News and Events


13th Conference on National Scenic & Historic Trails May 14-18, 2011!
Posted on May 21, 2010 at 5:25 pm

The Partnership for the National Trails System is pleased to announce our upcoming bienniel National Trails Conference, co-hosted this year with the Overmountain Victory Trail Association and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Abingdon, Virginia.

This year’s conference theme is centered around the importance of mutually beneficial relationships between trails and trail communities. Join us for topic panels, open discussions, and success stories from around the National Trails community. As always, an exciting slate of hands-on learning awaits in the form of field trips to the many trails converging in the area. This year also offers a unique opportunity for all our trails partners, as we have timed the conference to coincide with the nearby local hiking festival Damascus Trail Days. 

 Click the link for 13th Conference Information and Registration Details

National Trails Conference Schedule

 2011 National Trails Conference Workshop Session Schedule

 

 REGISTER for the 13th National Scenic and Historic Trails Conference 

13th NSHT Conference Youth Scholarship Application 2011 

Posted by Julia

Around The Community

Old Spanish Trail Association Annual Conference

June 14-17, Richfield, Utah Everyone is invited! Come learn about and explore the most arduous and famous pack mule route in western history. The Old Spanish National Historic Trail crosses the beautiful but dangerous terrain of the American Southwest through six states including Utah.

Partnership for the National Trails System

Sounds like an unexpected incident occurred at Trail Days in Damascus yesterday. Thankfully, it sounds like most injuries were minor. Glad to see that the hiking community came together to deal with the situation.

Get Out More

We just had a chance to speak with First Responders here in Damascus, VA and are happy to report that all but one hiker injured in yesterday's accident during the Annual Trail Days Hiker Parade have been released from the hospital. It was a scary scene here when an elderly gentleman, a former AT thru-hiker, lost control of his vehicle and plowed into dozens of hikers marching in the parade. We were about 200ft away from where the accident occurred and got to witness first hand hikers jump into action during a time of what has been described by many as "one of the scariest things they've ever seen". Dozens of heroes emerged from the crowd yesterday, a former AT Thru-Hiker lunged into the vehicle to remove the keys from the ignition while a group of about thirty hikers marching in the parade lifted the vehicle into the air to free a fellow hiker trapped underneath. Medical helicopters were used to transport the most seriously injured to nearby hospitals. Such an intense scene certainly changed the mood of the festival, but this tight knit community banded together to console those impacted and hundreds gathered to observe a period of silence before Backpacker's Annual Trail Days Giveaway. A tragic and unfortunate event here at Trail Days, however the response and ability of hikers to come together reassures our faith in and enhances our respect for the AT Community.

May 19th 4:53pm • No Comments

Congratulations to Bruce Matthews of the North Country Trail Association for being appointed by the NPS to the Centennial Advisory Committee to represent the trails community as the Park Service plans for its 100th anniversary in 2016!

Timeline Photos

Great news and recognition for the North Country National Scenic Trail--and all scenic and historic trails in the National Trails System. Today the National Park Service appointed NCTA's executive director, Bruce Matthews, to the NPS's Centennial Advisory Committee to represent the trails community as the NPS plans for its 2016 100 year anniversary!

North Country Trail Association

May 17th 8:04pm • Comment

Photographs from along El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail.

Preview Photographs

www.talbotphotosite.com

May 17th 7:42pm • No Comments

The restoration of Max Patch bald is almost complete!

Max Patch vandals named as bald is restored

ow.ly

As the U.S. Forest Service announces that the restoration of Max Patch bald is complete, the agency has also disclosed for the first time the names...

May 17th 7:40pm • No Comments