On March 17, 2020, Sandra Marra, President & CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy posted an open letter urging hikers to postpone AT hikes due to concerns related to the Coronavirus.
While spending time on the AT may seem a great place to be given the need for “social distancing” the ATC lists several concerns with taking that approach — reduced support options along the trail being one of them. Many hostels have shut down, many stores have extremely limited supplies and the risk for sharing the virus within trail communities and among hikers is high.
Therefore, the ATC is urging people who have not started their hikes to stay home and those who are currently on the trail to go home.