Trees Mark Possible Trail Near THE Trail

The Gainesville (GA) Times has an article in its 11 April issue titled "Group looks to map 'trail trees'." It's by Debbie Gilbert.

The Appalachian Trail is only mentioned in passing. The article is about a group in northern Georgia called Mountain Stewards that is mapping the locations of trees with "a tree trunk that bends into the shape of an arch or an upside-down "L," then shoots vertical again." They say these may well be trail markers left by Native Americans. (I'm wondering whether they might as well have been markers for slaves escaping to the north.)

Anyway, one apparent route marked by these trees parallels the Appalachian Trail.

Curious.