Stretching from Georgia to Maine, the Appalachian Trail (AT) is one of America’s most iconic long-distance hikes. Yet for many Pennsylvanians, the section that winds through our own backyard carries a special significance—especially where it meets the Susquehanna River, a lifeline of both landscape and community.
For John Mosso of Cogan Station, that stretch was more than a waypoint on his 2,198-mile trek—it was home. In 2025 (the 100th year anniversary of the trail), Mosso, known on the trail as “Johnny Appleseed,” completed his dream of hiking the entire AT, finishing atop Mount Katahdin in Maine after 210 days of walking, climbing, and camping through 14 states.
“When I was a kid, I spent so much time outdoors—hiking, biking, fishing the river,” Mosso explained. “The Susquehanna and the mountains around Williamsport taught me to love being outside. I always said when I retire, I’m going to hike the Appalachian Trail.”
Rooted in Pennsylvania’s Greenway
As a long-time resident of the Susquehanna Greenway region, Mosso found the perfect training ground close to home. He logged miles on the mountain behind his house and explored the wooded landscapes that define the Greenway corridor.
“These mountains and trails here prepared me,” he said. “They always say the trail will make you fit—and that’s true—but Pennsylvania gave me my start.”
The Susquehanna Greenway, a 500-mile corridor of parks, trails, and river towns following the Susquehanna, has long offered opportunities for residents to connect with nature. For Mosso, those local trails were the launchpad for one of the greatest adventures of his life.
A Homecoming on the Susquehanna
When Mosso crossed into Pennsylvania near the end of May—around his birthday and the AT’s halfway mark—it felt like a celebration. “It was emotional,” he said. “I thought, wow, I’m home. My wife met me on the trail. It was special.”
But home doesn’t mean easy. The Keystone State’s AT section is famously rugged. “They call it Rocksylvania for a reason,” he joked. “It’s tough on the feet—but it’s beautiful. The mountain laurel was blooming, everything was green, and there was wildlife everywhere.”
The most meaningful moment came at the Clarks Ferry Bridge, where the Appalachian Trail crosses the Susquehanna River near Duncannon—a spot also featured along the Susquehanna Greenway corridor. “That was a big one for me,” Mosso recalled. “I’ve driven across that bridge so many times, honking for thru-hikers. This time, people were honking for me.”
As he walked over the wide expanse of the river, he thought about how it compared to waterways he’d seen across the East Coast. “Up north, they call some creeks ‘rivers,’” he said with a laugh.
“The Susquehanna holds its own. It’s wide, beautiful, and powerful—it’s a Pennsylvania landmark.”
John Mosso crosses into Pennsylvania on his Appalachian Trail thru-hike.
Life Between Mountains and River
Much like the Susquehanna’s steady flow, Mosso found peace in the rhythm of trail life. “It was so quiet out there I could hear my watch ticking,” he said. “At home you’re used to cars and noise, but out there it was just whip-poor-wills, deer, and black bears. I saw eagles, fawns right on the trail, even box turtles.”
One evening, he came face-to-face with a mother bear and her cubs. “She stood up on her hind legs and barked,” he remembered. “I introduced myself, said, ‘Hey, Mama Bear, I’m Johnny Appleseed!’ and just talked to her until she turned away. That’s one of those moments you never forget.”
John Mosso reaches the halfway point of the Appalachian Trail, located in PA.
Carrying the Greenway North
Even far from home, Mosso carried a piece of Pennsylvania with him—literally. At the 2024 Susquehanna Greenway Outdoor Expo, he picked up a Susquehanna Greenway hat and decided it would be his trail companion. “I told the lady at the booth, ‘I’m buying this hat, and I’m going to wear it when I hike the Appalachian Trail,’” he said.
That same hat went every mile with him, from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine—sun-faded, sweat-stained, and soaked with bug repellent by the journey’s end. “A few hikers saw it and said, ‘Hey, you’re from PA!’” Mosso laughed. “I was proud to represent home.”
Lessons from the Trail
After seven months of hiking, Mosso came home 60 pounds lighter but full of perspective. “We’re spoiled,” he said, recalling the strangeness of having running water again. “You don’t realize how lucky we are.”
His advice for aspiring thru-hikers? Focus on food and fuel. “I didn’t eat enough protein,” he admitted. “You burn so much out there. Plan for more than you think you’ll need.”
And, perhaps most importantly, stay dry and stay grateful.
“Every day was different,” he said. “I never woke up thinking, ‘Oh, I’ve still got a thousand miles to go.’ I just thought, ‘I get to hike today.’”
Reflecting on the Long Walk
Now back home, Mosso continues to reflect on the journey, paging through photos and notes. “Sometimes I tear up,” he said. “Sometimes I just think—man, that was crazy. But it was beautiful. Every step.”
When asked what adventure might come next, Mosso considered the idea of biking across the United States, but ultimately smiled and said, “There’s plenty of trails to explore right here in Pennsylvania.”
For Mosso, the Appalachian Trail wasn’t just about reaching Maine—it was about where it all began: right here in Pennsylvania, among the ridges and river valleys of the Susquehanna Greenway. These trails shaped his journey long before he set foot on the AT, a reminder that adventure doesn’t have to be far away—it can begin right outside your door.
