The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Lao Tzu
Appalachian Trail #3 - Iron Mountain Gap, TN to Burke's Garden Hostel, VA
MAY 23 - 30, 2024
Location: Eastern United States
Length: 2,190 miles (3,540 km) Trailheads: Springer Mountain, GA and Mt Katahdin, ME Duration: 5-7 months Difficulty: Hard Challenges: weather, animal encounters, insects. Best season to Thru-Hike: Early spring The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the A.T., is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail is about 2,200 miles (3,500 km) long. The trail passes through 14 states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. About 600-800 thru-hikers try AT every year with only 20% succeeding in the end. 
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AT #3: Iron Mountain Gap, TN to Burke's Garden Hostel, VA
Doing a section hike on the AT is always nerve-racking, no matter how experienced one can be. That is because you feel like you start from scratch all over again every single time you step on the trail. It takes time to build confidence, feeling safe and immersing yourself in the woods, and most importantly get your trail legs. For me, it has been 2 years since my last section and I forgot what life on the trail was like. Read more... AT #2: Nantahala, NC to Iron Mountain Gap, TN Beside a good preparation and a great fitness, the key to success in a multi-day hiking adventure is mostly about the pack weight. A heavy pack will slow you down quickly, and your body will have a hard time recovering. That’s basically what happened to me last year during the 1st section. Read more... AT #1: Mt Springer, GA to Nantahala, NC “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”, famously said Mike Tyson. That’s what happened to me at the end of Day 1 of my Appalachian Trail journey. I had planned 35 miles per day average and I felt good about this plan… while sitting on my couch. After an uneventful travel day from Boston, MA to Atlanta, GA to Amicalola Falls State Park, I settled in the campground and got everything ready for an early start the next day. Read more... |