Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail | |
---|---|
National Scenic Trail | |
Trailheads | Springer Mountain, Georgia Mount Katahdin, Maine |
Use | Hiking, backpacking |
Highest point | Clingmans Dome, 6,643 ft (2,025 m) |
Lowest point | Bear Mountain State Park, 124 ft (38 m) |
Difficulty | Easy to strenuous |
Season | Early spring to autumn for thru-hikers; year-round for other users |
Website | Appalachian National Scenic Trail |
Trail map | |
The Appalachian Trail, also called the A.T., is a
The trail was first proposed in 1921 and completed in 1937. Improvements and changes have continued since then. It became the Appalachian National Scenic Trail under the National Trails System Act of 1968.
The trail is maintained by 31 trail clubs and multiple partnerships,[5] and managed by the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, and the nonprofit Appalachian Trail Conservancy.[6][7] Most of the trail is in forest or wild lands, although some portions traverse towns, roads and farms. From south to north it passes through the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Thru-hikers walk the entire trail in a single season. The number of thru-hikes per year has increased steadily since 2010,[4] with 715 northbound and 133 southbound thru-hikes reported for 2017.[8] The Appalachian Trail Conservancy estimates there are over 3,000 attempts to traverse the entire trail each year, about 25% of which succeed.[9] Many books, documentaries, and websites are dedicated to the pursuit. Some hike from one end to the other, then turn around and thru-hike the trail the other way, known as a "yo-yo".[10]
Affiliated trail sections extend from either end from the north as the International Appalachian Trail into Canada and beyond, and from the south as the Eastern Continental Trail into the Southeastern states of Alabama and Florida.
The Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail informally constitute the Triple Crown of Hiking in the United States.[11][12]
History
The trail was conceived by
On October 7, 1923, the first section of the trail, from
Anderson's efforts helped spark renewed interest in the trail, and Avery, who led the project after Perkins' death in 1932, was able to bring other states on board. Upon taking over the ATC, Avery adopted the goal of building a simple hiking trail. He and MacKaye clashed over the ATC's response to the construction of a road that overlapped part within Shenandoah National Park;
Paul M. Fink was honored in 1977 by the Appalachian Trail Conference as "the guiding influence" in establishing the Trail in Tennessee and North Carolina in the 1920s.[22] Fink was inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame in 2019.[23] In 1922, only a year after Benton MacKaye's famous article proposing an Appalachian Trail was written, Fink began corresponding with hiking leaders in New England about building the Trail. When Myron Avery began planning the route of the AT in the south, Fink was the first person he contacted.[24]
Many of the trail's present highlights were not part of the trail in 1937:
In 1936, a 121-day Maine to Georgia veteran's group funded and supported thru-hike was reported to have been completed, with all but three miles of the new trail cleared and blazed, by six Boy Scouts from New York City and their guides.[26] The completed thru-hike was much later recorded and accepted by the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association.[27] In 1938, the trail sustained major damage from a hurricane that went through the New England area. This happened right before the start of World War II and many of the people working on the trail were called to active duty.[28]
In 1948,
In the 1960s, the ATC made progress toward protecting the trail from development, thanks to efforts of politicians and officials. Wisconsin senator
Extensions
The International Appalachian Trail is a 1,900-mile (3,100 km) extension running northeast from Maine into New Brunswick and Quebec's Gaspé Peninsula, where it ends at Forillon National Park. It is a separate trail and not an official extension of the Appalachian Trail.[39] Other branches are designated in parts of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and along the western shore of Newfoundland, to the northern end of the Appalachian Mountain range, where it enters the Atlantic Ocean, near L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site. The route has since been extended to Greenland, Europe, and Morocco.[40]
Although the Appalachian Trail ends in Georgia, the Appalachian Mountains continue south to Flagg Mountain in Alabama.[41] In 2008, the Pinhoti National Recreation Trail in Alabama and Georgia, which terminates at Flagg Mountain, was connected to the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail via the Benton MacKaye Trail. Promoters of the Southern extension refer to MacKaye's statement at the 1925 conference that the Georgia to New Hampshire trail should, in the future, extend to Katahdin, and "then to Birmingham, Alabama". As of March 2015[update], The Pinhoti Trail terminates at the base of Flagg Mountain, near Weogufka in Coosa County, 50 miles (80 km) east of Birmingham.[42][43] In 2010, the Alabama state legislature formed the Alabama Appalachian Mountain Trail Commission to provide state resources for trail improvements, although officially designating Pinhoti as part of the Appalachian Trail would require an act of the United States Congress.[44]
The 8.8-mile (14.2 km) Appalachian Approach Trail in Georgia begins at Amicalola Falls State Park's visitor center and ends at Springer Mountain.[45] Because Springer Mountain is in a remote area, the Approach Trail is often the beginning of North bound thru-hike attempts. Much of the Approach Trail was originally built as part of the Appalachian Trail, before the southern terminus was relocated from Mount Oglethorpe to Springer Mountain.
