Jordan A. Bowman Writing & Communications Site Icon

Jordan A. Bowman
Writing & Consulting

Published Articles

  • More Bat Myths that Just Can’t Hang
    Setting the story straight about the world’s only flying mammals. Published on the Bat Conservation International website, April 2025.
  • Bats & Goths: A Kindred Appreciation for the Dark
    Since the emergence of the Goth movement, many members have held a fascination and appreciation for bats. Published on the Bat Conservation International website, September 2024.
  • Five False Myths About Bats…And One That’s Actually True
    Sifting through some of the most common bat myths to separate fact from fiction.
  • Trail Etiquette
    Trail etiquette is code of conduct prioritizing kindness, safety, and the health of the outdoors. Published in AMC Outdoors Bulletin, August 2023.
  • Five Ways to Stay Safe Outdoors
    The editor in chief of Appalachia Journal shares how to keep your name out of future accident reports. Published in AMC Outdoors Bulletin, August 2023.
  • Hiking with Dogs
    Help ensure you, your dog, and everyone else has fun on the trails by following these tips. Published in AMC Outdoors Bulletin, August 2023.
  • Where the Appalachian Trail Began
    At the beginning of a new century, the experiences of Benton MacKaye sparked an idea that would lead to the creation of the Appalachian Trail. Published on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website, May 2021.
  • Building a Climate-Resilient A.T. Landscape
    By protecting the lands surrounding the Appalachian Trail, we can reinforce its important role as a climate-resilient corridor.
  • Climate Resiliency and the A.T.
    Protecting and expanding climate-resilient forests along the Appalachian Trail is vital to ensuring their long-term survival.
  • The A.T. and Climate Change: Reviewing the Basics
    As we continue our series on climate change and its effects on the Appalachian Trail, it is important to lay the groundwork for several key topics.
  • Preserving the “Oxygen” of the Trail
    How Benton MacKaye’s call for protecting the “oxygen in the mountain air along the Appalachian skyline” guides the ATC’s work in combating climate change on the A.T. Published on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Website, January 2021.
  • Continuing the A.T. Vision
    Even after 100 years, Benton MacKaye’s vision for the Appalachian Trail continues to guide the ATC in its mission. Published on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Website, December 2020.
  • An A.T. Realm Beyond Recreation
    Recreation is only part of broader Appalachian Trail conservation, which extends beyond the footpath itself. Published on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website, December 2020.
  • Not Merely a Trail
    As Benton MacKaye discussed in his vision for the Appalachian Trail, we must prioritize conserving a realm of landscapes and experiences in addition to the footpath itself.
  • What Makes an A.T. View Great?
    To better address threats to Appalachian Trail locations, the ATC and the National Park Service are taking inventory of the Trail’s irreplaceable views.
  • The Thru-Hiker’s Spice Kit: A Simple Guide for Improving Meals on the Trail
    “Variety is the spice of life,” so why not carry a variety of spices? Here is a guide for improving meals on the trail. Published on TheTrek.co, July 2020.
  • A System of Protection
    2020 events have underlined the importance of the Cooperative Management System in achieving the vision of a protected Appalachian Trail for everyone.
  • A.T. Volunteers: Experts in Conservation
    From trail maintenance to carpentry and natural resource conservation, volunteers employ a range of skills to protect the Appalachian Trail.
  • The Scope of A.T. Volunteerism
    For almost 100 years, volunteerism has been the bedrock of the Appalachian Trail and the ATC.
  • Advocating for a Protected Trail
    The Appalachian Trail itself only exists and remains protected because of thousands of dedicated advocates.
  • The Next Big Step
    While a thru-hike eventually ends, the journey as an Appalachian Trail advocate never does. Published in A.T. Journeys Magazine, Spring 2020.
  • Protecting the Trail’s Continuous Journey
