The appalachian trail began as a vision of forester benton mackaye, was developed by volunteers, and opened as a continuous trail in 1937. After the devastating loss of his wife to cancer, stutzman was challenged to hike the entire 2,176 miles of the appalachian trail in search of peace and a renewed sense of purpose. Hiking the appalachian trail in this ultimate guide to the countrys favorite footpath, youll find our picks for the best hiking and camping, and a complete plan for thruhikers. I started section hiking the at in 2007 and continue to this day. In recent years, an increasing number of hikers have opted to tackle the appalachian trail as a flipflop. Hiking even just a portion of the appalachian trail is the adventure of a lifetime, but youll enjoy that adventure even more if youre prepared. Sep 11, 2017 the appalachian trail databook for thruhikers and section hikers is here is the home of the databook, a development to create a web based online database of information for appalachian trail and other hikers. The appalachian trail trail stretches from georgia to maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in americamajestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. Thank you for taking the time to document and present all the data here.
Read a chapter in the tent at night, think about it the next day while you hike. The 10 best appalachian trail books for hikers section. If youre going to take a hike, its probably the place to go. Use the following pages to learn about the appalachian trail. A sample of photos and multimedia available for the trail. Learn about the park appalachian national scenic trail. Use the interactive map below to explore the trail, find shelters, locate parking and more.
Harpers ferry is also home to the offices of the appalachian trail conservancy, and with public transportation to the trail seven days a week, the area makes for. Listeners are treated to rich descriptions of the appalachian. Perhaps the most famous hiking trail in the world, the appalachian trail runs for 2,174 miles, from maine to georgia, over mountains, valleys and some of the. It requires more preparation, equipment, food, clothing and knowledge of trail regulations and backcountry skills. Toms appalachian trail reading list hike for mental health posted on december 18, 2011 by leo walker january 9, 2016 cofounder of hike for mental health tom kennedy has read just about every book he can find about the appalachian trail. That means heading to the library and checking out every book you can find on thruhiking in general and the appalachian trail specifically. A comprehensive guide to plan and prepare for a successful thruhike cage, chris on. Arguably one of the most wellknown books about the appalachian trail, a walk in the woods follows author bill bryson on his very poor but humorous attempt to complete a thru hike.
When i arrived in maine in late april in 20, there was more than a foot of snow reported to still be on the trails on katahdin. Hiking the entire trail is an enormous, often lifechanging event, and since the appalachian trail conservancy began keeping records. A guide to hiking the appalachian trail howstuffworks. I am planning a northbound thru hike now, and excited to read many aspects of the trail. If you are at all interested in hiking any part of the appalchian trail, i would suggest that this book be part of your resources. Sep 17, 2015 so, youve decided you want to hike the appalachian trail all 2,200 miles of it. In those early days nobody fathomed walking the thing from beginning to end in one go. Learn more about northeast hikes here, and please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions or feedback on this site. A psychological and emotional guide to thruhike the appalachian trail author.
Now that you know a few things about people on the trail, here are a few things to consider about starting a sobo thru hike of the appalachian trail. To reach center point knob, turn right at the junction of the two trails and follow the appalachian trail north about 110 of a mile. This book is not an appalachian trail map or guide. The appalachian trail began as a vision of forester benton mackaye, was developed by volunteers, and. Every year, a couple thousand people try to hike the at from beginning to end in one season, and a few hundred manage to. They hike one half of the trail, then travel the other half in the opposite direction, or travel to the other end and hike back to the midpoint. Note this is about the hiking trail not appalachia in general. One mans journey to peace and freedom on the appalachian trail 9780800720537 by paul stutzman. The appalachian trail runs through the appalachian mountain range, and hiking the appalachian trail in its entirety could take several months, as the trail is more than 2,000 miles long, stretching from newfoundland in canada to alabama, georgia in the united states. Plus, meet a man who has made it his job to help at hikers. I think they embellish a bit and sometimes theres a tad too much drama for me. Ive heard lost on the appalachian trail is a pretty good one, with some fun humor, and the guy hiked with his dog.
