The Appalachian Trail will change your life, but maybe no single mile of it will. Unlike its great western counterparts along the Pacific Crest or the Continental Divide, the United States鈥� most iconic footpath is subtle鈥攁 green tunnel through some of the oldest and most graceful mountains in the world, not some sizzle reel of endless panoramas. You can stand atop a 14er or a high Sierra pass and instantly feel altered; the AT takes time to shape you over miles, months, years.

While it鈥檚 hard to pick a birthday for the trail, which Benton MacKaye proposed in 1921 but wasn鈥檛 completed until 1937, you could reasonably say the founding of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) in 1925 was when the AT became what it is. While the ATC has had its fair share of controversy, no other individual or organization has ever done more to protect and promote the trail鈥檚 2,197.4 miles and the land around it. At a time when federal resources for public lands are in the air at best, the ATC continues its century-long mission to safeguard the trail, from volunteers they lead on crucial maintenance missions to their audacious .

In that spirit, two of us who have had our lives changed by the Appalachian Trail鈥�Backpacker writers and 鈥攈ave selected our 鈥渂est鈥� 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail. (Fine, it鈥檚 103.8, but more trail is better than less.) All these mileage markers represent a northbound hike and are subject to change, like the trail itself.

We debated these picks, arguing about their accessibility, their beauty, the way they loom large in our memory. Underneath it all, we were discussing the ways certain bits of land strung together by white blazes had changed us. Not everyone has the opportunity to thru-hike, but there鈥檚 a chance, that these 19 chunks of trail, from a 14-mile roller coaster in Virginia to the climb up Katahdin in Maine, can still change you, anyway.

Prologue: The Arch to The Stairs, Georgia

Though the Appalachian Trail officially begins on Springer Mountain before heading (at least at the moment) 2,197.4 miles to Maine, you should begin at , beneath a simple stone arch. This is the 8.5-mile Appalachian Trail Approach, infamous for being debated by thru-hikers for its value and the 600-plus stairs to the top of the falls, which are as entertaining and challenging as almost anything on the actual Appalachian Trail. Legend has it that would-be thru-hikers have jettisoned their entire kits while climbing those stairs, returning to the parents still waiting below. And you will stun a dozen tourists when they ask you where you鈥檙e going and you simply answer 鈥淢aine!鈥� The falls, it should be said, are beautiful; pose for a photo, and keep grunting up that hill. 鈥擥贬颁

Blood Mountain to Neel Gap, Georgia (3.2 Miles: 28.1-31.3)

Blood Mountain is one of the first landmarks for northbound AT hikers. It鈥檚 also the highest peak on the Georgia section, the sixth highest in the state. But it鈥檚 best known for another reason: ghosts. Some hikers point to the peak鈥檚 history as a battleground between the Cherokee and the Muscogee people as the origin of the stories. Others point to , who went missing in 2008 on the mountain, to explain its shelter鈥檚 eeriness. The trail log is often full of stories about strange occurrences from those who are brave enough to stay the night. 鈥拟叠厂

Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mountain to Beechnut Gap, North Carolina/Tennessee (2.8 Miles: 184鈥�186.8)

The 72-mile path that the AT takes through Great Smoky Mountains National Park could have commandeered nearly three-quarters of this list, but that would be a copout. Still, less than 200 miles into a northbound journey, the Smokies offer a quick study on how the trail will push you around (if you take four days to hike the Smokies, the adage goes, you will encounter four seasons) and how stunning the whole thing will be. I love the wide-open views from Rocky Top and Thunderhead, plus how quickly you exit and reenter tree line. (There are some century-old names carved into rocks along the trail, too, predating the park itself.) And I have a distinct memory of being battered by wind so much that these mountains, as low-slung and ancient as they are, reasserted their power. 鈥擥贬颁

Max Patch Road to Lemon Gap, North Carolina (6.2 Miles: 254.6鈥�260.8)

Before and after my first AT thru-hike, I lived in a cabin a few ridges over from Max Patch, one of those scattered through the South. They can be so idyllic you will feel like you鈥檙e in a beautiful dream. It was essentially my backyard, so I鈥檝e hiked to, on, and around the iconic spot maybe more than anywhere else. Still, I鈥檇 accept an invitation right now. A panopticon of Appalachian grace, it offers views of multiple states, distant ridgelines, and several river drainages. And the northbound descent down its gentle slopes and across multiple creeks into Lemon Gap exemplifies the woods of the region鈥攚ildflowers sprouting through the damp forest floor in spring, a look at the bones of some of the world鈥檚 oldest mountains with fall鈥檚 arrival. 鈥擥贬颁

Views of the Nolichucky River to Beauty Spot, Tennessee/North Carolina (11.7 Miles: 343.5鈥�355.2)

Talk to a veteran AT hiker, and chances are you鈥檒l get a strong opinion about the green tunnel, or the prevailing sense that you鈥檙e mostly navigating 2,200 miles of tree cover from Georgia to Maine. They鈥檒l say it鈥檚 boring or it鈥檚 beautiful. I say it鈥檚 both, and the moments when it breaks affirm that. As you head into Erwin, Tenn., the trees split onto postcard-worthy shots of the Nolichucky River鈥檚 gorge far below. And after you cross the river (post-Tropical Storm Helene, you鈥檒l do it ), you鈥檒l steadily ascend a series of gaps and ridges, views offered by powerline clearings and natural overlooks alike. Just shy of 4,500 feet, you鈥檒l reach Beauty Spot, a mountaintop meadow ringed by little trees, so picturesque you may be tempted to make it your permanent address. I first encountered Beauty Spot after getting off trail for a funeral; it was the sight that galvanized my northward quest. 鈥擥贬颁

Cloudland Hotel on Roan Mountain to Little Hump Mountain, Tennessee/North Carolina (9.3 Miles: 378.7鈥�388.0)

I have always struggled with the obvious question: What is your favorite part of the Appalachian Trail? No one ever accepts 鈥渁ll of it,鈥� so I soon launch into a list that feels just shy of 鈥渁ll of it.鈥� But if my life depended on recommending one stretch, this right here is the one: From the top of rhododendron-crowned Roan Mountain, where remnants of the grand remain, you drop into a seesaw of dips and dives, the rugged old trail carved across the faces of some of the oldest mountains in the world. You cross three balds in a little more than a mile, drop way down, and then climb Little Hump Mountain. (The section misses some charm now since the loss of the fabled , but it still goes.) I stupidly camped on its flanks once during a strong storm, and weathering that felt like preparation for future, bigger adventures. The next morning, the sky was all cotton candy, and I briefly wondered if I might have slipped off in my sleep toward heaven. 鈥擥贬颁

Dennis Cove Road to Laurel Fork Falls, Tennessee聽(1.2 Miles: 420.3-421.5)

