02 February 2025

The Real Appalachian Trail BC* Paperback – February 1, 2025

 Fifty years after completing the Appalachian Trail, the book that tells the story is available on Amazon and the Appalachian Trail Museum.


All proceeds go to the AT Museum.


It is now available directly from the AT Museum and they in turn will get a higher donation.


01 February 2025

35th National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium (NERR)

 the 35th National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium (NERR), March 30 to April 1, 2025. We look forward to seeing you in Virginia Beach, VA! 



Here are a few important reminders:

Early Bird Registration: Don’t miss the early bird rate—register by February 15, 2025 (2025 NERR Registration)

Hotel Reservations: Book your stay at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront to enjoy the special conference rate of $139/night and discounted parking (NERR Symposium Hotel).

You’ll find more details about registration, hotel accommodations, and the conference schedule on our website: http://nerrsymposium.org

Become a Special Issue Reviewer: We’re seeking reviewers for the JPRA special issue featuring Research Notes from the 2025 NERR Symposium. If you’re interested in reviewing during late spring/summer 2025, we’d love to have your expertise—please contact special issue co-editors: Kofan Lee (klee18@olemiss.edu), Stella Liu (hliu35@gmu.edu), and Ellen Drogin Rodgers (erodger1@gmu.edu).  

 

30 January 2025

My AT book going to press

 So, after two years of writing, my Appalachian Trail book will soon be out.  Available first on Amazon, the beneficiary of ALL proceeds will be the Appalachian Trail Museum.  I will send out the details as soon as it is public.


Hope you enjoy it.

28 January 2025

More AT books to check out

 Just a small sample of Appalachian Trail books in my collection. Do check them out.




19 January 2025

Kevin Lynch

Kevin Lynch, Professor at M.I.T., published The Image of the City. His goal was to identify what features of the built environment were important to the people of the city.  Lynch identified five key elements that make up an individual's perception of their city: paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks.

Paths

Paths consist of the "channels along which the observer customarily, occasionally, or potentially moves". These can include streets, paths, transit routes, or any other defined path of movement. It is important to note that the paths an individual identifies may not correspond to a traditional street network. These are often the most predominant items in an individual's mental map as this is main mechanism for how they experience their city.

Edges

Edges provide the boundaries that separate one region from another, the seams that join two regions together, or the barriers that close one region from another. They are linear elements, but are not the paths along with the individual experiences the built environment. They can be physical edges such as shorelines, walls, railroad cuts, or edges of development, or they can be less well-defined edges that the individual perceives as a barrier.

Districts

Districts are "medium-to-large sections of the city". They are typically two-dimensional features, often held together by some commonality. The individual often enters into or passes through these districts. According to Lynch, most people use the concept of districts to define the broader structure of their city.

Nodes

Nodes are points within the city, strategically located, into which the individual enters (and which is often the main focal point to which she or he is traveling to or from). There are often junctions – a crossing or converging of paths. They often have a physical element such as a popular hangout for the individual or a plaza area. In many cases, the nodes are the centers of the district that they are in.

Landmarks

Landmarks are also a point-reference (similar to nodes). However, unlike nodes, which the individual enters during his or her travels, landmarks remain external features to the individual. They are often physical structures such as a building, sign, or geographic features (e.g. mountain). The range of landmarks is extensive, but the commonality is that they are used by the individual to better understand and navigate the built environment.


08 January 2025

This Day in Grateful Dead history

 Try this classic show.

Grateful Dead Live at Madison Square Garden on 1979-01-08 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Set 1:

d1t01 - Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo ->

d1t02 - Franklin's Tower

d1t03 - New Minglewood Blues

d1t04 - Candyman

d1t05 - Me And My Uncle ->

d1t06 - Big River

d1t07 - Friend Of The Devil

d1t08 - It's All Over Now

d1t09 - Brown Eyed Women

d2t01 - Lazy Lightnin' ->

d2t02 - Supplication


Set 2:

d2t03 - Scarlet Begonias ->

d2t04 - Fire On The Mountain

d2t05 - Samson And Delilah

d3t01 - Terrapin Station ->

d3t02 - Playing In The Band ->

d3t03 - Drums ->

d3t04 - The Other One ->

d3t05 - Wharf Rat ->

d3t06 - Good Lovin'


Encore:

d3t07 - U.S. Blues

06 January 2025

AT Books of the Decades since 1960

Appalachian Trail books of each decade starting first in the 1960s


 From 1960 we have


For the 70s, for me and my "bible" how about


Moving to the 1980s try this one


1990s offers this title


2000, and the books begin piling up but Gene Epsey's book, while showcasing his 1950s hike, was published in this Decade.


2010 a new breed of hiker would have read this one


2020 is still going strong so who knows.