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The Blaze

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Saved by Pat Hensley
on December 21, 2022 at 7:17:03 am
 

THE BLAZE

Newsletter of the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club 

Fall 2022

October, November, December

 

Newsletter in .pdf form 

 

The MOUNT ROGERS APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB, a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy was organized February 29, 1960.  The club has maintenance responsibilities for 59.4 miles of the APPALACHIAN TRAIL in the Jefferson National Forest, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, Grayson Highlands State Park and additional trails in the area.

 

MRATC RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES REPORT:  Fall 2022

 

High Country Loop

 

WMA Hike: Maria, Sharon, Anne, Mike and Joe

During the last 3 months, September through November, 6 club recreational hikes were held. With 3 to 8 participants, hikes were on various places on the AT, Iron Mt Trail, trails in Grayson Highlands State Park, the High Country in the park and Scales area, and in the White Rock area of the Clinch Mtn Wildlife Management Area. These were moderate to strenuous level based on terrain and mileage. New participants, some of whom have become club members, took part in 2 of these hikes. New participants have also joined the Friday Hikers, who hike moderate mileage weekly, weather permitting. Regular club hikes are announced in the Blaze and on our website under Current Week, and also in our Sunday email.

 

 

Watauga Lake Hike: Maria, Judith, Mike, Sharon and Jim

Friday Hikers may contact the leader, Judith Foster, at judithannfoster@gmail.com; or 276-623-2408. On November 9 for our club and partnership meeting we provided drinks and members brought snacks or desserts, creating a pleasant atmosphere in the Damascus Trail Center.  

 

TRAILS REPORT


 

Lopper Fest!

 

In late summer, the club completed installation of the remaining signage from a large order created in conjunction with our partners at ATC, USFS and Grayson Highlands State Park.  The last of the signs discourage the cutting of live trees in the Thomas Knob shelter area and improve things near the spur to Trimpi shelter.  Thanks to everyone involved. This project could not have been accomplished without the help of our Ridgerunner, Jim Baum, who arranged for material transport and even carried in extra posts when necessary.  At our partnership meeting in early November it was suggested that the search and rescue count in the high country may have already dropped some, and quite possibly as a result of the new signage. Hopefully that’s true and that trend continues.  Before the end of his season around Columbus Day, Jim prepared and staged a pile of new blaze posts for us near the Scales. This allowed the club to replace ten blaze posts on Stone Mountain, many of which had weathered and broken.  In early Sept, what seems likely to have been a bear created substantial access holes under the front, back and side of the Saunders pit privy.  You are free to ponder why on a quiet, blustery, winter night. The club worked the following week to seal the bin, but a month later we heard that one side has been opened up again.

                                             

   

NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Roan Mountain Rattlesnake Root

 

The Natural Resources Committee had a good season. We turned in over 25 rare plant reports and monitored the phenology of eight species. We also assisted ATC’s spruce planting project in the Whitetop area. Over a thousand spruce trees were planted, to help restore the loss of this important species.  Marywood Sparks made an important, new discovery of over 100 plants of American umbrella leaf on the Jackie Street Trail. Anne Maio Frank White and Heidi Dixon-White hosted a group of Emory and Henry students in trying to rid part of the trail of invasives, near Damascus. They also discovered a new invasive species, lespedeza, or Chinese bush clover. Thanks to all those I have mentioned and also Jim Warden, Jennie Hauser, Sharon Trumbley, and Felicia Mitchell for helping monitor rare plants and recording the phenology of various species.  Felicia also takes great photos for the Natural Resources Committee. We’re always looking for new members to help with a variety of jobs. If you have an interest in plants, we’ll go out with you and show you what you need to know. Contact Carol Broderson at mtrogersatc@gmail.com

 

 

