so here we are in the middle of the Caucasus Mountains this incredible
Caucasus Mountains this incredible
Caucasus Mountains this incredible tangled knot of mountains stretching
tangled knot of mountains stretching
tangled knot of mountains stretching from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea
from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea
from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea and I’ve been spending a lot of time in
and I’ve been spending a lot of time in
and I’ve been spending a lot of time in these mountains over the past couple of
these mountains over the past couple of
these mountains over the past couple of years working on a project called the
years working on a project called the
years working on a project called the trans Caucasian Trail and the goal is to
trans Caucasian Trail and the goal is to
trans Caucasian Trail and the goal is to build a hiking trail that will stretch
build a hiking trail that will stretch
build a hiking trail that will stretch from C to C across these mountains
from C to C across these mountains
from C to C across these mountains connecting the national parks of the
connecting the national parks of the
connecting the national parks of the region into one single network of
region into one single network of
region into one single network of long-distance hiking trails so what I’ve
long-distance hiking trails so what I’ve
long-distance hiking trails so what I’ve realized over the past couple of years
realized over the past couple of years
realized over the past couple of years is that this idea is a really powerful
is that this idea is a really powerful
is that this idea is a really powerful idea it’s a big idea it’s really
idea it’s a big idea it’s really
idea it’s a big idea it’s really ambitious but the powerful thing about
ambitious but the powerful thing about
ambitious but the powerful thing about it is that it brings people together
it is that it brings people together
it is that it brings people together behind one single idea a lot of people
behind one single idea a lot of people
behind one single idea a lot of people want to participate in an ambitious idea
want to participate in an ambitious idea
want to participate in an ambitious idea they want to get involved they want to
they want to get involved they want to
they want to get involved they want to get their hands dirty and get it pushed
get their hands dirty and get it pushed
get their hands dirty and get it pushed the idea forward to make it a reality
the idea forward to make it a reality
the idea forward to make it a reality even when you think it’s impossible so
even when you think it’s impossible so
even when you think it’s impossible so that’s what I want to talk about today
that’s what I want to talk about today
that’s what I want to talk about today is about building a trail but also about
is about building a trail but also about
is about building a trail but also about building a community around the trail
building a community around the trail
building a community around the trail that will really push that idea forward
that will really push that idea forward
that will really push that idea forward now first a little bit about these
now first a little bit about these
now first a little bit about these mountains that we call home I know I
mountains that we call home I know I
mountains that we call home I know I don’t need to educate anyone in this
don’t need to educate anyone in this
don’t need to educate anyone in this room about the caucuses but I did want
room about the caucuses but I did want
room about the caucuses but I did want to mention some astonishing facts this
to mention some astonishing facts this
to mention some astonishing facts this mountain range is relatively compact
mountain range is relatively compact
mountain range is relatively compact mountain range about a thousand
mountain range about a thousand
mountain range about a thousand kilometres from east to west a thousand
kilometres from east to west a thousand
kilometres from east to west a thousand kilometers from north to south but in
kilometers from north to south but in
kilometers from north to south but in that small area you have some of the
that small area you have some of the
that small area you have some of the largest ecological and cultural
largest ecological and cultural
largest ecological and cultural diversity in the world it’s actually one
diversity in the world it’s actually one
diversity in the world it’s actually one of the most linguists went
of the most linguists went
of the most linguists went linguistically diverse regions of the
linguistically diverse regions of the
linguistically diverse regions of the world with over a dozen indigenous
world with over a dozen indigenous
world with over a dozen indigenous languages spoken and it’s the most
languages spoken and it’s the most
languages spoken and it’s the most ecologically rich area of the world per
ecologically rich area of the world per
ecologically rich area of the world per kilometer outside of the tropics and the
kilometer outside of the tropics and the
kilometer outside of the tropics and the variety of landscapes is just incredible
variety of landscapes is just incredible
variety of landscapes is just incredible I mean imagine being able to spend a
I mean imagine being able to spend a
