Konnarock Registration is Now Open!

      It is that time of year again when the weather is warming up, the flowers are blooming and the Konnarock Trail Crew Season is just around the corner! We have a wide variety of Trail projects from routine trail rehabilitation to installing rock steps and cribbing! We already have had many volunteers sign up for various weeks but there are still plenty of spots that need to be filled. 



     These trail rehab projects are so important because they keep the trail sustainable and safe for people to use! So please sign up in order to get great outdoor experience at no cost to you and you will gain the satisfaction of knowing that you made a meaningful impact in helping to preserve the legendary Appalachian Trail! If you are interested in signing up or would like more information please email us at crews@appalachiantrail.org.
  

     
     We are looking for volunteers to fill up spots for weeks 7, 8 and 11. You can find the descriptions of those work weeks below!

Week 7 June 17-21 Crew 1: New River Relocation (OCVT The crew will be finishing the multi-year, 6.5 mile relocation. Digging new trail, completing rockwork, painting blazes, and opening up this section! Near Pearisburg, VA    Crew 2: Highcock Knob Relocation (NBATC)  Work continues on this multi-year relo in the James River Face Wilderness. Sidehill and extensive rockwork will be required. Near Glasgow, VA    Week 8 June 25-29 Crew 1: Sinking Creek Relocation (RATC)  Work begins on this nearly one-mile reroute, eliminating steep, eroded, fall-line trail onto a more sustainable grade. Near Blacksburg, VA (and the Keffer Oak!)   Crew 2:  Backbone Rock Relocation (TEHCC) Work continues on this blue-blazed side trail, eliminating steep fall-line sections and creating a more sustainable grade. Near Damascus, VA week 11 July 22-26 Crew 1: Seng Ridge Relocation (CMC)  This relocation will move the A.T. away from private property and put it on a more sustainable grade. Near Hot Springs, NC    Crew 2:  Rockfish Gap Rehab - ODATC  The crew will be installing steps and addressing severe erosion and drainage issues very near the Blue Ridge Parkway. This section is the gateway to Shenendoah National Park. Near Waynesboro, VA

2012 Registration - COMING SOON!!

Are you intersted in being a part of the Konnarock Trail Crew next season?!

Stayed tuned --- registration goes live December 15th!

Sign up for a week or more of digging in the dirt, building rock steps and meeting some great people from all over!

Test

Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.

What the Heck Happened to the Blog?!

As you loyal blog-followin'-pulaski-swinging folks have probably noticed, the blog has been quite inactive for quite some time. First off, may I offer my apologies for late/improper notification as it would have been more polite to have given some notification rather than none (that means I'm sorry for not postin' nothing...). Anyway, your faithful blog poster aka "Kerry," has taken employment with another organization and will no longer be submitting posts. However, have no fear as a replacement will take up residence soon!

As a quick rap up of the 2009 season, the crew was very successful and we only have you to thank. What is more, the crew was able to repeat their no injury record for a second year in a row! That means everyone from the 2009 season still has their fingers and toes and come dig another year!

Over my four seasons managing the Konnarock Crew, I have come to be very proud of such a great program and know that it really is you the Volunteer that keeps it going and such a success! Again, my apologies and hopefully I'll see you out on the Trail (if you're in TN) next season in my new capacity.

Cheers,

Kerry

Week 9, Ten Here We Go...

Hygiene is king (aka "brothers of the brush")!

Boulder before.

After.

Trail conversation.

I spy Dannon...

Trailside flora.

Gettin' er done (I had to do it).

Step posse.

Another successful week on crew with a soggy end (try drying out a tent in a downpour). Crew 1 finished up work for the season at Hogback Gap while Crew 2 started week 1 of 2 on the New River Relocation.

We're having a great second half of the season with nearly full crews every week but there are a couple of spots still open. Week 12 should go out with a bang as both crews are camping at the same spot. Come join us!

Cheers,

Kerry

Catching Up!

"Stairway to Heaven"

Tent city at Overmountain Shelter

Ted does the sidehill demo at Roan Mtn.

Crew 1 could see multiple firework shows at once.

Creative light fun on the 4th.

Ah, finished trail!

Crew 1 digs in.

Crew 2 at Hanging Rock.

Completed staircase at Hanging Rock.

Do I need to say anything?

The "slab" part 1 (before).

The "slab" part 2 (during).

The "slab" part 3 (after).

Crew 2 after week 8.

Sorry about the lack of posts, it's been pretty busy the last couple of weeks. After a much needed rest, the Crew got back to work at the Hanging Rock Rehab and the Roan Mtn Relocation. Both crews got a bunch of work accomplished despite smaller crews with the assistance of some great Club members! While Crew 1 worked to build new trail with the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club, Crew 2 played with rocks with the Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club.

Here at the end of week 8, both crews had similarily good weeks with Crew 1 heading south of the Smokies to start on the Hogback Gap Relocation and Crew 2 finishing up this years work on the Hanging Rock Rehabilitation.

Good times were had by all! (I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!)

Kerry

Some Stats

These tools have some miles on them but they're ready for more.

Here are a few numbers from the season thus far:

Projects: Bluff City Relocation, Courthouse Bald Rehabilitation, Humpback Rehabilitation,
Jenkins Trail Rehabilitation, Justus Creek Relocation, Maintop Relocation, Mount Rogers Rehabilitation

Agency Partners: USFS (Mount Rogers NRA, Glenwood-Pedlar RD, Brasstown RD,
Eastern Divide RD, Tusquittee RD), NPS (Blue Ridge Parkway)

AT Maintaining Clubs: Mount Rogers ATC, Georgia ATC, Natural Bridge ATC,
Nantahala Hiking Club, Roanoke ATC, Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers, Old Dominion ATC

Crew Volunteers: 106 Crew Hours: 5048 Club Volunteers: 115 Club Hours: 1637

Rock Step: 94 Rock Waterbars: 1 Rock Crib: 185 ft3 Junk Crib: 680ft3 Log Step: 109
Log Waterbar: 3 Log Crib: 32 ft3 Sidehill Trail: 3007 ft. Non-Sidehill Trail: 50 ft.
Tread Def: 3959 ft. Crush & Fill: 1814 ft3 Step Stones: 7 Turnpike: 20ft.
Drainage Ditch: 55 ft. Grade Dip: 7 Scree: 1447 ft3 Switchback: 1 Culvert: 4 ft.
Other: Constructed 6 tent pads

So, what does all that mean? It means a lot of work got done on the AT courtesy of the Konnarock Crew! But, we're just getting started with another 6 weeks left including some of the more technical rock work we'll do for the season (Hanging Rock and High Rocks).

So, thanks to everyone who has come out so far. And if you haven't come out yet, come join us for a week or more!

Cheers,

Kerry