A.T. Footpath

The Trail is the heart of the community and the volunteers are the soul. This past weekend I had the honor of meeting people who embody what being the soul of the A.T. entails.

We boomers are aging whether or not we like to admit it, and older hikers face special challenges from which youth, or our lack thereof, no longer protects us.

Trees have put on their buds at lower elevations in the Southern Appalachians, and, just as hopeful, many hikers are setting out on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) with their compasses set northward.

I turned 22 during my thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). After charging past an army of day-hikers struggling up Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire, I reunited with “Lazy Mike,” “Renegade,” and “Papa Squat” on the summit and celebrated by polishing off a fifth of Jack Daniels.

The ATC's summer public relations intern, Aaron Weitzner, chatted with other current and former interns about their experience with the organization. Here's a snapshot of their conversation!

A walking classroom is the setting of a Leave No Trace Trainer course, designed to immerse participants in the teachable moments found along the world’s most famous long-distance Trail.

Let’s face it, we could all benefit from taking a hard look at how we behave on the Appalachian Trail.

What is it that makes an awards Gala truly valuable for a nonprofit organization like the ATC?