HikaNation Films by John Olmsted

John Olmsted's son, Alden Olmsted, donated the 16mm films to the California Academy of Sciences which then digitized them as part of a grant the academy received (funding for digitization provided by the California Audiovisual Preservation Project). Thanks to everyone involved in sharing and preserving these films, including Heather Yager and Yolanda Bustos, both formerly with the California Academy of Sciences.

An article concerning Alden's donation can be accessed here: John Olmsted's archives find home at California Academy of Sciences; and Alden Olmsted's website can be accessed here.

As of September 2016, John Olmsted's films are being stored here:
Internet Archive Collection and The California Academy of Sciences Collection.

The California Academy of Sciences Collection original film titles are being revised so the titles below may not always match up to the thumbnail images below, but the links remain the same, so you'll be viewing the film that is intended; titles may be revised several times.

Click on the links below to access the bare-bones summaries of the films; click on the image beside the summary to view the film. Subtitlers, lip readers and narrators might be needed later since most of the films are silent. More details, summaries, and stories concerning the films are welcome. Contact HikaNation (e-mail) for submissions and they will be forwarded to The California Academy of Sciences Collection site and added with the summaries here.

Alden Olmsted edited and condensed John Olmsted's original films (located below this table), resulting in this YouTube video and commentary below. Alden included audio from the trip, vintage music, and read-along entries from the journal of Marce Guerrein.

HikaNation (1980) by John Olmsted
Premiered Sep 27, 2022

HikaNation was a cross-America hike from 1980-81 beginning April 12 in San Francisco, California and ending May 27 in Cape Henlopen, Delaware. Organized by the American Hiking Society and sponsored by Postum breakfast drink, HikaNation sought to raise awareness across America of both the need for more established East-West hiking trails and for hiking in general to be regarded as a worthy activity for health and well-being.

My father John D. Olmsted shot portions of the hike on beautiful 16mm Kodak color film and it is archived with the California Academy of Sciences and Internet Archive.

A memorial of John Olmsted and the iconic Sierra Club hiking cup are now on display at the Appalachian Trail Museum in Pennsylvania.

Click on the image below to access the video.
For maximum enjoyment turn subtitles ON.

© 2022 John Olmsted collection, California Academy of Sciences

The source material for most of the video above, is below.

HikaNation Films by John Olmsted
(film-index.pdf) (film-index.jpg) (film-index.xlsx)

Film information

Across the United States with HikaNation by John Olmsted
A Thousand Mile Summary - Stalking The Wild HikaNation

HikaNation Samples

Hik-A-Nation PSA -- 1:51
Polo Grounds, Great Sand Dunes, Mississippi River
Hik-a-nation 1980 Cross-Country Trip by John Olmsted
(on youtube....not digitized) -- 6:22
California to Nevada

California Footage

Hik-A-Nation. Leg 1; San Francisco -- 12:54
San Francisco and Oakland, California
Ocean Beach, Cliff House, etc. -- 3:14
San Francisco, California
Hik-A-Nation, Leg 1: SF Lands End to UC Berkeley and Grizzly Peak -- 3:18
San Francisco, California and ?
Ocean Beach to Golf Course -- 3:18
San Francisco, California ?
Dwight, Briones Trail and Forest -- 3:18
Briones Regional Park, California
Briones Overlook -- 3:16
Briones Regional Park, California
Lafayette Ridge -- 3:15
Lafayette, California
Diablo -- 3:16
Mt. Diablo, California
Mt. Diablo work print -- 3:18
Mt. Diablo, California
Mt. Diablo #4 / Fog Ocean -- 3:18
Mt. Diablo, California
Aerials Mt. Diablo to Tonopah -- 9:59
Mt. Diablo, California to Tonopah, Nevada
Hik-A-Nation. Leg 1; Sierra Nevada Mountains (r01) -- 9:28
California mountains area:
Kyburz, Strawberry or Little Norway, California
and views of Lake Tahoe
Hik-A-Nation. Leg 1; Sierra Nevada Mountains (r02) -- 9:29
California mountains area:
Kyburz, Strawberry or Little Norway, California

