MRATC Activities and Information, Week of Apr. 3 – 9, 2022
MRATC TRAIL WORK:
No regular group trail work this week.
Upcoming: ATC trail maintenance skills field workshop on the AT south of Damascus: Fri., April 15 (or join PATH’s workshop in Atkins Sat. Apr. 16th) Meeting time: 9 a.m.
Meeting place will be sent to you when you register on the ATC website, using one of the two links below.
Friday, April 15: AT south of Damascus, VA from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - ATC Project Details (appalachiantrail.org)
Saturday, April 16 near Atkins, VA from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - ATC Project Details (appalachiantrail.org)
MRATC HIKES:
Upcoming: Mon. Apr. 11: Wildflower hike on New River Trail. Details in next week’s Sun. email.
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).
NEXT CLUB MEETING: Wed., April 13, 7 p.m. live at Abingdon Library – and also on Zoom. Those attending the live meeting should follow the current library masking policy in effect on the date of the meeting. (Bring one – be prepared in case you need it.)
REMEMBERING WIL CORBIN: Wil Corbin, a trail maintainer for the Nantahala Hiking Club, then, when he moved to our area, an MRATC trail maintainer, died Monday, March 28th at the age of 94. Those of us who knew him value his wisdom and gentleness and his skill with the two-bit axe and the crosscut saw. The club hopes to place a small memorial to him in the Trail Center Garage, where trail skills workshops will take place. Anyone who would like to make a donation in memory of Wil for the axe, engraving and mounting can send it to the club’s PO Box: MRATC, POB 789, Damascus, VA 24236.
EMORY & HENRY STUDENTS VISIT DAMASCUS
On Sat., Apr. 2nd, a group of E&H students and faculty coordinators rode the Creeper Trail, then visited the Trail Center.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO STAFF THE CLUB’S BOOTH AT EARTH DAY IN ABINGDON, Sat., Apr. 23rd, 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. The tasks are 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.
ATC SOUTHERN PARTNERSHIP MEETING: the 13 AT clubs in VA, TN, NC, GA
Fri. noon – Sun. morning, Apr. 22 – 24 – in Damascus. Attending is a great way to find out about issues and concerns in the NPS, ATC, USFS, and other 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 6th
- May 7th
- May 8th
- May 9th
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MT. ROGERS NATURALIST RALLY: Hosted by the Blue Ridge Discovery Center May 6-8. Registration for field trips is now open: https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrnrspring
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 is now active, beginning Apr. 1.
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 was removed 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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