Emily D'Souza- Class reading 3: Colorado trail project

 I really liked this article, because it integrated several aspects of what I’ve learned throughout my environmental studies major. This project in itself is really cool, they were passionate about trail walking, and wanted to make it a better experience for themselves and others who enjoy their same passion. When she presented to the class, it was really cool to see the entire trail and everywhere they had placed plants. I know this project was focused on that, but what intrigued me the most was their pilgrimage, and the way they went about it. The page discusses a “walk-a-about”, which they described as an intentional and spiritual walk, and this brought me back to Henry David Thoreau and his literature works. Personally, I find Thoreau’s work the most intriguing out of the many environmental authors I’ve read, so I always enjoy being able to make those connections. It also relates to our discussion on pilgrimage, because that is exactly what they are doing. They went out on this journey with the intention to make it a better place for the people who also journey the trail, but they also did it in a methodical and sustainable way. This could also improve the land ethic of trail walking, because theoretically, people shouldn’t have to carry as much stuff with them, meaning less waste left on the trails. We can also see their perspective on nature and interacting with it, for them being a pilgrim on the land is their form of an intentional walk, but for another person it could be walking through a trail in their neighborhood.