Verb. Meaning to be off doing something you should not be doing or would not want plastered all over CNN ruining your political career, ending you marriage and making you a spotlight figure on the Colbert Report. As in Governor Sanford's walk in the woods.
Where was Steve - he was supposed to be in our morning meeting? Dude, I believe he was "Walkin The Appalachians"
Sneak away to meet your mistress. ("Hiking the Appalachian Trail" is the first explanation of where South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was when he disappeared.)
"Has anyone seen Jawann? I've been calling and texting him for three days and he's not answering."
To be unfaithful to one's partner e.g. in an extramarital affair. Named after South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, who was said to be hiking the Appalachian Trail, when actually he was visiting his mistress in Argentina.
"My husband has a lot of "meetings" and "conferences" to attend to lately. I think he might be hiking the Appalachian trail."