MRATC Activities and Information, Week of Dec. 28, 2025 – Jan. 3, 2026
- mratcinfo
- Dec 28, 2025
- 3 min read
Special Note:
As many of you already know, the AT has recently been closed for the upcoming year between the Iron Mountain spur (about 2.5 miles north of the Damascus stairs) and the south side of Grassy Ridge Rd (VA 859) to allow access for contractors working to repair the Creeper Trail and trestles and to provide safety for hikers during this work.
Long distance AT hikers have been re-routed by the ATC onto the Iron Mountain Trail, which was the AT before 1972, and can rejoin the AT either at Grassy Ridge Rd. or continue on the Iron Mountain detour all the way to the Flat Top Trail and Mt. Rogers Trail and rejoin the AT at Deep Gap. (Southbound hikers would have these same two access options.)
*** The Forest Service has just requested that the club NOT perform maintenance or hike on the closed section of the AT during Creeper Trail reconstruction. The club will be doing some maintenance on the Iron Mtn. Trail.
The Forest Service has said we can park in the pull-offs along Rte. 58 for access to the Iron Mountain Trail via the Beech Grove and Feathercamp trails.
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).
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MRATC HIKES:
“FIRST DAY” HIKE at Hungry Mother, Thu., Jan. 1:
First Day Hike to Molly’s Knob in Hungry Mother State Park. Meet in the park at the parking lot on Lake Drive at 9:30 AM. (NOTE: This is a different location than the last two years.) Enter the park at the beach entrance (park fees apply), travel approximately 0.5 miles, and take a right onto Lake Drive. The parking lot will be on your immediate right. We’ll hike a loop involving the Lake Trail Loop, Ridge Trail and Molly’s Knob Trails. Lots of ups and downs and terrific views from Molly’s Knob, about a 5-mile hike. Bring water, lunch, warm clothing, and poles if you use them. Leader: Heidi Dixon-White. Let hike leader Heidi Dixon-White know if you plan to come by emailing mtrogersatc@gmail.com GPS address: Hungry Mother State Park, 2854 Park Blvd., Marion, VA 24354
WEEKLY FRIDAY HIKE:
There will be no scheduled Friday hike Jan. 2. The New Year’s potluck is Jan. 2nd, see below. The next Friday hike will be Jan.9. Details coming Jan. 4th.
Attached photo, taken by Judith Foster, shows participants in a hike the day after Christmas on the Creeper Trail, led by Carol Keene.
NEW YEAR’S POTLUCK:
Celebration of New Year:
Friday, Jan. 2: Traditional New Year POTLUCK – 12 noon at Judith’s house.
25386 Cornelius Dr, Abingdon, VA 24211
Please RSVP
UPCOMING WED., JAN. 14TH at 7 p.m.: Our winter club meeting. This one will be on Zoom only. All welcome! Agenda and Zoom link will be sent out in next week’s Sunday email.
INFORMATION ON WHITETOP MTN. ROAD (FS 89) WINTER CLOSURE PLUS CREEPER TRAIL CLOSURE AND AT DETOUR:
UPDATES ON VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL RECONSTRUCTION: The Kiewit Corporation has set up a website for ongoing updates, including a map of construction access points. Visit www.creepertrailrebuild.com
WINTER NATURALIST RALLY: Feb. 21. Save the date! Programs will include pottery-making, post-hurricane geology, and human-animal encounters. For details, visit www.blueridgediscoverycenter.org
REMEMBERING GILDA KELLER:
Blair and Gilda Keller were among the founders of our trail club in 1960. Gilda died earlier this month. Blair died a few years ago.
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