MRATC Activities and Information, Week of June 20 – 26, 2021

MRATC TRAIL WORK

Work plan is to meet at the Damascus Trail Center (parking on the street or behind the building) at 9am on Sat June 26^th.   The exact project is to be determined, possibly sidehill north of 601. Please e-mail mratcinfo@gmail.com if you plan to participate.

The Eagle Scout large-scale trail drainage project south of Wise was completed June 14-15.

MRATC HIKES

June 21 Monday. Hike from Elk Garden to Whitetop Mtn and Buzzard Rock on the AT South and back, with cool green woods and stunning views. About 6-7 miles. Meet 9:00 A.M. at Elk Garden parking. If planning to come let hike leader, Sharon Trumbley, know by emailing mtrogersatc@gmail.com by 6 P.M. tonight, 6/20.

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).

BEAR WARNING, South of Damascus: Due to reported aggressive bear activity and evidence of bear(s) entering campsites and taking food, the area around the Appalachian Trail between the Double Springs Shelter and the Backbone Rock side trail (mile marker 451 to approximately mile marker 464 is closed to camping until further notice.

NEXT MRATC MEETING – DATE AND LOCATION:

Our next club meeting will be Wed., July 14, at the new Damascus Trail Center. Details to come. Opportunity to see the relief map of the AT in our area, for those who haven’t seen it yet. There will also be a connection via Zoom for this meeting, with some technical challenges.

DAMASCUS TRAIL CENTER SEEKS VOLUNTEERS:

For information on volunteering to help staff the Trail Center, follow this link
https://volunteer.appalachiantrail.org/s/atc-project-details?c__recId=a0q1U000005C4hK

 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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