[at-l] Re: Creation of the AT

[RoksnRoots@aol.com (RoksnRoots@aol.com)]

In a message dated 1/7/02 11:37:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, daveh@psknet.com 
writes:


> The AT did not have a single "creator."  In fact the originator of the
> concept bowed out of much of its creation (over the departure from his
> concept), only to return to the fold as it came to reality.


   ***  The problem with this List is the tendency to hair-split instead of 
reaching general Trail givens and agree on them. 
     The only answer to this reply is to ask you to remove MacKaye completely 
from ever being involved in the AT and ask yourself honestly what would have 
followed? I previously posted on why MacKaye pulled back, but alas was told 
that "that sort of thing isn't welcome here" or such. To anyone experienced 
in Trail history, there is no doubt MacKaye was responsible for the Trail's 
incarnation which was then wholeheartedly taken up by others. 



> 
> So, if one wants to look at its creators' concepts, one need look far beyond
> "An Appalachian Trail, A Project in Regional Planning."
> 

   *** Not entirely untrue, but the central inspiring impetus to the AT 
Project was MacKaye's vision. The others were philosophical hacks compared to 
Benton and excelled mainly at bureaucracy and trail construction (not 
unappreciated by me).


> In fact, the trail (both as originally constructed and as it evolved)
> departs in many, many significant ways from the  _Journal...._ article.
> 
> Chainsaw
> 

   ***  As does this List from the AT community MacKaye hoped for. Make no 
mistake that article was the burning flame, natural ideal the others were 
striving for as the conceded and compromised MacKaye's original vision as 
they encountered each impasse. To MacKaye the AT was to embody a living 
environmental cause to be taken up by each succeeding generation. What is 
important today is not losing sight of the original idea despite constant 
attempts to minimize the Trail with excuses for not living up to its call...

   Thanks "Chainsaw"...


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