Flora and fauna
The Appalachian Trail is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, including 2,000 rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species.[46]
Animals
The American black bear (Ursus americanus), among the largest animals along the Appalachian Trail, rarely confronts people.[47] The black bear is the largest omnivore that may be encountered on the trail, and it inhabits all regions of the Appalachians.[48] Bear sightings on the trail are uncommon, except in certain sections, especially Shenandoah National Park and portions of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts sections, where bear populations have increased steadily since 1980; confrontations are rarer still.[47] Other hazards include venomous snakes, including the Eastern
Small mammal species that inhabit along the trails are beaver, squirrel, river otter, chipmunk, porcupine, bobcat, two species of fox, boar, woodchuck, raccoon, and coyote. Bird species that reside in the trails are wild turkey, ruffed grouse, mourning dove, raven, two species of eagle, wood duck, three species of owl, and three species of hawk as well as warblers. There are different kinds of squirrels along the Appalachian Trail as well, especially in Maine. They are generally smaller and very territorial, and produce a loud call if approached.[52]
For most hikers, the most persistent pests along the trail are
Plants
Plant life along the trail is varied. The trail passes through several different biomes from south to north, and the climate changes significantly, particularly dependent upon elevation. In the south, lowland forests consist mainly of second-growth; nearly the entire trail has been logged at one time or another. There are, however, a few old growth locations along the trail, such as Sages Ravine straddling the Massachusetts-Connecticut border and atop higher peaks along the trail on either side of the same border, the Hopper (a
There is a drastic change between the lowland and
Geography
No sub-alpine regions exist between Mount Rogers in
The segments of the trail through Pennsylvania are so rocky that hikers refer to the region as "Rocksylvania".[57] These small rocks, which are the result of erosion that has worn away the dirt along the trails, can be tough to walk on for extended periods of time without proper hard-soled shoes.
In
Maine also has several alpine regions. In addition to several areas of the Mahoosuc Range, the Baldpates, and Old Blue in southern Maine have alpine characteristics despite elevations below 4,000 feet (1,200 m). Saddleback Mountain and Mount Bigelow, further north, each only extend a bit above 4,000 feet (1,200 m), but have long alpine areas, with no tree growth on the summits and unobstructed views on clear days. From Mount Bigelow, the trail extends for 150 miles (240 km) with only a small area of alpine growth around 3,500 feet (1,100 m) on the summit of White Cap Mountain. Mount Katahdin, the second largest alpine environment in the eastern United States, has several square miles of alpine area on the flat "table land" summit as well as the cliffs and aretes leading up to it. Treeline on Mount Katahdin is only around 3,500 feet (1,100 m). This elevation in Massachusetts would barely be a sub-alpine region, and, south of Virginia, consists of lowland forest. This illustrates the drastic change in climate over 2,000 miles (3,200 km).
Hiking the trail
Bicycles are prohibited from most of the trail, except for the sections that follow the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) in Maryland and the Virginia Creeper Trail in Virginia. Horses and pack animals are prohibited except horses on the C&O Canal and in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.[59] Several short segments of the trail, in towns and scenic natural areas, were built to ADA accessibly standards for wheelchair use.[60]
Throughout its length, the AT is marked by white paint blazes that are 2 by 6 inches (5 by 15 cm). Side trails to shelters, viewpoints and parking areas use similarly shaped blue blazes. In past years, some sections of the trail also used metal diamond markers with the AT logo, few of which survive.
