seems i recall hearing that thru-hiking the AT is the equivalent elevation change of climbing from sea level to the top of Everest 21 times–but i’m not sure i’m remembering that correctly. can anyone help? i’m speaking tomorrow night and wanted to include that bit of info, but wanted to be correct! =) thanks…
hephzibah
It’s good that your interacting and playing well with others, Pepsi. Don’t know about the climbs but it has been compared to a marathon per day as far as physical output. The experience and comradery is similar to being at war. “Ramen!”, Zeaglar yelled as he through himself down on the packet, unselfishly saving his friend from certain death while giving his own.
Bushwhack
ah, bushwhack, where have you been hiding so long with your wit and wisdom?
oh, and as far as the elevation change goes- i just got this from a very reliable source:
“The estimated change from Georgia to Maine is 88.79 miles, which is the equivalent of going from sea level to the summit of Mt. Everest more than 16 times…It’s an estimate, no one knows for sure how much elevation change there is…The Trail has never been precisely measured, especially the elevation changes.”
grizzly adam
according to adventure mag june/july issue on ‘grail trails’ the at climbs 218’ every mile for 2174 miles. everest is 29,035’ so it is 16.3 times.
great article that i recommend.
sorry about the lower case…i broke my wrist so typing will be hard for a while.
lucky it isn’t my ankle because i gottawalk :happy
Marcia
I just want to add a little trail information from 30 years ago. According to “Mileage-Climb Data Summaries” compiled by James R. Wolf, Vol. 2, page 1943, HIKING THE APPALACHAIN TRAIL, Rodale Press, 1975; the Appalachian Trail climbed a total of 397,450 feet from Georgia to Maine when the path was only 2,007 miles long.
You can compare these figures with the todays data and see how the trail is changing.
maryland boy
actually i researched a little more and found the same info you all had! thanks–
and if you want to read my talk from tonight find it at http://www.trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=72891. =)
hephzibah