The Main Story

Hik-A-Nation. Leg 1; San Francisco -- 12:54
San Francisco and Oakland, California

(Note: Chronologically, the other California Footage films, 2 through 13, go here but I have left them out of The Main Story heading.)
HikaNation, Part 1 (r01) -- 51:42
California, Nevada, Utah
HikaNation: Colorado, Kansas -- 32:05
Colorado, Kansas
HikaNation, Part 2 (r02) -- 24:20
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, (Illinois - missing), (Kentucky - missing),Virginia, West Virginia, (Maryland - missing), Washington, D.C., Delaware, The Atlantic Ocean

(Note: Chronologically, the remaing 5 films below "fit" into various places of the film above, HikaNation, Part 2.)
Hik-A-Nation -- 27:50
Appalachian Trail, Virginia and possibly West Virginia
HikaNation, Part 3 (r03) -- 33:48
West Virginia, Maryland
HikaNation, Part 4 (r04) -- 27:34
Lewes and Cape Henlopen, Delaware, The Atlantic Ocean

Illinois Footage

Fern Clyffe #2, Marshmallow etc. -- 3:20
Fern Clyffe State Park, Illinois
Fern Clyffe #3, Rob, Mary, & Trees -- 3:20
Fern Clyffe State Park, Illinois

Film Information and HikaNation Samples

Across the United States with HikaNation by John Olmsted
A Thousand Mile Summary - Stalking The Wild HikaNation
(5 pages)

John Olmsted's comments concerning the filming can be seen on the webpage above. Clips of the comments are included in some of the film summaries below; click for larger versions.
HikaNation summary

return to index

Hik-A-Nation PSA -- 1:51

Golden Gate Bridge National Recreation Area, California
April 12, 1980
00:10 -- Crowd scene

Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado
September 11-13, 1980
00:22 -- Janet Parsons hiking towards the Dunes
00:30 -- Cindy Bain at the Sand Dunes sign
00:45 -- Marce Guerrein talking
00:52 -- Gudy Gaskill, Marce Guerrein, Cindy Bain, Jeff Paul hiking near the Dunes

Mississippi River, Missouri
January 15, 1981
01:15 -- Boarding the ferry to cross the Mississippi from Missouri into Illinois

Unknown forest hiking location and date
01:28 -- Mary Oswald, Rex Halfpenny, Susan "Butch" Henley, Bruce Ohlson

return to index

Hik-a-nation 1980 Cross-Country Trip by John Olmsted -- 6:22
(on YouTube....not digitized)

California sandwiched in between 2 Nevada scenes

00:07 -- Indian Paintbrush and a Nevada dry lake and mountains

00:22 -- aerial of California coast

San Francisco, California
April 12, 1980
00:24 -- Golden Gate Polo Grounds Opening Ceremonies and crowd, then hiking to the Pacific Ocean
01:53 -- Golden Gate Bridge National Recreation Area and "The Circle"

Oakland, California
April 13, 1980
02:25 -- hiking the Oakland Bay Bridge

April 16, 1980
03:07 -- the Pyles camp, then Mt. Diablo hiking, then aerials of California mountains and a bridge near farmland

April 24, 1980
04:04 -- American River Parkway hiking

Kyburz, Strawberry or Little Norway, California
April 30, May 2 or May 3, 1980
04:38 -- road hiking, a meeting, snow hiking

May 1980
05:24 -- Nevada desert cactus flower, Monty Montgomery greeting hikers with water van, Gayle Rainbow comments

return to index

California Footage

Hik-A-Nation. Leg 1; San Francisco -- 12:54

Golden Gate State Park Polo Grounds, California
April 12, 1980
00:11 -- Opening Ceremonies with Jim Kern and Monty Montgomery and others. Van and airstream trailer.
00:52 -- interviewing Gomer Pyles and Gayle Rainbow with Jiamie Pyles (the baby)

