AT Elevation Gain and Loss, by Section
by map man (Steve Shuman)
It's useful to know how much a trail goes up and down. Hikers thinking about hiking part of a trail, whether it's rugged or easy terrain they are looking for, can use information about how much a segment rises and falls to make their decision. Thru-hikers can use the information to help determine how long it's likely to take them to get to their next resupply point. And all hikers can benefit from this knowledge toward the end of the day when deciding whether to push on to that next shelter or road crossing.
But what's the best way to figure out how much elevation gain and loss to expect? Some find the elevation profiles on AT maps to be handy, but sometimes these profiles have their drawbacks. It's not uncommon for hikers to be surprised by the ruggedness of a section of trail that looked easier on the elevation profile. And different maps often use different profile scales, some exaggerating rise and fall more than others.
Others might use electronic databases like the ATC's centerline data available for download. But I have seen this centerline data, and data from commercial map companies as well, plotted graphically onto satellite photos or topographic maps (using google earth, for one), and it's easy to see that none of them have a data point at every single spot on the trail where rising ground changes to falling ground, and vice-versa, which is what you would need to accurately compute elevation gain and loss using these electronic resources.
But a much more low-tech solution is available. One can look at the USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps for the entire trail and count the contour lines the trail crosses, going both up and down. All one needs are all the ATC maps (to spot any trail changes that have occured since the various USGS maps were published), USGS maps, and a lot of time and tolerance for tedium.
So that's what I've been doing with much of my spare time for the last two months. And I have results to share. But first, a couple disclaimers. First, I know that elevation gain and loss per mile is not the only determiner of how difficult a stretch of trail is. Many who've hiked both the AT and Pacific Crest Trail will tell you that a day with 4000 feet of elevation gain on the PCT often feels much easier than a day on the AT climbing the same amount. The quality of the treadway has a lot to do with this. But, still, the amount of climbing and falling is still the one single most important factor contributing to ruggedness in most circumstances.
Second, my data is only as current as the ATC maps, and those vary in publication date from very recent to as old as 1998. So any trail reroutes since the map publication will have an effect on some small sections.
So, with those qualifications, here is the AT divided up into 37 segments. I chose the end points for these sections based on the trail towns and hostels and road crossings both section and thru-hikers are most likely to use as resupply destinations. All elevation rise and fall is expressed as feet per mile. Obviously elevation gain for a NOBO is elevation loss for a SOBO, and vice-versa, and the table should be read that way. I also list the miles for each section (mileage figures come from the 2007 edition of the AT Companion):
Table 1 -- Elevation Gain and Loss by Section
Southern Half
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
281.......285........276........31.4........Spring er - Neels Gap
334.......340........328........36.1........Neels Gap - Hiawassee
229.......216........242........40.0........Hiawas see - Franklin
311.......329........294........54.9........Frankl in - Fontana
302.......263........340........42.1........Fontan a - Gatlinburg
256.......305........208........33.7........Gatlin burg - Green Corner Road
276.......283........269........33.4........Green Corner Road - Hot Springs
273.......270........275........68.0........Hot Springs - Erwin
279.......273........286........70.6........Erwin - Dennis Cove Road
235.......241........228........50.2........Dennis Cove Road - Damascus
227.......223........230........75.3........Damasc us - Atkins
239.......244........234........87.8........Atkins - Pearisburg
251.......253........249........91.7........Pearis burg - Daleville
258.......263........253........56.7........Dalevi lle - Glasgow
270.......262........278........77.1........Glasgo w - Waynesboro
212.......217........208........107.1.......Waynes boro - Front Royal
219.......226........213........54.0........Front Royal - Harpers Ferry
154.......150........157........78.7........Harper s Ferry - Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Northern Half
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
138.......143........132........45.0........Pine Grove Furnace - Duncannon
130.......129........130........70.0........Duncan non - Port Clinton
132.......133........131........76.5........Port Clinton - Delaware Water Gap
154.......152........155........63.1........Delawa re Water Gap - Vernon
226.......229........223........45.8........Vernon - Bear Mountain Bridge
216.......214........218........63.2........Bear Mountain Bridge - Kent
199.......195........202........102.9.......Kent - Dalton
222.......217........226........81.8........Dalton - Manchester Center
228.......228........228........49.8........Manche ster Center - Rutland
282.......299........266........45.6........Rutlan d - Hanover
272.......265........279........43.9........Hanove r - Glencliff
343.......341........345........53.5........Glencl iff - Crawford Notch
364.......369........358........47.1........Crawfo rd Notch - Gorham
366.......360........372........51.5........Gorham - South Arm Road (Andover)
307.......308........307........58.6........South Arm Road - Stratton
347.......353........340........16.7........Stratt on - East Flagstaff Road
164.......164........165........56.6........East Flagstaff Road - Monson
172.......173........172........109.3.......Monson - The Birches (Baxter SP)
404.......404........404........10.4........Up and Down Katahdin
236.......237........236........2180.1.....Entire Trail (about 515,000 ft. -- 97.5 miles)
More notes on selection of these boundary points: Green Corner Road leads to the popular Standing Bear Farm Hostel; Dennis Cove Road leads to the popular Kincora Hostel; Glasgow VA is not frequented by a lot of hikers but no single town between Daleville and Waynesboro is these days, and I wanted to break up what would have otherwise been a 130 mile stretch; I chose East Flagstaff Road because the hiking ruggedness changes so drastically at that boundary between the east and west parts of the trail in Maine. Also, you might note that I list the whole trail as being 2180.1 miles. A little long, you say. But I notice that the only way to begin or end a hike on Springer or Katahdin is to go BOTH up and down these mountains (no helicopter rides available), so I add .9 miles at the very southern end (to account for a trip from USFS 42 to Springer and back) and 5.2 miles at the very northern end (a hike from The Birches up Katahdin and back). Other slight oddities about my mileage figures is that I like to use the bridges over rivers (the low point of that part of the trail) in or near trail towns as section boundary points instead of the town centers, which are often hard to locate exactly. I do this at Pearisburg, Harpers Ferry (the Potomac), DWG, Bear Mountain and Hanover.
