Re: [at-l] Bryson

[bullard@northnet.org]

At 06:07 PM 7/2/99 -0500, Gary Buffington wrote:
>    Bryson's book is a great service to us.  I have many 50ish friends who
>never heard of the AT but bought Bryson's book at Sam's Warehouse and have
>read it cover to cover.  Many have said they now have an understanding of
>our interest in a thru-hike.  Several of these folks have driven by the AT,
>noticed the markers, pay taxes, and are interested in our mail drops.  This
>can't be bad for the trail.

It's an irony that in order to gain support for wild (meaning undeveloped)
areas it is necessary to acquire the interest and support of a large
portion of society for the establishment and maintenance of such areas, but
that same broad level of interest is almost as great a threat to its
existence as the developers. It's a mixed bag. As long as most people care
enough to support it so that they can look at the pictures taken and
journals written by a few it's great. If they all decide they want to go
there to take their own pictures and/or have their own adventures then it
can become a problem. The dilemma is achieving a balance.

Saunterer
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