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Original 1930 ATC copper marker from a tree in New Jersey
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An old metal diamond marker beside the trail in Maine
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A typical white AT blaze along the trail in Pennsylvania
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A blue side-trail blaze, on Mount Greylock in Massachusetts
Lodging and camping
Most hikers carry a lightweight tent, tent hammock or tarp.[61] The trail has more than 250 shelters and campsites available for hikers.[62] The shelters, sometimes called lean-tos (in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut), huts (in Shenandoah National Park), or Adirondack shelters, are generally open, three-walled structures with a wooden floor, although some shelters are much more complex in structure. Shelters are usually spaced a day's hike or less apart, most often near a water source (which may be dry) and with a privy. They generally have spaces for tent sites in the vicinity as the shelters may be full.[2] The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) operates a system of eight huts along 56 miles (90 km) of New Hampshire's White Mountains.[50] These huts are significantly larger than standard trail shelters and offer full-service lodging and meals during the summer months. The Fontana Dam Shelter in North Carolina is more commonly referred to as the Fontana Hilton because of amenities (e.g. flushable toilets) and its proximity to an all-you-can-eat buffet and post office.[62][63] Several AMC huts have an extended self-service season during the fall, with two extending self-service seasons through the winter and spring.[64] The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club maintains trail cabins, shelters, and huts throughout the Shenandoah region of Virginia.[50]
Shelters are generally maintained by local volunteers. Almost all shelters have one or more pre-hung food hangers (generally consisting of a short nylon cord with an upside-down tuna can suspended halfway down its length) where hikers can hang their food bags to keep them out of the reach of rodents. In hiker lingo, these are sometimes called "mouse trapezes".[65]
Most shelters also contain "unofficial registries", which are known as shelter logs. These logs usually come in the form spiral-bound notebooks that are kept in containers in shelters all along the trail, and signing in them is not required. These logs give hikers a way to leave day-to-day messages while they are on the trail to document where they have been, where they are going, and who/what they have seen. The logs provide a space for informal writing and can also be used to keep track of people on the trail. Most of all, they provide a system of communication for a network of hikers along the trail.[66]
Shelter logs can provide proof of who summits certain mountains and can warn about dangerous animals or unfriendly people in the area. Hikers may cite when a certain water source is dried up, providing crucial information to other hikers.
In addition to official shelters, many people offer their homes, places of business, or inns to accommodate AT hikers. One example is the Little Lyford Pond camps maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club. Inns are more common in sections of the trail that coincide with national parks, most notably Virginia's Shenandoah National Park.[67]
Trail communities
The trail crosses many roads, providing opportunity for hikers to
Hikers also create their own community while on the trail. Many hikers create long lasting friendships while on the trail. Conversations are easily started because of the common interest of hiking.[72]
Hazards
The Appalachian Trail is relatively safe. Most injuries or incidents are consistent with comparable outdoor activities. Most hazards are related to weather conditions, human error, plants, animals, diseases, and hostile humans encountered along the trail.[73]
Many animals live around the trail, with bears, snakes, and
The weather is a major consideration for hikers. Hiking season of the trail generally starts in mid-to-late spring, when conditions are much more favorable in the South. However, this time may also be characterized by extreme heat, sometimes in excess of 100 °F (38 °C). Farther north and at higher elevations, the weather can be characterized by low temperatures, strong winds, hail or snow storms and reduced visibility. Prolonged rain, though not typically life-threatening, can undermine stamina and ruin supplies.[74] In March 2015, a hiker was killed on the trail in Maryland when a large tree blew over and fell onto him.[75]
