This story was originally published in November 2021.

Fat, red maple leaves littered the trail, a crimson carpet threaded with tree roots. Stepping carefully so as not to trip, I followed the vibrant path. White painted rectangles marked tree trunks along the way, reminding me that I was walking a section of the famous Appalachian Trail.

A continuous footpath spanning from Georgia to Maine, the National Scenic Appalachian Trail measures roughly 2,190 miles long and is a unit of the National Park System. Each year, hundreds of long-distance hikers attempt to walk it from end to end, sleeping at campsites and hostels along the way.

Since I’m an avid hiker, several people have asked me: “Would you like to hike the entire AT someday?” And I have to be honest with them. No, I don’t think I’l

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