June 7 is going to be a big day on the trails, thanks to the Maryland-based American Hiking Society (AHS), a nonprofit that organizes a nationwide network of events for National Trails Day. Every year on the first Saturday in June, hiking clubs and outfitters rally troops of trail enthusiasts to give a little love to their favorite footpaths. The hiker holiday started in 1993, an extension of President Ronald Reagan’s Commission on Americans Outdoors, which called for all Americans be able to go out their doors and be on a trail within 15 minutes. AHS is still pushing to make it happen by calling for a little sweat equity to maintain and build trails.
Events in the South include a Rivanna Trail workday led by Blue Ridge Mountain Sports and a building outing for the continuously expanding Cumberland Trail in Tennessee.Near Atlanta, the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club will host National Trails Day at Stone Mountain Park, a full-day event featuring a variety of hikes, exhibits, workshops, demonstrations and children’s activities. Find events in your area at <a href=”http://www.americanhiking.org”>americanhiking.org</a>
