Backpackers experience the Appalachian Trail on a more in depth level than day hikers do. When backpacking, all trips are multiple-day, and every night of the trip is spent sleeping outside. Many backpackers attempt to "thru-hike" the Appalachian Trail, which means to walk the entire length in one continuous trip. Thru-hiking is what gives the Appalachian Trail its greatest appeal to backpackers. Hiking the entire length of the trail enables backpackers to take advantage of everything the Appalachian Trail has to offer. Thru-hikers can create better bonds with their hiking partners and know intimately, some of the most striking, diverse, and rugged areas of America. .
What makes the Appalachian Trail a cultural icon in the United States is that many people want to hike it and very few have. If hiking the entire length of trail was easy, it would lose most of its significance. The incredible difficulty of completing the Appalachian Trail is why the group of people who have completed it, or tried to complete it, are such a close group. Numerous websites are dedicated to keeping thru-hikers connected to friends they have made on the trail. These websites are also a great way for backpackers to adjust to life off the trail. Many people, after spending months in the wilderness, slip into culture shock. This culture shock stems from a very drastic change of lifestyle in a short period of time.
Only a handful of backpackers get to experience this incredible adventure each year due to expense and the length of time needed to complete the trail. These are the two main, negative attributes associated with the Appalachian Trail. Hiking the Appalachian Trail usually costs around two thousand dollars and takes around five to seven months to complete. Both of these negative aspects are understandable obstacles that would keep someone from taking on the task of such a long journey. Despite these negative aspects, no one has ever completed the trail and said it was not worth it.
