MRATC Activities and Information, Week – Sept. 6 – 12, 2026

Sep 6

2 min read

TRAIL WORK:

No group trail work planned for this week. Next work day likely to be Wed. Sept. 16th.

Crosscut and Chainsaw classes are being set up by the ATC in Sugar Grove for early fall. If you are interested in sawyer certification for the purpose of helping out on the trail and want more information, email trails@mratc.org.

MRATC HIKES:

Fri. Sept. 11: Join us for a 7.0 mi. point to point or a shorter 4 mi. out and back moderate hike at Backbone Rock.

Bring water, lunch, rain gear and poles. Long pants are suggested due to recent growth on the trail which makes it narrow on some portions. Hike leader is Rachael Richardson.

Meet up locations are Abingdon Lowe's @ 9AM and Damascus Caboose/Library end of parking lot @ 9:20AM. We will have cars at both ends for the point to point hike.

RSVP by clicking this link:

https://www.mratc.org/event-details/backbone-rock-to-damascus-1

Sat. Sept. 12:

Come join us for a walk/hike on the Mendota Trail.

This will be an out and back walk/hike on a mostly flat, wide trail. We plan to go 4 miles and turn around (Total of 8), but we can determine exact mileage as a group. The mostly shaded rural path crosses numerous trestles and one of the few suspension bridges in our area. This trail is rated Easy. The hardest part may be dodging the Saturday cyclists, but I promise, it will not be nearly as crowded as the Creeper Trail.

We will meet at 9 am in the parking lot at the Southwest Center for Higher Education (One Partnership Circle, Abingdon VA) to carpool to the Mendota Trail Head in Mendota (across from 2421Mendota Rd. Mendota, VA).

If you’d rather meet us in Mendota at 9:45, please note that when you RSVP. Please bring water, snack or lunch, and comfortable walking shoes. Hike Leader: Donna Barkley.

RSVP by clicking this link:

https://www.mratc.org/event-details/mendota-trail