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Thru-Hikers' Companion in PDF with Membership |
Thru-Hikers' Companion in the ALDHA Store |
Free Companion in PDF download for Members |
Thru-Hikers' Companion in the ALDHA Store |
Free Companion in PDF download for Members |
The Appalachian Trail Conference (now the Conservancy) had been publishing a guidebook for A.T. hikers since The Philosopher's Guide by Darrell Maret in the early 1980s. It continued publishing a guide when Darrell handed over editorship to Dan Bruce. In 1993, "Wingfoot" decided to publish a guidebook on his own, so ATC cast about for a new editor to continue its publishing tradition.
— Enter Frank Logue.
The ALDHA coordinator had just been chosen for a new at-large seat on ATC's Board of Managers in the summer of 1993, so the folks at ATC asked him if the members of ALDHA would be interested in taking on editorship of a guidebook for thru-hikers.
He didn't have to be asked twice, and so the first Companion was created with the help of 16 field editors. The name has since been expanded (it's now the Appalachian Trail Thru- Hikers' Companion), and the format has changed (from a tall, spiral-bound booklet to its present shape and it has had an impressive run of editors (three of whom went on to become ALDHA coordinators).
The book continues to prosper under current editor Robert "Sly" Sylvester and has proven to be a solid confirmation of the evolving partnership between the ATC and ALDHA.
It's the only official guidebook for thru-hikes of the Appalachian Trail.