In wake of death, Appalachian Trail experts highlight need for safety

ASHEVILLE, NC – Considering the enormity of the 2,189-mile long Appalachian Trail, which sweeps across 14 states and through some of the most remote and rugged country in the Eastern United States, hiker deaths, such as the recent one in Maryland, are surprisingly rare.

So say veteran Appalachian Trail hikers and officials with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the nonprofit that oversees maintenance and management of the trail.

Jason Parish, 36, of Philadelphia, died March 15 when a tree felled by strong winds crashed on top of him near the Ed Garvey Shelter near the southern end of the Maryland trail section. A hiking companion, Michael Sparks, said the tree was dead and had been marked with a pink ribbon, apparently meant to identify it for cutting.

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