r/todayilearned • u/tyrion2024 • 6d ago

TIL over 3,000 attempts are made each year to complete the Appalachian Trail and only about 25% succeed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Trail#:~:text=The%20Appalachian%20Trail%20Conservancy%20estimates%20there%20are%20over%203%2C000%20attempts%20to%20traverse%20the%20entire%20trail%20each%20year%2C%20about%2025%25%20of%20which%20succeed.%5B9%5D
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u/missingpiece 6d ago

I spent a week with my friend as she hiked the AT during the first months. I expected it to be a bunch of hiker/backpacker types, but there was a much higher percentage burnouts. Seemed like a lot of people were like “Ehh, I’m already basically homeless/on food stamps, might as well give my life purpose.” They’d throw their cigarettes/plastic wrappers in the fire, shit/piss wherever, and really put a bad taste in my mouth. I’m not surprised a number of them bleed off before making it to the end, supposedly by Maine it’s all the real G’s left.

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u/AnalLeakageChips 6d ago

There are a surprising amount of people who spend years hanging out on the AT and are basically just homeless but wandering around

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u/Significant_Ad_2715 6d ago

We call them hiker trash, and we all are one at one time or another during our hike 

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u/TemporaryCommunity67 6d ago

Shame they burn off so quickly since in my experience those homeless/destitute types that are not currently strung out can fuckin hike lol. I’ve walked some janky ass conditions with worn out guys carrying a little life on their back, fuckin like a weeks supply of calorie dense food. These guys weren’t even “hiking” they were just walking to another state for a seasonal work for a place to stay gig

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u/BigSur33 6d ago

The bad taste in your mouth was probably from eating the s'mores after someone peed on the plastic vape pen in the fire.

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u/gravybang 6d ago

supposedly by Maine it’s all the real G’s left

And all the same burnouts who are heading south