Season Two of The Green Tunnel podcast, produced here at R2 Studios, launched today. In this season we will be focused on the larger question of who the Appalachian Trail is for and will come at that question from a variety of directions. When Benton MacKaye first proposed the trail in 1921, he wanted it to be a place for working class people to get away for a few hours or a few days, to get some fresh air, and to experience the healing power of time under the trees. Today’s trail, visited by millions of people each year, is a complex place with overlapping audiences and identities. MacKaye likely would have been very surprised to see the diversity in the hiking population—diversity that cuts as many ways as you can count.
To help our listeners make sense of the historical context of that diversity, we’ve put together fifteen new episodes (plus bonus content). Some of those new episodes consider how technological change, changing attitudes about race, the commitment of trail clubs to making the trail more accessible for more people, and shifting perceptions of the indigenous presence along the trail have shaped the hiker experience. We’re also looking at how aspects of the trail’s history have been intentionally erased by those in charge of this famous national park.
Season One was a big success, with more than 35,000 downloads (a number that continues to grow). This season we’ll be introducing you to new voices, new locations, and stories that challenge you perceptions of what the Appalachian Trail has been and is today. Along the way we hope our listeners will develop a new appreciation for the many ways that the history of the Appalachian Trail is a truly American story – in all the ways that the American story is good and not so good.
If you aren’t already following the podcast, now is a great time to sign in on any of your favorite podcast platforms, search for The Green Tunnel, subscribe and begin listening! You can also keep up with The Green Tunnel and other R2 Studios news by following the studios on Twitter @R2PodStudios.