The Progression of
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Pre-hike California Nevada Utah Colorado Kansas
Oklahoma Arkansas Missouri Illinois Kentucky Virginia
West Virginia Maryland D.C. Maryland Delaware Afterwards


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.


The HikaNation Story
by Jim Kern

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HikaNation   was   organized   by
Jim Kern, William Kemsley, Jr., Paul Pritchard, Glenn Seaborg, and others, and was sponsored by the American Hiking Society, the United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service, and Postum, along with various other suppliers & supporters, including Backpacker  magazine.

The Progression of HikaNation details the journey with various organizational memos, letters, newspaper and magazine articles.

Search/Contact HikaNation

 
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HikaNation Virginia No. 6
HikaNation enters Virginia on March 7, 1981

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HikaNation Comes to Lee County,
Cross-country hikers pass through area

March 8, 1981
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HikaNation Schedule, Resupplies and Maildrop
HikaNation A.T. Information, Recommendations, A.T. Etiquette

March 1981
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Trek confirms hikers' vision of America,
Cross-country hikers pass through area
Gate City, Virginia

March 12, 1981
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Cross-Country Hike To Include Bristol,
Hiking Expedition Traverses Smyth County

March 14, 1981
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Teen scene
Backpackers taking cross-country hike

March 14, 1981
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Cross-country hikers are due in Damascus, Virginia
HikaNation A.T. Information

March 16 - 17, 1981
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Record Snowstorm Clobbers 2 States
March 19 - 24, 1981
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Transcontinental hikers near end of year-long U.S. trek,
Cross-country backpackers near end of trek

March 23, 1981
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Cross-Country Hikers Nearing Their Goal,
65 backpackers near goal

March 24, 1981
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Fire on Peters Mountain
Pearisburg, Virginia

March 30 - 31, 1981
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A year on foot
Pearisburg, Virginia

March 30 - 31, 1981
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Congressional Personnal Invitations
April 3rd and April 13th, 1981
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HikaNation Celebration (1-year)
Hollins College, Virginia

April 11, 1981
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HikaNation Virginia No. 7
Hollins College Snowstorm update

April 14, 1981
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Blackwater Creek Trail Dedication
Lynchburg, Virginia

April 18, 1981
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HikaNation participants differ in background
Wilderness enjoyable for Chicago native

(published 4/19/1981)
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NPS: Appalachian Trail Project Office Memorandum
Harpers Ferry preparations for May 8-9

April 21, 1981
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The Shenandoah Project
"Let Us In"

HikaNation plans to traverse the A.T.
through the Shenandoah National Park
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Hika-Nation Fever Appears Contagious
Humpback Rocks Picnic Area
& Rockfish Gap, Virginia

April 21 - 23, 1981
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Hika-Nation Trekkers Now At Rockfish Gap
Waynesboro, Virginia
April 21 - 23, 1981
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Hika-Nation 'Invaders'
Turning Up Everywhere
Rockfish Gap, Virginia

April 22 - 24, 1981
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'Deviants'
Gayle Fisher Sharon Chrostowski
Waynesboro, Virginia

April 22 - 24, 1981
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'Hard Core' Hikers See The Country
April 30, 1981
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HikaNation Trekkers Stop In Warren
April 30, 1981
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American Hiker: Vol. 1 No. 2
Washington Gears Up for HikaNation Arrival
April/May 1981

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Memorandum #15
May 1, 1981
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100K Hike Information
May 2, 1981
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Traveling Perambulator
Winchester, Virginia
May 6, 1981
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Appalachian Trail to Harpers Ferry
Loudoun Outdoors
by Harriet Maloney

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The Progression of
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Pre-hike California Nevada Utah Colorado Kansas
Oklahoma Arkansas Missouri Illinois Kentucky Virginia
West Virginia Maryland D.C. Maryland Delaware Afterwards



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