Blazing Ahead: Benton MacKaye, Myron Avery, and the Rivalry That Built the Appalachian Trail

by Jeffrey H. Ryan

High and dry above the stupendous detail of our job we should hold the reason for it all. This is not to cut a path and then say Ain t it beautiful? Our job is to open a realm. Benton MacKaye The Appalachian Trail is one of America s most revered resources, a project of near-mythic proportions combining rugged natural beauty and human determination. But few know the story behind the creation of the world s longest hiking-only trail. The proposal could have died in the pages of a journal had it not been for the efforts of many people including two, in particular: Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery. While the two men shared a common goal, their vastly different personalities meant it was only a matter of time before these sometimes allies, sometimes adversaries had a falling out. Blazing Ahead: Benton MacKaye, Myron Avery, and the Rivalry That Built the Appalachian Trail tells this story in active, engaging scenes that weave history together and biography, detailing the external forces the trail builders faced: the stock market crash, World War II, and the prevailing opinions regarding wilderness and recreation. Drawing upon never before published sources from the State of Maine Archives, Blazing Ahead delves deep into the historical realities MacKaye and Avery faced. Through extensive research and vivid storytelling, this book tells the true but little-known story of a shared vision, the rivalry it bred, and the legacy of the men behind one of the nation s greatest treasures. ALSO AVAILABLE Chasing Summits, by Garry Harrington ISBN: 978-1-628420-45-6 Desperate Steps, by Peter Kick ISBN-13: 978-1-628420-09-8 Not Without Peril, by Nicholas Howe ISBN-13: 978-1-934028-32-2

Genres: Nature, History, Nonfiction, Biography

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2017

About the author

Jeffrey H Ryan is an author, adventurer, photographer and historian. He has written several books about his outdoor exploits, his fascination with hiking trails and the people and places found just off the beaten path. His debut book, Appalachian Odyssey: A 28-year hike on America’s trail was hailed by the former Executive Editor of National Geographic as “a classic of nature and travel writing” and set off a national tour (in a 1985 VW camper, no less).

His books are known for weaving a deep appreciation for history into walks across contemporary landscapes that give readers the feeling they are hiking right alongside. When Jeff isn’t trekking, chasing down a great story or spinning yarns from his keyboard, he enjoys sharing his adventures with audiences who love the outdoors. He spends much of his time in his beloved native state of Maine.

Reviews

[Jeff Mauch · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was far less interesting and exciting than I had hoped and I can't say its a story that really needed a 300 page book to be told. Sure, the author did some deep diving research to put together how the trail came about, but reading letter after letter between men arguing about minuscule things like the names of paths, the costs of printing, and how short an article must be to publish was just a bit too much. I know the author was trying to really tell us who these two men were by showing us their personalities through their correspondence and work, but it's just too much. The actual story of the trail could probably have been boiled down to an interesting and informative 50 pages without losing the reader in the weeds of meaningless correspondence.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very detailed. I have read books about people hiking the appalachian trail but i never knew what went into building the trail. Now i know the 2 of the most important people in building the trail is Benton Mackay and Myron Avery. Thanks for such a great book I enjoyed reading the book.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid hiker who has spent some much-treasured time on the AT in New England, I found this to be a fascinating book. The quality and the depth of the research impressed me the most. Learning about the personalities and the leadership styles of those principally responsible for the vision and construction of the trail, as well as the countless unpaid volunteer hours necessary to achieve the vision, has only deepened my appreciation for the trail and all who serve to maintain it today. The fact that the trail was completed during 1926-1937, given the economic situation of the time, is nothing short of astounding, and the book provides great detail of the extraordinary lengths taken by so many to achieve its completion, with particularly insightful analysis of two in particular: Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery. If you, like me, have never heard those names before, you’ll find a historical context in this book that is well worth reading.

[Katie W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ryan paints a picture of the ups and downs of the conception and implementation of the AT through the lens of two influential men: a dreamer (Benton MacKaye) and a doer (Myron Avery). This book is easy to read and had some funny bits (mostly the things Myron Avery said in his letters). Overall, I found out that I would have loved to meet Benton MacKaye, but maybe not Myron Avery.

[Drew Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Context is everything, and context is amply provided by this wonderful comparison of two very different men. In "Blazing Ahead" Jeffrey Ryan brings into focus the differing personalities of the two men most known for the creation of the Appalachian Trail: Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery. If you're a hiker familiar with the Appalachian Trail, or the AT, you probably know at least vaguely who both men are. Ryan's book, though, fleshes out the relationship between the two, presenting a warts and all viewpoint of both MacKaye and Avery.

Of special interest are the appendices which include Benton MacKaye's original article laying out the vision for the trail (Appendix A) as well as a concise listing of every work trip Myron Avery made to actually construct the AT (Appendix B). Lovers of history and the Appalachian Trail will enjoy this very well written account of the AT's early years and its creators.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a trail nerd, this is a nice resource for the origins of the AT, from it's inspiration to its completion. Ryan wanders a bit (I intend this pun absolutely) from the main subject at hand but the meat of the matter is on the bone. I subtract a star for the titular "clickbait": though there was a rivalry between Mackaye and Avery (ostensibly over whether roads should be near the trail), it wasn't as drastic as a subtitle would warrant, nor is it especially covered here. Instead, you have a historicization of two men who conceptualized the AT and worked to make it a reality.