Initially, the idea for the Appalachian Trail was nothing of what exists today. The man responsible for the brainchild went by the name of Benton MacKaye, who hadn't originally suggested a thru-hike. Rather, it was his idea to create what The Trek referred to as a 'utopian ideal' that would feature self-owning community camps. The idea was to set up these camps near the trail, and they would be entirely reliant on their own agricultural means of living. Eventually, the idea was to allow people to appreciate authentic mountain living while having the support of a like-minded commun

Arizona is home to 22 national parks , monuments, historic sites, recreation areas, and historic trails, the most famous of which is Grand Canyon National Park . Named the best outdoor destination in the U.S. and one of the world’s best natural wonders , this majestic park covers 1,218,375 acres and boasts many wonderful geological spots, rich wildlife, and 3,391 ancestral si

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 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

The Grand Canyon is 1mile deep. This makes it really deeper than many people may think. It is also 277 miles in length and 18 miles in width. With this size, the canyon covers a total area of 1,904 square miles. The best way to understand this sheer size is to compare it with other places such as Rhode Island which is just 1,212 square mi

The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is a year-round destination, and the high season stretches from late spring through summer, despite frequent thunderstorms and high temperatures in July, August, and early September. It’s the hottest, most crowded, and most expensive time to visit; so, in case you pick this popular period to visit, bear in mind that booking months in advance would save you time and mo

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

Trekkers will have to work for the accomplishment of summiting the tallest mountain in Maine, Katahdin. This strenuous hike deserves a spot alongside the most sought-after day hikes for experienced adventurers . It's also the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, so thru-hikers are guaranteed an epic end to their months-long jour

Those who accept the challenge will need to be ready for mud, slippery rocks, and iron-runged ladders as they ascend to the summit over 4,000 feet above sea level. The moss-dotted trees and lush ferns give the trail an almost prehistoric ambiance, a feeling that the solitude will only ampl

It should be stated that during this time, the 1940s was seeing somewhat of an industrial revolution when it came to roads and transportation. The general public had a heightened interest in travel which meant that bridging the gaps between states was a priority, thus interfering with the simpler methods of travel - such as thru-nature hiking game online guide|https://naturetrailinsight.com/. The start of the Appalachian Trail's tougher years began with the hurricane of 1

As one of the least accessible portions of Canyonlands National Park, The Maze Trail is often considered to be the park's most dangerous route. According to the National Park Service , visitors to this trail should be prepared with self-rescue equipment in the event local authorities aren't able to access them in t

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 Pacific Crest Trail, also known as the PCT, is the second-longest continuous trail in the country. The trail encompasses the entire west coast similar to the way in which the Appalachian Trail stretches through the east, starting from Mexico and ending at Canada's border. The landscapes that hikers will see are similar to that which the early pioneers of the country's west saw during their first exploration of the land; many of which were photographed by famed photographer Ansel Adams in all their natural glo