The Lost Appalachian Trail - Dr. Mills Kelly

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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