Violent crime is rare but has occurred in a few instances. The first reported homicide on the trail was in 1974 in Georgia.[76] In 1981, the issue of violence on the Appalachian Trail received national attention when Robert Mountford, Jr. and Laura Susan Ramsay, both social workers in Ellsworth, Maine, were murdered by Randall Lee Smith.[77] Another homicide occurred in May 1996, when two women were abducted, bound and murdered near the trail in Shenandoah National Park. The primary suspect was later discovered harassing a female cyclist in the vicinity,[78] but charges against him were dropped and the case remains unsolved.[79] In May 2019, Oklahoman Ronald S. Sanchez Jr., 43 years old, was murdered at a campsite near Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in western Virginia Jefferson National Forest. A female hiker who has not been identified was also injured by an assailant there. James L. Jordan, 30, of West Yarmouth, Massachusetts was found not guilty of the crimes by reason of insanity.[80]
Human error can lead to casualties as well. In July 2013, 66-year-old lone hiker Geraldine Largay disappeared on the trail in Maine. Largay became lost and survived 26 days before dying. Her remains were found two years later in October 2015.[81] In October 2015, a hiker visiting from England was killed on the trail by falling while taking photos at the Annapolis Rocks overlook in Maryland.[82]
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to discourage use of the trail and the National Park Service to close all AT-managed hiking shelters from Virginia to Maine.[83] The withdrawal of volunteers and trail-maintenance crews left the trail unprepared for the influx of users escaping home isolation.[84] In 2021, the conservancy suspended issuing hang tags for through-hikers for a period during the continuing pandemic.[85]
Trail completion
Trail hikers who attempt to complete the entire trail in a single season are called "
Most thru-hikers walk northward from Georgia to Maine, and generally start out in early spring and follow the warm weather as it moves north.[2] These "north-bounders" are also called NOBO (NOrthBOund) or GAME (Georgia(GA)-to-Maine(ME)), while those heading in the opposite direction are termed "south-bounders" (also SOBO or MEGA).[86][unreliable source?][87]
A thru-hike generally requires five to seven months, although some have done it in three months, and several trail runners have completed the trail in less time. Trail runners typically tackle the AT with automobile support teams, without backpacks, and without camping in the woods.
Thru-hikers are classified into many informal groups. "Purists" are hikers who stick to the official AT trail, follow the white blazes, except for side trips to shelters and camp sites. "Blue Blazers" cut miles from the full route by taking side trails marked by blue blazes. The generally pejorative name "Yellow Blazers", a reference to yellow road stripes, is given to those who hitchhike to move either down or up the trail.
Part of hiker subculture includes making colorful entries in logbooks at trail shelters, signed using pseudonyms called "trail names".[7]
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy gives the name "2000 Miler" to anyone who completes the entire trail. The ATC's recognition policy for "2000 Milers" gives equal recognition to thru-hikers and section-hikers, operates on the honor system, and recognizes blue-blazed trails or officially required roadwalks as substitutes for the official, white-blazed route during an emergency such as a flood, forest fire, or impending storm on an exposed, high-elevation stretch.[88] As of 2018, more than 19,000 people had reported completing the entire trail. The northbound completion rate of hiking the trail in twelve months or fewer varied from 19% to 27% from 2011 to 2018. The southbound completion rate varied between 27% and 30% during the same period.[8]
The Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail form what is known as the Triple Crown of long-distance hiking in the United States.[11][12] In 2001, Brian Robinson became the first one to complete all three trails in a year.[89] In 2018, Heather Anderson (trail name "Anish") became the first woman to complete the three Triple Crown trails in a calendar year.[90]
Speed records
Fastest known times for self-supported attempts (meaning no vehicle or crew support, like a traditional through-hiker):
- Joe McConaughy completed the trail northbound on August 31, 2017, in 45 days, 12 hours, and 15 minutes.[91][92]
- Heather "Anish" Anderson completed the trail southbound on September 24, 2015, in 54 days, 7 hours, and 48 minutes.[93]
Fastest known times for supported attempts (the athletes travel light, relying on a support crew with food, shelter, medical treatment, etc.):
- Karel Sabbe completed the trail northbound on August 29, 2018, in 41 days, 7 hours, and 39 minutes.[94]
- Karl Meltzer completed the trail southbound on September 18, 2016, in 45 days, 22 hours, and 38 minutes.[95][96]
Age records
On November 8, 2021, M.J. "Nimblewill Nomad" Eberheart became the oldest person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail at age 83.[97]
On October 13, 2020, Juniper Netteburg is believed to be the youngest person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail on her own power at age 4.[98][unreliable source?]
