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Section of Appalachian Trail vandalized in North Adams

Two miles of the Appalachian Trail in North Adams, Massachusetts, has been vandalized. Volunteer trail maintainer Cosmo Catalano discovered the red spray-painted graffiti last weekend.

Catalano said he's worked on this section of trail for about 12 years, and has never seen anything like this before.

"There were some words like 'courage' and 'enter' and 'caution' over a particularly rocky stretch, so that kind of elevated it above — I hate to say there'd be a normal level of graffiti, but kind of the more casual level of graffiti," he said.

The 50 or so rocks and trees did not contain hate messages.

Catalano said the trail is already well-marked by volunteers. In the area in question, the footpath is very recognizable, he said.

"The idea of the trail is that of a recreational resource that has a remote feeling, you know, centered on the natural world," Catalano said. "And this kind of intrusion of the front country, if you will, onto the trail, is disturbing."

This specific section of the Appalachian Trail is owned by the state. Volunteers will work to remove the markings and restore the trail over the coming months.

Carrie Healy hosts the local broadcast of "Morning Edition" at NEPM. She also hosts the station’s weekly government and politics segment “Beacon Hill In 5” for broadcast radio and podcast syndication.
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