Philly Musician Killed On Appalachian Trail Loved Hiking
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- A hiker says his friend was preparing to leave an overnight shelter on the Appalachian Trail in Maryland when a tree felled by strong winds crashed on top of him and killed him.
Michael Sparks spoke with The Associated Press on Monday about the death a day earlier of 36-year-old Jason Parish of Philadelphia.
Sparks says he, Parish and another friend had left Friday on a two-night trek along Maryland's section of the nearly 2,200-mile footpath.
He says they were packing up Sunday morning when he heard the tree hit the ground. Sparks says other hikers and first responders tried in vain to revive Parish.
Parish was a Delaware native. Friends say he was an experienced camper and a folk musician who had recently released his first album of original songs.
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