Going all the way on the Appalachian Trail

Mountain peaks rise above Spence Field in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hikers on the Appalachian Trail will travel along the high altitude spine of this park on their way from Georgia to Maine. Photo: Chris Hunt

Credit: M CHRIS HUNT

Credit: M CHRIS HUNT

Mountain peaks rise above Spence Field in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hikers on the Appalachian Trail will travel along the high altitude spine of this park on their way from Georgia to Maine. Photo: Chris Hunt

Listen now or open in iTunes or Google Play.

Hiking from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail can be a life-changing trip.

Andrew Iden has talked to a few dozen people who have made the 2,180-mile journey.

He calls it “one of the most American experiences possible,” a way to tap into an oxygenated dose of the national spirit.

Andrew Iden, an editor at CNN, is also producer of a podcast called “The 2180,” which collects tales from the hearty souls who have hiked the length of the Appalachian Trail. CONTRIBUTED: ANDREW IDEN

icon to expand image

In his spare time, Iden, a CNN producer and editor, has assembled the stories from those intrepid hikers into a podcast called "The 2180."

He profiles a psychologist who took this walk through the mountains as a way to overcome her fear of heights; a young man who found inspiration for an outdoor apparel company while hiking the trail.

Iden also talked with some of the champions who soothe sore feet and cook hot meals for the intrepid hikers, at hostels and outfitter shops.

The AJC participated in its own through-hike -- of a sort -- back in 1995, and Iden included us in the conversation.

In turn, we had a chance to talk to him about his experiences with trail magic.

Listen to this conversation, and some reminiscences from the journalists involved in the 1995 hike, at accessAtlanta.

accessAtlanta podcast 

The AJC’s weekly accessAtlanta podcast brings you the stories that make our eclectic city one of a kind. Go with us behind the scenes for interviews with the people who create movies, music and art that’s making waves around the world. We’ll share some fun things to do in Atlanta over the next 10 days, too.

Subscribe on iTunes or Google Play, or find previous episodes on the web at ajc.com.

Want to find us on your phone? 

iPhone: Open "Podcasts" - it's a preloaded app on iPhones, with a purple icon - and click the search button in the lower right-hand corner. Type "accessAtlanta" and tap on the show's title in the results. Tap again on the show's icon. You'll find all of the previous episodes available to listen to, and be sure to hit subscribe to have the podcast automatically delivered to your phone every Thursday morning.

Android: Open "Play music" - a pre-loaded app with an orange-and-yellow icon - and click on the magnifying glass at the top of the screen. Type "accessAtlanta" and select our show from the results. You'll find all of the previous episodes available to listen to, and be sure to hit subscribe to have the podcast automatically delivered to your phone every Thursday morning.