Will the Movie “A Walk in the Woods” help things or make matters worse?
A few days ago, I read the story Can the Appalachian Trail Survive “A Walk in the Woods” in Outside magazine on-line. Kathryn Miles brings to light some important issues surrounding the current condition of the AT trail and the possible effects of the new movie “A walk in the Woods” will have on the trail and it’s community.
On Facebook, I shared the story with the following lead in quote from the article – “Hikers are more self-entitled and disrespectful of the environment according to one study”. I then added my own .02, This issue is very complex and carries a double edged sword. BUT it would be less so, if those on the trail respected their surroundings, others on the trail and themselves.
My statement caused a few interesting comments.
Let me start my rant with full discloser, I am not a hiker in the true sense of the word. When I’m “hiking”, I normally have gun, camera or fishing rod in hand. The walking aspect is to get from point A to a funner point B. (I know it ain’t a word, but I wish it was)
From what I have been reading about the AT trail, there appears to be a large disrespect for the natural environment surrounding the trail, other hikers and generally less than perfect behavior by some of the hikers. To the extent, I do not know for I’ve not seen it firsthand. A major concern with those in the know is the pending increased traffic on the AT following the release of the movie “A Walk In the Woods.”
However, I do see this behavior as part of a larger problem. And that is the continued generational growth of disconnection between nature and the general public. Of all places, my recent reading of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, provided some thoughts on this matter.
“The stars were shining, and the leaves rustled in the woods ever so mournful; and I heard an owl, away off, who-whooing about somebody that was dead, and a whippowill and a dog crying about somebody that was going to die; and the wind was trying to whisper something to me, and I couldn’t make out what it was, and so it made the cold shivers run over me.”
Huck had a connection to the natural world around him, he was not afraid; rather he heard the sounds of the night, understanding them, at least in his own special perception.
After a long day of paddling, dinner is served, water front style.
Children born in the 1990s are quickly becoming adults. Adults who cannot survive without air conditioning. Adults who cannot name the species of trees in their own backyard. Adults who cannot recognize the simpliest bird species. Adults who have never walked in the woods when not on a marked or paved trail. Adults who cannot name the crops in the fields. Adults who have never experienced a night sleeping under the stars in an open field.
So how can we expect these adults to respect something they do not know or understand?
The two conflicting issues concerning the AT Trail is the current disrespectful use of the trail, the overuse of the trail and the pending Government regulations attempting to control things.
But the way I see it, the issue goes much deeper than the use of a path in the mountains.