April 12-13, 1980

Oakland Bay Bridge, California
April 13, 1980
01:20 -- crowd hiking up the Fremont Street ramp onto the Oakland Bay Bridge

Golden Gate State Park Polo Grounds, California
April 12, 1980
01:48 -- Toni Martinazzi loading up the van and then back to the Polo Grounds registration area
02:21 -- Rob Lee interviewing Phil Atkins with airstream trailer and crowd in background
02:48 -- Jim Kern, Glenn Seaborg & others on podium at opening ceremony; crowd scenes
04:13 to 04:45 -- Hikers leaving the Polo Grounds and heading to the Pacific Ocean, led by bagpipers

unknown locations
04:47 -- Rob Lee & others

Golden Gate Bridge National Recreation Area, California
April 12, 1980
05:57 -- Hikers crowd scene including "The Circle" and leaving the park and San Francisco hiking

Fremont Street ramp, Oakland, California
April 13, 1980
07:00 -- Hikers gathered underneath the bridge (Jeannie Harmon), then hiking up the Fremont Street ramp onto the Oakland Bay Bridge, and then crowd and traffic scenes on the Oakland Bay Bridge
11:22 -- end of the Oakland Bay Bridge walk scenes

return to index

Ocean Beach, Cliff House, etc. -- 3:14

Pacific Ocean
April 12, 1980

Hiking to the Pacific Ocean with windmill and Cliff House views.

return to index

Hik-A-Nation, Leg 1:
SF Lands End to UC Berkeley and Grizzly Peak -- 3:18

probably April 13 or 14, 1980

00:10 -- Views of the Golden Gate Bridge while hiking along trail and road.
01:30 -- Hiking into a University of California, Ecological Study Area.

(Note: I am not sure HikaNation followed this "route"; this may have been more of a scenic excusion rather than part of the HikaNation route.)

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Ocean Beach to Golf Course -- 3:18

unknown location and date
(probably April 13 or 14, 1980)

00:10 -- Hikers with views of San Francisco and then views of hills, forest and mountain.
01:20 -- Highway and highway bridge scenes, from a vehicle.
01:30 -- Hikers hiking to and then resting on picnic table, then hiking along a river.

(Note: I am not sure HikaNation followed this "route"; this may have been more of a scenic excusion rather than part of the HikaNation route.)

return to index

Dwight, Briones Trail and Forest -- 3:18

Briones Regional Park, California
April 14, 1980

Hikers on a forested trail, near a river, & on a break with hills in back. John Mills, Jeannie Harmon, Dwight Riggs & 2 others.

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Briones Overlook -- 3:16

Briones Regional Park, California
April 14, 1980

Eagle flying with views over Briones Regional Park and with hikers at 02:37.

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Lafayette Ridge -- 3:15

Lafayette, California
April 15, 1980

Jeannie Harmon and another hiking Lafayette Ridge along an old jeep trail.

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Diablo -- 3:16

Mt. Diablo, California
April 16, 1980

Views of Mt. Diablo with hikers ascending.

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Mt. Diablo work print -- 3:18

Mt. Diablo, California
April 16, 1980

A continuation of "Diablo". Views of Mt. Diablo with hikers: Marce Guerrein, John Mills, Dwight Riggs, Glenn Seaborg, Jeannie Harmon, several others.

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Mt. Diablo #4 / Fog Ocean -- 3:18

Mt. Diablo, California
April 16, 1980

00:10 -- From the summit of Mt. Diablo, fog rolling in.
01:55 -- Sunset
02:43 -- 5 hikers in the distance on green hillside.

