MRATC Activities and Information, Week of June 27 – July 3, 2021

MRATC TRAIL WORK

Those interested in doing a trail work project Sat. July 3 should email mratcinfo@gmail.com. Project will depend on number of participants. 

MRATC HIKES 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).

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN OF THE VA HIGHLANDS’ TRAIL REHAB PROJECT – East End of Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area. Orientation meeting: 4104 Cripple Creek Rd., Cripple Creek, July 10 at 6 p.m. – or email Nancy or check their website to join the project later. The first session runs from July 10 – 20; then there will be other work sessions in Sept. and Oct.http://bchvh.org/events-trail-days/                Email Nancy: info@bchvh.org

NEXT MRATC MEETING – DATE AND LOCATION:Our next club meeting will be Wed., July 14, at the new Damascus Trail Center. Details to come 7/4. 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:Volunteer opportunities at the Damascus Trail Center are now live on www.appalachiantrail.org.  Volunteer opportunities at the DTC are listed as on-going and varied and include reoccurring, one-time, weekdays, weekends, and evening opportunities. Interested parties are asked to complete an online registration before being redirected to complete a paper application.

The application will be given to interested parties by ATC staff. In the application, volunteers can select what activities they would like to volunteer for, what interests and skills they have or are willing to learn, and their availability. For questions or assistance please contact Emily Mayo - emayo@appalachiantrail.org.

Paper applications will be available at the DTC for the July MRATC meeting.

DAMASCUS INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION:  Saturday, July 3 in the Town Park, 6-10 p.m. Local food vendors, music by Phantom (7-9 p.m.), and Manuel’s fireworks show after dark. (In case of inclement weather, this event will be rescheduled for Labor Day.)

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.

 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. 

.