The AT for the Uninitiated

So for all y'all who are unfamiliar with the Appalachian Trail and long-distance backpacking, here comes some background.
The AT is one of the 3 major "long trails" in the States, along with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and Continental Divide Trail (CDT). Hiking the entirety of all 3 constitutes the Triple Crown of backpacking. Of the 3, the AT is by far the most heavily used, best known, and well marked.
The AT runs from Springer Mountain, in north Georgia near Amicalola Falls, to Mount Katahdin, located in Baxter State Park in Maine--a total of about 2200 miles. ( I say about because the trail often has to be re-routed for a variety of reasons. The violent storms we've had in north Georgia this spring have already taken a toll.) The PCT stretches 2600 miles from Mexico to Canada, through California, Oregon, and Washington. The CDT also goes border-to-border, covering 3100 miles through Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
Several thousand hikers set out to thru-hike the trail each year, but only a quarter complete the entire distance. Most travel northbound, leaving Georgia in the late spring, reaching Katahdin in September or early October. We are "flip-flopping," starting in the middle, heading north, then returning to our start point and heading south.
There are shelters located along the length of the trail--partially enclosed structures, mostly constructed by the CCC where hikers can sleep. We're carrying a tent and plan to camp whenever possible, having heard from many other hikers that the shelters tend to be noisy, crowded, and often chock-full of rodents.
Food is obviously a major concern. We made and dehydrated most of our own over the last 4-5 months. Though there are lots of places to resupply along the trail, we opted to use maildrops. So my folks are the supply-masters back in Atlanta, shipping us boxes of food at prescribed intervals to post offices in towns along the way. Many thru-hikers subsist on ramen noodles, snickers and oatmeal, but we're hoping to have a lot more variety and some more nutritious fare. Honestly, I ate enough ramen in college, I do not need to revisit that diet plan.
Time to head to Applebee's for the farewell dinner. Maybe more info this evening.