appalachian trail

History

The trail was originally conceived by Benton MacKaye, a forester who wrote his original plan shortly after the death of his wife in 1921. MacKaye's utopian idea detailed a grand trail that would connect a series of farms and wilderness work/study camps for city-dwellers. In 1922, at the suggestion of Major William A. Welch, director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, his idea was publicized by Raymond H. Torrey with a story in the New York Evening Post under a full page banner headline reading "A Great Trail from Maine to Georgia!"; the idea was quickly adopted by the new Palisades Interstate Park Trail Conference as their main project.

On October 7, 1923, the first section of the trail, from Bear Mountain west through Harriman State Park to Arden, New York, was opened. MacKaye then called for a two-day Appalachian Trail conference to be held in March 1925 in Washington, D.C. This resulted in the formation of the Appalachian Trail Conference organization, though little progress was made on the trail for several years.

At the end of the 1920s and beginning of the 1930s, a retired judge named Arthur Perkins and his younger associate Myron Avery took up the cause. Avery, who soon took over the ATC, adopted the more practical goal of building a simple hiking trail. He and MacKaye clashed over the ATC's response to a major commercial development along the trail's path; MacKaye left the organization, while Avery was willing to simply reroute the trail.

The trail was first walked end-to-end the year before it was completed, in 1936, by Myron Avery, though not as a thru-hike. In August 1937, the trail was completed to Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, and the ATC shifted its focus toward protecting the trail lands and mapping the trail for hikers. From 1938 to the end of World War II, the trail suffered a series of natural and man-made setbacks. At the end of the war, the damage to the trail was repaired.

In 1948, Earl Shaffer of York, Pennsylvania, brought a great deal of attention to the project by completing the first documented thru-hike. (In 1994, a story appeared in the Appalachian Trailway News describing a 121-day Maine to Georgia thru-hike in 1936 by six Boy Scouts from the Bronx.^[5] The story has been accepted by some individual members of ALDHA,^[6] though a great deal of doubt has also been expressed;^[7] this earlier thru-hike has never been verified or accepted by any responsible hiking organization or group; therefore, Shaffer's 1948 journey is still universally recognized as the first A.T. thru-hike. )

In the 1960s, the ATC made real progress toward protecting the trail from development, thanks to many sympathetic politicians and officials. The National Trails System Act of 1968 paved the way for a series of national scenic trails within the national park and national forest systems. Trail volunteers worked with the National Park Service to map a permanent route for the trail, and by 1971 a permanent route had been marked (though minor changes continue to this day). By the close of the 20th century, the Park Service had completed the purchase of all but a few miles of the trail's span.

The Appalachian Trail should not be confused with the International Appalachian Trail, a 675-mile (1,100 km) extension, running north from Maine into New Brunswick and Quebec. It is actually a separate trail, not an official extension of the Appalachian Trail. An extension of the International Appalachian Trail, to Newfoundland, is still under construction.

Flora and fauna

The Appalachian Trail is home to literally thousands of species of plant and animal, of air, land and sea. This list includes 2,000 different rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species. ^[4]

The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is the largest animal that someone would encounter on the trail, and it lives in all parts.^[8] However, sightings of the bear are rare, and hiker incidents still rarer, as black bears are typically avoidant of humans and can usually be frightened away by making loud noise. Though they don't truly hibernate, they spend a large portion of the winter asleep. They are omnivorous, eating grass, roots, berries and small to medium sized mammals.^[9]

Hiking the trail

As the Appalachian Trail was explicitly designed to be hiked, it includes several resources to facilitate its hikers. Some are common to trails throughout North America, while some are unique to the Appalachian Trail.

Navigation

Throughout its length, the AT is marked by 2-by-6-inch (5-by-15-cm) white paint blazes. 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.

Lodging

Throughout the length of the trail there are various shelters and camp sites available for hikers. The shelters, sometimes called lean-tos or huts, are generally open, three-walled structures with a wooden floor. Some shelters are much more complex in structure; however, for the most part, function is emphasized over form in their construction. Shelters are spaced less than a day's hike apart, most often near a water source and with a privy. They generally have spaces for tent sites in the vicinity as well. It is always advisable to carry a tent when overnighting on the trail, because shelters may be filled to capacity, especially early in the season, and near parks.^[1]

These shelters are generally well-maintained by local volunteers and kept in good condition. In spite of this, mice and other rodents often make their homes inside or nearby. 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) for hikers to hang their food bags on. In hiker lingo, these are sometimes called "mouse trapezes,"^[2] and while they usually prevent mice from reaching hung food, they are not by any means foolproof. For outdoor lodgers, another option is to hang one's food from a tree branch or between two trees, using the standard bear bagging method, which is highly recommended in bear country.^[3]

Trail towns

The trail crosses many roads, and thus it provides ample opportunity for hikers to hitchhike into town in order to resupply on food and various other items. Many trail towns are accustomed to having hikers passing through, and thus many have various hostels and hiker-oriented accommodations.^[1] Some of the most well-known trail towns are Monson, Maine; Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; Damascus, Virginia; and Hot Springs, North Carolina.

