Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association

ALDHA logo

Early arrivals set up at Burd Run, adjacent to the athletic field.

The 2018 Gathering

The 37th annual Gathering of long-distance hikers, friends and A.T. dreamers will convene the weekend AFTER Columbus Day, Oct. 12-14, 2018, at Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pa. It will be the third time the Gathering will be held at the college that's conveniently off of Interstate 81 in southern Pennsylvania. The A.T. is less than 15 miles away.

Jim Niedbalski is organizing the program for this Gathering and welcomes anyone who'd like to put on a workshop on either a long-distance trail, a trail-related subject or other hiking-related topic. Fill-in and submit the workshop/presenter form in the right-hand column. Exhibitors in the hiker fair are also need to fill-in a form.

All workshop sessions and the evening presentations will be held in the CUB, the Ceddia Union Building. Camping will be right on campus, near a parking lot with plenty of room for all vehicles. In addition to portable johns, there is a full-service restroom with running water near the camping area that includes a covered pavilion with several picnic tables. Showers will be available in a nearby gymnasium that's within walking distance of the CUB and campsite. Finally, all-you-can eat meals will be offered at reasonable cost in a dining hall across from the CUB.

Details on the program will be announced later, as everything is still in the planning stages. More information is expected after the ALDHA board's spring meeting, set for April 7. We hope to have a full slate of information in the summer newsletter.

REGISTRATION

There is a $20 fee to attend the Gathering. Sign up in advance to be entered in the Early Bird Raffle for a chance to win some great raffle prizes and gear. All the forms you need are on this web page in the right rail: the Gathering registration form, the workshop/presenter form, the hiker fair exhibitor form, and the 2,000-miler recognition form.

Alternatively, you can register when you arrive. Registration will be open throughout the weekend, starting at noon on Friday. When you register or check in, you'll receive a Gathering program with details about the workshops scheduled throughout the weekend. Registration will be located right inside the main entrance to the facility.

THE PROGRAM

'I Hiked ALDHA Way'

If you've recently completed the A.T., please be sure to let us know at the registration table so we can recognize you during our Friday night program and present your certificate. See details about the "I Hiked ALDHA Way" patch and certificate on this page of the website. You must be at the Gathering to receive your patch and certificate, and there's a form at upper right you can fill out online to let us know you're coming to take part in this ceremony.

Friday night

At our opening night program we'll have our annual roll call of thru-hikers and long-distance hikers, and we'll recognize the members of the class of 2018 and SOBO's of 2017 with a certificate and patch from ALDHA. After the opening program we'll have a reception and enjoy the goodies from the Hiker Bake-off, then "game time." For more social time, there will be a campfire adjacent to the camping area.

Featured speaker

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Workshops

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Hiker Fair

Here you'll find ALDHA Central (the registration desk, ALDHA Store, lost and found, etc.), ATC's Ultimate Trail Store, the A.T. Museum exhibit, the Spirit Table, exhibits from various trail clubs, vendors, and authors, the photo contest, and the apple contest. Vendors and exhibitors should register online using the form in the right hand column to set up a table at the fair.

Raffle

In addition to the pre-registration Early Bird Raffle mentioned above, we will be conducting a raffle throughout the weekend. Tickets will be available in ALDHA Central.

At the Saturday evening program we will draw the winning tickets and give out $250 worth of prizes from the ALDHA Store to the winners. We'll award one prize of $25 in merchandise, three prizes of $50 in merchandise, and one prize of $75 in merchandise.

All proceeds will go to help defray Gathering costs, and to a trail project if there are excess funds. This will be a fun way to help support the Gathering and other ALDHA projects.

Hiker Bake-Off Contest

Friday night at the Gathering has become even sweeter. Bring a homemade baked good to share on Friday night after the opening program for our Hiker Bake-Off Contest. A prize will be awarded to the winning entry.

Apple Contest

Back by popular demand is the Apple Contest. Bring your sweet, gigantic, or miniature apples when you register, or to ALDHA Central on Saturday morning. Please provide your name, contact info, and the state the apples came from. Judging will be Saturday afternoon and the winners will be announced at the Saturday evening program. Prizes will be awarded.

Photo Contest

Submit your photos for the Earl Shaffer Memorial Photo Contest at the registration table no later than 3 p.m. on Saturday. We are also requesting a digital copy of your photos (thumb-drive would be preferred) so we can display the winners on the screen when they are announced on Saturday evening. Prizes will be awarded in five categories:

1) Beauty and grandeur of the Appalachian Trail.

2) Beauty and grandeur of another trail.

3) Wildlife/flora along the trail.

4) Humor of the trail.

5) The trail community (i.e., maintainers, trail angels, etc.)

You may submit up to five 8-by-10 (or smaller) photos, unframed please. ALDHA will announce the winners at the Saturday night program, and publish the winning photos in an upcoming edition of The Long Distance Hiker. Be sure to come by ALDHA Central to view the submitted photos.

