PDA

View Full Version : What is a ridge runner?



snuffleupagus
02-21-2004, 22:05
I was just curious... What does a ridge runner do? What are some of his/her responsibilities? Are most of them volunteers? Does a ridge runner play a vital role in a thru hikers journey? How do you contact a ridge runner?

smokymtnsteve
02-21-2004, 22:19
in the smokies the ridge runners hike the trail,maintain privys, clean up shelters, teach LNT, minor trail maintance, they are paid you could see them along the trail or camp with them in the shelter. check permits, even though a RR has no enforcement capabilites

also they fill out reports... aircraft overflights , # of hikers, maintaince reports.

in the smokies you also get in park housing at elkmont.

TJ aka Teej
02-21-2004, 22:27
I was just curious... What does a ridge runner do?
From the ATC:
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/protect/steward/ridgerun.html
"Each year, more than 20 ATC-supported ridgerunners and caretakers patrol high-use sections of the A.T. from Georgia to Maine. During the early spring months through Labor Day the Trail gets the heaviest use, as well as the most use by beginners, sometimes resulting in the most inappropriate use. Ridgerunners are employed to help make sure that individuals and groups hiking during these seasons have the information they need to make their Trail experience most informative, safe, and enjoyable."

A story by a ridgerunner about her summer doing 40 miles in Pennsylvannia:
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/about/pubs/register/archive/RGwint01.pdf

Not all ridgerunners are ATC folks, btw.

Rain Man
02-22-2004, 03:12
Ridge Runners also give out all kinds of helpful, friendly advice to newbies!

Want to see a Ridge Runner? Here's John Cavender of north Georgia fame and a super nice guy.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1255&password=&sort=1&cat=532&page=1

:dance

.

someday
02-22-2004, 15:48
Yes, ridge runners can be very helpful to newbies. When my son thru hiked starting in early March 2000, he was not expecting such cold weather. After the first night at Springer the ridge runner told him to bang his frozen clothes against the wall to make them pliable enough to put on. He also had trouble getting his stove to light and the ridge runner helped him work that out as well. Definitely helped him get started on the trail and made it more enjoyable.