Kenneth Knight Found Alive

No details were at first available, but a very welcome email from the rescue party received at about 5:30 pm carried the welcome news. "Ken is alive and mobile."

The experienced, but legally blind, hiker had not been seen since last Sunday, and failed to meet his hiking group Tuesday. On Wednesday he missed his flight back to Michigan, and searching began on Thursday. Knight is from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is an editor for "Backpacking Light."

New report at 6:30 pm. Knight walked out under his own power with firefighters who were putting out a fire, not members of the search party. He has been taken to the hospital to be checked out. His parents will meet him there. His condition is not known, but seems to be fairly good.

Also at 6:30 pm the Chicago Tribune released a story saying that the fire was actually set by Ken to signal for help. And at 7:45 a member of the search party has emailed that he is currently in a parking lot telling his story. Apart from some hunger and mild dehydration he is just fine.

More information will follow as it becomes available.

See Michigan Hiker Missing on Appalachian Trail
See Missing AT Hiker Found Safe, Take a Lesson
See Rescuers Find Hiker Who Vanished from VA Trail

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Michigan Hiker Missing on the Appalachian Trail

Ken Knight (photo from Backpacking Light)

based on news articles from MLive.com and information from the greatlakeshikes egroup

A massive search is being launched for an Ann Arbor man who has not been seen since Sunday morning, April 26, on the Appalachian Trail. Kenneth R. Knight, 41, was last seen between 9 and 10 a.m. Sunday at Punchbowl Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway, mile 51.7, near Buchanan and Bedford, Virginia. Knight is an editor at Backpacking Light, and they received this last report from him.

Knight is an experienced hiker, but has low vision. He regularly keeps in touch via iPhone, and his last check-in was about 6:30 Sunday morning. At that time he reported not feeling well and said that he might go off the trail. This may mean that he planned to head for a town to find a motel. However, he then failed to rendezvous with hikers on Tuesday night and missed his flight back to Michigan on Wednesday.

Ken is a well-known figure in Ann Arbor where he volunteers at the Ark, and the Hands-On Museum. He is also popular with hikers for his podcasts which he publishes at "Wandering Knight, A Low-Vision View of the World."

Members of the large Yahoo egroup, greatlakeshikes, have been scurrying to put together a team of seven men to assist with the search, and a group is leaving today to join the official Virginia Search-and-Rescue teams (VA SAR). With the aid of Knight's parents the group was able to enter Knight's residence and package various items of worn clothing which will be taken to Virginia and used to orient the search dogs. About 14 groups so far have volunteered to assist with the search.

Ken's hiking experience raises hopes that he is holed up somewhere awaiting help. He had several days worth of food with him when he was last heard from. However, everyone is very concerned at the length of time since he was known to be all right. The weather has been mild, which is another hopeful sign. The Park Service and local volunteers did an immediate search to try to eliminate obvious solutions to the question of where Knight might be. No trace of him was found.

Anyone who saw Knight or knows of his whereabouts after Sunday morning is asked to call Amherst County Police at 434-946-9300.

Backpacking Light President, Ryan Jordan, made a statement: "It's really important at this point to let VA SAR take the reigns and do what they are trained to do. VA SAR is somewhat unique in that it's one of the few states in the nation where statewide SAR teams can be mobilized quickly and consistently. They have good infrastructure, good support, and a lot of people."

See Ann Arbor hiker missing on Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Virginia
See About 14 groups begin massive search for Ann Arbor hiker missing on the Appalachian Trail
See Backpacking Light
Join Great Lakes Hikes egroup
See The Wandering Knight
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Did The Ice Age Ever Get to the Flamingos?

Janusz and Dorata Zak

excerpts from Janushhiker's 2008 report with permission and some comments by Joan H. Young

Remember From Ice Age to Flamingos? In 2006 Janusz and Dorata came through western Michigan and it was my pleasure to spend an afternoon with them. At that point they had completed fewer than 1000 miles of their trek from the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin to Florida. The plan was to do a section each summer, but many such plans become lost in the business of life. So how's their trek going?

Janushiker says:
In April, 2006 I started hiking (with my backpack) on a long distance trail from Wisconsin to Florida. The trip was meant to be about one year long journey. Being a music teacher I've realized quickly that it would be hard for me to get back to my studio after such a long break. The new version of the trip was that it will be completed in 4 summers worth of travel. The estimated length of the "Ice Age To Flamingo" project is about 4400 miles. This year brought me to about 2750 miles so I think I will need another two summers to complete this hiking project. Below is the statistical summary.