Hazards

The Appalachian Trail, is relatively safe, and most injuries or incidents are consistent with comparable outdoor activities (like skiing). However, there are a variety of hazards on the trail that have caused persons to be become extremely lost, injure themselves, and even lose their lives. Most of these hazards are related to weather conditions, plants, animals, diseases, and fellow humans encountered along the trail. Adequate preparation can usually reduce, if not eliminate, many of these hazards.^[4]

As mentioned earlier, there are many animals that live around the trail — bears, snakes, and wild boars providing the most threat. However, the proper handling and storage of food in bear bags, and paying attention to where one sits or steps can usually greatly reduce the risk of dangerous encounters with these animals.^[1]

Several rodent and bug-borne illnesses pose a threat on the trail. Ticks, in particular, are carriers for Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and other diseases and are in higher abundance in northern states. Being thoroughly covered and wearing DEET can greatly reduce the chances of getting infected. In other scattered instances, foxes, raccoons, and other small animals may bite hikers, and such bites always pose the risk of rabies. There has been exactly one reported case (in 1993) of hantavirus (HPS), a rare but dangerous rodent-borne disease affecting the lungs. The afflicted hiker recovered and hiked the trail the following year.^[4]

Plant-life can even create their own brand of problems. Most notably, poison ivy is common the length of the trail, tending to be more plentiful in the South. Avoidance is the best line of the defense, and local flare-ups can usually be treated with calamine lotion or Solarcaine.^[1]

Since the hiking season of the trail generally starts in mid to late spring, hiking conditions during this time are much more favorable in the South. However, this time may also be characterized by extreme heat, sometimes in excess of 100 degrees. Under such conditions, sufficient hydration is imperative. Also, light clothing and sunscreens are a must at high elevations and areas without foliage, even in relatively cool weather.^[4] Further north, and at higher elevations, the weather can be intensely cold, characterized by extremely low temperatures, strong winds, hail or snow storms and critically reduced visibility. Lack of adequate shelter, appropriate clothing and reliable maps can lead to hypothermia or worse. Also, prolonged rain, though not typically life threatening, can undermine a hiker's stamina and ruin a stash of supplies. Additionally, thunderstorms can increase the typically distant chance of getting hit by lightening, so typically electrical storm precautions should be followed. Hikers often combat precipitation by carrying a pack, tent and rainwear. Along the trail, weather can be unpredictable, so long-term, overnight hikers in particular must be prepared for the worst if they are to be successful.^[5]

Crime, though extremely rare, has occurred on the trail. One incident drew media attention in May 1996, when two women were abducted, bound and murdered near the trail in Shenandoah National Park. The primary suspect, Darrell David Rice, was later discovered harassing a female biker in the vicinity of the original crime.^[6] However, the charges against him were later dropped and the case remains unsolved.^[7]

Trail completion

Trail hikers who are attempting to complete the entire trail in a single season are termed thru-hikers; those who traverse the trail during a series of separate trips are known as "section-hikers." The trail's rugged terrain and cold weather conditions during the spring and fall, make through-hiking an extremely demanding experience. Only about 20% of those who make the attempt actually succeed in completing the entire trail.^[1] Completion of the trail generally requires five to seven months, although some have done it in as little as three months, and several "trail-runners" have completed the Trail in less time, almost always with support teams and automobiles, and generally, without backpacks, and frequently, without camping/overnighting in the woods each day.

Thru-hikers are classified in many informal groups. Among the most commonly used are "purists," hikers who stick to the official AT trail and do not use the side trails that can cut miles from the route. "Blue Blazers" do take side trails marked by blue blazes. Finally, "Yellow Blazers" hitchhike. This last name (which may derive from yellow road stripes or the slang meaning of "yellow" for scared) generally carries a negative connotation.

Those heading from Georgia to Maine, are termed "north-bounders" (also NOBO or GAME) while those heading in the opposite direction are termed "south-bounders" (also SOBO or MEGA). Northbound is the direction in which the whole route is most often attempted. Many hikers will start out in early spring and follow the warm weather as it progresses northward.^[1] Part of hiker subculture includes making colorful entries in log books at trail shelters, signed under trail names adopted by the hikers.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy gives the name "2000 Miler" to those who complete the entire Trail. The ATC's recognition policy for "2000 Milers":

1. Gives equal recognition to thru-hikers and section-hikers.
2. Recognizes blue-blazed trails or officially required roadwalks as viable substitutes for the official, white-blazed route in the event of an emergency, such as a flood, a forest fire, or an impending storm on an exposed, high-elevation stretch.
3. Operates on the honor system.^[8]

Nearly all of the trail is also open to local use, although there are some rules and regulations that favor "thru-hikers"; some believe that the emphasis on hiking the entire length of the trail is misplaced.

