2007 Trail Festivals
Trailfest, Hot Springs, N.C. April 27-28
The Trailfest in Hot Springs is smaller than Trail Days but in a way a lot more homier. Sly Sylvester will be representing ALDHA at this year's event. And other ALDHA members are involved in putting the whole thing on, including Jack Dalton and Namie Bacile. If you want to enjoy Hot Springs like you never were able to while thru-hiking, check out this festival. For more information, check out the Web site at http://hotspringsnc.org/trailfest04.html.
Trail Days, Damascus, Va. May 18-20
It is always the weekend AFTER Mothers Day. They already have information posted for 2007, so visit the Web site at http://www.traildays.info/.
36th ATC Biennial Conference, Ramapo College, Mahwah, N.J. July 13-20
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy will meet for its first time at Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J., which is a short distance from the Appalachian Trail and falls during the height of the northbound thru-hiker season in that area. All 2007 northbounders are being warmly invited to attend, with several programs geared specifically to them. ALDHA will once again offer a 2,000-milers' reception, open to all, with a lot of fantastic refreshments (trucked down from Canada) that are being supplied by our first co-sponsor, the energetic folks from the International Appalachian Trail. Visit the Web site at www.ramapo2007.org/.
Vermont Long Trail Festival, Rutland, Vt. Aug. 17-20
Hey, this one is NEW, and they could use all the help and support they can get. All camping and events will be held at the Vermont Fairgrounds, and it's all free. Thru-hikers, both northbound and southbound, are more than welcome to attend. So visit the Web site at http://www.longtrailfestivalvt.com
ALDHA West, location TBA Sept. 28-30
ALDHA West, a separate organization out West with similar interests as ALDHA, has posted information about its 2006 Gathering on its Web site at http://www.aldhawest.org/.
ALDHA Gathering, Gettysburg, Pa. Oct. 5-7
The 2007 Gathering will be only the second one ever held in Pennsylvania, and this time, it will be in the Civil War setting of Gettysburg. Workshops and meetings will be at Gettysburg College, with free camping on a nearby farmer's field that has hosted battle re-enactments in the past. A plethora of inexpensive motels and other campgrounds are also available, on your own, but make your reservations now, since Columbus Day weekend is extremely popular in this rural, historic town. The stage is set, the coordinators are in place. We plan to post more information soon on our Gathering page at www.aldha.org/gathring.htm.
Trailhead
New Boots
Gathering
Grapevine
Springer Fever
A.T. Companion
Headlamp Material
Work Trips
Side Trails