<p>The champion of&nbsp;<strong>Appalachian Trail guides</strong>&nbsp;for thru-hiking for two decades! With professionally crafted elevation profiles, almost 50 updated maps, and redesigned tables for more at-a-glance information on-trail.&nbsp;<br><br>Still the only such guide written by volunteers for which all the proceeds are returned to the Trail by these two nonprofits!&nbsp;<br><br>The Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association collaborate each year on a guide especially designed for potential thru-hikers who want the basic information for a five- to six-month trek in the woods, at a reasonable price, but also want the adventure of finding out the extras for themselves. A favorite of section-hikers, too.<br><br>With fact-checking research by more than three dozen thru-hiker volunteers in 14 states, backed by the first-hand information of the trail's volunteer and staff maintainers and managers and extensive information from the 2016&nbsp;<i>A.T. Data Book.</i>&nbsp;Equipment-makers' toll-free numbers, post office hours, much more included.</p>