Appalachian Trail Prep

Appalachian Trail Summary

On November 7th, 2019 I resigned from my job and began preparing to hike the Appalachian Trail on  March 14th, 2020.  The Appalachian Trail is 2,192 miles in length - passing through 14 states.  I’m going to summarize the states below - with highlight points along the way:

1). Georgia
-  78 total miles. (Miles 0 - 78)
-  Highest Point - 4,458 ft. Low Point 2,510ft
-  Blood Mountain - Mile #29
-  Mountain Crossings Outfitters @ Neel Gap - Mile #31

2) & 3). North Carolina/Tennessee
-  388 total miles (Miles 78 - 466)
-  Highest Point - 6,643 ft (highest pt on entire AT). Low Point -1,326ft
-  Smokey Mountain National Park - Miles #166 thru #239
-  Clingman’s Dome - Highest Point on AT (6,643 ft) - Mile #200
-  Max Patch - Mile #255
-  Hot Springs, NC - Mile #275
-  Roan Highlands - Mile #378
-  Roan High Knob Shelter - Highest Shelter on AT (6,285 ft) - Mile #378

4). Virginia
-  553 total miles (Miles 466 - 1,019)
-  Highest Point - 5,500ft. Low Point - 265ft
-  Damascus - Trail Days Party in mid-May - Mile #470
-  Grayson Highlands - Mile #501
-  Woodshole Hostal - Mile #625
-  Dragons Tooth (Mile #702), McAffee Knob (Mile #713), Tinker Cliff (Mile #719)
-  Shenandoah National Park - requires hiking permit - Miles #863 thru Mile #971

5). West Virginia
-  6 total miles (Miles 1,019 - 1,025)
-  Highest Point - 1,200ft.  Low Point 265ft
-  Harpers Ferry - Appalachian Trail Conservatory - Mile #1,024

6). Maryland
-  41 total miles (Miles 1,025 - 1,066)
-  Highest Point - 1,880ft.  Low Point - 230ft
-  Mason-Dixon Line - Mile #1,066

7). Pennsylvania
-  229 total miles (Miles 1,066 - 1,295)
-  Highest Point - 2,040 ft. Low Point - 320ft
-  Pine Grove Furnace State Park - Half gallon ice cream challenge - Mile #1,105
-  Doyle Hotel - Duncannon, PA - Mile #1,149
- The Pinnacle overlook - Mile #1,229

8). New Jersey
-  72 total miles (Miles 1,295 - 1,367)
-  Highest Point - 1,653ft. Low Point - 350ft
-  Sunfish Pond - Mile #1,301

9). New York
-  91 total miles (Miles 1,367 - 1,458)
-  Highest Point - 1,433ft. Low Point - 124ft
-  Bear Mountain - Lowest Point on AT (Mile #1,405)

10). Connecticut
-  50 total miles (Miles 1,458 - 1,508)
-  Highest Point - 2,316ft. Low Point - 260ft
-  Bulls Bridge rope swing - Mile #1,461

11). Massachusetts
-  90 total miles (Miles 1,508 - 1,598)
-  Highest Point - 3,491ft. Low Point - 650ft
-  Mt Everett - Mile #1,513
-  Upper Goose Pond Shelter - take canoes out - Mile #1,550
-  Mt Greylock - said to have inspired Herman Melville to write “Moby Dick” - Mile #1,588

12). Vermont
-  151 total miles (Miles 1,598 - 1,749)
-  Highest Point - 3,908ft. Low Point - 400ft
-  Stratton Mountain- Mile #1,639
-  Mt Bromley - gondola- Mile #1,655
-  Mt Killington - Mile #1,706

13). New Hampshire
-  161 total miles (Miles 1,749 - 1,910)
-  Highest Point - 6,288ft. Low Point - 400ft
-  Hanover (Dartmouth Univ) - Mile #1,749
-  Franconia Ridge - Mile #1,821
-  Mt Washington - Mile #1,859

14). Maine
-  282 total miles (Miles 1,910 - 2,192)
-  Highest Point - 5,268ft. Low Point - 490ft
-  Mahoosuc Notch - hardest mile on AT - Mile #1,917
-  Kennebec River - canoe crossing - 9am-2pm from July 1-Sept 30 - Mile #2,041
-  Monson, ME - AT Visitor Center - Mile #2,078
-  100-mile Wilderness (Miles 2,077 thru 2,177)
-  Baxter State Park - must obtain hiking permit in person to climb Mt Katahdin
-  Mt Katahdin- end of AT - Mile #2,192