The Appalachian Trail was conceived 79 years ago as a way for individuals, by their own unaided efforts, to explore the nature of the major mountain environments of the East and retreat for a while from daily industrialized life. The Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association's Apalachian Trail Thru-hikers' Companion represents a collaboration between the Appalachian Trail Conference, responsible for overseeing management of what is now a national...