I mean imagine being able to spend a month or two months or three months
month or two months or three months
month or two months or three months hiking across the caucuses from the
hiking across the caucuses from the
hiking across the caucuses from the glaciers and forests
glaciers and forests
glaciers and forests vanetti to the subtropical rainforest of
vanetti to the subtropical rainforest of
vanetti to the subtropical rainforest of Adjara
Adjara
Adjara across to the volcanic plateau in
across to the volcanic plateau in
across to the volcanic plateau in armenia or the wide open valleys of
armenia or the wide open valleys of
armenia or the wide open valleys of Tusheti in eastern Georgia on to the
Tusheti in eastern Georgia on to the
Tusheti in eastern Georgia on to the high step in Azerbaijan it would be
high step in Azerbaijan it would be
high step in Azerbaijan it would be incredible right I know you’re all
incredible right I know you’re all
incredible right I know you’re all convinced the pictures are convincing
convinced the pictures are convincing
convinced the pictures are convincing enough themselves now I’m sort of an
enough themselves now I’m sort of an
enough themselves now I’m sort of an unlikely advocate for building a trail
unlikely advocate for building a trail
unlikely advocate for building a trail across the caucuses I’m not from the
across the caucuses I’m not from the
across the caucuses I’m not from the Caucasus unfortunately I’m from the
Caucasus unfortunately I’m from the
Caucasus unfortunately I’m from the cornfields of Indiana in the US but I
cornfields of Indiana in the US but I
cornfields of Indiana in the US but I first came to Georgia in 2005 as a Peace
first came to Georgia in 2005 as a Peace
first came to Georgia in 2005 as a Peace Corps volunteer and I taught English for
Corps volunteer and I taught English for
Corps volunteer and I taught English for two years in a small village on the
two years in a small village on the
two years in a small village on the Black Sea coast called jutsu Bonnie and
Black Sea coast called jutsu Bonnie and
Black Sea coast called jutsu Bonnie and when I wasn’t busy teaching English I
when I wasn’t busy teaching English I
when I wasn’t busy teaching English I was out walking in the hills above my
was out walking in the hills above my
was out walking in the hills above my village exploring the mountains and
village exploring the mountains and
village exploring the mountains and getting to know Georgia and that’s how I
getting to know Georgia and that’s how I
getting to know Georgia and that’s how I really got to know Georgia was on foot
really got to know Georgia was on foot
really got to know Georgia was on foot walking around meeting people speaking
walking around meeting people speaking
walking around meeting people speaking Georgian drinking wine and I’ve always
Georgian drinking wine and I’ve always
Georgian drinking wine and I’ve always loved walking when I was a teenager I
loved walking when I was a teenager I
loved walking when I was a teenager I would convince my brothers to drive down
would convince my brothers to drive down
would convince my brothers to drive down in the summertime to the Smoky Mountains
in the summertime to the Smoky Mountains
in the summertime to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee which were the closest
in Tennessee which were the closest
in Tennessee which were the closest mountains to where I lived and we would
mountains to where I lived and we would
mountains to where I lived and we would go backpacking along the Appalachian
go backpacking along the Appalachian
go backpacking along the Appalachian Trail there and the Appalachian Trail is
Trail there and the Appalachian Trail is
Trail there and the Appalachian Trail is a long trail in the u.s. stretches for
a long trail in the u.s. stretches for
a long trail in the u.s. stretches for about 3,500 kilometers along the ridge
about 3,500 kilometers along the ridge
about 3,500 kilometers along the ridge of the Appalachian Mountains
of the Appalachian Mountains
of the Appalachian Mountains and when we were walking on that trail I
and when we were walking on that trail I
and when we were walking on that trail I was just captivated by that idea that
was just captivated by that idea that
was just captivated by that idea that you could keep going for weeks or months
you could keep going for weeks or months
you could keep going for weeks or months and along that same trail and I really
and along that same trail and I really
and along that same trail and I really carried that with me later in life and
carried that with me later in life and
carried that with me later in life and after Peace Corps I ended up moving back
after Peace Corps I ended up moving back
after Peace Corps I ended up moving back to stupidy and working here and
to stupidy and working here and
to stupidy and working here and exploring more of the national parks in
exploring more of the national parks in
exploring more of the national parks in the region visiting Azerbaijan and
the region visiting Azerbaijan and
the region visiting Azerbaijan and Armenia visiting the mountain regions of
Armenia visiting the mountain regions of
Armenia visiting the mountain regions of Spawn Eddie and Tusheti and Racha and
Spawn Eddie and Tusheti and Racha and
