From Georgia to Maine, the long walk begins
With winter finally in the rearview, most people attempting a northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail this year have already started their trek at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia—and many have already made it to or through the 71.6 miles that fall within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So far in 2024, the park has issued 2,190 thru-hiker permits, a number that is likely