Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hiking & Trekking
Almost anywhere you go, great hiking and backpacking are within easy striking distance.
National parks are ideal for short and long hikes. Beyond them, you'll find troves of
state-maintained footpaths. There's no limit to the terrain you can explore, from the
dogwood-choked Wild Azalea Trail in Louisiana to the multi-state
North Country Na-
tional Scenic Trail
(
www.nps.gov/noco
)
, winding across rugged landscapes from New
York to Minnesota.
Resources
Survive Outdoors
(
www.surviveoutdoors.com
) Dispenses safety and first-aid tips, plus
helpful photos of dangerous critters.
Wilderness Survival
(Gregory Davenport; 2006) Easily the best book on surviving nearly
every contingency.
American Hiking Society
(
www.americanhiking.org
) Links to 'volunteer vacations' build-
ing trails.
Backpacker
(
www.backpacker.com
) Premier national magazine for backpackers, from
novices to experts.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
(
www.railstotrails.org
) Converts abandoned railroad cor-
ridors into hiking and biking trails; publishes free trail reviews at
www.traillink.com
.
THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
Completed in 1937, the country's longest footpath is 2180 miles, crossing six na-
tional parks, traversing eight national forests and hitting 14 states from Georgia to
Maine. Misty mountains, deep woods, flowery pastures and bear sightings are the
rewards. Each year, roughly 2500 hardy souls attempt to hike the entire trail - only
one in four makes it all the way through. But don't let that discourage you. It's es-
timated that two to three million people trek a portion of the Appalachian Trail an-
nually, thanks to easy-to-access day hikes up and down its length.
Practicalities
ยป
Most through-hikers start at Springer Mountain in northern Georgia and finish at
Mt Katahdin in Maine's Baxter State Park. They begin in March or April and finish
six months later. Baxter closes for the season on October 15, so hikers must arrive
before then.
