Appalachian Trail
Map of Appalachian Trail
Length	2174 mi; 3498 km
Location	Eastern United States
Trailheads	Springer Mountain, Georgia Mount Katahdin, Maine
Use	Hiking
Elevation Change	6,643 Feet
Highest Point	Clingmans Dome
Lowest Point	Hudson River
Trail Difficulty	Moderate to Strenuous
Season	Spring to Fall
Sights	Appalachian Mountains
Hazards	Severe Weather American Black Bear Lyme disease Steep Grades Limited Water Poison Ivy Venomous Snakes

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply The A. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Springer Mountain is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Fannin County of northern Georgia. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule Mount Katahdin (USGS name is the highest mountain in Maine. Called Katahdin by people local to the peak and by the Penobscot Indians: the term means "The The State of Maine ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. In topography a summit is a point on a surface which is higher in Elevation than all points immediately adjacent to Clingmans Dome (or Clingman's Dome) is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, in the southeastern United States The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk, the Great Mohegan by the Iroquois, or as the Lenape Native Americans called it in Unami A season is one of the major divisions of the Year, generally based on yearly periodic changes in Weather. The Appalachian Mountains ( often called the Appalachians, are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. A hazard is a situation which poses a level of threat to Life, Health, Property or environment. Severe weather is any destructive weather phenomenon. The term is usually used to refer to severe thunderstorms and related phenomena such as Tornados The American Black Bear ( Ursus americanus) is the most common Bear Species native to North America. Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is an Emerging infectious disease caused by at least three Species of Bacteria belonging to the Genus A venomous snake is a Snake that uses modified saliva venom, usually delivered through highly specialized teeth such as hollow fangs for the purpose of Prey T. , is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. The word 'hiking' is understood in all English-speaking countries but there are differences in usage The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Springer Mountain is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Fannin County of northern Georgia. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule Mount Katahdin (USGS name is the highest mountain in Maine. Called Katahdin by people local to the peak and by the Penobscot Indians: the term means "The The State of Maine ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean ^[1] It is approximately 2175 miles^a[›] (3,500 km) long. The path is maintained by thirty trail clubs and multiple partnerships. ^[2] The majority of the trail is in wilderness, and thus encounters a wide array of wildlife, topography and plantlife. Wilderness is generally defined as a Natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by Human activity Some portions do traverse towns and roads, and even cross rivers.

The Appalachian Trail is famous for its many hikers, many of whom attempt to hike it in its entirety in one trip. Earl Shaffer was the first to do so. Earl V Shaffer ( November 8, 1918 &ndash May 5, 2002) was an American outdoorsman and author known from 1948 as The Crazy One Many books, memoirs, web sites and fan organizations are dedicated to this pursuit.

Along the way, the trail 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. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Vermont ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. New Hampshire ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The State of Maine ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean An extension, the International Appalachian Trail, continues north into Canada and to the end of the range, where it enters the North Atlantic Ocean. The International Appalachian Trail ( IAT; French: Sentier International des Appalaches, SIA) is a Hiking trail which runs from the

Contents 1 History 2 Flora and fauna 2.1 Animals 2.2 Plants 3 Topography 4 Hiking the trail 4.1 Navigation 4.2 Lodging 4.3 Trail towns 4.4 Hazards 4.5 Trail completion 5 Trail path 6 Further reading 7 Notes 8 References 9 See also 10 External links

History

The trail was conceived by Benton MacKaye, a forester who wrote his original plan shortly after the death of his wife in 1921. Benton MacKaye (pronounced /mækˈkаɪ/) (March 6 1879 – Dec MacKaye's 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. Major William Addams Welch ( August 20, 1868 &ndash May 4, 1941) was an American Engineer and Environmentalist who Palisades Interstate Park and its creator the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, was formed in 1900 by governors Theodore Roosevelt of New York and Raymond Hezekiah Torrey ( July 15, 1880 &ndash July 15, 1938) was the author of weekly columns, Outings and The Long The New York Post is the 13th-oldest Newspaper published in the United States and generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continually The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC is a federation of approximately 10000 individual members and about 100 member organizations (mostly Hiking clubs and

On October 7, 1923, the first section of the trail, from Bear Mountain west through Harriman State Park to Arden, New York, was opened. The Bear Mountain Bridge is a toll Suspension bridge in New York State, carrying U Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Bear Mountain State Park is located on the west side of the Hudson River in Rockland County New York. At 46613 acres (1864 km² Harriman State Park is one of the largest State parks in New York. Arden, is a hamlet around the town line of Tuxedo and Monroe, New York, in the United States. 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. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC (formerly Appalachian Trail Conference) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of the Appalachian Trail

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. Arthur Lionel Bertie Perkins ( 19 October 1905 &ndash 6 May 1992) usually known as Bertie Perkins, was an English Cricketer Myron Haliburton Avery (1899-1952 was a protégé of Judge Arthur Perkins collaborator and sometimes rival of Benton MacKaye, the first 2000 Miler of the Appalachian 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.

