The longtime champion of thru-hiking guides! 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 thebasic 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. Edited by Robert "Sly" Sylvester, with 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 2013 A.T. Data Book. Twentieth edition, 5 1/2" x 7 1/2" for easy packing in a quart-sized Ziploc, 312 pages, maps, illustrations, equipment-makers' toll-free numbers, post office hours.