WALKRIGHT, Second Edition – CHAPTER FOUR Part 2: Backpacking

CHAPTER FOUR:  Backpacking

            To ride on a horse is to fly without wings.

            – Anonymous

  

            Horses

 

            People who are unfamiliar with horses tend to think that they are all as clever as those horses they see in the movies.  These people don’t understand that the film industry spends freely to find exceptionally gentle and intelligent horses.  Then, they train these horses to ignore everything but their rider’s commands.  From these films, many people get the wrong idea about common riding or pack horses’ dispositions.  These horses are large, dumb, animals, whose eyesight is two hundred times poorer than human vision.  Tests have shown that even something as harmless as a lawn chair can spook a horse.  Thus, an out-of-control horse is dangerous to walkers as well as their riders.  According to the July 1988 issue of “Country Journal,” “The muscles in a horse’s neck alone are stronger than all the muscles in a powerful man’s body.” (2)

            To avoid spooking the horses you may meet on some trails, do not make loud noises, or any sudden movements.  These animals can be easily frightened and might bolt dangerously in reaction to any unexpected movement, object, or noise.  Even a falling leaf has been known to spook a horse.  If you want to greet the horseback riders that you may meet, do not wave your hand or hat, a nod of the head will do.  What is most important to remember is, “never approach a horse from behind.”  The horse may think you are a threat and kick you.

            Most people, most of the time should keep off designated horseback riding trails.  Horses’ iron shoes tear up these trails, creating muddy pits that do no good for your clothing or boots.  Horses also leave behind large and smelly piles of manure.  In any event, be aware that many of the riding and pack horses that you may meet on trails are nervous, easy to spook hammer heads that we should treat with respect.

 

 

            Mature Wild Animals

 

            A good reason to stay away from mature wild animals is that they are much stronger than adult humans.  A zoologist told this writer of a well developed human body builder who tested his strength against a machine.  When he pulled a lever with all his might, the dial showed 150 pounds.  Later an average sized chimpanzee with far less apparent effort pulled the same level and scored 300 pounds.  This is because humans have underdeveloped muscles when compared to other animals.  In short, animal muscles are much stronger, pound for pound, than human muscles.

            Hollywood “nature” films show well-trained animals that always have one or more trainers just off camera.  These sugarcoated and surrealistic images sometimes encourage uninformed adults and innocent children to attempt to make close contact with their wild counterparts.  This is a big mistake!  Wild animals, no matter how cute, are dangerous and cannot be trusted.

            In some areas, because of close human contact, animals have lost their natural fear of people.  As illustrated in several cases with pet deer, they may attack people instead of running away.  Do not let children near large and unpredictable animals, such as deer, bears, or bison; they could be injured or even killed.  Even smaller animals can be dangerous, as humans have been killed by the blows from the wings of swans.

            Be aware that in some regions rabies may be a real danger.  Stay away from nocturnal animals, such as skunks, that are out and about during daylight hours, along with animals that do not show fear of humans and/or animals that appear to be sick.  They could be rabid.  A hiking staff may be your best protection against these small rabid animals.

            Be especially cautious in the north woods during the fall mating season.  At this time of the year, large, nearsighted male animals, such as moose or elk, are more prone to charge anything they perceive as rivals, including humans.

 

 

            Together, we can save lives at railroad crossings and on train tracks.

            - Operation Lifesaver ®

 

 

            Railroad tracks

 

            Never use an active railroad track as a recreational trail.  Railroad property is a dangerous place, even for experienced railroad employees.  Nevertheless, I have seen children and adults walking on rails.  Do not walk on rails!  You can fall off, hit the rail or other hard objects, and then break bones.

            Unless you are a railroad employee, the only time you should be on any active railroad tracks is when you are inside a passenger train.  If you want to travel in a railroad corridor, buy a ticket!  Remember, “Anytime is train time,” even on seldom used, rust covered tracks.  The tonnage of a one hundred car train, moving at sixty miles an hour, has a considerable amount of kinetic energy.  This is why trains, even while in emergency braking, can take more than one mile to come to a complete stop.  Even slow running short trains with only one or two freight cars cannot stop on a dime and they can only follow the tracks.

            Because active railroad grades are private property, railroad police can arrest you for trespassing.  Never use railroad property as footpaths or playgrounds.  Do not walk, play, dive, or fish from active railroad bridges.  Most railroad bridges don’t have handrails, and a walker could suffer a fatal fall.  Also, stay out of all active railroad tunnels, as engineers construct these for the passage of trains and not as shortcuts for outdoor recreationists.

