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."

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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/

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