1,000 Hikers Heading NoBo on the Appalachian Trail in March?

Home About the Trail 1,000 Hikers Heading NoBo on the Appalachian Trail in March?

Once upon a time there was a pretty path in the woods that hardly anybody knew about. If you were a big, strong outdoors man (or an old lady with a shower curtain and Keds) you might have been one of the people who walked on this almost-secret trail.

Every year, right around the first day of spring, these really tough men and average girls would set out, all alone, to walk in the spooky, lonely wilderness.

The trail began in Georgia and went all the way north for more than 2,000 miles -- way longer than it takes to go to Gramma's house -- and it ended up on the highest mountain in the State of Maine. That's where moose live and where people drive things called "snow machines" instead of motorcycles for most of the year.

Today, that path is known as the Appalachian Trail. It still begins on Springer Mountain in Georgia and ends atop Katahdin in Maine's Baxter State Park.

The trickle of hikers who used to hit the Trail in springtime has grown into an insane horde. As of 11 AM, March 24, 2016, our pal Devon at the Visitor Center at Amicalola Falls State Park (AFSP) told us 980 hikers heading NoBo have signed The Thru-Hiker Book this year. Back on March 1st, there were already 300 hopefuls logged in. There will be WAY over 1,000 signed in by the time you read this.

Purists will tell you The Thru-Hiker Book at AFSP is primarily for hikers who take the approach trail and climb El Stairso de Muerte -- 600+ stairs aside a lovely waterfall that will make you question how you can reach the top of the falls, let alone travel 2,000 additional miles, should you survive. There's another log book tucked under a rock at Springer Mountain (would I lie to you?) that folks who skip the approach trail sign.

We don't have the exact number -- no one does -- but we can say with certainty that thru-hikers can abandon all hope of piddling or pooping without an audience for the next six months. And be careful where you step while seeking such solitude.

If you'll be hitting the Trail soon, please wait your turn in line and merge onto it carefully.

Ain't the wilderness great!!!

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