MRATC Activities and Information, Week of June 5-11, 2022
MRATC TRAIL WORK:
Wed. June 8: As of this moment the plan is to address a series of blowdowns north of Dickey Gap. All are in wilderness. Meet time 9:30 at Dickey Gap. Please e-mail mratcinfo@gmail.com if you plan to help and so you’ll hear about any change.
Bog Bridge project: Three club members, three college students and their faculty coordinator, two MRNRA staff and three ATC staff members installed the log and plank bog bridge in the swampy area of the AT north of Wise Shelter on Thursday, June 2.
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 DAMASCUS TRAIL CENTER is open every Friday through Monday, from 10 to 3, May through July. Popup events are scheduled on Saturdays. The website for a list of events is: https://appalachiantrail.org/our-work/about-us/contact-us/damascus-trail-center/
Come check it out!
The Grand Opening of the Trail Center is scheduled for Aug. 26.
AT VISTA 2022, at SUNY NEW PALTZ, AUG. 5-8: 60 Hikes, many Excursions and 45 workshops are listed on the website: https://atvista2022.org. Online registration is now active.
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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