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The Organizers


(Click on images for larger versions.)

Opening Ceremonies
April 12, 1980


Jim Kern -- HikaNation Director

HikaNation was organized by Jim Kern, president of the American Hiking Society.
HikaNation was a 14-month cross-country backpacking trip starting at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California on April 12, 1980, and ending at Cape Henlopen, Delaware on May 27, 1981 after traversing over 4,286 miles and passing through 14 states and Washington, D.C.    Purposes for the hike included highlighting the need for more hiking trails across America and promoting hiking as a low-energy-consumption form of recreation which Jim Kern continues to promote with Hiking Trails for America.


The HikaNation Story from Jim Kern's "Trail Reflections"

Videos related to the origins of HikaNation:
April 2016 Interviews with Jim Kern by Paula Guerrein


The Hikers -- Jim Kern

4-6-81
La Junta, Colorado
September 28, 1980

Monty Montgomery -- On-Site HikaNation Coordinator
( Lt. Col., USAF, Retired )

While each state had a HikaNation coordinator who planned the Route and some activities through the state, Monty Montgomery (Lt. Col., USAF, Retired) was the On-Site HikaNation Coordinator. Monty drove his van and Airstream trailer parallel to the HikaNation Route and provided numerous functions, including, but not limited to: coordinating with state planners, advance scouting/altering of planned Route, meeting with locals & dignitaries & media, providing water/food/aid in desolate areas, transporting hikers to and from the hike, providing resupply trips to nearby towns, etc.


The HikaNation Route


The Hikers -- Monty Montgomery


2017 photo  and  1976 inset photo

Co-Founders of the American Hiking Society
& Organizers of HikaNation


William Kemsley,  Jim Kern,  and  Paul Pritchard.


Backpackers finally have a national organization
dedicated to looking out for their interests --
The American Hiking Society
(Backpacker Magazine -- August 1978)



Three Decades of Protecting Our Nation's Trails
By William Kemsley, Jr.



Glenn Seaborg
California Coordinator



The California Route


The Hikers -- Glenn Seaborg
Mike McReynolds
San Francisco Bay Coordinator


...with Norman Gee's essential assistance.



The Hikers -- Mike McReynolds

 
Jeannie Harmon
California Pathfinder



The Hikers -- Jeannie Harmon
William Kemsley
Founder, Backpacker magazine


Backpacker magazine promoted HikaNation in its development and covered HikaNation across the country with various articles and editorials written by William Kemsley and others on the staff.

williamkemsley.com

The Hikers -- William Kemsley

 
Jean Beam
Nevada Coordinator



The Nevada Route


The Hikers -- Jean Beam
Craig Evans
Executive Director,
American Hiking Society





The Hikers -- Craig Evans

 
Jerry Evans
Utah Coordinator



The Utah Route


The Hikers -- Jerry Evans
Al Frost
Dark Canyon Pathfinder



Rich's HikaNation Map - Utah 1980


The Hikers -- Al Frost

 
Gudy Gaskill
Colorado Coordinator



The Colorado Route


The Hikers -- Gudy Gaskill
HikaNation Hikers
The Steering Committees


"The steering committee members should expect to meet with Monty, state coordinators, pathfinders, and other members whenever necessary. They should be with the main group and should be prepared to answer questions about route, trail conditions, campsite locations, supplies, etc. They should also be prepared to preside at general meetings or make general announcements."

The Steering Committees webpage

 
Stan Adamson
Kansas Coordinator



The Kansas Route


The Hikers -- Stan Adamson
 

 
Robert Smith
Oklahoma Coordinator



The Oklahoma Route


The Hikers -- Robert Smith
 

 
James Brown
Arkansas Coordinator



The Arkansas Route


The Hikers -- James Brown
Tim Ernst
Arkansas Pathfinder - Coordinator






The Hikers -- Tim Ernst

 
Al Schneider
Missouri Coordinator



The Missouri Route


The Ozark Trail -
Why Isn't It Finished?



The Hikers -- Al Schneider
 

 
S.A. Larsen
Illinois Coordinator



The Illinois Route


The Hikers -- S.A. Larsen
 

 
Ron Keal and Douglas Billips
Kentucky Coordinators



The Kentucky Route


The Hikers -- Ron Keal
 

 
Reese Lukei, Jr.
Virginia Coordinator



The Virginia Route

Reese Lukei, Jr. was the Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland coordinator.     Reese laid out the Route from Cumberland Gap, Kentucky to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Hikers -- Reese Lukei, Jr.
Mike Dawson
ATC Representative



Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC)
Representative -- Mike Dawson

 
Virginia, A.T. and Shenandoah National Park coordination

Reese Lukei, Jr. was the Virginia HikaNation coordinator and contributed organizational correspondence concerning Kentucky, Virginia, Hollins College, Shenandoah National Park, etc., which can be accessed via this index, including the effort it took to navigate through the Shenandoah National Park.

The Shenandoah Project -- "Let Us In" shows the correspondence which enabled HikaNation to travel through the Shenandoah National Park, including the help from the people below:

Bob Proudman -- National Park Service: AT Project Office
Robert R. Jacobsen -- Shenandoah National Park Superintendent
Ed Page -- A.T. Conference HikaNation coordinator
William E. Hutchinson -- PATC Coordinator
Tom Floyd -- C&O Canal and Wahington, D.C. coordinator
 
Reese Lukei, Jr.
West Virginia Coordinator



The West Virginia Route


The Hikers -- Reese Lukei, Jr.
Ed Garvey
Harpers Ferry Coordinator






The Hikers -- Ed Garvey

 
Reese Lukei, Jr.
Maryland Coordinator



The Maryland Route


The Hikers -- Reese Lukei, Jr.
Ed Garvey
C&O Canal Pathfinder






The Hikers -- Ed Garvey

 
Washington, D.C. Coordinators
Tom Floyd and Jim Kern organized
the celebration in Washington, D.C.

Tom Floyd was the Chairman of the HikaNation Arrival Committee.
Tom Floyd for The American Hiking Society -- HikaNation Arrival

Maryland Congresswoman Beverly Byron and New York Congressman Mario Biaggi organized the
Ceremony at the Capitol.
Ben McGimsey
Washington, D.C. Pathfinder



The Washington, D.C. Route


The Hikers -- Ben McGimsey

 
Carol Robertson -- Greenbelt to Chesapeake Bay Pathfinder

Ted Sanderson -- Chesapeake Bay to Eastern Shore Pathfinder



The Maryland Route


The Hikers -- Carol Robertson

The Hikers -- Ted Sanderson
Scott Marple
Chesapeake Bay Crossing Coordinator

Scott Marple, David Marple's father, coordinated our crossing of the Cheasapeake Bay via ferries provided by the Department of Natural Resources.

The Hikers -- Scott Marple

Damp Crossing

All aboard !! -- May 19, 1981

 
Padraic and Kay Boyle
Delaware Coordinators - Pathfinders



The Delaware Route


The Hikers -- Padraic and Kay Boyle
Charles Salkin
Delaware Coordinator/Pathfinder &
Cape Henlopen Coordinator





The Hikers -- Charles Salkin





Sponsors: Mark Kapsky (Postum),
Gene Oliva & Pete Quackbush
(the Byoir Advertising Agency)

Suppliers, Sponsors and Supporters


Postum

American Hiking Society

United States Department of the Interior
Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service


The Byoir Advertising Agency
Carl Byoir & Associates, Inc.


Other Suppliers & Supporters of HikaNation

HikaNation Participants & State Planners
 
HikaNationThe Progression of HikaNationThe Hikers