Ahhh, the renowned Appalachian Trail! Interstate superhighway to footbound traffic and route of pilgrimage for East Coast outdoors enthusiasts.
Trail conditions remain excellent, thanks apparently to the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) and their trusty chainsaws. The signage, too, earns a thumbs up for frequency and clarity. At each intersection throughout the park stands a concrete pillar about three feet high, sometimes mossy and usually quite weathered-looking at the top, giving them an ancient and enduring air. One or two metal bands encircle the top on which arrows and mileages to the next intersections are punched in raised relief. The pillars on the AT, which are engraved with the venerable Trail logo, begin with “<---NORTH SOUTH--->” and announce that the next hut is (still) a dozen miles away.