Journal Entry

Prose by Nichole Hastings

Bridge Over Still Waters

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Bridge Over Still Waters
Photographed by Nichole Hastings
With the iPhone 4S

Dating is difficult when you meet people who really don’t know what they want and haven’t yet achieved emotional maturity. They act without thinking or regard for another’s feelings then think saying “sorry” opens the gateway to automatic forgiveness and friendship. That’s why it’s best to think before you act or react about the potential consequences in forming new relationships. Act like you’re into the other person and they will think it is so. Don’t do it if you don’t want it. Because sometimes saying, “I’m sorry.” after the fact isn’t enough.

Photo Editor edits: contrast, brightness, saturation

Iris, Bachelor Button and Hen House

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Iris, Bachelor Button and Hen House
Photographed by Nichole Hastings
With the iPhone 4S

The mobile hen house with Iris and Bachelor Button in the foreground at Cobb Hill Farm in Hartland Vermont. They have an amazing cohousing program and are located within walking distance to Skunk Hollow Tavern. The cohousing residents at Cobb Hill practice sustainable land management and social responsibility as a ecologically-minded community.

Photo Editor Edits: brightness, contrast, saturation

6.5.13 Letter to the Editor

Hiker’s Writings Raise Concerns

By Jon Wolper Valley News Staff Writer
Saturday, June 1, 2013
(Published in print: Saturday, June 1, 2013)

http://mobile.vnews.com/home/6721478-108/hikers-writings-raise-concerns

Begin forwarded message:

From: Nichole Hastings
Date: June 5, 2013 7:28:56 AM EDT
To: “newseditor@vnews.com”
Subject: Re: AT register entries

Dear Valley News Editor,

My colleagues of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and I conferred yesterday about last Saturday’s article in regards to the graphic register entries, fellow leaving them, and Mr. Wolpar’s mis-representation of the facts. In spite of what community members, Trail Angels have said, Mr. Wolpar’s gross mis-prepresentation of the Appalachian Trail is troubling.

Essentially Mr. Wolpar painted a picture that this sort of unusual behavior is typical on the trail and that ‘worrisome’ people may be regularly found traversing the A.T. Neither of those are true. I speak not only for myself as the Dartmouth Outing Club’s Appalachian Trail Monitor Coordinator, a Corridor Monitor for the Green Mountain Club but also as a representative of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. These graphic entries and this fellow disturbing other hikers is A-typical and highly unusual. In fact, it’s almost unheard of which is why I and the organizations I represent spread the word quickly through the trail community, local communities and notified the authorities.

I am confused as to why Mr. Wolpar chose to present this story in such a ‘sensationalized’ way and on the words of folks who are not official representatives of the Appalachian Trail. I am confused on how Mr. Wolpar thought that painting such a dark picture of an isolated incident on the trail benefits a community and their perception of the hundreds of thru-hikers that will soon be passing through West Hartford, Norwich and Hanover. I hope that this letter will be shared as to correct this unfortunate error on Mr. Wolpar’s part and his misrepresentation of the trail.

Best regards,
Nichole

—
Nichole Hastings
Appalachian Trail Monitor Coordinator
Dartmouth Outing Club
Robinson Hall, Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755
Email: doc.at.corridormonitors@gmail.com
DOC AT Boundary Program Schedule: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~doc/appalachiantrail/
Twitter ID: @DartmouthOuting @HAFoAT