Route
The trail is protected along more than 99% of its course by federal or state ownership of the land or by right-of-way. The trail is maintained by a variety of organizations, environmental advocacy groups, governmental agencies and individuals. Annually, more than 4,000 volunteers contribute over 175,000 hours of effort on the Appalachian Trail, an effort coordinated largely by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) organization. In total, the AT passes through eight national forests and two national parks.[62]
In the course of its journey, the trail follows the ridge line of the Appalachian Mountains, crossing many of its highest peaks and running through wilderness with only a few exceptions. The trail once traversed many hundreds of miles of private property, but today 99% of the trail is on public land.[99]
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A hiker signs the register on Springer Mountain, Ga., southern terminus of the trail.
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Appalachian Trail at Newfound Gap in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, N.C.
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Wheelchair accessible portion of the trail on Cross Mountain, near Shady Valley, Tennessee
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The Pocosin cabin along the trail in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Georgia
Georgia has 75 miles (121 km) of the trail, including the southern terminus at Springer Mountain at an elevation of 3,782 feet (1,153 m).[100] At 4,461 feet (1,360 m), Blood Mountain is the highest point on the trail in Georgia. The AT and approach trail, along with many miles of blue blazed side trails, are managed and maintained by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. See also: Georgia Peaks on the Appalachian Trail.
North Carolina
North Carolina has 95.7 miles (154.0 km) of the trail, not including more than 200 miles (320 km) along the Tennessee state line.
Tennessee
Tennessee has 71 miles (114 km) of the trail,[103][104] not including more than 200 miles (320 km) along or near the North Carolina state line.[105] The section that runs just below the summit of Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is along the North Carolina and Tennessee state line and is the highest point on the trail at 6,643 feet (2,025 m). The Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (Knoxville, TN) maintains the trail throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Davenport Gap. North of Davenport Gap, the Carolina Mountain Club (Asheville, NC) maintains the trail to Spivey Gap. Then the remaining Tennessee section is maintained by the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club (Kingsport, TN).
Virginia
Virginia has 550.3 miles (885.6 km) of the trail (one quarter of the entire trail) including more than 20 miles (32 km) along the West Virginia state line.[106] With the climate, and the timing of northbound thru-hikers, this section is wet and challenging because of the spring thaw and heavy spring rainfall.[107] Substantial portions of the trail closely parallel Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park and, further south, the Blue Ridge Parkway.[106] The Appalachian Trail Conservancy considers as excellent for beginning hikers a well-maintained 104 miles (167 km) section of the trail that the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed in Shenandoah National Park. Climbs in this section rarely exceed 1,000 feet (300 m).[25][106] In the southwestern portion of the state, the trail goes within one half mile of the highest point in Virginia, Mount Rogers, which is a short side-hike from the AT.
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Crossing the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, "psychological midpoint" of the trail
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Annapolis Rock Overlook, along the trail in South Mountain State Park, Maryland
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Pedestrian bridge over US Highway 11 in Middlesex Township, Pennsylvania
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Bear Mountain Bridge, New York
West Virginia
West Virginia has 4 miles (6.4 km) of the trail, not including about 20 miles (32 km) along the Virginia state line.[108] Here the trail passes through the town of Harpers Ferry, headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Harpers Ferry is what many consider to be the "psychological midpoint" of the trail's length, although the actual midpoint is about 75 miles (121 km) further north in southern Pennsylvania.[109]
A CSX train derailment on December 21, 2019, damaged the pedestrian footbridge over the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry, severing the trail between West Virginia and Maryland. The foot crossing reopened in July 2020.[110]
Maryland
Maryland has 41 miles (66 km) of the trail, with elevations ranging from 230 to 1,880 feet (70 to 573 m).
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 229.6 miles (369.5 km) of the trail.[114] The trail extends from the Pennsylvania-Maryland line at the village of Pen Mar, northeast to the Delaware Water Gap at the Pennsylvania-New Jersey state line. In the south-central region of the state, the trail passes through Pine Grove Furnace State Park, which is often considered the symbolic mid-point of the Appalachian Trail.[115] For much of its length in Pennsylvania, the trail is known for its very rocky terrain, which slows many hikers down while causing injuries and placing strain on equipment. Hikers often call the state "Rocksylvania".[116] The AT community has also dubbed Pennsylvania as the state "where boots go to die".[117]
New Jersey
New Jersey is home to 72.2 miles (116.2 km) of the trail.