Avery became the first to walk the trail end-to-end, though not as a thru-hike, in 1936. Thru-hiking is the process of Hiking a Long-distance trail from end to end 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. For the mountain in Rio de Janeiro see Sugarloaf Mountain Brazil SUGARLOAF ---- Overview Formerly sugarloaf/usa From 1938 to the end of World War II, the trail suffered a series of natural and man-made setbacks. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including 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. Earl V Shaffer ( November 8, 1918 &ndash May 5, 2002) was an American outdoorsman and author known from 1948 as The Crazy One York, known as the White Rose City (after the Wars of the Roses) is a city located in South Central Pennsylvania. (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. Scouting in New York has a long history from the 1910s to the present day serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live ^[3] The story has been accepted by some individual members of ALDHA,^[4] though a great deal of doubt has also been expressed;^[5] 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 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. National Scenic Trail is a designation for Protected areas in the United States that consist of trails of particular natural beauty The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation 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). The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation 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.

On April 23, 1998, President Bill Clinton with Vice President Al Gore planted phlox and patched a stone wall along the AT in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in support of environmental initiatives. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III, August 19 1946 served as the forty-second President of the United States Albert Arnold Gore Jr (born March 31 1948 is an American environmental Activist, author Businessperson, former Politician, and former Phlox (pronounced /flɒks/ or "flocks" from the Latin for a flame-colored flower which is from the Greek φλόξ meaning 'flame' plural "phlox" Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers in and around Harpers Ferry West Virginia. ^[6]

The Appalachian Trail should not be confused with the International Appalachian Trail, a 690-mile extension, running north from Maine into New Brunswick and Quebec, that is a separate trail, not an official extension of the Appalachian Trail. The International Appalachian Trail ( IAT; French: Sentier International des Appalaches, SIA) is a Hiking trail which runs from the New Brunswick ( French: Nouveau-Brunswick /nuvobʁɔnzwik/ is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk ^[7] An extension of the International Appalachian Trail, to Newfoundland, is still under construction. Newfoundland and Labrador (ˈnuːfɨn(dlənd ən(d ˈlæbrəˌdɔr (Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador is a province of Canada, the tenth and latest to join the Confederation

In 2008, the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama was connected to the southern terminum of the Appalachian Trail. The Pinhoti Trail, described as the Georgia Pinhoti Trail and the Alabama Pinhoti Trail is a connecting trail from the Appalachian Trail via the Benton MacKaye

Flora and fauna

The Appalachian Trail is home to thousands of species of plants and animals, including 2,000 distinct rare, threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant and animal species. ^[2]

Animals

The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is the largest omnivore that may be encountered on the trail, and it inhabits all regions of the Appalachians. The American Black Bear ( Ursus americanus) is the most common Bear Species native to North America. ^[8] However, bear sightings on the trail are uncommon, and confrontations rarer still, as black bears typically avoid humans and can usually be frightened away by loud noises. Other hazards include venomous snakes, including the Eastern timber rattlesnake and copperhead, which are common along the trail. Common names timber rattlesnake canebrake rattlesnake banded rattlesnake more. Common names: copperhead (snake chunk head death adder (dry-land moccasin more. Both snakes are generally found in drier, rockier sections of the trail; the copperhead's range extends north to around the New Jersey-New York state line, while rattlesnakes are commonly found along the trail in Connecticut and have been reported, although rarely, as far north as New Hampshire. New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. New Hampshire ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. ^[9] Other large fauna include deer; elk, reintroduced in the Smoky Mountains; and moose, which live as far south as Massachusetts but are more commonly seen in Maine. The elk, or wapiti ( Cervus canadensis) is one of the largest Species of Deer in the world and one of the largest Mammals in The moose (North America or elk (Europe Alces alces, is the largest extant Species in the Deer family. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The State of Maine ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean ^[9]

