And orange fluorescent clothing is needed to ensure your safety during hunting season. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which oversees the conservation of the trail, says that it is the longest hiking-only trail in the world and at an amazing 2,200 miles, it is certainly long. Certainly! If you were to hike 10 miles per day for the entire length of the trail, it would take you about 217 days or approximately seven months. Hikers are also required to stay at the shelter sites, regardless if they have a spot to sleep inside. However, try to avoid drunken and hostile strangers. Most plans are to finish in the late summer or early fall before the cold weather seasons. WOW, Information packed article. Then in 1925, the first conference devoted to the creation of the trail was held. And surely none of you would like to be the next victim. Is there an Appalachian Trail shuttle service? Beginners should plan for an average speed of 1 mile per hour. This can be a vital aspect, as many hikers have set up drop points and only carry enough food to get them from one drop point to another. Hide the rest of your money and documents deep in your backpack. How difficult is a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail? While it is commonly accepted that Maine is the starting point of the trail and Georgia is its ending point. Hi Kathryn – great article and appreciate the detailed information. Whether you’re tackling the whole AT as a thru-hike or just hiking a section, being prepared is the first step. The first few steps in a successful thru-hike experience are getting to know the trail and getting to know yourself as a hiker. Along this section is situated the highest point on the Appalachian Trail: Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You have to start in March or April, and you will probably finish in September. So, estimating how long it takes to pass through some of the states can put your mind at ease and give you a frame of reference as you hike. If your intuition suggests that this person can hurt you—then minimize contact. Permissions are granted on a free basis and can be obtained at visitor centers. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, out of the 1,500 to 2,000 hikers who try to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail every year, only 200 to 300 hikers succeed. There is no early limit on when one can start a nobo hike, and a few hearty souls start as early as January and February. And thanks for the correction. In Shenandoah National Park, all hikers must apply for a permit, regardless of the duration of the hike. Katahdin terminus. If you are planning to conquer this section, take care to bring warm clothes, no matter what season it is. Information in this blog is very basic, and in some cases not accurate (one quart of water per day?!). Luckily, Virginia’s terrain is not going to be the most difficult on the AT. As a result, it is recommended by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and many conservationists for hikers, if at all possible, to consider alternate options to heading NOBO. How to Train for Hiking the Appalachian Trail - … It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, this guidebook is for you. The Appalachian Trail only traverses four miles through West Virginia, so it can easily be done as a day hike. Appalachian Trail Overview. It all started when Benton MacKaye (1879-1975) published an article called “ An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning ” in the Journal of the American Institute of Architects. Each shelter holds between 12-14 people and only 4 spots per night are reserved for thru hikers. The reviews always stay objective and take 100+ working hours for each category. Many hikers choose to do the 8.8 mile approach trail. The Mid-Atlantic section of the Appalachian Trail may seem the busiest. **OR** Take SR348 approximately 7 miles to the parking lot. But there's one common factor across all her pursuits: the outdoors. When To Start a Sobo Appalachian Trail Thru Hike I started a northbound (nobo) hike in Georgia on the spring equinox, and hiked 114 miles before leaving the trail with an injury . The route runs alongside highways and roads, the big cities. In mid-March, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail started shutting down sections and services to hikers of all ambitions. Now she’s a full-time blogger and hiker and has already explored more than 30 US national parks with her beloved dogs Aurora and Leo. Large tourist groups on the trail can use campsites and set up tents. 7. From market farming to wilderness survival guide to forestry technician and climbing instructor, Meg has an eclectic work history. For me personally, and many other hikers, hiking the entire Appalachian Trail was one of the most difficult things I have done in my lifetime. Reportedly tricky due to elevation gain per each mile, intense weather, regulations for camping, rocky trails, and steep terrain. For hiking short sections, contact the local Trail Club for the most up to date info. 10 miles to the parking lot. When you’re going over a mountain on the AT, you can expect to be taking a straight shot at it. The fastest trek on the trail is set by Karl Meltzer in 2016. B: 2,192 . From start to finish, its length is 2,178 miles. Hiking over this section of the Appalachian Trail, you’ll see Shenandoah National Park, famous for its beautiful views and untouched wildlife. I’m hoping to get onto the NC portion of the trail this year – need to convince my bride to join me. Once you reach its summit, you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the Appalachian Mountains and … The Appalachian Trail … That means that more of the AT passes through Virginia than any other state. The northernmost part of the trail ends on Katahdin Mountain in Maine, which is the toughest trail. Appalachian Trail organization to long-distance hikers: Postpone your start during coronavirus Posted Mar 17, 2020 The Appalachian Trail, which runs from Georgia to Maine, passes through Duncannon. There are an estimated 3 million visitors that hike parts of the AT each year, yet only about 20,000 thru-hikers have completed the trail since 1936. Even if you’ve downloaded maps to your smartphone, it’s a good idea to bring along an additional waterproof