With autumn arriving, it's time to take a hike

The calendar says fall is here and even though we'll still get some pretty warm days, there is a hint of cooler weather in the air. That means that hiking the Appalachian Trail and the dozens of other trails Georgia has to offer is on the horizon. Today, we will take a look at a quick look at the history of the Appalachian Trail (AT), some highlights and offer up resources that can be used to locate other hiking areas that suit your fancy.

The southern end of the AT is located 8 miles north of Amicalola State Park on Springer Mountain. Originally, the trailhead was at Mount Oglethorpe east of Jasper, but was later moved to the Springer Mountain location. Georgia's section runs from that point to Bly Gap. Seventy-five miles of the AT are in our state. The highest point on the trail in Georgia is at Blood Mountain with an elevation of 4,461 feet. You can find the access points and different hikes in Georgia by going to www.hikingsouth.com and clicking on the locations.

In its entirety, the AT is over 2,100 miles long. It winds through the states of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and winds up at Mount Katahdin in Maine.

The Appalachian Trail, along with the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, make up what is known as the Triple Crown of long-distance hiking in the United States.

The first section of the trail was opened in October 1923 in New York, but subsequent progress was slow and the entire trail was not opened until the late 1930's. After a series of setbacks (natural and man-made) the trail was repaired following World War II and hikers began to use the trail with much more regularity.

While hiking the AT, there is a possibility that you will run into various animals depending on where you are. The largest animals typically found are deer, wild boar, black bears, moose, and elk. Elk have been reintroduced in the Smoky Mountain region and moose may be seen as far south as Massachusetts, but are usually further north. Although black bears live in several sections of the trail they are not commonly seen.

All those who use the AT will be treated to gorgeous mountain scenery, beautiful trees, a variety of birds and an abundance of forest floor fauna. No one will come away disappo