New York
New York's 88.4 miles (142.3 km) of trail contain very little elevation change compared to other states.
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Housatonic River's Great Falls in Falls Village, Connecticut, seen from the Appalachian Trail.
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View from Mount Greylock in Massachusetts
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Franconia Ridge, a section of the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire
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Northern terminus of the trail atop Mount Katahdin in Maine
Connecticut
Connecticut's 52 miles (84 km) of trail lie almost entirely along the ridges to the west above the Housatonic River valley.[120]
The state line is also the western boundary of a 480 acres (190 ha) Connecticut
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 90 miles (140 km) of trail.
Vermont
Vermont has 150 miles (240 km) of the trail.[122] Upon entering Vermont, the trail coincides with the southernmost sections of the generally north–south-oriented Long Trail. It follows the ridge of the southern Green Mountains, summitting such notable peaks as Stratton Mountain, Glastenbury Mountain, and Killington Peak. At Maine Junction, the AT reaches an intersection with the eastern end of the North Country National Scenic Trail, with that trail and the next segment of the Long Trail departing to the north. The AT then turns in a more eastward direction, crossing the White River, passing through Norwich, and entering Hanover, New Hampshire, as it crosses the Connecticut River. The Green Mountain Club maintains the AT from the Massachusetts state line to Route 12. The Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the trail from VT Route 12 to the New Hampshire state line.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire has 161 miles (259 km) of the trail.[123] The New Hampshire AT is nearly all within the White Mountain National Forest. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, New Hampshire has more trail above tree-line than any other Appalachian State.[124]
For northbound thru-hikers, it is the beginning of the main challenges that go beyond enduring distance and time: in New Hampshire and Maine, rough or steep ground are more frequent and
The Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the AT from the Vermont state line past Mount Moosilauke to Kinsman Notch, northwest of Woodstock, New Hampshire, Randolph Mountain Club maintains 2.2 miles from Osgood Trail near Madison Hut to Edmands Col, with the AMC maintaining the remaining miles through the state.
Maine
Maine has 281 miles (452 km) of the trail. The northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is on Mount Katahdin's Baxter Peak in Baxter State Park.
In some parts of the trail in Maine, even the strongest hikers may only average 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h), with places where hikers must hold on to tree limbs and roots to climb or descend, which is especially hazardous in wet weather.[125] The western section includes a mile-long (1.6 km) stretch of boulders, some of which hikers must pass under, at Mahoosuc Notch, sometimes called the trail's hardest mile.
Although there are dozens of river and stream fords on the Maine section of the trail, the Kennebec River is the only one on the trail that requires a boat crossing. The most isolated portion of the Appalachian Trail, known as the "Hundred-Mile Wilderness", occurs in Maine. It heads east-northeast from the town of Monson and ends outside Baxter State Park just south of Abol Bridge.[126]
Park management strongly discourages thru-hiking within the park before May 15 or after October 15.[127]
The AMC maintains the AT from the New Hampshire state line to Grafton Notch, with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club responsible for maintaining the remaining miles to Mt. Katahdin. The international extension, called the International Appalachian Trail begins at Mt. Katahdin.
Major intersections
Listed from south to north.
