MRATC Activities and Information, Week of May 30 – June 5, 2021

MRATC TRAIL WORK

On Sat June 5th the plan is to do some modest sidehill work in the Damascus area. Exact location to be determined but we will meet by the Damascus Caboose at 9:30 and leave from there. Please e-mail mratcinfo@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

MRATC HIKES

The hike listed for Grayson Highlands State Park on Monday, June 7^th  has been canceled due to leader’s injury and may be rescheduled later in the summer or fall. The next hike (Elk Garden to Whitetop) will be Monday, June 21^st. Details to follow later in June.

Hikes can be scheduled on a week by week basis rather than listed in the club’s quarterly newsletter. If a club member wishes to lead a hike, reply to this email and it can be listed in the Sunday email and on the club’s website the week of the hike (www.mratc.org under the Sidebar, Current Week’s Information).

RARE PLANT MONITORING HIKE, Thursday, June 3rd. Meet at SR 601 (Beech Mountain road)/AT intersection at 9:30 with rain gear and lunch. The hike is 5 miles round-trip, with a fairly steep elevation gain of about 1,500' on the first half, but we will take it slowly. Be sure to email Carol at mtrogersatc@gmail.com if you plan to come, so that you can be notified of weather changes. Also, if you can't join this hike but would like to monitor rare plants and set up a special session, send an email to the email address above.

Damascus Trail Center:  The 4’ x 10’ relief map was installed May 27^th and its table molding will be installed soon. Several meetings will be held the week of June 7^th with 106 Group and the NPS and other partners for further exhibit planning.

Wilderness Skills Institute (online classes): Register: https://wildernessskillsinstitute.org/2021wsi/

American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacations includes Grayson Highlands in June and Hungry Mother in October in our area this year. Many other options elsewhere in the U.S.

https://americanhiking.org/volunteer-vacation-trips/list/?tribe_paged=1&tribe_event_display=list 

 Grayson Highlands St. Park and adjacent area map (Avenza maps app) free download available:  https://www.avenzamaps.com/maps/1204147/grayson-highlands-state-park.

Virginia AT license plates:  $15 of the $25 annual fee goes to the ATC VA Regional Office to support the AT – including the new Damascus Trail Center. If you would like to order one, go to this section of the DMV website:

https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/#splates/category.asp?category=S 

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. 

•Visit the ATC's website for information and hikes in AT Communities up and down the AT, listed by state.

In our area, the AT Communities are Damascus, Abingdon, and Marion/Smyth County. 

https://appalachiantrail.org/explore/communities

TRAIL UPDATES

Grayson Highlands State Park Backpackers' pkg. lot reservations:https://www.reserveamerica.com/explore/grayson-highlands-state-park/VA/140172/35528/campsite-booking

•The bridge at Comers Creek Falls has been removed as of 3/20/2021. Steps and stepstones have been installed  so a low-water crossing can be made, and this section of the AT from Dickey Gap south has been re-opened. During times of suspected high water, hikers should plan to use the marked detour on Rte. 650.

Bears:  In 2019 and 2020, there were fewer reports of bears taking hikers' food than in 2018, but bears 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. 

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