hot to trot hiking
Hiking is one thing that still feels “normal” these days. Trail usage across the US has increased 200 percent as people continue to seek respite in nature, according to the American Hiking Society. Even if you’re new to hiking, you don’t have to be an expert to traverse the trails.
MAP FACTS
Boiling Springs, PA is situated right at the halfway point on the famous Appalachian Trail which spans 2,193 miles up and down the East Coast of the US from Georgia to Maine. The trail was created in 1937 and has approximately 242,000 volunteers that maintain it to this day. AT Hikers reach the iconic halfway point destination at Pine Grove Furnace State Park where the Appalachian Trail Museum is located. It’s also home to the “half gallon challenge” where many thru-hikers try to eat that amount of ice cream from the camp store across the street.
DID YOU KNOW?
The AT is the longest hiking-only footpath in the world! New to hiking? Not to worry. Some of the smoothest terrain on the entire Appalachian Trail is found in the Cumberland Valley section of the trail, despite Pennsylvania’s nickname, “Rocksylvania,” for its rocky ridges north of the Susquehanna River.
IF YOU GO...
Keep in mind parts of the AT pass through game lands managed for hunting, so avoid those areas during fall. It’s always a safe bet to wear a fluorescent orange hat or material on chest and back. Tight socks that go up past your ankles as well as a head check after each hike are a good idea to protect against ticks that carry Lyme Disease.