Is the Appalachian Trail dangerous?

A month before I set off on my Appalachian Trail thru hike, the security team at my office walked through our wing and calmly ushered our entire department into the designated sheltering area. An agitated man with a gun was outside of our wing, and the cops were on their way. Thankfully, everything was deescalated without an issue, and before long, we were allowed back in our wing.

Despite the dangers that everyone warns you about on the Appalachian Trail, I never encountered a situation that dangerous. By most accounts, walking the AT is actually safer than walking through your own town. However, there are some dangers that do need to be accounted for.

Humans

If there’s anything I learned on trail, it’s that humans are incredible. From the random moments of trail magic, to the care and support I received, to the comradery of fellow hikers, it was made clear to me that the world is a better place than I’d initially thought. And yet–there’s always bad apples you have to watch out for.

• Trust your gut. If someone feels off or a situation seems uncomfortable, leave. It’s better to be tired or have a longer day than to stay where you’re uncomfortable.
• Be cautious camping close to towns or roads. While they make for convenient places to stay while you wait for a shuttle or to make a short day into town the next day, they also place you in easy access to a wide variety of humans. Avoid camping next to busy roads.
• Hitchhike with friends. Rather than accepting a hitch by yourself, try to hitch with a friend or two to make it safer.

Ladies, speaking as a fellow woman myself, listen when others warn you about someone. I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt but when it comes to my safety, I’m always going to play it safe. If there’s someone you’ve been hearing about or that others have concerns about, make sure you don’t end up at a shelter or campsite with them alone.

Wildlife

Most animals on the Appalachian Trail are quite content to leave you alone as long as you leave them alone. However, there does need to be common sense as you interact with the animals you’re surrounded with. Here are a few animals to be aware of before you set out on your hike.

Bears

While they might sound like the most dangerous on this list, the AT is populated with black bears. For the most part, the most interaction you’ll have with them is catching a glimpse of them in the trees or watch them wander across the trail ahead of you. There are cases when a bear becomes food-trained or aggressive, especially in the spring as they’re waking up from hibernation or when they have babies.

To help keep yourself safe, make sure that you cook away from your campsite and put all of your food or scented items in a bear can or hung out of reach.

If you have a bear that’s approaching you or becomes aggressive, follow these steps:

• Talk in a firm voice and act boldly. Raise your hands over your head, and yell at it. Make loud noises. The closer or more aggressive it seems to be, the louder and more aggressive you need to be.
• Do not turn and run.
• Do not play dead.
• Use bear spray if you have it.

Ticks

Arguably the most dangerous critters you’ll find on trail, ticks can be found everywhere. At their youngest state, they’re almost undetectable (and thankfully don’t much like humans then). However, they’re a host for Lyme’s Disease, Rocky Mountain Fever, and more.

Guard against ticks by:

• Spraying your clothing with Permethrin before you head out to keep them off of you to begin with.
• Wear long pants in tick-heavy areas and tuck your pantlegs into your socks.
• Frequently do tick checks to catch them before they latch on.
• If they do bite, remove them quickly and safely.

Snakes

Most snakes you’ll find on the Appalachian Trail are your common rat snakes, black snakes, garter snakes, and other nonvenomous snakes. However, you’ll also find copperheads and rattlesnakes. Both bites require treatment in a medical facility.

The best way to protect yourself against snake bites is to avoid them in the first place. As you hike, keep an eye on the trail and where you’re stepping. Listen for the rattlesnake’s warning.

Have a snake bite kit in your first aid kit, and if you’re bit, get to town as quickly as possible for professional treatment.

Mice

Mice? You may be asking. How did they get on this list?

Mostly because the little stinkers have a taste for hiker food and no aversion to shredding your pack to get to it. While they might not be dangerous for you, they will be dangerous for your gear. Just like for the bears, make sure all of your food and scented items are out of your pack and tent. Hang it or bear can it–or else it’s fair game.

Weather

Respecting the weather is an important part of hiking the AT safely. Depending on the season, you can be exposed to extreme cold, rain, thunderstorms, heat, and more.

• Respect the cold. Understand the signs of hypothermia and ensure that you have enough layers to stay warm even during the coldest part of the night. Hypothermia isn’t just an issue during cold weather either; I once got minor hypothermia in the middle of August after not being able to warm up after an evening downpour.
• Avoid open areas during thunderstorms. During storms, the most important thing is to make sure you’re not the tallest thing around. Avoid open areas and exposed ridgelines.
• Always stay hydrated. When you’re in extreme heat, your body is sweating out a lot of your liquids. Make sure to stay hydrated and have electrolytes on hand should you need some. Understand what heat stroke can look like.

Terrain

It’s gotta be said: You’re going to be hiking through the mountains, and they don’t necessarily care about your safety. There’s going to be boulders, rocks, stream crossings, cliffs, technical scrambles, and more. They are the mountains, after all. It’s up to you to know what you’re capable of and stay within your limits.

Many areas have bad weather routes if the weather makes it too dangerous to follow an exposed ridgeline or rock scrambles. Some areas are better to hike with friends. Avoid taking unnecessary or extreme risks, understanding that help can take hours to days to arrive, depending on where you’re at.

Hike smart, stay safe

It’s true. After telling you the AT was incredibly safe, I then went through a list of dangerous situations. However, if you’re trying to answer the question, “Is the Appalachian Trail dangerous?”, my answer is still no. At least, not more than every day life is.

By being aware of your surrounds, respecting your environment, and listening to common sense, the AT can be an incredible and safe journey.