
• Bruce, Dan (2000) The Thru-Hiker's Handbook Hot Springs, North Carolina: Center for Appalachian Trail Studies.
• Shaffer, Earl V. (1983) Walking With Spring Harper's Ferry, West Virginia: the Appalachian Trail Conference.

References

1. 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. "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.

External links

• Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association