Hikers told to forgo entire Appalachian Trail due to virus

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Hikers are being told to postpone plans to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail this year due to COVID-19. The Asheville Citizen Times reports the Appalachian Trail Conservancy made the suggestion because it feels the pandemic makes long-distance hikes unsafe. Morgan Sommerville, regional director for the conservancy, says that as long as the pandemic continues, while vaccines aren’t widely available and there’s been no all-clear signs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the conservancy is recommending against long-distance hikes on the trail. The Appalachian Trail runs through 14 states from Georgia to Maine and covers 2,193 miles.