In March, officials began asking folks to stay off the Appalachian Trail amid the coronavirus outbreak.
In a letter posted on the trail’s website, president and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Sandra Marra, said while the trail was not closed, they were urging folks to stay home.
“There is an unfortunate truth about this virus: unless everyone is safe, no one is safe. So, take a walk around the block. Spend time with your loved ones. And, please, stay home,” Marra wrote in the letter.
However, thanks to the help of technology, you can still "hike" the trail from afar. Using the app "Walk the Distance," you can track mileage on walks or runs through your own neighborhood and see where that would put you on the trail if you were thru-hiking.
The Appalachian Trail, which stretches from North Georgia all the way to Maine, attracts millions of visitors every year. And annually, about 3,000 people take on the ambitious goal of hiking the trail in its eternity.
The app, available for free in the App Store, connects to the pedometer in an iPhone’s Health app to track mileage that a user walks while carrying their phone.
John Zaccone, who developed the app, said in an email that it’s a great way to connect with others while also adhering to social distancing.
“Some people tell their friends to download the app at the same time, and then they’re motivated to keep up with each other,” Zaccone previously told Outside magazine. “I want it to be a social experience.”