For most hikers, the most persistent pests along the trail are mice and bugs. A mouse (plural mice) is a small Animal that belongs to one Mice inhabit shelters and are a greater threat to hiker food than bears. The bugs are a persistent hazard, but are particularly bad in the northern stretches of the trail. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York have notoriously bad mosquitoes, but the worst section of the trail for bugs is in the lowlands of Maine. Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The northern hardwood and boreal forest of Maine is perfect for mosquitoes and tiny, pesky black flies to breed. The term hardwood is used to describe Wood from broad-leaved angiosperm Trees mostly Deciduous, but not necessarily in the case of tropical A black fly (sometimes called a buffalo Gnat, turkey gnat or white socks) is any member of the family Simuliidae of the Numerous lakes, rivers, and streams provide the perfect habitat for biting insects to breed and hatch, especially in late spring and early summer.

In the southern portions of the trail, mosquitoes, no-see-em and other biting flies are less of a nuisance because there are fewer mountain lakes and ponds. Mosquitoes are insects in the family Culicidae. They have a pair of scaled wings a pair of Halteres, a slender body and long legs Ceratopogonidae, or biting Midges (including what are called in the United States, no-see-ums, midgies, Sand flies In addition, the lack of great seasonal changes in the South keeps the onslaught of these biting insects down. The continental glaciation that carved so many lakes in the northeast stopped near the Delaware Water Gap, leaving the southern mountains with fewer holes to be filled by rain. "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. The Delaware Water Gap is on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River traverses a large ridge of the Appalachian

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 in Massachusetts and The Hermitage, near Gulf Hagas in Maine. Katahdin Iron Works is a Maine state historic site located in the unorganized township of the same name In the south, the forest is dominated by hardwoods, including oak and tulip trees, also known as yellow poplar. The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of about 400 species of Trees and Shrubs in the Genus Quercus (from Latin Liriodendron tulipifera,commonly known as the American tulip tree, tulip poplar or yellow poplar, is the Western Hemisphere representative ^[10] Further north, tulip trees are gradually replaced by maples and birches. Oaks begin to disappear in Massachusetts. By Vermont, the lowland forest is made up of maples, birch and beech, which provide spectacular foliage displays for hikers in September and October. ^[11] While the vast majority of lowland forest south of the White Mountains is hardwood, many areas have some coniferous trees as well, and in Maine, these often grow at low elevations. The White Mountains are a Mountain range that covers about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the ^[10]

There is a drastic change between the lowland and subalpine, evergreen forest, as well as another, higher break, at treeline, above which only hardy alpine plants grow. The term subalpine refers to the biotic zone immediately below Tree line around the world In Botany, an Evergreen plant is a plant having leaves all year round ^[10] The sub-alpine region is far more prevalent along the trail than true alpine conditions. While it mainly exists in the north, a few mountains in the south have subalpine environments. These include the Great Smoky Mountains, where sub-alpine environments only begin around 6000 feet in elevation, the Unaka and Roan Ranges on the North Carolina-Tennessee border, where sub-alpine growth descends below 6000 feet, and Mount Rogers and the Grayson Highlands in Virginia, where there is some alpine growth above 5000 feet. The Great Smoky Mountains are a major Mountain range in the southern part of the Appalachian Mountains, the second ridge line forming a north-south running mountain Roan Mountain is the highpoint of the Roan-Unaka Range of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, located in the Southeastern United States North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. Mount Rogers is the highest point in the state of Virginia, USA, with a summit elevation of above mean sea level Grayson Highlands State Park is located in Virginia adjacent to Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Some high mountains in the south are also balds, due to fires or grazing in recent centuries, or perhaps due to thin, sandy soils. Several balds are sprouting trees, and on some, the National Forest service actually mows the grasses periodically in order to keep the bald open. "National forest" redirects here for the National Forest in England see National Forest England; for those in Brazil see List of Brazilian National Forests Mostly in the mid summer to late fall.

