Episodes

Welcome to The Green Tunnel, a podcast about the history of the Appalachian Trail. We're bringing you the history of the most iconic long-distance hiking trail in the United States.

Benton MacKaye dreamed up the Appalachian Trail, and Myron Avery turned that dream into a 2,000-mile trail. Their competing visions of what kind of trail the AT should be continue to be at the heart of discussions about the trail today.

In this episode of The Green Tunnel, we tell the story of the settler communities that existed along the route of the Appalachian Trail before the AT arrived.

In this Iconic Locations episode, we will explore the nine years the AT was kicked off the McAfee Knob, one of the most photographed locations along the trail.

Explore the story of three changemakers who combined led, and continue to lead, the trail through its 100 years of history.

In this Iconic Locations episode, we've got a tight squeeze for you: the Lemon Squeezer. Learn about this claustrophobic-inducing spot in the oldest section of the AT.

Bears, lightning, and Lyme...oh my! Natural danger on the Appalachian Trail is a real concern for hikers, but how much should hikers really be concerned about snakes, bears, lightning strikes, and ticks?

Trail food: it’s kind of weird. Think about it. When else do you eat freeze-dried lasagna? Or several protein bars…in one day? Probably not often.

Maryland's Washington Monument was the very first monument in the country to George Washington. It also made a cameo in the Civil War, and now it makes a great place for birdwatching.

Are hikers loving the Appalachian Trail to death? We examine the history of hiker trash - as in actual trash - on the trail.

Today's Iconic Location takes us up north to the Presidentials in New Hampshire, to the summit of Mount Washington which is known for the most terrible weather in the United States.

When you are hiking on the Appalachian Trail and it starts raining, it’s nice to know that somewhere up ahead there is a cozy shelter you can duck into. Luckily, there are more than 250 trailside shelters on the AT.

The original southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail changed in 1958 because of...chickens.

In 1930 Eiler Larsen set out on what is the first recorded attempt of what we call an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. He didn't make it in one year. He got a little distracted.

In this episode of The Green Tunnel, we present an episode of the Virginia Outdoor Adventures podcast hosted by Jessica Bowser.

In this special bonus episode of The Green Tunnel, we sat down with The Green Tunnel’s own musicians to hear from them about their connections to the traditions and music of the Appalachian mountains.

This episode of The Green Tunnel focuses on the rich culture surrounding places to eat along the Appalachian Trail and their connection to the economy within trail towns. It also contains some pretty good restaurant suggestions!

In season two of The Green Tunnel, we have some fantastic new stories for you on the history of the Appalachian Trail.

Gear is one topic that every hiker has in common with every other hiker, but the gear you see on the Appalachian Trail today is radically different from what hikers carried in the past.

Today we’re taking you to the highest peak in Massachusetts, Mount Greylock which despite being very far from an ocean has an iconic lighthouse.

Today we’re going to tell you the story of the people who lived in the Shenandoah mountains traversed by the Appalachian Trail before Shenandoah National Park.

The AT originally ran right through Monson, Maine, fueling its economy, but when the trail was moved and things threatened to change, the community established itself as a hiker haven.

Today, we’re going to be talking about something everybody does, but not everybody’s comfortable discussing. There’s no nice way to say this, other than to just get right to it. Today’s episode is about pooping along the Appalachian...

Today, we explore one of the most infamous sections of the Appalachian Trail. Get ready for the ups and downs of Northern Virginia's Roller Coaster.