Located in the just outside of Hampton, Tenn., a strenuous stretch of trail takes you to the 40-foot tall, 50-foot wide Laurel Fork Falls. While springtime air temperatures are often in the high 70s or low 80s, the falls are notoriously cold. That doesn鈥檛 stop hikers from going for a soak, even in early spring. My trail family and I packed out a few beverages from the Black Bear Resort and stuck them in the water during our ice baths. By the time we were done splashing, they were ready to sip. 鈥拟叠厂

Buzzard Rock to Mount Rogers, Virginia (7.3 Miles: 491.9-499.2)

By the time I made it to Buzzard Rock, I finally had my trail legs. The climb to the summit of Buzzard Rock is a little bit of a monster, but for the first time in nearly 500 miles, the strain barely phased me. What鈥檚 more, the whole section offered 360-degree views, made even more beautiful by springtime blossoms. The bald-style peaks in this region make for consistent views across the , a stretch of trail known for wild ponies grazing around Wilburn Ridge. 鈥拟叠厂

McAfee Knob to Tinker Cliffs, Virginia (5.6 Miles: 714.5鈥�720.1)

is the most photographed overlook along the Appalachian Trail鈥攁nd for good reason, since the view it offers feels so epic. But truthfully, I found nearby Tinker Cliffs to be equally stunning, minus the crowds. After McAfee Knob, the trail winds through trees and shrubs before climbing through some boulders to a cliffside that gives you access to several different overlook options. You can complete the Virginia 鈥淭riple Crown鈥� by adding the .听鈥拟叠厂

The Roller Coaster, Virginia (14.0 Miles: 996.4-1,010.4)

Reaching the 1,000-mile mark of a northbound thru-hike, which you do during this infamous stretch, is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster in itself, but these 14 miles are better known for their literal ups and downs. The elevation profile is so tedious and repetitive it鈥檚 almost comedic. I carried an avocado for a friend through this section, contemplating whether or not I should just eat it myself to save my knees from 7 ounces of extra weight. My spirit proved valiant despite more than 3,500 feet of gain. After failing to find my friend after three days, I sliced the avocado into fat chunks, placed it on a burger I bought, and ate it myself, anyway.听鈥拟叠厂

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (4.4 Miles: 1,025.4鈥�1,029.8)

The AT鈥檚 2,200 miles are chockablock with history, from the indigenous thoroughfares it overlaps to the battlefields it bypasses. But few places in the United States are crucibles of the country鈥檚 struggles and progress quite like . A gap in the ridge and the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers so close to D.C. essentially ensured important events, like the de facto start of the Civil War, would occur here. An idyllic town suspended in amber, Harpers Ferry is glorious on a spring day. Cross the Shenandoah by footbridge and then the Potomac (and into Maryland). Cruise the first few miles of the state on the C&O Canal Trail, surrounded by lush woods and families pushing strollers. The home of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (happy anniversary, and thanks!), Harpers Ferry offers a perfect break at what we call the AT鈥檚 鈥渆motional halfway point.鈥� 鈥擥贬颁

New Jersey-New York State Line (1.9 Miles: 1,369.7鈥�1,371.6)

A recovering van dweller, I was a state-line enthusiast long before I began thru-hiking, curious about how sometimes-arbitrary distinctions between this and that could impact people鈥檚 lives. Maybe the AT made a zealot out of me, crisscrossing as it does 14 states. My favorite crossing happens when, after dancing across the border multiple times, the northbound trail exits New Jersey (great AT state, by the way, for real) into New York. The distinction is painted blaze-white on a massive hunk of rock, part of a series of very brief scrambles (with occasional ladders for help) and open rock faces that offer expansive views of tree-lined ridges, deep blue lakes, and small towns. Few other bits of the AT are quite like it. Bonus: You鈥檙e very close to , some of the trail鈥檚 best ice cream. 鈥擥贬颁

Bear Mountain Recreation Area to Anthony鈥檚 Nose, New York (2.3 Miles: 1,408.2-1,410.5)

The stretch of Appalachian Trail that runs past New York City marks an odd juxtaposition between the trail鈥檚 quiet backcountry and civilization. I made it to just聽before Father鈥檚 Day on a balmy summer afternoon, noticing locals gathering for picnics near the lake. Upon reaching Bear鈥檚 summit, I spotted a rattlesnake, poised and ready to strike, just seconds before I peered across the New York skyline. Continuing north, I made my way past a small zoo before crossing the Hudson River on the Bear Mountain Bridge. By the time I reached Anthony鈥檚 Nose on the other side, my brain was still processing a rattlesnake, a skyline, a zoo, and a sprawling bridge in a matter of miles. 鈥拟叠厂

Route 9/Split Rock to Glastenbury Mountain, Vermont (10.4 Miles: 1,618.0鈥�1,628.4)

Vermont doesn鈥檛 get the Appalachian Trail love it deserves. If you鈥檙e headed north, you鈥檙e anticipating the big bosses at the end; if you鈥檙e headed south, you鈥檙e anticipating the four-state rush that begins with Massachusetts. But the 151-mile stretch through Vermont is memorable because of its seasonal mud, its rendezvous with the Long Trail, and its absolute wealth of rich forests, broad meadows, and dreamy ponds. Easily accessible from Bennington, this 10-mile span is an unexpected gem in the . You鈥檒l pass through a striking split rock, ford a stream, navigate slippery boardwalks through forest so green it feels like a sea of melted crayon, and slowly climb nearly 2,000 feet to a lookout tower where the woods blur into a horizon of endless ridges and sky. Get there at sunset, and you鈥檒l instantly understand that Vermont is possibly the AT鈥檚 most gently exquisite state. 鈥擥贬颁

Franconia Ridge to Mount Garfield, New Hampshire聽(7.0 Miles: 1,827.0鈥�1,834.0)

greeted me with 50-mile-per-hour winds, making it difficult to stand at my full height. Still, the views were worth it. The majority of this trail section is above treeline, making it high on exposure but easy on the eyes. As the day wore on, the wind died down just in time for me to make the steep climb up majestic Mount Garfield, studded with tiny trees like so many of its White Mountain kin.听鈥拟叠厂

Lost Pond to Carter Notch Hut, New Hampshire (5.2 Miles: 1,878.5鈥�1,883.7)

The White Mountains are not for the faint of heart, as the Wildcat Mountains taught me. This section of trail required rock scrambling, squeezing myself through small spaces, and crawling at a snail鈥檚 pace due to the relentless elevation gain. In fact, if this section were any steeper, it could be placed on the Yosemite Scale and given a rock-climbing grade. Some even call this the AT鈥檚 most challenging bit. One quality that makes the Whites so unique is its hut system. The Appalachian Mountain Club operates , a potential relief for hikers who are looking to get inside for a snack or stay. The Wildcat stretch includes the Carter Notch Hut鈥攓uiet, beautiful, and a great place for a cup of coffee before continuing on.听鈥拟叠厂

Mahoosuc Notch to Speck Pond Shelter, Maine (3.4 Miles: 1,922.0鈥�1,925.4)

