If you’re thinking about thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail this year, you might want to think again.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is discouraging people from attempting to hike the entire 2,190-mile trail — called thru-hiking — and has said it will not recognize attempted thru-hikes until the coronavirus pandemic is “under control.”

The group — which manages the multi-state trail — also said it will not distribute hangtags, the plastic tags given to aspiring thru-hikers to promote sustainable hiking practices and celebrate their attempt.

“Due to the pandemic and the risk that interstate travel could spread COVID-19 (including the emerging variants that could be even more contagious), the ATC has been advising hikers to postpone their hikes until the CDC has deemed the pandemic ‘under control’ or a COVID-19 vaccine or effective treatment is widely available and distributed,” the ATC said on its website.

“We do not feel it is appropriate to provide what could be perceived as a reward for long-distance hiking, which we are actively discouraging until one of the above conditions is met,” the group added.

The group said it hasn’t distributed hangtags since March 2020 because of the pandemic.

Those who want to be considered thru-hikers have to complete the entire 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail in one trip within 12 months — though it typically takes between five and seven months.

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Picture, in your mind, an Appalachian Trail (A.T.) view that inspires you. Now have a fellow A.T. hiker do the same. Did the view they selected look anything like yours? Most likely not.

Since the A.T. traverses so many regions, the views along its 2,193 miles vary significantly, sometimes even within a few miles. From craggy mountains in North Georgia, to rolling farmlands in Pennsylvania, to the rugged Saddleback Range in Maine, the Trail provides visitors with a diversity of views to admire, each tied to the environments surrounding the footpath. And while each view may differ in scope and composition, all of them are important to preserving the irreplaceable A.T. experience, and all of them inspire us for a wide variety of reasons.

Yet as inspiring as A.T. views are, it is easy for us to take them for granted. Most of these views have survived for centuries, after all, so many of us don’t stop to consider what it will take to protect them well into the future.

To better address looming threats, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the National Park Service (NPS) are taking a vital first step to ensure that they identify and accurately describe the scenic beauty along the A.T. by taking inventory of the current state of the Trail’s irreplaceable views.

Known as the “Enjoy the View” initiative, the ATC and NPS will be collecting data and taking in-depth photographs of over 1,400 viewpoints along the entire A.T. The initiative began in 2019 with an assessment of 70 scenic views at four very different sites along the Trail: Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina, the Virginia “Triple Crown,” South Mountain in Pennsylvania and the Saddleback Range in Maine.

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In March 2020, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) advised all visitors and volunteers to stay away from the Appalachian Trail. Increased visitor use made social distancing practically impossible and the potential to spread COVID-19 to other Trail visitors and vulnerable Trailside communities — and beyond — posed grave risks. Subsequent stay-at-home orders in most Trail states, numerous national park and national forest closures on the A.T., and hundreds of reported COVID-19 infections in counties along the Trail reinforced ATC’s guidance.

This was a difficult decision for those seeking the benefits of the A.T. experience, including many who had planned section and thru-hikes this year, and the ATC greatly appreciate your assistance in helping prevent the spread of this dangerous virus.

Now over a month has passed since making this request, and many have asked an important question: when will it be safe to return to the Trail?

For now, the guidance is still in effect. The ATC urges everyone — visitors, volunteers and Trailside community residents alike — to stay off the A.T. to keep both the Trail and its broader community safe and healthy.

However, as several states have begun lifting or are planning to lift stay-at-home orders, the ATC has convened a task force to develop guidance on how A.T. visitors can re-engage safely with the Trail. This task force is comprised of representatives from the ATC’s staff, federal and state agency partners, trail maintaining clubs, A.T. Communities, local leaders and medical experts and will incorporate perspectives from those groups.

The task force will adopt several guiding principles as it develops a decision-making framework for staff, volunteers and Trail visitors:

The task force’s top priority will be the safety and health of ATC staff, volunteers, agency partners, Trail visitors and adjacent communities.
The task force will adopt an evidence-based approach, relying on the best science available.
The task force will account for the unique characteristics of the A.T. and develop guidance that is specific to the A.T. and the broader Trail community.
The task force will consider the policies of federal and state partners as well as restrictions and closures implemented at the local, state and federal levels.
The task force aims to deliver guidance that can be used broadly by the entire Trail community. Whether you are a volunteer who wants to complete Trail maintenance or a hiker who hopes to experience the beauty, inspiration and connection to nature found on the A.T., they want to make sure you have the information you need to stay safe and healthy.

