2006 Appalachian Trail
Thru-Hikers’ Companion

Through the volunteer efforts of nearly three dozen ALDHA members, countless hikers and ATC staff members, the 2006 edition of the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers’ Companion is now available in bookstores and outfitter shops, as well as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., through its Ultimate Trail Store.

Compiled during the fall of 2005, the Companion provides a state-by-state description of what’s near the Trail and on the Trail from Georgia to Maine.

To make your quick search easier, each town entry delineates the post offices, lodging, groceries, restaurants, outfitters, Internet access and other services. (Click on the image at right to see a close-up view in PDF format of three sample pages from this year's book.)

You don’t want to carry the entire book? ALDHA, and its editor, suggest that you make the Companion your own when preparing for a hike. Do not be afraid to abuse your spiral-bound Companion. Rip out what you don’t want for your journey. Use a copy machine, a hole-punch, a pair of scissors, a highlighter, whatever implements you need to prepare the book into sections for your Appalachian Trail experience. Send sections ahead, mail old sections home, or recycle sections in those nifty little plastic bins when complete. Or, download an electronic copy of the Companion (in Adobe Acrobat PDF format) and print out only the pages you need. (ALDHA has made the 2006 edition available online as a service to our fellow hikers.)

The Companion would not be possible without the help of field editors who volunteer their time to visit the numerous businesses, hostels, shelters, etc. along the Trail. Each visit enables the field editor to review the previous year’s entries and update that entry as necessary to provide you with the most updated information available. The 2006 Companion rield editors include:

Georgia and North Carolina
Ann Thomas “Timber Pixie”
Scott Dowling “Pilgrim”

North Carolina and Tennessee
Sun Kanoy “Bearcharmer”
Lamar Powell “Hopeful”
J. Eric Wilson “Lone Chair”
Robert Sylvester “Sly”
Cheryl Hoover

Southwest Virginia
David Blair “Lone Wolf”
David & Alyssa Dobbs “Alabama”
Charles Davidson “Chase”

Central Virginia
Leonard Adkins “Habitual Hiker”
Laurie Foot “Happy Feet”

Northern Virginia
David and Sue Hennel “Primeodd”
Wayne Greelaw “Walking Eagle”

West Virginia and Maryland
ATC Information Services Coordinator, Laurie Potteiger
Dick and Donna Hostelley “Dr. Dick”
Tom Conover

Southern Pennsylvania
Bob and Tricia Dudley “Greyowl”
ATC Mid-Atlantic Administrative Assistant John Luthy
Henry Edwards “The Trickster”

Northern Pennsylvania
Mary Ann Nissley “M.A. from Pa”
Sarah Woodruff “Blip”

New Jersey
Bruce Gregoire “Navigator”
John O’Mahoney

New York
John Pawlowicz

Connecticut
Mark Hudson “Skeeterbait”

Massachusetts
Henry “Key-Mho-Saw-Bee” and Carla “Mother Hen” LaFleur
Kevin Reardon “Slider”
Megan Robson “Nature Girl”

Vermont
Kate Fish
Pete Ketchum
Smith Edwards “Old Ridge Runner”
Dave Hardy

New Hampshire
Jack Tarlin “Baltimore Jack”
Karine Kelleher “Blister Sister”
Art Cloutman “Gabby”

Maine
T.J. Gordon
Sandie Hanson
Nadine Villani “Lobstergrrrl”

Co-editors
Cynthia Taylor-Miller
Carol Barnes “Rambunny”

Foreword by Carol Barnes (Rambunny).
Editorial review and layout by ATC Public-Affairs Director Brian King and Publications Assistant Kathleen Mallow-Sager.
Volunteers Rick Loggia, NY Corridor Monitor, ATC Information Assistant John Fletcher, Mark Suiters (Stumpknocker), Eleanor Grasselli, Howard McDonald and Roderick Forsman provided valuable information on Trail changes.
Mileage figures were based on information from the 2006 Appalachian Trail Data Book.

Already, work for the next edition is being conducted. If you are interested in assisting with this year’s publication, contact the 2007 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers Companion editor, Cynthia Taylor-Miller, “Mrs. Gorp” at companion@aldha.org.


Note: The color photograph on this year’s cover shows hikers on top of South Kinsman Mountain, New Hampshire, looking across Franconia Notch toward Mount Lafayette, rising through a sea of clouds. It was taken by Fred Shirley.

Trailhead
New Boots • Gathering • Grapevine • Springer Fever
A.T. Companion • Headlamp Material • Work Trips • Side Trails