You can explore hundreds of locations along the trail including vistas, trailhead parking, overnight shelters, a. Appalachian trail hikes appalachian trail nc guide. For all those with holiday lists, your problem is solved. But before you even think about investing in a pair of hiking boots, there are many, many factors to be considered. The psychological and emotional guide to successfully thruhiking the appalachian trail each year, it is estimated that more than 2,000 people set out to thruhike the appalachian trail, yet seven in ten ultimately fall short of their goal. It is a fresh book that combined with the at guide the most important one will lead you to understand this way of living. A firsttimers ultimate guide to the appalachian trail the.
A portrait of the quintessential appalachian trail hiker ever wonder what type of person takes six months off to hike the famous trail. Flipflop hikes and sectionhiking the appalachian trail. Its an honorable goal, one that we here at the active times respect greatly. Guthooks guide app iphoneandroid app for at, also excellent. This certainly is a help to me in my planning stages. The hiker yearbook reconnecting hikers after the trail. The best way to get mentally prepared for the hike is to be as well informed about it as possible. When he is not hiking or on a crosscountry bike ride he makes his home in berlin, ohio. In 2003, software engineer david miller left his job, family, and friends to hike 2,172 miles of the appalachian trail. The trail goes through fourteen states along the crests and valleys of the appalachian mountain range from the southern terminus at springer mountain, georgia, to the trails. Guthooks guide to the appalachian trail guthook hikes. A long hike will test your determination, and it requires some serious mental fortitude. He hiked the appalachian trail in search of peace, healing, and freedom.
The at hiker app for iphone, which ive been working on like a madman since the end of the summer, is. The story of jennifer phar daviss first thruhike of the appalachian trail, before she set the speed thruhiking record in 2011 and was named a national geographic adventurer of the year for 2012. And bill bryson is surely the most entertaing guide youll find. Keep it simple dont let the length of the appalachian trail confuse things. It is wellorganized, beginning with the trails history, moving through planning and equipmentfood, injuries and first aid, etc.
Some might call this one a how not to hike the at book. Ignore those who recommend an organizational jumpstart six or eight months in advance. A photographic tour, the lens of photographer carol m. Popular appalachian trail books goodreads share book. This is a true test of your inner self hike on a real forest trail. Mar 23, 2015 emma gatewood set out to hike the appalachian trail with little more than 200 dollars and a change of clothes.
Celebrating americas hiking trail is part history lesson, part inspirational photo album and part practical travel guide. It helps you to understand the journey, the needs, the gear and what to expect in 6 months. We release an new guidebook each and every year to ensure you have the most up to date guidebook possible. Hiking the entire trail is an enormous, often lifechanging event, and since the appalachian trail conservancy began keeping records in the 1930s, more than 10,000 people have hiked it. The appalachian trail databook for thruhikers and section hikers is here is the home of the databook, a development to create a web based online database of information for appalachian trail and other hikers. Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance falls into that category as well.
Toms appalachian trail reading list hike for mental health. She was 67 years old at the time, but she nevertheless became the first woman to hike the entire trail solo. Center point knob whiskey spring rock maze trailhead. While multiday hiking is not as intimidating as thruhiking, it takes more commitment than day hiking. Fall is the ultimate hiking seasonand the perfect time to celebrate the 75th birthday of the appalachian trail. A firsttimers ultimate guide to the appalachian trail. Best appalachian trail books the best books about the appalachian trail. What he learned during the next four months changed his lifeand could change yours as well. It contains a mountains worth of information and data on shelters, water sources, town services and other hiker oriented facilities along the 2,192. Guide everyone planning or hiking the trail carries pages from this book. Chris launched greenbelly meals in 2014 after thruhiking the appalachian trail for 6 months. The appalachian trail at, completed in 1948, is an iconic continuous footpath stretching 2,185 miles along the appalachian mountains from springer mountain, georgia to mt.
