Can you get any long distance, on foot, in a day? I'm telling you, there is a continuous path I can take, from my old stomping grounds, and get to "the Appalachian trail". Will it be quick? No. But walking the whole trail takes months. But it branches, and branches, and branches, and branches, throughout the whole path. They are all part of "the Appalachian Trails". You are only reffering to a small part, that is the main path, that covers the most distance, in a straight line. But that straight line isn't the only way. Anyone can start, and get off at any point. You don't have to start at one end, and go to the other. Most people don't make it the whole distance, and that is only a small portion, if you consider all the branches off "the main path", but even the branches are part of "the Appalachian Trails". Just because it wasn't as traveled, doesn't mean it wasn't traveled before, or else there wouldn't be footpaths, and roads, and all that up there. Yes, it may be a distance, but I'm just saying that it was possible.