Originally Posted by
FlyPaper
The ATC publication aligns with the ATDist calculator, so they're either both arbitrary or both not-arbitrary. But the geographical reality is not in dispute, other than perhaps a few meters here and there. Going south, you first enter VA within a couple of miles of Harper's Ferry, and you last set foot in WV a few miles north of Pearisburg, hundreds of miles south the "official" entry into VA. I understand your point that one might plausibly reinterpret the 4 state challenge based on the arbitrary designation of the ATC given their position of oversight concerning the AT. Yet the ATC VA border designation is still rather arbitrary likely for the same practical concerns being dealt with by the ATDist calculator. Most see the 4 state challenge is met by setting foot in 4 states within 24 hours based on undisputed GPS coordinates. You can make a reasonable argument that the 4 state challenge should be 58ish miles rather than 44ish. But 44ish is both understandable and reasonable too, and currently the most accepted understanding.