Frances Ann Williams, age 15, of Haggerstown, Md., for her question:
HOW LONG IS THE APPALACHIAN HIKING TRAIL?
A footpath that extends all the way from Mt. Katahdin in Maine to Springer Mountain in Georgia is officially called the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. It stretches a total of 1,995 miles. One official source says the trail has been recently lengthened and now extends for 2,118 miles.
Its a very long hiking trail.
The famous trail goes through 14 states, two national parks and eight national forests. It follows the crest of the White and Green Mountains and the Berkshires of New England, the Blue Ridge Mountains from Pennsylvania to North Carolina and the Unakas and Great Smokies of North Carolina.
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail became a part of the National Park System 21 years ago, in 1968.
Each year thousands of hikers enjoy the scenic beauties on various parts of this naturalists' wonderland. A small number of truly intrepid hikers set out each spring to walk the entire distance. Approximately 50 extremely hardy souls each year complete the 2,000 mile journey.
Some people allow themselves five months for the entire trail. This means you would have to be on the trail every day and that each day you would have to walk about 15 miles, rain or shine.
To complete this schedule also means that you would have to be on the trail from sunrise to sunset every single day.
All of the trail guidebooks are written in a north to south sequence but most of those who plan the entire journey reverse this order.
Serious Appalachian Trail hikers usually start at the southern end of the trail in April or May. Some even start as early as March. Plans have to be made to finish the route before the fall freeze up in Maine, which usually arrives in October.
Expert hikers carry a pack that weighs about 45 pounds. It has to include several changes of clothes, thermal underwear, sleeping bag, a tent with mosquito netting, a gasoline stove with a pot and frying pan and also a starting supply of food.
Serious hikers on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail arrange ahead of time for mail pickups at rural post offices. They also arrange shipments of additional clothing and freeze dried food.
Experts can find some of the food they need as they hike along the trail. Wild strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries grow in the area. But most of the food must be carried: powdered eggs, instant cereal, raisins, dried fruit, candy bars, high protein crackers and cheese.
The high point for most of the hikers is reaching the headquarters of the Appalachian Trail Conference in Harper's Ferry, W.Va. It is regarded as the spiritual halfway point of the trail, although the geographical mid point is a bit farther north.
The Appalachian Trail Conference is an organization of 63 hiking clubs that maintain the trail. Each year some of the private rights of way for the trail are withdrawn and detours have to be established. Because of this, the trail gets a bit longer each year.