| WHAT IS THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL? |
| The Appalachian Trail is a footpath running 2,167 miles along, through, around, and over (mostly over) the Appalachian Mountains from Georgia to Maine. Millions of people use some part of the Trail every year. And each year 2,000 - 3,000 hikers attempt to backpack the entire trail. Only a couple hundred succeed. The following was written by Weary 1993 on the Trailplace website November 18, 2000: |
| The trail is many things. It's 40,000 white blazes on trees, rocks and fence posts; and an estimated five million footsteps. It's also spectacular mountain vistas, wild forests, and great beds of wildflowers... The trail is walks through national parks and forests; walks past hill farms and woodlots, and occasionally down main streets of quiet mountain towns. The trail is brisk cold days of early spring, March snows, chilly April rains, the heat of summer and the beauty of a New England autumn. It's walks above the clouds, through the clouds - and occasionally into cloudbursts. The trail is a giant black snake...bear cubs...a partridge seeking a mate...the cry of a pileated woodpecker...the faint gobbles of a wild turkey...the slow circling of a hawk... The trail is the hulks of four 60-year-old cars rusting away in an ancient farm pasture, now part of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park... The trail is also 4,000 volunteers clearing blowdowns, brush and thistles while battling black flies and mosquitoes - and sometimes angry hornets - part of the greatest volunteer recreational project in history... The trail is a community of hikers enjoying the beauties of nature, and sharing concerns, blisters, adventures, sore toes, sprained knees, and the wonders of a wild country...All join in each others successes and tribulations, share meals when supplies run low, and lament the mishaps and illnesses. Trail registers are filled with words of encouragement for those left behind. |
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