by Steve Fiore
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) will co-host a special screening of the new Robert Redford film, “A Walk in the Woods,” on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 7:15 p.m. at the Carolina Cinemas in Asheville.
“A Walk in the Woods,” based on the Bill Bryson novel, follows the hike of Bryson and his friend Stephen Katz, both of whom seem like a long-shot to complete their journey along the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Hilarity ensues in this comedy as Bryson and Katz encounter hard to navigate pieces of the Trail, over talkative thru-hikers, and hungry bears along the way. While the film is not exclusively about the Trail, it emphasizes the life-changing impact the A.T. can have on those who hike it. The film is rated R for language and some sexual references.
The film will present both opportunities and challenges for the volunteers and managers of the A.T. Increased attention on the A.T. will expose people from all walks of life to the natural beauty of the Trail, boosting awareness of why the ATC’s mission of preserving and managing the A.T. is so vital. On the other hand, it is just as important to educate hikers about proper etiquette along the Trail, as well as disperse hikers as much as possible, in order to keep the A.T. in pristine condition.
Guest speakers include Morgan Sommerville, regional director of the ATC, and Lenny Bernstein, president of the CMC.
“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is very excited about ‘A Walk in the Woods’ and the positive attention it will bring to the Appalachian Trail experience,” said Ron Tipton, executive director/CEO of the ATC. “At the same time we are planning for how to manage the surge of new hikers we anticipate.”
For more information about the film and how the ATC is protecting the Trail, visit www.appalachiantrail.org/AWalkintheWoods.
About the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The ATC was founded in 1925 by volunteers and federal officials working to build a continuous footpath along the Appalachian Mountains. A unit of the National Park System, the A.T. ranges from Maine to Georgia and is approximately 2,190 miles in length. It is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world. The mission of the ATC is to preserve and manage the Appalachian Trail – ensuring that its vast natural beauty and priceless cultural heritage can be shared and enjoyed today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come. For more information, please visit www.appalachiantrail.org.
About the Carolina Mountain Club
The mission of the Carolina Mountain Club is to foster, hiking, trail construction and maintenance, and fellowship in the mountains of Western North Carolina. For more information visit www.carolinamountainclub.org.
If You Go: Wednesday, September 2, 2015 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Carolina Cinemas, The Carolina Asheville Theatre, 1640 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803. Tickets cost $7 and must be purchased in advance. For tickets contact Kayah Gaydish at (828) 357-4847.