And my figure of 236 average feet/mile up and down for the whole trail is about 8 to 9% higher than the figures I've seen cited with the ATC given as the source (somewhere between 210 and 220, although I can't find a number given anywhere on the ATC's current web site). I believe that the ATC is undercounting by this amount because they are adding up all MAJOR up and downs but not sweating so much about some smaller ones.
Here's why I say that. The guidebook for Maine lists the elevation gain and loss for seven different Maine sections corresponding to the seven maps that the Maine Appalachian Trail Club produces. For the western-most section, full of long, pronounced ups and downs, the elevation gain and loss numbers given come pretty close to matching the figures I calculate. For the eastern-most section, though, with many more gentle ups and downs (with the obvious exception of Katahdin), the guidebook says there is only 2200 feet of elevation gain for a southbound hiker between Katahdin and the south end of Nahmakanta Lake. I get a figure more than double that. In fact, to get 2200 feet as a total one would have to count ONLY the elevation gains of more than 100 feet. I suspect that many smaller ups and downs the length of the trail are not being counted by the ATC.
On to another table. Ever wanted to settle a bar bet over which states on the AT have more or less rise and fall per mile? All right, you probably have better things to think about, but here is a table that breaks down average elevation gain and loss by state anyway. I also list the miles for each state. I don't try to separate Tennessee from North Carolina because the trail wanders back and forth between the two so many times:
Table 2 -- Average Elevation Gain and Loss, by State
AVG~~~MILES~~~STATE
307.........76.1.........Georgia
272........380.8........North Carolina/Tennessee
241........535.7........Virginia
173.........17.5.........West Virginia
157.........40.9.........Maryland
135........229.3........Pennsylvania
160.........72.4.........New Jersey
217.........88.2.........New York
215.........51.6.........Connecticut
208.........90.2.........Massachusetts
239........149.8........Vermont
329........161.0........New Hampshire
242........286.6........Maine
New Hampshire is the hilliest, followed by Georgia, which might surprise some. Least hilly are those four middle states, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Most closely resembling the entire AT for average elevation gain and loss are Vermont, Virginia and Maine, although Maine achieves this by averaging the two extremes of gentler east and rugged west, as I've already mentioned.
The last table includes more information than any sane person would want to take in in one sitting. It contains SOBO, NOBO and average elevation gain for 338 trail segments! It shows these figures as well as the miles between every AT shelter, plus I throw in many hostel locations, trail towns and road crossings leading to popular places. In short, any place many hikers are likely to seek shelter. I break them into several sections to make them more readable and hopefully be helpful to section hikers. I'm not going to keep typing the word, "shelter" or "lean-to." Assume it's the name of a shelter unless it's obvious it's not. If the boundary point is a town the trail goes through, I'll mention the state it's in. If it's a road crossing that leads to a town I'll list the town and highway number. Also, elevation is counted at the point which a side trail exits the AT leading to a shelter. If a shelter is at least 100 feet above or below the AT exit point, I mention that with a plus or minus sign by the shelter name:
Table 3 -- Elevation Gain and Loss from Shelter to Shelter
Amicalola State Park GA - Hiawassee GA
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
311.......141........482.......(8.8)........Approa ch Trail
100.......200..........0.........(.2).........Spri nger Mtn. - Springer Shelter
261.......452.........70........(2.3)........Sprin ger Shelter - Stover Creek
239.......204........275.......(5.1)........Stover Creek - Hawk Mtn. (+240 ft.)
364.......384........345.......(7.3)........Hawk Mtn. - Gooch Mtn.
200.......176........224.......(5.0)........Gooch Mtn. - Suches (GA 60)
255.......220........290.......(6.9)........Suches - Woods Hole
323........31........615........(1.3)........Woods Hole - Blood Mtn.
