ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

Spring 2017 March - June

 

Updates on trail work locations and recreational hike plans are sent out by email to club members a few days prior to those activities. If you don’t get club email, please contact listed hike leader to check on last minute plans – or contact mratcinfo@gmail.com for information on trail work or to report trail work needs. Updates are also posted on www.mratc.org/Current Week’s Information and on our Facebook page: Mt. Rogers Appalachian Trail Club.

 

MRATC FRIDAY HIKERS - A moderately paced hiking group. Group consensus will determine the trail to hike each week. Call Judith at 276 623 2408 or Snow at 276 254 1935 to join a hike. 

 

March

(Note: Start time for work hikes will be 9 a.m. in the month of March. We plan to work the first two Saturdays and the fourth and fifth Wednesdays. We will work the third Wednesday only if there is work that needs attention at that time.)

 

1 Deadline for Spring newsletter.

 

1 Wednesday. Hike the Helton Creek Trail loop - An 8-9 mile lollipop hike on the VA Horse Trail, Helton Creek and Sugar Maple Trails starting from Elk Garden. This route can be moist so dress appropriately and bring lunch and water. Weather, road and trail conditions could change or cancel. Meet at Lowes exit 19 at 8:30. Hike leader Doug Levin. E-mail staceydoug@centurylink.net if you plan to participate.

 

4 Saturday. First Saturday trail work day of the spring season, weather permitting. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 9 a.m. We will be evaluating trail conditions and planning. New trail monitors and maintainers strongly encouraged to come.

 

10-12 ATC Southern Partnership Meeting in Black Mountain, NC. MRATC will send a representative. Saturday. Work hike. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 9 a.m.

 

11 Saturday. Work hike. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 9 a.m.

 

15 Wednesday. Optional day for trail work, if needed.

 

18 Saturday. Hike on AT from Elk Garden to Summit Cut (6-7 miles), and hopefully see early Spring Wildflowers. AM exit 19 Lowes in Abingdon and carpool, leaving cars at both Elk Garden and Summit Cut. Email or call Sharon Trumbley, trumbleys@hotmail.com, 276-356-3683, if plan to attend.

 

22 Wednesday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 9 a.m

 

25 Saturday. A one way hike of approximately 9 miles in the high country. Start and end points likely along Rt 603. The exact route to be defined about a week prior to the hike depending on weather, road and trail conditions. Dress appropriately and bring lunch and water. Meet at Lowes exit 19 at 8:30. Hike leader Doug Levin. E-mail staceydoug@centurylink.net if you plan to participate.

 

29 Wednesday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 9 a.m.

 

April

 

1 Saturday. Hike on Iron Mtn Trail from Laurel Bloomery to Damascus, about 6 miles. Meet at Caboose in Damascus 9:00 AM. (This hike was cancelled due to snow in January. ). Will leave cars at both ends of hike. Let leader know if plan to come: Sharon Trumbley at 276-356-3683 or trumbleys@hotmail.com.

 

1-2 Saturday – Sunday. Crosscut saw certification class at Sugar Grove for those who have signed up with Josh of the ATC.

 

8 Saturday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 8:30 a.m.

 

12 Wednesday. Wednesday. Meeting at Washington County Library in Abingdon at 7 p.m. All club members

invited. Topics include: Earth Day, Naturalist Rally,Trail Days, Konnarock projects, Hardcore plans.

 

15 Saturday. 10 A.M. Early spring wildflowers on the New River Trail. Contact hike leader Carol Broderson to join this hike: 276 773-3513 (before 7 P.M.) or carol@ls.net.

 

19 Wednesday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 8:30 a.m. 21 Friday. Meet at Food Country on Rte. 19 at 9 AM for a wildflower hike at The Pinnacle led by Claiborne Woodall. Contact Judith Foster for information. jaf@centurylink.net or 276-623-2408.

 

22 Saturday. Earth Day in Abingdon, Fields Penn House, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Theme: Energy conservation and alternative energy sources. MRATC will have a booth.

 

23-25 Sunday – Tuesday. All MRATC hikers are invited to join a wildflower exploration in the Hot Springs area on April 23, 24, and 25. The plan is to drive to Hot Springs and set up camp on April 23 (just after their Trail-Fest). Several of us plan to camp at the Hot Springs Resort and Spa Campground on the French Broad River, but this is a choose your own lodging outing, if you prefer indoors. On Monday, April 24 we will drive to Max Patch and hike 10 miles from there to Lemon Gap and back. For shorter options, just bring your own car and turn around when you like. On the 25th, we plan to do the easy 7-mile, in and out, hike along the Laurel River and then drive home. Bad weather may alter plans. Email carol@ls.net to join the planning.

