About the Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is one of the longest continuously marked trails in the world. It goes through fourteen states, beginning at Springer Mountain in Georgia and ending at Katahdin in Maine. It is mainly maintained by volunteer corps.

The idea for the AT was conceived by Benton MacKaye, who didn't actually do much beyond the original plan. Most of the work toward creating the trail was done by Myron Avery, and the trail was completed in 1937.

The first person to complete a thru-hike (walking the entire trail in one uninterrupted journey) was Earl Shaffer in 1948, known as "The Original Crazy Guy". He had no stove or tent, and later wrote "I almost wished the trail was really endless, that no one could ever hike its length."

Today, those who complete thru-hikes are known as "2000 milers". There are 14,485 people who have completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, as recorded by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

There are different ways to approach a thru-hike. Jennifer Pharr Davis holds the record for the fastest thru-hike at 46 days, or an average of 47 miles a day, and she was supported by a team of people. In this manner, she only needed to carry limited supplies. Other thru-hikers may go in a similar fashion, with someone supporting them in a car along the way. Most, however, are self-supported and carry everything on their backs. This is how I will be hiking. I will be yet another "Crazy Guy".


Sources:
https://www.appalachiantrail.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Trail
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Shaffer
https://www.appalachiantrials.com/