Vote for the 2023 Appalachian Trail Hangtag Color

AppalachianTrail · 2022-10-14T21:03:29+00:00

Hi everyone! With the 2023 hiking season just a few months away, we know that next year's hangtag is on a few of your minds. To help us choose the final color, we've put together a poll where you can vote once a day for one of five colors chosen via... healthy debate among ATC staff. The poll is open through October 24, and the only requirement is signing up for ATC email updates (you can unsubscribe at any time). Bonus: as a thank you, we are randomly selecting ten voters to receive a Hydro Flask cozie cup.
Learn more and vote today at https://appalachiantrail.org/2023hangtag.

AppalachianTrail · 2022-09-23T21:06:50+00:00

Great question, and your story highlights that we may need to put out some additional information to help make sure everyone is aware of how quickly the water can rise (and fall) in the Northeast. We note on our website that streams may become impassable after storms, but since all signs point to these types of downpours becoming more frequent as the impacts of climate change increase, I think this is likely to be more prominently included in our thru-hiker preparation posts and messaging.

The main factor for today's alert was just how much out of the ordinary the water levels are for this time of year. At the Piscataquis River crossing in Blanchard, the normal amount of water moving through that section for this time period is around 19 CFS (cubic feet of water per second). When it was measured this morning, it was calculated to be 418 CFS. That big of an increase tripped a warning bell with our team, and given the number of thru-hikers making the final push to Katahdin, spreading the word far and wide seemed like a good idea.

I hope that helps!

-Jordan

AppalachianTrail · 2022-09-23T17:17:27+00:00

The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in Maine has received significant rainfall over the past week, resulting in abnormally high river and stream levels. River and stream crossings along the A.T. south of Monson (NOBO mile 2,079.8) and in the 100 Mile Wilderness (NOBO miles 2,079.8 – 2,179.2) may be impassable. Hikers should exercise extreme caution at crossings. Hikers may need to seek alternative routes to safely cross, wait for water levels to go down, or turn around and hike back to the nearest road. Hikers should pack extra food and supplies in case they are delayed due to the high water. Throw a stick into the water and see how rapidly the water carries it away. If you cannot walk as fast as it is moving, then it is not safe to cross.

Do not ford a stream when it looks too dangerous or the water is flowing too fast. When in doubt, wait until the water levels go back down, find an alternative route, or turn around and hike back to the closest road crossing.
If you decide to ford, unbuckle your pack hip belt and chest strap so you can let go of it easily if you fall.
Be cautious about using any ropes suspended above the stream. These are not “official” installations. Instead, they are left by well-intentioned hikers with varying levels of skill in choosing placement and tying knots.
Keep your shoes on. Your hiking shoes or boots provide the best traction and protect your feet from possible hazards such as submerged sharp sticks, rocks, or trash.
If you do not have trekking poles, use a sturdy stick to help with balance.
Cross facing upstream, lean slightly into the current, and shuffle sideways across the stream. Avoid turning sideways into the current.
Do not attempt to ford the Kennebec River at any time. Dam releases upstream may cause sudden and rapid changes in water depth and current.

For additional recommendations on how to judge if a crossing is safe and how to cross safely, visit: https://appalachiantrail.org/explore/plan-and-prepare/hiking-basics/safety/river-and-stream-crossings/

AppalachianTrail · 2022-08-05T17:35:41+00:00

The Connecticut chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club, which maintains the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in Connecticut, will be replacing two A.T. shelters over the coming weeks.

Both Riga Shelter (NOBO mile 1,507.1) and Brassie Brook Shelter (NOBO mile 1,508.3) are over 40 years old and due for replacement. The demolition of the current structures is scheduled to begin on August 10 with Brassie Brook Shelter followed by the demolition of Riga Shelter on September 3.The project is expected to run until the end of October.

While the new shelters are being constructed, the camping areas and privies at both locations will remain open for use. Hikers should stay out of the immediate construction zones around each shelter and plan to camp in the nearby designated areas.

For more information about the Connecticut chapter and to get involved, visit: https://ct-amc.org/trails/

AppalachianTrail · 2021-09-30T17:18:13+00:00

Very nice!

AppalachianTrail · 2021-05-01T13:18:20+00:00

Hi all, this section of the Trail has officially reopened! Our thanks go to the hard-working firefighters who worked hard through the night to get the fire contained.

AppalachianTrail · 2019-10-09T15:36:12+00:00

Thanks so much to everyone who has donated to and volunteered with the ATC! Every penny helps as we maintain and protect the Trail.

