Tents aren't the only way to camp. Just ask friend-of-the-fest Don Gravatt of Jacks R Better, purveyor of camping hammocks, hammock quilts and other  backpacking gear. Hammocks have the advantage of being light-weight and easily packable, and they get you off the ground.

Key to comfort, Don says, is picking the right sleeping quilt. (And these quilts perform whether you're hammock or tent camping.)

"Quilts offer a unique way to stay cozy while sleeping outdoors," Don explains. "They are lighter and more compact than sleeping bags, making them easier to carry on long hikes and backpacking trips. They also allow for more customization, as users can adjust the amount of insulation based on their personal preferences and the weather conditions."

Don practices what he preaches. An experienced backpacker, his recent hammock camping trips have included section hiking the A.T. in Pennsylvania, camping in Ohio to view the eclipse and attending HangCon in Florida.
 
Jacks R Better will showcase some new products at the festival, including:

• 1000-Fill Power Ultralight Backpacking Quilts designed for thru-hikers.  
• Alpha Direct Summer Blanket/Quilt Liner. Stand-alone warmth down to 50° weighing only 7 ounces! 

And you can support the festival by bidding on a Jacks R Better Shenandoah Summer Quilt in our auction.

Mike Wurman joins the festival this year to give an "Eat, Drink and be Literary" author's talk on Friday night, June 7, at the Old Stone School in Hillsboro, VA (a ticketed event). His work will be featured at the festival in our "Art of the Trail" invitational show, with a free opening reception on June 7th at 6 p.m. 

Completed in journal fashion, Mike's book A Sketch & A Prayer chronicles the miles and stories of his journey along the Appalachian Trail in search of inspiration. Filled with stories, drawings, pictures, tips and tricks, the book shows, firsthand, the ups and downs of a long-distance hiker. These days, Mike is at work on his fourth book. We asked him to tell us how hiking the Appalachian Trail changed him and his art. 

After I moved to Asheville, North Carolina, to pursue a career as a pencil artist, I began to feel uncertain about my abilities as an artist—and as an individual. I had lost my passion for creating, and I stopped drawing.

In 2014, I went hiking across the summit of a nearby, bald mountain named Max Patch, where I literally crossed paths with the Appalachian Trail. I was immediately inspired to draw again, but I also knew immediately the Trail was calling me to make the 2,200-mile pilgrimage from Georgia to Maine.

Despite having no backpacking experience, two months later I left from Springer Mountain, Georgia, carrying two sketchbooks and an assortment of pencils, and I headed north. It often wasn't easy, but my journey on the Trail strengthened my belief in myself and my love for nature. I realized I wanted to share that with others through my art.

While I still work in pencil, I realized it was time to branch out beyond the black-and-white world of graphite so that I could truly convey the vivid imagery I experienced on the Trail each day. And so, I taught myself to draw with pastels, adding color to my art so I could better capture the wonders of nature.

I've continued to be inspired to explore new adventures and landscapes. After the A.T., I thru-hiked the Colorado Trail and the West Highland Way in Scotland. With a sketchbook in hand, I'm always looking for my next great adventure.

—Mike Wurman

• Thru-hikers Devin and Di know what they wished they'd had on the trail: a tasty, protein-packed, energy-boosting, light-weight snack. So, they're making their dream a reality for this year's long-distance hikers by introducing "Double D's DIRT," a shredded pork jerky. Double D's DIRT joins us at our A.T. Festival as a sponsor and vendor. We asked them about their A.T. experience and their new business.

​What inspired you two to thru-hike the A.T.?
We both grew up in the Carolinas, and the Appalachian Trail was on each of our bucket lists for a long time. Devin is an Eagle Scout who grew up hiking sections of the A.T. with scouts and friends. While attending school in NY he hiked the PA, NJ and NY sections of the Trail and vowed to thru-hike one-day. Di hiked sections of NC/TN as a student and parts of NY when she was living in the city. The opportunity to thru-hike presented itself in 2022, and we jumped on the adventure!

