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December 25, 2006
Lebanon Mountain Trail assisted by
Georgia Appalachian Trail Club volunteer
This past summer, Georgia Appalachian Trail Club volunteer Marianne Skeen was joined by the Executive Director of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy - Dave Startzell, and Maine Appalachian Trail Club volunteer David B. Field on a trip to Lebanon to provide technical assistance to the Lebanese people. The Lebanese are building a hiking trail to connect villages to a series of nature reserves. This trail would serve as an incentive for tourism, and also provide recreational opportunities to the local people. The Lebanon Mountain Trail is based on the same concept that inspired the Appalachian Trail. This project received funding from the United States through USAID. While the volunteers were in Lebanon, hostilities broke out between Hezbollah and Israel, and Marianne, Dave and David had to be evacuated from the country.
In early November, Marianne - who has been involved with the Southern Appalachians Initiative - was interviewed by National Public Radio. To listen to this inspirational and hopeful interview, please visit the NPR website. To download a PDF copy of a story entitled Crossing Borders, which originally appeared in the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's publication AT Journeys, please click here.
Here at American Hiking Society, we take our hats off to Marianne, Dave and David, and applaud them for their efforts. Thank you for showing the Lebanese people some of the best aspects of America. The indomitable spirit of the trail volunteer!
Hiking Stories | By Jeffrey Hunter | 09:04 AM
