City lights on the trail

imported
#1

I’ve only hiked the AT through the smokies, but was disappointed to see city lights at night everywhere. And not just near Gatlinburg, but every night on a ridgeline if the views weren’t socked in by fog.

Is it this way all along the AT, vast stretches of city and suburban sprawl lights? Or are there sections where you really feel like you’re out in the middle of nowhere when you’re on a ridge on a clear night, instead of it looking like you’re coming in for a landing in L.A.?

AND – What areas of the AT are good and bad in this regard?

Dudeboard

#2

The whole eastern U.S. is freakin crowded. Lotsa folks, lotsa lights. The AT is hardly a wilderness trail. Better experience in the Yukon.

Wolf

#3

The at existing at all in the east is a miracle, if you ask me. It’s not a wilderness area, far from it. Just patches of woods. there are a huge amt of cities along the e seaboard. that’s life. better do the cdt in co.

xyz

#4

That’s discribing it to a T, xyz. Its all good. And you know its good Dudeboard, or you wouldn’t have been there at that time at that place. If you wouldn’t have forgotten to turn your lights off, Your the one that left your lights on.
May the great mystery of life bring sunshine to your heart.

Greg

#5

The lights do suck, but the AT is still one hell of an experience. I did notice that you could really see the milkyway in Maine.

Virginian

#6

Consider hiking the PCT.

newb

#7

That was always something I really dug about the AT actually. That feeling of being part of society, but still being just a little bit outside of it at the same time. It’s as though the lights, towns, and people become a backdrop…sort of like the way most people thing about the mountains and the woods on an average day.

3D