While it's nice to hike with friends, too many friends can take away from the experience and impact resources. With that in mind, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is suggesting that thru-hikers register when they're going to start off on the A.T. from Springer Mountain this spring.
This registration system, available at www.appalachiantrail.org/thruhikeregistration, was designed to ease impacts from the increased number of hikers expected after the release of two hiking related films, Wild and A Walk in the Woods.
In recent years, the thru-hike experience on the 2,185-mile A.T. has at peak use times suffered severe overcrowding at the southern end of the trail. Crowding intensifies because hikers tend to start thru-hikes around specific dates, such as March 1, March 17, and especially April 1 and weekends. Overcrowding puts undue pressure on the finite number of shelters and campsites and on the water, plants, and wildlife near these accommodations. When too many people are crammed together at campsites, vegetation is trampled, trash may accumulate and unsanitary conditions can ensue. These issues that arise due to overcrowding are detrimental not only to the A.T. but also to the hiker's overall experience.
'With a large number of new hikers expected along the Appalachian Trail in 2015 and 2016, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy hopes that this new voluntary thru-hike registration system will allow hikers to know in advance when overcrowding along the Trail will exist, and then adjust a thru-hike start date to his or her advantage ' the solution is simple, the hikers need to spread out,' said Morgan Sommerville, the ATC's regional director.
Users of this voluntary registration system should keep in mind that it does not provide hikers with guaranteed spaces along the A.T. or serve as a substitute for any required permits. At this time, registration is only open for 2015. Registration for 2016 will be available on Dec. 1, 2015.
For more details on this program, check out this site.
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