Going all the way on the Appalachian Trail

Andrew Iden has talked to a few dozen people who have made the 2,180-mile journey.

He calls it “one of the most American experiences possible,” a way to tap into an oxygenated dose of the national spirit.

In his spare time, Iden, a CNN producer and editor, has assembled the stories from those intrepid hikers into a podcast called "The 2180."

He profiles a psychologist who took this walk through the mountains as a way to overcome her fear of heights; a young man who found inspiration for an outdoor apparel company while hiking the trail.

Iden also talked with some of the champions who soothe sore feet and cook hot meals for the intrepid hikers, at hostels and outfitter shops.

The AJC participated in its own through-hike -- of a sort -- back in 1995, and Iden included us in the conversation.

In turn, we had a chance to talk to him about his experiences with trail magic.

Listen to this conversation, and some reminiscences from the journalists involved in the 1995 hike, at accessAtlanta.

accessAtlanta podcast 

The AJC’s weekly accessAtlanta podcast brings you the stories that make our eclectic city one of a kind. Go with us behind the scenes for interviews with the people who create movies, music and art that’s making waves around the world. We’ll share some fun things to do in Atlanta over the next 10 days, too.

Subscribe on iTunes or Google Play, or find previous episodes on the web at ajc.com.

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