Hello,
Myself and 3-4 friends are planning on hiking the Appalachian trail around spring break (early to mid April). I came to this forum to ask the "guys on the ground" about any suggestions or concerns for a possible hiking route. Is the trail one set trail or does it have individual trails. I am currently in the military and looking for more of a higher difficulty than the average sightseer (no offense to them). On a scale of 1-10 (ten being the most difficult), I am looking to cover a ground with a rating of 9.

I plan to be out on the trail for 4-6 days and am looking for any starting point advice for where I can go. I am looking to complete 12-16 miles a day (with a cumulative of 90 or so miles). I have never recorded my average distance covered. My first question is what is the recommended distance per day to be covered for a group of young twenty year olds looking to rough it out for a week. I am from Allentown Pennsylvania, and would like to start the trail either in PA or NJ and work to the other or if possible stay in PA. I have a slew of questions to ask anyone that responds to this, and I welcome any advice of tips that anyone has for me.