MRATC Activities and Information for Jan 26- Feb 1, 2020

TRAIL WORK

Trail work in January and February will be scheduled as needed, with a later start time, and as weather permits. If not on email list for updates, contact Trail Supervisor, Doug Levin, at mratcinfo@gmail.com 

HIKES

•Fun Hike Fri., Jan 31 Leader Judith Foster HIKERS, PLEASE LET HIKE LEADER KNOW IF YOU PLAN TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY HIKE by emailing mtrogersatc@gmail.com no later than the day before the hike or by calling Judith Foster 276 623 2408 for details.

Guests:  The club welcomes guests on work hikes and recreational hikes.  Guests should contact either the listed hike leader, or the general club email address:  mtrogersatc@gmail.com, or in the case of work hikes, the Trails Coordinator's email (mratcinfo@gmail.com) before coming, in order to get information about the activity and what to bring.

Anyone under 18 needs to get a parental permission form from the club in advance.

CLUB INFO & UPCOMING MEETINGS 

Sat., Feb. 1^st - Hardcore planning meeting: 10 a.m., Damascus Library. All interested club members invited. We will discuss the Hardcore project for right after Trail Days in May, signup procedure for hikers, and logistics for our club of transporting hikers to the site and providing food.

Tues., Feb 4  @ 11am on Laurel Ave. in Damascus:  Groundbreaking Ceremony for Damascus Trail Center.

Sat. eve. Feb. 29 - MRATC Annual Meeting - St. John Lutheran Church in Abingdon, 6 p.m. Potluck and celebration of our club’s 60^th anniversary. More info. in mid-February.

March 13-15 - Southern Partnership Meeting –– Hungry Mother St. Park Conference Center. All southern AT clubs and agency partners. It’s on our doorstep, so plan to attend, meet members of other trail clubs, and learn about trail issues we share. Agenda and registration info. will be sent out in February.

CLUB INFO

Club members may wish to read the ATC TheRegister

https://mailchi.mp/appalachiantrail/the-register-january-940279

Current MRATC information is also posted on Facebook:  Mt. Rogers Appalachian Trail Club (MRATC), on Twitter:  twitter.com @Mt_rogersATC, and on Instagram.com:  mountrogersATclub. 

TRAIL CENTER UPDATE:

Wallberg Construction of Abingdon has been selected to build the Trail Center in Damascus. Work will start in January. Projected completion by the end of May, 2020.

AT Community Update:

•The ATC has added Damascus and Abingdon to its Wild East website. 

https://wildeast.appalachiantrail.org/explore/communities/damascus-va/

Abingdon has joined Damascus on the ATC's Wild East website with great photos. Take a look!

https://wildeast.appalachiantrail.org/explore/communities/abingdon-va/

Marion/Smyth County will be added later. Eventually, all 50 AT communities will be featured on Wild East.

TRAIL UPDATES

•As of 4-26-2019 bridge at Comers Creek Falls is closed - the Forest Service has closed the bridge on the AT at Comers Creek Falls due to safety concerns that include a crack in a support beam. The planned AT reroute on Comers Creek Rd. (Rte. 650) around the failing AT bridge at Comers Creek Falls was marked with signs and blaze posts on 9/18/2019 and will be the official route of the AT in that area until a new bridge is built. 

Bears: 2019 -  There have been fewer reports of bears taking hikers' food. They may have enough wild food now, but as happened last year, they could come back to try to get food from hikers, especially if they are cooking. Hikers are urged to use the metal bearboxes for overnight food storage near Saunders Shelter, Lost Mtn. Shelter, Thomas Knob Shelter, near Rhododendron Gap, Wise Shelter, Old Orchard Shelter, the Scales, Hurricane Mtn. Shelter, and Trimpi Shelter. 

Iron Mtn. Trail: The Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area proposes to make improvements to the Iron Mtn. Trail between the intersection with the AT spur (north of Damascus) and East Fourth St. Besides overall trail rehabilitation, a couple of spots would be relocated slightly uphill away from the creek to reduce erosion problems. 

Overmountain Shelter near Roan Mtn., TN has been found to be structurally unsound and has been closed.

Links for the Konnarock and Hardcore Crews Blog/Photo Album for May 2018 project on Wilburn Ridge:

Konnarock Crew and Hardcore Blog: http://konnarockcrew.blogspot.com/2018/06/week-3-may-18-22-2018_12.html

Photo album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/atconservancy/albums/72157668009655087

Konnarock Crew's work project photos - below is a link to Konnarock Crew's work project photos between Thomas Knob and Rhododendron Gap.  Cut and paste to your browser window to view.  

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16DXCXHtT83N-wVYU0afwKBnZ51vIQ6Io

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