[at-l] A Large Thank You.....

[baltimorejack@hotmail.com (Jack Tarlin)]

I've spent the better part of my free time this past week with the 2002 
Editions of the Thru-Hikers Companion and the A.T. Data Book.

Just wanted to take a minute and thank the good folks responsible for these 
two efforts:  Re. the Companion:  Stacy Mikkalsen and her Associate Field 
Editors have put out (On time!) the best Companion yet.  Daniel Chazin, 
who's been at this for more years than anyone knows, has given us the best 
Data Book ever, this year's edition being improved so as to key with 
Official AT maps and Guidebooks.

Those of us who spend a lot of time on the Trail have a tendency to take 
these works for granted---they come out annually, and we always assume 
they'll be there for us each spring as we plan our travels.  I'm not sure 
folks realize how much work and effort goes into researching, up-dating, 
improving, and fact-checking these works, and how difficult it is to produce 
these works each year, on time, so they're ready and available for all the 
folks who've come to  "expect" them.

As someone who has spent hours beyond counting using these books both before 
and during my hikes on the Trail, I just wanted to let all of the people 
associated with the production of these books (including the good folks at 
the ATC and ALDHA) know that this does not go unappreciated, and having 
these works available each year, and IMPROVED each year, performs a 
tremendous service to the hiking community, and I, for one, am incredibly 
impressed at the work that these folks do.

I urge anyone planning to spend any length of time on the Trail this year to 
get thair hands on both of these works, and in so doing, to help support the 
two fine organizations responsible for publishing them.  More information on 
both of these books can be found at the "Ultimate Trail Store" section of 
the ATC website, www.atconf.org

                                              Jack Tarlin
                                              Hanover, NH
                                     A.T 95-96;97;98;99;2000;2001

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