Matane Gaspésie Photo by Will Richard   Check out the interview with Maine Chapter President Don Hudson at Hiraeth Press's website - http://is.gd/Odi3Hf. Go ahead. Support Hiraeth and the IAT and invest in some poetry this year -- lots and lots of it. Good for Hiraeth; good for the IAT; and good for your soul!

  On February 24th Hiraeth Press will release its first title of 2012, Border Crossings: Walking the Haiku Path on the International Appalachian Trail by Ian Marshall. The book follows Ian on his journey over the International Appalachian Trail, from Mt. Katahdin, Maine up through New Brunswick and out to the tip of Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula. In addition, the Hiraeth Press has named the The International Appalachian Trail  the 2012 Eco-Charity of the Hiraeth Press of Danvers, Massachusetts! Countless books have been done to chronicle humanity’s communion with nature, from the classics written by naturalists such as Henry David Thoreau or John Muir, to the more contemporary offerings such as Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer and A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson; however Border Crossings stands out as unique among its fellows. Composed of Haiku and contemplative prose Border Crossings is book of braided styles: poetry, prose and travel writing. This style, as the author explains, is akin to that of haibun—a style of writing made popular by such Japanese poets as Matsuo Bashō that merges poetic and meditative prose, literary criticism and cultural meditation. Ian Marshall is a professor of English and Environmental Studies at Penn State Altoona and a former president of the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment. Border Crossings is Mr. Marshall’s fourth book. He is the author of Story Line: Exploring the Literature of the Appalachian Trail published in…

On Saturday, January 21st, IAT Founder Dick Anderson and Maine Chapter President Don Hudson traveled to the Bavarian Inn on the banks of the Potomac River in Shepherdstown, West Virginia to join over 100 family, colleagues and friends to celebrate the 34-year leadership of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy by David Startzell. Dave announced his retirement in November 2010 and he'll wrap up his work for the ATC on January 31, 2012.  It is fair to say that no one in the world has done more to promote the benefits to people and communities of long-distance trails. The International Appalachian Trail is one of many footpaths in the world inspired by the Appalachian Trail. Read More    

Flagler Films has recently begun fundraising for "A Visionary Footpath", a one-hour television and DVD documentary about hiking the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) of North America.  In order to complete this project, they have a total of 50 days to raise a minimum of $30,000 through Kickstarter , a website devoted to fundraising for a broad spectrum of creative projects.     The program will take viewers on a 1,800-mile journey along the International Appalachian Trail (IAT). As the host of the program, Mark Flagler will visit the most spectacular places found along the IAT in Northern Maine, New Brunswick, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland Labrador. Mark will introduce audiences to locals, walkers and other knowledgeable individuals who will share their valuable insight about the local region and the many recreational opportunities available to visitors. The program will also highlight the unique heritage and customs of the places and people that can be found along this long-distance route.  He will visit the nearby towns to experience the food, lodgings and culture, and have a bit of fun along the way. The program will capture the majestic scenery, cultural treasures and natural wonders that make the IAT so special. In August 2011, Mark hiked some of the key sections of the IAT in Newfoundland to film the trail, icebergs, and spectacular scenery.     (See related story, Flagler Films Begins IAT Documentary.) Some of this video footage will be used for the documentary.  He will return to the IAT at the beginning of June 2012,…

On October 19, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol and Dermot Wescott of International Alliance For Missions made a colorful autumn day-trek into Little Codroy Pond in southwestern Newfoundland.  The area is covered under a Special Management Area agreement between Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited and IATNL, and holds great eco and adventure tourism potential for the province's west coast. After a 2-hour drive from the city of Corner Brook, the trek began at 9:30am with a 3 km (2 mile) 45 minute leisurely walk on an old dirt track from the Trans Canada Highway to the western shore of the 5 km (3 mile ) long lake. To learn more about the Autumn Day Trek to Little Codroy Pond, go to the IATNL website.  

On Saturday, September 17 at the IAT Annual General Meeting at Saint Anne des Monts, Québec, the IAT honoured Appalachian Trail Executive Director Dave Startzell - who will soon retire after more than 30 years of dedicated service - for his outstanding leadership of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy(ATC) and his support of the IAT. To mark the occasion, Dave was presented with a framed certificate that recognizes his valuable contribution to the AT and his ongoing support for the IAT. It is surrounded by flags of IAT chapters in North America, Western Europe, and across the North Atlantic. (L-R) IAT Founder Richard Anderson, ATC Executive Director Dave Startzell, and IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol As Executive Director of the ATC for the last 34 years, Dave has presided over the multitude of projects that have made the ATC one of the finest long-distance trails in the world. Early on he and his team were instrumental in getting legislation passed that created the National Scenic Trails Act. That legislation resulted in the approximately 2250 miles of the ATC becoming a federally owned, long-distance hiking trail. Dave and his team worked with officials in six different administrations to fund the acquisition of the trailway and substantial adjacent lands. In total over 200 million dollars was dedicated to this effort. Dave's tireless leadership efforts also resulted in vastly increased membership and budgets, and a smoothly functioning group of 30 clubs charged with maintaining the ATC from Georgia to Maine. His efforts will…