Topography

No sub-alpine regions exist between Mount Rogers in Virginia and Mount Greylock in Massachusetts, mainly because the trail stays below 3000 feet from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Mount Greylock. The Appalachian Mountains ( often called the Appalachians, are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. Mount Rogers is the highest point in the state of Virginia, USA, with a summit elevation of above mean sea level Mount Greylock 3491 feet (1064 m is the highest point in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is located in the northwest corner of the state Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U Mount Greylock, however, has a large subalpine region, the only such forest in Massachusetts, extending down to 3000 feet, which in the south would be far from the sub-alpine cutoff. This is especially low because Greylock is exposed to prevailing westerly winds, as its summit rises 1000 feet higher than any other peak in Massachusetts. Further north, several peaks in Vermont reach into the sub-alpine zone, the bottom of which steadily descends, so that by the White Mountains in New Hampshire, it often occurs well below 3000 feet. The White Mountains are a Mountain range that covers about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the At Mount Moosilauke, which reaches to 4802 feet, the first alpine environment on the trail is reached, where only thin, sporadic flora is interspersed with bare rocks. Mount Moosilauke is a Mountain, 4802 feet high in the southwest White Mountains Region of New Hampshire, United States For the climate of the mountains named the Alps, see Climate of the Alps. Between the two regions is the krummholz region, where stunted trees grow with their branches oriented away from the winter's prevailing northwest wind, thus giving the appearance of flags (they are often called "flag trees"). Krummholz or Krumholtz formation (from German krumm, "crooked bent twisted" and Holz, "wood" also Knieholz "knee This region resembles lowland land cover hundreds of miles north in Canada, and contains many endangered and threatened species. The trail has been rerouted over New Hampshire's Presidential Range so the Appalachian Mountain Club can protect certain plant life. The Presidential Range is a Mountain range located in the White Mountains of the state of New Hampshire, almost entirely in Coos County The Appalachian Mountain Club ( AMC) is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups The alpine cutoff in the Whites is generally between 4200 and 4800 feet. Mountains traversed by the AT above treeline include Mount Moosilauke, several miles along the Franconia Range, and the Presidential Range. Mount Moosilauke is a Mountain, 4802 feet high in the southwest White Mountains Region of New Hampshire, United States The Presidential Range is a Mountain range located in the White Mountains of the state of New Hampshire, almost entirely in Coos County In the Presidentials, the trail climbs as high as 6288 feet (1917 meters) on Mount Washington and spends about 13 miles continuously above treeline, in the largest alpine environment in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at. Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a Mountain range in western North America.

In Maine, the trail extends in to even harsher environments, and sub-alpine and alpine growth descends to lower elevations. Alpine growth in the state ranges from around 2500 feet in the Mahoosuc Range to below 1000 feet in parts of the 100-Mile Wilderness, where nearly every area higher than 1000 feet is evergreen forest. The Mahoosuc Range, a northern extension of the White Mountains, straddles the border between New Hampshire and Maine. These forests include more species of evergreen, as well. In addition to the white pine, spruce and hemlock prevalent further south, Maine has many cedar trees along the trail. Spruce refers to Trees of the genus Picea, a genus of about 35 species of Coniferous Evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae Cedar ( Cedrus) is a genus of Coniferous Trees in the Plant family Pinaceae. Near the northern terminus, there are even some tamarack, a coniferous, pine-needled deciduous tree, which provides displays of yellow in the late fall after the birches and maples have gone bare. Tamarack Larch, or Tamarack or American Larch ( Larix laricina) is a species of Larch native to northern North America, mainly The hemlocks in Maine are also notable, as the woolly adelgid, which has ravaged populations further south, has not come into the state yet, and may be unable to make it so far north due to the cold climate. Hemlock woolly adelgid ( Adelges tsugae) commonly abbreviated as HWA is a True bug native to East Asia that feeds by sucking sap from hemlock

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 4000 feet. Saddleback Mountain and Mount Bigelow, further north, each only extend a bit above 4000 feet, but have long alpine areas, with no tree growth on the summits and unobstructed views on clear days. Saddleback Mountain is a Mountain located in Rangeley, Franklin County, Maine. Mount Bigelow (also called the Bigelow Range and Bigelow Mountain) is a long mountain ridge with several summits From Mount Bigelow, the trail extends for 150 miles with only a small area of alpine growth around 3500 feet on the summit of White Cap Mountain. White Cap Mountain is a Mountain located in Piscataquis County, Maine. 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 Katahdin is only around 3500 feet. 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 2000 miles.

Hiking the trail

As the Appalachian Trail was explicitly designed to be hiked, it includes resources to facilitate hikers. Some are common to trails throughout North America, while some are unique to the Appalachian Trail. The trail is much more frequently hiked south to north (i. e. Georgia to Maine) than vice versa. Hikers typically begin in March or April and finish in late summer or early to late fall of that particular year. Many hikers will break down the mileage into halves or thirds, so that they can have the best weather, which typically occurs between May and September.

