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Jim Hallsey: The Mountains-to-Sea Trail is an idea that was
generated in the early 70s as part of the North Carolina Trail
System. And from that network selected the most viable route that
would extend from the Great Smoky Mountains all the way to the
Outer Banks. It's an idea that captures people's imagination, it's
an idea that has enlisted hundreds of volunteers and that really is
the heart and soul of the trail. The trail is a physical path. The
land that it goes through is a physical area. But the people who
love it and build it and maintain it are really the heart and soul
of it.
Kate Dixon: It's been an extremely challenging project, as you
would imagine, to build a thousand-mile trail across the state.
But that idea, people just wouldn't let it die, and just kept
working on it. It looks really rural but we're right in the heart
of the triangle. And this is accessible by, you know, half a
million people really really easily.
Jim: One of the primary goals we had at the outset was to envision
what people'd like to be able to experience outside of their cars.
I think that as we are an aging population that more and more
people are looking for ways to stay active and healthy and outdoor
trails and outdoor parks and recreation pursuits are a major way
that that can occur.
Kate: The neatest thing about it is that you really see North
Carolina. They think of the state as this extraordinarily
beautiful and diverse place. And the trail represents that. The
Mountains-to-Sea trail is helping protect North Carolina's
environment because it really will create this continuous corridor
of protected land throughout the state. And that's what actually
makes it one of the most challenging projects, too.
Jim: How do you maintain a long-distance trail that traverses
numerous counties, numerous jurisdictions, federal lands, state
and local government lands, and some private property. From the
outset, the trail would succeed if and where people locally took
pride in it.
Kate: What I'm certain of is that this trail is going to become
more and more enjoyable, and more and more people are going to be
out using it and seeing North Carolina one step at a time.
Jim: I think the human spirit is what inspires us to do this type
of work. Not only for ourselves but for those who will follow us
literally. We, as volunteers, now believe in leaving a legacy.
That we know that this trail that we've eked out on the side of
the mountain, the side of the Blue Ridge Parkway, will likely be
here long long past our time. And that's inspiring. There really
is a unique sense of accomplishment when you are a part of
something bigger than you are as an individual.