Thruhikers companion appalachian long distance hikers. The trail was designed to have no end, a wild place on which to be comfortably lost for as long as one desired. Why the most popular hiking memoirs dont go the distance. Jul 25, 2014 the appalachian trail is the longest hikingonly footpath in america and with 2,187 miles of trail, more than 250 shelters, and an overall elevation gain equivalent to climbing mount everest 16 times, it earns that title. I am looking for nothing like a story book of experiences, i want to make my own. The appalachian trail at is used by day, weekend and other shortterm hikers, sectionhikers and thruhikers who hike the entire length of the trail, start to finish, in one season.
A comprehensive guide to plan and prepare for a successful thruhike. Appalachian trail hikers past, present and future are invited to follow along with the maine and new hampshire section hiking blogs. The author is a pro storyteller hes recorded for nprs the moth among other things and tries a little too hard to be funny sometimes, but its a great take on what the people are like on the trail. His passion and mission is to share what he learned on that remarkable journey. Hiking the appalachian trail at thruhiking tips backpacker. Or, perhaps you would like to do some light planning while waiting on your preordered guidebook. The appalachian trail thruhikers companion is the only official atc guidebook for thruhikers, sectionhikers and dayhikers on the appalachian trail. Appalachian trail, apps, hiking apps, iphone apps, through hiking, thruhikers, trail guides. Since then, greenbelly has been written up by everyone from backpacker magazine to fast company. Every year, thousands of people visit the appalachian trail.
But maybe you hiked the trail in 2016, 2017, 2018, or 2019 and would like a momento of your hike. Its not exactly a literary classic, but if you really want a book to think about on the long summer days in the middle of virginia, try stephen kings the long walk. Most of my hikes have been solo with a few exceptions. Awol on the appalachian trail by david miller, paperback. Hiking the appalachian trail backpacker backpacker. What would you all say is the best book to learn about the. That means heading to the library and checking out every book you can find on. Appalachian trail books a 2,160mile expedition for charity on the appalachian trail. The appalachian trail is the longest hikingonly footpath in america and with 2,187 miles of trail, more than 250 shelters, and an overall elevation gain equivalent to climbing mount everest 16 times, it earns that title every year, a couple thousand people try to hike the at from beginning to end in one season, and a few hundred manage to accomplish it.
Check out nearly 100 different books and guides written about the appalachian trail. Planning is crucial to a successful multiday hike, so. One mans journey to peace and freedom on the appalachian trail. Hiking the trail isnt a matter of pulling on your shoes and talking a walk. Fortunately, theres a removable map so you dont have to squeeze a coffeetable. So, youve decided you want to hike the appalachian trail all 2,200 miles of it. To help you better understand what it actually takes to conquer the at and everything else youll need to know. Planning is crucial to a successful multiday hike, so be sure to check out the hiking basics portion of our website. My trip reports are listed from north to south, even though i dart around from state to state and switch directions all the time. Calculating where youll camp every night is an exercise in futility, and spending thousands of.
He also is known for his before and after pictures. Each year, however, many hikers do attempt to hike this impressive trail from. Nature information about natural plants and wildlife found along the appalachian trail. There are any number of things you need to know before setting out. She would go on to become the first person to ever hike the trail in its entirety multiple times.
A portrait of the quintessential appalachian trail hiker. Victoria steele logue goodreads author it was amazing 5. Learn about the park appalachian national scenic trail u. Your book will include nearly 1,900 quality headshots of fellow hikers, profiles of unique hikers, trail angels, a. The appalachian trail is one of the longest continuously marked footpath in the world, measuring roughly 2,180 miles in length. A 2,160mile expedition for charity on the appalachian trail. Its still a good example though of what a thru hike can be like and the characters youll meet along the way. A unit study pdf download download 7040495063911 by the old schoolhouse. The hiker yearbook is a photographic record of individual appalachian trail hikers. Below is a breakdown of what you need to know to dominate your thruhike. While this is not the most authentic depiction of what trail life is like, it is a very entertaining and often hilarious read.