375.......650........100.......(2.4)........Blood Mtn. - Neels Gap (US 19)
342.......303........381.......(6.2)........Neels Gap - Whitley Gap (-200 ft.)
400.......464........336.......(4.4)........Whitle y Gap - Low Gap
239.......178........300.......(7.2)........Low Gap - Blue Mtn.
345.......564........127.......(2.2)........Blue Mtn. - Helen (GA 75)
382.......262........502.......(5.5)........Helen - Tray Mtn.
358.......406........310.......(7.1)........Tray Mtn. - Deep Gap
303.......434........171.......(3.5)........Deep Gap - Hiawassee (US 76)
Hiawassee GA - Fontana NC
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
321.......270........372.......(4.3)........Hiawas see - Plumorchard Gap
293.......192........395.......(7.3)........Plumor chard Gap - Muskrat Creek
204.......196........212.......(4.9)........Muskra t Creek - Standing Indian
192.......195........189.......(7.6)........Standi ng Indian - Carter Gap
188.......165........212.......(6.8)........Carter Gap - Big Spring
211.......325.........98........(5.3)........Big Spring - Rock Gap
205.......211........200.......(3.8)........Rock Gap - Franklin (US 64)
200........76.........324.......(3.7)........Frank lin - Siler Bald
289.......278........301......(12.1).......Siler Bald - Cold Spring
269.......331........207.......(5.8)........Cold Spring - Wesser Bald
314.......506........122.......(4.9)........Wesser Bald - A. Rufus Morgan
525.......900........150........(.8).........A. Rufus Morgan - NOC (US 19, 74)
336.......139........533.......(6.9)........NOC - Sassafras Gap
385.......418........352.......(9.1)........Sassaf ras Gap - Brown Fork Gap
305.......380........230.......(6.1)........Brown Fork Gap - Cable Gap
300.......382........218.......(6.6)........Cable Gap - Fontana Dam Shelter
Fontana NC - Hot Springs NC
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
312.......188........435.......(11.3).......Fontan a Dam Shelter - Mollies Ridge
328.......368........288........(2.5).......Mollie s Ridge - Russell Field
193.......110........276........(2.9).......Russel l Field - Spence Field
394.......394........394........(6.3).......Spence Field - Derrick Knob
302.......247........356........(5.5).......Derric k Knob - Silers Bald
271.......259........282........(1.7).......Silers Bald - Double Spring Gap
292.......260........324........(6.3).......Double Spring Gap - Mt. Collins
231.......329........133........(4.5).......Mt. Collins - Gatlinburg (US 441)
240........93.........387........(3.0).......Gatli nburg - Icewater Spring
262.......286........238........(7.4).......Icewat er Spring - Peck's Corner (-270 ft.)
277.......238........315........(5.2).......Peck's Corner - Tri-Corner Knob
197.......270........125........(7.7).......Tri-Corner Knob - Cosby Knob (-130 ft.)
276.......428........124........(7.1).......Cosby Knob - Davenport Gap
321.......461........182........(3.3).......Davenp ort Gap - Green Corner Road
342.......261........422........(7.2).......Green Corner Road - Groundhog Creek
234.......166........302........(8.2).......Ground hog Creek - Roaring Fork
253.......229........278........(4.9).......Roarin g Fork - Walnut Mtn.
275.......372........178........(9.9).......Walnut Mtn. - Deer Park Mtn.
275.......437........113........(3.2).......Deer Park Mtn. - Hot Springs NC
Hot Springs NC - Elk Park NC
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
278.......175........382.......(11.0).......Hot Springs - Spring Mtn.
284.......279........288........(8.6).......Spring Mtn. - Little Laurel
215.......176........253........(6.8).......Little Laurel - Jerry Cabin
261.......312........210........(5.9).......Jerry Cabin - Flint Mtn.
305.......268........341........(8.8).......Flint Mtn. - Hogback Ridge
300.......260........340.......(10.0).......Hogbac k Ridge - Bald Mtn.
289.......374........204.......(10.6).......Bald Mtn. - No Business Knob
206.......330.........83.........(6.3).......No Business Knob - Erwin TN
205........38.........371........(4.2).......Erwin - Curley Maple Gap
269.......233........305.......(12.2).......Curley Maple Gap - Cherry Gap
296.......290........301........(6.9).......Cherry Gap - Greasy Creek Gap
189....... 84.........295........(1.9).......Greasy Creek Gap - Clyde Smith
388.......250........525........(6.4).......Clyde Smith - Roan High Knob
258.......375........142........(4.8).......Roan High Knob - Stan Murray
282.......400........165........(1.7).......Stan Murray - Overmountain
305.......405........205........(8.2).......Overmo untain - Apple House
240.......400.........80.........(.5).........Appl e House - Elk Park (US 19E)
Elk Park NC - Damascus VA
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SHELTER
273.......239........307........(8.2).......Elk Park - Mounaineer
227.......206........248........(9.5).......Mounta ineer - Moreland Gap
318.......420........216........(6.1).......Morela nd Gap - Dennis Cove Road
221.......379.........63.........(1.9).......Denni s Cove Road - Laurel Fork (+250 ft.)
