A question: Where might I find information regarding how many people step onto the AT during a calendar year, from the shortest walk to a complete traverse? Maybe even broken down by state?
A side question: Do people find the AT crowded these days? For older folks, like myself, it would help if you would also compare current AT use to past years.
My own memory from 1982: “Days go by without seeing another person.”
Conan
Conan
To answer the “side question”. My daughter stepped foot on the AT in Daleville heading North the end of April of this year. She only slept in a shelter completely alone 1 time. She ended her 520 miles in mid July.(She took some time off during that time) She did speak of “hiker holes” where she would get in between “waves” of hikers. There would be a group behind her and a group ahead of her so she felt like she was hiking alone during the day some of the time. It’s an interesting question and would be fun to compare 2008 to 1982.
Karen
Go to the ATC website. http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.851143/ They have a year by year comparison of recent years. In the late '80’s, thanks to publicity about the 50th anniversary of the AT and the internet, a lot more people were exposed to the trail. From 1987-2000 numbers increased dramatically. However, use has gone down steadily since the big year - 2000. I’m not sure why. Laurie Potteiger at ATC said recently that this year was a very busy one though, especially for southbounders.
Ginny
As Ginny pointed out, the ATC has a lot of good info on A.T. use. Laurie, as the ATC’s “Information Specialist”, is a great source of info for more detailed stats than are recorded on the website.
Although the thru-hiker numbers were consistently rising, I’m convinced that they spiked in the late 90’s and peaked in 2000 due to Bryson’s book - the one with the bear on the cover 
As for whether the trail is crowded these days… that’s a very relative question. There’s clearly more use than in '82 and you are not likely to have many days on the Trail without seeing anyone anymore.
However, if the NOBO hikers are like a long strung-out train, its definitely possible to find empty cars. I thru-hiked in '96 & '04, but also hiked more than half the trail in '01 & '06. On all four of those hikes I was able to find “voids” or gaps in the hikers & occasionally hike for two days or more without seeing a single thru-hiker. I would guess that in all that hiking, I had maybe 7 days total of not seeing a single human being - a fairly rare occasion…
I actually think its great that there are many more people to enjoy it and come away from the trail with a clearer perspective on life.
If you want a more solitary hike, just make sure to stay away from shelters & hostels & camp away from the trail.
freebird
Any comparisons, as Karen suggested, between the AT in 2008 and 1982; or the AT between 2008 and any other prior year?
Conan
Conan
Way more road walking in the in the early 80’s. Way fewer hikers. Gear and such was heavier. Not as many food selections. Way less of a party atmosphere. Seemed like more spiritual people out there. Seems like I saw more wildlfe back then also.
Bob
Conan, I thru hiked in 1982. I wonder if we might have crossed paths? My name is Tony McGuire; I left Springer on April 1st and climbed Katahdin on Sept. 10.
Tony
Tony,
I started on May 5, 1982 (or thereabouts), just over a month behind you. So, sadly, we did not cross paths.
There were many times I wondered if I were the ONLY person behind you earlier starters.
Conan
Conan
I hiked in 89 and long sections of over 1500 miles in 94 and 05. The trail seemed packed to me in 05. 89 was a quiet yr comparitavely speaking. Folks out but groups smaller and not nearly as party oriented. But, it did lessen after around Damascus every time.
yappy
While the trail might have changed a bunch since my 04 thru-hike, I found most of the partyers tended to drop out after trail days.
There were a few “through” hiker folks who hung on for most of the season by blue-blazing,yellow blazing, green blazing (if you know what I mean), and taking advantage of the generous and sometimes enabling trail angel network.
Still after, trail days, it was a much more tolerable trail. Sure its more social and there are lots of towns to go into and lots of parties along the way but I enjoyed it and I’m not the most social person. :cheers
jalan
it does depend on the individual, and “timing is everything”, and the real estate of “location, location, location”. On my first night of a 2005 Nobo Thru I met “Dude” upon Springer on the last night of his Sobo trip that started Sept. 11 from the Big K. I’m sure we hiked completely different trails…
fishngame
i hiked nobo (feb. 03-aug. 10) in 1972, and didn’t see another hiker until i was well into GSMNP…there were more Trail Angels than hikers back then, but i did leave Springer a bit early.
Fenu