Year 2006 1200 miles on Ice Age and North Country Trails. The states are Wisconsin and Michigan.
Year 2007 900 miles on North Country, Buckeye and biking trails. The states are Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
Year 2008 670 miles on Allegheny Mountain and Appalachian trails.
The states, West Virginia, Virginia, Tenessee and North Carolina.
Total approximately 2800 miles or 4480 kilometers.

a looming storm on the Allegheny Trail by Janushhiker

The Allegheny Trail should not to be confused with the other Allegheny Trail which runs from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania east toward Washington, DC and it is generaly a biking trail. There is another biking trail called Allegheny Highlands Trail somewhere in the middle of the state of West Virginia. The trail we've followed is sometimes refered to as Allegheny Mountain Trail.

Starting as a roadwalk, passing through the state parks with a sizable waterfall, the trail changed character as we've entered Monongahela National Forest. The trail has become a "real" forest trail. Sometimes overgrown with ferns, with the blazes so faint and far apart that it was a challenge to navigate here.

The trail in the mountains has quite wilderness appeal. We have spotted two bears, many deer, and have met cute salamanders snakes hundreds of butterflies. Allegheny Trail, which we followed at first, is no match to the famous brother (or sister) to the south, namely the Appalachian Trail. It is not as well traveled as the AT nor it is so well maintained. There are some stretches of the trail where the yellow blazes are faint or nonexistent. There are some stretches where, because of blowdowns, the trail is hard to follow at all. Probably because of that we have met only a few hikers on this trail.

flaming boots? by Janushhiker

Here on the mountain we have been tested by four sizable storms with heavy downpours and scary lightning strikes. According to my brother Chris, the whole mountain was shaking from the thunder. Fortunate again we were able to rich the shelter before the worst weather. The next morning my boots caught on fire when I tried to dry them too vigorously.

On Iron Mountain segment we've met Joshua. He was carrying a mandolin on which he could play some nice folk and rock tunes. It was my pleasure to tune the mandolin to standard 440 A, but he preferred higher pitch. We've hiked together for few days until city of Hampton, TN. He and his brother gave us the ride to the town so we could resupply and eat fresh food, yummy.

Next year hike will probably begin at the 20 mile Ranger Station on what is now Benton McKaye Trail or BMT. Following closely the ridge of Appalachian Mountains and the Tennessee North Carolina border into Cohuta Wilderness in Georgia where it will connect to the Pinhoti Trail. On Pinhoti into Alabama and on the road (highway 77) to the West Point Reservoir area on the Chattahoochee River. I am still not certain how to get through Alabama to Florida Trail. There are several options, but neither of them seems to be safe. I will probably float Chattahoochee until it reaches Apalachicola National Forest to the conjunction with the Florida Trail. Some additional research has to be done. Until next year.

See all the text and photos at Janushhiker's Web Page
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Veden to Speak at Michigan City

Veden's Book

Michigan City Public Library at Fourth and Franklin Streets offers programs on a variety of topics.

Sunday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m., the local Author Barry Veden will speak. He is the author of "Coming of Age on the Appalachian Trail."

Veden has written a heartwarming memoir of how hiking changed his life. "Coming of Age on the Appalachian Trail" suggests that any adversity can be overcome with the right attitude and with the help of God. He will talk about his book, his experiences and for those who are interested in hiking, he'll provide tips about equipment and show off his gear.

from Michigan City News-Dispatch, "Michigan City Public Library"
See New Book: Coming of Age on the Appalachian Trail
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Hiker Passport for the International Appalachian Trail

International Appalachian Trail photo credit TCY, Wikimedia

Do you know about the Passport for the International Appalachian Trail – Quebec?

The International Appalachian Trail has a length of 1079 km. It starts at Katahdin, Maine, crosses New-Brunswick and travels along the Gaspé peninsula. You can experience some of the most panoramic sections anywhere, offering an incomparable view of the sea and the mountains. The Trail is clearly marked and has shelters and campgrounds with washrooms and platforms.

The Passport gives hikers the possibility of hiking the Quebec section without having to make any reservations for all the campsites, shelters, or refuges. It costs $300, or $500 for two people.

It does require that you give up your place in a shelter or on a camping platform to a hiker with a Sepaq reservation. At the end of the hike you must complete a questionnaire (trip report). The Passport is refundable 30 days before departure only, with a penalty of $25.

for more information go to the International Appalacian Trail
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