Trail Maintenance Weekend and Camping

OVERVIEW

Up for a weekend of trail maintenance and good eats? I hope so.

My mom’s trail club could use some strapping college lads and lasses like us to help them do some maintenance on Saturday, October 21. They are responsible for a 10-mile stretch of the AT from Tye River to Reed’s Gap. Tasks range from the easy to the strenuous: trimming back vegetation, lopping branches, building water gaps, removing fallen trees, and everything in between.

We depart from Charlottesville at 5:30pm on Friday, October 20 for Sherando Lake (which has toilets and showers, FYI). After a short drive, we make camp at Sherando Lake, sign up for the tasks we want to do the next day, cook some good food, and enjoy the evening.

On Saturday, October 21, everyone leaves around 8am, carpooling to their tasks. Lunch would be eaten on the trail, and after a good day’s work everyone would come back. People have been known to stop at area wineries or apple orchards after finishing their tasks. That night, we eat a giant dinner provided by my mom’s club (with lots of vegetarian options). Afterward, there will be a fire, lots of stories, and good times all around.

On Sunday, October 22, we’d eat a leisurely breakfast, pack it all up, and drive back to Charlottesville before lunchtime.

Now’s the time to get in the woods. The leaves are starting to turn!

You provide:
*clothes
*layers – it can get chilly in the evenings this time of year
*hiking boots
*work gloves (if you have them)
*lots of water
*up to $5 for food if I go over budget (doubtful)

Club provides:
*Transportation/gas money
*food
*sleeping bag
*sleeping pad
*tents (we’ll share some)
*stove for cooking

My mom’s club provides:
*Sherando Lake entry fee
*awesome huge dinner on Saturday night

Right now I’m setting the limit to 5 people, but if another driver signs up we’ll go to 10.