Have you hiked the Appalachian Trail?

In 2009, I set out to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Over the five months it took me to cover those 2,000 miles of mountainous terrain, I was transformed into a mythic beast. Fat, and then muscle, began to evaporate from my frame. read more

More important than hiking the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is how you hike the A.T. Check out Trail Karma and Leave No Trace to learn what the Trail expects of you. And if you're helping hikers, explore Trail magic to help you enjoy the A.T. without negatively impacting the environment and other hikers. read more

The Appalachian Trail has a reputation for being a “green tunnel,” with lots of tree cover, but in the early spring you can’t depend on that foliage to have your back. Walking under naked tree limbs in Georgia and North Carolina for eight to ten hours a day can leave you fried to a crisp, so don’t listen to the ounce-counters who tell you sunscreen is more weight — so is your skin. read more

In fact, over the course of the Appalachian Trail’s 2,189 miles, thru-hikers gain over 464,464 ft., or more than 89 miles. 165 The number of days it takes the average person to complete a thru-hike. read more