Appalachian Trail Research Study, 2016 trail data summary from the southern one-third of the A.T.
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Resource ID
1096
Access
Open
Contributed by
Appalachian Trail Museum Library
Date
2016
Tags - Places
Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Springer Mountain (and Amicalola Park)
Document Types
Federal, Report
Document Extract
This research is sampling approximately 10% of the Appalachian Trail in 63 5k segments, within which conditions of the A.T. tread, recreation sites (shelters, campsites, day-use sites), and informal trails will be assessed. Preliminary data summarized in the following tables are from 1050 representative trail transects measured across the sampled 21 5k segments for the southern third of the A.T. The 1st year of research (2015) conducted field assessments from the NY/CT border to Katahdin and the 2nd year of research (2016) assessed the trail from Blacksburg, VA to Springer Mtn. Georgia. The middle third of the trail will be assessed in 2017 with analyses and report and journal paper writing to continue into 2018. A.T. trail and recreation/camp site conditions for each area will be described and summarized for comparison to other portions of the A.T. Statistical modeling and testing will be conducted to identify and evaluate the relative influence of environmental, design/maintenance, and topographic factors that can be manipulated to increase trail and recreation site sustainability and improve Leave No Trace educational practices.