Lazy Sunday, thought I'd throw this out for discussion...
Is the AT getting becoming a congested super-hiker-highway?
From reading the recent posts about trail magic and hiker feeds being prevalent and the hiker support infrastructure that seems to be increasing every year you'd think that throngs of hikers were on the trail.
Yet, thru hiker stats (at least completed thrus) as tracked by the ATC are statistically close from year to year.
Is it an increase in section hikers, more people attempting thrus and failing - where are all the hikers that support this "industry" comimg from?
I'm waiting on a "Hiker Hand Holding" service - where someone will hike the trail and hold your hand all the way to Katahdin - that's about the only thing that's left that no one is doing.