Extension to the A.T. to Alabama? AP photo

HIGHLIGHT


This March 2007 photo shows Wendi J. Merritt, whose trail name is Cuffs, hiking on the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama. The Alabama Pinhoti, running about 130 miles from central Alabama to the Georgia state line, is longer than most main trails. Volunteers in Alabama and Georgia have worked for more than two decades to pound out their own path that could eventually extend the Appalachian Trail to the foothills of Alabama. (AP Photo/Wendi J. Merritt) Mon Jun 16, 4:39 PM ET

OK the photo link doesnt work but you can imagine someone on a hill walking and that about does it. Looks like a good project and good luck to them..Figg

From what I read in backpacker magazine the extension is already finished. And the trail is still not done yet. There is a section running from Katahdin to Nova Scotia that they have been working on also. I have been to the end of the Nova Scotia part and let me tell you this, as it winds it's way and ands at the cliffs overlooking the ocean, it is gorgeous. I will do it again when it is complete from Alabama to Nova Scotia.

Unofficially, the Eastern Continental Trail runs from S Florida to Canada.

Florida Trail to Pinhoti to AT to Canada.

Most parts are patchwork at this point but there have been a handfull of hikers to pound it out using road walks where the trail is incomplete.

http://www.nimblewillnomad.com/eastern_continental_trail_guide.htm

Yes but the trip from Florida to the A.T. is not part of the Appallachias, and the Alabama section is the true start to the mountain chain.

I doubt the AT will ever be "extended" to Alabama.

There was and is a lot of discussion on this issue at Whiteblaze.net

You just wait and you will see. The original end points will always be Springer and Katahdin, but most people hike the A.T. because of the length and the challenge. To hike the whole length of the Appalachian Mtns. If the Appalachians start in Alabama and it adds length and challenge to the thru-hike, you better believe it will become part of the A.T. probably the reason you see negative feedback on the matter is the people giving it have already hiked the A.T. and for most of them it is a one time thing and they sure don't want to be topped by others who will say they hiked the complete chain of the Appalachian Mtns. There is a arrogance that comes with a thru-hiker, it is an amazing thing to hike 2100 miles, most people fail who try. The arrogance is seen mostly on white blaze. No one who has thru-hiked the A.T. wants to see another section added on. They will not be able to say they hiked the whole thing then. They will feel like they have to rehike it to be the elite again and for many that may be impossible. If you think the new wave of thru-hikers will not take a shot at adding the extra miles to be able to say they hiked the whole mountain chain your crazy. Just give it some time and it WILL be part of the trail.

I am basing my opinions more on the input I see from the ATC and the hiking clubs who actually maintain the AT.

The AT has actually been shortened from it's inception. Springer is north of the original southern TH.

I believe the extension will always be the Pinhoti, not the AT. I hike the AT every month and I have met a lot of thru hikers. While I agree they are a different breed, I certainly don't see the "arrogance" you mention. There are way more section hikers on Whiteblaze (and the hiking community) than there are thru hikers. I don't see a lot of support of extending it from any of those. It doesn't matter to me personally, but the ATC will be the group with ultimate decision making ability.

You could be right, but based on my observations from the trail, I will put my money on the premise it isn't going to happen.

Actually, if you were going to start at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Mtn. chain, you would have to start in Mexico, south of Big Bend in Texas.
http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/bigbend/html/geologic.htm
UL

And where does that chain cross the Mississippi River Delta?

Geologically, the Chisos in Big Bend are connected to the Quachita range. McPhee's book doesn't connect the Appalachians to either.

Something for me to look at again, however.

Somehow, we transferred discussion of the AT to a discussion about the Appalachians.

The underlying geology tends to get debated among geologists, therefore, leading me to the conclusion the issue is mostly unsettled.

In studying Appalachian regional culture, I know that "Appalachia" is a geographic area that includes (among other places) parts of North Alabama and a small section of NE Mississippi.

However, the Appalachian Trail History doesn't coincide with "Appalachia". The orginal "idea" was to connect it from Maine to Georgia.

http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.786749/k.D5F9/History.htm

It is from that stance (as apparently adopted by the ATC) that leads me to believe the AT will not be "extended" to Alabama (regardless of where the Appalachian Mountains, may or might be).

My point is that a trail system will certainly be finished to Springer from the Pinhoti. (and probably will remain the Pinhoti trail). Likewise, the Pinhot may someday connect to the Florida Trail. I don't expect them to rename the Florida Trail.

And lets not forget the Cumberland Trail which will, one day, connect to either the Pinhoti or AT south of the TN state line, traverse the Cumberland Plateau and reconnect to the AT in VA. It isn't going to become the "AT West".

Again, whether the AT should, or shouldn't be extended is of no consequence to me. I am simply stating what I believe will be the ultimate outcome, based upon the position I believe the ultimate authority (ATC) takes on this matter.

Bottom line, if the ATC says extend it, so it will be. If the ATC says no, it is going to term at Springer (which as previously noted is NOT the original southern terminus).

Agreed. One day there will be a network of trails that will connect every trail in every state. Won't that be something. Hey Chili, you seem to be quite knowlegable on the big trail info, have any idea on when the estimated completion date on the intercontinental trail is. I haven't checked up on it in awhile.

chili:
There was some discussion above about having the AT connect with the entire Appalachian Mtn. chain. That was the reason for my post. I'm with you, I think that the AT will probably stay as is, with the Pinhoti Trail actually acting as a spur to the AT.
UL

Snowsurfer. No, I don't even know if there is an estimate of completion. (I am assuming you are talking about the concept of completing a trail system out of Alaska, down the PCT, on into Mexico and Down to South America). I have heard a lot about the concept, but I am not sure how far it is in becoming reality.

They have been working on the Cumberland Trail for several years and it is in bits and pieces and it is only a couple hundred mile project. Trail building is slow business.

My understanding was the OHT was going to be extended to Saint Louis (or near there). I could be wrong about that. But has it been extended to Sylamore Creek? Wasn't that the plan (OHT to BRT to Sylamore and then up into Missouri).

No thats not it, I read a couple of years ago in Backpacker of a trail I believe they called it the Intercontinental that ran from coast to coast. It had a map in the article of the route which split for a ways and had a northern route and a more southern route. The main trail looked like it ran from somewhere around Maryland and went to Northern California somewhere. I haven't seen much on it since. I believe the article said it was underway and had a proposed finish date but who knows now. I tried to google it and nothing came up.

On the OHT running to ST. Louis Tim Ernst has to commented on thatto me saying the people at the Buffalo National River cut out a key section on the lower end of their park. He was not happy about this since the section was a big key to completing the proposed trail.

Isn't that the North Country Trail? (as opposed to Intercontinental trail?)

http://www.northcountrytrail.org/

Maybe so, when I read the article they called it the intercontinental trail. But again that was a couple of years ago.

Snowsurfer, that is a shame. I have hiked several sections of the OHT and the BRT and the Sylamore. I would like to see it completed from Ft Smith to near St Louis.

I am assuming the re route over in Section 1 is complete. Didn't they build a dam and impound water of the original trail a few years ago? It has been about 3 1/2 years since I moved up to East TN and I haven't kept up with developments on the OHT much. I appreciate the updates.

I have only lived here for two years and I don't know much of the extension, only what Tim has told me about. It would be great to see it complete and be one of the first to tackle it.

Hopefully, I will be able to know out a section or two in the fall.

Chili

Section one is opened back up and the reroute is completed as of the end of May. Looking forward to getting on it before long.

Cool, thanks.