Earl Shaffer at the Smithsonian
July 10, 2009 at 10:51 am 3 comments
Today, an interesting new exhibit opens at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. It’s entitled Earl Shaffer and the Appalachian Trail. In 1948, Earl Shaffer was the Appalachian Trail’s very first thru-hiker. At the time, most experts believed hiking the whole trail could not be done. It took Earl Shaffer 124 days to do the impossible.
Featured items include Shaffer’s trail diary from his pioneering 1948 hike, photographs he took along the trail, the maps he used and the boots he wore.
Earl Shaffer’s Trail Diary
(Credit: Earl Shaffer Papers, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution)
The exhibit will remain in the museum until October 11th. For more information, read the full press release from the Smithsonian or visit the exhibit website.
Entry filed under: Appalachian Trail, Earl Shaffer, Hiking.
1.
scienceguy288 | July 10, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Another reason to visit a great museum.
2.
Robert Lee | July 12, 2009 at 8:59 am
Interesting stuff, thanks for the links!
3.
geekhiker | July 12, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Now I’m curious, what were the “reasons” the experts gave that the whole trail could not be done?