The sources he uses in the text are several primary sources and scholarly journals. The conclusions he makes on the transformation of the Appalachian Trail are well supported by his research and his interpretations. Foresta takes into consideration ample variables to minimalize biases and inaccurate interpretations. Foresta is an assistant professor of geography at the University of Tennessee, which is one of the main centers for Appalachian studies. Chick looks at the relationship through a cross-cultural lens.
Chick considers four theories on the relationship between cultural complexity and leisure time.
The first is the economic surplus hypothesis. This hypothesis states that an economic surplus leads to more leisure time in the individuals, which nurtures more cultural complexity. This theory is tested through the beginning of the article by looking at hunter gatherers and agriculturalist around the world. The second theory is the time scarcity theory. The theory hypothesizes that with the more cultural complexity the culture has, the less leisure time the individuals have.