Opening of the Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is an example of a successful grassroots conservation movement to protect and preserve the American wilderness from development. The trail was first conceived by forester and regional planner Benton MacKaye in 1921, and the first section opened to the public in 1923; the trail was completed to Maine in 1937 but has shifted and been rerouted numerous times since. The creation of the Appalachian Trail, a marked pathway that encourages Americans to return to an idyllic natural environment, occurred during a period of increased urbanization, commercialism, and modernization. With the advent of the Internet and more advanced hiking gear, completion rates of the Appalachian Trail by “thru-hikers,” or those who attempt to hike the full length of the trail, have increased.

The concept of a continuous marked trail along the Appalachian Mountains originated with New England native Benton MacKaye (1879–1975). An avid outdoorsman and hiker since childhood, MacKaye studied forestry at Harvard University and focused on the field of regional planning. In 1902, while working at a summer camp in New Hampshire, MacKaye told his boss that he envisioned a walking trail from Mount Washington, New Hampshire, to Mount Mitchell, North Carolina, the two highest peaks in the eastern United States. The idea stuck with MacKaye, and after the death of his wife in 1921, he channeled his energies into creating a path that followed the crest of the Appalachian Mountains.

In October 1921, MacKaye published an article in the Journal of the American Institute of Architects proposing the idea of a walking footpath from Maine to Georgia that provided Americans an escape from the drudgery of city life and the modern world. MacKaye’s call to protect and appreciate the unspoiled wilderness came at a time of unprecedented modernization. His idea of conservation of natural places ran counter to the growing trend of consumerism and consumption in American society.

In 1925, supporters of the trail founded the Appalachian Trail Conference. This largely volunteer group coordinated the construction of the trail by working with landowners, conservation groups, hiking clubs, and local, state, and federal government officials in fourteen states. The organization completed the entire trail in 1937.

Impact

MacKaye’s concept of a lengthy trail along the Eastern seaboard continues to inspire Americans. The Appalachian Trail, founded in the 1920s and completed in the 1930s, attracts millions of visitors and hikers each year. The trail is a unit of the National Park System and is maintained by a consortium of federal and state agencies, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), local and regional clubs, and an army of volunteers. As a footpath, it provides an incredible experience for hikers; as a project, it represents one of the most significant conservation efforts of the twentieth century.

Hiking the Trail

Due to the length of the trail—the ATC claims that it is the longest hiking-only trail in the United States—most hikers traverse only a small portion of it at any given time. People who do this are known in the hiking community as "section-hikers." Some, however, hike the entire trail in one season; these are called "thru-hikers." According to 2014 estimates, about 2700 hikers attempt to thru-hike the trail each year, but only about 10 to 15 percent of these complete the hike. The ATC recognizes anyone who completes the entire trail (whether as a thru-hike or a series of section hikes) as a "200 Miler." Some thru-hikers go even farther and, having completed the hike in one direction, turn around and hike the trail the other way. This is called a "yo-yo."

Thru-hiking generally takes five to seven months. There are, however, people known as "trail runners" who try to complete the hike in as little time as possible. Trail runners are usually supported by a team of helpers following the course in an automobile, enabling them to traverse the trail without having to carry their own supplies, though this is not always the case. As of 2015 the speed record for a supported thru-hike was forty-six days, eight hours, and seven minutes and the speed record for an unsupported thru-hike was fifty-four days, seven hours, and forty-eight minutes.

The trail is marked throughout by white paint blazes, or streaks of paint on trees along the trail. There are several smaller side trails which lead to shelters (small wooden huts that hikers may sleep in if undertaking a multi-day hike), parking, or viewpoints; these are similarly marked. There are also some shortcuts marked with blue blazes that allow hikers to cut miles from the route. There are more than 250 shelters and campsites available along the trail. The Appalachian Mountain Club, a group of outdoors enthusiasts founded in the nineteenth century, also maintains eight mountain huts along the trail that provide hikers with beds and meals, and owns a sporting camp two miles from the trail in Maine.

While the majority of the trail is in the wilderness, it crosses several roads, which allow hikers the opportunity to hitchhike into nearby towns for supplies. In a few places the trail runs directly through small towns, such as Damascus, Virginia. In towns near the trail, hikers sometimes experience what is known in the community as "trail magic," or acts of selfless kindness toward hikers, such as providing them with free food or water.

While the trail is relatively safe, being well marked, well maintained, and easy to find information on, there are still some hazards that hikers must be aware of. Many of these are related to the local wildlife. The American black bear is found throughout the Appalachians, though they usually avoid humans unless provoked. Wild boars and venomous snakes also pose a danger to hikers, while small animals such as foxes and racoons may, in rare cases, carry rabies. Insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, and black flies are also found along the trail; these usually cause only discomfort, but may carry diseases. Tick-borne diseases are especially common along the mid-Atlantic and New England portions of the trail. Weather is another possible danger. The southern portions of the trail may reach upward of 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the spring and summer, while farther north and at higher altitudes, extreme cold is also an issue. Prolonged rain may also occur.

Bibliography

Anderson, Larry. Benton MacKaye: Conservationist, Planner, and Creator of the Appalachian Trail. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2002. Print.

Appalachian Long-Distance Hikers Association. Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers' Companion. Bradenton: Appalachian Trail Conservancy, 2015. Print.

Chazin, Daniel D. Appalachian Trail Data Book. 2015 ed. Titusville: Jerelyn, 2015. Print.

Fondren, Kristi M. Walking on the Wild Side: Long-Distance Hiking on the Appalachian Trail. New Brunswick: Rutgers UP, 2015. Print.

MacKaye, Benton. “An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning.” Journal of the American Institute of Architects 9 (1921): 325–30. Print.

Rubin, Robert A., ed. Trail Years: A History of the Appalachian Trail Conference. Harpers Ferry: Appalachian Trail Conference, 2000. Print.