Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association Explained

The Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1983 to support and promote the interests of long-distance hikers in the Appalachian mountain area and east of the Mississippi. It "was the first organization of long-distance hikers in the United States".^[1]

Activities

The ALDHA authors the annual Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion, a guide to hiking the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). It also publishes a monthly email newsletter, The Blaze.

The ALDHA Gathering is an annual event with hiking- and trail-oriented workshops about trails worldwide.^[1] It is held over Columbus Day weekend and has hundreds of experienced hikers in attendance.^[2]

Backpacker ethics education

In 1990 the ALDHA published of a list of behavioral expectations for hikers staying in hostels to prevent problems and improve public perception of A.T. backpackers.

Since 1995, the "Endangered Services Campaign" has provided backpacker etiquette education^[3] and encouraged hikers to "act responsibly when they are in trail towns as well as on the trail."^[4] One slogan in the campaign was "Just because you live in the woods doesn't mean you can act like an animal."^[5]

The "Hike In Harmony" campaign uses the yin and yang symbol with boot footprints and distills and adapts Leave No Trace principles into three basic ethics rules for A.T. backpackers:^[6]

• "Leave no trace in trail towns, not just in camp."
• "Follow the rules as you would the white blazes."
• "Help keep the Appalachian Trail a good neighbor."

See also

• Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Appalachian Trail Museum
• Leave No Trace

Further reading

• Berger, Karen (2000) Hiking the Triple Crown" Seattle Washington: The Mountaineers Books, 2001
• Bruce, Dan (2000) The Thru-Hiker's Handbook Hot Springs, North Carolina: Center for Appalachian Trail Studies.
• Shaffer, Earl V. (1983) Walking With Spring Harper's Ferry, West Virginia: the Appalachian Trail Conference.

External links

• Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association

Notes and References

1. Book: Logue . Victoria . The Appalachian Trail Hiker: Trail-Proven Advice for Hikes of Any Length . Logue . Frank . November 10, 2004 . Menasha Ridge Press . 9780897325837 . Google Books.
2. Book: Berger, Karen . Advanced Backpacking: A Trailside Guide . April 30, 1998 . W. W. Norton & Company . 9780393317695 . Google Books.
3. Web site: Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association - Hike In Harmony . hikeinharmony.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20110805152749/http://www.aldha.org/ethics.htm . August 5, 2011 . dead.
4. Book: Motz . Randy A. . Solemates: Lessons on Life, Love and Marriage from the Appalachian Trail . Harris . Georgia L. . December 9, 2008 . Qualtech Resource Group . 9781440453656 . Google Books.
5. Book: Ray, Michelle . How to Hike the A.T.: The Nitty-Gritty Details of a Long-Distance Trek . December 17, 2008 . Stackpole Books . 9780811740920 . Google Books.
6. Web site: Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association—Hike in Harmony . 2019-07-27.