Springer Mountain, Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail (AT), located on the east side of the United States, is the oldest and most travelled long-distance trail. Together with the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, they make up the Triple Crown of Hiking in the United States. 

Part of America's National Trails System connecting 88,610mi (142,600km) of scenic, historic and recreational trails, the AT was first conceived in 1921. The first section was opened two years later, and the full trail was completed in 1937. 

The AT is a seasonal hike from spring to autumn. Usually, a northbound thru-hike – with a small percentage tackling it southbound – it takes 5-7 months to complete. Each year, about 3,000 hikers sign-in at the southern terminus with the intent to thru-hike, but only a quarter of them make it to the end.

Starting in Springer Mountain, Georgia, the hike traverses 14 states, finishing on Mount Katahdin, Maine. The AT is often referred to as the "green tunnel", as the trail rarely surfaces out of the woods. However, it is not as remote as the PCT because the trail continuously crosses public roads, and trail towns are often either nearby or going through it, providing easy access to food and water. More than 250 shelters on the trail give hikers an overnight resting place or refuge from the frequent rain. 

Culturally, this trail is the most social of the three, thanks to its shared shelters, the high number of thru-hikers, and the tendency for hikers to form groups—whether trekking together or meeting up at shelters and towns along the way.

If you were to take a straight line on the trail between Georgia and Maine, it'd only measure around 1,200mi (1,900km). However, as expected, the trail is rarely straight because it crosses every peak and often curves wildly, continuously adding to the mileage. Unlike the PCT, which is full of switchbacks and winds around mountaintops, the AT climbs straight over its peaks, making the steep ascents as challenging as the descents, though it's not entirely without switchbacks.

Springer Mountain sits in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest in north Georgia, marking the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. A plaque and a hiking register mark the official starting point. I flip open the register, add my name, and note the date—my journey north begins here.

Swinging my backpack on my shoulders, I take a big breath and head onto the trail. Let the adventure begin.

Here we go again on another long distance Team challenge - 11 of us - leaving the island hopping of Galapagos for the second of the Triple Crown Trails.