Trail path

Main article: Appalachian Trail by state

The trail is currently protected along more than 99% of its course by federal or state ownership of the land or by right-of-way. 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 the course of its journey, the trail follows the ridgeline of the Appalachian Mountains, crossing many of its highest peaks, and running, with only a few exceptions, almost continuously through wilderness.

Georgia has 75 miles (120 km) of the trail,^[9] including the southern terminus at Springer Mountain at an elevation of 3,280 feet (992 m). At 4,461 feet (1360 m), Blood Mountain is the highest point on the trail in Georgia. The AT and approach trail are managed and maintained by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club.

North Carolina has 88 miles (142 km) of the trail,^[10] not including more than 200 miles (325 km) along the Tennessee Border. Altitude ranges from 1,725 to 5,498 feet (525 m to 1676 m).

Tennessee has 293 miles (472 km) of the trail,^[11] including more than 200 miles (325 km) along or near the North Carolina Border. The section that runs just below the summit of Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the highest point on the trail at 6,625 feet (2019 m).

Virginia has 550 miles (885 km) of the trail,^[12] including about 20 miles (32 km) along the West Virginia border. Some consider this to be the wettest, most challenging part of the hike for northbound hikers because of the spring thaw. On average, it rains 20 out of 30 days during the spring.^{citation needed]} Substantial portions closely parallel the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway in Shenandoah National Park.

West Virginia has 4 miles (6 km) of the trail,^[13] not including about 20 miles (32 km) along the Virginia border. Here the trail passes through the town of Harpers Ferry, headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Harpers Ferry is considered the "psychological midpoint" of the AT.^[14]

Maryland has 41 miles (66 km) of the trail^[15], with elevations ranging from 230 to 1,880 feet (70–570 m). This section, great for three- or four-day trips, is easy by AT standards, and is a good place for hikers to find out if they are ready for more rugged parts of the trail. Hikers are required to stay at designated shelters and campsites.

Pennsylvania has 229 miles (369 km) of the trail.^[16] The trail extends from the Pennsylvania - Maryland line at Pen Mar, a tiny town straddling the state line, to the Delaware Water Gap, at the Pennsylvania - New Jersey border. The Susquehanna River is generally considered the dividing line between the northern and southern sections of the Pennsylvania AT.

The AT passes through St. Anthony's Wilderness, which is the second largest roadless area in Pennsylvania and home to several coal mining ghost towns, such as Yellow Springs and Rausch Gap.

New Jersey is home to 72 miles (116 km) of the trail.^[17] The trail enters New Jersey from the south on a pedestrian walkway along the Interstate 80 bridge over the Delaware River, ascends from the Delaware Water Gap to the top of Kittatinny Ridge in Worthington State Forest, passes Sunfish Pond (right), continues through Stokes State Forest and eventually reaches High Point State Park, highest peak in New Jersey (a side trail is required to reach the actual peak). It then turns in a southeastern direction along the New York border for about 30 miles (48 km), passing over long sections of boardwalk bridges over marshy land, then entering Wawayanda State Park and then the Abraham Hewitt State Forest just before entering New York near Greenwood Lake.

Black bear activity along the trail in New Jersey increased rapidly starting in 2001. Hence, metal bear-proof trash boxes are in place at all New Jersey shelters.

New York's 88 miles (142 km) of trail^[18] contain very little elevation change compared to other states. From south to north, the trail summits many small mountains under 1,400 feet (430 m) in elevation, its highest point in New York being Prospect Rock at 1,433 feet (438 m), and only 3,000 feet (800 m) from the border with New Jersey. The trail continues north, climbing near Fitzgerald Falls, passing through Sterling Forest, and then entering Harriman State Park and Bear Mountain State Park. It crosses the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge, the lowest point on the entire Appalachian Trail at 124 feet (38 m). It then passes through Fahnestock State Park, and continues northeast until it enters Connecticut via the Pawling Nature Reserve. The section of the trail that passes through Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks is the oldest section of the trail, completed in 1923.

The 52 miles (84 km) of trail in Connecticut^[19] lie almost entirely along the ridges to the west above the Housatonic River valley.

The state line is also the western boundary of a 480-acre (190 ha) Connecticut reservation inhabited by 11 Schaghticoke Indians. Inside it, the AT roughly parallels its northern boundary, crossing back outside it after 2,000 feet (640 m).