            Do not risk your life photographing moving trains.  Railway enthusiasts sometimes take ludicrous risks to get a photo of a moving train from ahead on angle.  For example, railroad buffs have also been known to sprint across the tracks ahead of a moving train with less than ten yards of space between themselves and the train.  With a noticeable upsurge of the number and speed of both freight and passenger trains, we all must be more aware of both the dangers and the criminal liability of trespassing on railroad property.

            Play it smart and keep off all railroad tracks even if there are no trains within sight or hearing.  In short, what the Association of American Railroads said in 1988 holds true for any year: “It is irresponsible to suggest that railroad property is a safe place for anything, except the operation of trains.”

 

            For more information contact:

            Operation Lifesaver, Inc.
            425 Third Street SW, Suite 915
            Washington, D.C. 20024

            703-739-0308
            Fax: 703-519-8267
            Email: general@oli.org

 

 

            Swimming

 

            Avoid diving into or swimming in unknown streams and lakes.  The water could be contaminated, strong currents, tree trucks floating just under the surface, or there may be rocks close to the surface.  Each year many people dive into unknown waters, strike hard bottom, and suffer injuries that kill them or leave them paralyzed for life.  To be safe, swim only in waters designated as safe swimming areas.

 

 

            She walks - the lady of my delight.  A shepherdess of sheep.  Her flocks are thoughts.  She keeps them white; She guards them from the steep.

            (The Shepherdess) Alice Meynell 1847-1922

 

 

            Weather

 

            Weather is always a major factor to consider in planning for any outdoor event, be it a day hike or an extended backpacking trip.  In either case it is prudent to attempt to anticipate all possible regional seasonal weather conditions and to be prepared for the worst with the adequate weather protection in the form of clothing and tents.

            When heading outdoors for any length of time, take a weather radio, cell phone, or wireless handheld computer to receive updated weather reports.  During the spring and fall seasons in northern states and in any season in mountainous regions, the weather can change from pleasantly warm to dangerously cold in a very short time span.  On mountain trails, especially above the timberline, it is possible for summer clad hikers to be engulfed by a sudden summer blizzard.  Children and adults have even died from hypothermia while participating in summer mountain “fun run” events.

            Outside of the higher elevations of mountain ranges, the summer time weather range is usually from dry and hot to wet and cool.  Even in this narrow range of weather conditions, there is always a need for a flexible clothing system.  Again, layered clothing should form the basic system - with supplementary layers available in a day pack.  During summer months in dry, hot weather, a person in the outdoors can usually get by with lightweight underwear, a hat, long sleeved cotton shirt, cotton trousers, and footgear for protection against harmful sunlight, insect bites, and injury from rocks and poisonous vegetation.  If weather conditions turn wet, cool and/or windy, add a protective outer layer parka and wind pants made of water and windproof material such as Gore‑Tex.  When you feel temperatures drop and/or the wind picks up speed, putting on a sweater underneath the protective outer layer that along with underwear gives you three layers of protection.  The underwear shirt and sweater provide insulation, while the outer Gore‑Tex layer protects the insulation from windy and wet weather.

            Too many people learn the value of a layered clothing system the hard way.  Without enough flexible clothing, people caught in foul weather can become uncomfortably cold or warm and have to cut short their outing.  The authors have found many documented cases where people have become stranded overnight in the outdoors without the protection of adequate clothing.  During the changeable weather patterns of the spring and fall months, the under-prepared walker may die of hypothermia.

            Anyone going outdoors can hope for fair weather, but should also be prepared for the worst possible seasonal conditions for the region and elevation.  Of course, if the weather deteriorates to a dangerous level, it is always a wise move to cut short the outing, and return to shelter.  No recreation event is worth dying for.  If you live, there is always another day to try again.

WALKRIGHT, Second Edition – CHAPTER FOUR Part 1: Backpacking

CHAPTER FOUR:  Backpacking

            “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day.  I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.”

            Sermons We See by Edgar Albert Guest 1881-1959

 

 

            Campsites

 

            To help bear the costs of providing recreation, most county, state, and national forests and parks now require a permit to use their facilities and may charge user fees for use of trails and campsites.

            At developed campsites, build your fire in the fire grate or ring.  Keep all combustible objects at least three feet away from the edge of the grate.  Start your fire with small dry twigs and some kind of fire starter, such as a candle.  Once you get a fire going, keep adding larger branches and split wood.  For most cooking purposes the best fire is small in area, made up of a bed of very hot coals.