Spawn Eddie and Tusheti and Racha and that’s when I really started to think
that’s when I really started to think
that’s when I really started to think about maybe it would be possible to
about maybe it would be possible to
about maybe it would be possible to create a long-distance trail here in the
create a long-distance trail here in the
create a long-distance trail here in the caucuses so I was kicking that idea
caucuses so I was kicking that idea
caucuses so I was kicking that idea around in the back of my head for a
around in the back of my head for a
around in the back of my head for a couple of years and in 2015 I decided
couple of years and in 2015 I decided
couple of years and in 2015 I decided you know what I’m gonna try and just
you know what I’m gonna try and just
you know what I’m gonna try and just put this idea out there see what happens
put this idea out there see what happens
put this idea out there see what happens so me and my friend Jeff hack who was
so me and my friend Jeff hack who was
so me and my friend Jeff hack who was another Peace Corps volunteer with me we
another Peace Corps volunteer with me we
another Peace Corps volunteer with me we decided to spend the summer looking for
decided to spend the summer looking for
decided to spend the summer looking for trails that cross these mountains and we
trails that cross these mountains and we
trails that cross these mountains and we you know got our maps and our backpacks
you know got our maps and our backpacks
you know got our maps and our backpacks together we headed out into the
together we headed out into the
together we headed out into the mountains we had this big plan that we
mountains we had this big plan that we
mountains we had this big plan that we were gonna cross the caucuses and we
were gonna cross the caucuses and we
were gonna cross the caucuses and we weren’t starting from scratch
weren’t starting from scratch
weren’t starting from scratch of course because people have been
of course because people have been
of course because people have been crossing these mountains for centuries
crossing these mountains for centuries
crossing these mountains for centuries and there’s ancient trails that go
and there’s ancient trails that go
and there’s ancient trails that go between villages and trails that have
between villages and trails that have
between villages and trails that have been created by by trekkers more
been created by by trekkers more
been created by by trekkers more recently and there’s this wonderful
recently and there’s this wonderful
recently and there’s this wonderful community of mappers and explorers in
community of mappers and explorers in
community of mappers and explorers in the caucuses that have done a lot to
the caucuses that have done a lot to
the caucuses that have done a lot to develop those trails recently to mark
develop those trails recently to mark
develop those trails recently to mark them and map them but we quickly learned
them and map them but we quickly learned
them and map them but we quickly learned that there were a lot of gaps and even
that there were a lot of gaps and even
that there were a lot of gaps and even where there were trails the trails were
where there were trails the trails were
where there were trails the trails were in pretty bad condition it was really
in pretty bad condition it was really
in pretty bad condition it was really hard to walk them and if you actually
hard to walk them and if you actually
hard to walk them and if you actually wanted people crossing the Coxes hiking
wanted people crossing the Coxes hiking
wanted people crossing the Coxes hiking this long-distance trail they would
this long-distance trail they would
this long-distance trail they would really need to be improved so we failed
really need to be improved so we failed
really need to be improved so we failed pretty miserably in our goal of crossing
pretty miserably in our goal of crossing
pretty miserably in our goal of crossing the caucuses that summer but we we found
the caucuses that summer but we we found
the caucuses that summer but we we found a lot of really great resources we found
a lot of really great resources we found
a lot of really great resources we found a lot of really amazing unknown routes
a lot of really amazing unknown routes
a lot of really amazing unknown routes and most importantly we met a lot of
and most importantly we met a lot of
and most importantly we met a lot of people who were really inspired by the
people who were really inspired by the
people who were really inspired by the site by this idea of a trans Caucasian
site by this idea of a trans Caucasian
site by this idea of a trans Caucasian Trail and really wanted to help us make
Trail and really wanted to help us make
Trail and really wanted to help us make it happen even some people who had had
it happen even some people who had had
it happen even some people who had had the similar idea themselves like my
the similar idea themselves like my
the similar idea themselves like my colleague Tom Allen in Armenia who had
colleague Tom Allen in Armenia who had
colleague Tom Allen in Armenia who had had a similar idea of creating a
had a similar idea of creating a
had a similar idea of creating a long-distance trail across Armenia and
long-distance trail across Armenia and
long-distance trail across Armenia and he is working to develop the trail there
