European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 29, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ing National geographic some of the 3 million to million people who annually read he Well marked path just drop in or a while alow hours to reach a Broad View Promontory a weekend of camping a two weak vacation in the Woods. But others Atay longer. There Are those known As "2.000-milers," who walk the entire 2,100 Miles Over a period of several years. And Hen there Are tha Hundred or so called thru hikers the ones who spend one 12-month period travelling the entire length of the track they Call the at the appalachian Trail. Stretching 1mm Springer Mountain in Georgia to my Kaladin in Maine crossing Hills and mountains Rivers and valleys wilderness and Rural Countryside the appalachian Trail is an Avenue of Solitude through the populous Eastern United Stales. Some portion of it is within a Day s drive of Hall the nation s population. Yet those who hike ill ind in a Chance to get away from civilization and learn something about themselves. Most Are people at some transitional Point in heir Livos divorce Job change or just self discovery says Elmer Hall a former Duke University chaplain who now lives within Yards of the Trail in North Carolina and offers shelter to Long distance hikers. It s a pilgrimage not unlike those made in the Middle Ages. Thru hikers emphasize sell Reliance and simplicity Basic Pioneer Virtues rarely practice in the United states anymore Hall told Noel Grove who wrote about the appalachian Trail in the february National geographic. As Grove hiked the Trail he found himself slowing Down learning to ignore deadlines and the Normal habits of life As he began to appreciate the minute to minute enjoyment of the Trail. High Vantage Points on the Trail frequently draw crowds he writes. Everyone it seems wants to take in the world at a visual gulp. The Trail is a wine better sipped. Godlike views Are far apart and interest can Wane if distance is the Only  a Little More than a decade ago. In seemed As if the wine would spoil. Nearly half the trait crossed private land and development plans threatened to sever it into separate chunks. Tract housing and new roads caused the route to change frequently. But the Federal government look action. In 1978, president Carter signed a Bill authorizing $90 million to buy a corridor averaging 1,000 feel in Width leaving fewer than 225 Miles to be drawn under the Protection of Public land. The National Park service today holds title to much of the frail properly. But in an. Unprecedented move in 1984, the Park service s Parent the department of the Interior signed Over responsibility for managing part of the Public land la a private organization the appalachian Trail conference. Based in harpers ferry w. Va., the conference serves As an umbrella group for 31 clubs whose members Volunteer to swing picks move dirt and boulders and Clear away blow Ivawn Trees Alt to maintain a pleasant pathway for hikers. All his is far from the original dream of Benton Mackaye an author forester philosopher and new Deal activist who Glrst proposed a Long Eastern Trail in a 1921 architectural journal Mackaye envisioned a path connecting a series of Community Camps Lor City dwellers to use for the study and appreciation of nature. The route was not even connected until 1937. And the Camps never materialized. Today a string of three sided shelters oilers Marathon backpackers a dry Haven in storms and distinctive while blazes painted on rocks and Trees Lell hikers that they Are on the world s longest continuously marked Footpath. The highest Point on the Trail is Clingman dome in the great Smoky mountains National Park 6,643 Leet High. The Trail runs for 70 Miles through the Park and stays above 5,000 feet for nearly half that distance. The Pennsylvania portion is Rocky made up of Book sized shards one hiker called the Devil s Golf  in Maine hikers have to Wade through Rivers and to Cross Baxter Stream use two cables one for hands one for feel. Despite the Trail s difficulties hikers who exercise caution Are Safe. Perhaps two dozen deaths can be lied to the rail since the first mile was Cut in new York s Palisades interstate Park in 1922. Most deaths were accidental hikers who fell from Rocky Heights succumbed to hypothermia. Were struck by cars hit by lightning or drowned. Four of the deaths were homicides two of them on Iho same night in Virginia. Other crimes Are similarly rare. A recent study produced figures that would make a Smalt town proud Grove notes this for an annual Trail population of Chicago with a couple of Detrois thrown  Bui safety in t the Point of the appalachian Trail. Solf discovery is. Grove writes of Steve Nuckolls. A real estate Salesman who seeking to find himself walked North from Georgia. When he reached the Maine end of the Trail he still did t feel he knew himself so he headed Back to Georgia. Still unsure of who he really was he headed North again. Now they Call him Yoyo Nuckolls. His journeys have become part of the lore of the Trail. Springer Mountain in f pilgrimage not unlike Oizae made in the Middle Ages photo Paga 14 the stars and stripes sunday