Date: 2008-03-06
To: The Appalachian Trail
Miles today: 0.0

The obligatory ¢What is it?¢ posted for the initiated vistors - which would include three of my four friends.The official Appalachian Trail is 2168.8 miles, but that does not include the 8.8 mile approach walk from the bottom of Amicalola Falls in GA, below Springer Mountain; the 5.2 miles to get back down from Katahdin; or the many miles to restock points, post offices, scenic views, water sources, and shelters. All said, a person who completes the trail easily walks over 2200 miles. The trail traverses Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.Primary use of the trail is by weekend or short-term hikers. "Thru-hikers" generally start from the South in early spring and hike the entire length in 5 to 6 months with a price tag between $3000 and $6000.TRAIL INFORMATIONThe Appalachian Trail (AT) is a 2160 mile trail from Mount Katahdin, Maine to Springer Mountain, Georgia. It was conceived more than 75 years ago by Benton MacKaye. Only about 1% of the trail runs through 'unprotected' areas. The AT is marked along the way by 2"x6" white blazes or mountaintop cairns. There are 3 sided shelters built every 10 miles or so. The AT is also extremely well known to the local people and getting rides off-trail is much easier. There are several 'trail angels'. These are kindly folks who help out along the trail by offering soft drinks, water, food and assistance. It is also called 'trail magic'. Some of the trail angels have become quite legendary. Every year about 3000 people attempt to thru-hike the AT of which about 10% succeed. About 80% are males. It draws from an exceptionally wide range of professions, a wide range of age groups (somewhat under represented by the 30 to 40 age group), but a narrow racial mix (very predominantly white). There is good camaraderie along the trail (especially north-bound) and it is not uncommon to make life long friends during a thru-hike. Extensions are now being added to the AT and the whole thing is called Eastern Continental Trail. The north side has the International Appalactian Trail (IAT) that runs from Mount Katahdin, Maine to Park Forillion, Quebec, Canada for a distance of about 700 miles. The south is being extended from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Key West, Florida by the Benton MacKaye (100 miles), Georgia Pinhoti (150 miles), Alabama Pinhoti (150 miles) and Florida National Scenic Trail (1000 miles). There is also a significant roadwalk from the Alabama Pinhoti trail to the Florida National Scenic Trail (150 miles) ane form the Florida National Scenic Trail to Key West (150 miles). The entire trail is approximately 4700 miles. At a GlanceThe Appalachian Trail, completed in 1937: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, designated 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.Crosses numerous state and local forests and parks.Is maintained by 30 trail clubs and multiple partnerships.Threats to the A.T. experience include:Highway constructionHousing developmentsInvasive exotic plantsDeclining air qualityFun facts about the Appalachian Trail:Lowest elevation: 124 feet.Highest elevation: 6,625 feet.There are 300,000 blazes along the length of the Trail.More than 9,000 people have reported hiking the length of the Trail.It takes approximately 5 million footsteps to walk the entire length of the Trail.