Glenn T. Seaborg with HikaNationClick images for larger versions. |
 Article provided by Dave Backus. |  (1) Image above (larger) (2) AHS-Postum version of image |
| From Glenn Seaborg's journal, his entries of the evening before HikaNation began, April 11th, and the first and second days of HikaNation, April 12 & 13, 1980: Friday, April 11, 1980 Later in the evening (April 11, 1980) we drove to San Francisco where we went to the Glide Memorial Methodist Church. Here we met with the 50-60 hikers who plan to go all the way on the HikaNation. Jim Kern and Mike McReynolds gave the instructions to the hikers. Dave Buller, from Lawrence Hall of Science, gave some physical examinations through some simple measurements. Monty Montgomery and his son Mark were present. Hughes and his two sons from Ishpeming, Michigan were there; his son Brian plans to go all the way. Jim Kern introduced Helen and me. We talked to Jeannie Harmon, who spent the night in Mike McReynolds' apartment. Helen and I spent the night in the YMCA Hotel (351 Turk St.). Saturday, April 12, 1980 - San Francisco Helen and I had breakfast at Penny's Coffee Shop (on Taylor St. near Eddy). Joe and Betty Goldstein came by and rode with us to the Polo Grounds in Golden Gate Park. Here the opening ceremonies for HikaNation began at about 10:15 a.m. Jim Kern (President of the American Hiking Society) served as Master of Ceremonies. He introduced, for a few remarks, in order of appearance--State Senator Milton Marks, Governor Brown's representative Rusty Schweikert, San Francisco Supervisor John Bardis, HikaNation leader Monty Montgomery, George Cardinet (U.S. Geological Survey), John Cherry (Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service of the Department of the Interior), Mike McReynolds, me and Bill Kemsley(editor of Backpacker magazine). In my remarks I paid tribute to Jim Kern, Craig Evans, Bill Kemsley, Mike McReynolds and emphasized the purpose of HikaNation and the need for a national east-west trail, described the 21 segment (12 mile each) breakdown of the route across California, and expressed satisfaction at the extent I managed to find a route through the Sierra staying off Highway 50. I paid tribute to Joe and Betty Goldstein and Jeannie Harmon for their help. Jeannie Harmon was introduced as the pathfinder for today's hike. At 11 a.m. sharp, with about 300 hikers, to the music of a band of bagpipers, we started the hike. We followed the planned route, first west to the Pacific Ocean (where everyone touched their shoes in the water), then north and around the periphery of the San Francisco peninsula through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area past the southern terminus of the Golden Gate Bridge. We stopped for lunch at Baker's Beach. We stopped at Wendy's in the Courtyard of the Anchorage at Fisherman's Wharf to have our names inscribed on HikaNation Participation Certificates. I hiked the last part, along the Embarcadero, with Jim Kern and Craig Evans. We terminated this first day's hike at the Ferry Building, then continued on to the parking lot under the Fremont Street on-ramp to the Bay Bridge, where many of the hikers were scheduled to spend the night. Before and during the hike Helen and I took pictures with our Olympus and movie camera, (G type fast film). A helicopter, for Channel 4 TV news took pictures as we approached the Golden Gate Bridge in single file on a narrow part of the trail. Representatives of the news media, including Newsweek magazine, covered the beginning and other parts of the hike. Helen and I rode with the Goldsteins to our car (parked at the Polo Grounds). We drove back to the Embarcadero area where I checked into room 853 of the YMCA Hotel there. We had dinner in the hotel cafeteria, joined by John McGee. Helen then drove home to Lafayette to spend the night. She will give the Segres a ride with her when she returns very early tomorrow for the hike across the Bay Bridge. I spent the night in the Embarcadero YMCA Hotel, joined by Dave at about 1 a.m. Sunday, April 13, 1980 - San Francisco/Berkeley Dave and I got up at about 5 a.m., had a bite to eat in our room, walked to the Fremont Street off-ramp of the Bay Bridge. Here I joined Helen who had driven there, with the Segres and Jack Ingram in our Phoenix. We started the hike across the Bay Bridge at precisely 6 a.m. Jeannie Harmon, Norman Gee and I were in the front row. Bill Kemsley and others took numerous pictures. Helen took movies and I took pictures with our Olympus camera. It was a marvelous day, clear and warm. The views were outstanding. Hikers poured on to the bridge from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., some 5,000-10,000 in number. We in front reached the opposite end at about 7:30 a.m. We followed the designated route to the Army Base. Here the cross country hikers, about 60-70 in number, rested a little over an hour, then joined by about 30 others, continued via Emeryville, Oakland and Berkeley streets to Aquatic Park in Berkeley, where most arrived at a little after 10:30 a.m. We had our back pack lunches here, then rested until about 12 noon. I talked to the assembled group, describing our route to Tilden Park, then introduced Berkeley mayor Eugene "Gus" Newport, who gave a few words of greeting. The group then continued along Dwight Way, through the University of California campus, then along the V.C. Trail to Grizzly Peak Blvd., and the Grizzly Peak Trail and on to Lake Anza in Tilden Park. Helen met us on the Grizzly Peak Trail, helped guide front hikers and lagging hikers to Lake Anza. Joe and Betty Goldstein also helped guide lagging hikers from Aquatic Park to Lake Anza. The main contingent of hikers arrived at Lake Anza at about 5:30 p.m. At Lake Anza we were met by EBRPD President Mary Lee Jefferds, Director Harlan Kessel, General Manager Dick and Mrs. Trudeau, and Land Chief Hulet and . Mrs. Hornbeck and Nancy McKay (Public Relations). Talking to the assembled hikers I described the EBRPD, introduced Mary Lee Jefferds, Harlan Kessel, Dick Trudeau and Hulet Hornbeck. Mary Lee Jefferds then made some welcoming remarks and presented me with an EBRPD tee-shirt. Jim Kern then made some announcements. Helen and I drove home, arriving about 7 p.m. The text above is clipped from a longer journal excerpt located here: An interesting coincidence |
Glenn Seaborg refers to his involvement in the American Hiking Society and HikaNation
in the book "Adventures in the Atomic Age" by Glenn T. Seaborg with Eric Seaborg,
including the planning and scouting of the route in California. (Excerpt provided by Terry Ernst.)
combined version -- pdf
| Q&A With Eric Seaborg: Science Writer, Author, and Outdoorsman His father, Nobel laureate Glenn Seaborg, contributed to 10 element discoveries and shared a love of hiking. In this Q&A, Eric Seaborg shares memories of his father (Glenn Seaborg, HikaNation's California coordinator) and relates his experiences as a writer and as president of the American Discovery Trail Society, which has established a hiking trail spanning the U.S. - from Point Reyes National Seashore in California to Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware. HikaNation is also discussed in this article. Click image for entire article at newscenter.lbl.gov  Click for PDF version of the article |
Glenn Seaborg at 85 (1998)
Click images for larger versions.
Article provided by Paula Guerrein and Marce Guerrein.
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