THE BLAZE

Newsletter of the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club 

Winter 2026

MRATC Winter 2026 Newsletter.pdf

MRATC RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES REPORT:  Fall 2025

   Five recreational hikes were planned for the fall quarter, including about 30 miles on a range of trails including the Appalachian Trail, Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Steele Creek Park, and Grayson Highlands State Park. Thanks to hike leaders Donna Barkley, Heidi Dixon-White, Felicia Mitchell, Sharon Trumbley, and Jim Warden. Friday Hikers remain active with weekly hikes offered by different hike leaders including Carol Keene, Steven Mason, and Sharon Trumbley. Several interesting, invigorating winter and early spring recreational hikes are on the schedule, and we look forward to seeing you join us for some or all of these hikes. And bring your friends!  - Felicia Mitchell 

                              Steele Creek Park                                                                                 Backbone Rock

                    Hungry Mother                                                       Massie Gap to Mt. Rogers                              Elk Garden to Fairwood

     AT & IMT                                  All smiles at Grayson Highlands SP                                                                 Nick Grindstaff Monument

               Salt Trail Friday Hike                                                                 Friday Hike                                                                           Wilburn Ridge

                         White Rock  

TRAILS REPORT

Our work days have finally begun to feel normal again for the first time since Helene. By and large the root ball holes on our section are filled and our workdays in November included much more hiking between issues than we've experienced in a long time.  In late September and early October ATC and volunteers installed a beautiful new stone crossing and replaced a set of steep wood steps with a gently sloped stone at Comers Falls. Thanks to everyone involved with that project!  On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the well-worn and damaged signs and post at the TN/VA state line were replaced with brand new signs and a freshly cut post carried in by a group of about a dozen.  During the carry, we swapped places every three minutes, and by the last uphill section just north of the state line, reduced each shift to two minutes.   The sign project was our last official workday of the year and the start of our first break since March of 2025. We'll still be out on the trail occasionally as conditions require and the weather allows through the winter but we don't plan to be out regularly until March 2026.  In early 2026 we hope to work on privy replacements at Saunders and Lost Mountain and hope to work with the Konnarock crew on a couple pending reroutes up in the high country.  –Doug Levin

                                                            New Tennessee/Virginia Line Sign  

                 Blazing a new post                                                       Staining Crew

        Happy Work Crew                                        Rootball Hole filled                              Ridgerunner Slim Jim provides a blaze

                                                                                                                                            at the Damascus Trail Center

    MRATC NATURAL RESOURCES REPORT

Roan Mountain Rattlesnake Root

   Roan Mountain Rattlesnake Root (Nabalus roanensis) is one of the rare plants that we monitor. The species name refers to the fact that the plant is endemic to the Roan Mountain area of the Appalachian Trail, and it also occurs in our high elevation areas. The Mt. Rogers Trail is the site of the most occurrences of the plant in our section. The plant may grow to 3’ tall. The alternate leaves vary and may be triangular or arrowhead shaped. The composite, drooping flowers are greenish-yellow. It is not always easy to distinguish the other members of the genus, some of which were reputed to contain a substance that counteracts rattlesnake bite. We’ve counted as many as 60 plants on the side of the Mt. Rogers Trail. These plants, which favor the trail margins, are about to be subjected to a major threat to their existence when the Appalachian Trail is rerouted up the Mt. Rogers Trail. Work that is about to begin on the Creeper Trail outside of Damascus is making the AT reroute necessary. The Iron Mountain Trail will take the hikers all the way to the Mt. Rogers Trail, via Flattop Trail. Hikers will then rejoin the AT at the intersection of the Mt. Rogers Trail. The Creeper Trail repairs may last for years. The optimistic estimate is one year, but two years is more realistic. For all that time, AT hikers will miss our beautiful high country, unless they take an expensive shuttle option to reconnect with the AT at Grassy Ridge. Perhaps this loss will be a boon for the plants in some areas, such as Elk Garden, which should have less of human footprint. The Great Indian Plantain on the margins of the old parking area, have been subjected to many threats, though the VDOT mowers have done more harm than all the hikers and campers. A new parking area is being added now, and the plants in the original area will be better protected. Time will tell what happens to Roan Mountain Rattlesnake Root. . Thanks to Felicia Mitchell for the pictures of the plant.  –Carol Borderson

MRATC MEMBERSHIP REPORT

   MRATC Memberships have increased slightly over the last few months to near 250. This does not count individual family members, but in most cases counts the family membership as one. Memberships remain $10/person, $15/family, and $100 for lifetime memberships (individual). Memberships don’t officially expire until March 1, however, email reminders will be sent at the end of 2025 and early 2026. To renew or join us, go to Mt. Rogers AT Club / Membership and join online using PayPal or by printing off the membership form and mailing it to us at PO Box 789, Damascus, Va. 24236. Please note, however, that we are working on a whole new website that we hope to have up at some point during the next several months. When this happens we will email folks who still need to renew their memberships explaining how to do it. So, stay tuned!   - Sharon Trumbley

From the ATC, November 18/ 2025: Construction work to rebuild the Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail (Creeper Trail) began this month. The trail was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024 and extensive work is needed to repair the path and trestle bridges that were destroyed in the storm. The Appalachian Trail (A.T.) is co-aligned with or closely parallels the Creeper Trail for several miles north of Damascus. Starting today, the U.S. Forest Service is closing the A.T. from Highway 58 at Straight Branch to Grassy Ridge Road/VA 859 (NOBO miles 476.6.0 to 485.8). Hikers must stay out of closed area for their safety and the safety of crews working. Construction is expected to last one year.

Additional construction-related closures include:

• Straight Branch Trailhead (NOBO mile 476.6)
• Creek Junction Trailhead (NOBO mile 484.6)
• The Creeper Trail (milepost 1.04) from the A.T. steps on Highway 58 to the NC/VA state line (milepost 18.84). 
• Non-A.T. closures: Whitetop Laurel Fishing Trail (FST 4645), Taylors Valley Spur (FST 465), Whitetop Station Parking Lot & Trailhead, and Green Cove Parking Lot & Facility

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