The Appalachian Trail Conservancy Wednesday announced it is completing planning for the expected increase of section and thru-hikers that may be inspired by the upcoming film, A Walk in the Woods.

The film will be released on September 2nd, and is an adaptation of Bill Bryson's famous memoir about hiking the Appalachian Trail and stars celebrated actors Robert Redford, Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson. 

The film follows the success of the acclaimed film Wild starring Reese Witherspoon, which chronicles a recently divorced woman seeking peace of mind in a hike along the Pacific Crest Trail.

"When the novel 'A Walk in the Woods' was released in 1998 we saw an increase of over 60% for thru-hikers starting on the Appalachian Trail," said Ron Tipton, executive director/CEO of the ATC. "When 'Wild' came out we saw a spike in the number of Appalachian Trail hikers and also a large increase in the sales of guidebooks and maps. This is indicative of the kind of impact we expect from the movie and is the reason we have prepared and are implementing an action plan in cooperation with our A.T. management partners to assure a high quality hiking experience on the Trail."

In response to the expected increase in both long distance hikes and day hikes on the Trail, the ATC anticipates an additional $1.4 million will be required to operate new or expand existing ATC programs to protect the A.T. environment and experience. 

Donations for this work are urgently needed.

"The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is very excited about the new volunteers and supporters the film will bring to the Appalachian Trail," said Tipton. "Although there has been some recent buzz about disrespectful hikers on the A.T., the vast majority of hikers respect the trail and its amazing natural beauty. It's the feeling of closeness to nature and life changing experiences that we strive to preserve through teaching 'Leave No Trace' and maintaining the Trail for future generations."

The activities undertaken by the ATC include awareness about proper Trail etiquette, preparation, and ethics consistent with Leave No Trace principles, support for the ridgerunners and caretakers, and vital Trail maintenance.

Ridgerunners and caretakers are seasonal, on-Trail employees assigned to help hikers learn more about the A.T. including ways to reduce their impact. The ATC and their partners bring onboard approximately 30 ridgerunners and caretakers every year, and will be increasing their capacity during the busy 2016 hiking season.

The organization also coordinates efforts with 6,000 volunteers in the 31 Appalachian Trail maintaining clubs responsible for day-to-day trail management.

In Pennsylvania these clubs include: Wilmington Trail Club, Batona Hiking Club, AMC-Delaware Valley Chapter, Philadelphia Trail Club, Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club, Allentown Hiking Club, Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club, York Hiking Club, Cumberland Valley Appalachian Trail Club, Mountain Club of Maryland and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club.

"We of course welcome hikers to enjoy the wonders of the A.T., and expect a large bump in traffic on the Trail in 2016 due to "A Walk in the Woods," said Tipton. "Because of the growing popularity of the A.T., we will need additional funds to support all of these efforts.  With the necessary resources we can ensure hikers are well informed and have a positive hiking experience on this important national treasure."

For more information on programs and activities, visit the Appalachian Trail Conservancy website.  Also take time to visit the Appalachian Trail Museum located in Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Gardners, Adams County.

NewsClips:

Appalachian Trail: A Walk In The Words Worth Taking

Appalachian Trail: A Walk In The Woods Movie

LHVA Seeks $14.2M Grant To Close Lackawanna Trail Gaps

Land Trust Sponsors Hike At Thomas Darling Preserve In Luzerne

Park Service Considering Trail, Other Changes At Delaware Water Gap

Op-Ed: Tell Congress To Keep PA Beautiful, Support Land Conservation Funding

Editorial: Renew Land & Water Conservation Fund

9/7/2015