Rant: Everyone raves about the Appalachian Trail but I think it's overrated

2 comments

2 Comments

The thing is, the AT isn't really about being some epic wilderness adventure though. It's more like a long walk through a lot of different backyards and forests, and that's kind of the charm of it. You get all these little towns and people who are just living their lives, and you walk right through them. Yeah, some parts are crowded and the shelters can be a mess, but the views from places like McAfee Knob or the roller coaster in Virginia are hard to beat. Maybe it didn't hit you the same way, but for a lot of us it's more about the journey and the people than some grand, untouched landscape.

viola_butler13d ago

Does it ever bother you though that so many people treat the trail like a checklist? Like I get that everyone hikes their own hike but sometimes it feels like it's more about snapping a pic at McAfee Knob or hitting a certain mileage than actually being present for the little moments, you know. The shelters being a mess isn't just an inconvenience, it's a sign that some folks aren't really thinking about the next person. And the towns... half the time you walk through and people barely look up from their porches or their cars, it's like you're a ghost passing through their daily lives. Are you really getting the "people" part if they're not really engaging with you?