The Appalachian Trail begins on Springer Mountain in Georgia and ends 2160 miles later at the top of Mount Katahdin in Maine. A through-hiker will pass through 14 states including a long stretch through the mountains of Virginia. The Trail travels north atop the Blue Ridge between Clarke and Fauquier Counties and crosses US Route 50 at Ashby Gap, just seven miles east of the Blandy Experimental Farm. In addition to this access point, hikers can conveniently pick up the Trail at Snickers Gap (at VA Route 7) or through the trail system at Sky Meadows State Park, allowing them to choose day hikes or longer overnight routes. Pictured here, Dr. Patrick Crumrine of Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ, gazes down into the misty Shenandoah Valley from Bears Den along the trail. Patrick has been a member of the Blandy Summer Faculty and the Coordinator of our REU program since 2003.