320.......320........320........(7.0).......Laurel Fork - Hampton (US 321)
122.......111........133........(1.8).......Hampto n - Watauga Lake Shelter
344.......235........453........(6.8).......Wataug a Lake Shelter - Vandeventer
221.......182........259........(6.8).......Vandev enter - Iron Mtn.
163.......158........168........(7.6).......Iron Mtn. - Double Springs
222.......241........202........(8.3).......Double Springs - Abingdon Gap
198.......292........104.......(10.0).......Abingd on Gap - Damascus VA
Damascus VA - Pearisburg VA
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SHELTER
283.......209........357.......(9.4)........Damasc us - Saunders
269.......263........275.......(6.4)........Saunde rs - Lost Mtn.
223.......141........305......(12.2)........Lost Mtn. - Thomas Knob
188.......290.........86........(5.1)........Thoma s Knob - Wise
180.......203........160.......(5.9)........Wise - Old Orchard
232.......248........216.......(5.0)........Old Orchard - Hurricane Mtn.
218.......268........167.......(9.1)........Hurric ane Mtn. - Trimpi
197.......185........209......(10.6)........Trimpi - Partnership
263.......270........256.......(7.1)........Partne rship - Chatfield
191.......271........111.......(4.5)........Chatfi eld - Atkins (US 11)
189.......111........267.......(2.7)........Atkins - Davis Path
315.......314........316......(11.2)........Davis Path - Knot Maul
282.......196........369.......(9.0)........Knot Maul - Chestnut Knob
260.......360........160......(10.0)........Chestn ut Knob - Jenkins
240.......219........261......(11.5)........Jenkin s - Bland (US 21/52)
296.......243........348.......(2.3)........Bland - Helveys Mill
197.......214........180.......(9.8)........Helvey s Mill - Jenny Knob
180.......187........172......(14.2)........Jenny Knob - Wapiti
205.......148........262.......(8.4)........Wapiti - Doc's Knob
248.......361........136.......(8.7)........Doc's Knob - Pearisburg (US 460)
Pearisburg VA - Daleville VA
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SHELTER
248.......110........387.......(6.2)........Pearis burg - Rice Field
220.......252........189......(12.3)........Rice Field - Pine Swamp Branch
267.......138........395.......(3.9)........Pine Swamp Branch - Bailey Gap
163.......230.........95........(8.8)........Baile y Gap - War Spur
334.......303........366.......(5.8)........War Spur - Laurel Creek
275.......222........328.......(6.4)........Laurel Creek - Sarver Hollow
205.......337........ 73........(6.0)........Sarver Hollow - Niday
260.......251........269.......(9.9)........Niday - Pickle Branch
292.......294........290......(12.6)........Pickle Branch - Catawba (VA 311)
280.......300........260.......(1.0)........Catawb a - Johns Spring
210........80.........340.......(1.0)........Johns Spring - Catawba Mtn.
354.......267........442.......(2.4)........Catawb a Mtn. - Campbell
250.......293........207.......(6.0)........Campbe ll - Lamberts Meadow
241.......285........198.......(9.4)........Lamber ts Meadow - Daleville (US 220)
Daleville VA - Waynesboro VA
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
272.......132........412.......(5.0)........Dalevi lle - Fullhardt Knob
289.......355........223.......(6.2)........Fullha rdt Knob - Wilson Creek
186.......167........205.......(7.3)........Wilson Creek - Bobblets Gap
219.......231........206.......(6.4)........Bobble ts Gap - Cove. Mtn.
307.......354........261.......(6.9)........Cove Mtn. - Bryant Ridge
328.......148........508.......(5.0)........Bryant Ridge - Cornelius Creek
294.......211........377.......(5.3)........Cornel ius Creek - Thunder Hill
263.......390........135......(12.4)........Thunde r Hill - Matts Creek
73.........109........36........(2.2)........Matts Creek - Glasgow (US 501)
247.......118........376.......(1.7)........Glasgo w - Johns Hollow
305.......223........386.......(8.8)........Johns Hollow - Punchbowl
240.......303........177.......(9.5)........Punchb owl - Brown Mtn. Creek
311.......136........486.......(5.6)........Brown Mtn. Creek - Cow Camp Gap (-150 ft.)
251.......227........275......(10.2)........Cow Camp Gap - Seeley-Woodworth
287.......284........290.......(6.9)........Seeley-Woodworth - The Priest
368.......508........227.......(7.4)........The Priest - Harpers Creek
368.......287........448.......(6.2)........Harper s Creek - Maupin Field
196.......230........162......(15.8)........Maupin Field - Paul C. Wolfe
216.......192........240.......(5.0)........Paul C. Wolfe - Waynesboro (US 250)
Waynesboro VA - Front Royal VA
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
211.......154........269.......(7.0)........Waynes boro - Calf Mtn.
