Gods Little Part of the World, The Appalachian Trail…..
Now you folks just have to bear with me because we are taking a footpath, stretching through 14 states, 2,175 miles long, for Maine to Georgia. Conceived in 1921 and completed in 1937 along the ridge line of the Appalachian Mountains. Most of the work done by the CCC.
Maine: 281 miles
The northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail is Katagdin., 5,267 ft. high, in Baxter State Park in central Maine. The Trail continues southwest to Monson, eventually crossing the Kennebec River, at about the Maine halfway point. Many mountains later, and after passing through the famed Mahoosuc and Grafton notches, the Trail enters New Hampshire.
New Hampshire, 161 Miles
Continuing through the rugged Mahoosuc Range, the Trail enters New Hampshire and then makes its first ascent in the state up Mt. Success and continues to the White Mountains. You can visit the headquarters of the AMC hut system at Pinkham Notch, at the foot of Mount Washington.
Vermont - 146 Miles
The Trail enters Vermont after crossing the Connecticut River. After joining up with the Long Trail at Sherburne Pass, the two trails are contiguous for 95 miles through the Green Mountains.
Massachusetts - 90 Miles
After entering Massachusetts near Williamstown, the Trail winds through the Berkshires before going on to cross the Hoosic and Housatonic Rivers. One peak it climbs is Mount Greylock (3491′), the highest point in the state.
Vermont - 146 Miles
The Trail enters Vermont after crossing the Connecticut River. After joining up with the Long Trail at Sherburne Pass, the two trails are contiguous for 95 miles through the Green Mountains.
New York - 88 Miles
The wildness of the A.T. is surprisingly close to New York City. You can take a bus from the city and be on the Trail within an hour. The trail crosses the Hudson River, entering Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park, where the first section of the A.T. was completed in 1923. Heading south, the trail then passes through the newly protected Sterling Forest.
New Jersey - 74 Miles
The Trail in New Jersey goes through the Wawayanda State Park, later passing through High Point State Park. It then follows the Kittatinny Ridge and passes Sunfish Pond on its way to the Delaware Water Gap.
Pennsylvania - 232 Miles
The Trail enters the state at the Delaware Water Gap, following the eastern rim of the Alleghanies before crossing the Cumberland Valley on its way to Maryland. The Trail in Pennsylvania has the reputation for being just a wee bit rocky.
Maryland - 41 Miles
The Trail follows the crest of South Mountain until it comes down and briefly joins the C&O Canal for a couple of miles before crossing the Potomac River, and entering Harpers Ferry.
West Virginia - 2 Miles
The Trail passes within a few 100 yards of the ATC headquarters before crossing the Shenandoah River, and continuing into Virginia. Thru-hikers think of Harpers Ferry as being the psychological half-way point of the Trail - even though the actual half way point is in Pennsylvania. (In southern Virginia, in the Peters Mountain area, the trail goes briefly along the West Virginia-Virginia border.)
Virginia - 544 Miles
About a quarter of the Trail lies within Virginia, including about 100 miles through the popular Shenandoah National Park. Further south, the Trail generally parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway, eventually going through the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area and then coming into the town of Damascus, where Trail Days are celebrated every May.
Tennessee-North Carolina - 371 Miles
After leaving Virginia, the Trail goes for about 70 miles through Tennessee before beginning to follow the TN-NC border. In this area, the Trail crosses through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where it reaches its highest point, Clingmans Dome, before continuing through the Nantahala Forest.
Georgia, 75 Miles
The Trail goes through the rugged Chattahoochee National Forest before reaching its southern terminus at Springer Mountain. Many hikers are surprised to find that one needs to first hike eight miles from Amicalola Falls in order to reach the beginning of the Trail’s southern end.
Now folks, you know the rules, if you liked this little trip down the Appalachian Trail, leave me a little note, I have more of this stuff…………..
October 6th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
BRAVO!
I live near Helen, GA and go “across” the Ap (by car) often.
You are a better man than I, Gunga Dinh!
It’s been my sister’s dream to hike the Appalachian Trail.
I am going to share your link with her- Maybe she will get inspired.
And I will catch up with her- by car!
Fabulous- Thanks for sharing!