Earl's 1965 Hike Posted on Trail Journals
Almost nothing has ever been published about Earl's 1965 southbound hike, which made him the first person ever to have thruhiked the trail in both directions. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of that hike, the Foundation is posting entries from the journal in which Earl recorded notes of that journey. Have a look at www.trailjournals.com/earlshaffer.

Foundation Granted Tax-Exempt Status
After a two-year approval process, the Earl Shaffer Foundation was officially granted 501(c)3 tax-exempt status by the IRS. Any donation made to the Foundation is now tax-deductible for the donor. The 501(c)3 status is effective retroactively to April 17, 2002.

Foundation Publishes Music CD featuring Earl's Poetry
Part of the Earl Shaffer Foundation's mission is to place into publication the vast collection of poetry which Earl wrote over the course of his life. As a novel way to help accomplish this, Foundation member "Takoma Tedd" Lester has created "Songs of the Blue Ridge Runner," a lively album of songs with lyrics based on several of Earl's poems, and the Foundation recently published it as a CD. Proceeds from its sales will benefit hiking clubs and other causes which were important to Earl. More info...

Tributes to Earl Performed at 2004 Trail Days and ALDHA Gathering
The Foundation presented a multimedia tribute to Earl on May 16, 2004 in the Rock Auditorium at the annual Trail Days festival in Damascus, Virginia. Takoma Tedd gave a live performance of all the songs from his new CD based on Earl's poetry, "Songs of the Blue Ridge Runner," along with his original song lauding Earl, "Crazy One." A synchronized Appalachian Trail slideshow compiled by Foundation Board member Chris "Spur" Bagby added visual imagery to the musical performance. As part of the tribute, Foundation Chairman Dave Donaldson presented a brass plaque and framed images of Earl for display in The Place, the popular hiker hostel located in Damascus.

On October 8, 2004, a slightly shorter version of the same multimedia tribute was presented to a crowd of over 400 hiking enthusiasts during the annual ALDHA Gathering's Friday evening program.

Ironmaster's Hostel Accepts Photos & Plaque Honoring Earl At the 2004 Ruck at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Pennsylvania, Foundation Chairman David Donaldson presented Brad Orndorff, manager of Ironmaster's Hostel, a framed photo of Earl taken during his 1998 thruhike, along with a photo of Katahdin and the poem Earl wrote the morning he climbed Baxter Peak in 1998. Rounding out the presentation was a brass plaque which lists Earl's 3 thruhikes in '48, '65 and '98. The items are now mounted for permanent display in the hostel's dining room. This is the first of a series of presentations planned to memorialize Earl in hostels along the AT.

Quilt Commemorates Earl's Hikes Master quiltmaker Donna Seidel of Bexley, Ohio has presented the Foundation with a gorgeous quilted wall hanging which celebrates Earl's '48 and '98 northbound thruhikes. Meticulously illustrated on the quilt is a map of the entire AT as well as the old pair of boots which Earl wore out during his historic '48 hike. The Foundation has used the quilt as a unique sign to identify its exhibit at recent hiker gatherings. (Prior to sewing this quilt, Donna made a quilt in memory of the 9/11 tragedy. That quilt has been displayed in the White House, and is now at the Smithsonian.) Thanks Donna, for your beautiful gift to the Earl Shaffer Foundation!

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