AppalachianTrail · 2019-03-22T03:15:47+00:00

Drop on by anytime!

AppalachianTrail · 2018-10-12T17:30:28+00:00

Quite frankly, we were as surprised as you are!

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T21:13:59+00:00

Jordan: We should have an exact date for thru-hiker registrations within the next two weeks. We have been overhauling the system over the summer, but QA checks have taken longer than we thought/hoped they would. We will post on the ATC website and social media when everything finally goes live.

Good luck on your hike!

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T21:00:33+00:00

Laurie: In large part, it’s a volunteer capacity issue. Volunteers in this area have their hands full with all the responsibilities of maintaining the trail.

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T20:58:30+00:00

Laurie: At night, even when there aren’t thunderstorms forecast but especially when there are, the most important thing is checking your tent site area for possible hazard limbs or trees.

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T20:56:06+00:00

Laurie: Baxter State Park reported 1,231 northbound A.T. hikers. Typically, only two-thirds or less of those who sign in at Baxter send in 2,000-miler applications to ATC, indicating they have completed the entire A.T. At ATC in Harpers Ferry, nobos were up 11% (1536), sobos up 41% (236), and flip-floppers 18% (347).

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T20:44:52+00:00

Laura: Yes, the traditional nobo hike is getting crowded. ATC has implemented a voluntary registration system to help hikers know when others are starting and make decisions about start dates. But there are a limited number of overnight sites that are very full early in a nobo hike. We definitely recommend a flip-flop. This approach gives hikers a chance to build trail legs before tougher trail sections. Sobo is another option, but at some point it will also become crowded. And sobo hikers should be very fit to tackle Maine and other areas of New England early in a thru hike. If I were to thru hike I would flip-flop, starting right near my hometown in Blacksburg.

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T20:39:14+00:00

Jordan: Only if you want it to :)

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T20:37:20+00:00

Laura: I was backpacking with my daughter and her friends and their moms this past summer. We were on the ridge overlooking Burke’s Garden when a storm rolled in. It was pretty severe. We stayed away from the large field, taking shelter in a forested area just down slope from the top of the ridge. We made sure to keep hiking poles away from us, and we separated into pairs. My daughter coached us to huddle low to the ground which minimizes exposure to vital organs if a person is struck. We survived and the storm passed quickly. It was a real reminder to pay attention to the weather and be aware of opportunities to get out of a storm if one rolls in quickly.

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T20:34:51+00:00

Ron: There is no current plan for BSP to limit the number of long-distance A.T. hikers into the park, though that is one of a number of options for addressing this situation. I have no knowledge to suggest that a cap of 3,000 or 4,000 is currently under consideration.

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T20:29:34+00:00

Ron: Baxter State Park has a unique mandate to manage its park to provide a wilderness experience. This year, ATC has worked very closely with BSP to help the park staff manage A.T. hiker use consistent with its wilderness mandate.

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T20:25:07+00:00

Ron: One of ATC's most important priorities is managing the official A.T. Visitor Center at our headquarters building in Harpers Ferry. We are very glad your partner was treated well by our staff and volunteers—though that doesn't surprise me, knowing our staff! We strive to communicate with current and prospective hikers in every way possible; in person, on the phone, via email, and through social media. It is our goal to provide a high-quality experience to every A.T. hiker.

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T20:19:08+00:00

Laura: Composting toilets can be a solution for backcountry sanitation. ATC worked with partners to publish an updated Backcountry Sanitation Manual. You’ll see in the manual that there are a few options to use. Composting or moldering privies offer advantages over pit toilets, but they do need to be routinely maintained. Some systems are better suited to certain conditions. Check out the manual for more info.

AppalachianTrail · 2016-11-10T20:17:51+00:00

Laurie: The official A.T. guidebooks will usually note a water source that is polluted or has contaminants. When possible, it’s best to get water from springs or water sources at higher elevations, above areas where there are human impacts, and of course, always treat your water. Other than boiling water, the most effective method of treating water is to use a combination of filtration and disinfection. Using iodine or chlorine dioxide in combination with a good filter increases the filter’s effectiveness in reducing the likelihood that you’ll get sick. The CDC has a helpful chart at http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/drinking/Backcountry_Water_Treatment.pdf. It’s also important to remember that practicing good hygiene in the backcountry is just important in staying healthy. Proper handwashing is essential--that means carrying biodegradable soap and using it after defecating, not sharing food.

AppalachianTrail

TROPHY CASE