Episode Two: Trailnames and Cherokee footpaths
This episode was published on July 2nd, 2025.
Matt goes birdwatching on the trail and discovers his trailname. The exploration of trail names continues with another thru-hiker who thru-hiked the AT to connect with the experiences of his Cherokee ancestors, and to identify ancient footpaths that overlap with the Appalachian Trail.
Guests featured in this episode:
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Gil Jackson (trailname: Doyi)
Cherokee language teacher and AT thru-hiker
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Lamar Marshall
Historian and land surveyor
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Lavita Hill
Co-organizer of the Restore Kuwohi campaign.
Learn More:
Learn more about the Restore Kuwohi campaign: kuwohi.org
Learn more about Lamar Marshall and the Indian Trails Project: mountainstewards.org/portfolio-items/indian-trails-project
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians: ebci.gov
Great Smoky Mountains National Park: nps.gov/grsm/index.htm
Smokies Life: smokieslife.org
Chili Pepper Woman and fellow thru-hikers enjoy some unexpected trail magic - breakfast on the trail.
Great Smokey Mountains National Park
Chili Pepper Woman - halfway through the Smokies!
In the clouds along the Roan Mountain ridge line.
Sunset along the TN/NC border
Just before a thunderstorm in the Roan Mountain Highlands
Episode Credits:
Produced by: The Wild Lens Collective in partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio
With Support from: Big Agnes
Producers: Matthew Podolsky, Taylor Quimby
Promotion/Social Media: Hannah Mulvany
Music by: Blue Dot Sessions
