Traversing Ancient Mountains: 2,000 Miles On The Appalachian Trail

From: Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication and the Honors Program

The James Madison University Visiting Scholars Program is pleased to announce that its featured speaker for February will be award-winning Virginia author, Leonard M. Adkins. Profiled by Backpacker magazine, and referred to as “The Habitual Hiker,” Mr. Adkins will present Traversing Ancient Mountains: 2,000 Miles on the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah Hall at the university on February 16, 2010. The program, to which the general public is invited free of charge, begins at 7 pm.

Having completed the Appalachian Trail five times, the Habitual Hiker has walked more than 19,000 miles in North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. Among others, his photographs and articles have appeared in Islands, Backpacker, Caribbean Travel and Life, and Blue Ridge Country. His books include “Walking the Blue Ridge,” “50 Hikes in Northern Virginia,” and “West Virginia: An Explorer’s Guide.” “The Appalachian Trail: A Visitor’s Companion,” was presented the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation’s Lowell Thomas Journalism Award. “Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail” is a winner of the National Outdoor Book Award, ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year, and a Virginia Literary Award nomination. His 16th book, “Images of America: Along Virginia’s Appalachian Trail” was just released last month. He is currently The Hike columnist for Blue Ridge Country, Roanoke Outdoors writer for Roanoker magazine, and blogs for www.blueridgeoutdoors.com.

Mr. Adkins shares his love of the natural world by presenting multimedia programs about his trips. February 16th’s program, accompanied by folk and classical music, is a compilation of his treks on the Appalachian Trail and depicts a typical “thru-hike.”

Leonard’s presentations receive high acclaim:
Chesterfield County Winter Lecture Series—“People did not just hear and see the program; they experienced the trail right along with Adkins.”

L.L. Bean Public Clinic Program—“Great show! We had well over 300 enthralled and entertained listeners. Thank you, it was a real pleasure.”

Salisbury University—“The only question the students and I have is: When can you come back?”

Poet Allen Ginsberg—“Best program of its type that I've seen.”

R. U. Outdoors, Radford University—“Your outstanding program took us on a journey that will be etched in our minds forever.”

Mr. Adkins will be available for book signings before and after the program. He will also at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Harrisonburg Crossing, 289 Burgess Road (540-432-3801) earlier in the afternoon from 12pm-2pm.