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The ATC defines thru-hikers as those who complete all 2,193 miles of the Appalachian Trail within one calendar year.
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Hikers can go northbound or southbound on the AT. The first thru-hiker went northbound, a route now popular with most hikers.
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The AT is one of the best-marked trails globally, with white blazes carefully stenciled to be identical in size and shape.
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The Appalachian Trail is often called a "community in the wilderness" with its own traditions, leaders, heroes, and renegades.
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Strengthening aerobic fitness and leg muscles before hiking is crucial, especially if you lack endurance sports experience.
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Temperatures on the AT vary from 20°F to nearly 100°F. Layering clothing is essential to handle rain, snow, and high humidity.
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The AT has over 250 backcountry shelters, spaced 5–15 miles apart, accommodating 5–20 people in primitive three-sided huts.
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AT thru-hikers need around 4,000 calories daily and carry 3–7 days’ worth of food to balance shopping time and pack weight.
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Hiking with a partner is safer. Solo hikers can join a "tramily"—a trail family that camps and hikes at a similar pace.
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The ATC's website promotes Leave No Trace principles, including packing out waste and properly disposing of all trash.
Image: Wikimedia