A wonderful skill that people have always been able to do is walk thousands of miles through difficult terrain to get where they want/need to go. The exercise known as hiking was practiced throughout the world, including on the famous Appalachian Trail, some 2,184 miles long. The AT was “Conceived 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 state agencies, and thousands of volunteers,” as stated on the National Park Services website. The trail route runs along the Appalachian Mountains and through 14 different states stretching from Maine to Georgia. The formation of the trail went through several phases starting with the idea and planning of a super trail by Benton MacKaye in late 1921. A committee was formed, followed by a conference that years later became the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The AT is a great trail to hike for courageous individuals looking for fun and adventure. With the AT crossing fourteen mountains, the landscape changes and so does the experience. The degree of difficulty varies from flat and smooth to rough and rocky, requiring a lot of use of the hands for hanging, feet for stability and jolting movements for the more 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 should refer to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website under the "Trail Information" form. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, “Every year thousands of hikers attempt a continuous hike; only about one in four... half the paper... red. Throughout the AT backpackers experience wildlife and challenges that help them in various ways. Self-confidence is a great learned skill as is self-discovery and commitment. The time it takes gives travelers time to discover themselves as they travel the beautiful trail. Hikers who hike as a hobby and/or exercise also bring with them experiences from a trail traveled by many. Whether hiked continuously or in sections, the Appalachian Trail is a great adventure for almost any hiker. Works Cited “Appalachian National Scenic Trail.” National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, Feb. 26. 2014. Web. March 20, 2014. "Appalachian Trail Conservancy." Information on the trail. ATC and Web. March 21, 2014.Woolf, Marcus. “Increased bear activity leads to food container rule.” WhiteBlaze Appalachian Trail RSS. WhiteBlaze, 2002. Web. March 21. 2014