Appalachian Trail Maintaining Clubs In All 14 States

A.T. Maintaining Clubs

Maine Appalachian Trail Club
P.O. Box 283
Augusta, ME 04330

Appalachian Mountain Club
5 Joy St.
Boston, MA 02108

Dartmouth Outing Club
P.O. Box 9
Hanover, NH 03755

Green Mountain Club
RR1, Box 650, Route 11
Waterbury, VT 05677

AMC - Berkshire Chapter
Greylock Visitors Center
P.O. Box 1800, Lanesboro, MA 01237

AMC - Connecticut Chapter
Greylock Visitors Center
P.O. Box 1800, Lanesboro, MA 01237

New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
232 Madison Ave., Room 802
New York, NY 10016

Wilmington Trail Club
P.O. Box 1184
Wilmington, DE 19899

Batona Hiking Club
514 Inman Terrace
Willow Grove, PA 19090

AMC - Delaware Valley Chapter
1180 Greenleaf Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18017

Philadelphia Trail Club
741 Golf Drive
Warrington, PA 18976

Allentown Hiking Club
P.O. Box 1542
Allentown, PA 18105

Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club
P.O. Box 14982
Reading, PA 19612

Brandywine Valley Outing Club
P.O. Box 134
Rockland, DE 19732

Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club
Box 610001
Harrisburg, PA 17106

Cumberland Valley A.T. Management Association
P.O. Box 395
Boiling Springs, PA 17007

Mountain Club of Maryland
802 Kingston Road
Baltimore, MD 21212

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
118 Park St. S.E.
Vienna, VA 22180

Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club
P.O. Box 25283
Richmond, VA 23260

Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club
P.O. Box 8246
Norfolk, VA 23503

Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club
P.O. Box 3012
Lynchburg, VA 24503

Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club
P.O. Box 12282
Roanoke, VA 24024

Outing Club at Virginia Tech
314 Bruce Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24060

Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers
P.O. Box 4423
Greensboro, NC 27404

Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club
Route 7, Box 345
Abingdon, VA 24210

Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club
P.O. Box 511
Kingsport, TN 37662

Carolina Mountain Club
P.O. Box 68
Asheville, NC 28802

Smoky Mountains Hiking Club
P.O. Box 1454
Knoxville, TN 37938

Nantahala Hiking Club
173 Carl Slagle Road
Franklin, NC 28734

Georgia Appalachian Trail Club
P.O. Box 654
Atlanta, GA 30301 

Most Popular Towns On The Appalachian Trail

Many small towns are located close enough to the A.T. for hikers to get mail, supplies or special treats. The A.T. Thru-Hikers' Companion has information describing services and prices in lots of them. Below is a list of some of the towns that long-distance hikers find especially convenient or inviting:

Hot Springs, N.C.

Damascus, Va.

Pearisburg, Va.

Waynesboro, Va.

Harpers Ferry, W.Va.

Duncannon, Pa.

Delaware Water Gap, Pa.  Kent, Conn.

Cheshire, Mass.

Manchester Center, Vt.

Hanover, N.H.

Gorham, N.H.

Stratton, Maine

Monson, Maine 

Types Of Animals That You Might Encounter On The Appalachian Trail

If you hike quietly and by yourself, especially in the early morning and late evening, you stand a good chance of seeing everything from mice to moose, with deer, bears, snakes, foxes, coyotes and turkeys in between.

Of course, the greatest concern seems to be about bears, snakes and mice. There are no grizzly bears on the A.T. The black bears in the protected parks (Great Smoky, Shenandoah) have become accustomed to being fed by ignorant people. Thus, they pose somewhat of a problem to your pack full of food, and to you, should you be wearing your pack. In the Smokies, the shelters are fenced in to keep the bears out.

Poisonous snakes (rattlesnakes and copperheads) are rarely seen. There are plenty in some areas but they can usually feel the vibrations from your feet hitting the trail well in advance so you may just catch a glimpse of a tail slithering into the bushes. Read the guidebooks for warnings about snakes and stay on the trail. Do some research on their habits so you will feel more at ease while hiking in their territory.