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Aerials Mt. Diablo to Tonopah -- 9:59

Arrival dates for the hikers:

Mt. Diablo, California -- April 16, 1980
Tonopah, Nevada -- May 23, 1980

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Hik-A-Nation. Leg 1; Sierra Nevada Mountains (r01) -- 9:28
(18:57--total, r01 and r02)

California Mountains area:
Kyburz, Strawberry or Little Norway, California
April 30, May 2 or May 3, 1980
(with an old wagon and propane tank)

00:11 -- snowy mountain, fades into group camp site with Jiamie closeups
04:46 -- Hikers lined up, ready to leave, hiking into snowy forest

06:45 -- Hikers hiking and taking photos with Lake Tahoe in the distance

07:50 -- "Canadian Pete" McIntyre gazing at snowy mountain forest, snowy forest scenes, Cindy Bain & Phil Atkins taking a break

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Hik-A-Nation. Leg 1; Sierra Nevada Mountains (r02) -- 9:29
(18:57--total, r01 and r02)

California Mountains area:
Kyburz, Strawberry or Little Norway, California
April 30, May 2 or May 3, 1980

00:12 -- Pete Hanson & others crossing a stream
01:09 -- Rob Lee at base of small waterfalls
01:45 -- logging truck on highway passing by Rob Lee, then hiking into forest with other hikers; views of snowcapped California Mountains
03:55 -- Rob Lee rolling down forest road

04:10 -- Hikers gather with Glenn Seaborg, John Olmsted, Jeannie Harmon, Norman Gee, Jack Ingram, Marce Guerrein

Marce Guerrein journal entry

05:34 -- Shoeing a horse while Phil Atkins, Linda Hull, "Kelty Mike" Collins looking on

07:20 -- Gomer Pyles and Gayle Rainbow pushing carriage and wheelbarrow with Pete Hanson following
08:00 -- Rob Lee and John Olmsted on bridge, cross a raging river; highway walking scene

return to index

The Main Story

Hik-A-Nation. Leg 1; San Francisco -- 12:54

HikaNation, Part 1 (r01) -- 51:42
Hik-A-Nation, California. In 1980, thirty seven hikers joined naturalist John Olmsted on a 411 day, 4,279 mile march across the country in an attempt to draw attention to the state of American trails. The march was organized by the American Hiking Society in a response to deteriorating trails and dwindling trail mileage on public land across the nation. The hike began in San Francisco, California and continued across the United States to Washington, D.C. and to Cape Henlopen, Delaware. (This summation was added by the California Academy of Sciences archive site.)

California, Nevada, Utah

00:13 -- Indian Paintbrush in Nevada somewhere, with a dry lake bed in the distance
01:00 -- aerials of ??

Golden Gate Polo Grounds, San Francisco, California
April 12, 1981
01:07 -- crowd scenes, opening ceremonies, bagpipers leading the way to the ocean
03:42 -- hiking along the coast to the Golden Gate Bridge, (including The Circle at the Golden Gate Bridge National Recreation Area), and San Francisco hiking

April 12-13, 1980

Oakland Bay Bridge
April 13, 1980
05:10 -- hiking across the Oakland Bay Bridge

06:30 -- hills and sunset and fog (John Mills, Jerry Benson) and the Pyles camp

Mt. Diablo, California
April 16, 1980
07:10 -- Mt. Diablo trail hiking

Unknown locations and dates
08:07 -- aerials of mountains & bridge

American River Trail Parkway, California
April 24, 1980
08:27 -- American River Trail Parkway with hiking along the river, over bridges, (paved bike/hiker path), and swimming.

Unknown locations and dates
10:15 -- narrow forest path hiking and setting up camp with Rob Lee
12:40 -- river then and forest hiking scenes, kissing giant tree (John Olmsted, Marce Guerrein)
13:30 -- Snow covered mountain ridge in distance from hiking trail

Kyburz, Strawberry or Little Norway, California
April 30, May 2 or May 3, 1980
14:08 -- old wagon, then John Olmsted, Jeannie Harmon, Glenn Seaborg, Marce Guerrein
14:31 -- hiking through snowy forest

Unknown locations and dates
14:50 -- raging river, road hiking with Rob Lee, Pete Hanson, and the Pyles (wheelbarrow and carriage)

Kyburz, Strawberry or Little Norway, California
April 30, May 2 or May 3, 1980
15:25 -- camp scene

