| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

View
 

FrontPage

Page history last edited by Pat Hensley 4 days, 18 hours ago

Mount Rogers

Appalachian

Trail Club  

 

P.O. Box 789 Damascus, VA 24236-0789

 

General Questions, send email to:  mtrogersatc@gmail.com

 

To participate in trail work or a recreational hike with the club, click on the sidebar for Current Week's Information and sign up, using the email link provided with the activity you are interested in. We would love to have you join us!

 

Trails Committee - email: mratcinfo@gmail.com to report maintenance problems on the trail

 

(Links to other pages are listed on the right under "sidebar)

 

PURPOSE AND MISSION 

 

The MOUNT ROGERS APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB, a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, was organized February 29, 1960.  The club has maintenance responsibilities for 59.4 miles of the APPALACHIAN TRAIL in the Jefferson National Forest, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Grayson Highlands State Park and additional trails in the area.

 

The primary focus of the MOUNT ROGERS APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB is to help ensure that the APPALACHIAN TRAIL remains available for future generations, fulfill its maintenance responsibilities to the highest degree possible, undertake projects that would enhance use of the Trail without sacrifice of beauty or serenity and provide opportunity for Club members to enjoy activities associated with the Trail.

 

HIKER ALERT 

 

The footbridge on the AT over Comers Creek near the Falls has been removed due to structural problems. 

During times of low-water, hikers can cross the creek using the steps and stepstones that have been installed until a new bridge can be approved and funded by the National Park Service.

In times when high water is suspected:

            Southbound hikers should use the detour on the side road (Rte. 650), starting at the jct. of Rtes. 16/650, and following blue blazes for about 1.5 miles, then turning left on the blue-blazed 4/10 mile long Dickey Gap Trail across from Hurricane Campground to rejoin the AT and turn right to continue south. 

            Northbound hikers should turn left onto the Dickey Gap Trail (about a mile south of Comers Creek Falls), then turn right and follow blue blazes on the road to Dickey Gap (jct. of Rtes. 16/650) to re-join the AT, turning left to continue north.

 

Update 10/1/2024 -

Due to storm damage from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, 2024, hikers between the TN/VA state line north on the AT to the South Fork of the Holston Bridge (Rte. 670 in Smyth County, VA) are advised to use caution in areas where the trail is washed out and where there are downed trees. It will take a few months for trail volunteers to clear the damage. 

The Town of Damascus was severely impacted and town businesses may be closed until repairs can be made. The main phone number for the Town is 276-475-3831, for information. 

 

  Backpackers:  Be Bear Aware!

  

Because there have been bear/human encounters at campsites in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, and bears have learned to pull down food bags hung in trees, it is highly recommended that anyone camping overnight bring bear canisters or put their food and "smellables" in the metal bear boxes installed at nine locations.

AT R8 Food Storage Order 08-00-00-21-02R signed 14Apr2023.pdf  

 

Boxes located at: 

Miles north of Damascus

Saunders Shelter

9.5

Lost Mtn. Shelter

16

just north of Thomas Knob Shelter

28.4

just south of Rhododendron Gap

29.2

just north of Wise Shelter

33.5

The Scales

36.5

Old Orchard Shelter

39.5

Hurricane Mtn. Shelter

44.4

Trimpi Shelter

53.6

  

Damascus Trail Center:

209 W. Laurel Ave. Damascus, VA 24236

276-323-3046

 

Website: 

www.appalachiantrail.org/our-work/about-us/contact-us/damascus-trail-center/ 

 .

 

 

The Appalachian Trail goes down the main street of Damascus, VA. The Town has set up a brick pathway to celebrate the Trail and the many hikers who have hiked through Town. 

 

 

 

Note: Activities are also posted on the MRATC FACEBOOK PAGE! Come check it out and join us!

Check out MRATC information and activities on Instagram:  mountrogersATclub.

 

# of visitors since 11/17/2014

 

 

If you have any comments or suggestions about these pages,

please contact email - Loonyhiker (successfulteaching@gmail.com) webmaster.

 

This website was born on 08/15/1998.

Last updated on 09/15/2024

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.