October 4, 2024
Hurricane Helene and the Appalachian Trail
by Hal Wright

The magnitude and scope of tragedy in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene continues to unfold.

Pearisburg and Damascus, VA. Erwin, TN. Asheville and Hot Springs, NC. These are just some of the iconic towns along the southern Appalachian Trail decimated by Hurricane Helene.

Those of us who have completed the southern AT have visited all of these towns and enjoyed the hospitality of their residents. Our hearts break with the realization of what they have lost. You may be inclined to help with a donation and even volunteer work. We at Allentown Hiking Club are not positioned to offer advice on the best charities and organizations to pick; we urge you to research options carefully. We can direct you to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's webpage which describes the damage and links to reputable aid organizations.

We also urge you to monitor what the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has to say about trail access and use. Within the hiker community, there is often skepticism about the ATC's guidance during emergencies. Concerns include the loss of income to shuttle drivers and hostels when the ATC closes portions of the trail. And hikers tend to march (hike) to their own drummer; part of the appeal of the AT is that it stands apart from the restrictions of ordinary life. Given these unique circumstances though—that resources are strained along the southern AT, that the priority must be to restore housing and services to permanent residents, and that the ATC must follow direction from its land managers such as the Forest Service—we recommend that hikers heed the ATC's closures and stay off the trail where indicated. Note that the ATC has altered its normal rules for acknowledging thru hikes. Here is their webpage which summarizes guidance to hikers.

Finally, as climate change makes storms such as Helene more likely, it's worth noting that the ATC has been studying the impact of climate change on the Trail and its surroundings for decades. We are reminded of the expertise the ATC brings to stewardship along the Trail we love.

October 3, 2024
Tragedy on the AT: A Rare Cautionary Trail
by Hal Wright

The death of a 67-year-old thru hiker in Virginia reminds us to keep track of our health before and during long distance hikes.

Tragic incidents on the Appalachian Trail are rare indeed. Over three million people set foot on the A.T. every year. Thousands of these visitors hike the entire trail or large sections of it. While few of these hikers experience serious health-related issues, we've learned of the recent death of 67-year-old thru hiker Thomas VanEtten, apparently of natural causes, along the trail in Virginia. VanEtten's obituary states that completing a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail was "something he had wanted to do for years." We can at least take solace in the knowledge that VanEtten passed on doing something he loved.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy offers much advice for staying safe while hiking a long-distance trail. Equally important is having an awareness of one's health before starting to hike. For older hikers, an assessment of one's heart health and general fitness is especially important, given that the rigors of a long-distance hike are difficult to replicate in life off the trail. Also, it's important to plan a hike which respects one's limitations in terms of miles walked per day, pack weight, and terrain. Better to be prepared to hike 10 miles per day and to experience the delight of learning that it's possible to hike farther, than it is to extend a hike for one or more days without the food needed to stay on the trail.

Contrary to some comments of some younger hikers on social media, hiking in one's 60's and beyond is not too dangerous to attempt. If that were true, many of us in Allentown Hiking Club would have been off trail for a long while!