The American Hiking Society is the only national, recreation-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s hiking trails, their surrounding natural areas and the hiking experience. Together with outdoor enthusiasts across,  the country will celebrate the 17th annual National Trails Day (NTD) on June 6, 2009. It’s a long-standing celebration of America’s magnificient trail system and its countless supporters and volunteers.

On that day there will be about 1,500 events around the country including trail maintenance, hiking, paddling, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, running and trail celebrations.

I like the theme for this year’s NTD. It’s “Take in the Outdoors”, an open invitation to all Americans to get outside, connect with local hiking clubs, outdoor retailers, local parks and recreation departments or federal land managing agancies to experience everything the great outdoors has to offer.

“American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day serves as a gateway to introduce youth and adults to the outdoors and an opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to give back,” said Greg Miller, American Hiking Society president.

This year’s sponsors include Nature Valley, Backpacker Magazine, Merrell, Fetzer Vineyards, REI, YMCA, and American Park Network.

The first National Trails Day was in 1993 and since then has inspired thousands of people and community groups to take part in activities that promote healthy living, protect green space, educate youth and adults on the importance of trails, and instill excitement for the outdoors.

To know more about National Trails Day and the American Hiking Society, go to www.AmericanHiking.org.

Any community organization that would like to host an even should contact Heather Sable, Trail Programs Manager through email at hsable@americanhiking.org or call (800) 972-8608 x.204.

This is the right time to buy camping gear.

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Anyone could get lost on a hiking trail especially when the parts of the trail is masked by blown-down trees and fire. It happened to two experienced hikers on the Kekekabic Trail and the lack of trail markings were to blame for the incident.

Dozens of rescuers and volunteers joined the search including 4 aircrafts. In the end the hikers were found safe, but this is not the first time anyone got lost on the Kekekabic Trail. In 1970, a skier lost his way and died of hypothermia.

Following the latter incident the Forest Service marked the Kekekabic by tacking small, blue diamond-shaped signs to trees but nearly all the signs are gone now, and Forest Service officials have been reluctant to replace them.

Hiking clubs have renewed their appeal to the Superior National Forest officials to make the Kekekabic trail easier to follow.

The problem is, rules governing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness prohibit signs and many other man-made objects.

However, Forest Service officials acknowledges the fact that the overgrown condition of Kekekabic presents a public safety issue and are willing to discuss a possible compromise.