For 2,000 miles of the AT, you will resent switchbacks and PUDS (that is, pointless ups-and-downs), all moves the trail makes to get you where you need to go without ruining the landscape. In Maine, where native son Stephen King must have convinced some poor trail builder that building switchbacks would haunt them, hikers face hard climbs. This wondrous little stretch starts with the Mahoosuc Notch, a mile-long jungle gym of enormous boulders that you will climb atop, under, and around. Finish that, and it鈥檚 time for the Mahoosuc Arm, a 1,600-foot climb on a little more than a mile of rock that鈥檚 so consistently wet it seems to be leaking grease. Finish that, and it鈥檚 time for your true reward: the glorious Speck Pond Shelter, one of the most stunning places to spend the night on the entire trip. 鈥擥贬颁

Pemadumcook Lake, Maine (2.7 Miles: 2,149.1鈥�2,151.8)

I will forever be grateful for the shores of Pemadumcook Lake, because that鈥檚 where, a few days into a trek of the , I inexplicably found a bag of unopened Pop-Tarts, my favorite trail food. I ate them all. But when I see photos of that moment, I am wowed again by how massive Mount Katahdin appears on the horizon, though it鈥檚 still 50 trail miles north. In its isolation, especially against a pale blue morning, it looks like the continent鈥檚 biggest peak. No wonder . If you鈥檙e heading north, summit fever will soon set in, so take time to enjoy the way Katahdin frames this placid Maine lake. And maybe eat a Pop-Tart? 鈥擥贬颁

Katahdin Spring Campground to Katahdin Summit, Maine聽(5.2 Miles: 2,192.2鈥�2,197.4)

Within days of finding my trail family in Georgia, our peers dubbed us 鈥渢he Breakfast Club,鈥� because we were infamous for waking up before the sun to catch sunrise on a summit somewhere. My hiking partner and I tackled Katahdin in the same spirit, rising from our quarters at Katahdin Spring Campground at 3 a.m. before beginning the ascent. Halfway up the climb, we turned to the sky and glimpsed the Milky Way, peppering the darkness with color. We slogged on, equal parts ecstatic and devastated to be nearly done. By the time we reached the summit of Katahdin, the sun winked over the horizon, making us some of the first people to greet a new day along the east coast while we ended our thru-hike. 鈥拟叠厂

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On Sunday, that the iconic Fiery Furnace hiking zone would be closed until further notice due to staffing shortages.

In February, the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) fired National Park employees and rescinded job offers for another 5,000 seasonal workers. Although the government reversed course on the temporary workers a few weeks later and a federal judge ordered the reinstatement of national park employees last week, most of those have been placed on paid leave, while national parks like Arches are still working to fill the temporary positions that manage day-to-day operations within park boundaries.

Best known for its towering sandstone slot canyons and semi-technical terrain, the Fiery Furnace garnered so much attention in the 1990s that park officials put a permitting system into place to ensure that no more than 75 people could enter the area per day.

In a normal year, Arches National Park receives nearly 2 million visitors. The park relies on seasonal employees to accommodate hikers and monitor the Fiery Furnace hike. However, both ranger-led programs and self-guided trips in the area are staff-intensive according to the park, which has left officials with no choice but to close the hike.

Karen Hanker, a spokesperson for Arches National Park told Backpacker that the park鈥檚 鈥渓imited team is doing visitor services, staffing the front desk, giving guided tours, etc.鈥�

Given the volume of visitation right now we鈥檙e at a level where if we don鈥檛 have our seasonal workers to help us manage the front desk and issue permits, we have to put our full time workers toward the basics,鈥� Hanker said. As a popular destination for spring break travelers, traffic starts to grow in March and April. Fiery Furnace generally opens on Presidents Day. Usually the park would offer permits at this time of the year, but without their usual team, there simply aren鈥檛 enough resources.

In addition to requiring more staff members to support permitting and ranger-led programs through Fiery Furnace, Hanker ,鈥淭here鈥檚 also the search and rescue component.鈥�

鈥淪hould something happen to someone in the Fiery Furnace, we would need to provide support,鈥� she aid. 鈥淩escues are incredibly staff intensive anywhere in the park, let alone a place as geologically complex as the Fiery Furnace.鈥�

The trail through Fiery Furnace takes hikers across slickrock and through canyons where it can be difficult to see a path. Without many conventional trail markers on the Fiery Furnace hike, it isn鈥檛 uncommon for visitors to become lost in the area. Staffing shortages not only make standard park operations challenging, but they also render officials unable to help in rescue situations, since a single rescue for a sprained ankle could require 10 employees.

The Fiery Furnace is also a beloved canyoneering area due to its technical terrain. It鈥檚 that same terrain that makes rescues in the area so complicated.

Even with federal orders are in place to reinstate employees across the NPS, many national parks face housing shortages, which can make the hiring process challenging even in normal times. With their future at the agency uncertain, some of those impacted by the layoffs have also acquired other jobs. (This week the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to to reinstate federal employees.)

鈥淥nce our seasonal staff are here and trained we look forward to resuming normal spring operations, including opening Fiery Furnace,鈥� Henker said. Officials aren鈥檛 yet sure when they鈥檒l be able to revert to normal operations.

With temperatures rising in the meantime, the park hopes that visitors will choose safe replacement activities.

鈥淲e appreciate [it] if folks can do their research about their plans and choose an activity that鈥檚 safe and appropriate for them. It can still get hot in spring, and with fewer folks to respond to calls it is important for visitors to look out for themselves and to avoid needing a rescue,鈥� Henker said.鈥�

Additional reporting by Frederick Dreier at 国产吃瓜黑料

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Relatively few young people have the grit and determination to finish a 2,200-mile, 900,000-vertical-foot hike like the Appalachian Trail. That only makes Linda 鈥淣ana鈥� Vanderloop鈥檚 trip more impressive. On October 28, Linda became the oldest woman ever to thru-hike the AT when she climbed to the summit of New York鈥檚 Bear Mountain at 74 years old with her daughter Hanna, beating a 10-year-old record set by . For Linda however, the record was an afterthought.

鈥滻 did not go into that even knowing about [Reisinger],鈥� Linda says. 鈥淔inishing the trail was something I wasn鈥檛 sure I was going to be doing.鈥�

The idea of an thru-hike came about after Linda Vanderloop completed the Ice Age Trail in her home state of Wisconsin in 2020. Linda鈥檚 daughter, Hanna, became envious of her mom鈥檚 experience and began her own adventure.

鈥淚 would call her and she would be on the trail and I would be super jealous,鈥� Hanna recalls. 鈥淪he had this big goal she was chipping away at. So,I started hiking the blue blaze trail network in Connecticut.鈥�

One of the sections of that network was part of the Appalachian Trail. As she began tackling those miles, Hanna realized she was hungry for more of that challenge, and made it her long-term goal to hike the AT. When she quit her job earlier this year to start working her way through the trail in 100-mile segments, her mother decided she wanted to come too.

