Hubtrail Tours the Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is probably the most unique park in the National Parks system.

The restoration of the Appalachian Trail was started shortly after the war ended and was declared complete again in 1951

Aside from the fantastic scenery of the trail. It is at approx. 2178 miles in length the longest continuous hiking trail in the country. To date over 10,000 people have reported hiking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail.

The trail touches 14 states and has been carved through the East Costs Appalachian Mountains. The trail is managed and maintained by a joint effort of 30 trail clubs, The Appalachian Trail Committee, and The national Parks Service.

Earl Shaffer, a lifetime resident of York County Pennsylvania, recorded the first continuous through hike from Georgia to Maine in 1948. He hiked the entire trail again in reverse in 1965 and his third and final hike was completed two weeks before his 80th birthday in 1988.

Another noteworthy Appalachian Trail through hiker is a man named Smilin Joe McMaster. Smilin Joe completed his hike from Ga. to Maine in the spring and summer of 2005. Smilin Joe is noteworthy not for only his through hike but for his many exploits before and after the Appalachian Trail.

He hiked alone but spent overnights at campsites and hostels with fellow hikers. The name Smilin Joe was bestowed on him by fellow hikers because of his raucous good humor and easy grin.

Joe tells a story of meeting with a fellow hiker whose purpose for hiking was to raise money for the Literacy Foundation to which Joe replied. with his slightly twisted and never failing sense of humor, that he was hiking for anti literacy. When his companion questioned him Smilin Joe replied with a grin "I am hiking to promote the get off your butt and away from your computer foundation."

Smilin Joe may not be York's favorite son but he is one of my favorite cousins.