The Ultimate History Of The Appalachian Trail

It’s the longest trail in the United States stretching over 14 states along from Maine to Georgia. 2,178 miles of incredible hiking with scenic overlooks and thousands of feet in elevation change, it’s not only incredibly beautiful, but incredibly challenging! 

With The Wanderer Supply Co. currently based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Appalachian Trail is only a few miles aways. I myself have hiked a few sections of it over the years and always wanted to learn more about it. 

So, after some in depth research and exploration, I’ve compiled a brief history of the Appalachian Trail!   

Creation

Beginning as a dream 100 years ago in October of 1921, regional planner Benton MacKaye public proposed “An Appalachian Trail: A Project In Regional Planning.” It was intended to be a place where city dwellers of the East Coast could escape back to nature. 

He spent the next 4 years gaining support until 1925 when Benton and his supporters unveiled a more specific plan for the future trail. Despite this support, very little progress was made in linking the trails beyond the state of New York until the end of the 20s’ when retired Connecticut Judge Arthur Perkins of the Appalachian Trail Club (ATC), took over the project. 

Original trail proposal map.

Perkins drew the support of federal admiralty lawyer Myron H. Avery and a few locals of Washington who had formed the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC). With Perkins both clubs now working together, a trail was blazed in West Virginia and northern Virginia. 

Avery succeeded as head of the ATC and through the recruiting of more volunteers, the Appalachian trail made significant progress over the next several years. By August 1937, a footpath had been completed from Maine to Georgia.

Unfortunately, a hurricane damaged most of the New England portion of the trail in 1938 and not long after, the outbreak of World War II meant many of the volunteers were overseas. 

Three years after the war however, veteran Earl V. Shaffer managed to locate enough of the trail to hike it in its entirety despite the ATC not believing this could be done. In spring of 1951, the trail was declared open by the ailing Avery who died the following winter. 

In the late fifties and early sixties, an effort was made to help preserve and protect the trail for future generations. A pair of leaders, Murray Stevens of New York and Stanley Murray of Tennessee, helped build the ATC from 380 members to 10,000 while gaining support for federal protection of the land on which the trail was located. 

Finally, in 1968, 47 years after MacKayes original proposal was published, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Trails System Act into law. The Appalachian Trail officially became the first national scenic trail protected under federal law as a unit under the national park system.    

By 1971, a permanent route was mapped and marked by volunteers of the National Park Service and most of the trail was purchased by the Park Service by the end of the 20th century. The last part of the trail was officially acquired in 2014, ensuring its protection and preservation for the future. 

Fun Facts

1. Most Thru-Hikers Don’t Make It (But Those Who Do Come In All Shapes And Sizes)

While there have been many attempts since Earl V. Schaffers first thru-hike, very few of the approximately 2,500 hikers who set out each spring complete the full trip. Factors such as fatigue, illness, and injury are the main causes for not finishing. 

While many of those who set out are in peak physical condition, there are many notable exceptions including Emma Gatewood, nicknamed “Grandma Gatewood,” who hiked the entire trail at age 67 in 1955. Hikers as old as 81 and as young as 5 have also made the entire journey as well as blind hikers and hikers with leg amputations. 

2. Some Hikers Go For Speed

Many of those who attempt a complete hike of the trail are happy to just to complete it in a 5 to 7 month timeframe. Others however, want to challenge themselves even more by adding the element of speed. One of the first attempts of this happened in 1973 when legendary 9 time thru-hiker Warren Doyle completed the trail in 66.3 days.

By the 1990’s the trend of speed hiking grew even more popular when two hikers, David Horton and Scott Grierson, raced each other for the speed record in 91’. Horton, an ultramarathon runner, completed the trail in 52 days and 9 hours by running 10-11 hours a day. Grierson walked the trail for 16-17 hours per day and completed his journey in 55 days 20 hours 34 minutes. 

The record held until 1999 when it was broken by ultramarathon runner Pete Palmer who completed the hike in 48 days 22 hours 11 minutes. Six years later, speed hiker Andrew Thompson narrowly broke that record when he finished the entire trail in 47 days 13 hours and 31 minutes. 

3. A Tent Is Not Necessarily Required

While a lot of thru-hikers do carry along a tent to camp in, others forgo this luxury in order to save weight for the long trip. Luckily, the trail offers more than 250 backwoods shelters that are built and maintained by volunteers. These three-sided, lean-to shelters can even lure tent carrying hikers during rainstorms for their easy access and protection from the elements. 

The shelters are spread roughly 8 miles apart and often have bathrooms and water sources nearby. They operate on a first-come, first-served basis and can be a great place to meet and talk with other hikers. One of the downsides however, is that mice and mosquitos may also inhabit these shelters if previous hikers were careless with their food.    

4. Hikers Go By Nicknames

Almost all backpackers who hike any portion of the trail go by their preferred “trail names” they choose for themselves or are given by others. With so many people out along the trail, nicknames help keep everyone straight to avoid confusion. 

A hikers nickname should reflect something about their personality or history. How one is given varies, with some waiting to be dubbed until they start hiking. This gives them a chance to develop their hiking personality and allow other to get to know them. It’s usually other hikers who give out the nicknames. 

The story of the Appalachian trail is an incredible chronicle of one small vision becoming a deeply important and emblematic part of American history. It has the ability to test our resilience while showing the beauty of nature when it is preserved and able to be enjoyed by everyone!