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Most folks who walk the AT don't do it end-to-end in one go. I've walked its full length, doing sections at a time, over the course of four years, and many times doing the same sections several times just because we liked them and they were close by. The AT uses the same foot path as the lower half of Vermont's "Long Trail," and the Killington section of the trail was just a few miles from my house. In New Hampshire, the AT follows the ridge line of the Presidential Range, and that section can be walked in three days, not even needing a sleeping bag nor tent as there are mountain huts every five miles along its length. That leads into the Franconia Range. Both surround the Pemmigewasset Wilderness Area, and these three were my playground for more than 20 years, both summer and winter backpacking, camping, climbing, and XC-skiing.
The book was remarkable for its ability to convey the mind-set of the different sorts of hikers one will encounter on the trail, and for the descriptive skill in relating the feel of the AT when one is walking along its paths. There is just something wonderful that fills you when you are 3-4 days away from the trail head, knowing that you won't encounter civilization for a week or so. Unfortunately, the AT cuts across various highways every 3-7 days, so you never really get the wilderness feeling while you hike it. At almost every point in the trail there are side trails one can take that lead back to a main road in less than a day.
Stitchawl
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