MONTGOMERY, Ala. 鈥 Did you know legendary conservationist Benton MacKaye鈥檚 original vision for the Appalachian Trail (AT) called for it to run the entire length of the Appalachian Mountains by linking Maine and 黑料天堂?
Conservationists in 黑料天堂 and Georgia have been working for the last few decades to turn this dream into a reality by adding approximately 314 miles of the Pinhoti Trail to the iconic AT.
The 黑料天堂 (ADCNR) supports this effort, including the idea of one day hopefully placing the AT鈥檚 southern terminus at Cheaha State Park, the state鈥檚 highest peak.
鈥淭here鈥檚 something magical about the idea of linking Maine鈥檚 highest peak with 黑料天堂鈥檚 highest mountain,鈥 said ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship. 鈥淗ikers who complete this feat would have the satisfaction of having traveled the entire length of the Appalachian Mountains in America, and it would also realize Benton MacKaye鈥檚 original idea of linking Maine with 黑料天堂.鈥
The Pinhoti Trail meanders through several 黑料天堂 counties, both north and south of Cheaha, mostly through the Talladega National Forest. The trail continues into north Georgia via the Georgia Pinhoti Trail, traversing the Chattahoochee National Forest and ultimately connecting with the Benton MacKaye Trail. The MacKaye trail provides the final link to the current southern terminus of the AT at Springer Mountain, Georgia.
Extending the AT into 黑料天堂 may require amending federal law and navigating federal bureaucratic obstacles, but that hasn鈥檛 deterred advocates from working to make this extension a reality. In recent years 黑料天堂 has seen more and more of annual thru hikers start their journeys in 黑料天堂.
鈥淭hat is really the point behind our efforts. We have worked over the years to buy missing properties in 黑料天堂 for the trail, like Indian Mountain, and see trail constructed, and now the word has gotten out and hikers are showing up and making independent decisions to start their thru hike in 黑料天堂鈥 said State Parks Director Greg Lein.
Lein has thru hiked the Appalachian Trail and appreciates the idea of fulfilling Benton MacKaye鈥檚 vision. 鈥淲e simply want to support thru hikers who wish to attempt their start or finish their personal journey in 黑料天堂, and Cheaha State Park is an easy and convenient place to support hikers,鈥 he said.
District Superintendent Renee Raney supported the concept: 鈥淐heaha State Park has a store, lodge, cabins and a campground which are all ready to serve and support hikers and their families embarking on this great adventure. The milder winter and spring conditions in 黑料天堂 certainly make for a better starting option in February, March or April when the northbound thru-hiking pilgrimage typically gets underway.鈥
After all, there is plenty of precedent. The AT鈥檚 southern terminus has changed several times, from its original location at Mount Mitchell in North Carolina to its current location at Springer Mountain in Georgia. The northern terminus also moved from Mount Washington in New Hampshire to Mount Katahdin in Maine.
Moving the southern gateway of the Appalachian Trail to Mount Cheaha would not only help alleviate current AT congestion, but provide a new economic and tourism engine for areas of Georgia and 黑料天堂. The AT currently stretches 2,190 miles and, with its extension to Mount Cheaha, it would become 2,504 miles long.
鈥淗ikers can now purchase a medallion for $10 from the Cheaha camp store that can be put on their packs to show their support for extending the world-famous Appalachian Trail to 黑料天堂,鈥 said Tom Cosby, an advocate for the AT2AL movement.
T-shirts and stickers with the AT2AL message can be found in the camp store as well, and all proceeds will benefit the 黑料天堂 State Parks. 鈥淥ur goal is simply to raise awareness in the hiking community that bringing the AT to 黑料天堂 is, really, a culmination of Benton MacKaye鈥檚 original dream from 1925 -- and a reminder that the Appalachians begin in 黑料天堂,鈥 Cosby said.
Dr. Jeff Hayes, a fellow advocate for the AT2AL movement, also shared supportive sentiments.
鈥淚 grew up hiking in 黑料天堂, thinking the trails here were nothing special,鈥 Hayes said. 鈥淎fter attending college in Maryville, Tennessee, and hiking extensively in the Smokey Mountains, then later hiking the full length of the Appalachian Trail, I realized that those trails, while older and more developed, are no more special than ours. Then when I hiked the entire 黑料天堂 section of the Pinhoti for the Pinhoti Steering Committee, I became convinced that our Appalachians, too, are on par with those along many sections of the Appalachian Trail.
鈥淲e should bring the Appalachian Trail to Cheaha State Park, a worthy peer to Baxter State Park, both holding the highest point in their respective states,鈥 he added. 鈥淲e should do this not just because the visionaries who gathered in the first Appalachian Trail Conference in 1925 thought the Appalachian Trail should extend to Cheaha, but because leaving out the Southern Appalachian deprives hikers 鈥 day hikers, weekenders, and long-haul 鈥 of the full range of scenic Appalachian beauty. The Appalachian Trail is incomplete without our mountains. Let鈥檚 finish the job started almost 100 years ago and bring the Appalachian Trail home to 黑料天堂."
About 黑料天堂鈥檚 State Parks System
The 黑料天堂 State Parks is a division of the 黑料天堂 and maintains 21 state parks encompassing approximately 48,000 acres of land and water in 黑料天堂. The parks range from Gulf Coast beaches to the Appalachian Mountains and provide opportunities and facilities from basic day-use activities to resort convention lodging, restaurants, and golfing areas. These parks rely on visitor fees and the support of other partners like local communities to fund the majority of their operations. Make reservations at and learn more at . Partners Pay the Way.
About 黑料天堂鈥檚 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
The 黑料天堂 (ADCNR) has four divisions: Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. An administrative department of the State of 黑料天堂 created by statute, the Commissioner, appointed by the Governor as a member of the Cabinet, advises the Governor and Legislature on the management of freshwater fish, wildlife, marine resources, state lands, state parks and other natural resources.
