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Just returned from a week with the ATC Mid-Atlantic trail crew, working on a trail relocation near Palmerton, PA. It's hard work, but I learned a lot about the trail and trail building, and I met some great people.
If you have the time, consider volunteering on an ATC trail crew or with a local trail club. The trail needs you! [emoji4]
Would love to! Thanks for the encouragement
If anybody I'm Georgia is inspired to help out on the trails, even if just occasionally, feel free to contact me. We have at least 4 clubs that maintain trails in North Georgia.
Carolina Mtn Club (CMC) maintains 93 miles of AT from Davenport Gap to Spivey Gap.
https://www.carolinamountainclub.org...aintainer---AT
They have regular one-day-a-week crews and special work days that anyone can join.
let's start a Sticky with these contactsQuote:
Originally Posted by Mike Goodman
Here's info on the Mid- Atlatic Trail Crew:
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/home...tic-trail-crew
Last week I got back from a session with the Rocky Top crew. We spent 7 days at Tri Corner. One of the crew said it was the hardest thing he had ever done but he thoroughly enjoyed it.
The link on the previous post will get you to the ATC website where there are many opportunities under the volunteer drop down.
Also the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (www.smhclub.org) usually has a work outing on the first Saturday of each month.
For more detailed info:
A.T. Volunteer Opportunities At A Glance and Upcoming Opportunities
www.appalachiantrail.org/volunteer
A.T.-Maintaining Clubs
www.appalachiantrail.org/clubs
Trail Crews
www.appalachiantrail.org/crews
Here are the promoted volunteer events coming up:
19
SEP
Rocky Top - Session 3
Thursday | Gatlinburg,TN
20
SEP
Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew - Week 4
Friday | ,MD
21
SEP
Remote Overnight Crew- Cherokee and Pisgah National Forest
Saturday | Asheville,NC
21
SEP
Protecting Migratory Pathways
Saturday | Hanover,NH
25
SEP
Nantahala Wednesday Work Hike 9/25
Wednesday | Franklin,NC
25
SEP
Natural Bridge Wednesday Work Day - 9/25
Wednesday | Lynchburg,VA
27
SEP
Cumberland Valley A.T. Club Monitoring Fridays – 9/27
Friday | ,PA
28
SEP
Take the Train and Celebrate NPLD
Saturday | ,
28
SEP
Wild East Women's Work Day at Stecoah Gap
Saturday | Robbinsville,NC
1
OCT
Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew - Week 5
Tuesday | ,PA
2
OCT
Nantahala Wednesday Work Hike 10/2
Wednesday | Franklin,NC
2
OCT
Natural Bridge Wednesday Workday - 10/2
Wednesday | Lynchburg,VA
3
OCT
Rocky Top - Session 4
Thursday | Gatlinburg,TN
4
OCT
Cumberland Valley A.T. Club Monitoring Fridays – 10/4
Friday | ,PA
9
OCT
Natural Bridge Wednesday Work Day 10/9
Wednesday | Lynchburg,VA
9
OCT
Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew - Week 6
Wednesday | ,PA
9
OCT
Nantahala Wednesday Work Day 10/9
Wednesday | Franklin,
And here are some promoted volunteer positions being advertised right now:
Mulch Coordinator - TN
MARO Visitor Center Volunteer - PA
Visitor Center Volunteer - WV
Volunteer Steward - NY
Trail Maintainer - NY
Corridor Monitor - New York
You'll find many more by contacting clubs directly at the link above.
These opportunities are really varied but all incredibly rewarding.
Since 2007 I've been on six trail crews, Sweat Crew 4 times and Rocky Top 2 times. I guess that I'm hooked.
This year was session 2 of Rocky Top. I met and worked with an interesting and diverse group. People that I other wise would never have met but now consider good friends. We spent 7 days together working near Tri Corner Knob in the Smokies. At times when the conversation drifted to video games or anime or contemporary music I was lost but I found we had much more in common than not.
Rocky Top and Sweat do require a fitness test to make sure that one is "trail ready ". I had to train up for that but feel that it had made me a much stronger hiker.
Just finished a four day volunteer hitch with the Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew, working on a trail reroute near Palmerton, PA. It was the last week for the crew for 2021. Exhausting work, but so worth it.
If you have the time and are able, consider volunteering with a local club or an ATC trail crew in 2022!