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So, this is my third thru-hike of the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail. I'm currently more than 500 miles from the end but, with massive quantities of both help and luck, I just might make it to Katahdin. My previous thru's were '11 and '15. I've noticed some big changes in the AT thru-hiking experience. Here are the top 5:
1. More dogs on the trail. Dozens of people attempting to thru-hike this trail with a dog. Certainly, it can be done - people have written books about it and, I'm told, there is more information available about 'how to hike the AT with a dog' than ever before. Alas dogs, like people, struggle out here; I've seen only a couple dogs make it this far north.
2. Poor Trail Etiquette. You're gonna have to consider the source here: A grumpy old man who thinks he's the only one who knows right from wrong on the whole trail. With that in mind... Doesn't anyone yield right-of-way to the hiker going up hill anymore? And since when is it okay to go to bed with a fire still smoldering? Hikers blowing up their packs in the middle of the trail... Blue tooth speakers blaring...I'm just saying that there has definitely been a change for the worse in the behavior of hikers.
3. More Hiker Services. More hostels, more shuttle services, more everything! And I'm glad for it. It gives hikers more options and if people can make money providing these services, then good for them. Of course, hikers need to be fair and always discuss prices for services up front. Read the 'Comments' section of the Guthook's Guide app for reviews of services. Speaking of Guthook's...
4. The Power of Guthook's! Guthook's Maps (by Atlas Guides) is THE go-to app for navigation and information. They probably have 90% of the market on this trail. Every hiker, hostel owner, shuttle driver... Even just friends and families of hikers... refers to Guthook's. It was unavailable in '11 and getting popular by my '15 hike. Now? It's essential. Full Disclosure: I'm friends with the people who started that company.
5. ATC Backlash. This year's class of thru-hikers seems to have a specific disdain for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) but they may be a self-selecting group: People who chose to thru-hike this year knew that they could not register their hike with the ATC because of Covid stuff. So they already don't hold the governing body in high regard. Add in the $20 million (in hushed money) the ATC accepted to let the Valley Mountain pipeline run across the trail and the fact that, compared to an organization like ALDHA (the American Long Distance Hiking Association), they just don't do that much for hikers.
Add to that, nonsense like the pic below. Edit: Trying to post this blog from my phone. It wouldn't let me put pics in line.
This was a water cache for hikers. The Trail Angels who put it there label the gallon jugs and clean up the trash. THEY are helping hikers. The ATC? Not so much.
'Also rans' for the Top 5 list: More slack packing, more repeat-offenders (those who have hiked the AT before), more Trail Magic, less camaraderie, more bears (I've seen seven so far) and more areas closed to camping because of nuisance bears, fewer hikers signing registers, more regulations...
TL/DR: Wolverine is broke, grumpy and apparently hates the ATC
Been on the trail lately? What have you seen? Please leave a comment below! Agree with me? Leave a comment! Disagree? Leave TWO comments!
Thank you for reading!
