View Full Version : how long is it... really??
gizzy bear
02-28-2013, 15:42
i have read different articles and varying information re : the length of the AT...anywhere from ~2160 to ~2180...that is a 20 mile difference....how is that?
The mileage on the AT changes every year with new relocations, Every trail club does new relocations,When i hiked last year it was 2,183 miles when i thru-hiked in 2006 it was 2,162 so every year it does and will change.
I'm not sure how long it is really....but i'm guessing just your average 6 and half, er, 2160 miles rather.
max patch
02-28-2013, 15:52
2,185.9000
max patch
02-28-2013, 15:54
The mileage on the AT changes every year with new relocations, Every trail club does new relocations,When i hiked last year it was 2,183 miles when i thru-hiked in 2006 it was 2,162 so every year it does and will change.
2,135 ish when I thru'd. I got cheated out of 2 days of hiking.
Cookerhiker
02-28-2013, 15:54
ATC website (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/about-the-trail): "...roughly 2,180 miles in length"
Carry-On
02-28-2013, 15:57
The mileage on the AT changes every year with new relocations, Every trail club does new relocations,When i hiked last year it was 2,183 miles when i thru-hiked in 2006 it was 2,162 so every year it does and will change.
In 2012 it was 2184.2 miles in my AT Guide and that's what I used to determine all my mileage for my blog. This year it is 2186 miles (I've seen the 2013 hikers saying online). Most probably use the AT Guide to determine mileage like I did.
Funny, it never seems to get shorter, only longer. :-?
Cookerhiker
02-28-2013, 15:59
2,135 ish when I thru'd. I got cheated out of 2 days of hiking.
For each of the 29 years of section hiking, I calculated the mileage based on the respective year's data book. Total came out at 2,158.
Where I was cheated occurred when I hiked in Southern Vermont for my very first section hike. At that time, the trail didn't go over Stratton Mountain; it followed what is now a blue-blazed trail through the flat lands. So I missed what is now the highest point of the AT in VT.
Train Wreck
02-28-2013, 16:07
2,185.9000
You'd think they could find one more .1 of a mile just to have a nice round number ;)
on_the_GOEZ
02-28-2013, 16:10
At this rate, the AT will break 2200 miles in ~ 10 years. Honestly, I wouldnt mind the Maine section being longer :)
flemdawg1
02-28-2013, 16:12
At this rate, the AT will break 2200 miles in ~ 10 years. Honestly, I wouldnt mind the Maine section being longer :)
Sure just push Katahdin north afew miles.
max patch
02-28-2013, 16:14
......
Funny, it never seems to get shorter, only longer. :-?
1958
HikerMom58
02-28-2013, 16:25
In 2012 it was 2184.2 miles in my AT Guide and that's what I used to determine all my mileage for my blog. This year it is 2186 miles (I've seen the 2013 hikers saying online). Most probably use the AT Guide to determine mileage like I did.
Funny, it never seems to get shorter, only longer. :-?
Ahh... it just dawned on me why thru-hikers are part of the "2,000 miles club"... it's always at least 2,000 miles- always many more but never less than that. :p
gizzy bear
02-28-2013, 16:34
[QUOTE=
Funny, it never seems to get shorter, only longer. :-?[/QUOTE]
limitless possibilities here.... :banana like...that's what HE said...
atmilkman
02-28-2013, 16:38
limitless possibilities here.... :banana like...that's what HE said...
Very catchy thread title. Almost as good as the coating one. :)
Cookerhiker
02-28-2013, 16:39
......
1958
For those who want the specifics, that was the year the Southern Terminus was moved from Mt. Oglethorpe to Springer. This knocked off 13 miles.
Max was present as an eyewitness at that time.:D
gizzy bear
02-28-2013, 17:03
Very catchy thread title. Almost as good as the coating one. :)
well, i'll be [in my best scarlett ohara voice and holding my hand ova my mouth] ... that is VERY catchy isn't it ?!?!? :p
gizzy bear
02-28-2013, 17:04
For those who want the specifics, that was the year the Southern Terminus was moved from Mt. Oglethorpe to Springer. This knocked off 13 miles.
Max was present as an eyewitness at that time.:D
was max present when the astroids took out the dinosaurs ?!?! ;)
Old Hiker
02-28-2013, 17:09
It's ALWAYS twice as long as half of it.
Official mileage right now is 2,185.9 but that doesn't count the mileage to/from Springer and Katahdin that needs to be hiked, so you can add at least another 5 miles.
gizzy bear
02-28-2013, 17:39
Official mileage right now is 2,185.9 but that doesn't count the mileage to/from Springer and Katahdin that needs to be hiked, so you can add at least another 5 miles.
really?!?! the average distance doesn't include katahdin?!?!? that is just anti-climatic to not include the cherry on the top!!!! why doesn't it include it???!! i am really looking forward to taking my pic with that sign this year!!! :)
Cookerhiker
02-28-2013, 17:48
really?!?! the average distance doesn't include katahdin?!?!? that is just anti-climatic to not include the cherry on the top!!!! why doesn't it include it???!! i am really looking forward to taking my pic with that sign this year!!! :)
It includes the AT up Katahdin (known as the Hunt Trail). What Sly is referring to is that you have to hike down afterwards i.e. no helicopters await you.
max patch
02-28-2013, 17:49
i.e. no helicopters await you.
well, actually.....
kidchill
02-28-2013, 18:26
I don't think anyone really knows...My book said 2184.2...but you gotta realize, you really hike so much more then that by the end.
Cookerhiker
02-28-2013, 18:44
The decal on my car reads 2,175 so of course, that's the "right" answer.
evyck da fleet
02-28-2013, 23:08
well, actually.....
Yeah, I saw a helicopter on the Tableland? the day I summited. I was happy to hike the extra five miles than need to be air lifted off. Of course when you add in the side trails to shelters, water, town and other sights and detours the official number is only an estimate of what you actually hike.
Ox97GaMe
03-01-2013, 19:33
Why the trail gets longer......
The ATC is putting forth an effort to get 100% of the trail onto federally owned lands and completely eliminate sidewalk and road walks. hiking a trail in the woods, up and down mountains will add distance. also, there are approximately 30 trail maintaining clubs. Each year, almost every club has at least 1 project that moves the trail from its current location to a new location (for a variety of reasons). Some of these relocations decrease mileage, but most increase mileage. Several clubs, like GATC, TEHCC, PATC are replacing trails that go straight up the side of the mountain with nice, gradual switchbacks. If you know what to look for, you can see old rutted trail remnants. Almost the entire TEHCC section from Humpback Mtn to Shady Valley has been relocated over the past 12 years due to the efforts of Bob Peoples, TN Eastman Club, and the thru hiker community (See Backpacker Magazine Mar 2013). A good example of the work this group has done is at Carvers Gap TN. The trail up Jane Bald used to be called 'Stairway to Heaven'. there were over 100 log steps built into the hillside. now it switchbacks through beautiful Rhodendrens.
When Earl Shaffer hiked the trail in 1948, he noted that it consisted of a lot of road walks. When I hiked in '97 there were approx 30 mile that were still roads. I heard that last year the trail was down to less than 5 miles remaining on roads. I, for one, am glad that they moved it to a more wilderness experience.
i agree that Maine and New Hampshire could be improved with switchbacking, but as a maintainer I understand just how difficult that would be, given the rocky conditions.
If you like round numbers consider it 3500km.