Lake Tahoe view
May 4, 1980
16:00 -- aerials of snowy mountains and Lake Tahoe, hikers stopping to view Lake Tahoe, road walking scenes
17:30 -- snowy lake and mountain

California-Nevada border
May 6, 1980
18:25 -- exiting California; Nevada flowers; border ceremony with Glenn Seaborg handing the whittled hiking staff to Jean Beam with Jeannie Harmon, Monty Montgomery, Barry Rhodes; and a raging river

Unknown locations and dates in Nevada
19:15 -- aerials of Nevada terrain, lake, mountains, dry lake bed
19:53 -- Sharon Chrostowski, Marika Matyus, Shellie Newell on a Nevada jeep road, hiking

(audio begins here)

California again
20:09 -- Oakland Bay Bridge crossing again, California snowy hiking again

Nevada -- May 1980
20:45 -- Nevada mountains, desert, wild horses, lizard, rattler snake, flowers
21:47 -- Monty and the van bringing water out to the Nevada desert and greeting hikers and then comments from: Monty Montgomery, Don Lindberg, Gayle Rainbow John Stout, Rex Halfpenny, Jerry Benson, William Ewart

Warm Springs, Nevada
May 30, 1980
24:37 -- Warm Springs Bar & Cafe locals comments ("I thought they were nuts")
25:33 -- Affording the trip comments: Pete Hanson, Don Lindberg, Sharon Chrostowski

Panaca, Nevada
June 11, 1980
26:00 -- Panaca Mercantile locals comments
26:15 -- Hiker comments: the Lorraine & Roxy Radomski (still dancing), John Stout (122 wringing wet), Jeannie Harmon, Janet Parsons (unpacking box, swimming), Monique Bertrand (on a raft), Gomer Pyles (with wheelbarrow), Jean Beam (30:33)

Marce Guerrein journal entry

(audio stops here)

Ruby's Inn near Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
July 2, 1980
30:50 -- breaking camp with different ways of hoisting packs:
"Walking Bob" Rowe, Sammy & Chad Harris, John Stout. And green camp.

Unknown locations and dates
32:20 -- desert hiking, bandaged toe in open tennis shoe
32:40 -- unloading "the boxes" from the airstream and green truck bed
33:35 -- aerials including Bryce Canyon, Utah and then day hiking perimeter of Bryce Canyon, Utah
35:08 -- Mary Oswald & Rex Halfpenny dirt road hiking, gopher or ??, and aerials of Utah: (maybe Great Barrier Reef, Henry Mountains), Lake Powell

near Hog Springs and Hite Marina, Lake Powell, Utah
July 19-21, 1980
38:00 -- The Pyles near Hite Marina, hiker by Lake Powell
Building of the Lake Powell raft with Scott, Ryan Bozis, John Mills, Sharon Chrostowski, "Butch" Henley, Janet Parsons; then swimming and visiting the Hite Marina store
41:51 -- green truck transport to ??; resting underneath bridge; then hiking along road again

Squaw-Papoose Rock camp and Dark Canyon, Utah
July 23, 1980
42:35 -- Utah desert camp scenes; just before Dark Canyon; water out of a 55 gallon drum; arrowheads
44:33 -- group meeting with Al Frost at Squaw Papoose Rock, just before Dark Canyon; Utah stormm clouds; descending into Dark Canyon
47:22 -- Kurt Burke, Bruce Dolinac, Howard Gilby approach rim of Dark Canyon, then descending; storm clouds & lighning over the canyon; then more views of the canyon
49:37 -- pools at break time in the canyon with Jerry Evans, Al Frost, Marce Guerrein, John Stout, Tish Butcher, "Canadian Pete" McIntyre

return to index

HikaNation: Colorado, Kansas -- 32:05
Note: Sound from 00:27:57 - 00:31:09 only,
the rest of the film is silent.