From the start of the journey, the duo鈥檚 flip-flop approach was unconventional. They planned to begin on Bear Mountain in New York, but quickly had to pivot after discovering the peak was closed. Instead they began their hike between Bear Mountain and Harriman State Park in New York. From there, they hiked New Jersey and Pennsylvania before heading south to tackle Georgia, Tennessee, and most of North Carolina before heading north, sometimes hiking segments independently of one another.

鈥淲e only had two rules: [We passed] every in 365 days, and we almost always hiked northbound,鈥� says Hanna. 鈥淧iece by piece, the pair hiked large swaths of the trail, occasionally meeting up with other family members to share the experience and accept support along the way.听 Both Linda and Hanna found that their unconventional methods provided a more solitary experience outside of the bubble, which they liked.

As they neared the end of the trail, they discovered that Reisinger鈥檚 birthday (she also finished her hike at 74) was later in the year, and realized that Linda had a chance at beating her record. Besides being older than Reisinger by six weeks, she also completed her hike later in the season.

Obtaining the new title was a perk for Linda, but her experience was inspiration in other ways, too.

鈥淲e met so many people on the trail that were older,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd you felt so good that people still feel they can do this. You don鈥檛 have to be young. Anybody can walk. It was kind of neat to even see some trails that could even accept a wheelchair,鈥� she said.

Linda鈥檚 journey was mostly devoid of injury, although she hiked Kinsman with food poisoning and wound up with about 20 yellow jacket stings in North Carolina. Still, she admits, the trip was far from easy.

鈥淭here is a reason 1 in 4 people only finish,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t lives up to its reputation of being one of the toughest and longest hikes.鈥�

Since Reisinger set her record in 2014, many hikers have attempted to beat it. In 2023, Pamela Clark came close to claiming the title at age 76, but came up just shy of the ATC鈥檚 12-month requirement. currently holds the oldest overall Appalachian Trail record, which he obtained at the age of 83 in 2021.

When asked if she鈥檚 plans to tackle other long trails in the future, Linda responded, 鈥淚鈥檒l never say never.鈥�

鈥淚f the opportunity arises I鈥檒l probably be out there,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of hard not to keep the legs going once you start.鈥�

The post This 74-Year-Old Woman Just Broke an Appalachian Trail Record appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Brad Smith hiked into Damascus, Virginia, on the Appalachian Trail just as the rain from Hurricane Helene thickened into a torrent.

鈥淭he last 6 miles was the worst weather I鈥檝e been outside in, and I鈥檓 49鈥 could have kayaked off the mountain if I had one,鈥� he wrote in a message. 鈥淭he trail was a small river. Guessing I was one of the last customers at the Damascus Diner before Laurel Creek took it and the street over.鈥�

More than are dead and many more are missing after Helene carved a 500-mile-long path of devastation through the southeastern United States with 30 people losing their lives in North Carolina鈥檚 Buncombe County alone. Among the hardest-hit communities were trail towns in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia that some of the AT鈥檚 best-known businesses and trail angels call home.

Drew 鈥淏irdman鈥� Glines, an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, rafting guide, and North Carolina local told Backpacker that the 鈥渄evastation鈥� inflicted on riverside communities was hard to describe.

鈥淩oads and bridges have been completely destroyed, making some areas still completely inaccessible to even emergency vehicles,鈥� he wrote in an email.

While destinations like the Nantahala Outdoor Center, the Western Smokies, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Ford escaped major harm from the hurricane, other areas were not so lucky. Glines rattled off a list of landmarks affected by the hurricane.

鈥� in Roan was flooded. Hot Springs was hard hit鈥s was Hartford,鈥� he wrote. 鈥� is devastated.鈥� The majority of western North Carolina is out of cell service, water, and power, although 鈥榙isaster roaming鈥� has allowed locals to connect to any functioning network in the wake of the tragedy. The town of Asheville is still largely isolated due to infrastructure damage and washed-out roads.

On Trail When the Hurricane Hit

Smith wasn鈥檛 the only hiker caught in the weather. Lisa Woodward was hiking through Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee when the hurricane struck.

鈥淸We] experienced torrential downpours and wind gusts of up to 80 miles per hour or so at almost 6,000 feet elevation,鈥� she wrote in a message. 鈥淗ad to take a zero on Fri. at TriCorner Knob Shelter to wait out the worst of it. Made it out on Sunday via the Low Gap Trail to Cosby CampGround, where Ken from Discerning Hiker Hostel 鈥榬escued鈥� us.鈥�

Mollie Dembek was on trail near Hot Springs when the weather turned.

鈥淚 was at Flint Mountain Shelter, north of Hot Springs, NC when it started raining HARD on Tuesday,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淚 decided to hike the next day to Hemlock Hollow Hostel and Campground in Greeneville, TN the next day to get out of the rain. I am SO GLAD I did. I stayed the night there, warm and dry, but was watching the weather and news the entire time growing more and more anxious,鈥� she said.

Dembek was able to make it to Asheville to stay with a friend. On Saturday, they decided to leave the area. Strangers lent her gas money at a station in Weaverville that was only accepting cash. (鈥淭hey said it was 鈥榯rail magic,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淚 absolutely started crying.鈥�)

鈥淭hey ended up following us over the mountains because we were able to get turn by turn directions from my friend using my Garmin InReach,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淚 was able to communicate with friends and family using my Garmin and got seven people to safety because of the technology. I was never so grateful to get to Maryville, TN and get a cell signal.鈥�

Hot Springs, North Carolina. My grandfather鈥檚 summer mountain pasture was over on Spring Creek, near this lovely little town.

鈥� Anne Margaret Daniel (@venetianblonde)

While locals are still fighting for their lives, other members of the trail community are rallying to support them. Trail Angels like 鈥溾€� Hensley of Erwin, Tennessee are scrambling to support flooded communities in the wake of the tragedy. Matthew 鈥淥die鈥� Norman, a thru-hiker, trail angel, and former owner of the Hiker Yearbook, was in New Jersey for the hurricane but is preparing to drive south to support local trail communities.

Trail Organizations Warn Hikers to Stay Away for Now

Determining when hiking should resume in the southern part of the Appalachian Trail is a sensitive topic. Norman said that 鈥渕ost hikers should not attempt to hike in the south at this time.鈥�

In a statement, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) warned visitors to stay off trail between Springer Mountain (NOBO Mile 0) and Rockfish Gap (NOBO Mile 864.6).

鈥淥ver the coming weeks and months, the ATC will be working with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and state and local partners to inventory the damage to the treadway, trailheads, bridges, overnight sites, privies and other A.T. features,鈥� the organization said. 鈥淟andslides and falling trees could continue for some time, so we ask volunteers and trail crews to pause work on this section of the Trail and to coordinate closely with regional ATC teams.鈥�

Hensley said that the devastation in trail communities like Damascus and Hot Springs is 鈥渄ire.鈥�

鈥淭hese communities are asking us to please stay away鈥hey cannot handle the infrastructure or any people walking into town,鈥� she said. In the event that hikers choose to continue hiking through southern Appalachia and they get into trouble, she adds, emergency services are unlikely to be able to help in a timely fashion.

