TRAIL MAINTENANCE AND WORKSHOP opportunities are listed below for the months of April through August. If you'd like to participate in one or more of them, simply go to the sign-up sheet at the bottom of this email to register. You can also find this list and the link to sign up by clicking the "Member Features" tab once you've logged onto the website.
The Konnarock Crew will be here to work from April 27 to May 2 and May 11 to May 16. Konnarock is the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s flagship crew program, founded in 1983 and named after its original base camp in southwest Virginia. The program is a joint venture of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the 12 southern Trail clubs, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service. Sign up below to work with the Konnarock Crew.
April 27 - District 1 Work Trip. Please come out and help us do some trail improvements in District One, Section 1.5. We will be doing some water bar rehabbing as well as some root, rock, and vegetation removal. This is a great first timers work trip as we will meet at Amicalola Falls then carpool up a forest service road closer to the worksite. We will then walk a short distance on flat surface then a short distance on the trail uphill towards Frosty Mountain. The walk in is about a mile total. The workday will consist of breaking up into small teams (prearranged by work lead) and working on two or three areas total doing improvements planned for those areas. We will provide all protective gear and tools as well as a homemade lunch. If you need additional information, please contact Cathie Neel at cneel@comcast.net
April 27 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
April 28 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will be on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
April 29 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will be on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
April 30 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will be on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
May 1 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will be on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
May 2 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will be on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
May 4 - Rock Crew Work Trip. We will continue our work north of Tesnatee Gap to put the finishing touches to the rock steps we have already completed by installing the rest of the gargoyles. The hike in to the work site is a strenuous 4/10 of a mile. If you need additional information, please contact Tom Lamb at tomlamb377@gmail.com
May 11 - District 2 Work Trip. Work TBD. If you need additional information, please contact Tim Cole at timtcole@gmail.com
May 11 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
May 12 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will be on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
May 13 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will be on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
May 14 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will be on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
May 15 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will be on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
May 16 - Konnarock Work Trip. We will start relocating the Byron Herbert Reese Trail starting at the parking lot and connecting to the Appalachian Trail. This is a multi-year Konnarock project. Be prepared for a lot of digging, root and rock removal. Building new trail is a unique experience and leaders will be on site to assist and provide direction. The hike into the work site is only a couple of minutes. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
May 18 - 3rd Saturday Work Trip District 6. We will continue the work started by Konnarock, relocating the Byron Herbert Reece Trail. The walk in will be less than one half mile and lunch will be provided. We will work until about 3:00 p.m. The work will involve building new trail. This work trip will count toward a Konnarock tee shirt. If you need additional information, please contact Darrell Gossett at dgossett46@gmail.com
June 2
**WORKSHOP** TRAIL MAINTENANCE INTRODUCTION. This workshop is taught by Jason Gotch, a former Trails Supervisor, District Leader and recipient of the 2023 Trail Maintainer of the Year and a member of numerous other committees. The workshop is recommended for anyone interested in trail maintenance and new section maintainers. The workshop will concentrate on clearing corridors, deberming, backslope restoration, root and rock removal, blazing, fire ring management, basic water management and basic duties of a section maintainer. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
June 5 - Rock Crew Work Trip. Work and location TBD. If you need additional information, please contact Doug Gallant at doug.gallant@gmail.com
June 8 - Rock Crew Work Trip. Work and location TBD. If you need additional information, please contact Tom Lamb at tomlamb377@gmail.com
June 12
**WORKSHOP** WATER DIVERSION. The instructor for this workshop will be Marion McLean who has been a member of GATC since 1981 and has led many workshops regarding trail water management. The different methods of managing water on our trails will be explained and demonstrated utilizing the best current day management practices. Learn how to determine where to properly construct a grade dip and knick. If you need additional information, please contact Marion McLean at mactall1@gmail.com
June 15 - 3rd Saturday Work Trip District 4. Work TBD. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
June 22
**WORKSHOP** ROCK STEPS. This workshop will be taught by Tom Lamb, Chair of the Rock Crew. Tom periodically spends many trail hours with the Jolly Rovers in New York, a leading volunteer rock crew, and brings back his knowledge of current best management practices to the GATC Rock Crew. Proper installation of rock steps will be explained in detail utilizing the most up to date techniques. The GATC Rock Crew is highly regarded and recognized by many other Trail Clubs. It is recommended, though not required, to take the Introduction to Rock Work Workshop before taking this class. If you need additional information, please contact Tom Lamb at tomlamb377@gmail.com
June 23 - Rock Crew Work Trip. Work and location TBD. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
July 9 - District 2 Work Trip. Work TBD. If you need additional information, please contact Tim Cole at timtcole@gmail.com
July 11
**WORKSHOP** TRAIL ANALYSIS. Join Jason Gotch, a former Trails Supervisor, District Leader and recipient of the 2023 Trail Maintainer of the Year, for this unique perspective of "reading the trail". The dos and don'ts of current day trail maintenance practices. Learn how to recognize areas of the trail that need restoration or new features to maintain the integrity of our trails. Recognize how the new techniques developed over the years make maintaining our trails easier and provide better water management. If you need additional information, please contact Jason Gotch at mtnbiker364@gmail.com
July 20 - 3rd Saturday R-Ranch Work Trip. Join us for the annual trip to the R-Ranch to work on the horse trails in "payment" for housing our club tools at the ranch. We will have a picnic lunch at the R-Ranch pavillion around noon. It is a great time to support our club and the R-Ranch. The picnic following the work day is always a time to socialize and relax. Work TBD. If you need additional information, please contact Rick Dicks at rickdicks@rickdicks.com
August 3
**WORKSHOP** WATER DIVERSION. The instructor for this workshop will be Marion McLean who has been a member of GATC since 1981 and has led many workshops regarding trail water management. The different methods of managing water on our trails will be explained and demonstrated utilizing the best current day management practices. Learn how to determine where to properly construct a grade dip and knick. If you need additional information, please contact Marion McLean at mactall1@gmail.com
August 17 - 3rd Saturday Work Trip District 2. Location and work TBD. If you need additional information, please contact Tim Cole at timtcole@gmail.com
To register, select a date in the first question, then fill in the remainder of the questions and submit. You must submit an additional form for each work trip you want to register for.
You will need work gloves, sturdy work boots, long pants, something for lunch, snacks and plenty of water. Please bring a hard hat if you have your own or the club will provide one when you arrive for the work day. The club will also provide the tools necessary for the work trip.
The meeting place and time will be emailed to participants by the leader closer to the date.
