It was a warm Saturday in July of 1926 in Upper New York State. Earl Gates, a student of the Forestry Camp of Syracuse University, decided to take advantage of the day off and head out for an afternoon walk in the woods nearby.

There was no distinct trail for Gates to follow - no semblance of a path at all. Not thinking much of it, as he was just out for a nice walk, he just casually blazed his own.