At the invitation of the Alabama Hiking Trails Society (AHTS), representatives of the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) attended the AHTS Annual General Meeting, where they delivered a presentation on the history and development of the IAT. The meeting was held in Columbiana, Alabama on March 9 and 10. Don Hudson, IAT Maine Chapter President and Dick Anderson, IAT Founder and Maine Chapter Treasurer, represented the IAT and gave the Saturday morning presentation.
The presentation was well received, and there was great interest in the continuing development of the IAT. The AHTS trails include many miles of trail through the southern Appalachian Mountains in Alabama, south of the Appalachian Trail at Springer Mountain, Georgia. Dick and Don asked members of AHTS to consider becoming a Chapter of the IAT.
John Calhoun (“Mother Nature’s Son”), a thru hiker of the IAT–Crow Head to Katahdin 2007– and member of AHTS, guided Don and Dick on a trip to the summit of Flagg Mountain, the southernmost thousand foot mountain in the Appalachian Mountain chain in North America. Don was thrilled to get to Flagg Mountain, having heard about the mountain for many years. Both Dick and Don had a wonderful time and thanked the folks at AHTS for their great “southern hospitality”.
For more information about AHTS, please visit their website at www.hikealabama.org
The pictures accompanying this story were taken by Don and John.
Distant View of Flagg Mountain (Photo Taken by Mike Kennedy, President of AHTS)
