IT'S TIME!
Time to get ready for MWAM-18!
Every year
since 1985, an intrepid group of Mensans and friends has tackled
the forty-mile-long Maryland portion of the Appalachian Trail.
In a three-day weekend, they have battled heat, humidity, rain,
mosquitos, cicadas, altitude changes, and all the rocks along
the trail, in quest of a rewarding outdoor adventure.
In 2003,
you can join the tradition.
The 18th
version of Mensa Walks across Maryland (MWAM-18) will take place
in mid to late May 2003, and we'd love for you to come along.
You can carry
whatever you'd like; our only requirement is that you have enough
water and snacks to get yourself thru the hike. Most of us treat
the hike as a series of three day hikes, meaning that we don't
try to carry tents, sleeping bags, or other nighttime gear with
us. If you have a masochistic streak, or if you're getting in
shape for a backpacking adventure, feel free to load on the weight.
But if you'd like to leave most of your gear in our support cars,
and reclaim it at the end of the day, that's what most of your
fellow hikers will be doing.
You're welcome
to join us for one, two, or all three days. Our support crew will
return you to your car. If you need to stop before you've finished
a full day, we'll try to help you, but you may be on your own
to backtrack or call for a taxi to return to your vehicle.
Support.
This is NOT
a commercial venture, and the level of support is not what you
might expect if you were working with a commercial outfitter.
This hike
is a group of friends who enjoy hiking and enjoying the outdoors
together.
Over the
years, we've added a number of amenities to the hike. But please
don't forget that our support is provided by volunteers, and limit
your expectations to the times and places that will be announced
at the beginning of each day.
Humans of
all ages and descriptions are welcome to participate in any or
all of the hike. Other animals are not welcome unless they are
well-trained, and under the complete control of their human. If
your animal does not meet this standard, i.e., under your complete
control, your animal will not be permitted to mingle with other
M-WAM hikers on the trail or at M-WAM meals, campsites, or relief
locations.
So what kind
of support can you expect?
Support cars
will meet the hikers at the beginning and end of each day's hiking,
and they'll occasionally cross paths with us during the day, as
well. If you're not sure you're ready for a three-day, 40-mile
long ordeal, you can bail out anytime you see a support car.
And the support
cars provide more than emergency transportation. They bring us
goodies. Treats. Cool drinks. Popsicles. They are the embodiment
of trail magic.
We'll announce
the hours for each meeting place at the beginning of each day.
Please do your best to meet the support cars during the stated
hours; if you're running behind, you should expect that the support
cars may leave before your arrival.
Fees.
We charge
fees to pay for the support cars, the treats, and the meals we
provide. For three days, it's $25 per person. For Sunday only,
it's $15 per person, and Friday and Saturday are $10 each per
person. You should bring your own gear, and food for all the meals
we don't provide.
Motels.
We'll stop each night along the trail at campsites,
where hikers are welcome and encouraged to sleep in tents, in
AT shelters, or under the stars. If you'd rather stay in a commercial
motel, or if you want to come out a day early and need a place
to stay, we recommend that you stay in Hagerstown, Maryland. It's
less than 10 miles from the Friday night and Saturday night camps,
and perhaps 16 miles from Friday's starting point. If you're interested
in making hotel reservations or if you're curious about what you
might find in the Hagerstown area, just click here
for a guide to Hagerstown.
Learn more.
To learn
more about the trip, click on the buttons below. To learn about
Mensa or the AT, there are buttons for those topics, too.