WHEN and WHERE you first stepped on the AT?

[Deadeye]

Sometime in 1969, while section-hiking the LT with my Dad from 69-72. What I remember most is about 10 years ago when I was hiking the LT again, is hitting Maine Junction and really feeling the pull to turn right instead of left.

[Gambit McCrae]

First time was on a boy scout trip nobo to Jerry Cabin, TN. Around 2001-2003. I remember looking nobo thinking "where does that go?" At that time I had no idea how extensive the trail was, the scale of 2200 miles was unknown, and at that age I don't know that I would have appreciated the magnitude, as a boy I was still in the "are we there yet" mode, not the "Please don't end and have to go back to the real world" mode...

Since then, when I found out that I wanted to see every inch of the trail, my first trip was in the Smokies, from Cades Cove up to Russel field, and then south bound on the AT to Doe Knob and then back down to the cades cove loop, I think the trip was only 18 miles or so but MAN did it feel like forever...Probly even still a little "are we there yet??" then. Now I'm 800 miles and starting my 3rd of 7 year journey to complete the trail, and leave in about 3 hours for first trip of the year!

[Smoky Spoon]

1992, was pregnant and close to delivering my second child. Was in West Virginia. All I could think was my dream of hiking it was slipping away, promised myself then I would make that dream come true one day. 2013 I hiked for two days in Georgia, trying out what gear worked and didn't, hoping to hike at least to Neel's Gap, but on second day broke my right foot.
This year I hope to make it a whole farther.

[egilbe]

My grandfather showed me a section of the trail he worked on during his CCC years. He was one of the ones who put the finishing touches to the AT in Maine. I was 12 and we drove up rt17 to the height of the land. I remember seeing the hiker sign and asking about it. Kinda cool walking the same trails he built 70 or 80 yrars ago.

[Water Rat]

About 10 years ago... Some friends had a pre-planned trip to hit a section of the White Mountains. They had been planning the trip for months. At the last second they had another friend drop out and it just happened that I had time off. I hiked from Pinkham Notch over to Crawford Notch, staying at a couple of huts along the way. My friends ended up dropping out of the hike after the first day (the first day was rain and we later found out the winds up near Madison were gusting at 70mph), but I finished that hike. I was completely intrigued with "what's over there?" The AT bug was planted on that trip. Witnessing a gorgeous sunset at Lakes of the Clouds sealed the deal for me.

I had done lots of backpacking in other parts of the country, but had never considered the AT. Heck, I grew up backpacking a lot of the PCT in WA and OR before I even thought to ask "just how far does this trail go?" I hadn't even considered what exactly the PCT was/the entirety of it all - I just knew I loved backpacking.

[FooFooCuddlyPoops]

Blonde, left side of rock? Hard to see detail in some parts of the picture.

Yup. Short, Stubby, Cotton everything. I did at least have poles to help me up the mountain. It was to this date...one of my favorite memory of hiking. When we finished old rag, the group saw me in a whole new outlook. It kinda boosted my self-estime to know that I can party with the big boys. :-P

[Berry Belle]

1981. I had just moved to Hagerstown, MD. I read the old 2-volume "Hiking the Appalachian Trail" book published by Rodale Press. While driving to Washington, DC, I passed under the AT where it crosses over I-70 on a footbridge. Within a couple of days, I was out on Route 40 looking for the trail. When I didn't recognize the trailhead parking area, I drove to Greenbrier State Park. I told the ranger, "The map shows the Appalachian Trail, but there's nothing there." He grinned and said, "That's the whole point." With his directions, I found the parking lot and got my start.

[FooFooCuddlyPoops]

Old Rag? Which one? The one I'm thinking of isn't on the AT.

Nope! It isn't. Old rag is in Shenandoah. It had one hell of a rock scramble, and a pretty good incline up to the top.

http://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/OldRag/

Before old rag, I had had some bad experiences doing longer camping trips. I mostly kept things short, and sweet. As far as the AT went, I knew about it, loved to read journals about it, but figured I was too..well..me to do it.

I am not sure why old rag switched something in my brain that made me consider doing a long distance section hike. It just did. I am glad it did because I will finally get to experience the trail's atmosphere for myself instead of being a "arm chair" hiker of the sorts.

^_^ I leave the second week in may for Damascus. I am going to attend trail days, and probably around sat, leave to head up the trail. My plan is to go until I run low on money. I originally planned my trip with deadlines, but fall semester fell through so now I am free to hike all the way to katadin.

[illabelle]

Yup. Short, Stubby, Cotton everything. I did at least have poles to help me up the mountain. It was to this date...one of my favorite memory of hiking. When we finished old rag, the group saw me in a whole new outlook. It kinda boosted my self-estime to know that I can party with the big boys. :-P

We're headed to Old Rag in late April. Looking forward to the challenge!

[Christoph]

Heard about the AT back in Boy Scouts around 25 years ago. Thought it would be the most awesome thing to go on a camping trip for 6 months. Little did I know then that it's hardly a "camping" trip. Haha As the years went by and I got closer to retirement from the military, reality set in and planning started. The wife and I happened to take a trip to Helen, Ga because it sounded like a good weekend trip for us. So we were driving back from Helen through the mountains and found "Hog Pen Gap" and an Appalachian Trail sign. I threw on the brakes and flipped a You-ee. That was the first time after all those years I was able to set foot on the AT. From then on, it was planning at 1000% and reading Whiteblaze and journal this and youtube that. I was hooked. Made it roughly 750 miles with the Approach Trail before I had to pull off and call it quits (too much weight loss/death in the family/my hiking partner got sick and went home). Just too much negative for me and the blues set in. But I've still got the itch and determination. Attempt 2 soon.

