My sole experience with the Appalachian Trail was back in the summer of ‘94. I was visiting Shenandoah National Park - pretty much a day trip down Skyline Drive with numerous stops to take in the views.
There was a westward-facing view near Bearfence Mountain. The place i went was called the Rock Scramble - piles of boulders that many years later, I wouldn’t dare to traverse. I sat up there for a good hour taking in the solitude and the view. I took pictures but as always, the pictures don’t describe it. After a while, i stood up and let out a long primal scream. not sure why. I just wanted to.
I was in tennis shoes, shorts and a tshirt that day. I walked about two miles of the AP. Very rocky and uneven but still fun.
Shenandoah NP is great. I hope to get back there again - one more time in my life.
I hiked a bunch of it in the White Mountains in New Hampshire along with my dog. He’s not up for it anymore.