237.......240........234......(13.0)........Calf. Mtn. - Blackrock Hut
138........92.........184.......(7.4)........Black rock - Loft Mtn. Campground
252.......324........179.......(5.8)........Loft Mtn. - Pinefield Hut
215.......171........259.......(8.2)........Pinefi eld - Hightop Hut
226.......215........236......(11.7)........Highto p - Lewis Mtn. Campground
200.......343.........57.........(.7).........Lewi s Mtn. - Bearfence Mtn. Hut (-100 ft.)
158.......130........185.......(8.0)........Bearfe nce Mtn. - Big Meadows Campground
194.......217........171.......(3.5)........Big Meadows - Rock Spring Hut
217.......241........193......(15.3)........Rock Spring - Pass Mtn. Hut (-100 ft.)
215.......221........209......(13.1)........Pass Mtn. - Gravel Springs Hut
210.......246........175......(10.5)........Gravel Springs - Tom Floyd Wayside
303.......462........145.......(2.9)........Tom Floyd - Front Royal (US 522)
Front Royal VA - Harpers Ferry WV
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
187.......154........219.......(5.2)........Front Royal - Jim and Molly Denton
242.......211........273.......(5.5)........Jim and Molly Denton - Manassas Gap
205.......241........168.......(4.4)........Manass as Gap - Dick's Dome (-100 ft.)
185.......210........160.......(8.4)........Dick's Dome - Rod Hollow
326.......325........328.......(6.9)........Rod Hollow - Sam Moore
343.......280........407.......(3.0)........Sam Moore - Bear's Den Hostel
227.......203........251.......(7.9)........Bear's Den - Blackburn Trail Center (-300 ft.)
159.......200........119.......(3.2)........Blackb urn Trail Center - David Lesser
160.......221.........99........(9.5)........David Lesser - Harpers Ferry WV
Harpers Ferry WV - Boiling Springs PA
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
95.........32.........159.......(6.3)........Harpe rs Ferry - Ed Garvey
149.......141........156.......(4.1)........Ed Garvey - Crampton Gap (-130 ft.)
168.......184........152.......(5.0)........Crampt on Gap - Rocky Run
117........89.........144.......(1.8)........Rocky Run - Dahlgren Backpack Campground
181.......147........214.......(5.7)........Dahlgr en - Pine Knob
161.......168........154.......(8.2)........Pine Knob - Ensign Cowell
220.......188........253.......(4.9)........Ensign Cowell - Devils Racecourse (-170 ft.)
179.......192........167.......(9.6)........Devils Racecourse - Deer Lick
158.......267.........50........(2.4)........Deer Lick - Antietam
92..........0..........183.......(1.2)........Anti etam - Tumbling Run
160.......146........174......(12.2)........Tumbli ng Run - Quarry Gap
147.......124........170.......(7.4)........Quarry Gap - Birch Run
123.......161.........84........(6.2)........Birch Run - Toms Run
105.......168.........43........(3.7)........Toms Run - Pine Grove Furnace State Park
125.......133........117.......(7.2)........Pine Grove Furnace - James Frye (Tagg Run)
190.......183........198.......(8.3)........James Frye - Alec Kennedy
167.......215........118.......(3.9)........Alec Kennedy - Boiling Springs PA
Boiling Springs PA - Palmerton PA
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
85..........60........109.......(14.3).......Boili ng Springs - Darlington
166.......163........168.......(7.3)........Darlin gton - Cove Mtn.
160.......268.........52........(4.0)........Cove Mtn. - Duncannon PA
141........61.........222.......(4.6)........Dunca nnon - Clarks Ferry
132.......126........138.......(6.8)........Clarks Ferry - Peters Mtn.
142.......146........137......(17.5)........Peters Mtn. - Rausch Gap
171.......156........186......(13.3)........Rausch Gap - William Penn
122.......117........127.......(4.1)........Willia m Penn - 501 Shelter
72..........68.........77.......(15.1).......501 - Eagle's Nest
136.......205.........67........(8.6)........Eagle 's Nest - Port Clinton PA
200.......161........239.......(6.1)........Port Clinton - Windsor Furnace
130.......143........116.......(9.1)........Windso r Furnace - Eckville Shelter
136........73.........200.......(7.4)........Eckvi lle - Allentown Hiking Club
102.......110.........94.......(10.0)........Allen town Hiking Club - Bake Oven Knob
121.......153.........88........(6.8)........Bake Oven Knob - George W. Outerbridge
356.......667.........44.........(.9).........Oute rbridge - Palmerton (PA 248)
Palmerton PA - Vernon NJ
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
116........84.........148......(15.8).......Palmer ton - Leroy A. Smith
139.......191.........87........(4.6)........Leroy A. Smith - Wind Gap (PA 33)
98.........70.........126........(9.2).......Wind Gap - Kirkridge
174.......264.........85........(6.6)........Kirkr idge - Delaware Water Gap PA
165.......118........196.......(10.3).......DWG - Mohican Outdoor Center
153.......151........155.......(14.3).......Mohica n Outdoor Center - Brink Road
170.......158........182.......(6.6)........Brink Road Shelter - Gren Anderson
153.......145........162.......(5.8)........Gren Anderson - Mashipacong
138.......152........124.......(2.9)........Maship acong - Rutherford
179.......186........172.......(4.3)........Ruther ford - High Point
128.......189.........68........(5.3)........High Point - Secret Shelter
125.......113........138.......(7.1)........Secret Shelter - Pochuck Mtn.
