What is it?

What is the Appalachian Trail?

You can do a simple google search of the Appalachian Trail to get all kinds of great information about the Appalachian Trail, but for those who may not know, and just want a quick overview, read on. If you already know the basics, don't worry about reading this post. 

The Appalachian Trail, or AT, is a footpath that stretches through 14 states from Springer Mountain in the northern section of Georgia, all the way to the Mount Katahdin in roughly the middle of Maine. In 2017, the trail is 2190 miles long. Its overall length changes slightly from year to year as the trail gets adjusted to go around private land, in an effort to be the "wildest" experience possible. 

It is continuously marked with a white "blaze" or a white rectangle which is painted on trees, rocks, or posts. 

Also along the trail are a system of shelters/huts/lean-tos which are roughly 10 miles apart throughout the majority of the trail. These structures are three sided buildings with a roof and one open wall (most of the time). They fit from just a few, to twenty hikers at a time. Along with the shelters, there is usually a privy (outhouse) and a water source. Most hikers bring a tent or hammock tent to sleep in, in the event that the shelters are full. Though some hikers prefer staying almost exclusively in the shelters, and some prefer to exclusively use their tents.

As the trail meanders across eastern America, it passes through "trail towns". In some cases the trail literally passes through a town, right down main street. In other cases, it goes near a town. Hikers have a choice of walking into those towns, paying for a shuttle, or hitchhiking from a trailhead to the town. 

While in town, hikers will resupply their food bag, charge electronics, eat tons and tons of food, perhaps take a shower, do their laundry, and often times, rent a room at a hostel, hotel, or bed and breakfast. 

In 1948, a crazy guy named Earl Shaffer hiked the entire length of the trail in one continuous trip. Ever since then people have made the pilgrimage in droves. Now, thousands of hikers complete the trail every year. (Though roughly 75 percent that begin don't finish). When you complete the AT in a year, you are considered to be a "Thru Hiker". 

In addition to the AT, there are two more long distance trails in the United States. The Pacific Crest Trail (2600 miles) that runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington, and the Continental Divide Trail (3100) that runs from Mexico to Canada through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. If you complete all three of these trails, you earn what the hiking community calls the "Triple Crown"

If you want to know more, there are countless resources on the internet that will keep you busy.

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The next post will be back to my story leading up to the trail.

77 days and counting!