map. The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, and other early 20th-century novels of John Fox Jr., set in the Appalachian town of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and surrounding areas, gave readers an image of frontier life in Appalachia and were made into popular films. These seven postulates underlie the Leave No Trace program. Georgia's mild climate plays a role in this, since hikers like to start the 6 month trek … Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is located 8.5 miles north of Amicalola Falls. All other thru-hikers must set up tents at the shelter site. You’ve already planned your route in detail, right? Another common psychological halfway point for many hikers is Pine Grove Furnace in Pennsylvania. The majority of thru-hikers hike northbound, beginning in Georgia anytime from late-March to mid-April. Even if you are planning to stay at a motel, hostel, or shelter, you still should carry a tent in case you lag behind schedule and do not have time to get to your planned stopover before dark. Researching trails and vistas or reading stories from hikers past. On the other hand, those who begin from Georgia should plan ahead so they arrive in Maine around summer. The trail isn’t going anywhere. The main thing you have to decide is when and where to start hiking the Appalachian Trail. “To keep my goal in mind and remember how far I had come, I got a tattoo of the x-ray.” Hiking the Appalachian Trail On March 20, Craig was ready to start his adventure. Here is how the Appalachian Trail looks like based on altitudinal zones (if you start from Georgia): This card can be taken personally at Baxter State Park Headquarters or Katahdin Stream Campground. It’s not officially part of the Appalachian Trail and is optional. If you are planning a long trip for a few days or weeks, think about where you’re going to spend nights. Hike & Cycle benefits from affiliate programs (including Amazon’s). There are also sections with scarcity in water, so your pack may weigh more. One is in Georgia while the other is in Maine. The Appalachian Trail’s history, just like its geographical coverage, is long and full of remarkable changes. Shelters (not huts or cabins as these are NOT in our park) are NOT reserved for thru hikers. If you’re planning a northbound thru-hike on the AT, you will be starting at Springer Mountain, Georgia. The Appalachian Trail also offers many other important landmarks throughout its long and extensive abode. At a mind blowing 2,190 miles, the Appalachian Trail is something that is discussed in the most serious hiking circles around. Wool socks would probably work best for you. The trail to Beauty Spot, a grassy bald mountain, is fairly gradual with a few steep sections sprinkled in, just to keep things interesting. “I swam, jogged, hiked, and lifted — anything to start building the muscles back up,” he said. Learn more about me here. That’s kind of a lot of numbers to throw around, so to put that into perspective…. The idea of creating the AT was first discussed in October of 1921. Appalachian Trail The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. You’ll also want to keep in mind that different legs of the trail are more difficult than others. Learning how to hike the Appalachian Trail alone might sound intense. Keep in mind that you’ll require more consumables along rougher portions of the trail that tax your abilities and ramp up your metabolism. Previous Next. How Long Would it Take to Hike the Great Trail? As a result, an independent organization known as the Appalachian Trail Conference was established. Nevertheless, you will certainly still sweat. Joey Campanelli, an American ultrarunner based in Utah, completed the trail in 48 days 23 hours and 28 minutes in 2017 (Southbound). Keep in mind that the window for starting a southbound thru-hike is much narrower than if you are heading north. The Appalachian Trail is a good place to start. Mount Washington will be your highest point at 6,289 ft. Check the list below. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the proposal for the hiking trail was first presented in 1921, but the Trail was not technically completed until 2014 when a final major stretch was formally acquired and received permanent protection. Be sure to inform local authorities and the ATC about any crimes. It generally takes hikers at least a full month or more to cross the entire state. Photo Credit: Ric “Stick” Green Photo Credit: Ric “Stick” Green There are so many important logistics to consider when planning a big thru-hike that it can be easy to forget some of the smaller ones – like just how you’re going to get there! “10 miles per day = 217 days or @ 7 months.”. The answer is simple: major cities like New York and Boston are not too far. ATC is probably the best place to start. You can find local emergency numbers on all official AT trail maps. So, how long does it take to walk the Appalachian Trail? Appalachian Trail sign photo by @mbier1. If you are planning an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, you need to get permission for backcountry camping through Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Speed records of the trail have been set in just over 41 days. The most famous Appalachian Trail day hikes are located right here. I will also be carrying a few camera equipments. The Appalachian Trail is a public footpath that follows more than 2,100 miles of Appalachian Mountain ridge line between Maine and Georgia. As far as terrain, Georgia is a fairly easy to moderate section of the AT. ABBY: The Appalachian Trail runs from Georgia to Maine and is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States. Here’s one correction: Shenandoah National Park does allow back country camping throughout much of the park. You can make decisions that are best for you and don’t have to take into account the opinions of others. Regularly update them about your location while hiking the AT. The specific part of the trail that should be called the hardest is hard to pinpoint. If you are a hiker of average speed, that will put you on pace to finish the trail in Maine by September. Can lead to hypothermia—one of the most strenuous, rocky, repetitive, and beetles plague the was! Appalachian Mountains in March or early April ending their hike between late and! 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