Trail names?
Our joint trail name is "Double Ds." It was given to us by a shuttle driver and retired Amicalola ranger, Ron, who saved us from a snow storm the first week of our hike.

A trail story to share?
We were the beneficiaries of trail magic in the middle of Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness—TWICE!

We were really low on food about five days into the wilderness. We weren’t sure how we were going to make it to the other side. As we were walking, really hungry and trying to ration what little food we had left, we crossed paths with a ridge runner who was out for her last hike of the season. We told her about our situation and admitted we should have known better by this point in our hike. She was super understanding and just happened to have her truck parked a mile down the road full of food! She hooked us up with a big lunch and sent us on our way with a couple days' worth of food.

The next day we walked into a shelter for a lunch break. Two older couples sitting there immediately perked up and asked if we were thru-hikers. When we said yes, they were overjoyed. They had recently watched an A.T. documentary  and wanted to become "trail angels." They’d been waiting at the shelter all day, and we were the first hikers they’d seen! It was early October and they had decked out the shelter with jack-o’-lanterns full of candy. When we pointed out that the critters in the 100-Mile Wildness might be attracted by the candy, they decided we needed to pack it all out with us. So, we walked out of there with about ten pounds of candy, snacks, beer and TP. We forced all the hikers we saw to take all the candy they could carry!

In two days we went from almost no food to more than we could eat! Just more evidence that the Trail really does provide.

How has your time on the A.T. impacted your life in the two years since you hiked?
This experience will change you in ways you cannot prepare for. Post-trail depression is real, and our experience with it was severe. We found we're really over society. All we want to do is spend time outside with other folks who want to spend time outside. It feels great to return to the Trail and the community surrounding it. We’re weaving ourselves into the A.T. tapestry again this year, and it’s an incredible feeling.

What inspired you to start up Nomadd Life, your company behind Double Ds DIRT?
Nomadd Life actually started a couple years before our thru-hike when we were adventuring across the US and Mexico in our van, Lady.

Why is your product called DIRT? Will you be adding new products?
When you see it, you’ll get it! It looks a bit like dirt. But, we can guarantee that it’s the best DIRT you’ll find anywhere on Trail!

We didn’t officially introduce DIRT until mid-April this year. We hope to add new products next year including dried mushrooms, shrimp and a veggie blend. We're thinking about calling the veggie medley "Wabbit Food." 
​
How are you getting DIRT in the hands of this year's hikers?
We’ve been doing trail magic up and down the trail, giving hikers “DIRTy” quesadillas. We’re also partnering with trail town restaurants to add a limited-time special on their menu, and we're working on getting into outfitters and hostels so hikers can pick up DIRT in their resupplies.

"Dig" some DIRT at the festival, and find more info on their new website: https://eatdddirt.com/.

One hundred years ago, Benton MacKaye was a bit lost. He had lost his job and, more tragically, had just lost his wife to suicide. MacKaye turned to the Appalachian woods he loved for solace.

In an essay published in The Journal of the American Institute of Architects in 1921, Benton MacKaye gave voice to his vision of "An Appalachian Trail." He spoke of the "vast areas of secluded forests, pastoral lands, and water courses, which, with proper facilities and protection, could be made to serve as the breath of a real life for the toilers in the bee-hive cities along the Atlantic seaboard and elsewhere."

Along the spine of the Appalachian mountains, he believed, "There would be a chance to catch a breath, to study the dynamic forces of nature and the possibilities of shifting to them the burdens now carried on the backs of men." MacKaye envisioned "a walking trail" that would connect communities from New England to Georgia.

Though it wasn't completed until 1937, the Appalachian Trail was born in MacKaye's vision. Less than 16 years after his article was published, his "long trail over the full length of the Appalachian skyline" became a reality.

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Want to know more about the Trail's origin story?  Check out festival speaker Jeffrey H. Ryan's book, Blazing Ahead: Benton MacKaye, Myron Avery and the Rivalry that Built the Appalachian Trail.