Our Stories
Sam Gardner’s All in Trek postponed
Categories: Uncategorized
NCTA has learned that Samuel Gardner, the All-In Trekker planning to hike the four long distance National Scenic Trails this year, has left the North Country Trail earlier this week due to health concerns. Samuel started his quest on January 1st at the NCNST’s eastern terminus at Lake Champlain in New York State. He apparently suspended his attempt on March 6th; his blog from March 8th indicated he made it home to Houghton in Michigan’s U.P. on Monday the 7th. To read Samuel’s blog go here: http://www.theinitiativesite.com/journal/ and for more on his trek go here http://www.theinitiativesite.com/.
Samuel’s adventures have ratcheted up interest in the NCNST’s eventual route through New York’s Adirondacks from its eastern terminus; and in fact a feasibility study is about to be released which proposes to link the NCNST with the Appalachian Trail by traversing another 40 miles through Vermont. Samuel’s experiences drew attention to the importance of good preparation and planning, particularly when tackling the North Country Trail in winter. Probably best of all, as Samuel approached the Finger Lakes Trail, which graciously shares its tread with the North Country Trail for almost 425 miles through central New York and its southern tier, he first encountered the trail angels that, should he continue his trek, will look after him at least throughout his North Country Trail experience. Mostly from the Finger Lakes Trail Conference, one of NCTA’s partners, these trail angels have followed Samuel and helped him out from Cazenovia to Hammondsport, where he suspended his efforts earlier this week.
Recent experiences with long distance and thru-hikers on the NCNST pretty clearly demonstrate that our NCTA members and the members of our partner and affiliate organizations truly embrace the trail angel concept and act accordingly. In our view it makes hiking the NCNST pretty special, and is one more thing that connects us as America’s red plaid nation.