Who walks the Appalachian Trail?
I’d say the A.T. excludes no one!—and from the 3 to 4 million people who visit or hike the A.T. each year, I’d say they think so, too! The A.T. has seized the hearts of so many different walks of life. The A.T. is here for all—the young, the old, the international, the domestic, the afternoon romantic, the day hiker and his dog, the weekend backpacker, or for organizations like the Boy Scouts and church youth groups. Of all A.T. enthusiasts out there, though, only a certain handful of individuals seek to know the trail from end to end. Hikers who are attempting to complete the trial from end to end are commonly known as “Thru-Hikers.” I will likely cross paths with all of the above over the course of my 5 million steps to Katahdin.
