Record Crowds on Appalachian Trail–Go America
I had always said I would never hike the Appalachian Trail any way other than northbound. However here I am in Millinocket, Maine, poised to begin southbound tomorrow morning at 6:30. Incidentally, what a nice trail town here, where hikers all stay at the Appalachian Trail Inn and eat at the Appalachian Trail Restaurant. The shuttle driver last night reported that the number of southbound thru-hikers is expected to reach 400 people this year. And that is on top of a record northbound crowd, estimated at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harper Ferry, W. Va. to be 20% more than last year.
How about that. Who says America is hopelessly sedentary, out-of-shape, and obsese!
Bill Walker is the author of Skywalker–Close Encounters on the Appalachian Trail. He is also the author of Skywalker–Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail, The Best Way–El Camino de Santiago, Getting High–The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, and Tall Tales–The Great Talisman of Height.
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