he is working to develop the trail there
he is working to develop the trail there now so we were so inspired by all of
now so we were so inspired by all of
now so we were so inspired by all of these people who wanted to get involved
these people who wanted to get involved
these people who wanted to get involved that the next summer in 2016 we decided
that the next summer in 2016 we decided
that the next summer in 2016 we decided we’re actually going to try and improve
we’re actually going to try and improve
we’re actually going to try and improve one of these big sections of trail and
one of these big sections of trail and
one of these big sections of trail and we chose this section of trail in
we chose this section of trail in
we chose this section of trail in western smadi west of mestia because a
western smadi west of mestia because a
western smadi west of mestia because a lot of people are hiking east from
lot of people are hiking east from
lot of people are hiking east from mestia to SchoolI but really nobody was
mestia to SchoolI but really nobody was
mestia to SchoolI but really nobody was hiking this trail in western society it
hiking this trail in western society it
hiking this trail in western society it was in really bad condition it was hard
was in really bad condition it was hard
was in really bad condition it was hard to find nobody really knew about it so
to find nobody really knew about it so
to find nobody really knew about it so we knew we’d need trail crews to go out
we knew we’d need trail crews to go out
we knew we’d need trail crews to go out there and help us and
there and help us and
there and help us and prove this trail and we put out a call
prove this trail and we put out a call
prove this trail and we put out a call for volunteers we told people we’re
for volunteers we told people we’re
for volunteers we told people we’re gonna be working in the mountains it’s
gonna be working in the mountains it’s
gonna be working in the mountains it’s gonna be cold it’s gonna be wet it’s
gonna be cold it’s gonna be wet it’s
gonna be cold it’s gonna be wet it’s gonna be uncomfortable you’re probably
gonna be uncomfortable you’re probably
gonna be uncomfortable you’re probably gonna be miserable but remarkably we had
gonna be miserable but remarkably we had
gonna be miserable but remarkably we had 20 people from a dozen different
20 people from a dozen different
20 people from a dozen different countries sign up to come out and
countries sign up to come out and
countries sign up to come out and volunteer and work on these trail crews
volunteer and work on these trail crews
volunteer and work on these trail crews including people from from Georgia and
including people from from Georgia and
including people from from Georgia and we also had a crowdfunding campaign at
we also had a crowdfunding campaign at
we also had a crowdfunding campaign at the same time to raise money to buy
the same time to raise money to buy
the same time to raise money to buy tools and to hire a trail design expert
tools and to hire a trail design expert
tools and to hire a trail design expert who would help us improve this trail and
who would help us improve this trail and
who would help us improve this trail and dozens of people from around the world
dozens of people from around the world
dozens of people from around the world and some people here in this room
and some people here in this room
and some people here in this room contributed to that at giving ten fifty
contributed to that at giving ten fifty
contributed to that at giving ten fifty dollars a hundred dollars to help us
dollars a hundred dollars to help us
dollars a hundred dollars to help us make it happen so we gathered insanity
make it happen so we gathered insanity
make it happen so we gathered insanity and we got to work and we got to work
and we got to work and we got to work
and we got to work and we got to work building bridges building drains and
building bridges building drains and
building bridges building drains and check steps and building new trail and
check steps and building new trail and
check steps and building new trail and it was really hard work but it was also
it was really hard work but it was also
it was really hard work but it was also a really good time most of the
a really good time most of the
a really good time most of the volunteers had never done work like this
volunteers had never done work like this
volunteers had never done work like this before and they ranged in age from early
before and they ranged in age from early
before and they ranged in age from early 20s into their 60s and despite all of
20s into their 60s and despite all of
20s into their 60s and despite all of the the hard work and the fact that we
the the hard work and the fact that we
the the hard work and the fact that we had to carry in our own food we had to
had to carry in our own food we had to
had to carry in our own food we had to sleep in tents at night everybody had a
sleep in tents at night everybody had a
sleep in tents at night everybody had a really amazing time I think there’s
really amazing time I think there’s
really amazing time I think there’s something really special about spending
something really special about spending
something really special about spending time out in the mountains spending time