            At an undeveloped campsite without fire grates or rings, clear all organic matter from a circle that is about six feet in diameter.  Cut out and set aside a piece of the surface sod for recovering the fire pit.  Next dig down to mineral soil and remove all combustible organic matter.  In the middle of the fire pit make a temporary fire ring of small stones.  The ring should be about a foot and half in diameter.  Avoid using sedimentary rock for the fire ring as these sometimes contain enough water to cause them to explode.

            When you are through using your temporary fire ring, scatter the stones, ashes, and remaining fire wood away from the campsite and replace the surface sod, leaving little trace of your fire pit.

            While camping in some wilderness areas, you should limit your nocturnal activities to the campsite area as large animals, including bears, are usually more active at night than during the daylight hours.  Equally important, be mindful of the danger of accidentally wandering away from your campsite and becoming lost in the dark.

 

 

            “I shall wear white flannel trousers and walk upon the beach.  I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.”

            Thomas Stearns Eliot 1888-1956

 

            Equipment and supplies

 

            For most day hikes of less than ten miles on well maintained, designated rural or urban trail systems, hikers usually require very little in the way of equipment and supplies.  However, overnight or longer backpacking trips call for complete camping outfits including the food supply.

 

            Tents

 

            The main function of a tent is to keep out precipitation, wind, and insects.  Unless an internal heat source, such as a stove, has heated the tent, it does not provide warmth.  For the beginner camper, outdoor gear manufacturers make and sell a bewilderingly huge number of different makes and models of tents from which to choose.  Currently, most backcountry campers prefer an exterior frame free standing tent with a minimal number of guy lines.

            The main idea to remember is to have a tent large enough to allow room for everyone to sleep in it in a fair degree of comfort.  Manufacturers usually rate tents as to the maximum number of sleeping bags that can fit on the tent floor; two bags, three bags, four bags, etc.  However, putting the same numbers of live people inside these sleeping bags in these tents sometimes means packing the tent wall to wall with people leaving little room for gear and some cases not even enough space for the occupants to roll over.  A good general rule to follow would be to subtract one from the tents suggested occupant rating.  Then a two-person tent becomes a one person tent and so on.

            As with all outdoor gear, quality is very important in buying a tent.  Often, a tent, because it is the only available place to relax and sleep at a campsite, and can make the difference between a good and a bad camping experience.  A tent protects you from foul weather much better than any tarpaulin or large tree will.  Experienced campers recommend buying the best that you can afford for three reasons:

 

            First, a better quality tent is lighter and takes less space in your home, your vehicle, and your backpack.

            Second, it will do more for you in terms of comfort and convenience.

            Third, remember the important matter of safety and reliability.  A quality tent will not fly apart in a strong wind, leaving you without shelter.  People have died when strong winds have destroyed their tent, and left them exposed to the forces of nature.

 

            Moreover, when going on a group outing, it is generally a good idea to bring your own tent as a backup, even if you are assured that there is enough tent space for everybody.  Otherwise, you may end up being the fourth person crammed into a four-person tent.  Some people have very weird ideas about how many people can realistically bunk in a given-sized tent.  Sleeping in a tent should be comfortable and relaxing, not crowded and cramped.  Without some good night's sleep it is difficult for most people to have an enjoyable outdoor recreational experience.

            When possible, rent the model and size of the tent of your choice and try it out on a camping trip before making a purchase.  If you only plan on going on one or two camping trips a year, renting a tent might be a better idea for you than buying one.  That way when you go camping, you always have the use of a new tent and you don’t have to store it between trips.

            Now, based on this writer’s personal experience and opinion, unless you are tenting with a spouse or small child, each hiker should carry their own two person tent.  That way there is plenty of room to sleep and store your gear and without any conflicts with the comings and goings of tent mates.  Moreover, with a smaller tent, finding a place to pitch your tent is usually easier.

 

            Setting up the Tent

 

            Before heading out on a camping trip, at least two campers should practice setting up your tent until you can do it without reading the directions, and under unfavorable conditions, such darkness or stormy weather.  In setting up a tent, look for a level, well-drained site, eight to fifteen inches larger than your tent floor.  First remove surface rocks and other litter from the site.  Then, to further protect the tent floor from damage, place a plastic ground cloth about the same size of the tent floor on the ground.  Then place the tent floor over this ground cloth.  Make sure that this ground cloth does not extend beyond the tent floor.  Otherwise, precipitation collects on the exposed ground cloth and will drain under the tent floor and soak it.