The ATC wants to ensure they can, in the future, access the A.T.’s myriad values safely and responsibly. For the time being, they ask for your continued patience as they determine the best possible way forward.

Sandra Marra
President & CEO
Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Coronavirus concerns have led the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to issue guidance for hikers already on the Appalachian Trail – like thru-hikers who started their 2,180-mile treks before or despite guidance on self-confinement and social distancing.

“For Appalachian Trail hikers, distancing yourself from other hikers and maintaining good hygiene is the best defense for reducing your chances of contracting any illness,” suggests a letter by Sandra Marra, president of the ATC, posted on the organization’s website.

“Wash your hands frequently with biodegradable soap at least 200 feet from water sources. When soap is not available, use hand sanitizer that contains 60-95 percent alcohol.

“Avoid sharing food. Do not eat out of the same food bag, share utensils or drink from other hikers’ water bottles.

“If you begin feeling sick, stay away from others and get off the trail until examined and cleared for return to the trail by a medical professional.

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2018 was a big year for the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Despite several major weather events and three partial government shutdowns, 2018 was filled with multiple Trail milestones and the long-awaited completion of several ongoing projects. Thanks to the hard work of conservancy staff, volunteers, members, communities and supporters of the A.T., the Trail will enter 2019 ready for another year of adventure and inspiration. Here’s a look at just some of the things you helped make possible throughout 2018:

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy collaborated with partners to add nearly 28,000 acres of open space surrounding the Appalachian Trail, including nearly 3,000 acres of scenic forestland in southwestern Virginia in coordination with the Virginia Department of Forestry and more than 200 prime hillside acres in Dutchess County, New York.

The ATC completed numerous special Trail projects — repairing and rerouting the Trail, felling hazardous trees, and improving overnight sites. Several of these have been multi-year endeavors, including a Trail relocation on Sinking Creek Mountain in central Virginia — this project alone took 3 years, 136 volunteers and 4,477 hours of hard work to accomplish.

The final step was placed on the Trail at Bear Mountain in New York, a multi-year project placing a whopping 1,298 stone steps for an exceptional redesign and rebuild one of the most popular locations on the entire A.T.

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The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is an interesting animal in that, not unlike the huge trail itself, it links together a lot of varied parts. The nonprofit is a cooperative of local, state and federal government agencies, and 31 local organizations looking after a footpath that spans 14 states and more than 2,000 miles.

As you can imagine, working across that many geographies and entities on such a large task warrants some serious fundraising to provide connective tissue. As with other groups sticking up for treasured public lands, the conservancy has been working to bump up its fundraising, and recently landed a $3 million grant from a Virginia family foundation.

That’s a pretty big score when it comes to trails philanthropy. Then again, the AT is not just any trail, running from Georgia to Maine and serving some 3 million hikers a year. The latest grant will fund efforts to protect the trail’s lands, waters and cultural features, as a large component of the conservancy’s mission includes land protection, management and other conservation efforts for its more than 250,000 acres of public lands.

This big grant for the Appalachian Trail comes amid a surge of philanthropic giving for parks, plus a notable increase in private funding toward the National Park Service from individuals, foundations and corporations alike. We’ve also seen some pretty big giving for trail systems.

Of course, while donors are willing to step up, there is a dark backdrop to such donations, as protections are gutted by Ryan Zinke’s Department of the Interior, leaving public lands more vulnerable than they have been in many years.

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From the Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Over the last few weeks, fires have raged across the southern Appalachian Mountains and the Appalachian Trail from Georgia up to central Virginia, and many major fires are still burning. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the many people dealing with the loss of life, homes, businesses and other property. We also want to thank the brave firefighters from all over the country who have joined the fight to protect the region and the Trail from further damage.

Many of you have inquired about the status of the A.T. in those areas where fires came close to or even crossed the Trail.

