MRATC Activities and Information, Week of Oct. 27– Nov. 2, 2024

MRATC TRAIL WORK and hurricane cleanup:

On Wed 10/30 we will continue our trail assessments, meeting at Fox Creek at 9:30 am. E-mail mratcinfo@gmail.com if you would like to help.

We have surveyed over half the club miles that were opened last week north of Elk Garden. Thus far, that portion of the trail is in pretty good shape overall, though we also know that there are countless problems throughout the closed section south of Elk Garden. That section will likely remain closed for some time.

The ATC website is updated daily and lists closed sections of the AT by AT mile and provides links to the relevant national forest websites:https://appalachiantrail.org/trail-updates/ga-va-tropical-storm-helene/

An important reason why volunteers are not allowed to perform trail work on areas of national forest that are officially closed is that our Volunteer Agreement with the USFS does not cover us for liability while working in closed areas.

THE CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST IN TN HAS REOPENED, with a few exceptions. Keep up to date by checking: https://appalachiantrail.org/trail-updates/ga-va-tropical-storm-helene/ There could be numerous blowdowns, however.

THE VIRGINIA CREEPER TRAIL IS OPEN BETWEEN ABINGDON AND DAMASCUS. The part of the trail on USFS land east of Damascus is still closed and will remain so for a long time. Many VCT trestles were damaged in the hurricane.

To donate to Creeper Trail recovery:

https://www.vacreepertrail.org/get-involved/make-a-donation/

TOWN OF DAMASCUS: DONATIONS can be made to support the Town’s recovery, including building materials:

Hurricane Helene Updates - TOWN OF DAMASCUS, VA

MRATC HIKES:

Saturday, November 2nd: HIKE: Steele Creek Park hike on the Lake Ridge and Lakeshore Trails. Meet at the Steele Creek Park Rooster Front Parking lot (1160 Vance Drive, Bristol, TN) at 9:00 a.m. for an approximately 6-mile loop hike around Steel Creek Lake. Depending on interest, mileage may be extended 2-3 miles along the ridge on the west side of the lake. The park has a nice Nature Center which could make a good pit stop at the halfway point. Bring poles, lunch, rain gear as needed, water, etc. Email Heidi Dixon-White at mtrogersatc@gmail.com if you wish to join the hike and to receive any updates.

If hiking on the northern part of MRATC’s trail section (Elk Garden to Teas Rd.) now that the closure order for that part has been lifted, be mindful that there will be blowdown pile-ups and root-ball holes and be careful! (Avoid hiking on the AT and IMT anywhere between Elk Garden south to the TN/VA line, since that will remain under a closure order for some time.) And be aware that sections of some roads are still blocked off.

FALL ARCHERY, MUZZLELOADER AND RIFLE SEASONS - times to wear blaze orange in the woods. In general, archery season started Oct. 5th, muzzleloader starts Nov. 2, and deer rifle season is Nov. 16-30. For specifics, visit: https://dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/

UPCOMING, WED., NOV. 13TH: MRATC’S FALL MEETING (10 a.m.) AND PARTNERSHIP MEETING (1:00 p.m.) at the Trail Center and also on Zoom. Agenda and Zoom link will be sent in next week’s Sunday email.