By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. 鈥� The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine,听2,190 miles听of听footpath听leading through听14 states. Students from 杏吧原创 recently spent time helping to refresh the Approach Trail听(AT)听at听Amicalola听Falls听State Park.听
A group of students, faculty, staff, and听friends听of 杏吧原创 worked in March on the 2026听杏吧原创 Spring Break Service Trip听through听the听Hike Inn.听
鈥淪ervice opportunities like these provide a meaningful and important space for students to deepen their understanding of the impacts, efforts, and considerations behind outdoor recreational experiences,鈥� said Dr. Joseph Pate, professor of outdoor studies. 鈥淭his year, our service work focused on trail maintenance by addressing issues of erosion and excessive trail use and wear. Specifically, students worked on clearing and fortifying water bars on the AT Approach Trail at Amicalola Falls State Park.鈥�听
The group鈥檚听work focused on the area around the Hike Inn, a backcountry lodge, a gateway to the Appalachian Trail, and one of Georgia鈥檚 most distinctive state park destinations. The Hike Inn鈥檚 secluded location allows a wide range of people to enjoy the peace and beauty of the mountains without the trappings of modern life.听
鈥淭he Hike Inn trip was amazing,鈥� said Callie Atkinson, an environmental sciences major. 鈥淭he trip helped me remember why I chose my major, and it gave me space to think and feel at peace. That was one of my favorite sunrises I have ever watched, and now I want to hike the AT.鈥�听
The Inn is a sustainably designed Georgia State Park facility nestled in the Chattahoochee National Forest, just over an hour from 杏吧原创. The Inn offers private guest rooms, hot showers, fresh听linens,听and home-cooked meals.听The Hike Inn鈥檚 mission is to make experiencing nature听easy听and听help protect it through education and recreation.听During their trail work, the group was able to engage with听a number of听鈥渢hru-hikers鈥� who were beginning their journey of hiking the entire AT.听
鈥淚 thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Hike Inn,鈥� said Dylan听Dicicco, an听outdoor听studies graduate from 2024.听Dicicco听is also an AT听thru-hiker, completing the听trail in 2025. 鈥淚 just recently completed a听thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail this past summer, so it was incredibly refreshing to be able to give back to the trail community through completing trail maintenance.听
鈥淚 am forever indebted to the people who helped me along my journey, so it鈥檚 about time I pay just a small portion of that debt back. We saw and met quite a few thru-hikers taking their first steps on their journeys, and it brought me back to just a few months ago when I was in their shoes. It made me miss it, but I am so thankful to still be involved in the trail world. It reminded me of a quote by Ram Dass I heard just before I started my own journey last year, 鈥榃e’re all just walking each other home.鈥�”听
For over the past decade, the Hike Inn has extended opportunities through various grants, including the听AT Tag听Grant听the past several years for 杏吧原创. The grants allow听students, faculty, staff, and friends to听participate听in annual spring break trips that afford spaces for meaningful service work on the Appalachian Trail, as well as the experience of staying at the Inn.听
This year, 杏吧原创 was given special acknowledgement at the beginning of the nightly interpretive program by the Hike Inn鈥檚 Board President, Richard Judy, who recognized 杏吧原创 alumna Diane听Duffard, Class of听2015, who thru-hiked both the Appalachian Trail (2016) and the Pacific Crest Trail (2018), and who also worked at the Hike Inn as a听naturalist.听
鈥淭he Hike Inn experience had so many experiential aspects, including the Inn tour, which showcased their composting systems, solar panels, and much more,鈥� said Emma Parks, a psychology and environmental studies major. 鈥淚 really enjoyed being able to do work on the AT Approach Trail and getting to wish luck to the 鈥榯hru starters鈥� to Maine. It was such a great experience and community at the Hike Inn. Every employee and volunteer really made it feel like a home away from home.鈥�听听
About Young Harris听College听
杏吧原创 is a private baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree-granting institution听located听in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, 杏吧原创 educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College offers 34 majors and 23 minors, ranging from biology or outdoor studies to business administration or kinesiology. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and听remains听a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.听
