S1E19: Who is the American Perimeter Trail?
Listen to full episode :
We have the privilege of speaking with Rue and Leliah from the American Perimeter Trail!
Today we begin the show be diving into the steps around creating a long distance trail as well as how to spread awareness when travelling through communities that rarely if ever see backpackers. We unpack stories of being detained, and while it may sound scary, how unfortunately it can become a necessity when trying to introduce the concept of hiking, backpacking, and long distance travel into communities where as Rue stated it, "curiosity can either lead to love or to fear."
We dive deep, incredibly deep, into the amount of isolation that Rue had to experience while he was out routing the trail through 2020 and 2021. Due to the pandemic coupled with the route being new, this lead to extreme cases of isolation. Where his only human contact was picking up a resupply box at a Post Office every one to two weeks as well as his daily check in with Leliah when cell service allowed. We hear both sides of this experience from Rue and Leliah. We unpack how it is an amazing privilege to be the person of support, but also an incredible responsibility. Leliah says it best when she says, "The APT doesn't exist without you, we need you to take care of you."
We dive incredibly deep on this subject, because while it is heavy material, it is extremely powerful to learn the mindset, see the growth, and experience the thought through these moments.
We chat about Rue's progression as a hiker and after his completion of The Triple Crown (Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail) years ago, how he stood in New Mexico feeling... well feeling empty, with the thought of "what am I doing here?" We learn how the American Perimeter Trail became his art, his connection, his community, his meaning, his family.
We also talk about Texas. Yes, Texas. Where huge percentages of the land is privately owned and the struggles of routing a trail through there. As Rue described it Texas became his freestyling routing, which means, each day he did not yet know where he would sleep, instead having to navigate and define the route in the moment. Many times asking individual land owners for permissions to cross the land.
We wrap up the show as well as these notes with a disclaimer. There is confusion within the hiking community as to what the actual APT route is, understandably so due to its massive length at 12,000+ miles. What we can say from our chat, and how we can most accurately state it is, the trail is ever growing. The current maps on their website are not "gospel." Rue went out these past few years to route, and now is in the process of compiling, creating, and puzzle piecing in together the "completed" route. Yet, with a trail of this size, each year there will be changes, land will switch hands, routes will change. The APT is still growing, has just begun, it will continue to change. Current maps are "scouting route" not finalized route.
FAVORTIE QUOTES:
"The trail is my teacher, the greatest privilege and education of my life"
"This is my family"
"Maybe I could beat being a human"
To learn more about the American Perimeter Trail check out the links below:
Website: American Perimeter Trail
Instagram, Facebook, YouTube: @AmericanPerimeterTrail
To learn more about who we are click the link below:
Website: https://www.elevenskys.com/
Don't forget to leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts if you are enjoying the show! All weirdness not only welcome but appreciated!