            A water proof, tent fly rigged over the tent roof is essential to keep the insides, as well as the outside of your tent dry.  When covered by a water proof fly, your tent does not have to be waterproof.  Consequently, tents constructed of breathable fabric are free from the condensation of water vapor generated by their occupants.  The fly should overhang the front and back of the tent, as well as covering the sides down to the floor level.  Always set up the fly every time the tent is pitched, for it provides shade as well as protection from precipitation and wind.  If you don’t have a fly, rigging a plastic tarp as a fly with duct tape and cord is possible.  It may not look as neat as a tent fly, but it works about as well.

 

 

            Sleeping Bags

 

            There are three basic types of sleeping bags.

 

            (1)  The mummy bag.  This is a close fitting, hooded sleeping bag that retains body heat better than the other two more roomy types, making it a warmer sleeping bag for chilly nights.  However, some people find sleeping in the mummy bag to be too confining for a comfortable rest.  This is a good reason why you should rent your camping gear before you make an expensive purchase.

            (2)  The rectangle bag is the most popular sleeping bag, as its larger dimensions allow the sleeper more movement.  Also, when the air temperature is high enough or when used inside a camping shelter, the rectangle sleeping bag can be opened up and used much like a comforter.

            (3)  The rectangle tapered bottom bag is a compromise between the first two bags.  This smaller size bag is somewhat easier to pack, then the rectangle bag while allowing more room for more upper body movement than the mummy bag.

            Before purchasing a sleeping bag, rent each of the three basic types for at least for one night trial so that you can decide which type of bag best suits your sleeping needs.  Keep in mind that In some regions, different seasons and elevations may call for different shapes and weights of sleeping bags.  For example, camping above the timber line of a mountain range calls for a different sleeping bag than one that would be adequate at its base.

            Buy a sleeping bag with a nylon shell cover that makes it easy to brush off debris.  For sleeping bag fillings, many options are available, with manufactures creating new developments every year.  From the standpoint of weight alone, down is the best insulation.  However, when down becomes wet the fibers clump and may lose 90% of their insulation value, making the bag dangerous as well as worthless.  Down bags are impossible to dry under field conditions.  Until a damp, down sleeping bag can be machine dried, it will not provide anyone with a comfortable night’s sleep.

            Therefore, down bags are not wise choices for camping in damp climate areas.  Even in extremely cold, dry climates, water generated from a sleeping body can, over a period of several days, dampen a down sleeping bag.  Being stuck with a damp down sleeping bag in a cold campsite can be - and has been - fatal.  Down sleeping bags might be very good for use for chilly nights in a cabin with a clothes dryer available.  On the other hand, the better grades of synthetic fiber fills provide insulation even when damp.  They also dry out quickly in the outdoors.

 

 

            Sleeping pads

 

            Air mattresses, while useful for car and canoe camping, are generally considered too heavy and bulky for most backpacking trips.  Also, air mattresses sometimes develop hard to find leaks.  Many backpackers now prefer to use one of two types of sleeping pads; the closed cell and the open cell.  The open cell pad is bulkier and has less insulating value, but offers a softer bed.  The closed cell pad is more compact with more insulation value, but is a harder bed.  Because both types of pads are light in weight, some car and canoe campers use both open and closed cell pads - placing the open cell pad over the closed cell pad.  This arrangement makes for a very comfortable bed, but is much too bulky a combination for many backpackers.

            Another option for backpackers is Therm-a-Rest ® which is an open cell foam pad combined with a self inflating air mattress.  It is comfortable, easy to pack, and set up.  It seems to fill the bill in meeting the needs of many backpackers.

 

            Next, we will discuss some hazards the walker can encounter and how to deal with them.

WALKRIGHT, Second Edition – CHAPTER THREE Part 3: Day Hiking

 CHAPTER THREE:  Day Hiking

 

 

            Hikers’ food and drink

 

            For day hiking in most urban areas:  You can usually purchase food and drink from stores or restaurants along the way with little need to pack anything but a little money.