time out in the mountains spending time
time out in the mountains spending time in nature doing physical labor and
in nature doing physical labor and
in nature doing physical labor and working together without the
working together without the
working together without the distractions of cell phones and the
distractions of cell phones and the
distractions of cell phones and the internet that really brings people
internet that really brings people
internet that really brings people together you know I’ve never seen a
together you know I’ve never seen a
together you know I’ve never seen a group of people come together as fast as
group of people come together as fast as
group of people come together as fast as a trail crew they learned to work
a trail crew they learned to work
a trail crew they learned to work together and communicate and solve
together and communicate and solve
together and communicate and solve problems despite all of their
problems despite all of their
problems despite all of their differences in age and gender and
differences in age and gender and
differences in age and gender and nationality and experience so we were
nationality and experience so we were
nationality and experience so we were really successful last summer that we
really successful last summer that we
really successful last summer that we continued the program again this summer
continued the program again this summer
continued the program again this summer but we expanded it we worked in sweaty
but we expanded it we worked in sweaty
but we expanded it we worked in sweaty and also in diligent Park in Armenia and
and also in diligent Park in Armenia and
and also in diligent Park in Armenia and we had over a hundred
we had over a hundred
we had over a hundred 20 volunteers from 17 different
20 volunteers from 17 different
20 volunteers from 17 different countries come here throughout the
countries come here throughout the
countries come here throughout the summer and including dozens of people
summer and including dozens of people
summer and including dozens of people from Georgia and Armenia working on our
from Georgia and Armenia working on our
from Georgia and Armenia working on our trail crews up in the mountains and we
trail crews up in the mountains and we
trail crews up in the mountains and we wanted to continue to expand this
wanted to continue to expand this
wanted to continue to expand this volunteer program and get even more
volunteer program and get even more
volunteer program and get even more people from the region involved next
people from the region involved next
people from the region involved next summer because I think it’s a really
summer because I think it’s a really
summer because I think it’s a really special thing to have people from across
special thing to have people from across
special thing to have people from across the caucuses coming together and working
the caucuses coming together and working
the caucuses coming together and working on something that benefits the region
on something that benefits the region
on something that benefits the region together now of course we built bonds as
together now of course we built bonds as
together now of course we built bonds as a trail crew but we also one of the
a trail crew but we also one of the
a trail crew but we also one of the really special things about this project
really special things about this project
really special things about this project has been building connections with the
has been building connections with the
has been building connections with the communities that the trail passes
communities that the trail passes
communities that the trail passes through itself and a good example of
through itself and a good example of
through itself and a good example of that is the community of collaging in
that is the community of collaging in
that is the community of collaging in span ID and my friend Valeri who who
span ID and my friend Valeri who who
span ID and my friend Valeri who who lives there who I met two years ago when
lives there who I met two years ago when
lives there who I met two years ago when I was scouting trails and spa netting
I was scouting trails and spa netting
I was scouting trails and spa netting and I was trying to find the trail to
and I was trying to find the trail to
and I was trying to find the trail to catch cold ah she I I was going from
catch cold ah she I I was going from
catch cold ah she I I was going from Soleri small village down into a river
Soleri small village down into a river
Soleri small village down into a river valley and there was this raging river
valley and there was this raging river
valley and there was this raging river that was fed by the early summer
that was fed by the early summer
that was fed by the early summer snowmelt and I couldn’t figure out a way
snowmelt and I couldn’t figure out a way
snowmelt and I couldn’t figure out a way to cross it I couldn’t find the bridge
to cross it I couldn’t find the bridge
to cross it I couldn’t find the bridge and it started raining and I was
and it started raining and I was
and it started raining and I was wandering through the stinging nettles
wandering through the stinging nettles
wandering through the stinging nettles and it was really kind of miserable so I
and it was really kind of miserable so I
