MRATC Activities and Information, Week of July 25 – 31, 2021

SPECIAL RECOGNITION: 

One of our club members, Donna Barkley, completed her section hike of the AT at Katahdin yesterday, July 24^th. Congratulations, Donna! 

MRATC TRAIL WORK:

On Sat July 31st we'll work on issues between Elk Garden and Buzzard Rock, meeting at Elk Garden at 9:30. If planning to help, please e-mail mratcinfo@gmail.com.

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).

The Friday hiking group is holding small group hikes. Contact Judith for information (jaf@centurylink.net; 276-623-2408)

AT VISTA, Aug. 7-8:  Hikes trail-wide and workshops by recording

https://atvista2021.org/hikes        (Note that our club’s hike and walk near Damascus are listed. )

https://atvista2021.org/workshops

UPCOMING:  AT COMMUNITY SUMMIT IN DAMASCUS, NOV. 5-6

Club members welcome!

To Register and to see a link to the tentative program agenda: Copy/paste this link:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBerGKC_ugyqmcvvuouZH17SF99nixY-4oZ6z5dTZr9E9xDQ/viewform

LATEST ISSUE OF THE ATC’S THE REGISTER:

https://mailchi.mp/4682e6bb18a0/the-register-july-2021?e=00230c7a05

ATC VOLUNTEER RECRUITING ROUNDTABLE (Use link to sign up for online workshop):

https://volunteer.appalachiantrail.org/s/atc-project-details?c__recId=a0q1U000005CMLd

DAMASCUS TRAIL CENTER SEEKS VOLUNTEERS: HAVE YOU SIGNED UP YET?

Volunteer opportunities at the Damascus Trail Center are now live on www.appalachiantrail.org. 

https://volunteer.appalachiantrail.org/s/atc-project-details?c__recId=a0q1U000005C4hK

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.

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. 

.