June 15, 2012
Residence of the U.S. Ambassador
Laufasvegur 23, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland
It is my great pleasure to welcome a very important delegation from the International
Appalachian Trail. I know I don’t have to explain to you what this organization is, but is worth
repeating a bit of its history.
In 1921 a great visionary, Benton MacKaye, proposed the concept of a long-distance trail
extending across the mountains, ridges and valleys of the Appalachian Mountain chain from
Georgia to Maine. The trail MacKaye proposed is now a reality and we call it the Appalachian
Trail. Can you imagine a trail that extends 2250 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to
Mount Katahdin, Maine.
This accomplishment is owed to McKaye’s vision and the work of countless individuals who
made it a reality. Among them is David Startzell, the Executive Director of the Trail. David is
with us here today. Let’s take a moment to give him a hand for his leadership and let’s wish him
well in his retirement.
The story of the trail doesn’t end in Maine and this is why we are all gathered here today.
In 1994, Governor Brennan from the State of Maine proposed the extension of the trail into New
Brunswick and Quebec. The proposal resonated in the North and it became a reality when
Americans and Canadians got together to make it so. Today, the trail extends all the way
through Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Labrador, and Prince Edward Island, ending only when the
trail reached the Atlantic Ocean at the tip Newfoundland and Labrador.
Today we happen to have to individuals who worked on that project: Dick Anderson and W.
Donald Hudson. You would think that these guys would stop there and rest on their laurels. Oh
no. They decided to go further. IAT Board members decided to the trail to the other side of the
Atlantic Ocean, following the historic arc of the ancient Appalachian Mountain range from the
days our earth had a mass of land called Pangea.
If there is one thing you don’t want to do is get in the way of a project that involves Americans
and Canadians. They came here because geologically speaking, Iceland sits on part of the
ancient Appalachian mountains. This team of wonderful American and Canadian explorers is
now joined by a group of Icelanders who want to join in extending the trail.
What an adventure!
We salute this group of enlightened citizens and wish them well in achieving the extension of the
trail all the way to Spain, and who know maybe even beyond.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Louis E. Arreaga
United States Ambassador to Iceland