Trail Town Treasure

This June marks the one-year anniversary of Clayton-Rabun County’s designation as the 51st Appalachian Trail CommunityTM But how many of us actually know what that means, or more importantly, what it means to us? In order to understand what the benefits associated with being a “Trail town” are, it helps to know a little about the Appalachian Trail itself, the organization that manages it, and the people who hike it.

From the beginning, founder Benton MacKaye, a regional planner, had a vision of the Appalachian Trail providing opportunities for recreation, recuperation and employment. “The project is one for a series of recreational communities throughout the Appalachian chain… to be connected by a walking trail.” In 1925, MacKaye, convened the first Appalachian Trail conference. This initial gathering of hikers, foresters, and public officials laid the groundwork not only for the creation of the Trail, but also for an organization to build, manage, and protect it, to become known as The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, or ATC for short. The Trail was officially completed in 1937 and became part of the National Park System. Today, through the efforts of the ATC,

Benton MacKaye

volunteers, clubs, and agency partners, the A.T. extends more than 2,198 miles from Maine to Georgia within a protected 250,000 acre greenway. The ATC was also instrumental in the passage of federal legislation that designated the A.T. as America’s first National Scenic Trail in 1968. Over the past 85 years, the positive economic and environmental impact that the Trail has had on the communities it touches has far exceeded Benton MacKaye’s expectations. But what about the people who hike the Trail? Amazingly, over 3 million people visit the Trail each year and over 3,000 people attempt to “thru-hike” the entire length. Hikers come from across the globe and are drawn to the A.T. for a variety of reasons, such as reconnecting with nature, escaping the stress of city life and experiencing a simpler life. They range in age from 5 to the oldest hiker, legendary Nimblewill Nomad, at 83 years old, with the average age at about 37. Most are well educated and generally have disposable income, spending an average of over $8,000 each on their adventure. Hikers often spread the word about the communities they’ve visited and return to ones they particularly enjoyed, essentially becoming ambassadors for our area. Trail communities also develop a sense of stewardship over the section of trail closest to them. Our A.T. Community Committee works with local groups to organize Trail clean-up and maintenance days. In particular, members of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club are currently working with the student Outdoor Adventure Club at Tallulah Falls School to enhance their understanding of environmental responsibility as well as local biology and ecology along the Trail, giving the students a hands-on and practical education to go along with their classroom learning. Being a Trail town adds emphasis to the importance of protecting our outdoor spaces and works to preserve the integrity of the wonderful environment that makes our area so special.

All in all, you can see how becoming the 51st A.T. Community has not only connected us with a larger community, it serves as a catalyst for enhancing local economic development and encourages environmental stewardship and local community engagement. Having the Appalachian Trail in our own backyard is both a privilege and a responsibility. As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of our A.T. Community designation, we look forward to the future opportunities and benefits that this will bring to our ClaytonRabun County community!

For more information on the Appalachian Trail, visit appalachiantrail.org or georgia-atclub.org.

By Mark Ozboyd