APRIL

       6

Wednesday – Trailwork details, TBD

     11

Monday - Wildflower/Rare Plant Hike:  Early spring wildflowers on the New River Trail.  Bring lunch    and rain gear.  Contact hike leader Carol Broderson for details at mtrogersatc@gmail.com. 

     13

Wednesday – Trailwork details TBD

MRATC Quarterly Meetingat 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held live at the Abingdon Library with a Zoom option. Details will be sent out in April Sunday emails. For questions, contact a Board member on the list enclosed with this newsletter.

     20

Wednesday – Traiilwork, details TBD

22-24

Friday – Sunday Southern Partnership Meeting. This year, this meeting of all the AT clubs in the Southern Region will be held at the Damascus Trail Center. Club members are encouraged to attend. An agenda and registration information will be sent out in a Sunday club email. Our club will help set up the meeting location and will lead a hike on Fri. Apr. 22 for SPM attendees. Stay tuned for opportunities to volunteer to help!

Earth Day celebrations will take place in Damascus all that weekend and in Abingdon on Saturday, April 23 at the Fields Penn House on Cummings St. from 9-1.

      27

Wednesday – Fun Hike: Spring Hike on Mt Roger’s Trail.  Meet at 9:30 at the trailhead parking on VA Hwy 603 (not far past Grindstone Campground if you are coming from Whitetop Road area) to cross street and walk up Mt. Rogers Trail toward the intersection with AT, out-and-back round trip of about six miles or so, depending on pauses to see wildflowers.  Bring lunch and rain gear, poles if you use them.  Some of the hike is in the Lewis Fork wilderness, so group size is limited to 10, and we will plan to split into 2 groups if this happens.  Contact hike leader Felicia Mitchell for more information at mtrogersatc@gmail.com. 

MAY

(Note: The Damascus Trail Center will be open Fridays – Mondays from 10 to 3, May – July, with the Grand Opening in August or September. Come check it out! 

        2

Monday  Wildflower/Rare Plant Hike:  Meet at Elk Garden at 9:30.  We’ll hike to Whitetop and back on the AT and look for early spring wildflowers and rare plants.  Bring lunch and rain gear.  Contact hike leader Carol Broderson for details at mtrogersatc@gmail.com. 

        4

Wednesday – Trailwork, details TBD

     6-8

Friday - Sunday.   Mt. Rogers Naturalist Rally and Grand Opening of their new headquarters and Education Center at the renovated Konnarock School:  https://blueridgediscoverycenter.org/2022-spring-mrnr 

In Damascus, the Annual Town-wide Yard Sale takes place on May 6.

      11

Wednesday – Trailwork, details TBD

 13-15

Friday - Sunday. Damascus Appalachian Trail Days. The MRATC booth will be at the Trail Center on Laurel Ave. this year. Club members needed to staff the booth and march in the Parade. See the events schedule:  https://traildays.us

      21

S – Saturday – Fun Hike:  Shady Valley hike led by Lissa Jackson on the AT, direction                               depending on the weather and miles TBD.                                                                                                                If you plan to participate, email mtrogersatc@gmail.com

      25

 Wednesday – Trailwork, details TBD

JUNE

(Note: The Damascus Trail Center will be open Fridays – Mondays from 10 to 3, May – July, with the Grand Opening in August or September. Come check it out! 

        1

Wednesday -  Trailwork, details TBD

Deadline for Summer Newsletter

        4

Saturday - National Trails Day.  MRATC will be at the Trail Center to answer trail questions from visitors, pass out hangtags to AT thru-hikers, and provide information about the club and our activities.  

         8

Wednesday – Trailwork, detail TBD

        18

Saturday – Trailwork, details TBD

        22

Wednesday – Fun Hike: to be led by Heidi Dixon White

        25

Saturday – Trailwork, details TBD

        29

Wednesday – Fun Hike: Grayson Highlands State Park.  Meet at Massie Gap at 9:30 AM for a lollypop loop hike of about 8 miles on the VA Highlands Horse Trail and Cabin Ridge Trail to Brier Ridge, then back on the Horse Trail.  Terrain fairly level; there can be wet spots.  Bring lunch, water.  Email mtrogersatc@gmail.com by 6 PM the evening before to be notified if the weather changes hike plans. Leader: Anne Maio.