Silverton, Colorado
approx. August 21 - 24, 1980
00:11 -- Hikers approaching Silverton on a cloudy, rainy day
00:27 -- Various activities at The Pyles camp in Silverton
02:11 -- Views of the HikaNation camp in Silverton and the surrounding mountains and meadows

Continental Divide, Colorado
approx. August 25 - September 2, 1980
03: 08 --Drawing on a map of the Continental Divide; waxing boots, donning raingear, hiking out of Silverton towards the Continental Divide
04:12 -- Hikers above treeline
04:55 -- Marce Guerrein and Al Frost at a signpost
05:20 -- Shellie Newell, Tish Butcher hiking
05:36 -- Ed Dushene, John Mills, tenting
05:53 -- Sheep Herders camp followed by more mountain scenes
07:11 -- William Ewart looking rather confused with a map
07:30 -- Phil Atkins donning hat and raingear, cold and windy, then setting up a tent with mountain and river views
08:22 -- Randy Blymire above treeline
09:42 -- William Ewart's yellow Starflight tent and another tent set up by Migraine Lake, August 29, 1980

Marce Guerrein journal entry

Knifes Edge-Whales Backbone area on the Continental Divide
10:25 -- Hikers on the trail, including Phil Atkins, and then trail cut into side of mountain, just below rocky outcrops
10:53 -- Dave Backus and small animals, then hikers pass by: Stacey Waring, Rich Warnick, David Chernow, Marce Guerrein, John Stout

13:35 -- lake view and camp scene with Rex Halfpenny and Mary Oswald
15:00 -- Scott hiking with the guitar strapped to back of backpack

Del Norte, Colorado
September 7, 1980
15:07 -- Loading into the van for a supply run with Mike Halm, Ed Duschene, others; van backing up as others try to board -- dooh!! -- views from inside the van
15:44 -- van unloading about 16 hikers
16:24 -- laundromat action
17:09 -- "Big Tony" Merten entering, then cattle herding next to the Speedy Burger
17:30 -- farm work in Monte Vista, hay bales -- Randy Blymire, Gayle Rainbow, Gomer Pyles

Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
September 11-13, 1980
17:50 -- Janet Parsons and another approaching the Dunes, Cindy Bain at the sign, Donna Lovely with dunes and mountains in background
18:30 -- dune scenes with hikers on a guided tour
21:50 -- sunset, then camp conversations, talking about who knows what; views of the HikaNation campsites
23:05 -- leaving the Dunes -- Gudy Gaskill, Marce Guerrein, Cindy Bain, Jeannie Harmon, John Mills

24:41 -- group lunch break then meadowy hiking scenes with mountains in background, possibly the Spanish Peaks near Walsenberg, Colorado -- Jeff Paul, Gudy Gaskill, Marce Guerrein, Phil Atkins hiking

Dodge City, Kansas
October 15-17, 1980
27:56 -- Boot Hill on Front Street (Old West buildings)

(audio begins here)

27:57 -- Looks like a Hiker supper, maybe beans and bread
28:16 -- The HOMECOMING PARADE !! (downtown)
29:22 -- parading along Boot Hill on Front Street
30:00 -- Long Branch Saloon with old timey dancing and singing
31:05 -- corn field somewhere and looking for a place to put a tent? followed by a sunset and the airstream trailer and tents

return to index

HikaNation, Part 2 (r02) -- 24:20

Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Virginia, Maryland, Wahington, D.C., Delaware

Unknown locations and dates
(probably Oklahoma -- November 8-23, 1980)
00:17 -- Ed Duschene making rock signs and cairns; various people road hiking and trail hiking
02:29 -- 3 unidentified people marking a map of ??; Randy Blymire & Mike Halm with cattle in a pen; the Jiamie-cart along river trail

Jean Pierre Chouteau Hiking Trail, Oklahoma
November 13, 1980
03:14 -- various hikers along the trail
05:00 -- Jiamie-cart over a mini Golden Gate Bridge and on paved path

Unknown locations and dates
06:10 -- Tim Ernst and Robert Smith at some sort of hiker feed
06:15 -- Rob Burns and Janet Parsons napping, then hiking to rock overhang, stream, forest
07:40 -- cloudy grey day with bundled up hiker and Toni Martinazzi in neck brace

