[pct-l] Sad News

[terry_norton@iname.com (Terry Norton)]

Earl Shaffer, "The Crazy One, and the first reported thruhiker of the
Appalachian Trail,  passed away yesterday, Sunday, May 5.  According to
Karen Berger the funeral will be for family and close friends.  His brother
may be planning a memorial service later in the spring or summer.

Earl's book, "Walking With Spring" was one of the inspirations that helped
me prepare for my first AT thruhike.  It spoke of a time when eastern hiking
was more rugged and had longer periods of solitude.

The Crazy One thruhiked the AT 3 times: 1948 (GA2ME), 1968 (ME2GA), and 1998
(GA2ME).

-Terry