Navigation

Throughout its length, the AT is marked by 2-by-6-inch (5-by-15-cm) white paint blazes. Trail blazing is the practice of marking paths in outdoor Recreational areas with blazes, markings that follow each other at certain &mdash though not necessarily 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.

An old metal diamond marker beside the trail in Maine

A typical white AT blaze along the trail in Pennsylvania

An example of a side-trail blue blaze, from Mount Greylock in Massachusetts

Lodging

The trail has more than 200 shelters and camp sites available for hikers. The State of Maine ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern Mount Greylock 3491 feet (1064 m is the highest point in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is located in the northwest corner of the state The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. The shelters, sometimes called lean-tos (in Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut) or huts (in Shenandoah National Park and the White Mountains in New Hampshire), 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. ^[1]

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. "^[12]

In addition to official shelters, many persons 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. The Little Lyford Pond camps opened in 1874 bordering the West Branch of the Pleasant River in northern Maine in the United States. The Appalachian Mountain Club ( AMC) is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups Inns are more common in sections of the trail that coincide with national parks, most notably Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U ^[13]

Trail towns

The trail crosses many roads, thus providing ample opportunity for hikers to hitchhike into town for food and other supplies. Boiling Springs is a Census-designated place (CDP in South Middleton Township, Cumberland County Pennsylvania, United States. Hitchhiker Program Hitchhiking (also known as thumbing, hitching, autostop or thumbing up a ride) is a means of Transportation Many trail towns are accustomed to hikers passing through, and thus many have hotels and hiker-oriented accommodations. A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging usually on a short-term basis ^[1] Some of the most well-known trail towns are Monson, Maine; Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; Damascus, Virginia; Hot Springs, North Carolina; Erwin, Tennessee; Duncannon, Pennsylvania; Port Clinton, Pennsylvania; and Hanover, New Hampshire. Monson is a town in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. Harpers Ferry redirects here For other uses see Harpers Ferry (disambiguation. Damascus is a town in Washington County, Virginia, United States. Hot Springs is a town in Madison County, North Carolina, United States. Erwin is a city in and the County seat of Unicoi County, Tennessee, United States. Duncannon is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. Port Clinton is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. In the areas of the trail closer to trail towns, many hikers have experienced what is sometimes called "trail magic," or assistance from strangers through kind actions, gifts, and other forms of encouragement. ^[14] Trail magic is sometimes done anonymously. ^[15] In other instances, persons have provided food and cooked for hikers at a campsite.

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 fellow humans encountered along the trail. ^[16]

Many animals live around the trail, with bears, snakes, and wild boars posing the greatest threat to human safety. Several rodent- and bug-borne illnesses are also a potential hazard. Ticks are carriers for Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis and other diseases, and are in higher abundance in northern states. Tick is the common name for the small Arachnids in Superfamily Ixodoidea that along with other Mites constitute the Acarina. Lyme disease, or borreliosis, is an Emerging infectious disease caused by at least three Species of Bacteria belonging to the Genus Ehrlichiosis (ˌɛrlɨkiˈoʊsɨs also known as canine rickettsiosis, canine hemorrhagic fever, canine typhus, tracker dog disease, and Being thoroughly covered and wearing DEET can greatly reduce the chances of getting infected. N, N -Diethyl- meta -toluamide, abbreviated DEET, is the most common active Ingredient in Insect repellents It is intended

In scattered instances, foxes, raccoons, and other small animals may bite hikers, posing risk of rabies and other diseases. Rabies (from rabies “madness rage fury” Also known as “ hydrophobia ” is a viral Zoonotic neuroinvasive disease that There has been one reported case (in 1993) of hantavirus (HPS), a rare but dangerous rodent-borne disease affecting the lungs. Hantaviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae family of Viruses There Bunyaviridae family is divided into 5 genera The afflicted hiker recovered and hiked the trail the following year. ^[16]

Plant life can create its own brand of problems. Poison ivy is common the length of the trail, and more plentiful in the South. Flare-ups can be treated with calamine lotion or Solarcaine. For the mineral see Calamine (mineral, for other uses of the word see Calamine (disambiguation. Lidocaine ( INN) (ˈlaɪdoʊkeɪn or lignocaine (former BAN) (/ˈlɪgnoʊkeɪn/ is a common Local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic drug ^[1]

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. Under such conditions, hydration is imperative. Light clothing and sunscreens are a must at high elevations and areas without foliage, even in relatively cool weather. ^[16]

Further north and at higher elevations, the weather can be intensely cold, 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. Typical electrical storm precautions should be followed. ^[17]

Violent crime, including murder, has occurred on the trail in a few instances. Most have been crimes by non-hikers who crossed paths relatively randomly with the AT hiker-victims.

