For 2016, the length of the Appalachian Trail is 2,189.1 miles from Maine to Georgia (or vice versa)! That’s what this small book documents.

Sometimes termed "the bible of A.T. hiking" because of its use in essential hike planning, each year's Data Book consolidates the most basic information from 11 detailed official guidebooks into a lightweight table of distances between major Appalachian Trail shelters, road-crossings, and features. It is divided according to the guidebook volumes and updated each December to account for Trail relocations, new (or removed) shelters, and other changes. In addition to codes for lodging, food, water, and other essentials, the Data Book is keyed to both the individual guidebook sections and to the separate maps.

Day-hikers and long-distance hikers alike rely on this volume for armchair planning as well as on-the-trail orientation.

Daniel Chazin, an attorney and longtime volunteer/editor with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, has been the editor of the annual A.T. Data Book since 1983. He also is the editor of the Appalachian Trail Guide to New York-New Jersey and chair of the publications committee of the NY-NJ Trail Conference.