A wonderful ability that people have always been able to do is hike thousands of miles through difficult terrain to get where they want/need to go. The exercise known as hiking was practiced all over the world, including on the famous Appalachian Trail, approximately 2,184 miles long. The AT was "designed in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937. Today, the trail is managed by the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous forestry agencies State and thousands of volunteers”, as indicated on the site. National Park Service website. The trail runs along the Appalachian Mountains and through 14 different states, stretching from Maine to Georgia. The creation of the trail went through several stages, beginning with the idea and planning of a super trail by Benton MacKaye in late 1921. A committee was formed, followed by a conference that became years later the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The AT is a great hiking trail for courageous individuals looking for good time and adventure. With the AT crossing fourteen mountains, the landscape changes, as does the experience. The degree of difficulty ranges from flat and smooth to rough and rocky, requiring a lot of use of hands for hanging on, feet for stability, and jerky movements for the most physically fit hikers. The AT can be divided into five sections: Northern New England, Southern New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southern Appalachia, and Virginia. To learn more about each section, a hiker would want to refer to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website under the “About the Trail” module. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, “Each year, thousands of hikers attempt a thru-hike; only about one in four... middle of paper......red. Throughout the AT, backpackers learn about wildlife and challenges that help them in a variety of ways. Self-confidence is a great skill that can also be acquired, as well as self-discovery and commitment. The time it takes gives travelers time to explore themselves while traveling the beautiful trail. Hikers who hike for a hobby and/or for exercise also take away experiences from a trail hiked by many people. Whether hiked non-stop or in sections, the Appalachian Trail is a great adventure for almost any hiker. Works Cited “Appalachian National Scenic Trail.” National Park Service. US Department of the Interior, February 26. 2014. Internet. March 20, 2014. “Appalachian Trail Conservancy.” About the trail. ATC and Web. March 21, 2014.Woolf, Marcus. “Increased bear activity leads to food box rule.” WhiteBlaze AppalachianTrail RSS. WhiteBlaze, 2002. web. March 21. 2014