To the top

On Sunday, Oct. 1, Justin McEdward, a 2001 graduate of Warwick Valley High School, reached the summit of Mt. Katahdin in northern Maine, thus completing his 2,170-mile journey on the Appalachian Trail. McEdward began his trek on March 24, hiking in the snow to the top of Springer Mountain in northern Georgia and completed his journey six months later on a beautiful fall day in Baxter State Park, Me. McEdward was employed for five seasons with the Appalachian Mountain Club’s High Country Hut System in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. He graduated from Paul Smith’s College with degrees in recreation, adventure travel and eco-tourism. He has accepted a position at Northstar at Tahoe Ski resort in California as a member of the mountain safety patrol for the 2006-07 season. Upon completing his journey, McEdward offered his thanks to “family, friends and EMS for all their support.” (Photo provided by James McEdward)