and it was really kind of miserable so I decided you know what I’m turning around
decided you know what I’m turning around
decided you know what I’m turning around I’m going back to the to the village I
I’m going back to the to the village I
I’m going back to the to the village I came from and when I got back to the
came from and when I got back to the
came from and when I got back to the village I called up Jeff and I told him
village I called up Jeff and I told him
village I called up Jeff and I told him I couldn’t find a way and he was
I couldn’t find a way and he was
I couldn’t find a way and he was supposed to meet me in the next village
supposed to meet me in the next village
supposed to meet me in the next village and he said he’d met this guy Valeri who
and he said he’d met this guy Valeri who
and he said he’d met this guy Valeri who says said he could come and and help me
says said he could come and and help me
says said he could come and and help me find the bridge so they gave me some
find the bridge so they gave me some
find the bridge so they gave me some directions and I wandered back down
directions and I wandered back down
directions and I wandered back down towards the river for about 40 minutes
towards the river for about 40 minutes
towards the river for about 40 minutes and then suddenly this guy emerges from
and then suddenly this guy emerges from
and then suddenly this guy emerges from the mist and he takes me by the hand and
the mist and he takes me by the hand and
the mist and he takes me by the hand and shows me the bridge and takes me up the
shows me the bridge and takes me up the
shows me the bridge and takes me up the trail to his village and when we get
trail to his village and when we get
trail to his village and when we get there
there
there his wife is there and his grandchildren
his wife is there and his grandchildren
his wife is there and his grandchildren and they bring me inside they let me dry
and they bring me inside they let me dry
and they bring me inside they let me dry out dry all with my clothes and warm up
out dry all with my clothes and warm up
out dry all with my clothes and warm up and they made a huge meal and as we were
and they made a huge meal and as we were
and they made a huge meal and as we were sitting there sharing this meal we
sitting there sharing this meal we
sitting there sharing this meal we learned that Valeri and his wife Mauro
learned that Valeri and his wife Mauro
learned that Valeri and his wife Mauro are the last people to
are the last people to
are the last people to in the village Kakashi the village has
in the village Kakashi the village has
in the village Kakashi the village has been there for centuries they actually
been there for centuries they actually
been there for centuries they actually have an 800 year old church in their
have an 800 year old church in their
have an 800 year old church in their backyard
backyard
backyard and when Valeri was born there in the
and when Valeri was born there in the
and when Valeri was born there in the 50s there were about a dozen families he
50s there were about a dozen families he
50s there were about a dozen families he said still living in the village but
said still living in the village but
said still living in the village but over the years young people moved to the
over the years young people moved to the
over the years young people moved to the cities the older people in the village
cities the older people in the village
cities the older people in the village died off and a lot of families left in
died off and a lot of families left in
died off and a lot of families left in the 80s after some really hard winters
the 80s after some really hard winters
the 80s after some really hard winters and spaghetti and now it’s just Valeri
and spaghetti and now it’s just Valeri
and spaghetti and now it’s just Valeri and Mauro and as we were sitting there
and Mauro and as we were sitting there
and Mauro and as we were sitting there sharing this meal with them I just
sharing this meal with them I just
sharing this meal with them I just thought it was such a privilege to be
thought it was such a privilege to be
thought it was such a privilege to be there and to experience this hospitality
there and to experience this hospitality
there and to experience this hospitality and to get to know this village which is
and to get to know this village which is
and to get to know this village which is kind of on its last legs and I wanted to
kind of on its last legs and I wanted to
kind of on its last legs and I wanted to do whatever I could to share that
do whatever I could to share that
do whatever I could to share that experience with other people and so this
experience with other people and so this
experience with other people and so this summer we actually we brought volunteers
summer we actually we brought volunteers
summer we actually we brought volunteers back to Quito Kobashi we worked on a
back to Quito Kobashi we worked on a
back to Quito Kobashi we worked on a section of trail that had been washed
section of trail that had been washed
section of trail that had been washed out by landslides and Valeri helped us
out by landslides and Valeri helped us
out by landslides and Valeri helped us replace the bridge that he had showed me
replace the bridge that he had showed me
