Konnarock Crew works to relocate AT on Roan Highlands

For the last two years the Tennessee Eastman Hiking & Canoeing Club has been working to relocate the Appalachian Trail between Grassy Ridge and Bradley Gap, replacing the route originally installed in the 1950’s that basically goes straight up and down every summit.

Trail locations such as this along the fall line result in high erosion, especially in areas with heavy use, high precipitation, and soft soils, all characteristic of the Roan Highlands. The TEHCC is nearing completion of this project with two relocations remaining, one on either side of the Stan Murray Shelter.

In conjunction with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's Konnarock Crew, the TEHCC hopes to complete the project this summer and is looking for volunteers to help out.

There are two Crew work weekends left this year: July 8-12, and August 5-9.

The Crew arrives on Thursdays and will stay at the Overmountain Shelter. They finish up and break camp by Monday around lunchtime. Friday, Saturday, and Sundays are the best days for volunteers to help with those being full work days.

For more information, click here, or contact Joe DeLoach at 423-753-7263 or Carl Fritz at 423-477-4669.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

AT license plates fund mini trail grants

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy will once again be awarding mini-grants for projects in the region that will benefit the long-distance hiking trail.

This year the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will give out $25,000 in grants, not to exceed $5,000 per grant. The grants are funded through proceeds from the specialty AT license plates, which raised $116,000 last year for the AT Conservancy.

Grants can include trail work, conservation projects and trail promotion and education. Past projects have included:

• Smoky Mountains Hiking Club’s purchase materials to build mouldering privy at Cable Gap Shelter.

• Smoky Mountains Hiking Club’s purchase materials to build mouldering privy at Sassafras Gap Shelter.

• Efforts by the Nantahala Hiking Club to help the town of Franklin become an official “Trail Town.”

• Eforts to keep the bald on Roan Mountain from growing up, including a roving goat herd.

• Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club’s provision of food to volunteers participating in two-day volunteer Hard Core crew, working in N.C. to rehabilitate and relocate the Trail.

• Bear cables at backcountry trail shelters.

• Controlling invasive, exotic plant species.

For more information on the grants, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.