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MRATC Activities and Information, Week of Feb. 2 – Feb. 8, 2025


Group photo by waterfall
Group photo by waterfall

MRATC TRAIL WORK and hurricane cleanup:

On Sat Feb 8th we will work at a site yet to be determined, but likely in the area of 601 or Beartree, meeting at 9:30.  Please e-mail mratcinfo@gmail.com if you would like to help and to receive the details. 

Photos show our trail work on Feb. 1 on the AT south of Damascus, which included some new steps on a sloped switchback. BlahBlah blah



SAWYER CERTIFICATION: 

For those club members interested in chainsaw certification, the tentative class dates are March 15th and 16th. That is when the Konnarock crew leaders requiring certification are scheduled to be trained as well.  The location is likely to be in Sugar Grove.  Please e-mail  mratcinfo@gmail.com if you are interested in this training. We would very much like to add a few certified sawyers to our work force.

Registration for the March 31-April 4th Konnarock crosscut course is now open. (For chainsaw certification, stay tuned! There could be a class locally in Sugar Grove in mid-March.)

·        20 A/B Crosscut Bucking

·        10 C-Bucking/Felling/Evaluator


MRATC HIKES:

Saturday, Feb. 8: AT Hike via Settlers Museum, Smyth County. Meet at the Settlers Museum of Southwest Virginia at 10:00 am for an out-and-back hike with attention to the natural wonders of a winter landscape. We will hike north towards Lee Hwy and return (approximately 5.6 miles round trip). Bring poles, lunch/snacks, winter and rain gear as needed, water, etc. There is no fee for parking, but a small donation to the historic non-profit museum with its 1890s farm and schoolhouse is welcome if able. Thanks to PATH, the club that maintains this section. Email hike leader Felicia Mitchell by 6 PM Feb. 7 at mtrogersatc@gmail.com if you wish to join the hike. GPS address: 322 Rocky Hollow Rd, Atkins, VA 24311(via Exit 54 Groseclose, I-81)

The Friday hiking group is holding small group hikes every Friday. Contact Judith for information: judithannfoster@gmail.com; 276-623-2408.

 

Photos show participants in the Feb. 1 hike, which was supposed to be at the Pinnacle, but due to flooding was moved to Tank Hollow – for a great view of the waterfall.

 

CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT: Collecting data on surviving Eastern Hemlocks in the George Washington/Jefferson National Forest:Club members who are interested in gathering data can  register at the link below, do the online training, then fill out the online application form with “GWJeff Nat. Forest – Virginia” as your monitoring area. When you are out on the AT or other national forest trails in our area, collect data with the free Treesnap app, which will tag the specific GPS location where you are monitoring, and submit it. Winter is a good time to spot adelgid eggs, as well as to notice the current health of hemlocks. End of project: March 31st.

 

 

GRANDMA GATEWOOD RETURNS TO BARTER THEATRE

Feb. 6 – March 8

If you missed Grandma Gatewood and her hike on the AT last year at the Barter or want to see her again – She’s back!

 

MOUNT ROGERS WINTER NATURALIST RALLY: Feb. 22.

Programs have been announced. For more information or to register, visit

 

ATC WEBINAR ON VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT:  Join ATC for a webinar on volunteer recruitment and engagement based on data we’ve collected over the last five years in working alongside you to bring more people into stewardship of the A.T. This webinar will focus on answering your commonly asked questions about who is signing up and how we can continue to welcome new people to help the Trail. Follow this link:  Register for the webinar being held Wednesday, February 26 at 6:30 p.m.

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