Back in the 1920s and 30s, a 120-mile pack trail became one of the most traveled paths in Yellowstone National Park. Unfortunately, in 1970, maintenance of the hiking trail was discontinued, and the local ecosystem was allowed to reclaim the area.
Now, Dr. Judith Meyer, associate professor of geography, and her project partner and husband, Dr. Bob Pavlowsky, professor of geography and director of the Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute, are going back to this historic trail to map it digitally and to photograph it as it stands today.
The project centers on creating a digital map of a historical hiking trail in Yellowstone National Park by hiking the trail and re-photographing scenes that were photographed in the 1920s and 1930s. The couple will then compare and analyze the photo-pairs for evidence, if any, of landscape change over time.
Dr. Meyer recently received the Anne White award from the Association of American Geographers for her work on the project. The award is given to life partners and married couples who are working together in the field of geography.