The Chessie Trail

I never really knew what the Chessie Trail was before this class. I thought it was just a trail through the woods. I never knew that VMI owned it. I didn’t know that there used to be a railroad that ran through the trail. I never understood what it was. This was probably because of no one actually told me what the trail was or why it was there. During the ratline the trail was only used for forced marches. As a rat, I never got the time to actually enjoy or experience the Chessie Trail. I would just speed by and march along through the trail breathing, gasping for air as my feet, legs, hands, and lungs experienced pain. I, most likely, would not enjoy the trail anyway because I have a huge dislike of nature. It is not a dislike for the plants and nature. I just hate bugs. So being outside around all those insects bothered me. However, I was given a chance to understand the Trail and see it in a new light.

The construction and human intervention on the trail has caused many problems for the trail. Humans have dragged invasive species onto the trail causing problems for the indigenous species. The Chessie Trail has construction at the very beginning of it that gets in the way of runners and other events. As a member of the track team, I could understand how construction and other things would get in the way.

The visit to the Chessie Trail has given me a better understanding of the trail and some of VMI’s history. Before the trail was just a patch of gravel where people ran and marched, but now I see much more from the trail. I see history. I see hard work. I see the life existing on the trail. I see why VMI owns the trail.