Appalachian Trail

The Route

The Appalachian Trail is a footpath along the Eastern United States, extending 2,190 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine through fourteen states. Regional planner Benton MacKaye proposed it in 1921 as a network of mountain camps and a break from industrial work; the trail took over a decade to complete. Forested ridges, coves, rivers, and changing hardwood seasons define the route. A thru-hike generally takes five to seven months, usually beginning northbound in spring and reaching Maine in summer or early fall. A day alternates between long climbs, water breaks, shelter stops, and the search for a level campsite. Food comes from a carried supply of oatmeal, ramen, peanut butter, and other durable calories, renewed through grocery stores, outfitters, mailed boxes, and trail towns. Diners, delis, church breakfasts, and occasional trail magic interrupt the food bag. Farther north, wild blueberries mark the late summer landscape.

Resources