Despite its name, the Appalachian Trail snakes its way through a majority of the East Coast, not just the Appalachian Mountains . The trail received its name due in part to the fact that it begins in Georgia before winding its way through Appalachia, before ending at the summit of Katahdin, Maine. So, how did this incredible trek become conjured into existence? As it turns out, with a lot of perseverance and vision for the fut
If one would like an exhaustive guide to all the 150 official trails in the park, then the National Park Service recommends the book " nature hiking game Equipment|https://naturetrailinsight.com/ Trails of The Smokies ". Another source of information on the numerous trails in the Smokies is Outdoor Project and they have information on 16 must-do hikes. These hikes cover everything from easy strolls near Gatlinburg to epic hikes deep into the backcountry. Some of the best hikes in the park according to Outdoor Project are listed below. Related: Hiking In The Smokies? Don't Read These Ghost Stories Before Yo
Occasionally, hikers will encounter full, unused jugs of water that are left along the trail by people called 'trail angels,' but it's not something to rely upon heavily. Being aware of the forthcoming stretches of trail and having at least two liters of water in your pack is the best way to combat this is
North Country Trail spreads from the lakes to the hills twisting from North Dakota, 4600 miles to Vermont. Hikers cross the tirelessly undeviating trail in the plains before transforming to the windy shoreline of Lake Superior. With this trail, one gets to see eight states or great lakes. It makes the perfect thru-hike. It is suitable for experienced and strong hikers. The terrain is not that challenging. The endurance required makes it an advanced hikers tr
As time went on, Avery and MacKaye began to butt heads, with MacKaye's more rustic, traditional vision of mountain trails falling short of Avery's more modern approach to mountain trail construction. By 1935, MacKaye backed off the AT project almost entirely, focusing on other things, while Avery continued with what was now his vision for the final result. By August of 1937, the trail was finally finished, spanning from its intended point of Georgia all the way to Maine, but that doesn't mean it was finis
Those who plan to hike should plan trips around the fall season since more trails are open due to the lack of flood threats. Alternatively, the spring season - between the months of April and May, might see a day or two more of precipitation, but these are the best for backpackers who are looking to spend long durations of time on the park's trails since the park itself sees fewer visitors during this time fr
In the winter, the deciduous leaves have long since disappeared, and while the forest itself may be less appealing, the new vistas opened up are incredibly rewarding. The Spring is a time of rejuvenation and one can take in a parade of wildflowers and flowering trees decorating the p
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular national park in the United States . It boasts some of the best scenery of the Appalachian Mountains and is located in Western North Carolina and over the state line taking up a bit of Eastern Tennes
Those familiar with their AT history will likely know the name Earl Shaffer, who was the first thru-hiker to ever complete the Appalachian Trail from start to finish. This not-so-simple achievement seemed to reinvigorate the efforts to fully complete the trail in 1948. By 1951, the AT was officially declared to be open, and additional thru-hikers were permitted on the trail to complete the longest intentional hiking trail in American hist
Only a year after its initial trail completion, this hurricane not only devastated the East Coast but also damaged parts of the trail in the northeast. To add insult to injury, an extension of the Blue Ridge Parkway was built in the same year, making progress even more of a challenge. While 120 miles of the AT were now displaced, arguments over private land sectors soon began with - the final blow - World War II beginning, which halted progress for deca
The answer to that lies in the magic of resupply stops which are towns (or any form of civilization) to which hikers can make an easy detour in order to stock up. Additionally, packages can be sent to these resupply stops so that nothing needs to be purchased; it's worth it to mark these on a map prior to hik
The grand canyon has so many strange things to discover and one of them is the caves. It is known to have over 1,000 caves. However, only 335 caves have been recorded. With the caves having mysterious conditions and high risks since many are found high up in the valleys, the public is allowed to visit just one c
The Great Smoky Mountains have a plethora of options when it comes to hiking trails. One can choose from trails leading to waterfalls, through old-growth forests, and trails with endless views. If one is planning on a multi-day backpacking trip, then reservations and permits are required for all overnight stays in the backcoun