APPENDIX FOUR
The search engine Google turned up 199,000 results for an “Appalachian Trail” search. How do you sort through all the information on the Web? Try the few sites listed below as they provide good sources of information and have links to many more sites.
A.T. and Thru-hiking of Related Interest
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (www.appalachiantrail.org) The official website for the group that oversees the maintenance and support of the Appalachian Trail.
The Appalachian Trail Homepage (fred.net/kathy/at.html) This unofficial A.T. homepage was the first big Web site devoted to the Appalachian Trail and it stills boasts lots of good information.
Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (www.aldha.org) 10 Benning Street, PMB 224, West Lebanon, NH 03784 ALDHA holds the annual gathering of long-distance hikers each year to bring together past distance hikers with those dreaming of a future hike. The group also edits the A.T. Thru-Hiker’s Companion, publishes a newsletter, and sponsors work trips on the A.T.
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail Homepage (www.nps.gov/appa) The National Park Service’s official A.T. Web site.
Appalachian Trail Mailing List (www.backcountry.net) Sign on the Appalachian Trail e-mail discussion list at backcountry.net. You can also post a message as a guest or check out the archives at this Web site.
Great Outdoor Recreation Pages’ A.T. Info (www.gorp.com/gorp/resource/us_trail/appalach.htm) A.T.-specific information at the GORP Web site.
TrailJournals.com (www.trailjournals.com) Addicted to reading trail stories? Then this is your Web site, with journals from more than 500 hikers online.
Trailplace.com (www.trailplace.com) This is Dan Bruce’s A.T. megasite, with lots of information on the Trail, journal entries, and much more on this group of Web sites all found through Trailplace.
WhiteBlaze.Net (www.whiteblaze.net) This online community of A.T. enthusiasts is a great way to find information and meet fellow hikers.
Educational
Appalachian Tales (www.appalachiantales.com) A Web site designed to help teachers integrate science, literature, art, current events, and history, using the Appalachian Trail as a springboard.
Leave No Trace, Inc. (www.lnt.org) For the ultimate in minimum-impact camping information, head to the source. Leave No Trace is a nonprofit organization created to spread the word about how to preserve the outdoors we love as we hike, camp, and more.
Backpacking Equipment
Backpacker Magazine’s Gear Finder (www.gearfinder.com) Gear tips, reviews, and more from Backpacker Magazine at this easy-to-use site.
Backpack Gear Test (www.BackpackGearTest.org) Gear reviews by hikers.
Gear Addict (www.web-dzine.com/gearaddict) A backcountry gear megasite.
First-aid Resources
The following companies all offer varying degrees of certification, from Wilderness First Aid to Wilderness EMT. WMI and SOLO offer courses throughout the US; WMI focuses on western states.
Wilderness Medical Associates
189 Dudley Road Bryant Pond, ME 04219
Information: (800) 945 3633 or www.wildmed.com
SOLO (Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities)
P. O. Box 3150
Conway NH 03818
Information: (603) 447-6711 or www.soloschools.com
Wilderness Medical Institute
P. O. Box 9
413 Main St.
Pitkin, CO 81241
Information: (970) 641-3572 or wmi.nols.edu