In May 1996, two women were abducted, bound and murdered near the trail in Shenandoah National Park. Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U The primary suspect was later discovered harassing a female biker in the vicinity^[18] but charges against him were dropped, and the case remains unsolved. ^[19] A total of 9 murders have occurred since then, including the notorious Ramsey/Mountford murder in 1981 and the Williams/Winans murder in 1996. On May 6, 2008, two fisherman from Virginia were shot, but survived near the trail in Giles County, Virginia, by the man behind the Ramsey/Mountford murders, Randall Lee Smith, who had recently met them not far from the 1981 murder site. Giles County is a county located in the US state &mdash officially " Commonwealth " &mdash of Virginia. Smith died four days later in jail of unknown causes. [1]

Trail completion

Trail hikers who attempt to complete the entire trail in a single season are called "thru-hikers"; those who traverse the trail during a series of separate trips are known as "section-hikers". Thru-hiking is the process of Hiking a Long-distance trail from end to end Rugged terrain and cold weather during the spring and fall make thru-hiking difficult. Only about 30% of those who make the attempt report to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy that they completed it; 2007 estimates said 28,500 have done so. It is widely acknowledged that many or even most of these have skipped portions of the Trail. ^[1] Completion 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.

The current unofficial speed record for through-hiking the AT was set by trail runner Andrew Thompson in 2005, at 47 days, 13 hours and 31 minutes. Thompson made the trip southbound, from late June to early August. ^[20]

Thru-hikers are classified into many informal groups. "Purists" are hikers who stick to the official AT trail 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 down the trail. There are also those who hike the trail in sections known as "sectioners" as opposed to those who hike the whole trail as one course.

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. ^[1] 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).

Part of hiker subculture includes making colorful entries in logbooks at trail shelters, signed using trail names. A pseudonym is a fictitious alternative to a person's legal name (see Alias)

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy gives the name "2000 Miler" to anyone who completes the entire Trail. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC (formerly Appalachian Trail Conference) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of the Appalachian 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. ^[21]

Most of the trail is also open to local use.

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. There are unique characteristics to the Appalachian National Scenic Trail by state, generally known as the Appalachian For railroad track easement see Track transition curve. An easement is the right or freedom to do something or the right to prevent The trail is maintained by a variety of citizen 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. A volunteer is someone who works for a community or for the benefit of environment primarily because they choose to do so The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC (formerly Appalachian Trail Conference) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of the Appalachian Trail

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. The Appalachian Mountains ( often called the Appalachians, are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. Wilderness is generally defined as a Natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by Human activity The trail used to traverse many hundreds of miles of private property; currently 99% of the trail is on Public land. ^[22]

Georgia has 75 miles (120 km) of the trail,^[23] including the southern terminus at Springer Mountain at an elevation of 3,280 feet (992 m). Springer Mountain is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Fannin County of northern Georgia. At 4,461 feet (1360 m), Blood Mountain is the highest point on the trail in Georgia. For the album see Blood Mountain (album Blood Mountain is the highest peak on the Georgia section of the Appalachian The AT and approach trail are managed and maintained by the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. The Georgia Appalachian Trail Club, Inc (GATC is a non-profit organization that was organized in 1930 in Dahlonega, GA. See also: Georgia Peaks on the Appalachian Trail. This is a list of the peaks along the Georgia portion of the Appalachian Trail starting at Springer Mountain.

