[at-l] Lone Star Hiking Trail Official Guidebook Out

[Tom McGinnis]

CONGRATULATIONS, NACONA!
And MANY happy returns, to LSHT, of course. Great job.

--- On Tue, 11/24/09, Karen Somers <kborski at yahoo.com> wrote:

> For those hikers on this list that live in Texas or Louisiana, I
> wanted to announce that the Lone Star Hiking Trail
> (LSHT) guidebook I've been working to get published
> for several years has finally hit the shelves.  See http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Star-Hiking-Trail-Official/dp/0899975046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259084137&sr=8-1#noop.
>  
> I am spreading the word, not just in hopes that the
> book will remain in print by adequate sales, but also to
> encourage those who live in the region to look into this
> little trail.  The ~100-mile LSHT is the only long
> distance trail in Texas AND one of the few hikers-only
> footpath, that, like the AT, does not allow any other types
> of use.  Although it is now 50 years old, and continues
> to be a well-maintained continuously marked footpath, it has
> been struggling with pressures from mountain bike groups in
> the area that want to open it up to multi-use.  The
> USFS has been seriously considering turning this little
> trail into a bike racing path, which would have severe
> impacts on its peaceful nature.  They have admitted the
> publication of this guidebook has been cause to re-evaluate
> the trail's usage patterns.  Suddenly,
> "it's in print," and the USFS thinks maybe
> having a footpath just might be a desirable thing.  So,
> the
>  more folks who use it, talk about it and buy the book, the
> better.
>  
> The LSHT doesn't measure up to our granddaddies,
> like the AT, but it serves as a pretty place to take a
> longer hike in a state that is sorely lacking in outdoor
> recreation opportunities.  If you live in the area, or
> know hikers who do, keeping this book in print by purchasing
> a copy will help validate and legitemize a trail that has
> been ignored and overlooked for a long, long time. 
> (The LSHT is 50 - 90 miles north of Houston in the rolling
> Pineywoods of the Sam Houston National Forest.)
>  
> And no, I am not profiting from sales of the
> book.....all proceeds go back to the trail through the LSHT
> Club, a 401c non-profit.
>  
> Thanks,
> Karen "Nocona" Somers
> PCT '00, '04
> 
> 
>       
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> 
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