On the trail a history of American hiking

In the mid-nineteenth century urban walking clubs emerged in the United States. A little more than a century later, tens of millions of Americans were hiking on trails blazed in every region of the country. This groundbreaking book is the first full account of the unique history of the American hiki...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chamberlin, Silas
Format: Books Print Book
Language:English
Published: New Haven : Yale University Press, [2016]
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Summary:In the mid-nineteenth century urban walking clubs emerged in the United States. A little more than a century later, tens of millions of Americans were hiking on trails blazed in every region of the country. This groundbreaking book is the first full account of the unique history of the American hiking community and its rich, nationwide culture. Delving into unexplored archives, including those of the Appalachian Mountain Club, Sierra Club, Green Mountain Club, and many others, Silas Chamberlin recounts the activities of hikers who over many decades formed clubs, built trails, and advocated for environmental protection. He also discusses the shifting attitudes of the late 1960s and early 1970s when ideas about traditional volunteerism shifted and new hikers came to see trail blazing and maintenance as government responsibilities. Chamberlin explores the implications for hiking groups, future club leaders, and the millions of others who find happiness, inspiration, and better health on America's trails.
Physical Description:xx, 243 pages : illustrations, maps ; 22 cm
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:0300219113
9780300219111
Author Notes:Silas Chamberlin is an independent scholar who speaks and writes widely about past and current trail policy.