MRATC Activities and Information, Week of March 6-12, 2022
MRATC TRAIL WORK:
The work hike this week will be on Thursday, March 10. Meet at Dickey Gap at 9:30. There is a large hole in the trail south of Dickey Gap to work on, plus any other issues in the area. Email mratcinfo@gmail.com to participate.
Trail work participants need to be vaccinated against Covid.
MRATC HIKES:
Note: 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)
BOOK TALK
On Saturday, March 19 @ 2 PM, Bunny Medeiros will be talking about the new Second Edition update of her 2014 book on Damascus, Friendliest Town on the Trail at the Damascus Library.
AT VISTA 2022, at SUNY NEW PALTZ, AUG. 5-8: Online registration begins in mid-March. Hikes, Excursions and workshops are already listed on the website: https://atvista2022.org.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR EVENTS AT TRAIL CENTER THIS SPRING
Beginning May 6, the ATC will host a pop-up visitor center Friday-Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This pop-up center will run through the summer to engage with visitors while interior renovations are completed. If you would like to volunteer to be a part of the pop-up center team, please visit
https://volunteer.appalachiantrail.org/s/atc-project-details?c__recId=a0q1U000007TQ5x
to complete the volunteer application.
If you have any questions on volunteer opportunities, you may contact the Damascus Trail Center Supervisor at 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
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, 2020, and 2021 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 carry a bear canister or to use the metal bear boxes 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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