I have two cameras for that purpose, a Pentax IQZoom 90WR and a Nikon Lite Touch. The Pentax is essentially waterproof and has a nice protective cover glass over the lens. The Lite Touch is the original 28mm fixed focal length and is tiny. Both cameras are about ten years old and have always worked fine. They use the same batteries, although the Pentax takes two. The appalachian trail has plenty of acess to civilization, so batteries and film should not be a problem. I must admit that, if I were contemplating hiking end to end, I would probably take one of my old manual SLRs and the lite Touch for backup. A lightweight tripod or monopod would be good. I have a hiking stick made from a fiberglass broom handle that I could modify to attach a small ball head to.
Best wishes.
Bill
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