The Blind Hiker

Little Raven's Roost Overlook

(Photo: Dave W.)

 

 

All sorts of people thru-hike the AT, most with all of their limbs in working order as well as all 5 senses and even for such people, it is not an easy task.  There are countless trail tales of difficult days, both mentally and/or physically, harrowing experiences due to weather, and difficult sections of trail, just to name a few of the obstacles to a successful thru-hike. With this in mind, it's hard to imagine what it must take to hike the AT, even for a short distance, without being able to 'see'.  Our Rockfish to Reeds section is fairly 'tame' as terrain goes, but there are places that get a little tricky, where footing is difficult (west side slick rocks!) or the trail goes over a narrow place where falling off the trail would not be hard to do (northern end of Battery Cliffs). It's hard to imagine traversing even R to R with no sight, but there is a hiker who has done just that, with the aid of some modern technology  ........ and here is his story:

 

 

The Blind Hiker: How one man used technology to conquer the 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail

 

 

 

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