I am interested in beautiful old growth and true wilderness and not something generic that looks like just about every forest in Ohio.

Well, we can stop right there. There is no 'old growth' I can think of along the Appalachian Trail. Settlers and lumber companies cut practically every tree east of the Mississippi between 1800 and 1920. The resulting ecological disaster (erosion, polluted waterways, flooding) resulted in the creation of the Forest Service and the repurchase of hundreds of thousands of acres of land that are now National Forests and National Parks.

To your other points, a question: have you ever actually spent the night in a tent? Each spring, thousands of people show up at the start of the Appalachian Trail, many never having hiked or camped before. After one or two cold, wet nights, many (most?) decide they're not having fun and return home.

So if you haven't, that's your first step. Spend this summer getting some hiking and camping experience. (As the Boy Scouts say, Be Prepared.) Decide if you enjoy it.

If your parents don't camp, and you don't have access to a tent, sleeping bag, pack, etc., ask your cousins, aunts, uncles or friends for help and advice. Borrow or buy some basic gear. If you have to buy gear and you're close to an REI, become a member and buy your basics there, because if you decide to upgrade within a year (or you find out you don't like camping) you can return your purchases.

Find a nearby state park with a campground. Set up your campsite, prepare meals, spend the night. If you're like most of us, it will not be what you expected. You'll need to decide whether you actually like it, and probably learn some new skills.

Then, if you decide you like it, do it again. Get some experience staying warm and dry. Learn the Leave No Trace principles. Demonstrate to your parents and teachers (and yourself) that you can take care of yourself in camp and on trail.

As the the idea of spending three weeks in January on the Appalachian Trail, I'll echo what the others have said. Even the most southerly part of the trail (Georgia and North Carolina south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park) will be cold, wet, and dark. The sun will go down at 5pm and not rise until about 8am. It will be rainy, sometimes windy, and most nights the temperature will go below freezing. It often gets below 20 degrees, and sometimes down to zero.

And while you will not be the only person, especially on weekends, you probably won't have a lot of company. In its own way, that is just as difficult as the cold and the rain.