It's Half Over But We've Just Begun!!

Adam's new advertising campaign.

Even the snakes like the view.

Rock on the move.

Week #6 was a blur! (that's really bad...).

Diggin' Bluff City.

Teamwork gets 'er done! (right Christine?).

Can't beat a trip to the Cascades for a dip!

Rockin! Nice...

Week #6 has come and gone which only means one thing....break time!! The crew staff will have the next two weeks off to rest and get ready for the second half of our 2009 season.

The last week saw Crew #1 finishing up work on the Courthouse Bald Rehabilitation project with the Nantahala Hiking Club. As you can see from the picture, they had a visitor (or better yet, we were the visitors) at the cliffs this week.

Crew #2 broke ground on the Bluff City Relocation near Pearisburg, VA. With the Konnarock Crew, the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club and an Student Conservation Crew all working on the project at the same time, you know a lot of work was completed.

I'll have some stats in a week or so to share but that's all until now.

ps - a few more folks have volunteered for week #7 but we still have 8 more spots (with some spots on other weeks as well).

After the break, we'll be ready for another 6 weeks of good times on the Trail. Come join us!

Cheers,

Kerry

Week 5 Onwards.

It's not that heavy...Ivan needs to eat his Wheaty's.

Peter Pan Swings!

Privy testing.

Let's eat! Crew #1 chows down with the Nantahala Hiking Club.

Crew #2 near Main Top.

Installing log steps on the Courthouse Bald Rehabilitation.

A bloom with a view (hardy, har, har...)

New trail on Main Top Mtn.

Another successfull week on Crew. A good deal of work was done at the Courthouse Bald project with Crew #1 installing a ton of log steps while Crew #2 pretty much wrapped up the Main Top Relocation in the second week (save for painting blazes and officially opening it).

We're on to Week #6 and almost the end of the first half of the season...wow, time goes by fast.

Our Week #7 is still short on Volunteers; we'd love you to join us!

Kerry

Week Four is No More...

Tickets to the gun show anyone?

Crush!

Like the strap says...

I can't see Bob's pants!

Tye River swimming.

Cool Breeze provides some evening music.

Tent City.

Chef Doug.

I "dig" this....

Sawyer Doug.

Spy Rock Pointing.

Swimming before dinner.

Mas pointing.

New Trail. Nice!

The Views, ah the views!

Both crews returned from the week with nothing but good things to report. Crew #1 worked with the Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club at Humpback Mtn and got after repairing some eroded sections of trail while installing rock steps, etc. At night, the crew was treated to the luxury of Sherando Lake with showers and live music one night.

Crew #2 had great success in constructing nearly 700' of new trail on the Main Top Relocation with the Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club. Constructing that much trail is impressive but it's even more impressive considering how rocky the area is...good job! The club also treated the crew to a dinner and some swimming to boot.

BTW - Our numbers are low for Week #7, if you are trying to decide when to come out that would be a good week! Plus there are some good projects. And, we'll find a good place to celebrate July 4th!

Cheers,

Kerry

Now it's "Normal" at Basecamp...

Skinning locust logs for steps at Justus Creek.

Hanging bear bags at Jenkins.

Crew #2 takes a much needed rest during the day.

Getting ready for a heavy lift.

Rehabilitated trail, much easier to walk.

Moving rock for a step on Jenkins.

Crush!

After work conversation in Georgia.

Installing rebar to shore up log steps in Georgia.

Mira "supervises"

Mira's shirt says it all.

Testing out the new staircase.

It's a hard life...

Last Wednesday evening, things were pretty quiet around camp. Crew #1 was in Georgia and several Crew #2 folks were going to arrive late. So, when the small group of 4-5 Volunteers, myself and the crew leaders gathered for dinner that night, we said to ourselves "my it's eerily quiet."

Well, with Crew #1 returning from Georgia and Crew #2 returning from a week in the backcountry, Monday night was anything but quiet like the Wednesday before!

Both crews had great weeks with near perfect weather (hard to imagine with all the rain we're getting today) and some great work completed to boot. Crew #1 was able to finish the Justus Creek Relocation in the late hours with the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club capping a two year project. Crew #2 was able to make great progress with the Jenkins Project (a three year project) totaling roughly 3500 ft of trail rehabilitation. One thru-hiker exclaimed as they were almost running down the Trail "this trail is so great I can almost fly!"

So far with week #3 down, we've been able to maintain our perfect safety record (knock on wood) and hope to continue with some great work for week #4 and beyond!

Thanks to everyone that's Volunteered so far to make this a successful season!

Kerry

Konnarock Article

Volunteer Mike Williams wrote an article on his experience last week on Crew. You can access the online article here.

Thanks Mike!

Kerry

Week 2, Crew 2

Skywalker's map of the project and crew members.

Doug showes his excitement for the hike.

Czar can do more than cook a mean meal! He assisted the crew in carrying in gear.

Sylvia packs the bear bags before hanging.

The crew holds "court" around the campfire.

Backcountry cooking tent, ah luxury...

Foot sweep!

Diggin' in.

Finished trail. Beautiful!

This week will be quieter around camp since Crew #1 is in Georgia. But, Crew #2 rolled into camp this afternoon after a great week on the Jenkins project. Their weather was perfect (only rained at night) and even woke up to clear skies with temps in the 30's this morning before their 5 mile hike out.

The crew was able to complete a great amount of work on the severly eroded trail south of Jenkins Shelter. Crew #2 will be headed back on Thursday to wrap it up until next season.

Off to eat some delicious homemade pizza care of "Czar David!"

Kerry