Every chance I can, I try to catch Allen de Hart give a presentation. I like getting caught up on the Mountains to Sea Trail and his role with the Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail, of which is the founder and a chief trail designer, as well as on the other trails he's hit of late as he researches yet another guidebook. (I've lost track of how many he's produced since the first "North Carolina Hiking Trails" came out in 1979 (it's now in its fourth edition, with more than 1,300 trails), but it's a heck of a lot.
Allen brings lots of maps and pictures to his presentations.
Tuesday evening, Allen spoke to the Raleigh Ski and Outing Club, giving an update on the MST. Some highlights:
— On his inaugural hike of the Mountains to Sea Trail route nearly 10 years ago — immortalized in his "Hiking the Mountains to Sea Trail" (UNC Press, 2000) — he and Alan Householder were scouting for camping spots on a section of trail in the mountains. Finding nothing suitable, they asked an elderly woman if they could stay in her yard. "Well, certainly," she said. Allen then explained that he was writing a book about the trail; Would it be OK if he mentioned that people could camp at her place. Remember, he cautioned her, "Some of the hikers may look like hobos or like they're running away from home." The woman was unphased, "Well, that's OK. I've got a gun."
— When he set out to write the original "North Carolina Hiking Trails" 30 years ago, the publisher initially just wanted trails that connected to the Appalachian Trail. Then, seeing so many trails decided, "Oh, what the heck. Let's just do every trail in the mountains." Okey doke, Allen said. So he went back, hiked every trail in the mountains he could find with his trusty measuring wheel, and added all the mountain trails. When he turned in that version: "They told me, 'We really should include the Piedmont.' And when I handed that in, they said, "'You know, Allen, you're so close ... " at which point the RSOC crowd burst out laughing.
— Allen grew up on a 600-acre dairy farm in Virginia. After graduating, he spent nine years in the military, nine years that included a lot of nights in a pup tent. "I vowed when I got out of the military I'd never sleep in a tent again." Lots more laughter.
Answer to question that got the second most applause: 55,000 miles (Q: How many miles have you hiked over the years?)
Answer to question that got the most applause: 82, in September (Q: How old are you?)
