The arduous task of creating a trail from scratch with Appalachian Dirt

There’s a lot of thoughts that float through our minds when we’re out on the trails hiking. Am I in the right career? Is that snake poisonous? Look at that beautiful view! Did I leave the oven on? I need a bathroom, quick!

Whatever we’re thinking about – whether it’s the joy we feel on a hike or working through some of our problems – it tends to center on ourselves. Our problems. Our joy. Our experience. Our views.

The very thing below our feet – the trail – tends to be forgotten almost entirely. Little if any attention is paid to the magnificent pathway under our boots that’s allowing us to have these thoughts and experiences.

We don’t think about how it was built, who built it, when it was built or who paid for it. The trail is there, so we hike it. The end. But, that’s nowhere near the end.

The story of any trail is fascinating. From conception to completion it takes years even decades to finish. First, comes the idea - typically from a dedicated group of Pennsylvanians that want a trail in their community. That idea is followed by countless public hearings, community discussions and planning meetings. All the while they’re working to get approvals from everyone from the railroad to the bureau of forests.

It’s a long, long process. And expensive. Groups spend years trying to raise money through donations and grants. And even if the money is raised and the approvals are given, then you gotta build the bloody thing.

It’s honestly amazing that we even have trails. The amount of work it takes for everyone – from the organizing group to the hands-on builder – is spectacular. It’s mind boggling.

So much so, that I wanted to learn how trails are built here in Pennsylvania. How does one shape an unbroken forest into a beautiful trail? How long does it take? How much does it cost?

Luckily, I got to see first-hand how natural surface trails are made as a member of the PA Trails Advisory Committee. I met this episode’s guest riding a machine, cutting a brand new trail in Rothrock State Forest. It was an experience that reshaped my thinking on trails and made me appreciate how much work goes into the trails we hike.

On this episode, I speak with Zachary Adams. Zach is the founder of Appalachian Dirt.

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Hosting, production and editing: Christian Alexandersen
Music: Jon Sauer
Graphics: Matt Davis