Southern terminus: Springer Mountain, Georgia
- SR 60 at Woody Gap in Northeast Georgia
- SR 11/US 19/US 129 at Neels Gap in Northeast Georgia
- SR 348 at Tesnatee Gap in Northeast Georgia
- SR 17/ SR 75 at Unicoi Gap in Northeast Georgia
- US 76 at Dicks Creek Gap in Northeast Georgia
- US 64 at Winding Stair Gap in North Carolina
- US 19/US 74 at Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina
- NC 143 at Stecoah Gap in North Carolina
- NC 28 in Fontana Dam, North Carolina
- U.S. Route 441/ SR 71 at Newfound Gap along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line
- SR 32 at Davenport Gap along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line
- I-40 along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line
- NC 209/US 25/US 70 in Hot Springs, North Carolina
- US 25/US 70 at Tanyard Gap in North Carolina
- SR 70/ NC 208 at Allen Gap along the North Carolina/Tennessee border
- NC 212/ SR 352 at Devil Fork Gap along the North Carolina/Tennessee border
- I-26/US 23 at Sams Gap along the North Carolina/Tennessee state line
- US 19W at Spivey Gap in North Carolina
- SR 395/ NC 197 at Indian Grave Gap along the North Carolina/Tennessee border
- SR 107/ NC 226 at Iron Mountain Gap along the North Carolina/Tennessee border
- SR 143/ NC 261 at Carvers Gap along the North Carolina/Tennessee border
- US 19E near Roan Mountain, Tennessee
- US 321/ SR 67 at Watauga Lake, Tennessee
- SR 91 at Cross Mountain Gap in Tennessee
- US 421/ SR 34 at Low Gap in Tennessee
- US 58/ SR 91 in Damascus, Virginia
- US 58 near Damascus, Virginia
- US 58 at Summit Cut in Virginia
- I-81 near Marion, Virginia
- I-77/U.S. Route 52 near Wytheville, Virginia
- US 460 in Pearisburg, Virginia
- I-81 near Roanoke, Virginia
- US 501 along the James River near Eagle Rock, Virginia
- US 60 near Buena Vista, Virginia
- I-64, US 250 near Waynesboro, Virginia
- U.S. Route 33 in Shenandoah National Park
- US 211 near Luray, Virginia
- US 522 near Front Royal, Virginia
- I-66 in Front Royal, Virginia
- US 17/US 50 near Waterloo, Virginia
- US 340 in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
- US 340 in Sandy Hook, Maryland
- I-70/US 40 near Hagerstown, Maryland
- US 30 near Fayetteville, Pennsylvania
- US 11/US 15, US 22/US 322 in Duncannon, Pennsylvania
- I-81 near Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania
- I-476 near Slatington, Pennsylvania
- I-80 along the Pennsylvania/New Jersey state line
- US 206 near Frankford Township, New Jersey
- I-87/New York State Thruway near Harriman, New York
- US 6/US 9W/US 202 near Fort Montgomery, New York
- US 9 near Garrison, New York
- Taconic State Parkway near Shenandoah, New York
- I-84 near Whaley Lake, New York
- US 7 near Falls Village, Connecticut
- US 44 near Salisbury, Connecticut
- US 7 near Great Barrington, Massachusetts
- I-90, US 20 near Lee, Massachusetts
- US 4 near Rutland, Vermont
- I-89 near West Hartford, Vermont
- US 5, I-91 in Norwich, Vermont
- I-93/US 3 near Franconia, New Hampshire
- US 302 in the White Mountain National Forest
- NH 16 at Pinkham Notch in the White Mountain National Forest
- US 2 near Gorham, New Hampshire
- US 201 in Caratunk, Maine
Northern terminus: Mount Katahdin, Maine
Management
The
Use in research
The Appalachian Trail has been a resource for researchers in a variety of disciplines. Portions of the trail in Tennessee were used on a study on trail maintenance for the trail's "uniform environmental conditions and design attributes and substantial gradient in visitor use."
Behavioral studies have also been conducted on hikers themselves. A 2007 study on hikers found that most persons hike the trail "for fun and enjoyment of life and for warm relationships with others" and that "environmental awareness, physical challenge, camaraderie, exercise, and solitude" were chief results among hikers.[130] Since the highest single demographic of thru-hikers are males between the ages of 18 and 29, one informal study sought to find the correlation between this group and male college drop-outs.[131] A study in 2018 found that around 95 percent of thru-hikers identified their race or ethnicity as white.[36][132]
In popular culture
- The trail was the setting for the 1998 Bill Bryson book, A Walk in the Woods, and for its 2015 film adaptation of the same name.
- The phrase, "hiking the Appalachian Trail", became a euphemism for having an affair after it was used as a cover for Mark Sanford's whereabouts during his 2009 extramarital affair.[133][134]
- North to Maine is a 2009 play about the Appalachian Trail and the thru-hikers who walk it.
