more miles of the A.T. than any other state—faced incredible challenges. Thanks to the tireless efforts of skilled volunteer and professional saw crews, the Trail is open all the way through the state again as of December 13, 2024. In Tennessee and North Carolina, trail clearing efforts are still underway, and some areas are still closed. Hikers should check the current conditions (appalachiantrail.org/helene- recovery-resources-updates/) before setting out and use caution on storm-damaged sections. How can you help? Get involved. The A.T. would not exist without a dedicated network of volunteers and donors. Find an opportunity to give back to the Trail by visiting appalachiantrail.org/get-involved/. Although there are portions of the Trail that are in bad shape, there are still hundreds of miles of trail waiting for you to explore. Every year more than 3 million people visit the Trail and more than 3,000 people attempt to thru-hike the entire footpath. Here are some interesting facts: The Trail is 2,198.4 miles long, as of in 2023, passing through 14 states. This distance typically changes slightly each year due to footpath relocations and more precise measurement techniques. It takes roughly 5 million steps to hike the entire A.T. —whether that is over a series of section hikes or one “thru-hike” in a single year.
Thousands of volunteers contribute roughly 240,000 hours to the A.T. every year.
More than 250 three-sided shelters exist along the Trail.
Virginia is home to the most miles of the Trail (about 550), while West Virginia is home to the least (about 4).
Maryland and West Virginia are the easiest states to hike; New Hampshire and Maine are the hardest.
The total elevation gain of hiking the entire A.T. is equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest 16 times.
The A.T. passes through six National Park Service units, including: • Great Smoky Mountains National Park • Blue Ridge Parkway • Shenandoah National Park • Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
A brown sign mounted to a large tree branch sticks out from a pile of rocks. In the distance overlooks an expanse of forest from above.
APPALACHIAN NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SPRING 2025 | 9
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