Homer's Travels: The AT And The Adventure

Friday, April 18, 2014

The AT And The Adventure

I was perusing a blog written by a hiker currently walking the Appalachian Trail (AT).  In one of his recent pictures there was an AT symbol painted on a rock.  The AT symbol is an overlapped 'A' and 'T'.  Here is the AT symbol as part of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy logo.

Appalachian Trail Conservancy Logo with AT symbol.
When I saw it it took me back ... way back to a time when I'd never even heard of the Appalachian trail.  This symbol is a symbol from my past.  My brother used to play with G.I.Joes.  When he had them they were the 12" tall military figures.  I inherited them from him when he moved on to Hot Wheels.  By the time I started adding to the collection, G.I.Joe had changed a bit.  The early 70s were a time of the Vietnam war and  anti-war protests.  To boost the flagging G.I.Joe sales the figures were changed from the clean cut military soldier to the bearded member of the Adventure Team.  The AT symbol was the logo of the Adventure Team, a group of men (it was the 70s ...) who traveled the world exploring ruins, capturing wild animals, and performing search and rescues.

The G.I.Joe Adventure Team Dog Tag.
I guess the idea of the AT and adventure have been inextricably linked subconsciously most of my life.  Maybe this subconscious symbolism explains why the Appalachian Trail has captured my interest so strongly. My adult mind isn't sure but my eight year old inner child says "Most Definitely!"

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