Exhibit Features Appalachian Trail

Displayed through this fall at Sugarlands Visitor Center, "The Appalachian Trail: One Step at a Time" features an upcoming series of lectures by "thru-hikers" who have hiked the entire 2,175-mile Appalachian Trail (AT).

The lectures are Friday, May 26, and June 23, with the final lecture involving a roundtable discussion of several AT thru-hikers who will relate their experiences of being on the trail for up to 6 months at a time.

"Hiking the AT demands stamina, planning, and perseverance, along with a good sense of humor, to meet the challenges encountered along the way, and the speakers in the series will explore all the dimensions of hiking and experiencing the trail," said Scott Pardue, Sugarlands Visitor Center Supervisor.

The new exhibit also showcases the history of the AT from its origins in the 1920s to its current national scenic trail status. It includes the history of the trail, its construction in the Park by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and its current management and maintenance by staff and volunteers.The exhibit is a joint project of the National Park Service (NPS), the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

The AT passes through 14 states from Georgia to Maine, and traverses the Park for 71 miles from Fontana Dam on the west side of the Park to Davenport Gap on the east. Clingmans Dome is the highest point on the AT.

All lectures in the series start at 7 p.m. in Sugarlands Visitor Center theater near Gatlinburg. The exhibit and lectures are open to the public, free of charge. For information, contact the visitor center at 436-1291.


Gatlinburg , Smoky Mountains , Cades Cove , Photography , Hiking , Mountain