Archive for the ‘Konnarock Trail Crew’ Category

ATC’s Konnarock Trail Crew is Heading into the Woods with Open Positions

Monday, June 20th, 2011
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) Konnarock Trail Crew is currently searching for volunteers to help maintain the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) from Rockfish Gap, VA to the Trail's southern terminus at Springer Mountain in GA. The ATC will provide food, tools, equipment and safety gear needed for volunteers to get into the backcountry and complete some much needed work on the Trail.

Konnarock is the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's flagship crew program, founded in 1983 and named after its original base camp in southwest Virginia. The crew is hosted by the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area at its Sugar Grove Work Center.

Crew members arrive on Wednesday before their work week in time to get settled in, eat dinner, and attend an orientation session that evening. An early morning on Thursday (7 a.m.) starts with a hearty breakfast followed by any last minute preparations and departure to the project site.

Volunteers work a five-day week in the field, from Thursday morning through Monday night. Volunteers working more than one session are welcome to stay at the base camp between sessions.

A.T. Professional Trail crew leaders will provide any necessary training on Trail construction. This past year the Konnarock Trail Crew has completed such projects as relocating and restoring 1.5 miles of Trail in North Carolina. In the upcoming weeks the crew will tackle such projects as relocating an eroding section of the A.T. on the North Carolina/Tennessee border and continuing to work on a five mile Trail relocation in Virginia.

Summer Trail Crew Schedule:

Week Seven - Thursday 7/7 to Monday 7/11
Crew 1 – Roan Highlands Relocation continues in NC/TN.

Crew 2 – New River Relocation continues in Virginia.


Week Eight - Thursday 7/14 to Monday 7/18
Crew 1 – Jenkins Trail Rehab in Virginia – Define tread, install rock steps and checkdams.

Crew 2 – Flint Gap to Shelton Graves Relocation in North Carolina - Construct sidehill to move Trail to a more sustainable grade.


Week Nine - Thursday 7/21 to Monday 7/25
Crew 1 – Dripping Rock Relocation continues in Virginia.

Crew 2 – Flint Gap to Shelton Graves Relocation continues in North Carolina.


Week Ten - Thursday 7/28 to Monday 8/1
Crew 1 - Roan Highlands Relocation continues in NC/TN.

Crew 2 – Flint Gap to Shelton Grave Relocation continues in North Carolina.


Week Eleven - Thursday 8/4 to Monday 8/8
Crew 1 – Thunder Ridge Relocation in Virginia – Construct sidehill to move Trail to a more sustainable grade.

Crew 2 – War Spur Relocation in Virginia – Construct sidehill to move Trail to a more sustainable grade.


Week Twelve - Thursday 8/11 to Monday 8/15
Crew 1 - Roan Highlands Relocation continues in NC/TN.

Crew 2 – War Spur Relocation continues in Virginia.


The experiences of working together, learning new skills, and backcountry living makes for an unbeatable combination of fun. No experience is necessary, but you must be 18 years or older to participate.

For more information or to register, visit appalachiantrail.org/crews or contact Alice Davis at 540.953.3571 or adavis@appalachiantrail.org.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Konnarock Trail Crew, open positions | Comments Off

Join the Konnarock Trail Crew this summer

Saturday, May 14th, 2011
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is looking for volunteers to work and play in the backcountry on its Konnarock Trail Crew. Konnarock, the ATC flagship crew, tackles projects involving trail construction and rock work between the Trail’s Southern terminus, Springer Mountain Georgia and Shenandoah National Park: just over half of the Appalachian Trail. The program runs Wednesday to Monday evenings each week starting May 12 through Aug. 15.

Trail Crew volunteers are provided with food, transportation, lodging, tools, equipment and the opportunity to have a lot of fun. It’s free of charge and no experience is necessary, only the willingness to work hard and get dirty. You will meet people of all ages, from all walks of life, from all over the country and around the world.

Trail work is hard, physical labor. Trail construction involves working with a team of like-minded volunteers using hand tools. Crews work eight-hour days, rain or shine, hot or cold. They set up and live in a primitive campsite near the project site. Everyone, 18 or older, and of all backgrounds is welcome. Enthusiasm, good health, physical vigor, and adaptability are essential.

In addition to other projects this summer, the Konnarock Trail Crew will be working on relocation projects in the Roan Highlands and at Fontana Lake.

The Smokies Wilderness Elite A.T. Crew (SWEAT) is also recruiting for volunteers this summer. SWEAT is something completely different from other ATC volunteer Trail crews. The SWEAT Crew focuses on performing basic maintenance such as cutting back vegetation, removing blowdown, and clearing waterbars. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) SWEAT Crew is a mobile crew, carrying all food, tools and camping gear into the heart of the largest and most beautiful wilderness area in the east, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Spots on both crews are still available, but they’re quickly filling up! To become a part of the action, call 540-953-3571 or e-mail crews@appalachiantrail.org.



Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

Posted in Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Konnarock Trail Crew, Smokies Wilderness Elite A.T. Crew | Comments Off