Maurice J. Forrester, Jr. 1930-2022

Maurice J. Forrester, Jr. passed away at home on the morning of July 5, 2022.

​Maurice spent his entire adult life advocating for and documenting hiking trails, especially in his native Pennsylvania.  From 1976 through 1979, he served Keystone Trail Association as President, and then as Newsletter Editor.  His quarterly column, "The View From Cogan Station", appeared in KTA's newsletter from 1978 through 1992.  He has also served on numerous trail advocacy boards and committees in Pennsylvania.  From 1975 to 1992, he served Appalachian Trail Conference (now Conservancy) as Treasurer, Newsletter Editor and member of the Board of Managers.  He served as Chair of ATC's 1989 Biennial meeting in East Stroudsburg, PA.  

Maurice was a founding director of the Appalachian Trail Museum.  During that time, the Museum Board was looking for a suitable location for the Museum.  Maurice led the effort to secure its home in the Old Mill building at Pine Grove Furnace State Park. He was inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame in 2016.

Mr. Forrester is perhaps best known for his writings.  He served as editor of several editions of the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania.  He is co-author of A Grip On The Mane Of Life, the definitive biography of Earl Shaffer, the A.T.'s first thru-hiker.  He also wrote the forward to Earl Shaffer's famous autobiography, Walking With Spring and to Larry Luxenberg's Walking The Appalachian Trail.  He was the lead author of the history of KTA's first 50 years.

Maurice's obituary can be found HERE. The services will be private. There is a place there for friends and acquaintances to post condolences.