WebJun 1, 2004 · Walking with Spring. Paperback – June 1, 2004. In 1948, the Appalachian Trail had been a continuous, 2,000-mile footpath for 11 years, but no one had walked its length alone in a continuous journey – until Earl Shaffer, a quiet Pennsylvanian, became a hiking legend and the first of what is now more than 5,500 A.T. "thru-hikers," walking ... WebSep 13, 2024 · But make no mistake: Earl Shaffer (1918-2002) was a legend in his time—and still is. He embarked on his hike during a period when even the trail’s architects believed that a 2,000-mile trek was beyond human capability. The AT, first conceptualized in 1921, was completed in 1937, but fell into neglect during Wold War II.

Earl Shaffer Among First Six Inducted into the A.T. Hall of Fame

WebEarl Shaffer during his World War II Army service in the Pacific Islands. Photographer unknown. A prolific poet and a loner who often sought solitude in the mountains, Shaffer had dreamed of hiking the … WebBorn on 25 Jun 1858. Died on 31 Dec 1923. Buried in Kendallville, Indiana, USA. raymond newland

An American Story

WebJul 31, 1998 · Earl Shaffer stopped to catch his breath. He adjusted the canvas straps of his 25-pound, Army-issue backpack and looked up at the canopy of Pennsylvania pines surrounding the footpath he WebThe Earl Shaffer Foundation is dedicated to preserving Appalachian Trail history, inspiring future generations of long-distance hikers, and to conservation of the Appalachian Trail. … WebApr 10, 2024 · To celebrate, we asked four of our favorite writers to write a letter to the backpackers of the future—specifically, to 2073, when Backpacker will turn 100 years old. Here, thru-hiker and columnist Liz “Snorkel” Thomas speculates about what the long walks of the future might look like. To the thru-hiking Class of 2073, I am so proud that ... raymond new hampshire zip