Increased traffic on Appalachian Trail creates epidemic of broken rules

[SecularMotion]

BAXTER STATE PARK, Maine — When Jackson Spencer set out to tackle the Appalachian Trail, he anticipated the solitude that only wilderness can bring — not a rolling, monthslong frat party.

Shelters where he thought he could catch a good night's sleep while listening to the sounds of nature were instead filled with trash, graffiti and people who seemed more interested in partying all night, said Spencer, who finished the entire trail last month in just 99 days.

"I wanted the solitude. I wanted to experience nature," he said. "I like to drink and to have a good time, but I didn't want that to follow me there."

Spencer, or "Mission" as he is known to fellow thru-hikers, confronted what officials say is an ugly side effect of the increasing traffic on the Georgia-to-Maine footpath every year: More people than ever causing problems.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/sports/recreational/2015/09/08/increased-traffic-appalachian-trail-creates-epidemic-broken-rules/71916612/

[shenmue]

1. You can't trust squirrels. Bunch of drunks.

[bluedigger]

2. Seems a bit overblown.

I can see that usage is increasing, which leads to problems, but blaming it on thru hikers drinking for a 2,000 mile walk up the east coast? Booze weighs too much. Most of the troublemakers are probably young libertarians on weekend binges, who think the AT is some sort of sanctuary from the government.

[ManiacJoe]

3. On the surface is seems unlikely that the problem is the thru-hikers.

As opposed to the locals and other short-hikers.

[ileus]

4. I pick up AT hikers all the time, and shuttle them from trailhead to town or visa versa.

I guess that's what I get for living less than a half mile away.

[GusBob]

5. Was planning a month or 2 section hike with a group of 5

Read some diaries of thru hikers and I noticed you are pretty much forced to shelter with all sorts of characters, some over and over again who may be sketchy , one guy had some lying moocher on his trek that enede up getting arrested. We decided to change our plans and now gonna canoe boundary waters canoe area.

Consider: canoeing, can carry more supplies, less stressful than hiking
Camping, no shelters, with CAMPFIRES (not welcomed on AT), you camp alone not with strangers
Wilderness and wildlife, bears moose deer birds, waterfalls, no mountains though NO SNAKES
Fishing is an added bonus. Very good fishing
Indian pertragyphs
Northern lights a possibility

In some areas of BWCA there are day hikes to make