I would love to hike the whole Appalachian! I used to live right off the trail in NJ so I have done all of the NJ section (not very long). The part that I don't understand is how they don't have to go to work! How do I get that much time off to spend out on the trail??
The same thing goes for people who get to backpack through Europe and what-not. I guess you just "make" the time.