Sunday, September 18, 2005

Volunteers needed to maintain the Appalachian Trail

Here's a chance to see a ton of the Appalachian Trail. Looking for volunteers!

- SD

Volunteers needed to maintain the Appalachian Trail
Staff
09/08/2005

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is looking for volunteers to work and play in the backcountry on its Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew! The crew tackles projects involving trail reconstruction and rock work between the New York-Connecticut border and Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. The program runs Wednesday to Monday evenings every week until October 24th, and is headquartered in Carlisle, PA.

Trail Crew volunteers enjoy great scenery, food, transportation, lodging, tools, equipment and the opportunity for lots of fun. No experience necessary, only the willingness to work hard and get dirty. You will meet people of all ages, from all walks of life, from all over the country and around the world.

The September and October volunteer projects include great opportunities for volunteers to work and have fun. There are treadway rehabilitation projects scheduled at two locations in Pennsylvania, CCC-era cribwall reconstruction slated for Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and a raised boardwalk to be constructed in Pennsylvania's Cumberland Valley. The crew will be staying at a variety of sites in the field - a National Park Service cabin in Shenandoah National Park, ATC's base camp facility in Pennsylvania and a primitive campsite in New Jersey

Trail work is hard, physical labor. Trail construction involves working with hand tools; getting dirty is guaranteed. Crews work eight-hour days, rain or shine, hot or cold. Trail Crews may set up and live in a primitive backcountry campsite near the project site. With this said, it can be a lot of fun and a great way to gain experience working in the backcountry.

Everyone 18 or older, of all backgrounds is welcome. Enthusiasm, good health, physical vigor, and adaptability are vital.

Spots on these crews are still available. To become a part of the action, call (717) 258-5771 or email bsickley@appalachiantrail.org today. You can find us on the web at www.appalachiantrail.org.

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is the only organization that has sole responsibility for protecting and promoting the A.T. experience. Established in 1925, the ATC celebrates 80 years of caring for the world's most famous long-distance hiking trail. Running 2,175 miles from Maine to Georgia, the A.T. is the nation's longest and most accessible unit of the National Park System. ATC coordinates its management and protection in conjunction with the National Park Service and the United States Forest.


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