MRATC Activities and Information, Week of March 27- Apr. 2, 2022

MRATC TRAIL WORK:

Wed. March 30: The plan is to meet at the small pkg. lot at the beginning of the Seed Orchard Trail across from the GHSP Country Store at 9:30 a.m. We will hike 1.5 miles to Wise Shelter and move the privy cabin over the new pit, which the Park dug for us. There are skids to slide the cabin on, but muscles help, so please come if you can. We will also re-dig the fire ring at the shelter. Email mratcinfo@gmail.com if you can come – and to be notified if work plans change.

The bog bridge project north of Wise Shelter that was supposed to have taken place Sat. March 26 with help from E&H students was postponed due to cold, windy, wet weather. It will be rescheduled.

TRAINING FOR NEW SAWYERS:  ATC is going to arrange a chainsaw certification class for new sawyers this spring.  There will be a very limited number of spots available to us. Anyone interested in applying should send a mail to mratcinfo@gmail.com.

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)

NEXT CLUB MEETING:  Wed., April 13, 7 p.m. live at Abingdon Library – and also on Zoom.  Agenda and more information in next two Sunday emails.

EMORY & HENRY STUDENTS VISIT DAMASCUS

Sat., Apr. 2: Club volunteers are needed at the Trail Center from 3:45 to 5 p.m. to welcome the E&H student groups back from afternoon hikes and bike rides, chat with the students while they are eating pizza, and help put away tables and chairs afterwards.

Email Emily Mayo at emayo@appalachiantrail.org to sign up to help.

We want to keep the Emory & Henry partnership with the club going!

This is the link to the promo video:

https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DePiCBkKtjUQ%26ab_channel%3DEmory%2526HenryCollege&data=04%7C01%7Cemayo%40appalachiantrail.org%7C72a05653386940ab4b0008da038c6945%7Cd243d5bafa56443b9f470b1c9e11b548%7C0%7C1%7C637826198844717754%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=syGh94GJcy20rX15Bru%2B6Q9bjpcmHdO2xaL8NgXh6O0%3D&reserved=0

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO STAFF THE CLUB’S BOOTH AT EARTH DAY IN ABINGDON, Sat., Apr. 23^rd, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We have only two volunteers so far. We’d like to give them a break during the four hours. We could use a couple more people to set up the table, tent, and display board before 9, talk to people about the club and hiking, and pack up at 1 p.m. If you can help, even for an hour or two, email mtrogersatc@gmail.com.

ATC SOUTHERN PARTNERSHIP MEETING: the 13 AT clubs in VA, TN, NC, GA

Fri. noon – Sun. morning, Apr. 22 – 24 – in Damascus. Attending the SPM is a great way to find out about issues and concerns in the NPS, ATC, USFS, and other southern AT clubs. Please come for as much of the meeting as you can. It’s local this time!

HOW TO REGISTER

If you plan to attend any part of the meeting, please let the ATC know by registering at this link: https://www.tfaforms.com/4867205?tfa_2035=1&tfa_1994=a0q1U000007TQah.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR EVENTS AT TRAIL CENTER THIS SPRING

The Damascus Trail Center is searching for volunteers for the following dates. Please email Emily Mayo at emayo@appalachiantrail.org to sign up for a specific date and time.  Also, volunteers will need to complete ATC's event registration found here https://volunteer.appalachiantrail.org/s/atc-project-details?c__recId=a0q1U000007TQ5x  If you have previously completed the event listing please disregard it. Volunteers will help staff an information booth between the hours of 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

• May 6^th 
• May 7^th 
• May 8^th 
• May 9^th 

AT VISTA 2022, at SUNY NEW PALTZ, AUG. 5-8: 60 Hikes, many Excursions and 45 workshops are listed on the website: https://atvista2022.organd online registration will be active beginning Apr. 1.