Her comments are applicable to many situations. Short Hints from real blazers. Reprinted by permission. As a hiker and backpacker, threads hold your gear together, repair an article of clothing or a rip in your tent and in general find many uses along the trail.
Threads are of utmost importance.
But in this case the referece to thread doesn't have much relationship to that long, skinny piece of cotton, nylon, or polyester. It does have everything to do with that long skinny thing we call the North Country Trail. But, it also needs to exhibit continuity in character, quality, and visual appeal sufficient to distinguish itself as a national scenic trail and offer an experience of higher caliber to its users. That factor is the blazing and signing that should be in place along the trail. If the trail cannot be found in a reasonable amount of searching, they merely abandon it for the nearest road and pick the trail up at some later location.