 

            Day hiking in parks and forests for walks of four hours or less, hikers do not usually need to pack food.  Even on all‑day outings, those hikers who eat an adequate breakfast before hiking and have dinner afterwards have little need to pack a lunch.  However, if you feel that carrying lunch on a day hike is necessary, make it a box lunch of sandwiches, granola bars, fresh or dried fruit or cookies that you can carry in a day pack.  Select food that you can eat right out of the package and requires almost no preparation or cleaning up.  Because digesting food draws water from the body’s reserve, you should not eat food without drinking water.  In places where drinking water may not be available, carry water in a canteen.  When planning your all day hike, plan to pack at least a half gallon of water per person.  Remember to drink additional water before and after the hike.

 

 

            Walking Pace

 

            A slow, steady, even pace is the most efficient for long distance walking on most hiking trails.  Use the same pace when walking upgrade, as well as when walking downgrade.  Walkers who are used to sidewalks and paved park paths may find that on walking rough, unpaved hiking trails takes more effort and time.  A person who easily walks three miles an hour on a paved path is often only able to cover one and half or two miles in the same time period on a rough surfaced hiking trail.  This is especially true on a typical rock and tree root-covered, forest trail.  Because of the danger of tripping, you have to watch where you place your feet.  Each step you take may be of a different length from the one before it.  This makes it difficult to achieve a striding gait, resulting in a slower pace.  Hilly terrain also increases walking time.  Consequently, take into account trail surface texture as well as its elevation changes and distances when planning your hikes.

 

 

            “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

            ‑ Robert Frost who lived from 1873 to 1963 was a U.S. poet, author of “The Road not Taken”.

 

 

            Trails come in two basic configurations.

 

            First, loop trails, like garden paths, may start and end at the same place.  Many day hiking trails and almost all nature trails are loop trails.

            Second, many walkers love linear trails, sometimes called point-to-point trails.  Good examples of this type of trail are the very popular paved bike paths often built upon abandoned railroad corridors or canal towpaths.  You may see more of the country while walking on these trails, but you must either retrace your steps or get transportation back to your starting point.

            From these two configurations, a wide variety of trail systems can be formed.  An example might be a main loop trail with spur ‑ linear trails leading off to picnic areas, remote campsites, or places of special interest.  Another example might be a linear trail with loop trails that are connected to it, like a string of pearls.

            One other type of walking experience is the labyrinth.  First developed during the Middle Ages, they built and enjoyed cathedral and city park labyrinths as meditation tools, and experienced symbolic journeys.  The best-known examples of these labyrinths are the ones at the Reims Cathedral and at Chartres Cathedral.

            Mazes, made of pruned hedges or colorfully painted plywood also give walkers another distinctive way to enjoy the sport of walking.  Attempting to navigate successfully a complex maze can be an amusing way to spend an afternoon.  Nevertheless, as our editor noted, locating mazes is often difficult without some research.

 

 

            Starting Out

 

            “Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.”

           ‑ Steven Wright, comedian

 

            Trail systems sometimes change over time.  New trails are opened, while old trails are closed or rerouted due to weather conditions or human activity.  Local agency offices, such as National Forest district ranger stations, attempt to keep up to date on the current conditions of the trails within their jurisdiction.  When contacting agency offices, please tell the trail managers what type of trail experience you are looking for.  They are often able to advise which of their trails may be best suited to your particular needs.

 

 

            Day Hikes

 

           “I am a slow walker, but I never walk backwards.”

           ‑ Abraham Lincoln (1809‑1865) Sixteenth President of the United States

 

 

            We can enjoy day hikes anywhere; on city sidewalks, in local parks, through shopping malls, in skywalk systems, on forest or park trails, along abandoned canal towpaths, on paved over former railroad grades, or even while bushwhacking in remote wilderness areas.

            For urban walking experiences of less than four hours, all you need is a pair of comfortable walking shoes, a street map and some money to buy drinks, food, postcards, and fare for public transportation.  When urban walking, there is really little need to carry any gear.

 

           “Every walk is a sort of crusade preached by some Peter the Hermit in us.”

           ‑ Henry David Thoreau who lived from 1817‑1862 was a naturalist and author.

 

            For longer rural day hikes on designated park or forest trails, you may want to bring a map of the trail system, something to drink, and a jacket or raincoat in case there is a turn in the weather.  However, when off trail day hiking in remote wilderness areas where getting lost and spending at least one night in the open would be a possibility, we advise hikers to carry a survival pack including a sleeping bag.

 

            Signs

 

            While hiking on any trail, pay attention to all posted signs.  Trail signs are there to inform users of the trail’s direction and important locations as well as hazards and points of interest.  Some trail signs have “You Are Here maps” that show your location on the map to give you an idea of how far you are along the trail and how far you have left to go.  This is helpful as you estimate your rate of travel speed and how long it will take you to reach your destination.