Mice can damage your pack as they eat their way into the food. You should hang your food and pack separately at night. It is also a good idea to open all the pack compartments. There really is no way to keep a curious mouse out of your pack - it's better if he comes in through an open door than if he opens a new one himself.Remember, wildlife should be left alone. After all, they had no voice in deciding that a trail would be blazed through their home. The least we can do is respect their rights.

One further caution on the subject of animals: it may come as a surprise but one domestic animal causes more concern to hikers than any of the above-mentioned wildlife. Dogs are frequently encountered on road walks, and some are not friendly.

Information Provided By The ALDHA

Preparation For The Physical Hike Of The Appalachian Trail

Physical preparation

The first few miles of any hike are often the toughest, and you will appreciate any physical edge you can bring to your trip during these first few miles. Don't overlook the basics: Take a few overnight training hikes; be sure to seek out mountainous terrain or you won't have a clue about what you are getting into for 6 months. Be sure to put some mileage on your footwear. Your shoes or boots should be at least 1/2 size larger than your normal size. Get used to carrying your pack, fully loaded and adjusted. You'll be surprised to find how unnecessary some items become after you've carried them uphill for 5 miles.

On the Trail, start out with low mileage (eight miles a day for the first week is a good goal) and gradually increase distance to avoid injury. Allow two to four weeks on the Trail to get into peak condition if you are already fit; six to eight if you are not. Knee and foot injuries, stress fractures, and shin splints force many hikers off the Trail; the risk of these can be minimized by keeping your pack light and your mileage conservative in the beginning.

How should I get my body in shape for a long hike?

There is no better way than to put on your boots, load up your backpack with what you think you'll want to take on the A.T. and go for a hike. Start with short distances first and not just on level ground. There is an extra benefit to this conditioning process. After a few miles with the pack, which mysteriously grows heavier each hour, you will discover that you are carrying at least one item you can do without. The lighter the pack at the beginning of the hike the less strain on your body as well as on your spirit.

Stretching exercises before hiking seem to help some hikers avoid common injuries such as shin splints, sprains and knee problems. Again there is plenty of material already written on this subject.
Are there any other things I can do to help me prepare for my hike?

A variety of workshops are given at the annual ALDHA Gathering. Recent workshops have covered such topics as equipment and food tips, women and backpacking, psychological and philosophical aspects of hiking, wilderness medicine, and packing maildrops. Members of the current year's class of thru-hikers usually conduct a workshop for the following year's class of thru-hiker wannabes. And as mentioned before, just talking informally to some of the hundreds of people who are there will be enormously helpful.

Check with local colleges, hiking clubs and backpacking stores. They often sponsor hiking-related classes or outings. Join an online discussion group via the Internet, where you can communicate on a daily basis with like-minded souls all around the world. You can even pay to attend a five-day program geared specifically to preparing dreamers for an A.T. thru-hike, conducted by the Appalachian Trail Institute. Although it's not affiliated with the ATC, details are sometimes available through the ATC office.

Information From Appalachian Trail Conservancy & ALDHA

Trail Updates And Changes In All 14 States Of Appalachian Trail

Georgia :

No additions or corrections at this time.

North Carolina :

Page 24: Addition
Lodging
Ron Haven has re-opened his hostel across from Haven's Budget Inn during foul weather and for hikers on a strict budget . $10 per night, no pets. Ask Ron during the shuttle into town.
Page 28: Addition
Lodging
The Cabin in the Woods is now between $15-70/night. Second phone number: (828) 735-3368.
Page 28: Addition
N.C. 143/Stecoah Gap: Lodging
Buffalo Creek Bed & Breakfast, (828)479-3892, robmason@rocketmail.com,
www.buffalocreekbedandbreakfast.com/index.htm
$100 per room (doubles) with up to 30% hiker discount. Season runs from April - October, call for availability November - March. Will shuttle to and from the Trail and Robbinsville, NC. Laundry, internet, breakfast. Ask about pets.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park :

No additions or corrections at this time.

North Carolina and Tennessee Border :

No additions or corrections at this time.

TENNESSEE :

No additions or corrections at this time.

