Appalachian Trail Online Course

The Appalachian Trail Online Course is organized into several independent sections which may be completed in any order or omitted at the learner's discretion. The following sequence is recommended for complete novices to backpacking and/or the Appalachian Trail:


1. What is the Appalachian Trail?

• About the Appalachian Trail

• About Through and Section Hiking

• Wildlife

• Safety

2. Getting to the Appalachian Trail

• Going by Car

• Going by Bus

• Going by Train

• Going by Plane

• Hitchhiking

• Shuttles

3. Backpacking Food

• Water

• Trail Nutrition

• Meal planning

4. Appalachian Trail Shelters, Camping & Lodging

• Shelters and Lean-To's

• Tenting

• Hammocks

• Tarps

• Hostels and Huts

5. Gear for Your Appalachian Trail Hike

• Gear Overview

• Clothing systems

• Shelter & Sleeping systems

• Cooking systems

• Health systems

• Luxury items

• Packs

6. How to Hike the Appalachian Trail

• Planning a Hike

• Trail Skills

• Trail Lore and Etiquette

The Appalachian Trail Online Course uses blended learning. Blended learning is the intermixing of learning resources, such as YouTube videos, web pages, and narrated PowerPoint presentations, into a coherent curriculum. Timothy applied his skills in instructional design with his knowledge of hiking the Appalachian Trail to create this first of a kind online course.