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Jeffrey H. Ryan Hiker Author Photographer Speaker Podcaster Director

New Podcast Explores History of the Appalachian Trail

Professor Mills Kelly of George Mason University and his team have put together a wonderful podcast series about the history of the Appalachian Trail. If you’ve ever wondered how the trail came into being or what went on behind the scenes to get it built, this is a great place to start. I look forward […]

Gathland — Where history and the Appalachian Trail cross paths

During the Civil War, a twenty-year-old correspondent named George Townsend rose to become the leading journalist of his era. “Gath”, as he called himself, made a fortune, particularly because of his book entitled, The Life, Crime and Capture of John Wilkes Booth. During his prestigious newspaper career, he wrote for the Philadelphia Inquirer, the New […]

The creation of the AT changed hiking history

Photo of Smokey Mountains ©2017JeffRyanAuthor.com

The creation of the Appalachian Trail set a number of precedents. It was the first multi-state super trail. It was envisioned as both a recreational and economic asset. And it was built and maintained through the creation of groundbreaking partnerships – a model that remains intact today. My article for the Partnership for the National […]