Hensley said that hikers should stay informed and start making plans once they reach Virginia.

鈥淲hen people come through the Shenandoah they need to be deciding what they鈥檙e going to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut hiking through this area would be ridiculous and it鈥檚 going to put lives on the line.鈥�

Norman said he recognizes that as the weeks stretch on, deciding when it鈥檚 the right time to hit the trail again could pose a difficult question鈥攁nd that different hikers could have different answers.

鈥淭he hiking community will be walking a tightrope in the next few months. Should hikers continue their hike? Would it be detrimental to the trail towns? What if there鈥檚 an emergency and emergency services are already stretched thin?鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut there are other questions: what if hikers have nowhere to go? What if they鈥檙e hiking off war, drug addiction, any number of traumatic events? What if they鈥檙e hiking to help?鈥�

One thing Norman is certain of: When hikers are able to come and help, they will.

鈥淚 can tell you for a fact that I watched hikers assist trail towns in 2020 and they will do it again in 2024,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t will not be publicized on Facebook, it will not be filmed, it is not done for recognition, it is done because that鈥檚 what hikers do.鈥�

Readers looking for guidance and direction around post-hurricane support can find more information from the . Official trail closures are available on the .听

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Baxter State Park is a busy place as the fall hiking season draws to a close. The energy in the park is invariably buzzing: families are getting in their last trips before school, leaf-peepers are making the pilgrimage to see the changing foliage, and Appalachian Trail thru-hikers are making their way to the summit of Katahdin. For years, restrictions around the AT鈥檚 northern terminus have caused the park to gain notoriety among thru-hikers. For some long-distance hikers bringing their journeys to a close, navigating the park鈥檚 crowds and camping reservation system can feel uninviting at best, and like a downright stressful end to the trip of a lifetime at worst.

In 2015, tensions between thru-hikers and park administration came to a head when ultrarunner on the AT and celebrated with his team with a bottle of champagne on the summit of Katahdin. Officials him for consumption of alcohol inside the park, hiking with a group larger than 12, and littering (spraying champagne in the air). The incident kicked off a debate about the commercialization of the outdoors and the park鈥檚 relationship with AT hikers.

A few weeks later, I made my way to the northern terminus feeling anxious about . Word on the trail was that the rangers were mad at the example Jurek had set for other long-distance hikers, and that they were strictly enforcing rules to fight back. At that time, Katahdin already had the reputation of being a logistical challenge for long-distance backpackers: standard campsites fill up months in advance, and the park has just one 12-person walkup shelter reserved for thru-hikers. As rangers were up in arms about the regulations, thru-hikers like myself felt entitled after traveling 2,200 miles to make it to Katahdin, and might鈥檝e even considered breaking the park鈥檚 rules if the camping reservation process proved difficult to follow.

The scene I found upon my arrival was nothing like my nightmares. The Birches shelter, where thru-hikers can camp, was far from full. And it was actually really easy to follow the rules: My trail partner and I picked up permits for Katahdin before waking at 3 a.m. for a sunrise summit. At the time, my anxieties about finishing my hike at the northern terminus left me wondering how we got here鈥攁nd even whether there might be a place better-suited to handling the AT鈥檚 growing crowds. Katahdin could live without thru-hikers, but could thru-hikers live without Katahdin?

While Baxter State Park itself is home to hundreds of miles of trails, it鈥檚 best known for Mt. Katahdin, which sees the majority of traffic within the region. The park faces a unique challenge in that it鈥檚 not only the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, but it鈥檚 also held in a trust with very specific guidelines surrounding its management. The park鈥檚 former owner, Percival P. Baxter, released it for public use in 1931 under an endowment that required limiting vehicle size and the number of campsites within the park. As a result, officials are not allowed to develop new campsites even as the park becomes more popular.

Leah Beck, the Maine Regional Manager for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), told me that in 2015, officials realized they needed to come up with a plan to balance thru-hikers鈥� and visitors鈥� needs with park regulations. While 2015 was the most notable example of the strain between hikers and rangers in the park鈥檚 history, every year, a few hikers set a poor example in Baxter State Park by doing things like 鈥渟tealth camping鈥� in undesignated areas and otherwise ignoring the rules.

One of the ways that officials have monitored unruly hikers is by crowdsourcing information both in Maine and south of the region. Baxter State Park, Search and Rescue members, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy regularly work together to create awareness about big groups of hikers or known rebels who are headed to Katahdin. Since a monthly meeting was established to address these issues, 鈥渨e hear very few reports of any summit behavior issues,鈥� said Beck.

In addition to regularly discussing community and hiker concerns in the region, an ATC ranger is stationed at Abol Bridge鈥攖he gateway into 鈥攖o assist hikers looking to find camping. It鈥檚 often easier than many thru-hikers imagine, since the thru-hiker shelter seldom fills up. When it does, rangers help hikers find other legal camping options in or near the park

鈥淚t鈥檚 actually less common than people think for the Birches to be full and for them not to have additional sites at Katahdin Stream or another campground,鈥� said Beck.

Baxter State Park Ranger Bruce White told me that nearly 3,000 thru-hikers came through the park in 2022 compared to about 2,000 in 2015. Yet the park鈥檚 rules and regulations remain largely the same.

鈥淎s far as restrictions, there really aren鈥檛 a whole lot other than we do require them to be in designated campsites,鈥� he said. 鈥溾€�.But I think there鈥檚 a little animosity. People feel that they won鈥檛 get a site in Baxter Park. And in August that is a possibility.鈥�

Occasionally, the park receives really big groups of thru-hikers, which causes another technical strain on the trail since group sizes are limited to 12 people within the park. Adhering to this regulation forces officials and hikers to collaborate to ensure that the park remains within its legal trust limits.

White added that since 2015, the nearby town of Monson has also made it much easier for hikers to shuttle to and from the park, with several privately-owned businesses like offering rides to reduce the stress of finding a camp spot in park bounds. Still, since Baxter State Park cannot legally change campsites and permits issued to accommodate growing traffic, if hiker numbers keep growing, there will come a point when it will have to turn people away with more regularity.

Interestingly, Katahdin wasn鈥檛 always the end point of the AT. When the idea of the Appalachian Trail was born, according to Beck, the original maps Benton MacKaye drew designated Mt. Washington as the northern terminus, with potential extensions or 鈥渂ranch trails.鈥� One of those branches became the 330-mile route between Mt. Washington and Katahdin that hikers tackle today. It wasn鈥檛 until four years after that early map that Katahdin was labeled as the northern terminus, and the designation became official in 1928. As of 2024, Mt. Washington is the only northern terminus aside from Katahdin to ever formally be considered.

