Quote Originally Posted by SkeeterPee View Post
I think the bridge would be fine. But I agree the road between the bridge and to the trail does have some sections with only a 2-3 ft shoulder so that would be more of a risk than that bridge. But I suspect locals walk it or ride their bikes on it as I certainly walk on roads like that. That is about 1.5 mile walk from the trail crossing 340 to the bridge we are talking about.
So absolutely no way for the ATC to find an off road alternative to that road walk?

Understood it wouldn’t be easy, but preserving the AT as unbroken route never has been, right?

Continuity has always been paramount to the ATC’s mission. Having the Trail Pass through HF is a huge plus, but in the end is nowhere near as important.

Hopefully the pain of moving the official route away from the ATC’s headquarters won’t drive the decision and we will learn the ATC is already working on establishing (reestablishing) an acceptably safe new route. This years’s class deserves nothing less.