#benton mackaye

[farewell-to-lorien]

The modern industrial economy, he [Benton MacKaye] said, had freed people from the incessant toil of agriculture, which would be a step toward a more civilized society only if it paid off for workers in improved quality of life. An industrial economy that simply replaced farm drudgery with factory drudgery had no point.

Philip D’Anieri, The Appalachian Trail: A Biography

[vintagecamping]

Map of the proposed Appalachian Trail, hand-drawn by Benton MacKaye for the first meeting of the Appalachian Trail Conference.

March, 1925

[netbros]

There is, of course, history behind the Appalachian Trail and how it came into being. It’s amazing how an army of volunteers and organizers coalesced behind Benton Mackaye’s original vision for the Appalachian Trail and established a trail that runs within easy reach of the urban areas of the eastern United States. Although the trail has changed and evolved over the years, it remains amazingly true to its original vision and purpose.

Given the current economic crisis we face (here and abroad) and the changing nature of work (all work and no play), it’s amazing how relevant Benton Mackaye’s original essay calling for the development of the Appalachian Trail remains in this day and age.

Scholars often interpret Mackaye’s vision for the Appalachian Skyline as a call for a utopian society. But if you read closely, his pitch is far more pragmatic, even economic in nature. He also emphasizes helping us (the workers) make more efficient use of our spare time, instead of just our working time.

See what you think – here’s his original essay in full.

[mytrek-blog]

"It was a clear day, with a brisk breeze blowing. North and south, sharp peaks etched the horizon. I felt as if atop the world, with a sort of planetary feeling. I seemed to perceive peaks far southward, hidden by old Earth’s curvature. Would a footpath some day reach them from where I was then perched? Little did I dream...."

Benton MacKaye (Founder of the Appalachian Trail)