08:07 -- St. Louis Arch sidetrip for some on January 9, 1981

Mississippi River, Missouri
January 15, 1981
08:33 -- boarding the ferry to cross the Mississippi River; canoeing across the Mississippi River

Marce Guerrein journal entry

Unknown locations and dates
09:53 -- dirt road hiking, Jeannie Harmon on a bridge poking frozen stream?
10:06 -- aerials of snowy countryside, hills

Appalachian Trail, Virginia
March 21, 1981
10:30 -- Shellie Newell at a lean-to during the surprise snowstorms with William Ewart following

Unknown locations and dates
11:00 -- Cindy Bain on a break on rock wall with foggy mountains in back; Ed Duschene hoisting a pack at picnic table (pack looks a little heavy)
11:45 -- HikaNation "hot coffee and "things!" sign with a gathering of hikers, more hiking

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
May 9, 1981
12:30 -- hikers en mass crossing large rust colored bridge from Harpers Ferry

C&O Canal, Maryland
May 9-12, 1981
14:42 -- Jiamie-cart along the C&O canal, old riverboat; more hiking along C&O canal and with Rob Lee negotiating rocky trail after a wooden bridge

Washington, D.C.
May 13, 1981
17:20 -- hikers around the Washington Monument, then leaving en mass hiking towards The Capitol
18:45 -- reaching The Capitol stairs, ceremonies

Cape Henlopen, Delaware
May 27, 1981
19:40 -- hiking in brush area, bagpipers and John Stout leading the way
21:30 -- ?? -- waiting to go to the Cape Henlopen grass ceremonies area, the ceremony there, then hiking with bagpipers leading the way

Atlantic Ocean
May 27, 1981
23:06 -- The Circle at the beach and swimming

Film ends with

pack with green rain cover, with
HIKE
A
NATION
in white lettering

which was also captured on the Pacific Ocean beach in the HikaNation, Part 1 film.

return to index

Hik-A-Nation -- 27:50

Appalachian Trail, near the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
After Stony Face Mountain and before Bryd's Nest #4 Lean-to
April 30, 1981
00:15 -- A white A.T. blaze on a tree in the distance and two hikers approach, Marce Guerrein and Frank Nelson, "the Rock Guy". They take a break on a fallen tree, sharing a water bottle, discussing who knows what.

Marce Guerrein journal entry

04:40 -- A map is taken out and they point to the trail near the Shenandoah National Park.
06:20 -- They prepare to leave and then filming of them hiking off.

Unknown location and date for the rest of the film

8:15 -- Panning of foggy mountains, then trees, then deer closeups.
10:15 -- Jerry Benson unpacking supplies inside a North Face Dome tent during a rain storm.

11:20 -- Kurt Burke, Howard Gilby, Jerry Benson, Stacey Waring, & unknown-in-green with Kermit the Frog, sitting on a picnic table in a green meadow, enjoying beverages, discussing who knows what.
15:00 -- A ten-speed bike-rider-in-yellow joins the group, discussions continue.

18:00 -- Misty mountains again.

19:00 -- The Pyles (Gomer Pyles & Jiamie Pyles, Gayle Rainbow) hiking along a road and then taking a break at a 7-Eleven store discussing who knows what. ("Forest Hill Associates, Inc. (886-2442) General Contractors" sign to the side...possible location source but googling produced nothing concrete).
25:00 -- The Pyles hiking along another road, houses and mailboxes. Cart looks like it needs a new wheel, very wobbly. (Wheel replacement shown in HikaNation, Part 3)

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HikaNation, Part 3 (r03) -- 33:48

West Virginia and Maryland

Focus on The Pyles -- unknown location & date
00:11 -- Middle River bridge with cars and Jiamie-cart crossing; more road hiking with wobbly wheel; taking a break in a grassy subdivision field for cart wheel replacement maintenance
10:15 -- fixing to hike again, more road hiking

Bolivar Heights, West Virginia
May 7-8, 1981
12:15 -- tents in a field
12:58 -- the airstream trailer and Rob Lee breaking camp, then others breaking camp
16:43 -- airstream boxing area, more breaking camp with Al Schneider, Randy Blymire, others
18:35 -- airstream again, with Rob Lee, Jim Kern, Mike Halm, Tim Geoghegan, Monty Montgomery, Reese Lukei around the trailer, with a sign:

DC - May 13 (with an X through a 16)
Go!! Go!!!

