If you look at the map below, Monson, Maine is where Tom departed October 1. The goal is Baxter State Park in this next week and soon he will be able to see Mt Katahdin off in the distance.
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| Mt Katahdin
It is estimated that 2-3 million hikers visit and hike a portion of the Appalachian trail each year. In any given year thousands begin the journey with the intention to hike a thru hike. Only about 25% actually are able to complete the trek in 12 months. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy recognizes any hiker that completes the entire AT in a 12 month period as a "2,000 -miler." The phrase originated in the 1970's after 10 people completed a thru hike. That year, Ed Garvey published a book entitled, Appalachian Hiker: Adventure of a Lifetime, after his thru hike.
This year a record number of northbound thru-hikers have passed through the AT headquarters office in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Along with Tom, 1,267 hikers have registered at that midway point as of September 16, 2014, which beats last years total by 137 hikers.
In 2013 the total number of hikers who completed a thru northbound hike was 875.
If you have an interest in the history or any further information this is the web site,
Anne
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