The only illustrated book officially published with the Appalachian
Trail Conservancy, The Appalachian Trail explores this legendary
footpath in detail: with a foreword by Bill Bryson and filled with more
than 300 spectacular contemporary images, as well as unpublished
historical photos, documents, and maps from the ATC archives. Once
inspired by this wonderful celebration of the A.T., readers can plan
their own hike using the removable and full-size copy of the official
National Park Service's map of the entire Appalachian Trail included
inside each book.
In celebration of the Appalachian Trail's seventy-fifth anniversary,
this official book documents in text and photos the history, beauty, and
significance of America's most iconic hiking trail. With fascinating
essays on topics ranging from the trail's history to the day-by-day
hiking experience, this book is perfect for anyone interested in
conservation, outdoor recreation, or American history, and for all those
who dream of one day becoming thru-hikers themselves. Completed in 1937
by a small cadre of volunteers, the Appalachian Trail spans fourteen
states, from Maine to Georgia, and is more than 2,000 miles long. Now,
seventy-five years after its completion, the A.T. remains America's
premier hiking trail and is known as the people's path. Visitors from
all over the world are drawn to the trail for a variety of reasons,
whether to reconnect with nature and see its beauty and wildlife, or to
challenge oneself--for two miles or 2,000. Out of three million annual
visitors, almost 2,000 attempt each year to earn the distinction of
thru-hiker by walking all five million footsteps in one continuous
journey.
