Paul E. DeCoste

Conceived on a camping trip, hiking came naturally. Jersey born and bred, as a tyke, he tramped the trails in Jockey Hollow, slushed through the Great Swamp, combed the beaches of Cape May, and became entrapped on Mt. Tammany. Grew into the NY/NJ Trail Conference management team, relocating the Appalachian Trail across The Great Valley and up the Wawayanda Plateau. Recognized for his trail work, he received Volunteer of the Year (1998) from the NJ Division of Parks & Foresry and placed on the 75th Anniversary Honor Roll by the Appalachian Trail Conference. After teaching for thirty years, DeCoste retired into publishing and photography.