By Jordan A. Bowman
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
February 12, 2020
Throughout the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s century-long history, the Appalachian Trail footpath has always served as the backbone of our conservation efforts. Over the next few months, we will explore the ATC’s past, present, and future work in maintaining and protecting the footpath that brings millions closer to nature each year.
The journey begins almost 100 years ago, when something extraordinary was happening in the mountains of eastern New York…
In 1923, a small group of volunteers gathered at the base of Bear Mountain, just off the shores of the Hudson River. Carrying much of the same equipment used by ATC volunteers today — spade shovels, mattocks, Pulaskis — these intrepid volunteers broke ground on the very first section of the Appalachian Trail. Onlookers must have thought such a massive and complex project was impossible. Yet in October of that year, hikers were able to follow the Trail’s first white blazes to the summit of Bear Mountain.