Proposed Bylaw changes have been submitted to the membership via email and snail mail (for those that haven't yet ventured on the interwebs). The changes will facilitate an online nomination and election process during the months of August (nomination form) and September (ballot). Again, we'll provide a way for those without email to partake.

Election results will be announced during the annual membership meeting on Sunday morning at the Gathering.

In the event pandemic conditions worsen and restrictions tighten in the Commonwealth of Va., it's possible the Gathering could be called again in which case election results will be posted on the website, and in the newsletter and blaze.

It has come to our attention that several ATC Ridge runners have been verbally assaulted by angry hikers this season.  This cannot stand without response.  I want to make perfectly clear that ALDHA both supports ridge runners and highlight that they may be the best friend(s) hikers have on the trail.  They are not your mother, your trash collector, your babysitter, nor are they “narcs.”  They are employees hired by the ATC, and to a degree, they are the eyes and ears of the ATC on the trail. 

In recent times, the ATC has made some rather unpopular decisions that I will neither defend nor discuss here.  Ridge runners did not make these decisions.  They are ambassadors between the trail and the public and are charged with educating trail users (day hikers, section hikers, and long-distance hikers) on best trail practices, trail history, and current trail conditions.  Ridge runners have no police powers, rather their authority comes from first-hand knowledge and experience.  Many have been thru hikers.  All are trained in Wilderness First Aid and carry a radio should a situation warrant additional resources.

These are good people!  During my years of hiking, I have met numerous ridge runners on the trail.  I am honored to call many of them my friends.  Contrary to appearances, their job is not all glamor, nor is it just spending the day out hiking.  They are paid for performing their designated duties 10 hours a day, but regularly spend many more hours voluntarily interacting with hikers and keeping the trail as pristine as we have come to expect.  When you pass a ridge runner on-trail take a minute to chat with them, let them know how your day is going, and be sure to thank them for what they do.  After all, they truly are the best friends long distance hikers have on the trail.

Respectfully,

Dr. Ken “Nimbus” Bunning

ALDHA Coordinator

The results have been counted, recounted, and tabulated with, of course, a 2020 twist.  Those elected have been notified and the board seated.  We had a slate of highly qualified candidates and I want to thank the nominees, elected or not, for their participation. 

It was a good year for the incumbents with all five of the previous board members reelected.  Robert “Sly” Sylvester was reelected as the Membership Secretary.  Jill “IWOX” Byrd was reelected as Treasurer.  Vera “Missing Kink” Hurst, Jim “High Octane” Niedbalski, and Dennis “Trail Pilgrim” Newton were reelected as Members At-Large.  The fourth AT-Large position was won by Robert “Third Half” Christianson who is new to the board.  And now the 2020 twist.

Just as voting was closing for our election, we were notified by Peter “Chenango” Passalacqua, our Recording Secretary, that he was going to step down from the board for personal reasons.  We hate to lose Peter.  He has been a fantastic Recording Secretary, Board Member, Gathering Coordinator, confidant, and friend.  We wish him the best.  In keeping with our traditions and bylaws, Dennis “Trail Pilgrim” Newton was asked to step up to fill the vacant position.  The board agreed and he will finish the remaining year of Peter’s term… until the next election.  We are lucky to have Dennis available and willing to take on the duties as Recording Secretary.

The next step was to fill Dennis’ now vacant At-Large position. In keeping with our bylaws, this will also be for one year… until the next election.  Shalin “Shay” Desai received the next highest number of votes for the At-Large position, and after the board approved the selection, he was offered the position and has accepted.

For the record, we had 177 members vote electronically and 12 vote through more traditional means, for a total of 189.  This is nearly double the number voting members we traditionally have at the Gathering election.  The board is working on a process to allow voting by members unable to attend the Annual Gathering.  We are aware that this will most likely require a change to our bylaws.

Your 2020 ALDHA Board:

Dr. Ken “Nimbus” Bunning, Coordinator

Wayne “Mad Hatter” Krevetski, Assistant Coordinator

Dennis “Trail Pilgrim” Newton, Recording Secretary

Robert “Sly” Sylvester, Membership Secretary

Jill “IWOX” Byrd, Treasurer

Vera “Missing Kink” Hurst, Member At-Large

Jim “High Octane” Niedbalski, Member At-Large

Bill “Sprained Rice” O’Brien, Member At-Large

Penny “Reverse” Vann, Member At-Large

Chris “Soggy Treks” Vores, Member At-Large

Mary Kate “Brooklyn” Stopa, Member At-Large

Robert “Third Half” Christianson, Member At-Large

Shalin “Shay” Desai, Member At-Large

Respectfully,

Ken “Nimbus” Bunning

ALDHA Coordinator

Edit: Shalin Desai voluntarily stepped down due to a conflict of interest and Jon Goff (hiking the AT in 2021) was appointed to fill his position.

2020 Board of Directors Election

will be held online during the month of October.

Click the link for more details!

Back to Boundary Work!!

Ron Bungay wonders:  Can the third time be the charm?
 

When: November 12 & 13, 2020
Where: Blackburn Trail center.

Finally, a restart to ALDHA"s boundary work program is a possiblity.  Please arrive on Wednesday November 11.  

Let it be known there is a 50/50 likelihood that this work trip will be cancelled. Hopefully be the end of September the fate of the work trip will be known.  We will update the work schedule, housing provisions, food, etc in the October Blaze.  Please, watch for updates.

Two other Corridor/Boundary Work Trips scheduled for the Spring of 2020 were a no go because of Covid-19. I hope my tenure as the ALDHA Work Trip Coordinator will end on a positive note!  Due to my retirement, ALDHA needs another Boundary work coordinator.  Please contact me, Ron Bungay for more information at ronbungay@verizon.net

Ryan Seltzer -ATC, Chris Brunton-PATC, Bob Huff and myself have been involved in organizing the ALDHA work trips. Our partnership in the Boundary program with the ATC will  mean that they will be involved in the decision making process, also. Here's hoping the third time is a charm.

Hi there, I am a musician / songwriter in Portland, OR and one of our fans who walked the PCT last year suggested that I contact you. We just released a new single / video titled Top Of The World. The song is dedicated to co-writer Kelly Brightwell's Mom and her journey at the age of 71 walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrim trail in Spain a few years back. It's a song that reminds all of us that we are not alone and the struggle is worth it in the end. Please feel free to share. All the best, wm

The 2020 Thru-Hikers' Companion available in PDF for members, and in hard-copy in the ALDHA Store (20% off until January 21).

Considering the Coronavirus pandemic, many or all, events may be canceled. See the Links page for more info..

While the website is mobile friendly, you can also download a member app
in Android or IOS to register for events, find other members etc.