[dudeijuststarted]

Caledonia State Park, summer of 2008. We were camping and walking around the park, and asked a ranger where the AT was. He did not look at us but simply pointed sternly from behind his pitch-black sunglasses. We proceeded to hike NOBO out of Caledonia to Quarry Gap shelter, and the climb absolutely kicked our butt. That ascent is now affectionately known to us as "Crucible," and that ranger is affectionately now known as "Hard Ranger" or simply "Hard." My buddy actually dressed up as Hard Ranger for Halloween a few years later.

A month or so later we tackled the AT southbound from Pine Grove Furnace to Caledonia. Two of us almost died of dehydration and physical exhaustion. Then we were hooked, knocked out another 100+ miles that summer. Then I hiked the whole thing and effectively ruined life as I knew it forever.

[wren again]

Hot Springs, Lovers Leap, to Kincora. A life changing hike.

[smokey mtn hiker]

Summer of '81. Our church youth group met other youth groups in Dahlonega, Ga on a Thursday night. We camped at the church Thur night, got up Friday morning and were taken to Woody Gap. Hiked to Blood Mountain Friday night and camped at the shelter. Got up Saturday and hiked back down to Woody Gap for Saturday night. Left for home Sunday morning.

[shelb]

We vacationed in the Pocono's about 7 years ago with a friend who had health problems. Hiking on the A.T. (just a short day hike due to health issues) was on her bucket list. We hiked to the top of Mt Minsi. After that, I started section hiking from Waynesboro/Rockfish Gap, VI north.

My friend away in 2014, and this past year, my section-hike took me to the top of Mt Minsi. It was bitter-sweet... I so remember standing arm-in-arm with her at a tree that had a Mt. Minsi plaque on it. The tree is only a stump now....

[shelb]

I should have also included my friend's favorite saying: "Life's treasures are the simplest of pleasures!"

That is what the A.T. is for me!

[Sandy of PA]

1969, my Mom said "Hey kids lets do something different this summer, lets walk across PA on the AT. I was 11, my little sister was 10, and my big sister was 16. In 2013 my big sister joined me for week from Fontana south to Standing Indian campground. A nice walk down memory lane.

[soumodeler]

May 2004, Newfound Gap GSMNP. Family road trip to the circus, I mean Gatlinburg, and we stopped for a while at the overlook. I walked NB on the AT until I couldn't see the road anymore and then came back. We very interested in where the trail went. Two months later with Scouts we hiked from Springer to Neel Gap and have been hiking on it ever since.

[jbbweeks]

I worked on my fathers cotton farm in the sand hills of SC from 8 to 18 and never knew there was a world beyond the cotton gin 8 miles away. At 18 I was allowed to attend college and boy howdy were my eyes opened to the world beyond the farm. A friend ask me to drop him off at Clingmans Dome on Friday afternoon and pick him up at Fontana Dam on Sunday afternoon. As I walked along with him for a ways down the trail, I found myself wanting to join in, but I didn't. On Sunday I arrived at the Dam at mid morning and followed the trail north until I met him. I beg him to let me shoulder his pack and he gladly agreed. By the time we reach the car I was a goner. On my first overnight I almost collapsed climbing Shuckstack and cursed myself for ever thinking I wanted to hike. Once back at college, I couldn't wait to get back to the trail again and it has been a love hate relationship since. I hate being out of shape but I love every step I've ever taken on the trail. I have managed to hike the trail from Springer to Damascus and can't wait to see what comes next!


Tapatalk

[nsherry61]

. . . Heck, I grew up backpacking a lot of the PCT in WA and OR before I even thought to ask "just how far does this trail go?" I hadn't even considered what exactly the PCT was/the entirety of it all . . .

I remember backpacking as a kid in Oregon in the late 60's and hiking up to the Skyline Trail. It was this wonderful high trail that only real backpackers knew about that ran through the high mountains of Oregon. Then some time in the 70's they renamed what had been one of my favorite trails to this lame "Pacific Crest Trail" whatever that was, connecting the truly great "Skyline Trail" to a bunch of other high trails in California and Washington. Now, I think the world is better because of it. But, back then, I thought it was a travesty. The name Skyline had such a better ring to it.

[Water Rat]

I remember backpacking as a kid in Oregon in the late 60's and hiking up to the Skyline Trail. It was this wonderful high trail that only real backpackers knew about that ran through the high mountains of Oregon. Then some time in the 70's they renamed what had been one of my favorite trails to this lame "Pacific Crest Trail" whatever that was, connecting the truly great "Skyline Trail" to a bunch of other high trails in California and Washington. Now, I think the world is better because of it. But, back then, I thought it was a travesty. The name Skyline had such a better ring to it.

Skyline Trail - That sure brings back memories! It's funny. When I backpacked and hiked with others, names like "Pacific Crest Trail" never came up or was spoken of in terms of awe. We just mostly concentrated on the backpacking rather than the planning. Our packs were usually ready to go just in case. We also mostly stuck with local/older names for the trails we were hiking.

That is some amazing country and I still miss it a lot. I feel rather fortunate that I grew up close to the hills and knew enough to appreciate what I had - Not for what it meant as a "popular trail," but for its stunning beauty.

Skyline did have a better ring to it.