Appalachian Trail in the USA: photo, description, route

The Appalachian Trail in the United States is one of the ten most exhausting tourist routes, which not everyone dares to conquer. The path has a length of 3450 km and runs through the territory of 14 states at once. These places have been given the status of a nature reserve, and the route itself is one of the main natural attractions of the United States.

Story

For the first time, the need to equip the trail was discussed back in 1920, when a forester named B. McKay put forward a proposal to organize a tourist route through the protected area. And three years later, the first site was opened for walking.

Since the length of the Trail is huge, it was decided to involve public organizations and clubs to keep cleanliness and order in its individual parts, between which this part of the nature reserve was divided and marked with special rectangles. In addition to steps, railings and other devices that facilitate the ascent and descent, more than 265 shelters are equipped along the entire length, in which tourists can stay for the night, wait out the rain or snow.

The Appalachian Trail is always crowded and you can meet tourists from all over the world. Just imagine, every year 3-4 million travelers come to these places, most of whom do not set ambitious goals, but simply get out for a few days to enjoy the clean mountain air and beautiful landscapes.

What you need to know

Like many other attractions, the Trail boasts a set of interesting facts that can be very useful during a grueling journey. Let's consider some of them.

So, travelers who have found strength in themselves and overcame the entire route claim that it takes no less strength to conquer it than is necessary in order to reach the top of Everest. Therefore, very good physical preparation, a serious attitude to possible difficulties and a number of skills for survival in the wild are required. Cell phones do not work here, and it is very difficult to call rescuers. You can only rely on yourself and your comrades.

Tourists who are familiar with the peculiarities of the local climate recommend stocking up on high-quality sunscreen. Although the main part of the road is in the shade of numerous trees, walking in the hot period in an open area can leave stinging burns on your skin.

It is highly recommended to choose a tent that will be resistant to both strong winds and rain, and before you take a nap, make sure that your food is out of the reach of local “thieves” among the small bears.

There are some tips on choosing the right equipment. In particular, the climate allows you to travel in shorts and a T-shirt. But do not completely abandon the pants because they can come in handy in the event of a sudden change in the weather and they can be worn on cold evenings. Shoes should be as comfortable as possible. It is better to give preference to hiking boots with special insoles that will prevent chafing of the feet. And don't forget a hat to protect your head from the scorching sun.

Tourism

It is interesting that on the Trail you can meet people of different age categories. Young people go on a grueling route to test their strength, and older travelers prefer to spend time here for the benefit of the soul. Being alone with nature, forgetting about all the problems and troubles, reading a book in the green shade or listening to your favorite musical composition is perhaps the best way to overcome the midlife crisis.

Another feature of this natural attraction is that the traveler completely abandons the charms of civilized life, lives one day, and all the problems, other difficulties of life and the noise of the metropolis lose all meaning and remain far behind.

They say that those travelers who have traveled the entire route and returned to the starting point in the same way notice fundamental changes in the perception of many things, their psyche is transformed, and additional sources of vital energy seem to open inside. Interestingly, on the Appalachian Trail you will never meet those who beg. Everyone considers this style of behavior unworthy.

By the way, if you are considering the possibility of overcoming the path on a bicycle, we advise you to abandon this idea. There are many dangerous and difficult sections on the Trail, which are impossible to overcome with a bicycle.

The Appalachian Trail in the USA will give all lovers of wildlife, adventurers and ordinary tourists a lot of positive emotions. Once in these places, they will remain in your heart for life.

We recommend reading about the Royal Path in Spain – on our website.