Hiking The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, is a footpath in the eastern

United States for outdoor enthusiasts, extending about about 2140 miles

from Maine to Georgia, along the crest of the Appalachian Mountains. The

trail passes through 14 states and is maintained by 34 different trail

maintenance organizations. It is the longest marked, continuous footpath in

the world, at some points reaching elevations of more than 6000 feet.

Wooden signposts and white paint marks on rocks and trees are placed along

the trail.

Construction of the Appalachian Trail was begun in 1922 near Bear

Mountain, New York. By 1937 the footpath, extended from Mount Katahdin, in

Maine, to Mount Oglethorpe, in Georgia, and was ready for use. Later,

(after 1937) the trail officially ended at Springer Mountain, 10 miles

northeast of Mount Oglethorpe. In 1968 the Appalachian Trail became part of

the National Park System and was officially renamed the Appalachian

National Scenic Trail.

To hike the Appalachian Trail, it is suggested to shop around for a

good pair of hiking boots, a tent, and a sturdy backpack. Hiking the

distance mentioned above obviously requires excellent footwear, and a light

pack. Figure in fatigue and you need a comfortable tent to sleep in at

night.

Good boots are "solid" on the bottom, so that you cant feel rocks

or stones through the soles. If you can press in the bottom of the sole

with your thumb, the soles are probably too soft to give your foot proper

protection. The top of the boot should be stiff to hold the ankle in place

and provide it with good support. While it's possible to treat non-

waterproof fabric boots with liquid silicone, it generally doesn't

waterproof the boot enough to be useful. Stick with leather boots that can

be treated with Sno-seal, beeswax solution, or other waterproofing

solutions.

Feet change over time, as do shoes. Wearing a pair of shoes and/or

hiking boots changes the shape of the shoe to fit your foot. Eventually

though, the reshaping causes the shoe to rub places on the foot, causing

blisters. All boots are made on different "lasts". The last is the "form"

the boot is built around at the factory. The size and shape of these lasts,

even between identical sizes of boots, can vary greatly. For instance, some

boots are built around a European last which is typically narrow in the

front, compared to American feet, which are not. Also, some brands are

narrower all over, or shorter in sole length, such as Nike.

A boot that fits well will not slip in the heel area, and provide

your toes with plenty of room in the front. Hiking boots are generally

sized a little longer than your standard street shoe. Bring along, or wear

the socks you intend to wear on your trip. it is recommended that beginners

wear two pair. Ideally, the socks should be synthetic or wool.

A tent is nothing more than a shelter you carry to protect you from

the elements. The decision concerning what tent you buy should be based on

the kind of elements you want to protect yourself from. For instance, if

you intend to hike the Appalachian Trail in the summer, you don't need to

carry a tent designed to withstand high winds and heavy snow. However, if

you intend to head into the Rockies in the winter, you may want something

more than a plastic tube tent.

A good shelter at a minimum will keep you dry and comfortable in

rainy weather and keep the bugs out during the summer . If you hike solely

during the summer months, then virtually any moderate quality tent will do.

If you plan to hike through more than one season, you might consider a

shelter that has a bit more comfort and room inside for rainy spring or

fall days when dressing inside the tent in the morning, or spending the

evening inside before bed, is preferable. Also snow loading, access, and

high winds are a consideration, and more care must be taken in choosing a

shelter to protect you from the harsher winter months.

A summer tent is a simple, A-frame style nylon tent with a

waterproof fly and mosquito netting. A waterproof fly is a urethane-coated

nylon sheet that hangs over the tent body. A three season tent may be a

stronger A- frame design or a dome style tent. The goal is to provide a

more rigid shelter capable of withstanding wind and possibly light snow

loading. A four-season tent is designed to withstand harsh winter

conditions, wind, and significant snowfall. These tents are always all-

nylon, with no upper body netting. These designs typically have less

netting than other tent designs and can be warmer in the summer. Because

four-season tents are sometimes made from heavier tent and pole material,

they can also weigh more. The shape of a tent and it's pole configuration

can greatly affect how your shelter performs in the backcountry. Good

quality backpacking tents will have 10 to 12 stitches per inch, and a

waterproof bottom. Other considerations for a good tent are and equipment

vestibule for storing things you want out of the elements but not in the

tent.

As far as tent maintenance goes, be sure to dry it thoroughly upon

returning home, even if it never rained. Dew and dampness from the ground

can wreak havoc on a tent with mildew.

An external frame pack is a design where the frame is fully exposed

on the outside of the pack, and the pack itself is attached to the sides of

the frame using straps, aluminum pins, or other methods. The most commonly

used frame material aluminum, due to it's light weight. External frame

packs typically have two main compartments, a number of outside pockets,

and an open space below the pack where a sleeping bag can be lashed to the

frame.

An internal frame pack is a design where the frame is contained

inside the pack. The "frame" is nothing more than two aluminum, plastic or

fiberglass, stays that run vertically from the top to the bottom of the

pack. They provide the primary means of support for the shoulder straps and

hip belt, and the basic structure to hang the pack from.

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