Southwest Virginia :

Southwest Virginia Field Editors:
Ken and Nora Bennett aka Big Cranky & DragonFly (Damascus to Atkins) and Chase Davidson (Atkins to Pearisburg)
Page 63: Correction
U.S. 58/Damascus, VA
The Place is closed for the winter until late March. Stays and parking (with permission) are limited to two days.
Page 64: Correction
Restaurants
Quincey’s Pizza has new management and is doing business as Blue Blaze Cafe.

CENTRAL Virginia :

Page 78: Correction
U.S. 460/Pearisburg, Va
The Rendevous Motel is closed due to a fire that severely damaged it in March 2013.
Page 89: Addition
U.S. 60/Lexington: Lodging
Brierley Hill B&B, (540) 464-8421 www.brierleyhill.com,  >$50 thru-hiker rate, shuttle to/from trail, free laundry, internet access, no pets allowed; mail drops to: 985 Borden Rd. Lexington, VA 24450
Page 98: Addition
Waynesboro, VA: Lodging
Stanimals, (540) 290-4002, $20 PP, WiFi, optional AYCE D/B, laundry, shuttles. In residential district, mail drops to: 328 Lee Drive, Waynesboro, VA 22980

Shenandoah National Park :

No additions or corrections at this time

Northern Virginia :

No additions or corrections at this time.

WEST VIRGINIA :

Page 117: Correction
Harpers Ferry, WV: Lodging
Teahorse Hostel is $32 per night, not $28 as listed.

Maryland :

No additions or corrections at this time.

PENNSYLVANIA :

No additions or corrections at this time.

New Jersey :

No additions or corrections at this time.

New York :

Page 161: Addition
N.Y. 17A/ Greenwood Lake, NY: Lodging
Lake Lodging, (1145 Route 17A/ Greenwood Lake, N.Y. 10925), Ingrid King, (845)-477-0700. Used to be called Greenwood Country Motel. Ask for special rates.
Page 167: Addition
Pawling, NY: Camping
Registration is now required at the Edward R. Murrow Memorial Park. A security officer checks in each evening.
 
CONNECTICUT :

No additions or corrections at this time.

Massachusetts :

Page 192: Addition
Mass. 2/Williamstown, MA: Outfitter/Lodging
The Gear Den, (413) 458-7990, 130 Water St. Williamstown, MA 01267 (former Mountain Goat storefront) is a consignment store specializing in used outdoor clothing and gear.   Carries a small to medium inventory of backpacking equipment and supplies, including books, maps, and fuel, both canister and liquid by the ounce. Hikers are welcome to camp in the back yard next to the Green River and mail drops are welcome. Possible future plans include a small hostel, pay showers, and a laundromat.

VERMONT :

No additions or corrections at this time.

New Hampshire :

Page 216: Correction
The Mountain Goat Outfitter in Hanover, NH closed on March 30. Packages sent to the outfitter will be returned to sender. The Hanover Post Office is the suggested alternative for sending packages. Hours: M-F 8:30-5, Sat. 8:30-12. Hikers should follow the following format and include their estimated time of arrival:
Hiker's name
c/o General Delivery
Hanover, NH 03755

Page 225: Correction
U.S. 302/Crawford Notch--East
The Crawford Notch Campground & General Store no longer accepts hiker packages and does not carry resupply items. Hiker packages that are sent there will be sent back to the Bartlett post office or returned to Fed Ex or UPS.

Maine:

No updates or corrections at this time.

Information provided by Appalachian Trail Concervancy

Reduced Post Office Hours Along The Appalachian Trail

Reduced hours at Post Offices along the A.T - The U.S. Postal Service is cutting hours in many rural post offices, and several along the A.T. will be affected. Those known to have reduced hours already in effect or with proposed cuts to be announced early in 2013 - 14 are Suches, GA, Fontana Dam, NC, Troutdale, VA, Sugar Grove, VA, VA, Atkins, VA, Montebello, VA, Glencliff, NH, and  Warren, NH and potentially others. For more information, visit www.usps.com and check our Trail Updates page periodically. No post offices along the A.T. are expected to close in 2013 during the hiking season.

Updates to the 2013 edition are outlined here. Please send suggested changes and corrections to info@appalachiantrail.org.

All information provided by Appalachian Trail Conservancy