Appalachian Trail Archives - Appalachian History

Benton MacKaye proposes the Appalachian Trail

Benton MacKaye (1879-1975) was the first person to propose the idea of the Appalachian Trail, which he did in October of 1921.

Emma Gatewood became “Grandma Gatewood” to her immediate family long before the rest of the world knew her by that title.

Ohio production company Eden Valley Enterprises is in production on a documentary about the life of historic AT hiker Emma Gatewood.

Think Harper’s Ferry, & three names come to mind: Robert Harper, George Washington, and abolitionist John Brown. Add Jefferson to that list.

Until Earl Shaffer actually did it, experts believed that a hike of the entire Appalachian Trail in one continuous trip was impossible.