International Appalachian Trail - Mother Nature's Son, John Calhoun, Completes IAT/SIA Southbound Hike


	On Saturday, September 20th John Calhoun, aka Mother Nature's Son, became the first IAT/SIA thru-hiker to complete a southbound hike of the IAT/SIA! John hiked from Crow Head ,Newfoundland and Labrador to Maine's Katahdin, a distance of approximately 1200 miles. He had lots of wonderful experiences and met many trail friends. John is the 89th thru-hiker to complete the trail from Cap Gaspe to Katahdin and the 15th to complete the trail from Crow Head to Katahdin. John ended his hike by being the first thru-hiker to traverse the new 30 mile section of the IAT/SIA in the mountains and forests between Baxter State Park and the East Branch of the Penobscot. He was also the first thru-hiker to use the new campsites at Grand Pitch and Lunksoos Mountain. He signed into Baxter park on the new trail to Katahdin Lake. He completed his hike by doing the Knife Edge where he was accompanied by "Cotton Joe". Both John and "Cotton Joe" attended the IAT/SIA International meeting in Millinocket and John told a great story to all those present about his adventures on the IAT/SIA. At the meeting John was presented with a new pair of L L Bean hiking boots (donated by the folks at Bean's, www.llbean.com) to replace a very worn out pair he used in his hike. When Dick Anderson presented the new boots he read a letter from L L Bean congratulating John on his thru-hike. The letter and a picture of the presentation accompany this story. Dick also presented John with the Mountain Hardwear backpack(donated by Mountain Hardwear www.mountainhardwear.com) as a symbol of his accomplishment All of us involved with the development of the IAT/SIA congratulate John and are extremely appreciative of the great contribution he made to the cultural development of the trail and the advice he gave us on the physical conditions of the trail. You can learn more about John's historic thru-hike, in his own words, at his site on www.trailjournals.com and he will also be making a presentation at the upcoming ALDHA Gathering on October 10th(www.aldha.org)

Maine Chapter of IAT/SIA - PO Box 916, Gardiner, ME 04345

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