National Scenic Trails - Appalachian Trail - Resources

Appalachian Trail Conference Headquarters
P.O. Box 807
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-6331
email: info@atconf.org

The ATC's headquarters in Harpers Ferry, West Virginiar is near the Trail's halfway point. From headquarters, the ATC coordinates maintenance of the Trail through affiliated clubs and ATC field offices. At headquarters you can get Trail and ATC membership information and purchase guidebooks, maps, and other publications about the Trail and its uses. Ask about volunteering, too.

AT thru-hikers stop at ATC headquarters in Harpers Ferry, W. Va., to write in the AT log book. Most thruhikers have sought advice from here before they took the first of the 5 million steps between Georgia's Springer Mountain and Maine 's Katahdin. They hope to be back in touch before long to tell ATC they have completed the entire Trail—and that they now qualify as 2,000-milers.

Adventurous Traveler Bookstore - Online catalog of over 4,000 books and maps for outdoor adventure in the USA and around the world. Includes excellent selection of hiking, biking, fishing, climbing, skiing, plus other outdoor activities. Also extensive selection of maps, narratives and more.

Permits— You do not need a permit to walk the AT. However. overnight camping permits are necessary in Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains national parks and parts of the White Mountain National Forest. For permit and camping regulations contact the respective parks and forests.

AT Volunteers— Describing the pivotal role of volunteers, former ATC Chairman Myron H. Avery wrote that the Trail might well have been called"the Anonymous Trail." Volunteers, he wrote, have asked for no return nor recognition nor reward. They have contributed to the project simply by reason of the pleasure found in trail-making and in the realization that they were, perhaps, creating something which would be a distinct contribution to the American recreational system and the training of the American people."

Today's volunteers monitor and maintain the Trail and its shelters and help with day-to-day operations at headquarters. Most volunteers are associated with one of the ATC-member organizations—hiking, mountain, and outdoor clubs—that have been assigned responsibility for specific sections of the Trail. For information about volunteering on the Trail, write or call Appalachian Trail Conference, at the address above.

Trail Ethics— Treat the land the Trail crosses and its neighbors with respect and care. Keep to the Trail's defined footway: shortcuts cause erosion, damage endangered plants, confuse other hikers, and may violate property rights. Use log walkways, steps, rock treadway, and other protective trail construction. Do not walk-or camp-on balds or fragile tundra vegetation in areas above treeline. Ask for information and water from homes along the Trail only when they are really needed. Respect the privacy of Trail neighbors: some get more hiker-visitors than they enjoy.

Travel in groups of 10 or fewer if backpacking; 25 or fewer on day trips. Dispose of human waste at least 50 feet from the Trail and 200 feet from water. Dig a shallow hole and cover it afterwards. Do not wash in lakes or streams. Use a camping stove instead of building fires. Leave your campsite cleaner than you found it. By leaving little or no trace of your presence, you help preserve the Trail for future enjoyment. And remember: millions of hours have been donated by volunteers to build and maintain the Trail, most at their own expense.

Thru-hiking Papers - Moving essays by Jim Owen/Bald Eagle on the thru-hiking experience. A hard dose of reality along with spirited musings.