Trail Days 2012…who’s going?

[Tom Clark]

I'm heading to Trail Days on May 18-20 in Damascus, VA again this year. For those of you not familiar with it, Trail Days is an annual thru-hiker festival that hosts current & past hikers, cottage industries, mainline backpacking companies, and the general public. The AT runs right through downtown Damascus, and it has been called "the friendliest town on the AT."

You'll see some familiar names in the vendor list below (e.g., MLD, SMD, Vargo, Jacks R Better, Antigravity Gear, Hyperlite Mtn Gear, & Hennessey Hammocks). Here is a trip report I wrote from 2011 (never got around to writing one last year…argh!). http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=44273&skip_to_post=401464

Here is the official website with more information. http://www.traildays.us/

Let me know if you are planning to show up and maybe we can meet during the festival to ridicule the traditional backpackers ;). We tried that last year, but my lack of planning and big wind/rainstorm thwarted the good intentions. Look for a similar setup like this in "Tent City" at the edge of town, and I'll treat you to a cold drink of something nice.

Vendors:
ADVENTURE DAMASCUS

AHNU

ALDHA

AWOL / THE A.T. GUIDE

APPALACHIAN TRAIL CONSERVACY

APPY TRAILS LLC

AROUND NEW ENGLAND, LLC

BLACK DIAMOND EQUIPMENT

BREEZY BRIGADE

CEDAR TREE INDUSTRY

DRESS WELL OUTDOORS

ENDLESS MOON PRODUCTIONS

ENERTIA TRAIL FOODS

ENO

FIFTYSENSE

FLAGLER FILMS

FOUR DOG STOVE CO

GREEN LABEL ORGANIC

HAMMOCK GEAR

HENNESSY HAMMOCKS

HYPERLITE MTN GEAR

JACKS R BETTER LLC, and ANTI GRAVITY GEAR

LIGHTHEART GEAR

LITTLE HORSE CREEK FARM, LLC

LOKI, LLC

MOUNTAIN LAUREL DESIGNS

MOUNTAIN SPORTS LTD

NEMO EQUIPMENT

OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER

OUTDOOR HERBIVORE

PASTA WENCH, INC.

PRIMAL SPIRIT FOODS

SIX MOON DESIGNS

SQUATCH FILMS

TARMA DESIGNS

THE GEAR HOUSE

THE OUTFITTERS AT HARPERS FERRY

THOR-LO, INC.

TREE TO TREE TRAIL GEAR

TREKS AND TRAILS, INTL.

TREMONT ELECTRIC

VARGO OUTDOORS

YAMA MOUNTAIN GEAR

[Tom Clark]

If you missed the PCT kickoff, come to Trail Days on the AT!

[David Maxwell]

I plan on hearing Gene Espy and Jennifer Pharr Davis. Then up to White Top. On the way back down the Creeper Trail we plan to camp and ride back into Damascus in the morning.

[Elias L]

I'll be going this year, I'm pretty excited. My thruhike was in 2010, I was sobo so I didnt go that year, and last year I couldnt make it due to work, so this will be my first time.
I plan on taking my dog. I'm sure the campground is dog friendly, but what about the buildings where they are having the presentations and movie showings: are they dog friendly?

[Tom Clark]

I have taken my dog into some of the talks, but can't say that it's OK for all of the locations. Unless your dog is doing illicit drugs (blatently), he/she should OK there. I don't take my dog any more since I find it too much of a hassle for a weekend, but he can stay at home with my wife.
Tom

[Rob Daly]

The wife and I are planning on being there. It will be our first time.

[CW]

I plan on going for most of Saturday to meet vendors and others.

[Ken Thompson]

That is a bunch of vendors I have never heard of. Should be fun. Looking forward to the trip reports already.

[Tom Clark]

Are folks interested in meeting up at MLD's booth on Saturday? 9 am, noon, 5 pm?
Tom

[Rob Daly]

I'd vote for noon or 5. We have about a 5 hour drive and probably won't get there before 11.

[Tom Clark]

Let's meet at MLD at noon, so we can get to know each other. Please look for my blue Sierra Designs tent with a 8×10 grey tarp somewhere in the woods and stop by for a drink if my brother-in-law Ron or I am there.

Tom

[Ron Bell / MLD]

I'll be there and set up all day Fri and Sat.

May break down 5-6pm ish on Sat depending on traffic and weather.

See You All There!

Mention the secret password "Night Hike" in some casual and covert secret agent sort of way and I'll have an MLD sticker or something free for you. ( Don't Share the Password)

[Rob Daly]

Noon it is, MLD tent. See you guys there.

[CW]

I was up for a little while today and took a few photos.

[Tom Clark]

Got back from Trail Days a little while ago, but no time to post photos (8 hr drive). I'll try to do that this week, but have some Daddy-Duty I need to fulfill. It was great to see some of the UL folks again (Ron Bell, Brian Vargo, Tom Hennessey, & Mike St. Pierre). Sorry about the ones that didn't make it this year (Trail Designs, Six Moons Designs, Gossamer Gear, BPL, GoLite).

OK…one photo

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