Elections

A number of positions on the ALDHA board will be up for election at this year's Gathering, and new members will be needed to fill the roles of those who wish to step down. Elections will be held Sunday morning at the business meeting. Please contact the coordinator if you are interested in serving on the board.

We encourage all Gathering attendees to join us for the Sunday morning general meeting. It's a great way to see who the leaders of our organization are and to learn more about ALDHA.

Monday work trips

We will offer several work trips on Monday, Oct. 15.

Breakfast will be provided, and you will receive a work trip patch to thank you for your hard work. You can sign up at ALDHA Central throughout the weekend.

LOGISTICS

Dining

Friday evening, the cafeteria will be open to students and the general public. ALDHA will be selling meals tickets for Saturday breakfast lunch and dinner, and Sunday breakfast and lunch. You'll be able to purchase a meals package for all 5 meals at a reduced rate of $41 online, along with your gathering fee. Also, The town of Shippensburgh has many area restaurants.

Where to stay

Of course, camping is FREE on the athletic field near the CUB.

Also, Jim Sample has arranged a group rate for ALDHA ($99 per night) at the nearby Courtyard Marriott (0.5 mi). Check-in at 3:00 PM and check-out at 12:00 PM. If you don't want to rough it you can book your room on the Courtyard/ALDHA page. If you p[refer to phone in your reservation, the number is 717-477-0680. Be sure to mention the "ALDHA group reservation" rate. To be eligible for the rate, rooms need to be booked by 9/25.

ADDITIONAL INFO

Annual meeting

We encourage all Gathering attendees to join us for the Sunday morning annual meeting. This is a great way to see who the leaders of our organization are and to learn more about ALDHA. It's rewarding to be more involved in this great organization, so come and see how you can serve.

Group photo

The group photo will be taken immediately after the annual meeting.

Pets

Service animals will be allowed at all events. Dogs must be on a leash at all times, and any gifts dropped on the ground must be cleaned up immediately.

ADA accessibility

The facility is ADA accessible, however it is likely that the restrooms in the camping area will not be. The education center's restrooms will be open while programs are going on, but the buildings will be locked at night.

Alcohol

Not allowed on campus or in the camping area, but reasonable alcohol consumption will be allowed at the bonfire.

Respect

We probably don't need to even mention this, but please be respectful of our hosts at the facility, the townspeople and your fellow Gathering attendees. And please let the workshop presenters, Board members, and event volunteers know that you appreciate their hard work.

Volunteers

We're always looking for volunteers to help with activities and contests at the Gathering. If you're interested in volunteering, email Jim Niedbalski at gathering@aldha.org.

Gathering Registration Form

Workshop Presenters Form

Would you like to put on a workshop at this year's Gathering about a trail you've hiked, or a trail-related subject you feel strongly about? Fill out this online form and send it electronically to the Gathering coordinator.

Hiker Fair Exhibitors Form

If your trail club or hiker-related cause or business would like to set up a table at our Gathering Hiker Fair, fill out this digital form and send it to us electronically.

Trail Completion Signup Form

Click here to fill out an online form if you have finished the A.T. this past year and plan to attend the Gathering. On Friday night, we'll call you up on stage to present a special "I Hiked ALDHA Way" patch and certificate from ALDHA to congratulate you before your peers.

Gathering History

The first Gathering was held before ALDHA was even officially created. In the fall of 1982, Warren Doyle gathered together long-distance hikers and friends of the trail for a weekend retreat in southern West Virginia, and it was during that time of fellowship and renewal in the community of the Appalachian Trail that the seed of an idea for ALDHA was planted.

Six months later, at a meeting in Harpers Ferry on March 5, 1983, attendees voted to formally establish an organization of hikers, maintainers, friends of the trail and folks who dream of someday hiking the A.T., and they christened their newborn group the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association.

ALDHA has held an annual Gathering ever since, with locations varying from north to south to accommodate our ever-growing membership.

The Gathering Song

At the 2000 Gathering in Pipestem, W.Va., Walkin' Jim Stoltz was asked if he would compose a song for ALDHA to help mark the 20th Gathering the following year. He readily agreed, then admitted later that it proved to be a lot harder than he thought it would be. When he stood up to perform it that next year at the 2001 Gathering in Hanover, N.H., we think he hit it out of the park.

A few years later, he sat down and recorded it for Weathercarrot's video documentary on the 25th anniversary of ALDHA. Click the link below to listen. Feel free to download it, too. After his untimely passing in 2010, Jim's former wife gave ALDHA the rights to it, and we offer it to you all in hopes that it'll stir fond memories of the Gathering and that you'll always remember Walkin' Jim.

"To the Gathering Again"

by Walkin' Jim Stoltz, 2001

Link To Past Programs