Spanning almost 2,200 miles, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail meanders across some of the highest ridges and through the lowest valleys the Appalachian Mountains have to offer. From the southern terminus atop Springer Mountain in Georgia to its northernmost point at the pinnacle of Mt. Katahdin, Maine, the trail traverses many of the few remaining areas along this eastern mountain range still untouched by the hands of man. An extended trip along the trail requires hikers to set aside the poor habits of over-consumption, instead demanding the constant attention to which resources are available within their pack and the most conservative methods for managing them. I feel that giving people the opportunity to live a period of time on a trail and learn from the lessons that trail life can offer, is a vital tool for helping those
people focus on the need for conservation once they exit the trail and return to their home lives.
Since the National Trails System Act was adopted in 1968, the Appalachian Trail has been a part of the national park system. Since that time, the U.S. Department of Interior has delegated an unprecedented amount of responsibility to the ATC. This includes all day-to-day management with the exception of law enforcement. This amount of federal control falling into hands of a private organization has been unheard of at anytime before or since 1968. The undeniable success of this relationship should be an example of what can happen when the government loosens its grasp and allows truly concerned and committed groups to step up and take a shot at managing our nation’s protected areas.
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