21:28 -- sign again
DC - May 13 (with an X through a 16)
Go!! Go!!!

with a paper plate message:
The Park Service is providing buses
to tonites meeting
at 7:45pm.
Ya'll Come !

with shower times posted(and partial sign indicating Harpers Ferry info)

22:10 -- Joe Shute hoisting a pack
22:29 -- Scott hiking down wooden fence pathway

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
May 9, 1981
23:13 -- Al Schneider, "Walking Bob" Rowe, "Butch" Henley, Bruce Ohlson, entering Harpers Ferry
24:15 -- state patches
24:35 -- Harpers Ferry breakfast line, then consumption and more state patches
27:45 -- a Rob Lee interview
28:45 -- John Mills, Howard Gilby, Kurt Burke signing banners then more patches and more breakfast line
30:18 -- group photo session
31:37 -- Harpers Ferry ceremonies

C&O Canal, Maryland
May 9, 1981
32:33 -- hiking along the C&O Canal, Janet Parsons and the Pyles and others

return to index

HikaNation, Part 4 (r04) -- 27:34

Lewes and Cape Henlopen, Delaware
AND The Atlantic Ocean
May 27, 1981

00:10 -- hikers crossing a street and entering DiLeo's restaurant; bar scene inside and tabletop PacMan with Jiamie Pyles

07:35 -- "Butch" Henley interview outside the restaurant, then inside again with Ed Duschene sewing more patches onto his hat

09:42 -- hikers en masse down Lewes downtown road

11:00 -- hikers en masse down highway leading to Cape Henlopen

14:08 -- bagpipers leading the masses to ceremonies

16:49 -- John Stout and bagpipers leading the hike along a road before the beach

18:15 -- hiking down the ramp to the beach and forming "The Circle"

19:26 -- The Atlantic Ocean

return to index

Illinois Footage

Fern Clyffe #2, Marshmallow etc. -- 3:20

Fern Clyffe State Park, Illinois
January 21, 1981
Marce Guerrein, Rob Burns, Bruce Dolinac, Mary, burning marshmallows over a campfire. Tim Mingus with the group. Tim Geoghegan hoisting a backpack. Mike Halm brushing his teeth as Tim Geoghegan looks on, wishing he had toothpaste too.

return to index

Fern Clyffe #3, Rob Burns, Mary, & Trees -- 3:20

Fern Clyffe State Park, Illinois
January 21, 1981
Rob Burns, Bruce Dolinac and Mary discussing trees.
Rob Burns climbing a rock face and exploring a cave.

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(Click on images for larger versions.)
John Olmsted behind the camera on the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado
August 30-31, 1980 -- photos by Rich Warnick

Yolanda Bustos to Paula Guerrein
(both of whom were instrumental in arranging our access to these films):

And if you wouldn't mind, we would absolutely LOVE if you and/or the other hikers wanted to contribute additional metadata about people, places, and context in an effort to help build the story that is published alongside the films. As I mentioned, the actual textual metadata associated with the films is very limited and the real history you could add would be invaluable. Contact HikaNation (e-mail) for submissions.

All my best,

Yolanda Bustos MAS | MLIS
Academy Archivist
California Academy of Sciences

HikaNation Memorial Tribute and Slideshows

Scott's HikaNation Memorial Video Tribute
Kurt's HikaNation Slideshow	Marce's HikaNation Slideshow
Kelty Mike's HikaNation Slideshow	Reese's HikaNation Slideshow
Susan "Butch" Henley's Slideshow (music only; no narration)	"Butch" Henley's Trek Across America (with narration by "Butch")

HikaNation