Joe ‘Triton’ Schmidt, founder of the Facebook group Still on the A.T, crosses the James River during an 800-mile section hike last year. Donated photo
Appalachian Trail thru-hiker season was already in full swing when coronavirus fears prompted widespread lockdowns in March, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy was swift to react.
On March 17, the ATC the nonprofit organization tasked with protecting and managing the trail asked long-distance hikers to postpone their adventures, and in the following days it suspended all new thru-hike registrations and asked day hikers and weekend warriors to stay off the trail as well. As of March 16, 1,229 people had started the trail in Georgia.