ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 15, 1996 TAG: 9607150136
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Q&A
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
Nude day on the AT?
Q. I was offended by The Roanoke Times' front-page story on the hiker known as ``Waldo,'' who claimed there was a ``Nude Hiking Day'' during which he hiked all day wearing nothing but boots and backpack. I hike with my two children. What would I tell them if we ran into a kook like him? H.W.
A. You are talking about Waldo L. Jaquith, a 17-year-old thru hiker from Charlottesville, who is hiking with a laptop computer, cellular phone and camera to document his journey on the the Internet.
He told a Roanoke Times reporter, Matt Chittum, he wants to show the world the Appalachian Trail in the hopes that a few people might see the value of preserving at least a little bit of nature.
What you could tell your children is that Waldo appears to care little about preserving the dignity of the trail. As for ``Nude Hiking Day,'' there is no such thing, at least not until Waldo came along. Maybe there is enough poison ivy, stinging nettles and blackberry thickets to keep such an idea from catching on along the trail.
New look for licenses
Q. A friend of mine who recently bought his new hunting license told me the licenses are different this year. What's the change? J.R.
A. They are bigger, for one thing, and they must be filled out completely - on both sides. No longer will you be required to carry them in the white envelope that previously was provided.
Under the old system, you were issued a carrier envelope that contained your name and other data. All your hunting licenses - big-game, bow, muzzleloading, etc. - were stuffed into the envelope. License agents liked that, because they didn't have to write reams of information on the individual licenses. Hunters had to carry their licenses in the envelope for them to be valid. The envelope no longer is mandatory.
The change was made because some hunters complained they weren't happy keeping up with a license and a carrier envelope, said Rich Jefferson, a spokesman for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Newcomers aboard
Q. Do you know anything about the governor's new appointees to the board of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries? L.T.
A. Gov. George Allen has appointed three new members to the 11-member board that sets hunting, fishing and boating regulations and establishes policies to manage the state's wildlife resources. In doing so, he passed over the opportunity to reappoint Dr. Laurence Jahn, a career wildlife manager whom many thought was a stellar board member.
The new board members:
Dan McCoy, a Wise County construction company owner who is a fan of the Shenandoah River. McCoy received a Bronze Star for his service in the Korean War. He replaces M. Richard Walker of Seven Mile Ford.
Billy Cramer of Fairfax County, the owner of a Vienna paint and decorating company. Cramer served in the White House Office of Management and Budget as senior management analyst and is vice chairman of the Fairfax County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. He is a member of Ducks Unlimited and the Wye River Hunting Club. He replaces Jahn, who lives in Vienna.
Richard Corrigan of Arlington, an official of an environmental consulting company and an active outdoor enthusiast who is a sponsor of Ducks Unlimited and the Ruffed Grouse Society. Corrigan is a former instructor of political science at the University of Kentucky and former director of governmental affairs with the American Consulting Engineers Council. He succeeds Elsa Porter of Alexandria.
Have a question on the outdoors? Contact Bill Cochran, The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010; 540-981-3395.
LENGTH: Medium: 78 linesby CNB