A benefit of considering an alternate terminus is that there may be fewer camping and summiting restrictions in place, which could alleviate some of the stress of finishing the trail. The ATC suggests that moving the northern terminus to a location with fewer legal limitations could resolve some of the camping and usage issues of Baxter State Park, but wouldn鈥檛 solve problems related to hiker behavior.

鈥淢oving the terminus to an area with different management mandates will likely have no impact on the behavior of the very small percentage of AT hikers causing the problem,鈥� said Beck. 鈥淭here could be fewer restrictions for them to bump up against, depending on where the terminus moves, but the problem behavior will still exist.鈥�

Despite recognizing some of the benefits of an alternative northern terminus, neither the ATC nor Baxter State Park currently has plans in place to advocate for such a monumental change. Doing so would involve obtaining trail rights in areas where they don鈥檛 already exist, and working with private landowners to acquire access in non-public areas.

Thru-hikers鈥� anxieties remain high during peak season and in October, when the park seasonally closes Mt. Katahdin to hiker traffic. Even in optimal conditions, climbing Katahdin involves light bouldering, lugging yourself up iron rungs, and tackling extremely steep terrain. When winter comes, those conditions are generally considered to be unsafe for hikers by Baxter State Park.

Even if authorities decide that a change as drastic as moving the terminus is eventually necessary, that point would be years away at least. The number of hikers on the AT has held steady or even dropped since Covid, suggesting that nothing needs to change yet. But growing interest in one of America鈥檚 most beautiful and difficult trails could flip the narrative.

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鈥淵ellow blazing,鈥� or hitchhiking past trail miles, has a bad rap. Most thru-hikers agree that it鈥檚 the cheapest and most disappointing way to complete a trail. But catching a ride or leaving the official route for an alternate for a couple miles (also called blue blazing) is a relatively common experience due to simple logistics, or even the side trails that lead in and out of shelters.

and I hiked about 2,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail together as purely (without skipping miles or stepping off-trail) as we could in 2015. But over the years, and as our trail miles grew, our perspectives shifted about whether or not your thru-hike still counts if you miss a few miles. Here鈥檚 what we think.

Wrecker: Mile-Skipping Degrades the Integrity of the Hike

Wrecker was a purist from day one on the AT. 鈥淚 feel like self exploration is the only point of it,鈥� he says today. Wrecker saw the endeavor as an act of discipline, demanding devotion and mental stamina in addition to physical fitness. As a result, there were many times when I followed Wrecker while he retraced his steps on blue blazes in and out of shelters instead of skipping small sections of trail.

By the time we made it to Virginia, we鈥檇 already hiked a marathon day at a blistering pace that left many of our companions irritated at our intensity and devotion. 鈥淚 needed to prove to myself that I was capable of more,鈥� he says.鈥�

Over the years, Wrecker has also tackled the , which only seemed to deepen his commitment to each on-trail mile. But he doesn鈥檛 judge others who take a more liberal approach.

鈥淚鈥檓 maybe more of a purist [now] than ever before,鈥� he said. 鈥淔or me, I need the structure to feel any reduction in anxiety. But that鈥檚 just what鈥檚 best for me. I鈥檝e learned that what鈥檚 best for others is different.鈥�

While discipline and testing physical and mental limitations is Wrecker鈥檚 greatest trail motivator, he still recognizes that the 鈥渞ight way鈥� to hike a trail varies by person and that would-be thru-hikers should 鈥渉ike their own hike.鈥�

Mouse: Routes Change Every Year, So the Official Trail Route is Arbitrary Anyway

The beginning of my AT thru-hike was a debacle. I was new to the mountains, which resulted in my best friend and I meandering around winding, steep roads in a crappy vehicle hoping to find one spring morning. After the check engine light came on, we decided to leave the mountains and regroup. On our way out, we found a random AT crossing, and the next day she dropped me off there and waved goodbye.

My original plan was to hike backwards to Springer, but shortly after leaving, I burst into tears next to a stream and decided that going against the grain to reach the southern terminus of the trail simply felt wrong. Instead, I abandoned my resolve to complete every mile of the trail and started heading north, a fact I was ashamed to admit through the entire thru-hike. To this day, I still have yet to complete the first 16 miles of the AT, plus a few other short sections due to hitchhiking logistics and a mystery illness that by a few miles.

Since 2015, I鈥檝e accumulated more trail miles than I can count. The longer I hike, the less I care about touching every single mile marker on a trail. The length of the AT grows every year due to trail maintenance and development. Even if I鈥檇 chosen to chase a completely pure thru-hike, the trail I completed would be different from any other AT in a given season.

What really pushed me off of my high horse, however, was an experience I had in the White Mountains. There鈥檚 a section of the that takes hikers through a valley instead of meandering over the region鈥檚 6,000-foot peaks (likely due to the area鈥檚 reputation for dangerous weather). I chose to hike the valley on a perfect bluebird day to follow the official AT route, and a friend went on to 鈥渂lue blaze鈥� all of those spectacular peaks. To this day, I think I made the wrong decision. Being able to improvise and tag off-trail peaks is much more fulfilling and exciting than blindly following a trail.

The post Does Your Thru-Hike Still Count if You Miss a Few Miles? Two Hikers Debate. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

After thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, I thought the would be a breeze. I could hike it in a month instead of four and a half; it鈥檇 be way less committing, allowing me to stretch my legs without causing complete upheaval in my off-trail life. Sure, the elevations would be higher, and conditions could be more extreme as a result, but I felt confident enough in the skills I鈥檇 acquired on my previous hike to begin at the end of August鈥攁 late start for the Colorado Trail. Despite my confidence, there were a few surprising discoveries I made along the way.

Water Sources Can Be Gross and Unreliable

After where water is plentiful and often pristine, I was shocked at the quality of Colorado鈥檚 water sources. Within the first few days of my hike, I encountered a raging river that smelled like cow excrement and a muck puddle that doubled as a water source if you were lucky enough to find it. I鈥檇 packed a filter, but even after using it on those questionable sources, the water often had an unappealing color and flavor. As I hiked further south, conditions only became more dire. It was late in the season, which meant that some sources that were previously fueled by snowmelt were suddenly dry, so there were a few sections of trail where I had to investigate two or three potential sources before actually finding water. While I never ended up in a precarious situation, my unfamiliarity with western water sources resulted in a few thirsty miles.

Pro tip: Starting earlier in the season makes it much more likely that water sources will still be running. Just keep in mind that the earlier you hike, the more likely you are to run into snow at high elevations.

Bear Hangs Are Nearly Impossible

On my first thru-hike, I got used to bear bagging. A proper bear hang for your food should be the ground, 5 feet away from the trunk of a tree, and 5 feet away from the branch on which it hangs. In places with large deciduous trees like the AT, this is a relatively feasible challenge, but in Colorado where the majority of trees are pines, it鈥檚 near-impossible. As a result, you either have to get really creative with your bear hang (which takes a lot of time and effort), or you need to use a different system to protect the local wildlife. I settled for a rodent hang, placing my food far away from my campsite and a few feet off the ground to keep wildlife away from my tent, but it was less than ideal.

