Anyone planning on hiking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail this year should think twice, as it is not recommended.
The Appalachian Trail is the country’s longest footpath and a popular challenge for hikers. However, recommendations have been made against heading out on the trail this year. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy feels the COVID-19 pandemic is making long-distance hikes unsafe.
Postpone that hike on the Appalachian Trail this year
The Appalachian Trail was completed in 1937 and is the longest footpath in the USA. The trail spans more than 2,100 miles, heads through eight national forests, crosses two national parks and passes through 14 states from Georgia to Maine. This is a challenge many hikers cannot resist.
Around 3,500 people attempt to hike the entire trail each year, but only one in four makes it all the way. It is also estimated that between two and three million people trek at least a portion of the Appalachian Trail each year. The trail is famous for its beautiful, misty mountains, pretty pastures, deep woods and bear sightings. This is the ultimate back to nature experience.
However, while fresh air activities are normally recommended during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy feels that it is unsafe to make long-distance hikes on the trail during the pandemic.
The problem is, people don’t completely socially distance along the Appalachian Trail. Long-distance hikers have to make stops along the way. They stay in campsites, shelters, huts and lean-tos along the trail, which are not set up for proper hygiene or social distancing.
Another problem is that hikers stop in towns along the trail to resupply. To be able to do this, they must either hitchhike or arrange for shuttles. This then increases the risk of spreading the virus along the trail.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy leads the effort to maintain and protect the trail and is funded to an extent by its more than 42,000 members and more than 600,000 supporters. Jordan Bowman is the director of communications for the Appalachian Trail.
Plan Hikes That Better Allow You To Follow The CDC Guidelines
Bowman said in a statement that until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that COVID-19 is under control, or until the vaccine or effective treatment is widely available, they will continue to recommend that hikers plan hikes that better allow them to follow the CDC guidelines. This includes minimizing any inessential travel.
While this will no doubt disappoint many hikers who were making plans this year, they should rather look for local trails to explore, where they can hike without putting themselves or others under risk of COVID-19. Hopes are that once the vaccine is widely available, things should eventually get back to normal.
In the meantime, thanks to a new app for iOS, hikers can virtually hike the Appalachian Trail from wherever they are. Walk the Distance uses the iPhone pedometer feature to track the number of steps a person takes each day. It then charts the activity in terms of the Appalachian Trail’s 2,200 mile span.
Basically, taking your dog for a stroll through your local neighborhood for a mile or more each week will net the equivalent of the Appalachian Approach Trail.
Keep up with the latest, up-to-date information on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s official website.
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The post The Appalachian Trail Is Out For Long-Distance Hikers This Year appeared first on Tourist Meets Traveler.