ACTIVITY SCHEDULE – Spring 2019 March, April, May, June

 

Trailwork volunteers meet at 8:30 at the caboose in Damascus unless otherwise indicated. Updates on trail work locations and recreational hike plans are sent out by email to club members a few days prior to these activities. If you don’t get club email, please contact listed hike leader to check on last minute plans – or contact Trail Supervisor, Doug Levin, at mratcinfo@gmail.com or 276-698-2805 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.

 

To participate in any Recreational (fun) hike, email mtrogersatc@gmail.com by the day before the hike, so that you will be notified of any last minute changes or cancellations.

 

MRATC FRIDAY HIKERS - A moderately paced hiking group.

Hikes are announced mid-week. Contact Judith Foster at jaf@centurylink.net or
 276 623 2408 to join a hike. 

 

March

1 Deadline for Spring newsletter.

 

2 Saturday. Trail work.

9 Saturday. Trail work.

 

16 Saturday. Trail work.

 

20 Wednesday. Hike in Grayson Highlands State Park on Twin Pinnacle trail, which has great views, from Massie Gap, then up the Rhododendron trail and the AT to Wise Shelter and back on the Seed Orchard trail, about 6 miles. Cars will be left at both ends. Meet at exit 19 Lowes at 9:00 AM to carpool, or possibly at Massie Gap at 10:15. Leader: Anna Sherrill.

 

23 Saturday. Hike on Allegheny Access: Riverview trail. A possible 6 miles on this little-known gem, a North Carolina State Park for canoeists and walkers near Mouth of Wilson, Va. that includes riverside picnic area, rocky highlands, and early Spring wildflowers. Meet on the roadside of Rte 58/16 in Mouth of Wilson and carpool to the park, a few miles away. Leader: Carol Broderson.

 

27 Wednesday. Trail work.

 

30 Saturday. Hike from Bear Tree Recreation Area to Straight Branch via the Beartree, Iron Mountain, and Beech Grove trails. About 8.5 miles. Cars at both ends. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 9 A.M. or at the pkg area alongside Rt 58 above the Straight Branch Creeper Trail pkg lot at 9:15. Leader: Anne Maio.

 

 

April

(Reminder: to participate in any hike, please notify hike leader by the day before at the latest )

Work Hike mratcinfo@gmail.com

Fun Hike mtrogersatc@gmail.com

Friday Hike jaf@centurylink.net

 

3 Wednesday. Trail work.

 

6 Saturday. Hike at the Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve in Russell county and see many spring wildflowers. Hike about 5 miles moderate with ups and downs. Meet 9:00 AM at Food Country on Rt 19 just outside of Abingdon. Leader: Marcia Pruner.

 

10 Wednesday. Trail work.

Club meeting 7 PM at Washington County Public Library in Abingdon. All welcome!

 

12 - 14 Fri. eve – Sunday. Wilderness First Aid/CPR for those who have registered.

 

13 Saturday. Earth Day in Abingdon, Fields Penn House, 9 A.M. – 1 P.M. Theme: Sustainability. MRATC will have a booth. Need 4 people to staff it for two shifts. If interested in helping with staffing contact Whitney Peters thru mtrogersatc@gmail.com.

 

17 Wednesday. Trail work.

20 Saturday. Wildflower/Rare plant hike with possible monitoring of Fringed Phacelia in Whitetop Mtn area (details will be announced closer to hike date). Leader, Sharon Trumbley. 24 Wednesday. Trail work.

 

27 Saturday. 10:30 – 5. MRATC and the ATC will have a booth at Abingdon’s Spring Festival (aka Va Creeper Trail Festival). Need about 8 people to staff club’s booth and ATC’s booth in shifts for the day. mtrogersatc@gmail.com

 

May

(Reminder: to participate in any hike, please notify hike leader by the day before at the latest)

 

Work Hike mratcinfo@gmail.com,

Fun Hike mtrogersatc@gmail.com

Friday Hike jaf@centurylink.net   

 

1 Wednesday. Trail work.

 

4 Saturday. Wildflower/rare plant hike. Contact hike leader, Carol Broderson for details: mtrogersatc@gmail.com.

 

8 Wednesday. Trail work.

 

10-12 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.

 

15 Wednesday. Trail work.

 

17 – 19 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. We need lots of club members to help! mtrogersatc@gmail.com

 

19-20 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, 5/21. Also need people to bake and to help serve food at the hikers’ campsite. mtrogersatc@gmail.com

 

25 Saturday (Memorial Day). Wildflower/rare plant hike. Contact hike leader, Carol Broderson, for details: mtrogersatc@gmail.com.

 

June

(Reminder: to participate in any hike, please notify hike leader by the day before at the latest)

Work Hike mratcinfo@gmail.com

Fun Hike mtrogersatc@gmail.com

Friday Hike jaf@centurylink.net

 

1 Saturday. National Trails Day. Trail work.

5 Wednesday. Wildflower/rare plant hike. Contact leader, Carol Broderson, for details: mtrogersatc@gmail.com.

 

8 Saturday. Trail work.

 

12 Wednesday. Hike in Grayson Highlands State Park: waterfalls and high country, 5-8 miles. Details will be announced closer to date. Leader, Sharon Trumbley.

 

15 Saturday. Trail work.

26 Wednesday. Trail work.

29 Saturday. Fun Hike on the AT from Cross Mtn. Rd in Shady Valley, TN, past the Nick Grindstaff monument to Iron Mtn Shelter, 9.2 miles in and out. Meet at the caboose in Damascus at 8:30 AM to carpool. Leader: Anne Maio.

  

 

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash