Would you like to hike from Maine to Georgia through the beautiful and historic Appalachian Highlands? This would be a long walk, but it is possible over mountain trails most of the way. The trail begins at Mt. Katahdin, Maine, and ends at Mt. Oglethorpe in Georgia, and if you did hike the entire distance you would walk no less than 2,048 miles and would pass through the following states: Maine,

The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail extends from Maine to Georgia.

New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.

This unusual trail is almost entirely the result of efforts made by people who were interested in hiking. These people have formed hiking clubs in the various states along the route of the trail, which they now use for their hiking trips.*

See page 633 for a list of hiking clubs.

Laying out the trail and marking it properly was a tremendous task, taking several years and the work of hundreds of persons who received no pay for their labors other than the joy of knowing that they were building something worth while. For the most part, the trail runs through forests owned by the Federal government or the various state governments. Many miles, however, pass through privately owned land with the consent of the owners.

The trail is marked, as it winds through the woods and over the hills, with four-inch diamond-shaped galvanized markers or with square copper markers bearing the trail emblem shown in the illustration. These metal markers are supplemented by blazes painted on trees and rocks close enough together so that a hiker unfamiliar with the trail can follow it quite easily.

All hikers are welcome to use this trail provided they observe the common courtesies of experienced campers. Obviously it would not be wise to encourage use of the trail by hikers who destroy trail signs, mutilate trees, leave fires burning, and scatter refuse about. They would not enjoy it and would also spoil the fun of others.

This trail is especially convenient for persons who live in the large cities along the eastern seaboard. It is used by thousands of hikers during the year. Automobile roads cross the trail frequently, making it easy for people who live some distance from the trail to get to a starting point.

Distinctive Markers Dot The Appalachian Trail

Distinctive markers dot the Appalachian Trail.

The Pacific Crest Trail

Through the states of Washington, Oregon, and California, on the west coast of America, reaching from Canada on the north to Mexico on the south there runs a beautiful hiking trail known as the Pacific Crest Trail. This hiking trail is about 2,300 miles long and follows closely the mountain summits and divides of the mountain ranges along the coast. The trail is located almost entirely in national parks and forests. As it winds southward from the northern boundary of the country, it passes through the following national parks: Mt. Rainier in Washington; Crater Lake in Oregon; Lassen, Yo-semite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia in California.

The natural beauty along this trail is not to be excelled anywhere in the world. The hiker walks at an average height of 5,000 feet through the towering evergreen forests and in the shadow of twenty-four famous mountains. Twenty-two named lakes and countless others that have never been named shimmer in the sunlight at frequent intervals. Fishing is excellent in many sections of the trail, and hunting with the camera is always in order.

Walk From Canada To Mexico On The Pacific Crest Trail

You may walk from Canada to Mexico on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Main automobile roads cut across this trail at intervals of about 100 miles, making it rather easy to get transportation to various sections of the trail. Easy transportation is important for the young hiker who needs to practice at hiking before starting on any long and difficult journey. Most of the Pacific Crest Trail runs through wild country, far from civilized settlements. Only the most experienced hikers who can use a compass and take care of themselves under all circumstances should attempt an extensive trip on this trail. Short trips, however, are the best way in the world to train for the more difficult ones.

Trails Of The Future

The splendid work that has been accomplished by those who have developed the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail shows what interested citizens can do. Perhaps you can help do the same thing in your own county or state. Great accomplishments start from such small beginnings. Talk to your friends about the possibility of such trails in your own neighborhood, and lay out a system of possible trails on a map of your state.

Some Interesting Things To Do

1. Think back to a very enjoyable ramble you have had and list as many things as you can that you would have missed had you been riding in a car instead of walking.

2. Find out how far it is to the nearest state park; the nearest national park. How much would it cost to reach each of these in case you wanted to take a hike?

3. Find out where the nearest place is to which you could go and pitch a tent, build a fire, and sleep overnight.

4. Make a map of the hiking trips you could take to places of interest in your own county; in your own state.

5. Talk to some old-timer in your community who knows about old trails, roads, and landmarks. Plan a hike to one of these places.

6. On a map of your county outline any old Indian trails, logging roads, or places of interest about which you know or can find out.

7. Study the maps on pages 38 and 40 to see if either the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail passes through your state. If so, find out how many miles it is to the trail from your home.

8. On a map of your state outline a system of hiking trails that might be developed. How would you go about making arrangements for and building such a system of trails?

9. Find out how much money is spent in your state each year to maintain state parks. Compute how much this is per capita for the people living in your state. If possible, find out also how many people used the state parks during the past year.

10. Write to the Department of Conservation in your state and ask for a map of the forests and state parks.

11. Write to the National Park Service of the U. S. Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C, for folders describing the national parks near your city. (See page 629 for a list of hiking facilities in national parks.)

12. Make a collection of postcards and other pictures of all the national parks. Mount them for an exhibit or in your scrapbook. Your traveling friends will help.

13. Find out the acreage your state has in national forest reserve; in national parks; in state forests.

14. List in two columns the advantages of hiking in the Rockies and in the Appalachian Mountains.

Helpful References

Adirondack Mountain Club, Guide to Adirondack Trails. (75 c) Appalachian Trail Conference, The Appalachian Trail. (Publication No. 5. 25 c) Chase, J., California Coast Trails. Chase, J., Yosemite Trails. Chittendon, H. M., The Yellowstone National Park. Irving, R. L. G., The Romance of Mountaineering.

James, G. W., In and Around the Grand Canyon.

Jessup, E. H., A Manual of Walking. Kephart, H., Our Southern Highlanders.

(Carolina Mts.) Laut, A. C, Enchanted Trails of Glacier Park.

Longstreth, T. M., The Catskills. Longstreth, T. M., The Adirondacks. McClintock, W., The Old North Trail. (Montana)

Morley, M. W., The Carolina Mountains.

Morton, G. F., Hiking and Tramping. Muir, John, Our National Parks. Muir, John, Steep Trails. (Arizona) Muir, John, My First Summer in the Sierra.

Muir, John, The Mountains of California. Pacific Crest Trail System Conference, pamphlets: Map of Pacific Crest Trail System. (15 c)

The Explorers' Project. (100)

The Pacific Crest Trail. (200) The Pacific Crest Trail System. (150) Natural History oj the Pacific Crest Trail. (500)

Peattie, D. C, This Is Living.

Seton, E. T., Library of Pioneering and Woodcraft.

Sharp, D. L., Where Rolls the Oregon.

Torrey, B., Florida Sketch-Book.

Torrey, B., A World oj Green Hills. (Blue Ridge)

Torrey, Place, Dickinson, New York Walk Book.