174.......203........145.......(6.5)........Pochuc k Mtn. - Vernon (NJ 94)
Vernon NJ - Kent CT
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
213.......143........283.......(5.3)........Vernon - Wawayanda
169.......175........163......(12.0)........Wawaya nda - Wildcat
257.......248........267......(14.3)........Wildca t - Fingerboard
175.......200........151.......(5.3)........Finger board - William Brien
352.......335........368.......(3.1)........Willia m Brien - West Mtn.
257.......345........169.......(5.8)........West Mtn. - Bear Mtn. Bridge
235.......203........267.......(6.3)........Bear Mtn. Bridge - Graymoor Center
232.......239........225......(16.9)........Graymo or Center - RPH
221.......167........274.......(9.0)........RPH - Morgan Stewart
195.......221........170.......(7.6)........Morgan Stewart - Telephone Pioneers
329.......571.........86.........(.7)........Telep hone Pioneers - Pawling (County 20)
173.......166........180.......(8.0)........Pawlin g - Wiley
241.......288........195.......(4.0)........Wiley - Ten Mile River
242.......219........264.......(8.4)........Ten Mile River - Mt. Algo
617......1133.......100........(.3).........Mt. Algo - Kent (CT 341)
Kent CT - Dalton MA
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
200.......197........203.......(7.0)........Kent - Stewart Hollow Brook
238.......204........271......(10.0)........Stewar t Hollow Brook - Pine Swamp Brook
181.......172........190......(12.3)........Pine Swamp Brook - Limestone Spring (-330 ft.)
204.......303........106.......(3.3)........Limest one Spring - Salisbury (US 44)
176........62.........289.......(4.2)........Salis bury - Riga
133.......100........167.......(1.2)........Riga - Brassie Brook
252.......240........265.......(8.8)........Brassi e Brook - Hemlocks, Glen Brook
184.......197........172......(14.4)........Hemloc ks, Glen Brook - Tom Leonard
215.......350.........80........(2.0)........Tom Leonard - Great Barrington (MA 23)
262.......158........367.......(3.3)........Great Barrington - Mt. Wilcox South
219.......219........122.......(1.8)........Mt. Wilcox South - Mt. Wilcox North (-120 ft.)
200.......216........184......(14.0)........Mt. Wilcox North - Upper Goose Pond Cabin (-110 ft.)
197.......182........211.......(8.8)........Upper Goose Pond Cabin - October Mtn.
120.......123........118.......(8.8)........Octobe r Mtn. - Kay Wood
237.......353........120.......(3.0)........Kay Wood - Dalton MA
Dalton MA - Manchester Center VT
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
197.......207........186.......(8.6)........Dalton - Cheshire MA
220........43.........396.......(5.1)........Chesh ire - Mark Noepel
261.......297........224.......(6.6)........Mark Noepel - Wilbur Clearing
347.......620.........73........(3.0)........Wilbu r Clearing - North Adams (MA 2)
214.......104........325.......(6.9)........North Adams - Seth Warner
290.......296........285.......(5.2)........Seth Warner - Congdon
266.......237........295.......(5.9)........Congdo n - Melville Nauheim
211.......144........278.......(8.5)........Melvil le Nauheim - Goddard
240.......330........149.......(4.3)........Goddar d - Kid Gore
185.......183........187.......(4.6)........Kid Gore - Story Spring
248.......259........236......(10.5)........Story Spring - Stratton Pond
129.......158........100.......(4.8)........Stratt on Pond - William B. Douglas
160.......160........160.......(3.0)........Willia m B. Douglas - Spruce Peak
232.......307........157.......(2.8)........Spruce Peak - Manchester Center (VT 11)
Manchester Center VT - Hanover NH
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
247.......210........283......(10.1)........Manche ster Center - Peru Peak
143.......183........102.......(4.7)........Peru Peak - Long Pond
218.......435..........0........(1.7)........Long Pond - Big Branch
130........67.........193.......(3.0)........Big Branch - Lula Tye
29.........29..........29.........(.7)........Lula Tye - Little Rock Pond
186.......150........223.......(4.4)........Little Rock Pond - Greenwall (-180 ft.)
316.......373........259.......(5.1)........Greenw all - Minerva Hinchey
335.......384........286.......(3.7)........Minerv a Hinchey - Clarendon
166.......118........215.......(6.8)........Claren don - Governor Clement
267........37.........498.......(4.3)........Gover nor Clement - Cooper Lodge
168.......256.........80........(2.5)........Coope r Lodge - Pico Camp
311.......547.........74........(1.9)........Pico Camp - Churchill Scott
237.......411.........63........(1.9)........Churc hill Scott - Rutland (US 4)
200........20.........380.......(1.0)........Rutla nd - Tucker Johnson (Long Trail Junction)
308.......358........258.......(9.0)........Tucker Johnson - Stony Brook
269.......232........305.......(9.9)........Stony Brook - Wintturi (-160 ft.)
