Iconic Appalachian Trail Not Just Built For Thru-hikers

By John A. Heatherly

The view is beautiful, all times of the year, and worth the effort. Fall is especially aesthetic as the leaves are changing colors. Think I need to schedule another trip to the Smokies…

KnoxNews has the story…

With “A Walk in the Woods,” the movie in theaters now about the Appalachian Trail, some people in this region may find themselves wondering about that part of the trail in the Smokies. It is, after all, one of the parts of the trail on which author Bill Bryson and his pal Katz hiked, although for them it was a rainy miserable experience. They stopped at Clingmans Dome rather than walk the entire Smokies portion of the trail. However, weather varies and it doesn’t have to be that way for you.

The entirety of the AT in the Smokies goes from Fontana Dam in the south to Davenport Gap in the northeast. While it’s just a small section of the full Georgia-to-Maine trail, the part of the trail in the Great Smoky Mountains is 71 miles long. According to the website Hiking thesmokies.com, it usually takes about a week to complete. Backpackers need to get reservations and permits from the park …read more

Source:: Patriot Outdoor News