See also
- Connected U.S. long-distance trails
- Connected National Historic Trails
- Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
- Potomac Heritage Trail
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
- Other U.S. long-distance trails
References
Citations
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Works cited
- Tomaselli, Doris (2009). Ned Anderson: Connecticut's Appalachian Trailblazer, Small Town Renaissance Man (Limited 1st ed.). Sherman Historical Society. ISBN 978-0-615-28611-2.
Further reading
- Online
- ATC's official annual Appalachian Trail guide is the Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker's Companion, compiled and updated by volunteers of the Appalachian L ong Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA) (available at AppalachianTrail.org). Individual state guides and maps are also available via the ATC.
- The Official AT Databook, an annually updated compilation of trail mileages, water sources, road crossings, shelter locations, and other information. The 2018 DataBook is the 40th annual edition, is considered indispensable by many AT hikers, and the data published within is used by many other hiking guides.
- A smartphone guidebook app with crowdsourced information (Wikipedia style) is available.
- Non-fiction print
- Garvey, Edward (1971). Appalachian Hiker. Oakton: Appalachian Books. ISBN 978-0-912660-01-1.
- Fisher, Ronald (1972). The Appalachian Trail. Washington: National Geographic Society. ISBN 978-0-87044-106-6.
- Hare, James R. (1977). From Katahdin to Springer Mountain. Emmaus Pa: Rodale Press. ISBN 978-0-87857-160-4.
- Garvey, Edward (1978). Appalachian Hiker, II. Oakton: Appalachian Books. ISBN 978-0-912660-15-8.
- Irwin, Bill (1992). Blind Courage. Waco: WRS Pub. ISBN 978-0-941539-86-9.
- Luxenberg, Larry (1994). Walking the Appalachian Trail. Mechanicsburg: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3095-2.
- Mittlefehldt, Sarah (2013). Tangled Roots: The Appalachian Trail and American Environmental Politics. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press.
- Emblidge, David (1996). The Appalachian Trail Reader. Oxford Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-510091-4.
- ISBN 978-0-307-27946-0.
- Hall, Adrienne (2000). A Journey North. Boston: Appalachian Mountain Club Books. ISBN 978-1-878239-91-4.
- Setzer, Lynn (2001). A Season on the Appalachian Trail. Harpers Ferry: Appalachian Trail Conference. ISBN 978-0-89732-382-6.
- Mckinney, Rick (2005). Dead Men Hike No Trails. City: Booklocker.com, Inc. ISBN 978-1-59113-870-9.
- Miller, David (2006). Awol on the Appalachian Trail. Livermore: Wingspan Press. ISBN 978-0547745527.
- Tapon, Francis (2006). Hike Your Own Hike: 7 Life Lessons from Backpacking Across America. San Francisco: SonicTrek. ISBN 978-0-9765812-0-8.
- Buras, Thom (2006). The Wayfarers Journal Episode One: Journey to Katahdin. www.TheWayfarersJournal.com. ISBN 978-0-9786169-9-1.
- Alt, Jeff (2007). A Walk for Sunshine. Cincinnati: Dreams Shared Publications. ISBN 978-0-9679482-2-5.
- Chenowith, Lon (2009). Five Million Steps: Adventure Along the Appalachian Trail. Tate Publishing. ISBN 978-1-60799-416-9.
- Letcher, Susan & Lucy (2010). Barefoot Sisters: Southbound & Barefoot Sisters Walking. Harrisburg: Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-3529-2.
- Miller, David (2010). AWOL on the Appalachian Trail. Seattle: AmazonEncore. ISBN 978-1-935597-19-3.
- Davis, Zach (2012). Appalachian Trials. Denver: Good Badger Publishing. ISBN 978-0985090104.
- D'Anieri, Phillip (2021). The Appalachian Trail: A Biography. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780358171997.
- Sherman, Steve (1977). Appalachian odyssey : walking the trail from Georgia to Maine. Julia Older. Brattleboro, Vt.: S. Greene Press. OCLC 2951974.
External links
Appalachian Trail.
Official sites