    Creating a continuous footpath from Maine to Georgia was not a one-time event. In order to preserve the Trail’s full 2,000-mile journey, continual maintenance and guardianship are essential to ensure the A.T. always remains open.
  • Bear Mountain: A Legacy of Footpath Protection
    Almost 100 years ago, something extraordinary was happening in the mountains of eastern New York that continues to inspire and inform the ATC’s work today.
  • Uniting to Preserve the South Mountain Range
    The South Mountain Partnership is determined to preserve this unique landscape home to 60 miles of the A.T.
  • Hogan Hollow Purchase Helps Preserve McAfee Knob Views
    The purchase of a 243-acre stretch of land will help preserve the irreplaceable views from the Appalachian Trail on McAfee Knob.
  • Trail Reroute Provides Hands-On Training
    A half-mile A.T. relocation project gave the next generation of Trail stewards the chance to learn firsthand what it takes to maintain and preserve the A.T.
  • Saving the Roan Highland Red Spruce Forests
    The red spruce forests in the Roan Highlands have become an inseparable part of the Appalachian Trail experience, but action must be taken to ensure they are a healthy, lasting part of the Roan ecosystem.
  • Senate Bill Aims to Combat Lyme Disease
    The U.S. Senate will soon consider legislation that takes a vital step toward reducing occurrences of tick-borne illnesses and providing better treatment for those afflicted. Published on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website, June 2016.
  • Book Review: Where’s the Next Shelter?
    “Where’s the Next Shelter?” is fantastically chronicled in what can best be described as a “laugh-a-minute philosophical travelogue.”
  • Base Layers for Backpacking: What You Need to Know
    Choosing a great base layer can make the difference between an amazing hiking trip and a miserable misadventure.
  • What “A Walk in the Woods” Gets Wrong About Thru-Hiking and the Appalachian Trail
    Whether due to dramatic license or simply getting it wrong, there are more than a few details in the “A Walk in the Woods” film adaptation that will make A.T. thru-hikers scoff into their oatmeal.
  • Gear Review: Arc’teryx Bora² Mid GTX Hiking Boots
    When I strap on the Arc’teryx Bora² Mid GTX Hiking Boots, I feel as if I have stepped into a completely new phase of boot development.
  • A Year after the Appalachian Trail: A Thru-Hiker’s Retrospective
    While the trail is undoubtedly beautiful and oh-so-satisfying to amble along, the adventure would have been so much less without the moment-to-moment interactions with other hikers who were similarly entranced by the trail.
  • Baxter State Park vs. Scott Jurek: The Clash of Commercial Sports and Wilderness Preservation
    The world record was not the only thing Scott Jurek earned when he completed the Appalachian Trail. According to a post on Baxter State Park’s Facebook page, Jurek was issued three summonses by a BSP ranger while celebrating his victory atop Baxter Peak, the Northern Terminus of the A.T.
  • The Appalachian Trail Pub Crawl
    Hiking the Appalachian Trail deprives us of many things, but there is one thing that most of us simply can’t survive without, something that pleases the soul as much as the taste buds. I am talking, of course, about beer.
  • Report: Tick-Transmitted Powassan Virus “Worse Than Lyme Disease”
    If thoughts of Lyme Disease were enough to keep you up at night, you might want to hide under covers after hearing this: Powassan Virus infections are reportedly on the rise. Published on TheTrek.co, April 2015.
  • Gear Review: Granite Gear Crown V.C. 60
    “Lighter is better.” It’s a mantra adopted by thousands of hikers in pursuit of the perfect ultralight backpack, one that offers comfortable support, bountiful space, and durability that will last thousands of miles on the toughest terrain. Published on TheTrek.co, February 2015,
  • What You Need to Know About Lyme Disease and Deer Ticks on the Appalachian Trail
    Forget bears, forget thunderstorms, forget things that go bump in the night: the real terror on the Appalachian Trail is the size of a sesame seed—or smaller. Published on TheTrek.co, December 2014.
  • Exploring the Isle of Man
    There’s a lot happening in between Ireland and England.