332.......347........317......(11.6)........Winttu ri - Thistle Hill
277.......295........259.......(8.8)........Thistl e Hill - Happy Hill
179.......275.........83........(5.3)........Happy Hill - Hanover NH
Hanover NH - Franconia Notch NH
(For most of the AT I don't include tentsites and campsites in this shelter listing, only shelters with a roof, but since the Huts in the White Mountains are expensive and often avoided by hikers, I'm including campsites and tentsites there in the next two sections.)
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
185........10.........360.......(2.0)........Hanov er - Velvet Rocks
245.......194........297.......(9.5)........Velvet Rocks - Moose Mtn.
312.......368........256.......(5.7)........Moose Mtn. - Trapper John
296.......161........430.......(6.7)........Trappe r John - Firewarden's Cabin
275.......385........166.......(5.3)........Firewa rden's Cabin - Hexacuba (+140 ft.)
296.......321........271.......(7.3)........Hexacu ba - Ore Hill
251.......297........205.......(7.4)........Ore Hill - Glencliff (NH 25)
218........91.........345.......(1.1)........Glenc liff - Jeffers Brook
391.......238........544.......(6.8)........Jeffer s Brook - Beaver Brook
336.......391........281.......(9.1)........Beaver Brook - Eliza Brook
400.......230........570.......(4.0)........Eliza Brook - Kinsman Pond Campsite
453.......716........189.......(1.9)........Kinsma n Pond - Lonesome Lake Hut
255.......483.........28........(2.9)........Lones ome Lake - Franconia Notch (US 3)
Franconia Notch NH - Gorham NH
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
477........15.........938.......(2.6)........Franc onia Notch - Liberty Springs Tentsite
379.......189........568.......(3.8)........Libert y Springs - Greenleaf Hut (-1040 ft.)
441.......605........277.......(3.9)........Greenl eaf - Garfield Ridge Campsite
378.......415........341.......(2.7)........Garfie ld Ridge - Galehead Hut
386.......243........529.......(2.8)........Galehe ad - Guyout Campsite (-440 ft.)
338.......571........105.......(4.2)........Guyout - Zealand Falls Hut
92..........67........117.......(4.8)........Zeala nd Falls - Ethan Pond Campsite
290.......566.........14........(2.9)........Ethan Pond - Crawford Notch (US 302)
316.......119........513.......(6.4)........Crawfo rd Notch - Mizpah Spring Hut, Nauman Tentsite
363.......233........492.......(4.8)........Mizpah Spring - Lake of the Clouds Hut
450.........0.........900.......(1.4)........Lake of the Clouds - Mt. Washington*
351.......473........229.......(4.1)........Mt. Washington - The Perch (-980 ft.)
333.......493........173.......(1.5)........The Perch - Madison Spring Hut, Valley View Tentsite#
590.......980........200.......(3.0)........Madiso n Spring - Osgood Tentsite
227.......275........179.......(4.8)........Osgood - Pinkham Notch (NH 16)
427.......319........536.......(5.9)........Pinkha m Notch - Carter Notch Hut
407.......417........397.......(7.2)........Carter Notch - Imp Campsite
366.......521........210.......(6.1)........Imp - Rattle River
137.......263.........11........(1.9)........Rattl e River - Gorham (US 2)
* Mt Washington does not have overnight shelter
# Madison Spring Hut is beside the trail, but Valley View Tentsite is 900 ft. lower in elevation than the trail
Gorham NH - Stratton ME
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
304.......246........363.......(11.8).......Gorham - Gentian Pond
394.......296........492........(5.2).......Gentia n Pond - Carlo Col
407.......423........391........(4.4).......Carlo Col - Full Goose
359.......322........396........(5.1).......Full Goose - Speck Pond
404.......461........348........(6.9).......Speck Pond - Baldpate
500.......554........446........(3.5).......Baldpa te - Frye Notch
342.......427........258........(4.5).......Frye Notch - Andover (East B-Hill Road)
248.......153........343........(6.0).......Andove r - Hall Mtn.
493.......639........346........(4.1).......Hall Mtn. - Andover (South Arm Road)
343.......264........421........(8.7).......Andove r - Bemis Mtn.
288.......313........263........(8.3).......Bemis Mtn. - Sabbath Day Pond
193.......234........151........(9.4).......Sabbat h Day Pond - Rangeley (ME 4)
167........33.........300........(1.8).......Range ley - Piazza Rock
360.......312........407........(8.9).......Piazza Rock - Poplar Ridge
308.......293........323........(8.0).......Poplar Ridge - Spaulding Mtn.
