Hike The Hill 2014

From February 9-12, American Hiking Society hosted our advocacy week, Hike the Hill, jointly with the Partnership for the National Trails System. During this time advocates from across the nation lobbied elected officials, met with federal land agency partners to address concerns, and discussed strategies to address a wide variety of issues affecting hiking trails and the hiking experience.

During Hike the Hill, AHS presented Senator Amy Klobuchar with a Congressional Trail Blazer Award for her incredible work on the Recreation Trails Program. She more than proved herself a trail champion and a person who walks the walk as a hiker herself.

AHS also awarded a Lifetime Achievement Trail Blazer Award to the National Park Services’s Steve Elkinton, who retired as the Program Leader for the National Trails System after more than 25 years of service.

AHS was also pleased to present a Congressional Briefing on the Senate side on the economic benefits of trails. Presenting were Gregory Miller, President, AHS; Laura Belleville, Director of Conservation, Appalachian Trail Conservancy; and Kristin Lamoureux, Executive Director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies. Watch the video of this highly informative presentation.