I ran into a lot of hikers on the CT who chose to hike without bear-resistant food storage since they鈥檙e not legally required, but the idea of sleeping with my food made my skin crawl. Some hikers carried puncture-proof sacks like the Ursack AllMitey paired with odor-proof Opsaks. The ultra-rare hiker , but these were few and far between due to their weight. If I were to hike the CT again, I鈥檇 carry an Ursack for peace of mind.

Afternoon Storms Are Common in the Alpine

When I made it to Twin Lakes, two weeks into my thru-hike, I had the option to hang a right and hike above treeline for a few days or dip down into a valley. I already knew which way I was going to travel. The west offered stunning vistas, solitude, and 360-degree views in spots, and I knew I couldn鈥檛 pass up the opportunity to see them. But on my first afternoon above the treeline, I looked up and realized that lightning was flashing all around me, and I was pretty much the highest object around. After my heart stopped in my chest, I scrambled down the side of the peak and found cover amidst a grove of trees. The storm eventually passed. I didn鈥檛 get burned to a crisp, but I had a newfound appreciation for lightning while hiking above 10,000 feet.

Mail Drops Are Irreplaceable in the South

Towns like Breckenridge and Salida make it easy to resupply without issue on the northern section of the trail. However, as you travel south, as most hikers do, the food options become more and more sparse. South of Salida, hikers should expect limited convenience-store-like food options which usually come with a hefty price tag. Fortunately, in towns like Lake City where hikers might post up for the night at a hostel, mail resupplies are simple and straightforward. Some hostels and stores even hold packages for the whole season, making it easy to time their arrival with your crossing. So, you could theoretically mail them to yourself before you even start the trail. I researched local hostels and stores that would hold mail for me before I left. Then, I mailed myself a weekly drop before leaving for the trail. Unfortunately, I found that mail drops were unnecessary for the first two weeks. This meant that instead of eating whatever I wanted in town, I had to stick to my previously chosen meals. But late into the trail, I was really grateful to have my mail drops because food options had become scant.

It鈥檚 Not the Rain That Will Wreck You鈥擨t鈥檚 Hail

Before beginning the Colorado Trail, I worried about late-season monsoons. I knew Colorado was famous for its arid climate, and that my gear would dry out quickly if it got soaked, but the thought of torrential rains kept me up at night. It was just a matter of time before I got caught in a storm, but it was actually the hail鈥攏ot the rain鈥攖hat was most catastrophic. On one stretch of trail, marble-sized pieces of ice rained down on me for about an hour. I found shelter beneath a sturdy pine tree, but days afterwards, I ran into a group of hikers who said that the hail had shredded their tents, and they had to find the nearest road crossing to hitch into town once the weather passed. I found that the best way to approach hail was to keep myself updated with the latest weather reports and try to keep myself at lower elevations when inclement weather was expected. In cases where I couldn鈥檛 predict the forecast, I took shelter as soon as conditions became unfavorable.

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The search and rescue team gathered on the edge of the ravine in California鈥檚 Point Reyes National Seashore. They gazed down and scratched their heads. The patient was bigger than they were used to. Much bigger.

Rescuing hikers and dogs in the backcountry is hard enough. However, human beings tend to be relatively easy to lift, load into litters, and helicopter out. Horses, not so much. And yet, every now and again, backcountry SAR teams are called to assist with equine rescues. These efforts often take dozens of people, ropes, pulleys, and complex problem solving. Case in point: the rescue that occurred early last week in Point Reyes.

Last Tuesday, a horse and rider slipped on a section of damp soil and toppled down the side of the National Seashore鈥檚 popular Coast Trail. The rider managed to dismount just in time, but the animal fell about 30 feet down a steep hillside and became stuck in a narrow ravine. The rider called local authorities, who launched a rescue operation. The mission ultimately took seven hours.

The Coast Trail鈥攁 multi-use path frequented by hikers, bikers, and equestrians鈥攊s relatively mellow, but going off trail lands you in terrain that鈥檚 鈥渜uite steep and densely vegetated,鈥� Park Ranger Sierra Frisbie told Backpacker. That made getting to the animal pretty tricky.

First, rescuers confirmed that the horse was uninjured. There were no signs of bone breaks or bleeding. But that didn鈥檛 mean they were in the clear: The 20-year-old Arabian was lodged in a narrow spot and unable to get its footing.

鈥淗orses are large animals. They can weigh over 1,000 pounds. If there鈥檚 any way you can help the horse help itself, you want to do that,鈥� explained Frisbie. 鈥淪o one of our biggest priorities was to get that horse to its feet. But first we had to get it unstuck.鈥�

The first thing that rescuers attempted was a forward assist, Frisbie said.

鈥淵ou get straps underneath the horse. And you give it a big tug to try to see if it needs just a little help to get it back to its feet,鈥� she explained. Unfortunately, the horse had been struggling for a while, so by the time rescuers got to it, it was exhausted. A forward assist wasn鈥檛 enough. The volunteers quickly realized they were going to have to haul it out by hand.

So, the local Marin Search and Rescue team deployed its low-angle rope rescue squad. This is a group of volunteers trained to rig complex pulley systems to haul victims up tricky terrain.

鈥淭hey set up a system of anchors and ropes,鈥� Frisbie said. 鈥淲e were able to extricate the horse by hauling it out and packing it on a rescue sled, which is basically a massive litter.鈥� The team took turns pulling on the ropes, laboring to haul the animal more than 30 feet up the side of the ravine. The entire operation took about seven hours and the assistance of 15 to 20 people.

Although the Coast Trail is known for its idyllic views and gentle promenade, the region hosts its fair share of traffic. Frisbie noted that fully involved animal rescues like this one are pretty rare. The last time the park鈥檚 animal rescue team assembled was for a lost horse. It took a few hours to locate the horse, but the animal was ultimately found safe.

Conversely, 鈥淭his [rescue] was all hands on deck,鈥� Frisbie said. 鈥淚t took a lot of troubleshooting.鈥�

Last fall, the park hosted a large-animal technical-rescue training, which paid off in this scenario. 鈥淯nlike human patients, [animal rescuers] are working with a very large, somewhat unpredictable patient. There are a lot of moving pieces that determine the safety of the rescuers,鈥� Frisbie said. Fortunately, she added, their rescue team was ready for the complexity of the incident. It also helped that the horse and the rider were supportive of their efforts, she added.

Once the horse was back on solid ground, it was and walk the last several miles back to the Palomarin Trailhead.

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There鈥檚 an old adage among mountaineers: 鈥淐limb high, sleep low.鈥� It takes time to adapt to a lower-oxygen environment; in theory, this strategy aims to periodically expose the body to higher altitudes, which avoids putting too much stress on climbers all at once. But in practice, acclimatization isn鈥檛 so straightforward. The process varies widely depending on factors like general fitness level, the particular mountain, and home elevation. When tackling a high-elevation peak like (19,341 feet), most guides recommend at least a week of acclimatization in the region prior to attempting a climb. But what should hikers do?

