The Appalachian Trail, a 2178.3-mile footpath extending from Maine to Georgia, is a popular destination for lovers of nature. It is also a destination for people wanting to test their outdoor skills, including hiking, camping, and wilderness navigation.
Those hiking the entire trail will move about 5 million steps! It's estimated that about 400 to 500 hike the entire length each year.
Here is an interesting short account of a hiker who went the distance recently.
The National Geographic cable channel just aired a program earlier tonight (Nov 10) called America's Wild Spaces: Appalachian Trail. The program is set to air again at 4 pm (EST) on Tuesday, November 17.
It seems you can see a bit of video from this program here.
For anyone serious about doing the full hike, there is a nice 4-part series at Trailspace.com on planning for such an endeavor. See it here.
While the above article series lists many good resources, a key site is www.appalachiantrail.org, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. There you can find official trail guides and maps, the Appalachian Trail Data Book, and the AT Thru-Hikers’ Companion, both updated annually. Check out the additional member benefits.
News: a federal grant to help preserve 1,000 acres of land along a stretch of the trail in Vermont was recently awarded. See the report here. It's good to know the trail is being conserved. I'm sure more work is needed, especially in remote areas.
If you hike the trail, be prepared to meet hikers along the way, and make some friends. Also be prepared to navigate the trail through many climates and ecosystems. In some areas there are large predators, such as bears!
Have fun in the great outdoors. Maybe the Appalachian Trail is in your plans for future fun!