replace the bridge that he had showed me two years ago because it had also been
two years ago because it had also been
two years ago because it had also been damaged in a flood and we camped near
damaged in a flood and we camped near
damaged in a flood and we camped near the village Valeri brought us milk in
the village Valeri brought us milk in
the village Valeri brought us milk in the evening and at the end of the week
the evening and at the end of the week
the evening and at the end of the week we all shared a meal together and it was
we all shared a meal together and it was
we all shared a meal together and it was an incredible experience to to have the
an incredible experience to to have the
an incredible experience to to have the volunteers there and it was really
volunteers there and it was really
volunteers there and it was really special for Valeri and Mauro too because
special for Valeri and Mauro too because
special for Valeri and Mauro too because they could see the possibility of some
they could see the possibility of some
they could see the possibility of some life returning to their village and
life returning to their village and
life returning to their village and Valeri said he thought that if we had
Valeri said he thought that if we had
Valeri said he thought that if we had more people visiting more tourists it
more people visiting more tourists it
more people visiting more tourists it might be a reason that other families
might be a reason that other families
might be a reason that other families would return to the village at least for
would return to the village at least for
would return to the village at least for the summer and so it was when we were
the summer and so it was when we were
the summer and so it was when we were working with Valeri this summer that I
working with Valeri this summer that I
working with Valeri this summer that I really started to think as the trip of
really started to think as the trip of
really started to think as the trip of the trail itself as a community you know
the trail itself as a community you know
the trail itself as a community you know the trail you might walk it alone but
the trail you might walk it alone but
the trail you might walk it alone but it’s really a record of all the people
it’s really a record of all the people
it’s really a record of all the people who have come before you and it’s there
who have come before you and it’s there
who have come before you and it’s there for all the people who are gonna come
for all the people who are gonna come
for all the people who are gonna come after you it’s all the people who work
after you it’s all the people who work
after you it’s all the people who work together to help improve it it’s all the
together to help improve it it’s all the
together to help improve it it’s all the people you hike with but also all the
people you hike with but also all the
people you hike with but also all the people that you meet along the way and
people that you meet along the way and
people that you meet along the way and when you have that in mind it really
when you have that in mind it really
when you have that in mind it really makes the trail into something much more
makes the trail into something much more
makes the trail into something much more than a strip of dirt and a series of
than a strip of dirt and a series of
than a strip of dirt and a series of bridges and signs and blazes it’s really
bridges and signs and blazes it’s really
bridges and signs and blazes it’s really a way for people to
a way for people to
a way for people to connect with the mountains communities
connect with the mountains communities
connect with the mountains communities to connect with each other and for
to connect with each other and for
to connect with each other and for people from around the region and around
people from around the region and around
people from around the region and around the world to connect with each other and
the world to connect with each other and
the world to connect with each other and so I think we usually think of mountains
so I think we usually think of mountains
so I think we usually think of mountains as barriers as boundaries and they are
as barriers as boundaries and they are
as barriers as boundaries and they are they’re what’s created all of this
they’re what’s created all of this
they’re what’s created all of this incredible diversity in the caucuses but
incredible diversity in the caucuses but
incredible diversity in the caucuses but they’re also bridges they’re what ties
they’re also bridges they’re what ties
they’re also bridges they’re what ties it all together and the mountains here
it all together and the mountains here
it all together and the mountains here are what everybody in the region has in
are what everybody in the region has in
are what everybody in the region has in common and they’re a great place –
common and they’re a great place –
common and they’re a great place – they’re big enough to make you feel
they’re big enough to make you feel
they’re big enough to make you feel small and a great place to really work
small and a great place to really work
small and a great place to really work together on something larger than
together on something larger than
together on something larger than ourselves thank you
”
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