AT in Alabama?

“I doubt if the AT community will ever really accept it, but people are trying anyway...”

“Nice story, and nice possible extension, particularly for Southbounders, but relocating the southern terminus of the AT?..... It's a pipe dream, and they should know better.”

“The southern most section of the Pinhoti sucks, btw.”

“Didn't they already relocate the southern terminus once, maybe twice. I don't remember. Anyway, I say leave it where it is now.”

“I think it would take an act of God to get it extended to Alabama.”

“from a geographical standpoint - how close is Springer Mt to the actual southernmost point of the Appalachian Mountain Range?

seems like it would make sense for that to be the 'beginning' of the trail.”

“Historical precedent will far outweigh some debated southern point of the App chain.”

“"Appalachia" reaches as far as Mississippi for statistical purposes.

Is there an "Appalachian" Range of mountians or are the Appalachian Mountains a series of mountain ranges? I.E. the Smokies, Unaka, etc.?”

“Looks to me like the USGS puts the southern most point of the Appalachian Range of Mountains in Alabama.”

“That's what I mean chili, it's just too vague. Not to mention the ensuing battle for being awarded southern terminus of the AT. Wherever it would be relocated would mean a great boon for business there, so little places would be duking it out pretty fierce for the honor.

The notion of changing the AT is a joke, terminus-wise.”

“I agree.”

“Why not make the start Britton Hill in Lakewood, FL? It's a whopping 345'. Who wants to start in Alabama atop a 1,000' hill?”

“The name of the trail is the "Appalachian Trail", not the "Appalachian Mountain Range Trail." No need to change either terminus.”

“The Great Eastern Trail is going to start in FL and go through Alabama.

I agree the ATC will never extend the trail, they may reroute interior sections, but the terminous are iron clad in place. Consider the Katahdin and the so-called internation AT that tries to continue the trail from the north of Baxter peak, the ATC won't even let them blaze the the trail white. If I remember correctly, the the IAT was not even maintained when I was up there in 2005.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Appalachian_Trail”