Virginia Urban, age 13, of Staten Island, N.Y., for her question:

WHAT IS THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL?

The Appalachian Trail is the longest marked footpath in the world. Hikers and campers enjoy this famous mountain path as it extends 2,050 miles along the crests of the Appalachian Mountains between Mount Katahdin in northern Maine to Mount Oglethorpe in northern Georgia.

It takes a hiker about four months to travel the full trail as it crosses 14 states, eight national forests and two national parks. Campsites and cabins are located along the way.

Benton MacKaye, a forester and regional planner, proposed the idea for the path in 1921.It was completed in 1937.