(From the Air Date, February 6th, 2021)
The Appalachian Trail is a 2180+ mile long public footpath that travels the scenic, wooded, pastoral Appalachian mountains over the course of 14 states.  It is maintained by the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy & a ton of volunteers.
A recent announcement by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) states that thru-hikers (people that attempt to hike the entire trail at once) will not be recognized for 2021.  The reasoning is to attempt to limit the amount of people on the trail.  The Carolina Outdoors discusses and clarifies what this means for the millions (yes, 3 million people utilize the Trail).