Originally published on August 2, 2021 (Episode 216)
Introduction
Nearly every introduction to the Appalachian Trail seems to begin by giving its length (about 2,100 miles) and noting that it runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine. Which is strange, when you think about it. No one much mentions I-95, or the I-10, or the I-5. If they do, they don’t usually begin with their length, or endpoints. But neither of these two details tells us much about the thing itself.
Philip D’Anieri has done something different. He has written a biography of the Appalachian Trail, The Appalachian Trail: A Biography, by focusing on the lives of those who built, hiked, planned, and wrote about it. The result is a portrait of a wonderfully curious collection of Americans whose personal ambitions, ideals, and struggles together formed the life of a 2,100-mile path stretching from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine.
About the Guest
Philip D’Anieri teaches in the environmental design program at the University of Michigan. He is an urban planner by training and has written widely on the built environment, regional planning, and the intersections of land, history, and identity. His book The Appalachian Trail: A Biography is his first foray into narrative history for a wide audience.
For Further Investigation
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy — the official guardian of the Trail
Philip D’Anieri’s curated collection of web-based resources and recommended books
Benton MacKaye, The New Exploration: A Philosophy of Regional Planning (1928), the visionary text by the AT’s founder
Listen & Discuss
What does the story of the Appalachian Trail reveal about how Americans connect landscape and identity? Share your thoughts in the comments below—and consider forwarding this post to a friend who loves hiking, history, or (best of all) both.
