Who's ready to dig some new trail? Hard Core is a chance to get your hands dirty and personalize part of the AT with the TN Eastman Hiking Club. This year it will be on the 19th and 20th of May which is the Sun and Mon after Trail Days.

On Sunday, we have a new project, south of Dennis Cove Rd in Hampton, TN. It will be a fairly long hike up to the work sites on White Rocks mountain. On Monday, hikers will be split into two destinations. The first will be back to Roan Mountain, hiking down to just North of Ash Gap from Cloudland. The other destination will be on Little Rock Knob via the trail head at Hughes Gap.

Hikers will be picked up on Sunday morning in Damascus, VA and transported to the trail head at Dennis Cove Road. They will need to bring all of their gear. On Monday, hikers will be transported to the work site and then on Tue they will be returned to wherever they were on the trail.

Dinners on Sun and Mon will be provided. You will need to have your own breakfasts, lunches and snacks. Lunches will be eaten at the work sites. You will also want to bring water/something to drink to the work sites (bring PLENTY of water for the hikes too). Lodging will be at Kincora and Braemar Castle in Hampton, TN.

Sign-up for Hard Core will be on Friday and Saturday of Trail Days in Damascus, VA. Myself and Bob Peoples will be at the ATC booth in town. Sign-up early, because the list fills quickly.

For those with a vehicle, we may need your assistance in transporting hikers to and from the work sites and then back to the AT (on Tue). We usually have work gloves available. However, sometimes it is difficult to get a matching pair . . . you might pick up a cheap pair prior to. Sturdy footwear is a good idea too.

The digging and rock work will be typical . . . the hiking in and out might be difficult for some . . .

See you on the trail (and at Trail Days),
mt squid

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