Appalachian Trail Preservation

Appalachian Trail: Springer Mt, GA to Mt Katahdin, ME

Each year, over 4,000 people are drawn to the beauty and prestige of hiking the Appalachian Trail. It is a grueling, daunting task that only about 400 complete per year. 

Check out this video for an overview of the scenery in a thru hike

Unfortunately, the experience on the trail is being threatened by civilization. Hikers expect extraordinary views and clean water to pay off their hard work. While there are these opportunities, they are few. The growing population around the trail is causing pollution in the water, making it unsafe for hikers. In some places, hikers are walking straight through pollution plants, and in other cases walking miles off the trail to find fresh water, miles they can’t afford to lose. With over 2,000 miles to cover between Georgia and Maine in just six months, time is a necessity. If populations continue to rise around these areas, the beauty of the trail could be lost. People do not climb mountains to see buildings, but to see spectacular views of nature. If steps are not taken to help preserve this historic trail, it could one day be gone, and the accomplishment of many thru hikers will be diminished. For more information on the trail and how you can help preserve it follow this link.

Currently, my uncle has been hiking the trail and keeping a detailed blog of his adventures. He has about 400 miles left to cover in the next few weeks. To get an in depth perspective on the trail, visit his blog here: http://lighterknot.wordpress.com/