On June 5^th, Betty and I celebrated National Trails Day—and our 38^th anniversary—with a trip to Pine Grove Furnace State Park for the opening of the Appalachian Trail Museum. The exhibits celebrate the pioneers of the AT—Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery, and the first thru-hikers: Earl Shaffer, Gene Espy, Ed Garvey, and Emma “Grandma” Gatewood.

Mark and Betty at the A.T. Museum

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) proposes to relocate the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (ANST) to come upon and cross the summit of Little Calf Mountain northeast of Waynesboro, Virginia. This section lies on federal land managed by the NPS Appalachian Trail Park Office adjacent to the South District of Shenandoah National Park north of the Rockfish Gap Entrance Station to the Skyline Drive.

Google Earth Representation of Little Calf Relo

The details concerning this proposed relocation are summarized below:

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has published articles in their stewardship newsletter, The Register, about chain saw chaps and a USDA Forest Service Advisory about chaps that do not conform to the latest safety standards.