Escape Route

Escape Route. Shenandoah National Park. Stretching over 2,180 miles, the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) crosses 14 states, five national parks, seven national forests, and numerous state parks and towns between Maine and Georgia. A physically daunting task, the climbing required in hiking the entire length of the A.T. is the equivalent of Mt. Everest, 16 times. Hikers finish with strong legs and renewed spirits. Benton MacKaye, Myron Avery, and other hikers created the A.T. in the 1930s so that Americans could escape busy modern life for a minimalist adventure in nature. Whether hiking for one day or many, today's A.T. visitors enjoy the trail for the same reason., One hundred and one miles of the A.T. pass through Shenandoah National Park. This stretch forms the backbone of the Park's trail system. From the A.T. hikers of all abilities can access other Shenandoah trails to reach Wilderness, mountain peaks, waterfalls, adventure, and solitude., (caption) , Volunteers built the A.T. using handsaws, shovels, and axes. They finished in 1937. Volunteers continue to form the core of the A.T. workforce. Over 30 hiking clubs and 6,000 individual volunteers donate over 200,000 hours of trail work every year, using the same hand tools as the first crew of volunteers. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club takes care of the A.T. in Shenandoah, and assists with other Park trails as well.