 

26 Wednesday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 8:30 a.m. 29 Saturday. MRATC and the ATC will have a booth at Abingdon’s celebration of the 30th anniversary of the VA Creeper Trail plus other outdoor experiences and equipment.

 

29-30 Saturday – Sunday. Chainsaw certification class at Sugar Grove for those who have signed up with Josh of the ATC.

May

 

3 Wednesday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 8:30 a.m.

 

6 Saturday. Hike the Whiterock Mountain trail in the Clinch Wildlife Management Area.. About 6 mile loop hike, shorter if hunter roads open. Great views at the top, Meet at Meadowview town square 9:00 am. Contact hike leader Jim Warden if you plan to come: jawarden@ehc.edu or 276-525-2516.

 

10  Wednesday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 8:30 a.m.

 

11  Thursday. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 9 a.m. for garlic mustard pulling with Conner McBane of the ATC. We will pull this invasive plant in Damascus, then carpool to Teas Rd. at the end of our club’s trail section to pull some more!

 

12-14 Friday eve., Saturday, Sunday. Naturalist Rally. Konnarock Community Center. See website: blueridgediscoverycenter.org/mrnr for complete list of activities. Club members will be leading naturalist walks.

 

17 Wednesday. Meet at the Heartwood Community Lot at 8:30AM. We will car pool to FS293 near the town of Roan Mtn and do a 8.5 to 9 mile total hike, finishing at Rt 19, with cars on either end. End points are about 10 minutes apart. This hike will cover two sections of the AT with a 1.5 mile connector (included in total distance) on a gravel/paved road. Bring lunch and water and dress appropriately. Hike leader Doug Levin. Please e-

mail staceydoug@centurylink.net if you plan to join.

 

19-21 Friday & Saturday. Damascus AppalachianTrail Days. The club will have a booth and we will sign up hikers for Hardcore project. We will march in the parade at 2 p.m. Saturday. Come join us! Check Trail Days website (www.traildays.us) for schedule of activities.

 

19-23 Friday – Wednesday. The Konnarock Crew will be working on Whitetop Mtn., preparing the site for Hardcore, then finishing work afterward.

 

21-22 Sunday & Monday. Hardcore project – Whitetop Mtn.. Club members needed to transport hikers to and from their work site Sunday and Monday and back to the A.T. on Tuesday morning, 5/23. Also need people to bake and to help serve food at Beartree Campground, where the hikers will camp. Contact Anne: trailsamkm@aol.com; 276-475-5114.

 

25 Thursday. Trail work with Anja Whittington’s Radford University students and the Forest Service. Location TBA.

 

27 Saturday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 8:30 a.m.

 

June

 

3 Saturday. National Trails Day. Join a family hike 1 1⁄2 miles to and from Buzzard Rock on Whitetop Mountain, the second highest mountain in Virginia. Meet at LOWES, Falcon Blvd., exit 19 off I-81, garden end of parking lot , at 9:30 AM. Bring lunch, water, rain gear and poles (walking sticks) if you have them. We will have mountain views of North Carolina and look into the valleys and mountains of Virginia. For more information contact Judith at 276 623 2408 or jaf@centurylink.net.

 

7 Wednesday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 8:30 a.m.

 

10 Saturday. National Get Outdoors Day. The public is welcome. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 9 a.m. to hike the Straight Branch/Iron Mtn. Trail area. Distance and route depends on interest of participants. Bring lunch and water. Leader: Anne Maio 276-475-5114, trailsamkm@aol.com.

 

14 Wednesday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 8:30 a.m.

 

23–27 Friday – Tuesday. Konnarock Crew will be working on our trail section, probably between Massie Gap and Thomas Knob. Club members may be needed to watch their campsite while they are working.

 

24 Saturday. Trail work. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 8:30 a.m.

 

27 Tuesday. Potluck for Konnarock Crew at Sugar Grove F.S. Work Center. Need club members to bring a side or dessert to share. The club will supply the main course. Setup: 5:30. Dinner at 6 p.m. Contact Anne trailsamkm@aol.com; 276-475-5114 for more information.

 

28 Wednesday. Hike in Grayson Highlands State Park: Park at Massie Gap. Hike the Cabin Creek Trail to see waterfall (a loop) and have snack, then over to Backpacker’s parking lot and up spur trail to the AT. Follow to Wise Shelter for lunch, then hike back to Massie Gap and down to parking lot. About 7 miles. Let leader, Sharon Trumbley, know if you plan to attend (trumbleys@hotmail.com or 276-356-3683). Meet at 8:30 at exit 19 Lowes in Abingdon, or at Massie Gap at 9:30-9:40.

 

Photo: Coldwater Creek by Billy Wilson