PARTING THOUGHT
The Nature of Change on the Trail
BY CONNER MCBANE
Portrait outdoor photograph close-up view of Conner McBane smiling in a dirty/faded/rusty dark grey bomber jacket, dark tan beige colored jeans, and a red hardhat equipped as he holds two small tree planter objects in both of his hands as he is standing outside somewhere in the Appalachian Trail forest woods area on a gloomy day; Conner’s natural resource management work on the A.T. has included planting red spruce saplings on Whitetop Mountain in southwestern Virginia. Restoring red spruce forests in the southern Appalachians is essential for the protection of endangered species such as the Carolina northern flying squirrel, among others.
Conner’s natural resource management work on the A.T. has included planting red spruce saplings on Whitetop Mountain in southwestern Virginia. Restoring red spruce forests in the southern Appalachians is essential for the protection of endangered species such as the Carolina northern flying squirrel, among others. Photo by Chris Gallaway / Horizonline Pictures
How has the Appalachian Trail changed over the last 100 years? Aside from the obvious relocations, increasing visitor use, and growth in the number and size of facilities, the A.T. environment is drastically different from when the Trail idea was conceived — including the species of grass found in the corridor and the overstory trees of the “green” tunnel.

I was eight years old on my first hike of the Appalachian Trail up to McAfee Knob in Virginia. Over 20 years ago, I didn’t run into anyone else on this section of Trail, but that’s impossible now. In addition to the drastic increase in hikers, the nature of the Trail has changed significantly over time.

The entirety of Mount Rogers high country was once covered in red spruce forests aside from some high-elevation bogs and wetlands. Then, during the 19th and 20th centuries, widespread logging reduced the spruce forests by half. Now the Mount Rogers high country is known for large open areas and “wild” ponies. There was even a time when American chestnut reigned champion of eastern forests, white ash groves speckled Virginia mountains, and eastern hemlocks grew larger than 40 inches in diameter. It is hard for me to imagine how different the A.T. of the past is from the Trail we know and love today.

Change isn’t inherently bad. Unfortunately, the changes we see on the A.T. today are happening fast and are often irrefutably negative. These changes require an even greater commitment to management and protection to ensure a high-quality A.T. experience today and for generations to come. As a natural resource manager, I am concerned about the loss of wildness of the Appalachian Trail and a large number of rare and endangered species along with it. Although increasing hiker numbers do have an impact, these losses are largely due to encroaching development, large-scale invasive species spread, and climate change.

“I want the next generation, including my children, to experience an A.T. as spectacular as the one I have experienced.”

Despite these massive challenges, there are significant opportunities to protect the A.T. The ATC has increased capacity and funding for natural resources work, land acquisition, and Trail sustainability. The soul of the A.T., the volunteer trail clubs, are focusing efforts to protect and manage natural resources — as are the ATC’s federal and state partners. A.T. hikers are more aware of the benefits of a healthy ecosystem and how that positively affects their experience.

Will these efforts be enough?

I want the next generation, including my children, to experience an A.T. as spectacular as the one I have experienced. I want them to know the magic of a red spruce forest, the unique wildflowers of a grassy bald, the old growth scraggly oaks overtopping a sea of trillium, and cool streams and seeps spilling with salamanders. I want them to experience the wild A.T. that encourages self-reliance.

There is still a lot of work to do, but I remain optimistic. I invite you to join me in this call to action for the protection and management of natural resources on the A.T. Please visit appalachiantrail.org to volunteer, donate, and be a part of making a positive difference for the Appalachian Trail experience!

Conner McBane is a natural resource manager at the ATC. He is also the 2024 recipient of the Proud Service Award, the ATC’s highest honor.

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