Thinking about a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2015? We’ve got some bad news…kinda. Your hike just got about four miles longer.
The A.T. gained 3.9 miles, bringing its total mileage to 2189.2 miles.
Most of this is due to re-measurements rather than actual additions to the trail. In some places, the trail is rerouted or modified due to erosion, slope, or other factors.
Every year, the latest mileage and shelter information is updated from volunteers who are constantly improving the trail, with volunteer Daniel Chazin of Teaneck, N.J. leading the efforts since 1983. This year, more than half of the changes in the mileage are in southwest Virginia, with two miles added to the total following a re-measurement by volunteers.
Increases were also reported in New York-New Jersey (0.1 mile); central Virginia (0.1 mile); Tennessee-North Carolina (1.5 miles); and North Carolina-Georgia (0.2 mile).
