Dr. Lynn Price Robbins and Isaac S. Loftus are joined by Dr. Mills Kelly to explore the origins of the Appalachian Trail, the lives it touched, and a long-forgotten section in Virginia. While the trail invited people into the wilderness, it also fostered connections among them. As one poet aptly put it, "In the mountains, the mind becomes the heart." Please support this podcast by checking out our patreon: www.patreon.com/primarysourcemedia CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introductions 3:21 - The Appalachian Trail: A Historical Overview 6:39 - Benton MacKaye's Vision for the Trail 10:08 - The Challenges of Trail Development 15:01 - The Route Through Southwestern Virginia 22:19 - The Controversial Trail Leader 25:24 - Land Ownership and Trail Access 28:54 - Cultural Exchange and Hiker Hospitality 32:06 - Economic Impact of the Appalachian Trail 36:27 - Visualizing the Appalachian Trail 41:04 - The Evolution of the Trail 43:27 - Personal Connections and Community 47:38 - The Friends You Make Along the Way 54:40 - Bridging Political Divides through Shared Experiences EPISODE LINKS: Dr. Mills Kelly: https://millskelly.net Virginia’s Lost Appalachian Trail: https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/products/9781467153393/?queryID=574fdb827000a9ce82f22687c79d8374&objectID=9781467153393&insightsIndex=arcadia-publishing_products Virginia’s Lost AT: https://virginiaslostat.org/ The Green Tunnel: https://www.r2studios.org/show/the-green-tunnel/ Franklin County, Virginia: https://franklincountyvahistoricalsociety.org The Long Trail, Vermont: https://www.greenmountainclub.org/the-long-trail/ Benton MacKaye: https://appalachiantrailhistory.org/exhibits/show/builders/bmackaye Shirley Center, MA: https://shirleyhistory.org/about/shirley-center/ Betty MacKaye: https://documents.alexanderstreet.com/d/1008297941 Myron Avery: https://appalachiantrailhistory.org/exhibits/show/builders/mavery Smokey Mountain Diner: https://visitmadisoncounty.com/smoky-mountain-diner/ Fries, Virginia: https://musicofourmountains.com/fries-and-the-washington-mill/ Floyd, Virginia: https://www.floydcova.gov/history Shenandoah National Park: https://www.snptrust.org/about-us/mission-history/shenandoah-history/ Pacific Crest Trail: https://www.pcta.org/about-us/history/ Washington and Jefferson National Forests: https://www.virginia.org/things-to-do/outdoors/national-forests-and-recreation-areas/george-washington-and-jefferson-national-forests/ Iron Mountain Trail: https://www.hikingproject.com/trail/7033608/iron-mountain-trail Lake View Restaurant: https://lakeview.top Franklin County, Virginia: https://www.franklincountyva.gov/575/History-of-Franklin-County New River: https://dwr.virginia.gov/waterbody/new-river/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices