The eighth class of Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame honorees recognized by the Appalachian Trail Museum Society will be inducted on May 4 during the annual Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet at the Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs, Cumberland County.

The 2018 Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame class honorees are William Kemsley, Jr. of Taos, New Mexico; the late Elizabeth Levers of New York, New York; the late George Masa, of Asheville, North Carolina; and Robert Peoples, of Hampton, Tennessee.

Bill Kemsley

There was no one publication that spoke to the needs of backpackers until Bill Kemsley started Backpacker Magazine in 1973. At Backpacker, he published numerous articles and editorials on the Appalachian Trail.

He lobbied, held meetings and testified before various hearings in Washington to pass HR 8803 in 1978, providing $90 million for land acquisitions to permanently preserve the Appalachian Trail. 

He later co-founded the American Hiking Society.  As the national voice for America’s hikers, the American Hiking Society promotes and protects foot trails, their surrounding natural areas, and the hiking experience. 

Among Kemsley's publications are The Backpacker & Hikers Handbook, The Whole Hikers Handbook, and Backpacking Equipment. 

Over several decades, Bill has provided leadership, inspiration, service and achievement to both the Appalachian Trail and the hiking community.

Elizabeth Levers

Elizabeth Levers was known as the "Mother of the Appalachian Trail" in New York State.  She was known for her key activity in the early land acquisition planning for the Appalachian Trail in New York as well as setting the standard for Appalachian Trail management for that region. 

Liz was a no-nonsense woman who devoted her energies seven days a week to the Appalachian Trail after her retirement from an administrative post at Columbia University.

Lever's disgust over the trashed conditions of Harriman Park shelters inspired the creation of Litter Day in 1965. 

Among her many trail-related roles, Liz served as President of the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference, and director of the Appalachian Trail Conference (now Conservancy).

George Masa

George Masa was a photographer in Asheville, NC early in the 20th century, and his nature scenes were instrumental in garnering support for the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 

Masa was an immigrant from Japan who arrived in the U.S. in 1914.  He also laid out much of the route for the Appalachian Trail on the land that was eventually incorporated into the park. 

He was a founder and early leader of the Carolina Mountain Club and famously responsible for the club's motto, "More walk, less talk."

Masa's photographs of Mount Oglethorpe contributed to its selection as the initial southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. 

While Masa did not live to see the creation of the park and the completion of the Appalachian Trail, he is remembered in the naming of Masa Knob, near Charlie's Bunion.  He worked tirelessly with his colleagues Horace Kephart and Paul Fink to preserve and protect the lands and trails of the Smokies.

Bob Peoples

After retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 1988, Bob Peoples decided to devote his life to hiking trails.  He initially helped to maintain the Long Trail in Vermont, a portion of which is also the Appalachian Trail. 

Then, in 1994, Bob and his late wife Pat purchased a cabin adjacent to the Appalachian Trail near Hampton, TN and founded the legendary Kincora Hostel.  Thousands of Appalachian Trail section and thru-hikers have received Bob’s gracious hospitality there.

Each year, immediately after the Trail Days festival in Damascus, VA, Bob leads the Hard Core crew, comprised of the current year’s class of thru-hikers.  For a couple of weeks, Bob and his crew take on the most difficult and challenging trail maintenance tasks on the Appalachian Trail, before they resume their adventure on the trail. 

Bob is perhaps the Appalachian Trail’s greatest living ambassador, inspiring young people who have experienced the Trail to give back afterwards.

Previous Inductees

Seven classes have previously been elected to the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame.  The Charter Class, elected in 2011, comprised Myron Avery, Gene Espy, Ed Garvey, Benton MacKaye, Arthur Perkins and Earl Shaffer. 

Members of the 2012 class were Emma Gatewood, David A. Richie, J. Frank Schairer, Jean Stephenson and William Adams Welch. 

The 2013 Class was Ruth Blackburn, David Field, David Sherman, David Startzell and Everett Stone. 

The 2014 Class was A. Rufus Morgan, Charles R. Rinaldi, Clarence S. Stein and Pamela Underhill. 

The 2015 Class was Nestell K. Anderson, Margaret C. Drummond, Stanley A. Murray and Raymond H. Torrey.

In 2016, Maurice J. Forrester, Jr., Horace Kephart, Larry Luxenberg and Henry Arch Nichols were inducted. 

The 2017 Class was Harlean James, Charles Parry, Mildred Norman Ryder and Matilda Wood.

Hall Of Fame Banquet

Jim Foster, chair of the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame selection committee, said a 6:00 p.m. reception will precede the dinner, which begins at 7:00 p.m. The cost of the reception and dinner is $40 for museum members and $50 for others.

Click Here for complete information on the Hall of Fame Banquet. Tickets may be purchased either online, or directly from the Appalachian Trail Museum by sending a check to: Appalachian Trail Museum, 1120 Pine Grove Road, Gardners, PA 17324 (Adams County).

Questions about the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet may be sent to atmbanquet@gmail.com.

The Hall of Fame Banquet will be the kickoff of the Museum’s Hall of Fame Weekend.  Questions about the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Banquet may be sent to atmbanquet@gmail.com.   Click Here for lodging options during the Hall of Fame Weekend.

(Photo: Bill Kemsley, Elizabeth Levers, George Masa, Bob Peoples.)

NewsClips:

Schneck: Appalachian Trail Museum Announces 2018 Inductees To Hall Of Fame

Sen. Yudichak To Make Good On Pledge To Walk All 165 Miles Of D&L Trail

Schuylkill River Trail Receives $12M In Federal Funding For Completion

Schuylkill River Tail Gets $12M Grant For New Section

Schuylkill River Greenways Unveils Pedestrian Bridge Project In Berks County

Study Funded For New ATV Trail In Armstrong County

Philly: Too Soon To Say If Soda Tax Shortfall Will Hit Parks & Rec Makeover

Kummer: Wissahickon Park Trees, Trails Took Big Storm Hit, More On The Way

(Reprinted from the Appalachian Trail Museum website.)

[Posted: March 11, 2018]

3/12/2018