The Appalachian Trail is the queen of hiking trails. From Mt. Katahdin in Maine to Mount Springer in Georgia, it’s a mere 5 million steps away. But the idyllic vistas of North America’s first-class forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina should brighten your journey. Potential dangers include brown bear, poisonous snakes, poison ivy and ticks, which spread Lyme disease.
For the first time about the need to equip the trail back in 1920, when a forester named B. McKay put forward a proposal to organize a tourist route through the protected area. And three years later the first section was opened for walking.
Since the length of the Trail is huge, it was decided to involve public organizations and clubs to monitor the cleanliness and order in its individual parts, between which this part of the nature reserve was divided and marked with special rectangles. In addition to steps, handrails and other features to aid climbing and descending, there are more than 265 shelters along the entire length for overnight stays and shelter from rain or snow.
The Appalachian Trail is always crowded with hikers from all over the world. Each year, three to four million visitors come to the Appalachian Trail, and most of them don’t have big goals, just come out for a few days to enjoy the clean mountain air and beautiful scenery.
What you need to know
Like many other attractions, the Trail boasts a set of interesting facts that can be quite helpful during a grueling trip. Let’s take a look at some of them.
So, the travelers who have found strength and overcome the whole route, claim that its conquest takes no less effort than it takes to reach the summit of Mount Everest. So it requires very good physical training, a serious attitude to possible difficulties and a number of skills to survive in the wilderness. Cell phones do not work here, and it is very difficult to call for rescuers. You can only count on themselves and their comrades.
Tourists who are familiar with the peculiarities of the local climate, recommend stocking up on quality sunscreen. Although most of the road is in the shade of numerous trees, a walk in the hot season in the open area can leave searing burns on your skin.
It is highly recommended that you choose a tent that is resistant to both strong gusts of wind and rain, and before taking a nap, make sure that your food is out of reach of the local “thieves” of small bears.
There are also some tips for choosing the right outfit. In particular, the climate allows you to travel in shorts and a T-shirt. But you should not completely abandon the pants because they can be useful in case of a sudden change of weather and they can be put on cold evenings. The shoes should be as comfortable as possible. It is better to give preference to hiking boots with special insoles that will prevent chafing feet. And do not forget about the headgear that will protect your head from the scorching sun.
Tourism
Interestingly, you can meet people of all ages on the Trail. Young people go to the grueling trail to test their strength, and older travelers prefer to spend time here for the benefit of the soul. To be alone with nature, to forget about all problems and troubles, reading a book in the green shade or listening to your favorite music – this is probably the best way to overcome the crisis of middle age.
Another feature of this natural landmark is that the traveler completely gives up the charms of civilized life, lives for one day, and all the problems, other difficulties of life and the noise of the metropolis lose all meaning and remain far behind.
It is said that those travelers who have walked the entire route and returned to the starting point in the same way, notice fundamental changes in the perception of many things, their psyche is transformed, and it is as if additional sources of life energy are opened inside. Interestingly, on the Appalachian Trail, you never see anyone begging. It’s a style of behavior everyone considers undignified.
By the way, if you are considering taking the trail by bicycle, we advise you to abandon this idea. There are many dangerous and difficult sections of the Trail that are impossible to traverse with a bicycle.
The Appalachian Trail in the U.S. will give all wilderness lovers, extreme enthusiasts and ordinary tourists a lot of positive emotions. Once in these places, they will stay in your heart for life.