MRATC MEMBERSHIP REPORT

MRATC currently has 200 members. This has held steadily over the last several years as new members replace older members who have died or members that have not renewed for various reasons. Of these, less than one quarter are members who must renew annually. The majority of the rest are Life members and a small percentage PR members. Renewals are due March 1 of each year. An email reminder will be sent out at the end of December to those who need to renew. It will explain how to renew either by printing off the renewal form and mailing it in with a check, or electronically, by going to our website, mratc.org, and going to Membership. Yearly single membership is $10, yearly family membership $15, and Lifetime (single) membership is only $100. This relatively low cost for a Lifetime Membership explains why there are so many lifetime members. If you are an annual member be watching for your renewal reminder at the end of December and we hope you will renew your membership and consider becoming active in the club if you aren’t already!

 

2021-2022 END OF SEASON REPORT

45 MRATC Members contributed 3,072 volunteer hours.  49 Guests contributed 444 volunteer hours.

 

Volunteer hours by Work Category:

TRAIL & FACILITY MAINTENANCE:  2,031 HRS            Forest (MRNRA) work hours: 3,154

CORRIDOR MONITORING:                               51 HRS            Park (GHSP) work hours: 364

NATURAL RESOURCES:                                 149 HRS

OUTREACH/EDUCATION:                               130 HRS

ADMINISTRATION / LEADERSHIP:               400 HRS

Trail Miles Maintained:  FOREST (MRNRA) 877   PARK (GHSP) 40

 

Forest Service Recognition Awards for 2021 – 2022 Trail Season

50 Hour Patches                             100 Hour Bar                                   300 Hour Bar

Mary Gale - 53.25 HR                     Brian Allgood - 109.25 HR             Edie Bobko – 367.25 HR

Max Guggenheimer 81.5 HR         Drew Gallacher - 127.75 HR

Emily Mayo - 86.25 HR                   Frank White - 123.25 HR

Chip Sparks - 67.25 HR                                                                             

Marywood Sparks - 86 HR                                                                        

Heidi Dixion-White 86.25

 

600 Hour Bar                                    800 Hour Bar                                  1,000 Hour Bar

Grey Hauser – 644 HR                   Gerry Davis – 844.5 HR                Jim Warden – 1100.25

 

ATC Volunteer Recognition Awards for 2021 – 2022 Trail Season

ATC PIN                                            100 Hour ATC Patch                     1000 Hour ATC Vest

Rachel Dwyer - 49 HR                    Brian Allgood – 109.25 HR             Jim Warden – 1100.25

Randy Goodman - 32.75 HR         Drew Gallacher – 127.75 HR

Max Guggenheimer 81.5 HR         Frank White – 123.25 HR

Carter Hudson - 29.75 HR

Bob Huff - 12 HR

Leah Wilson - 25.75 HR

 

COMING SOON: AN OPPORTUNITY TO BID ON ELEGANT CROSS-STITCH OF TRAIL WILDFLOWERS

 

Kathy White Walker, who served as the club’s treasurer for several years, has cross-stitched twelve wildflowers commonly seen on the Appalachian Trail and has donated them to the club for an auction in memory of Stacey Levin. Stacey was a club member, trail worker, section monitor, and rare plant monitor and the wife of our Trails Coordinator, Doug Levin. The club has decided to offer Kathy’s cross-stitched and framed wildflowers in a silent auction in the spring of 2023. The twelve wildflowers will be on display at the Trail Center starting in February. Stop by and pick out one you’d like to bid on!  Damascus Trail Center, 209 W. Laurel Ave., Thu-Mon,  10 – 5.  276-323-3046.

 

 

Wil Corbin’s two-bit axe - on display at the Damascus Trail Center.

 

 

                        

 

 

On Mon., Oct. 3rd, a Sunrise Tours group of 40 came to Damascus, did part of the Damascus History Tour with club members Anne Maio, Donna Barkley and Heidi Dixon White, and had lunch at the Old Mill with Donna and Heidi sharing stories of their hikes on the AT. 

  

 

 

November 9th, First Partnership Meeting at the new trail center. 


New bike rack moved into place

 

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