The Appalachian National Scenic Trail runs approximately 2,200 miles from Springer Mountain in northwest Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Although legend has it that the trail existed as a footpath for Native Americans long before Europeans set foot on the continent, the trail's official start came in 1921 in conjunction with a proposal for a series of work, study, and farming camps along the ridges of the Appalachian mountain range. It took several years to forge the official trail by identifying and connecting small trails and clearing paths where no trails existed. The process involved a corps of about 200 hardcore activists and local hiking clubs.
In modern times, the Appalachian Trail is a hiking and camping path maintained by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, a volunteer-based organization that works closely with the National Park Service. Volunteers work throughout the year to keep the trail open and available for use by thousands of hikers and campers. They keep the trail clear by cutting natural overgrowth and removing fallen trees, and they repair and care for the various shelters and overnight camping sites.
More information about the Appalachian Trail is available on the ATC’s website at www.appalaciantrail.org.