MRATC TRAIL WORK: Given the fire ban, this might be a great opportunity to spend some time working to eliminate fire rings in high concentration areas. The first one that comes to mind is between the AT and Crest/Rhododendron Gap Trail T-intersection. On Sat May 30th we will have a workday in that area with a meeting time at Massie Gap at 10am. Send a mail to mratcinfo@gmail.com if you plan to participate. UPCOMING: NATIONAL TRAILS DAY VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK with the Souther

MRATC TRAIL WORK: No group trail work this week. Upcoming: Damascus Trail Days SAWS Volunteer trail work Event May 17, 2026, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Brushing and tree removal on the Grassy Branch Trail, Lewis Fork Wilderness, Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. We will meet at the entrance to Grindstone Campground entrance, 1946 Laurel Valley Road, Troutdale, VA 24378. Volunteers will be provided all essential PPE (helme

DAMASCUS APPALACHIAN TRAIL DAYS FESTIVAL, May 15-17. The sign-up schedule to help cover MRATC’s booth at the Trail Center is on Google Drive: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KmLhMF4V8fWd2Ar64cY4MSWWV4WftlxP/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=103931296002124958202&rtpof=true&sd=true Write yourself in - Or – just reply to this email and I will write you in! (Shifts both Fri. & Sat. are: 8:30 – 11, 11 – 1, 1-3, and 3-5.) Thanks to Tim V., Gerry C., Sharon T., Carol K., Frank W., Heidi

MRATC TRAIL WORK: On Wed April 29th we will work on various issues between Dickey Gap and Slabtown Road, including one of the few remaining partially filled root ball holes left from Helene. The exact plan and meeting place will depend on the group size but the meeting time will be 10am. Please e-mail mratcinfo@gmail.com if you plan to participate and to receive details. Attached photo shows participants in the Earth Day work projects at Grayson Highlands State Park

MRATC TRAIL WORK: Wed. April 22nd: Earth Day. To celebrate Earth Day we will partner with folks at Grayson Highlands State Park and the Forest Service to work on park projects potentially including blowdowns on spur trails, fire ring dispersal, sign and blaze post resetting and possibly some drainage. Meet at Massie Gap parking at 9:00. Please e-mail mratcinfo@gmail.com if you plan to participate. MRATC HIKES: Friday, April 24: Friday hikers meet at Abingdon Lowe’s at 9AM

MRATC TRAIL WORK: .No group trail work has been announced yet for this week. Attached photo, taken by Marcia Pruner, shows blowdown and rootball on Whitetop Mtn. being attacked by participants in the April 8th trail work hike. WILDERNESS FIRST AID/CPR There are a few slots for trail clubs in the NOLS Wilderness First Aid/CPR class May 1-3 at Konnarock Base Camp in Sugar Grove. Chain and Crosscut Sawyers who need first aid certification take priority. Application and informati

MRATC TRAIL WORK: Wed., April 8: We will work on a series of blowdowns and a couple root ball issues between 601 (Beech Mtn Rd) and Buzzard Rock. It is likely we will spot cars at 601 and then carpool around to Whitetop Rd for an approximately 4 mile, mostly downhill, hike back to 601. We will meet at 601 at 9:30. If you plan to help send an e-mail to mratcinfo@gmail.com. WILDERNESS FIRST AID/CPR There are a few slots for trail clubs in the NOLS Wilderness First Aid/CPR class

MRATC “annual renewing” members who haven’t renewed for 2026, please note: Some of you haven’t responded to Sharon’s two reminders between December and March that your dues for 2026 are due. It’s possible that the reminders went to “Spam,” since they were sent from the “membership” email address (mratcmemb@gmail.com) rather than a personal email address. Please check your Spam. We drop non-renewing members in early April each year, so this might be your last Sunday email tell

MRATC TRAIL WORK: No information about a group work hike for this week is available at this time. The KONNAROCK TRAIL CREW’s schedule for this year can be found at the link below. If you are interested in joining the crew for a week or a couple of days, expand the listed schedule dates to get information about the location and type of work for each week. https://appalachiantrail.org/get-involved/volunteer/trail-crews/konnarock-trail-crew/ MRATC HIKES: Friday, March 27: We'll

MRATC TRAIL WORK: Trail work for this week has not yet been identified. Stay tuned for announcement in the next few days. Attached photo shows club members out to fill rootball holes and cut blowdowns on March 14 between Beech Mtn. Rd. and Lost Mtn. Shelter. Photo by Jim Warden. Upcoming: Sunday, March 22nd Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards Volunteer Event. Club members are invited to participate. Location: Dickey Gap Trailhead Time: 9:30am Storm Damage Clean

MRATC TRAIL WORK:On Sat Mar 14th we will work on some blowdowns and root ball/tread issues between 601 and Summit Cut. We will meet at 10am at the 601 trail-head. E-mail mratcinfo@gmail.com if you plan to help. Attached photo shows club members starting on a work hike north of Fox Creek on Sat., March 7. Attention MRATC Section Monitors who don’t already have the Far Out app to identify the AT mile for trail issues you want to report to the club’s Trail Supervisor: FarOut Giv

MRATC TRAIL WORK: We will start the 2026 season on Sat., March 7. We will meet at Fox Creek AT lot on 603 at 10 a.m. and head north on the trail from there, addressing several moderate blowdowns, plus anything else we find. Please email mratcinfo@gmail.com if you plan to participate. Attention MRATC Section Monitors who don’t already have the Far Out app to identify the AT mile for trail issues you want to report to the club’s Trail Supervisor: FarOut Giveaway for A.T. Volu

Note: Next Sunday, March 1, the Sunday email could come out later in the day than usual. MRATC TRAIL WORK:The club will resume regular weekly group trail work in March. Until then, we will go out if a trail issue that is reported suggests a need (mratcinfo@gmail.com). Attention MRATC Section Monitors who don’t already have the Far Out app to identify the AT mile for trail issues you want to report to the club’s Trail Supervisor: FarOut Giveaway for A.T. Volunteer Trail Mai

MRATC Activities and Information, Week of Feb. 15 – 21, 2026

MRATC Activities and Information, Week of Feb. 8-14, 2026

MRATC Activities and Information, Week of Feb. 1-7, 2026

MRATC TRAIL WORK: The club has ended our regular weekly group maintenance season. We will go out if a trail issue that is reported suggests a need (mratcinfo@gmail.com). Chainsaw and Crosscut saw classes for new sawyers and those who need to recertify have been scheduled for our area (Sugar Grove). Follow links. Also check with Doug at mratcinfo@gmail.com if you need to check your recertification date or need other information. · MRNRA Chainsaw March 27-28 course: https://vol

MRATC Activities and Information, Week of Jan. 11-17, 2026

MRATC Activities and Information, Week of Jan. 4-10, 2026

MRATC Activities and Information, Week of Dec. 28, 2025 – Jan. 3, 2026