It looks like BPL will have a booth and leading a demonstrative hike at Trail Days in Damascus May 15-18, 2008.

Sunday May 18: “Lightweight Hiking Field Trip” led by Backpacking Light. Senior Editor Mike Martin will lead a short hike and demonstration of lightweight gear and techniques. Participants will hike 1-2miles with lightweight kits; stop; set up shelters; cook a hot snack over different types of stoves; return by noon. (Limited to 20 participants) Meet and check your backpack at Backpacking Light booth.

They are also presenting two session of lightweight backpacking on Friday and Saturday:

“Introduction to Lightweight Backpacking – Gear and Techniques to Lighten Your Load (section 2)” by Backpacking Light in Rock School Auditorium

Great to have you folks back at this event. Mark Flagler is also showing his CDT DVD. He had a very good one for the AT about three years ago.

Friday 7-10 pm:
First showing of Walking the Great Divide – A Journey Along the Continental Divide Trial, Documentary by Mark Flagler at the Youth Center; Sponsored by Casio Pathfinder; Please be at the corner of Laurel and Shady Avenues by 7pm to be seated in the 150 seats; when seats are full tickets for the 2nd showing will be issued to others. (See 7-10pm Sat for second showing).

See you there!

Here are a few of the folks scheduled for Trail Days in Damascus, VA this year. Notice that BPL is giving a few talks, demos, and leading a hike.

http://www.traildays.us/schedule.htm#5-16
Tom

GEAR VENDORS
Big Sky International
Mountain Sports Ltd.
Geographic Locations Int'l.
Eagles Nest Outfitters, Inc.
Jacks 'R' Better LLC
Vargo Outdoors LLC
Backpacking Light
Hennessy Hammocks
Comfortwagon Enterprises, LLC
Backpacker Magazine
Cedar Tree Industry
Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine
Appy Trails, LLC
Friends of The Mountains-To-Sea Trail
Ye Olde Backpacker
Gossamer Gear, Inc
Six Moon Designs
Speer Hammocks
Anti Gravity Gear
Traildog 

Friday, May 16

6:30am-6:30pm Free Showers in Trailer behind First Baptist Church

9-9:45am “The Joy of Backpacking as a Couple” – Georgia “Mom” Harris and Randy “Windtalker” Motz at Youth Center

9am-6pm Crafters, Outfitters and Trail organizations in the Town Park

10-11am Eugene Espy talks about his thru hike in the 1950s in the Youth Center

10-11am “Ask the Experts” facilitated by Paul Fitzner of Etowah Outfitters
Panelists: Jeff Knight, Granite Gear; Wayne Gregory, Gregory Mountain Products; Shawn Hosetler, Katadyn; Tom Hennesy, Hennesy Hammocks; Laurie Potteiger, Information Services Manager, Appalachian Trail Conservancy; Sponsored by Etowah Outfitters at Rock School Auditorium

11am-noon “Tales and Trails from Virginia’s Longest Road” by Joe Tennis in Rock School Auditorium

11am-noon “Introduction to Lightweight Backpacking – Gear and Techniques to Lighten Your Load (Section 1)” by Backpacking Light in Youth Center

Noon-12:30 Q/A by Backpacking Light; (also sign up for 10am, Sunday, hike) in Youth Center

1-4pm J. R. Tate aka Model T will be signing books at Mount Rogers Outfitters.

1-5pm Hiker Hangout/Reception sponsored by Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association ALDHA. Master of Ceremonies Red Wolf o’ da Smoky's aka Robert Croyle: All about ALDHA; AT Museum; AT Conditions North of Damascus; Social Hour with refreshments; Tacoma Tedd plays and sings AT Folk Trail Music; Mosaic of Diversity/Olympic National Park (30 min. film) provided by US Dept of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services and presented by Red Wolf; AT Jeopardy conducted by Marsha Lee " StarLyte ", ALDHA board member and membership secretary (Anyone with a love for the AT could win); ALDHA and AT Museum info tables. Find friends and meet new hikers in the Rock School Auditorium. Laurie "Mountain Laurel" Potteiger of Appalachian Trail Conservancy will explain AT Conditions North of Damascus.

3-5pm “Continental Divide Journey” a documentary of their 3000 mile hike from Canada to Mexico on the CDT and their completion of the Triple Crown of USA long trails presented by Jessica “Wildflower” Winters and Jessica “Scarlet” Francis at the Youth Center.

5:30-7pm “Southern Maine to Straton”, slides by Crazy Horse aka Roger Peake at Youth Center

7-10pm First showing of Walking the Great Divide – A Journey Along the Continental Divide Trail, Documentary by Mark Flagler at the Youth Center; Sponsored by Casio Pathfinder; Please be at the corner of Laurel and Shady Avenues by 7pm to be seated in the 150 seats; when seats are full tickets for the 2nd showing will be issued to others. (See 7-10pm Sat for second showing)


Saturday, May 17 Top of Page

9-10am “Thru-Hiking 101” taught by Winton Porter and Nate of Mountain Crossings Trail Shop at Rock School Auditorium

9-10:30am “Southern Maine to Straton”, slides by Crazy Horse aka Roger Peake at Youth Center

10:30-11:30am “Pedaling the Pits” – Jim Malusa bicycled to the lowest points on six continents and is presenting photos and stories from his Sierra Club book, Into Thick Air, at Youth Center.


11:30am-12:30pm “Mount Washington in Winter” – slides by Richard Bailey at Youth Center

11:30am-1pm Jim Malusa will sign Into Thick Air in Adventure Damascus

12noon-1pm “Ultra Light vs Survival Light” by Paul Fitzner of Etowah Outfitters at Rock School Auditorium

3-4pm “Crazy, But Good Crazy: Section Hiking the AT in Winter” by Judith Foster, slides at Youth Center.

3-4pm “Introduction to Lightweight Backpacking – Gear and Techniques to Lighten Your Load (section 2)” by Backpacking Light in Rock School Auditorium

4-4:30pm Q/A by Backpacking Light in yard of Rock School Auditorium (also sign up for 10am Sunday hike)


4-5:15pm “Circle of Dreams” by Warren Doyle, video documentary on 1990 Circle Expedition at Rock School Auditorium

5:15-6:30pm “30,000 miles of Trail Stories” by Warren Doyle, storytelling at Rock School Auditorium

Sunday, May 18
Top of Page


10am “Lightweight Hiking Field Trip” led by Backpacking Light. Senior Editor Mike Martin will lead a short hike and demonstration of lightweight gear and techniques. Participants will hike 1-2miles with lightweight kits; stop; set up shelters; cook a hot snack over different types of stoves; return by noon. (Limited to 20 participants) Meet and check your backpack at Backpacking Light booth.

Also among the vendors will be MLD apparently; it's not listed on the Trail Days site, but it is mentioned on MLD's.

Can't wait until next weekend; hope to meet alot of you good people there!

I think the east coast is a little behind other parts of the country in UL backpacking, even though we have some great manufactures here like MLD. I definilte see more of a move in that direction and this type of mass exposure is a great way to get the message out.

Hi Guys-

Yes. Joel Walthall and I will be at the Backpacking Light booth at Trail Days. In addition, I'll be holding introductory lightweight backpacking seminars on Friday and Saturday, with a short, casual hike on Sunday. (Friday's seminar is repeated on Saturday -- it's not a two-part series.)

Please stop by our booth, say hello, and introduce yourself if your are in Damascus next weekend.

Cheers,

-Mike