About Quiet Man
At 64 years old, I have already had the adventures of a lifetime, especially with a 30-year Army career behind me, as well as five years as a high school Social Studies teacher, and a 40-year marriage still going strong. Still have this deep desire to complete the Appalachian Trail. I grew up in northcentral Pennsylvania hunting, fly fishing, backpacking and camping. My Army career gave me considerably more outdoor experience. Now fully retired and living in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay, I first started section hiking the AT in 2019. I also frequently day hike in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. You can follow Quiet Man on The Trek and on Instagram @quietmanhikes (6/25/24)
Trail Name
My trail name, “Quiet Man,” is the title of one of my favorite movies, a 1952 film set in Ireland starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. It’s a tradition to watch this movie every St. Patrick’s Day. My trail name also reflects one of my reasons for hiking; to seek a bit of solitude and get away from life’s distractions, not unlike Sean Thornton, John Wayne’s character in the movie. I do not shy away from the social aspects of the trail – after all, meeting and interacting with other hikers is a tremendous part of the hiking tradition and trail culture, but my hike is more of a quiet hike. (4/12/24)
Memberships and Advocacy
Annual Trail Level membership. “Since 1976, American Hiking has worked with Congress, federal agencies, and many recreation and conservation partners on policy issues and legislation to ensure funding for trails, preservation of natural areas, and protection of the hiking experience.” (americanhiking.org) (5/31/24)
Yearly membership. “The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s mission is to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.” (appalachiantrail.org) (5/31/24)
Leave No Trace 101. “Being equipped with Leave No Trace training makes our communities and outdoor spaces healthier. Practicing Leave No Trace is something we can all do when we interact with nature and a skill we can pass down to the next generation.” (lnt.org) (5/19/20)