North Carolina has 88 miles (142 km) of the trail,^[24] 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,^[25] 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). Clingmans Dome (or Clingman's Dome) is a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina, in the southeastern United States Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a United States National Park that straddles the ridgeline of the Great Smoky Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Virginia has 550 miles (885 km) of the trail,^[26] including about 20 miles (32 km) along the West Virginia border. Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U 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. Substantial portions closely parallel the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway in Shenandoah National Park. This article refers to the road in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U Parts of the trail near the Blue Ridge Parkway are often considered the best for beginner hikers. The trail goes within one half mile of the highest point in Virginia, Mt. Rogers, and is a short side-hike from the AT. ^[26]

West Virginia has 4 miles (6 km) of the trail,^[27] 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 redirects here For other uses see Harpers Ferry (disambiguation. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC (formerly Appalachian Trail Conference) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of the Appalachian Trail Harpers Ferry is considered the "psychological midpoint" of the AT. ^[28]

Maryland has 41 miles (66 km) of the trail,^[29] 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. ^[30] 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 Delaware Water Gap is on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River traverses a large ridge of the Appalachian The Susquehanna River is generally considered the dividing line between the northern and southern sections of the Pennsylvania AT. The Susquehanna River (originally "Sasquesahanough" per the 1612 John Smith map is a River located in the northeastern United States.

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. A ghost town is a Town or City that has been abandoned usually because the economic activity that supported it has failed or due to natural or human-caused The Ghost town of Rausch Gap was the largest of several Coal mining towns in St Anthony's Wilderness that appeared flourished and died during the period between

New Jersey is home to 72 miles (116 km) of the trail. ^[31] 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). Interstate 80 (I-80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States (after I-90) The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. The Delaware Water Gap is on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River traverses a large ridge of the Appalachian The Kittatinny Mountains are a long ridge across northwestern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. 6421 acre (26 km² Worthington State Forest runs more than seven miles (10 km along the Kittatinny Ridge in Columbia, in Warren County, on the Stokes State Forest is a State park located partly in Sandyston Township, in Sussex County, New Jersey, United States. High Point is the name of several places in the United States High Point North Carolina High Point University, located there 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. Wawayanda State Park is a 16679-acre (67 km² State park in Sussex County and Passaic County in northern New Jersey. Greenwood Lake is a Village in Orange County, New York, United States.

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^[32] 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. At 46613 acres (1864 km² Harriman State Park is one of the largest State parks in New York. Bear Mountain State Park is located on the west side of the Hudson River in Rockland County New York. It crosses the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge, the lowest point on the entire Appalachian Trail at 124 feet (38 m). The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk, the Great Mohegan by the Iroquois, or as the Lenape Native Americans called it in Unami The Bear Mountain Bridge is a toll Suspension bridge in New York State, carrying U It then passes through Fahnestock State Park, and continues northeast until it enters Connecticut via the Pawling Nature Reserve. Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park a 14086 acre (563 km² New York State park, in Putnam and Dutchess counties Pawling New York may refer to Pawling (town New York Pawling (village New York Pawling (Metro-North station 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^[33] lie almost entirely along the ridges to the west above the Housatonic River valley. A ridge is a geological feature that features a continuous elevational crest for some distance The Housatonic River is a river approximately 149 mi (240 km long in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States.

The state line is also the western boundary of a 480-acre (190 ha) Connecticut reservation inhabited by 11 Schaghticoke Indians. An Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American Tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau The Schaghticoke are a Native American tribe of the Eastern Woodlands consisting of descendants of Mahican (also called "Mohican" but not to 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. ^[34] The entire section of trail is in western Massachusetts' Berkshire County. For the Royal County of Berkshire UK see Berkshire Berkshire County is a non-governmental County located on the western 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. Great Barrington is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. 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. Dalton is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Cheshire is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Mount Greylock 3491 feet (1064 m is the highest point in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is located in the northwest corner of the state 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. North Adams is a city in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Williamstown is a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. The trail throughout Massachusetts is maintained by the Berkshire Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Vermont has 150 miles (241 km) of the trail. ^[35] 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). The Long Trail is a hiking Trail located in Vermont running the length of the state It follows the ridge of the southern Green Mountains, summitting such notable peaks as Stratton Mountain, Glastenbury Mountain and Killington Peak. The Green Mountains are a Mountain range in the US state of Vermont. Stratton Mountain is a Mountain located in Windham County, Vermont, in the Green Mountain National Forest. Glastenbury Mountain is a Mountain located in Bennington County, Vermont, in the Green Mountain National Forest. Killington Peak is the second highest summit in the Green Mountains and in the U 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. Norwich is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States, located along the Connecticut River Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The Connecticut River is the largest River in New England, flowing south from the Connecticut Lakes in northern New Hampshire, along the border The Green Mountain Club maintains the AT from the Massachusetts state border to Route 12. The Green Mountain Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting Vermont's Long Trail. Route 12 is a multi-state north-south State highway in the New England region of the United States, running from Groton Connecticut through The Dartmouth Outing Club maintains the trail from Route 12 to the New Hampshire state line. The Dartmouth Outing Club ( DOC) is the oldest and largest collegiate outing club in the United States.

