[at-l] Appalachian Trail history question

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

In a message dated 10/27/2005 6:18:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
ellen@clinic.net writes:
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MacKaye was writing in a planning journal in an era fascinated by socialism 
and the Russian revolution that showed considerable promise in the early years.

         ***  In my opinion too much emphasis is put on the alleged socialist 
aspect of MacKaye's formation period. I don't know exactly how much socialist 
influence was on MacKaye's mind in his development of the original AT 
Project. I'm not sure any living persons know either. In my mind it has become 
popular to associate socialist intentions with MacKaye in order to dismiss his 
greater environmental plans. I think the Vermont Long Trail and the hiker 
experience surrounding it (the LT "Trail community") and its unique nature and effect 
on people was more influential. It's kind of ironic that people who want to 
dismiss MacKaye and return to a "campfire" AT spirit don't realize that very 
spirit is probably what inspired MacKaye... 





He wrote extensively after that on many topics and a decade or so later 
joined Bob Marshall in forming the Wilderness Society.

         ***   Which is why people saying "let's keep it to hiking" etc are 
cutting off a key part of what gave them their hiking trail. The AT is and 
always was more than just a hiking trail. Therefore people whose sense of AT 
intercourse is that advocates are somehow outside the norm or imposing is exactly 
opposite of what Trail history dictates. 





MacKaye was not an idiot. An idiot would have stuck with his original plan. 
He revised his thinking greatly as the years went by. He revised his thinking 
as the needs that he perceived were needed changed.

         ***   I don't understand that criticism. If it is saying his ideas 
were valid but his means weren't then we can accept that the original cause had 
merit but wasn't carried out correctly. The only other interpretation would 
be an outright attack against what gave us the Trail in the first place. Which 
is no different than attacking the Trail itself.

           Actually Weary is wrong. MacKaye refused to compromise and 
subsequently left his own project. It's the reasons why and the ensuing results that 
are important...  
           






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