360.......425........295.......(13.5).......Spauld ing Mtn. - Stratton (ME 27)
Stratton ME - Monson ME
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
320.......145........494.......(5.1)........Stratt on - Horns Pond
375.......441........310......(10.2)........Horns Pond - Little Bigelow
219.......255........184.......(7.3)........Little Bigelow - West Carry Pond
101.......106.........96.......(10.0).......West Carry Pond - Pierce Pond
100.......185.........15........(4.0)........Pierc e Pond - Caratunk (US 201)
139........70.........207.......(5.7)........Carat unk - Pleasant Pond
248.......251........244.......(9.0)........Pleasa nt Pond - Bald Mtn. Brook
359.......361........356.......(4.1)........Bald Mtn. Brook - Moxie Bald
80.........103.........56.......(8.9)........Moxie Bald - Horseshoe Canyon
158.......136........180.......(9.0)........Horses hoe Canyon - Monson (ME 15)
Monson ME - Baxter State Park ME
AVG~~SOBO~~NOBO~~MILES~~~SECTION
163.......187........140.......(3.0)........Monson - Leeman Brook
236.......241........232.......(7.4)........Leeman Brook - Wilson Valley
191.......200........183.......(4.7)........Wilson Valley - Long Pond Stream
300.......105........495.......(4.0)........Long Pond Stream - Cloud Pond (-100 ft.)
287.......328........246.......(6.9)........Cloud Pond - Chairback Gap
197.......202........192.......(9.9)........Chairb ack Gap - Carl A. Newhall
333.......269........397.......(7.2)........Carl A. Newhall - Logan Brook (-220 ft.)
242.......456.........28........(3.6)........Logan Brook - East Branch
173.......193........153.......(8.1)........East Branch - Cooper Brook Falls
79..........92.........66.......(11.4)........Coop er Brook Falls - Potaywadjo Spring
33..........42.........23........(4.3)........Pota ywadjo Spring - Whitehouse Landing
110........97.........124.......(5.8)........White house Landing - Wadleigh Stream
194.......173........215.......(8.1)........Wadlei gh Stream - Rainbow Stream
117.......130........104......(11.5)........Rainbo w Stream - Hurd Brook
120.......137........103.......(3.5)........Hurd Brook - Abol Bridge
89..........65........113.......(9.9)........Abol Bridge - The Birches
404.......404........404......(10.4).......Up and Down Katahdin
(For all of these tables in an Excel spreadsheet, see post #17 in the accompanying thread. Tin Man went to the trouble to convert all of this data into that format. Thank you, Tin Man! In addition, rgarling in post #18 and Hiker Ranky in post #20 show in spreadsheet form how many times and where on the trail NOBO and SOBO hikers had gained elevation the equivalent of going from sea level to the top of Everest!)
METHODOLOGY
If a topographic map has a contour interval of 20 feet there will be a line on the map for every 20 feet of elevation change. As the AT climbs a hill it will continue to cross lines and every time it crossed a contour line I would count it as a change in elevation of 20 feet (or 3 meters or 6 meters or 10 feet or 40 feet -- all five of these intervals are used by the USGS on at least one map covering the AT -- I always had to check what the contour interval was as the trail moved from map to map). Now, if the trail only rises 10 feet before falling again, half the time over the long haul it will not cross a contour line, in the 20 foot interval example. But half the time it will cross a line and will be counted as having risen 20 feet. The longer stretch of trail one follows the more these kinds of examples will even out. So in a very short stretch with only a couple minor up and downs the figure obtained this way could be a bit off. So two shelters spaced very close together have more potential to be a little off due to the randomness of whether the AT line happens to cross an elevation line. But over longer stretches this method (counting contour lines crossed) is VERY accurate.
I took measures to make sure I didn't mis-count. I made a note of the elevation every time the trail crossed a topographic feature like a road or stream or mountain, and then I went back and checked to make sure that my elevation line counts added up. So if I noted an elevation at a mountain top of 2440 feet and after a few ups and downs crossed a stream at 1120 feet, I checked to be sure that my elevation line counts added up to a 1320 foot elevation difference. If the count didn't add up I recounting lines crossed to find out where I made the mistake.
I wrote this down on tally sheets that looked like this:
-20
+20
-40
------Deep Gap (2550 ft.)
+460
-20
+120
-40
+220
------Owl Mtn. (3290 ft.)
-300
+40
etc.
When the trail moved to a new USGS map the first thing I did was compare it to the relevant, and almost always more current, ATC map. My job was easier if the two showed the trail in the same place (this was most likely to happen if the USGS had updated the pertinent AT maps for a trail section within the last ten years), but if the trail had changed since the USGS map was created I plotted whatever the new course was. Most of the time the trail follows easily identifiable ridges and other natural features, though sometimes it took more patience to trace a new course when the trail didn't do this. The trail section from Damascus to Pearisburg VA was particularly trying and time consuming because almost the entire trail had changed between the 50s, 60s, or 70s, (when most of these particular USGS editions were printed) and the present.
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