What we know:
•Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have closed the 71.2 miles of the A.T. within the Park.
•Fires crossed 31 miles of the A.T. in a stretch from the northern edge of GA into southern NC.
•The A.T. is closed from Dicks Creek Gap/U.S. 76 in GA (mile 69.9) to the Nantahala River/U.S. 19/U.S. 74 in NC (mile 137.1).
•The A.T. is closed from U.S. 60 (mile 806.1) to Saltlog Gap, VA (mile 814.6).

Currently, due to safety concerns, authorities have not cleared those sections for ATC Staff and Trail Clubs to assess the damage. We hope to be able to perform this assessment as soon as possible.

We do know this: there will be numerous hazard trees to cut down; shelters will need to be repaired or rebuilt entirely; water bars and cribbing will need to be installed; and, with the loss of a great deal of underbrush, the possibility of significant erosion and even mudslides will exist.

In short, we have a great deal of work ahead of us.

What can you do to help? The best thing to do now is to make a donation to the ATC. We will use your contribution to assess the damage and implement repairs to the Trail in the affected areas. Your generous donation will also fund our ongoing efforts to preserve and protect the Appalachian Trail hiking experience from Georgia to Maine.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy has announced the Kickstarter campaign for the Latch app.

For the past year and a half, the ATC have been working with design studio P’unk Ave to come up with a way to let people share their memories from the Appalachian Trail and connect with what’s happening on the Trail.

Born from a shared passion for the Trail and based on extensive research of the Trail and hikers, Latch is the solution arrived at. Latch is a tool for capturing the aura and majesty of the Appalachian Trail through the lens of those experiencing the Trail and for those who long to be on it.

The app allows users to capture and share these moments while still being in them – whether on the Trail, or looking back at the images, videos, sounds, and thoughts of a previous excursion, months or years later.

It even allows trekkers to put their phone on “Backpacker mode” — similar to airplane mode. In it, users will only be able to capture what they see and hear but not get lost in their mobile devices. This allows the user to be at one with nature, while still capturing those magical moments.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy needs your help with funding for Latch to become a reality. Please take a look at the campaign and consider backing the project, and share with any friends and contacts you think may be interested.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy visitor center in 2015 recorded a record-breaking number of hikers passing through its visitor center in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Since the release of the movie “A Walk in the Woods” on Sept. 2, the number of visitors at the center has increased more than 50 percent.

While the center is considered the psychological midpoint of the trail, the physical halfway point of the 2,190-mile national scenic trail is in Michaux State Forest, near Pine Grove Forest State Park in Cumberland County, PA. Hikers celebrate with a half-gallon of ice cream at the park concession.

The new AT records as of December:

– 1,385 northbound thru-hikers, from Georgia to Maine, passed through Harpers Ferry, an increase of 9 percent over last year.

– Southbound thru-hikers, who walk from Maine to Georgia, increased by 14 percent to 192.

– Those choosing to walk the entire AT by hop-scotching from section to section increased 139 percent to 291 people.

“These numbers reveal the importance of a proactive stewardship plan that will address the impact of growing numbers of hikers on the Appalachian Trail,” said Ron Tipton, the ATC’s executive director. “With the help of our partners, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy plans to meet the challenge of ensuring all hikers are able to have a high quality hiking experience.”

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The town, of course, was seared into our nation’s consciousness by the failed slave insurrection here in 1859 of rabid abolitionist John Brown, a spasm of an uprising extinguished by forces led by one of the US Army’s leading officers, Robert E. Lee.

Meriwether Lewis came here in 1803 to gather the supplies needed for his expedition with William Clark that would reveal an America from sea to shining sea. A one-room museum offers samples of what their party packed for the 28-month expedition.

About 30 paces away, you can learn about the role the town played in birthing the civil rights movement. The Niagara Movement, the precursor to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, met for the first time on US soil here in 1906.

Harpers Ferry is also at the juncture of the southern and northern legs of the Appalachian Trail, a symbolic midpoint for the thousands of through hikers who attempt the 2,200-mile, five-plus month trek. Learn about the history and topography of the journey at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and Visitors Center just outside the Lower Town.

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