New Hampshire has 161 miles (259 km) of the trail. ^[36] The New Hampshire AT is nearly all within the White Mountain National Forest. The White Mountain National Forest ( WMNF) is a forest contained within the White Mountains in the northeastern United States. 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. For the climate of the mountains named the Alps, see Climate of the Alps. 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. In Mountaineering, the four-thousand footers (or "4ks" refers to a group of Mountains in New England of interest in the sport of " Peak-bagging Mount Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at. 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. Mount Moosilauke is a Mountain, 4802 feet high in the southwest White Mountains Region of New Hampshire, United States Kinsman Notch (el 1870 ft/570 m is a Mountain pass located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, United States. The Appalachian Mountain Club ( AMC) is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups

The 281 miles (452 km) of the trail in Maine are particularly difficult. ^[37] More moose are seen by hikers in this state than any other on the trail. The moose (North America or elk (Europe Alces alces, is the largest extant Species in the Deer family. The northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is on Mount Katahdin's Baxter Peak in Baxter State Park. --> Baxter State

The western section includes a mile-long (1. 6 km) stretch of boulders at Mahoosuc Notch, often called the trail's hardest mile. Mahoosuc Notch is a deep gap in the Mahoosuc Range of western Maine, traversed by the Appalachian Trail. 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 Kennebec River is a River, 150 mi (240 km long in the state of Maine in the northeastern United States. 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. Monson is a town in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. --> Baxter State ^[37]

Park management strongly discourages thru-hiking within the park before May 15 or after October 15. Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the ^[38]

The AMC maintains the AT from the New Hampshire border to Grafton Notch, with the Maine Appalachian Trail Club responsible for maintaining the remaining miles to Mt. The Appalachian Mountain Club ( AMC) is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups Grafton Notch is a notch or Mountain pass, located in Oxford County, Maine. 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 2007 DataBook is the 29th annual edition, and is considered indispensable by many AT hikers and hiking guides. ^[39] Also available through the ATC are individual state guidebooks and map sets. Another annual guide book to the AT, the Thru-Hiker's Handbook, was written by Dan "Wingfoot" Bruce since 1985 and was taken over by Bob "501" McCaw as of 2008.

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 thru-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. "Guide Dogs" redirects here For the British charity see The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Guide dogs are Assistance "
• In 1997, Lynn Setzer published "A Season on the Appalachian Trail," a collection of stories and comments from hikers who attempted a thru-hike in 1996. A second edition, published in 2001, included hikers' perspectives five years after completing (or abandoning) their hikes.
• In 1998, Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods gives a humorous view of the trail from a less-than-fit person's perspective. William McGuire "Bill" Bryson, OBE, (born 8 December 1951 is a best-selling American Author of humorous books on Travel, as well A Walk in the Woods Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail is a 1998 book by travel writer Bill Bryson, describing his attempt to walk the Appalachian

Notes

^ a: The exact length of the Appalachian Trail is not known, as periodic changes and maintenance to the trail alters the trail's length, making an exact figure hard, if not impossible, to ascertain. (See Outdoors.org)

References

See also

• Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS) (in the eastern US)
• Eustace Conway

External links

Official sites

• Official site of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• National Park Service Trail information, with maps
• Georgia Appalachian Trail Club
• Maine Appalachian Trail Club
• Appalachian Trail in Virginia
• Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, for Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia

Unofficial sites and hiking guides

• Appalachian Trail travel guide from Wikitravel
• Whiteblaze.net
• Backcountry.net - AT Mailing lists and archives
• The Official Kennebec River Free Canoe Ferry Service
• Appalachian Trail Shelters - GPS data and maps
• Trail Journals
• ALDHA, devoted to long-distance hiking and backpacking
• Google Earth Map of over 300 waypoints on Appalachian Trail
• Google AT Map Ultimate Interactive AT Map (allows user markup)
• [2] At age 55, she was first S'porean to complete the world's longest foot trail . The Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS is part of the Appalachian Regional Commission in the United States. Eustace Conway (born Eustace Robinson Conway IV in 1961 in South Carolina) is an American naturalist and the subject of the book The Last American Man Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide.

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