I did. Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. One of the greatest experiences of my life. There is quite a subculture that hikes the trail every year. Its a lot more crowded these days than it was in 1984. We actually live near the trail now in North Carolina.
I took my oldest son on several section hikes on the AT when he was little. Two years ago, as an adult, he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. Im very jealous of that one and the PCT is on my bucket list.
Congrats.
Probably the longest I've ever walked on the AT is the pedestrian bridge (attached to a RR bridge) that crosses the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry. :)
I've also seen highway crossings of the AT at Newfound Gap in the Great Smokies on Route 441; I-70 in MD where that road goes under the AT (there's a pedestrian bridge for the AT there too), and one or two places in PA (not counting the few times I went through the Lehigh Tunnel on the PA Turnpike NE Extension, which goes under the AT).
Yes, I've read Bryson's book (my library's copy) and it is a bit of a ripoff.
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