RONALD  G.  STRICKLAND,  Ph.D.
AUTHOR/CONSERVATIONIST TO PUBLISH AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A TRAIL

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THE SEA-TO-SEA ROUTE

 

 

1996:  Ron Strickland proposed creation of a 7700-mile transcontinental Sea-To-Sea Route (C2C) to link existing long distance trails from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.  Ron's primary goal was to improve the National Trails System by creating an east-west backbone for the 8 existing national scenic trails.  He felt that C2C would (1) unify what we already have and (2) encourage the development of more long distance trails.  In that way it would ultimately introduce a new generation of hikers to love of the environment and passion for outdoors adventure.

2004-2005:  To demonstrate the desirability and feasibility of this transcontinental pathway  Andrew Skurka completed its first thru-hike on July 10, 2005 at Cape Alava.  Andy's 11-month transcontinental trek is chronicled at  http://www.andrewskurka.com/ .

Cape Alava, July 10, 2005: Ron Strickland and Andrew Skurka celebrate Andy's completion of the Sea-To-Sea Route

For an excellent article about Andy Skurka's C2C trek, please visit Outdoors Northwest Magazine.  Click here for a

Podcast interview with Andy Skurka

2005-August: Backpacker Magazine named Andy Skurka its "Person of the Year" in honor of his amazing C2C thru-hike.

2005-October 8: ALDHA-East Gathering:  C2C thru-hiker Andy Skurka receives a distinguished service award from Jennifer Tripp (North Country Trail Association) in recognition of his 11-month trek.

2005-December 3:  The board of directors of the North Country Trail Association voted to explore the feasibility of establishing trails "in the gaps between existing trails and trail projects."  They said that if the creation of the Sea-to-Sea Route proves feasible, they will "give consideration to fostering the creation of extensions of the North Country National Scenic Trail eastward and westward, if such extensions can be established consistent with the standards and uses already established for the trail and such extensions are authorized by Congress."  They explained that, "The Pacific Northwest Trail, being developed from the Pacific Ocean in the State of Washington to the Continental Divide in Montana, spans more than half of the distance between the Pacific Ocean and the present western terminus of the North Country National Scenic Trail in North Dakota.  The Sea-to-Sea Route proposed by Ron Strickland is rekindling interest in and would fulfill the original intent of a cross-country National Scenic Trail in our Northern tier.  Interest in the Sea-to-Sea Route has been further heightened by the 2004-2005 journey of Andy Skurka along this 7,700-mile route from the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec, Canada, to Cape Alava in Olympic National Park in Washington State."

     "The 4,600-mile North Country National Scenic Trail makes up the largest portion of the 7,700-mile Sea-to-Sea Route."

 

2006-March 18: C2C thru-hiker "Ambassador Andy" Skurka addressed the Annual Dinner of the Explorers Club in Manhattan.

Ambassador Andy and the Pathfinder at the Explorers Club Annual Dinner

 

 

2006: The National Park Service conducted a field reconnaissance to examine options for connecting the western terminus of the North Country National Scenic Trail in North Dakota with the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in Montana. Seven different scenarios for making this connection were formulated. One or more will be further explored with potential partners in 2008.

2007-June 9: Tom Gilbert (National Park Service, Madison, WI) and Claire Cain (North Country Trail Association) addressed the Annual Meeting of the Green Mountain Club at Hildene, Manchester Village, VT.

November, 2007: National Geographic Adventure Magazine named Andy Skurka “Adventurer Of The Year” after he became the first person to thru-hike the 6200-mile Great Western Loop. Having just rehiked much of the Pacific Northwest Trail as part of the GWL, Andy said, “I highly recommend the Pacific Northwest Trail to hikers for its superb combination of scenery and adventure. Congress should add the PNT to the National Trails System as soon as possible."

December 4, 2007: Tom Gilbert (superintendent, NPS, North Country National Scenic Trail) and Clare Cain and Bruce Matthews (North Country Trail Association) met with stakeholders in Addison County, VT to discuss the potential for extending the NCT eastward from its current terminus at Champlain Bridge (see photo) to the Green Mountains.

January, 2008:  The Sea-To-Sea Route is America's newly-developing, transcontinental hiking trail.  It links long distance trails from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.  The greatest challenges to completion of C2C have been the gaps in Vermont, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and Washington.  Progress continued in 2007 toward filling those gaps.  First, the North Country Trail Association continued to work to expand its 4600-mile "national scenic trail" east into Vermont and west to the Continental Divide.  Second, the Pacific Northwest Trail Association continued to develop its 1200-mile route from Glacier National Park to Olympic National Park; the PNT is likely to receive official status in 2008.  Thus, the Sea-To-Sea Route is almost ready to take its place as the backbone of America's National Trails System.