The difference in elevation that climbers experience on the Rockies鈥� highest peaks is less extreme than that of Africa鈥檚 highest summit, though not necessarily less dangerous. Altitude sickness is just one of a variety of potential hazards they face; fortunately, most evidence suggests that even a single night spent at high elevation can reduce health risks that come with high-altitude climbs鈥攁nd the more time you can spend at elevation before the trek, the better. Here鈥檚 what we know about pre-acclimatization and sleeping at elevation to prepare yourself for a big climb.

Baseline Altitude

Climbing high-elevation peaks reduces blood oxygen levels, which is why many people develop altitude sickness. In the immediate acclimatization process, you more often and your body forces blood into the pulmonary arteries in the lungs. There are variations, however, in the long-term adaptation process and timeframe. Determining if or how long to acclimate depends on an individual鈥檚 starting elevation.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 in part a question about who we鈥檙e talking about,鈥� says Matt Formato, a lifelong athlete and founder of Mile High Training, an organization that specializes in home altitude training systems. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 a person that lives in Colorado, they鈥檙e likely acclimatized to some degree even at moderate altitudes in Boulder or Denver. They鈥檙e tremendously more acclimatized going into that 14,000-foot peak than someone who is coming from Houston.鈥�

, from sea level, it takes about 3 weeks to fully acclimate to 6,000 feet of altitude, 4 weeks to acclimate to 8,000 feet, 5 weeks to acclimate to 10,000 feet, and 7 weeks to acclimate to 14,000 feet. So, those who live at a higher elevation have an advantage when preparing to climb a peak.

Sleeping at Elevation Before a Climb

One of the challenges that new climbers face is unfamiliarity with common symptoms of altitude sickness, such as headaches, dizzy spells, and feeling nauseated and weak. But even in the absence of these symptoms, high elevations place a lot of strain on the heart and lungs. This is how many athletes manage to push themselves beyond their limits without even realizing it.

Research has shown that even a single night of sleeping at altitude significantly reduces the risk of while in the high country. Dr. Robert Shapiro, a cardiologist for Boulder Community Health, notes that even a single day spent at elevation before a climb can reduce the likelihood of sudden cardiac death . Furthermore, a randomized study published in the journal of the that sleeping in a mildly hypoxic state at home (in an altitude chamber or with a mask on) can help to reduce altitude sickness symptoms as well, meaning that hikers do not necessarily need to travel to prepare for the strain of elevation.

Anecdotal evidence from hikers suggests that spending time at the trailhead or at a campsite below a peak can make a difference, and many medical professionals agree. Aspen Hospital, which is located at an elevation of 8,000 feet, recommends a slow acclimatization process for best climbing results. The hospital suggests that visitors from out of state plan on sleeping in Denver for a night before ascending to Aspen. The 聽鈥渘ot to sleep higher than 1,600 more feet per day,鈥� a number that the emphasizes as well.

Timing the Ascent

In addition to evaluating how to train or where to sleep prior to a mountain ascent, timing the ascent in relation to acclimatization can be complicated. Formato said that it 鈥渄epends on how much time you have and how high you鈥檙e going.鈥�

Beginners should err on the side of caution and attempt to give themselves extra time at altitude before scaling a peak.

鈥淐ertainly, for anyone [who is inexperienced and] going to do a 14,000-foot peak [in Colorado], go slowly. Go to Denver for a night. Breckenridge for two nights, then make your push,鈥� says Formato.

鈥淵our body starts producing red cells immediately, but it鈥檚 not going to be a mature cell for weeks,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e trying to pre-acclimatize, you want to give yourself a couple days ahead of time 鈥� It can take about for the body鈥檚 red blood cells to catch up with the low oxygen levels.鈥�

The key for hikers looking to scale high-altitude peaks this summer? Provide your body with just enough encouragement to begin to adapt to the high elevations. In situations where it鈥檚 difficult to acclimatize before a climb, Formato said that you can reduce oxygen saturation levels manually at home through altitude simulation tents, chambers, or hypoxicator masks. Purchasing these products can be pricey, but there are plenty of workarounds. Don鈥檛 want to buy an altitude tent? one in the weeks leading up to your trip. Also, for Denver locals, you can test what it鈥檚 like to work out in low-oxygen settings: is a gym with an altitude studio formally only for elite athletes. Now, anyone can book a free class and work out in a studio simulating anywhere from sea level to 18,000 feet.

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A hiker wearing just a cotton hoodie narrowly escaped death after becoming lost in a snowstorm on one of Colorado鈥檚 high peaks late last week, prompting local rescuers to warn would-be adventurers about the importance of preparing for winter conditions.

According to (CCSAR-N), the unidentified hiker had attempted to climb a 13,000-foot ridge near Mt. Princeton in west-central Colorado.听 While the hiker reached the top, the weather soon turned, and they found themselves high on the mountain with no shelter, food, water, or extra layers. With darkness descending, the hiker attempted to make it back to the car quickly by taking an alternative route down an avalanche chute, where they became stuck.听

At about 7:00 p.m. the hiker called for a rescue, prompting a team of 25 SAR members from CCSAR-N and Chaffee County Search and Rescue South to race the snow storm to find the hiker. While the hiker was unable to provide GPS coordinates to rescuers, they were able to tell responders that they were located near Cottonwood Lake. While the hiker attempted to move downslope at rescuers鈥� suggestion, search teams began to comb several avalanche chutes in the area, one of which was extremely steep and icy. At about 1:00 a.m., SAR found footprints in the freshly-fallen snow, which had piled to a depth of roughly 6 to 8 inches.听

鈥淭his team continued to follow the footprints until they came upon an unusual looking rock at approximately 2am,鈥� CCSAR-N officials wrote. 鈥淯pon further investigation it was determined it was not a rock but the subject sitting upright in a fetal position covered in snow. The subject was assessed and found to be alive but very hypothermic.鈥� It took the team about 3 hours to warm the hiker enough to begin the descent.听聽

Rescuers began using a rope system to lower the hiker. Soon thereafter, the hiker regained some mobility and aided the rescue by walking. About 12 hours after the initial rescue call, the hiker made it to an ambulance.听

Despite an overall on Colorado鈥檚 high peaks, this isn鈥檛 the first time this year that an unprepared outdoorsperson has had to call for a rescue due to poor preparation. In one case, rescue teams plucked off of the Diamond on Longs Peak after they were unable to complete their climb and didn鈥檛 have sufficient gear to spend a night on the summit. In another, required rescue from Lake Como after becoming too cold and tired to hike out on their own.听

In response to most recent rescue, CCSAR-N encouraged adventurers to ensure that they pack the any time they鈥檙e headed into the backcountry, and to consider bringing a GPS-enabled device with two-way communication and an SOS button, since this type of device gives rescue officials much more information about a user鈥檚 location.听

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