Massachusetts has 90 miles (145 km) of trail.^[20] The entire section of trail is in western Massachusetts' Berkshire County. It summits the highest peak in the Southern Berkshires, Mount Everett (2,602 ft., 793 m), then descends to the Housatonic River Valley and skirts the town of Great Barrington. The trail passes through the towns of Dalton and Cheshire, and summits the highest point in the state at 3,491 feet (1,064 m), Mount Greylock. It then quickly descends to the valley within 2 miles (3 km) of North Adams and Williamstown, before ascending again to the Vermont state line. The trail throughout Massachusetts is maintained by the Berkshire Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Vermont has 150 miles (241 km) of the trail.^[21] Upon entering Vermont, the trail coincides with the southernmost sections of the generally north/south-oriented Long Trail (which is subject to a request by its maintainers to protect it in its most vulnerable part of the year by forgoing spring hiking). It follows the ridge of the southern Green Mountains, summitting such notable peaks as Stratton Mountain, Glastenbury Mountain and Killington Peak. After parting ways with the Long Trail at Maine Junction, the AT 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 border to Route 12. The Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the trail from Route 12 to the New Hampshire state line.

New Hampshire has 161 miles (259 km) of the trail.^[22] The New Hampshire AT is nearly all within the White Mountain National Forest. 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 alpine conditions are found near summits and along ridges. The trail reaches more than half of the four-thousand footers of New Hampshire, including Mount Washington, the highest point of the AT north of Tennessee. The Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the AT from the Vermont border past Mount Moosilauke to Kinsman Notch, with the AMC maintaining the remaining miles through the state.

The 281 miles (452 km) of the trail in Maine are particularly difficult.^[23] More moose are seen by hikers in this state than any other on the trail. The northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is on Katahdin's Baxter Peak in Baxter State Park.

The western section includes a mile-long (1.6 km) stretch of boulders at Mahoosuc Notch, often called the trail's hardest mile. Also, 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 in the state (and arguably on the entire trail) is known as the "100-Mile Wilderness." This section heads east-northeast from the town of Monson and ends outside Baxter State Park just south of Abol Bridge.

Park management strongly discourages thru-hiking within the park before May 31 or after October 15.^[24]

The AMC maintains the AT from the New Hampshire border to Grafton Notch, with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club responsible of maintaining the remaining miles to Mt. Katahdin.

Further reading

ATC's official Appalachian Trail guide is the Thru-Hiker's Companion, compiled by volunteers of the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA) (available at AppalachianTrail.org). Also available from the ATC is the Official AT Databook, an annually updated compilation of trail mileages, water sources, road crossings, shelter locations, and other information. The 2006 DataBook is the 28th annual edition, and is rightly considered indispensable by AT hikers. Also available through the ATC are individual state guidebooks and map sets. Another guide book to the AT is the annually updated Thru-Hiker's Handbook by Dan "Wingfoot" Bruce, published by the Center for Appalachian Trail Studies.

Scores of books about the trail have been published by thru-hikers and others:

• The first thru-hiker, Earl Shaffer, wrote an account of his journey titled Walking With Spring.
• Edward B. Garvey wrote Appalachian Hiker and Appalachian Hiker II in 1971 and 1978 respectively, telling the story of the trail and his though hike of it from April to October 1970.
• Larry Luxenberg published Walking the Appalachian Trail, a collection of interviews with thru-hikers.
• Adrienne Hall's book, A Journey North, published in 2001, discussed the particulars of being a female thru-hiker.
• Bill Irwin, a blind man, wrote about walking the entire AT with his guide dog Orient in Blind Courage.
• In 1998, Bill Bryson described his attempts at walking the trail in his book A Walk in the Woods. It is a less-than-serious view of the trail, from a less-than-fit person's perspective.

Notes

External links

Official sites

• Official site of ther Appalachian Trail Conservancy (formerly Conference)
• National Park Service Trail information
• Georgia Appalachian Trail Club
• Maine Appalachian Trail Club
• Appalachian Trail in Virginia, from the state's website. Virginia hosts more miles than any other state
• Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, for Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia

Hiking guides

• whiteblaze.net - The single most comprehensive website devoted to planning and preparing for an extended hike on the A.T.
• Appalachian Trail travel guide from Wikitravel
• Appalachian Trailplace - an Appalachian Trail resource site and information center
• The Official Kennebec River Free Canoe Ferry Service
• Appalachian Trail Walk Thru
• Appalachian Trail Shelters (GPS data and maps)

Testimonials and journals

• The Appalachian Trail Home Page
• Trail Journals, Backpacking and Hiking Journals

Communities

• ALDHA - Celebrating the A.T. Community
• Backcountry.net - AT Mailing lists and archives
• Google Earth Map of over 300 waypoints on Appalachian Trail