“The people make the trail” is a slogan on an old t-shirt of mine from Trail Days. After my thru-hike in 2003 I thought about the magic of the Trail, and how absolutely wondrous it is that people from all walks of life come together across differences to develop friendships. Undoubtedly, these bonds are made stronger by the shared experience endured during high mileage days of hiking and through hardships caused by dramatic weather conditions.

In my role as Senior Director of Partnerships and Trail Operations with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, I’ve come to see the double entendre of “The People’ make the Trail.” In fact, the true magic is that the A.T. exists at all.

Over the last 100 years, generations of everyday people have not only made the idea of the A.T. come to life but have helped to ensure a protected corridor and provide the day-to-day work to maintain it so that it’s enjoyable to travel. This work is relentlessly iterative, just as is the tenacity it takes to hike its length.

Since beginning my work with the Appalachian Trail in 2006, my perspective has evolved, along with my role. I had appreciated, and still do, the chance to seek my adventure as a solo traveler, but I see now that the experience of the A.T. is driven by the collective. This is a community endeavor. Thirty grassroots organizations, A.T. Clubs, located throughout our Trail’s 14 states, offer the opportunity to build friendships and steward the Trail. By observing and supporting the civic engagement of individuals toward the collective care through these A.T. partnerships, I have deepened my own investments in volunteering within my community ­— bridging gaps to nature so that all people can have transformative experiences in the outdoors.

It is folly to assume that the A.T. simply exists, that someone else will care for it, or that the A.T. itself is “too big to fail.” Because the nature of the Trail depends on the goodwill of people, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is working to ensure a full welcome for new volunteers and the resilience of A.T. Club partners to leverage all volunteers’ commitments — however big or small — since even small actions have big impact.  

The experience of the Trail is the legacy that was built for us to hike, and it’s our legacy to pass to others. Truly, the world becomes what we make it by placing our intention and our action together.

I invite you to join me in this endeavor to shape the A.T. for the future, through our time, voice, and labor by visiting www.appalachiantrail.org/waystovolunteer.

Leanna Joyner is the Senior Director of Partnerships and Trail Operations at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy