Photo by Raymond Salani III
Photo by Raymond Salani III
➊ Apply the energy felt for the Trail to give back in some way. Respond to an Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) action alert, sign your organization on to an ATC letter to a member of Congress, explore ways to make an impact to support the A.T., just like one would plan a hike.
➋ Teach someone — bring someone along. Share the Appalachian Trail. If you’re an experienced hiker or maintainer, invite someone new — maybe even someone you don’t already count as a friend — to join in this activity.
➌ Be intentional about having conversations with A.T. protection as the centerpiece. Whether it’s sharing information about the Trail and landscape and how to protect it, discussing the best ways to develop local economies, or actively responding to planning efforts of local, state, or federal decision makers, being willing to engage is central to supporting all that the A.T. stands for. It is these kinds of discussions, sometimes focused on a discrete goal, and sometimes held to foster understanding of perspectives and impacts felt throughout the A.T. network that are a hallmark of the Trail.
In the realm of the A.T., your voice matters. Like the democracy of this nation, your action is linked to something bigger. For many of us, the first time we cast our ballot was pivotal moment in actualizing our part of the fabric and function of local, state, and federal decisions. Similarly, we hope that anyone’s first introduction to the A.T. inspires that sense of belonging and purpose. Like a hike, advocacy isn’t always easy; there may be rain, mud, hunger, and exhaustion, which requires us to reset our sights on that which is onward and upward. Care is a commodity for the Trail, whether it’s your voice, your dollars, or your time. We hope you’ll join us — on the next summit — as we approach 100 years of this idea of the Appalachian Trail.