Lebanon was a dangerous enough place when Dave Field of Hampden, a retired forestry professor from the University of Maine (and one of my early mentors in the natural resources field), arrived in early July with a group from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to begin work on designing a Lebanon Mountain Trail.

But I doubt he and the others could have known the horror that would erupt only days later, forcing them to be evacuated to Cyprus, the first Americans in a likely prolonged and mass exodus from the war zone.

Glad that you all are out of harms way Dave. We look forward to your safe arrival on home shores.

And I hope this incident does not deter your important and commendable efforts to bring trails and all their benefits to other peoples and places around the globe.

Keep up the good work! Stay safe.