Tribute to Earl Planned for 2004 Trail Days

The Foundation will present a multimedia tribute to Earl on May 16, 2004 at the annual Trail Days festival in Damascus, Virginia. Takoma Tedd will perform all the songs from his new CD, "Songs of the Blue Ridge Runner," along with his original song lauding Earl, "Crazy One." The program will feature an Appalachian Trail slideshow compiled by Foundation Board member Chris "Spur" Bagby. The one-hour event is scheduled for Sunday at 1 PM in the Rock Auditorium.

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 thru hike, 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 thru hikes 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!