Ecology
Thoughts on the
Appalachian Trail
Nate Shank
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve Naturalist
(4/2019) At almost 2,200 miles, the
Appalachian National Scenic Trail stretches from Maine to
Georgia. The trail meanders through fourteen states,
including Maryland and Pennsylvania. The Appalachian
Mountain range is one of the most diverse natural areas in
the United States. The forests, temperatures, plants,
lakes, animals, and people you meet along the trail vary
drastically. Whether you want to thru-hike, hike the trail
in sections, day hike, or become a weekend warrior, I
recommend at least going into the wilderness and breathing
in the fresh air to experience a land untouched by the
hands of man.
In the southern Appalachians, you
have rolling mountains and balds. It is still a mystery as
to why these balds exist. In the mid-Appalachians, hikers
often encounter wild ponies, rattlesnakes and bear. In the
north, mountains rise above the tree line, winds blow you
off your feet, and weather shifts from sunny and clear to
cloudy and rainy in mere minutes.
The elevation gain and loss while
hiking the Appalachian Trail is equivalent to climbing Mt.
Everest sixteen times. The highest elevation on the trail
is down south on Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park at 6,625 feet. The lowest
elevation, at just 124 feet, is in New York near the
Trailside Museum and Zoo at Bear Mountain. The most
notable of these peaks is Mt. Katahdin in Maine, where
most people finish their thru-hike. The view at this
northern terminus displays the expanse of lakes and small
conifers that envelope the wilderness ahead for those
going south.
When I was hiking the trail, I
found myself continually amazed by the expansive majesty
and grandeur of God's creation. At times, the scenic
vistas may seem few and far between, but it all depends on
your perspective. When you see the beauty of creation in
every living thing, you begin to see the true beauty right
in front of you.
In Maine, birch and small conifers
surround the trail where the trees and deer do not grow
very large due to the shorter growing season. Further
south, into New Hampshire and Vermont, you will see maple
groves where the trees are tapped for syrup and lines
connect for miles through the woods. In the Mid-Atlantic
States, you will find some of the largest oaks in the
entire country.
Pennsylvania might be known for
its rocks, but native forests can be exciting, too! For
example, the pitch pine will grow along the rocky ridges
proving how resilient trees can be when faced with what
seems to be impossible. As you go south, you will see
trees like the pawpaw that has a fruit similar in shape to
a pear. All the while, as you hike the Appalachian Trail,
you will find that it is truly a green tunnel from Maine
to Georgia.
What I discovered on my journey is
the extreme importance in planning ahead. While many
people utilize the trail for day hikes, to thru-hike means
to walk the entire length in a single year. Thru-hikers
average 165 days to complete their trek on the trail. In
2012, my journey took 110 days, which totals just over
twenty miles a day. The fastest thru-hike ever was
completed in just 41 days. To accomplish this kind of
feat, one must hike about 50 miles a day. I walked 36
miles on my longest day, from Roan Mountain to Erwin in
Tennessee.
The most common direction for
people to hike the trail is northbound. Those who decide
to travel from Georgia to Maine are called "northbounders"
or "NOBOs". One of the main reasons people hike northbound
is because you can get an early start in the year and walk
with spring. Many hikers will start in March to hike north
with the hope of finishing by September before the winter
snow.
A less common way to hike is
southbound, or "SOBO", from Maine to Georgia. It is
important to note that the northern terminus on Mt.
Katahdin can be very dangerous to climb even in the
summer. Due to the hazardous conditions, it is closed from
October to May every year. Because SOBO is less common, I
decided it was the way I wanted to hike the trail myself.
There are over 260 three-walled
shelters along the Appalachian Trail for hikers to camp.
Over the years, these shelters have seen more and more
use. During peak season, the impact from hikers on plants
and wildlife can be devastating. It is important to stay
in designated camp sites and on durable surfaces like the
shelters and tent pads established along the trail.
Furthermore, many people do not realize the importance of
hiking on durable surfaces, which lowers human impact on
the surrounding flora. Of course, this can be challenging
for hikers facing Vermont black mud or Pennsylvania rocks,
but should be practiced where possible.
Due to its rocky terrain,
Pennsylvania is known as the state where shoes go to die.
Most thru-hikers will go through roughly four or five
pairs of shoes. The shoes I began with in Maine were
leather dress shoes on top and rubber hikers on the
bottom. I made them last longer than they should have and
received the nickname "Dress Shoes" while on the trail.
One shelter that I remember very
well was near Mount Greylock in Massachusetts. Before I
went to sleep that night, I decided to hang my backpack
(packed with my food) above my feet inside the shelter.
After I had fallen to sleep, I woke to some rustling in
the shelter. Thinking that I was going to be greeted by
another hiker, I looked up to say hi. Before I said a
word, I noticed my pack swinging above me.
When I sat up, I realized that my
trash bag had been torn off of my pack, the trash thrown
onto my feet and on the ground outside of the shelter.
When I took a closer look, I noticed the silhouette of
something large and foreboding with glaring eyes looking
back at me. A bear had reached over me, trying to take my
backpack. I decided to place my entire pack in the iron
bear-proof box that was not far from the shelter.
On the way to this box, I heard
the bear lurking beside me, but just out of my view. At
this point, I decided to yell. That did nothing. So then,
I began hitting things around me. That still did nothing.
I then tried to growl at the bear. To my surprise, the
bear growled back! At this point, all I could do was throw
my pack in the iron box and get back to the shelter. After
returning to safety, I could hear the bear trying to get
into the box, which was fine as long as it was not
bothering me. The most amazing thing happened; I was able
to sleep soundly despite having a ravenous beast stalk me.
I will say, hiking solo truly
allows you to connect with nature in a different way. When
I was in the Shenandoah National Park, I experienced one
of the best star shows of my life. While lying under the
trees in my sleeping bag, I counted nine shooting stars
before falling to sleep. Nothing quite compares to the
experiences I had while hiking the Appalachian Trail. The
experience is one that I would recommend to anyone looking
to become closer to nature.
Nate Shank is
the Appalachian Trail Museum Manager at Strawberry
Hill.
Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve
and Environmental Center is a non-profit environmental
education and conservation organization located in the
foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of south-central
Pennsylvania in Fairfield, Pennsylvania. To learn more
about all they offer, we encourage you to visit them at
1537 Mt Hope Rd, Fairfield, PA 17320, or visit them
on-line at
www.strawberryhill.org
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