Date: 2005-08-04
To: Trail Facts
Miles today: 0.0

I have now completed about two months on the trail and about 500 miles. I thought you might like to read some facts about the AT and some of my personal insights about my trip so far. I have found the following in my journal I keep on the trail. Some have been put here and some have not yet.. 1) This is not for sissies!!!!!!2) If you ever doubt the kindness of people hike the trail and you will see it every day.3) I have never been so- tired, hot, cold, hungry, sore and happy in my life.4) Hanging a Bear bag can be your whole nights entertainment. Who needs T.V. when you can't get the rope over the tree limb.. :>5) While you might cover the same distance it's a different trail for everyone, from the people you meet to what you see and feel. I hope you enjoy reading my about my trip. I have many pictures that are not linked to a journal entry. Dare to live your dreams!!!DreamcatcherThe following information is taken directly from from the ATC website.http://www.appalachiantrail.org/2005 Northbounders as of August 2 Springer Mtn., Ga. 1,392 Neels Gap, Ga. (30 miles) 1,156 Fontana Dam, N.C. (160 miles) 1,123 Harpers Ferry, W.Va. (1,000 miles) 680 Katahdin, Maine (2,175 miles) 13 Each location shows how many people, who said they were trying to hike the whole way, have made it so far.Where do we get these numbers?It's estimated that 3 to 4 million visitors hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail each year. Most enjoy day hikes and short backpacking trips, but each year a small fraction of those hikers complete the entire Trail. How many? Since 1936, 8,425 hike completions have been recorded by ATC. This includes thru-hikes, multiyear section-hikes, and more than 100 hikes by people who have already completed the A.T. one or more times. We call all these hikers ¢2,000-milers.¢2,000-milers in recent years2,000-milers 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total hike completions recorded: 627 617 579 580 540 For recording purposes, we sort 2,000-miler reports according to direction and type of hike: northbound, southbound, flip-flop, or section-hike. Starting numbers and completions rates for recent years are shown below, as available.Northbounders 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Springer Mountain, Ga. 2,900 2,375 1,875 1,750 1,535 Neels Gap, Ga. (30 miles) 2,300 1,904 1,500 1,400 1,305 Fontana Dam, N.C. (160 miles) 1,200 1,100 999 1,028 864 Harpers Ferry, W.Va. (1,000 miles) 764 718 687 741 661 Katahdin, Maine (2,100+ miles) 431 397 384 402 370 Completion rate: 15% 17% 20% 23% 24% Northbounders hike from Springer Mountain to Katahdin in one continuous journey. They represent more than 65 percent of reported 2,000-milers. Southbounders 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Katahdin, Maine 379 275 286 291 233 Harpers Ferry, W.Va. (1,170 miles) 130 109 109 88 102 Springer Mountain, Ga. (2,100+ miles) 70 57 60 60 45 Completion rate: 18% 21% 21% 21% 19% Southbounders hike from Katahdin to Springer Mountain in one continuous journey. They represent about 10 percent of total reported 2,000-milers. Flip-floppers 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Reported finishing 45 27 36 32 31 Flip-floppers complete the Trail in one trip, but with an alternate itinerary. They make up about 5 percent of reported 2,000-milers. At a GlanceThe Appalachian Trail¢¦> Is a unit of the National Park Service> Is the nation¢s longest marked footpath, at approximately 2,175 miles.> Is the first national scenic trail, established in 1968> Houses more than 2,000 occurrences of rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species.> Crosses six national parks> Traverses eight national forests> Touches 14 states> Is maintained by 30 trail clubs and multiple partnershipsThreats to the A.T. experience include:> Highway construction> Housing developments> Invasive exotic plants> Declining air qualityFun Facts about the A.T.> Lowest elevation: 124 feet> Highest elevation: 6,625 feet> There are 165,000 blazes along the length of the Trail.> More than 8,000 people have reported hiking the length of the Trail since it was completed in 1937.> It takes approximately 5 million footsteps to cross the Trail.Please visit the http://www.appalachiantrail.org/ to get the most up to date stats and facts. Maybe even join, and your kids or grandkids could hike this someday...