Appalachian Trail

Benton MacKaye proposed the trail in 1921 as a chain of work and study camps along the ridges; what got built was the footpath. It runs about 2,190 miles - the figure changes yearly as sections are rerouted - through fourteen states, and around six thousand volunteers do the maintenance, clearing blowdowns, rebuilding treadway and stocking the shelters spaced roughly a day apart. Several thousand people a year attempt the full length in one season; something like a quarter complete it. Most northbound hikers start in Georgia in March and aim to finish on Katahdin before Baxter State Park closes in October. Far more people walk single days or sections, which is what the trail mostly gets used for.

What you actually see

• About 2,190 miles - a length that changes as sections are rerouted.
• Shelters roughly a day apart - three-sided, first come.
• Around six thousand volunteers - doing nearly all the maintenance.
• A completion rate near a quarter - among those attempting the whole thing.

When to go

March to October depending on the section; southern in spring, northern in summer. A day to six months.

Honest expectations

A thru-hike takes five to seven months and most attempts end early. Shelters fill and are first come. Bears require food hanging or canisters in several sections. Katahdin needs a permit and Baxter closes in mid-October.

Nearby

Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah and the White Mountains are all on the route.