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Mountain Report: Appalachian Trail to Assess Lands

The A.T. inventory will work to sustain the trail.

The story below is an excerpt from our Nov./Dec. 2014 issue. For the rest of this story and more like it subscribe today, view our digital edition or download our FREE iOS app!

The world-famous Appalachian Trail gets 2 million visitors a year – not including pet dogs – and as a result is showing wear and tear. Next year, researchers will undertake the most comprehensive assessment of the trail in its 90-year history. “I believe there will be more catastrophic climate events, such as heavy and extended rain events, that really stress trails,” says Jeff Marion with the U.S. Geologic Survey, who will lead the team from Virginia Tech and N.C. State.  The results will help land managers sustain the recreational treasure well into the future. nps.gov/appa/index.htm

The story above is an excerpt from our Nov./Dec. 2014 issue. For the rest of this story and more like it subscribe today, view our digital edition or download our FREE iOS app!

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