 

 

A TRANSCONTINENTAL VISION

   In 1968 Congress created the National Trails System.  Of its three categories of national trails, the "national scenic trail" category is of greatest interest to long-distance backpackers.  Currently there are eight.  Others including the Pacific Northwest Trail are under development.  Unfortunately although more than three decades have passed, these great routes still lack the cohesion of a genuine "system."

    Interest in long distance hiking continues to grow at a rapid rate.  To serve this conservation-minded public we propose an east-west route that links the three most popular north-south national scenic trails.  This de facto Sea-to-Sea Route (C2C) uses the PNT, CDT, NCT, AT, and IAT to create a transcontinental passage from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean. 

    As of now, C2C is a concept route, not a club or a government agency. There are no employees and few volunteers.  Instead C2C challenges us to create and explore a true, unified National Trails System.  Europeans already have such a skein of routes to unify their continent.  [ http://www.era-ewv-ferp.org/index.php?Epaths ] Isn’t it time that we in North America put it all together for this and future generations of backpackers?

    This transcontinental passage in no way diminishes the luster of its component trails. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.  Each leg remains as a fabulous, independent entity.

    Our goal is to create new opportunities for all walkers through C2C's enhancement of the National Trails System grid.

    The Sea-to-Sea (C2C) Route would begin at Cape Alava on the wilderness coast of the Olympic Peninsula.  It would follow the Pacific Northwest Trail (PNT) east 1200 miles to Glacier National Park.

    A Sea-to-Sea Route backpacker would continue south on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) to and beyond the Bob Marshall Wilderness to the Benchmark campground.

    A gap exists east from the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail to Lake Sakakawea and the North Country National Scenic Trail in North Dakota.  [Click here to see geo-coded photos of a potential route across this Gap.  Be sure to install WWMX's free software for best results.  Mozilla Firefox seems to access this site more reliably than Internet Explorer.  The site may appear with a map of the Montana Province of Bulgaria.  Don't despair and give up.  Type "Montana (state), United States" to replace that Bulgarian map.  Then be very patient while the Montana C2C photos load.  After you look at them you could type in "North Dakota" to look at C2C photos from that state.  We apologize for the balkiness of the WWMX site.]:    http://wwmx.org/LayerSea2SeaTrail.aspx ]

    The Sea-To-Sea-Route will follow the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) east 4600-miles to Lake Champlain on the New York/Vermont border at Crown Point.

    A 30-mile gap exists  east from Lake Champlain to the Appalachian Trail.

    The Sea-to-Sea Route will follow the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) northeast to Mt. Katahdin in Maine.

    The final C2C segment will follow the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) northeast to Cape Gaspe on the Atlantic Ocean.

    C2C would not supplant its constituent parts but enhance them as parts of a transcontinental vision.

    This route has history, scenery, and adventure.  It mostly uses long distance trails that have already received public recognition.  The Sea-to-Sea Route is the best way to link the three "Triple Crown" trails into a true national system.

    The 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark's epic journey reminds us that exploration is an essential part of the human endeavor.  C2C distills that spirit of adventure for 21st century walkers.

    In the 19th century, ordinary people talked of "lighting out for the territory."  Millions sought their dreams over the horizon in the forests and on the prairies.  From settled precincts to the wildest mountains, they made their way on foot and on horseback.  Now, generations later, that excitement can be rediscovered on the Sea-To-Sea Route.  Whether you have a day or many months, C2C's opportunities await you.  Experience the simple joys of putting one foot in front of the other.  Slow down.  Open your eyes to the wonders of the North American continent.  Discover hidden strengths within yourself.  And know at the end of the day that you have accomplished something special.  There is nothing chic or trendy about the eternal verities out there under the sky.  But that's why decades from now people will still treasure a weekend or a fortnight on the Sea-To-Sea Route.

[Our C2C logo was designed by the very creative Pat Steeb ]

If you wish to become a Sea-To-Sea Route supporter, please send donations to Scenic Trails Research, 10 Pine Hill Road, Bedford, MA 01730.  Thank you.  (Scenic Trails Research is a project of a Spokane, WA non-profit called Adventure Trail.)

 

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