Q: Since there's no registration process for aspiring 2,000-milers and no official “check-in” along the Trail, how does ATC get these statistics?
A: Any way we can!
There's always a great deal of interest in thru-hiker statistics and completion rates, and usage statistics are also important to Trail managers. But, the numbers can be difficult to gather. ATC relies on help from our Trail partners and neighbors as well as information from hikers themselves, as shown below. Keep in mind: This is not an exact science. Early-season hikers may pass a location before someone is there to count them, and not all hikers who complete the Trail report that fact to ATC.
| Northbounders - Georgia to Maine |
| Springer Mountain, Ga. |
Calculated by comparing statistics collected at Amicalola Falls, Springer Mountain, and Neels Gap. |
| Neels Gap, Ga. |
Staff members from Mountain Crossings at the Walasi-Yi Center. |
| Fontana Dam, N.C. |
Fontana Dam caretaker. |
| Harpers Ferry, W.Va. |
Photographs at ATC headquarters. |
| Katahdin, Maine |
Completed 2,000-Miler applications received at ATC. |
| Southbounders - Maine to Georgia |
| Katahdin, Maine |
Calculated by comparing numbers collected by Baxter State Park staff, and a count taken at the Kennebec River, 150 miles south of Katahdin. |
| Harpers Ferry, W.Va. |
Photographs at ATC headquarters. |
| Springer Mountain, Georgia |
Completed 2,000-Miler applications received at ATC. |
| Flip-floppers - thru-hikers with an alternative itinerary |
| Harpers Ferry, W.Va. |
Photographs at ATC headquarters. |
| Completions reported |
Completed 2,000-Miler applications received at ATC. |
| Section-hikers - complete the Trail in sections |
| Completions reported |
Completed 2,000-Miler applications received at ATC. |
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