            If you are going to assist in creating signs along a temporary route of an organized walk, be careful how you word your signs.  While on a Duluth Volksmarch, a mother and her young daughter miss-read a route sign marking a detour.  They were walking on an abandoned railroad grade that has become the Willard Munger State Trail when they came upon a big red sign.  The old railroad grade they were walking on has no rails or timber ties, just crushed rock ballast.  The sign read “Go around the clay pit, and back to the inactive railroad grade.”  (A fifty-foot section of the railroad corridor was dugout as a clay pit and not filled in at that time.)  These two walkers assumed that the abandoned railroad grade they were walking on was a road, and that a nearby functioning railroad track was the “inactive railroad grade.”

            As a result, they walked down the active railroad grade and then found themselves lost at the site of an abandoned steel mill named the Duluth Works.  A telephone call to the Volksmarch headquarters brought a Volkssport club worker down to retrieve them with his pickup truck.  I hate to think what would have happened if a train had been on that track.

            Looking back at this unfortunate incident, it appears they might have avoided the problem if the trail committee used enough strips of bright colored plastic tape to mark the route.  The words “inactive railroad grade” was confusing to the two walkers.  Nevertheless, almost anyone can follow a flagged route of plastic tape.  After the event, always be careful to remove all plastic tape markers from the route as they become litter or later cause confusion to other trail users.  Moreover, colored chalk on the ground can also be used with or instead of plastic tape.  The cleanup is easy as chalk disappears with the next rainstorm.

            On the other hand, most permanent designated trails in parks and forests have signs that in addition to being informational also serve as trail markers, sometimes called reassurance markers.  These sometimes have directional arrows pointing the way of the trail.  Trail markers are made of wood, metal, or plastic and are usually mounted on posts that designate different sections of a trail system.  Without these directional markers missing a turn or getting on the wrong trail might be possible.  Therefore, you must pay close attention to signs and trail markers that form important parts of any designated trail system.

 

            Volkssports

            Volkssports, a German term meaning “sport of the people,” Volkssports consists of four noncompetitive sports events:  walking/running, biking, cross country skiing, and swimming.  Volkssports enthusiasts started these exercise clubs inside the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) by the International Federation of Popular Sports (IVV) in the early 1960's.  Volkssports organizations are now active in many nations.  Volkssports were brought to the United States by returning American military service personnel, as well as tourists, who formed the American Volkssports Association (AVA) which now has chapters in many states.

 

            Volksmarching

 

            Volksmarches are the walking/running part of Volkssports.  These events are leisurely and self‑paced on marked trails passing through scenic and/or historic areas.  Along these routes are a number of checkpoints where water is available.

            The walk is noncompetitive and participants can walk, jog, or run according to their own pace.  This type of organized walking event is an excellent family activity.

            Volksmarching is a free activity, with no age restrictions.  However, those who complete the course are eligible to purchase a medal and have their distance and event cards stamped upon payment of the registration fee.  When the distance and event cards have enough stamps, you can send them to AVA headquarters for a pin, patch, and certificate.

            Many types of clubs sponsor Volkssports, including the YWCA, the YMCA, the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, along with city and state park departments.  Any nonprofit organization that would like to sponsor Volkssport events is eligible for regular membership in the American Volkssport Association (AVA) by applying for and paying a $50.00 charter fee.  These organizations are able to make money at the event by selling food and drinks.

            The American Wanderer is the AVA’s newspaper, promoting Volkssports in the United States and is published bimonthly.  The articles and photos for TAW are submitted from clubs and members across the country to promote their non-competitive walking, biking, skiing, and other events sponsored by their local clubs. The paper is only available as a benefit to Associate Membership in the AVA. The American Wanderer is also available electronically via email to Lifetime Members and Associate Members as a Portable Document Format (PDF) in addition to their paper copy.

            Age rated lifetime memberships are also available.

 

            1 to 29            $500.00

            30‑39:             $450.00

            40‑49:             $400.00

            50‑59:             $350.00

            60‑69:             $300.00

            70 and over:    $250.00

 

            A spouse, regardless of age, can have a lifetime membership for an additional fifty dollars.

            For additional information, call or write:

 

            AVA National Office

           1001 Pat Booker Road, Suite 101

            Universal City, Texas 78148

            (210) 659‑2112

            http://www.ava.org/