Trail maintenance is a multi-faceted effort. Most maintaining clubs assign a single person or group to each 1-8 mile section of trail. Those persons and groups in turn either do the basic work themselves or recruit neighbors, friends, scout group, school groups, members, whoever to help.
In addition some maintaining clubs -- such as AMC -- have professional crews do muct of the trail work, though AMC has an active volunteer group that maintains the AT and other trails.
Finally some maintaining clubs have profesionally-lead volunteer crews that do more complicated tasks.
The latter seek volunteers to spend a week or more helping to build and protect the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, America's premier long-distance footpath. No previous trail experience is necessary - just a desire to work hard, live in the backcountry and have a great time among friends.
Trail Crews tackle large-scale projects such as trail relocations, rehabilitation and bridge and shelter construction. Projects are planned and completed in cooperation with AT maintaining clubs and agency partners such as the National Park Service and the US Forest Service.
Programs this year included; Konnarock Crew (May 8–August 16) Konnarock is ATC's flagship crew program, named after its original base camp in southwest Virginia. Originating in 1983, it covers the Appalachian Trail from Rockfish Gap in Virginia, near Waynesboro, to the Trail's southern terminus at Springer Mountain in Georgia. The program is a joint venture among ATC, the 12 southern Trail clubs, the U.S. Forest Service's southern region, and the National Park Service.
Maine Trail Crew (June 7–August 6) The Maine crew, sponsored by the Maine Appalachian Trail Club, ATC, the National Park Service, and Maine Conservation Corps is based in central Maine. Projects are located along 280 miles of the A.T. in the scenic Maine woods, and most involve reconstruction and rock work. The crew achieves great success through a combination of long-term MCC members and week-long volunteers. Projects are supervised by crew leaders under the direction of modern trail-work pioneer Lester Kenway.
Vermont Long Trail Patrol (July 28–September 26) The Long Trail Patrol is sponsored jointly by the Green Mountain Club, ATC, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest Service. The crew works on heavy construction projects on hiking trails in Vermont, including the coaligned Appalachian Trail and Long Trail.
Mid-Atlantic Crew (September 4–October 27). The Mid-Atlantic crew works on the AT from Rockfish Gap in Virginia to the New York – Connecticut line. The crew is sponsored by AT clubs of the Mid Atlantic region, the National Park Service, and ATC.
Rocky Top Crew (September 3–October 27) The Rocky Top crew works exclusively on 70 miles of the A.T. through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park following the ridge crest from Davenport Gap to Fontana Dam. The crew is sponsored jointly by the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club, the National Park Service, and ATC.
Smokies Wilderness Elite A.T. Crew (SWEAT) (June 9 - August 18) The Smokies Wilderness Elite AT crew (SWEAT) is something completely different than other ATC trail crews. Instead of focusing on heavy construction projects, this crew will complete much-needed maintenance in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
A.T. Trail Crew Alumni: Contact us at
[email protected] for an alumni application.
Other opportunities
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts. The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) sponsors two volunteer trail crews that work on the Appalachian Trail. AMC-Berkshire's crew works on the Appalachian Trail in Massachusetts. AMC's White Mountain crew works on the Appalachian Trail and other trails in New Hampshire and southern Maine. More information is available at the AMC Web site.
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club manages volunteer trail crews to work in Shenandoah National Park and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests between May and mid-September.
All the programs are winding down for the 2008 season.
The ATC web site will have plenty of information for the 2009 season by early 2009.
Weary