Maintaining the Appalachian Trail in PATC - October 20, 2012

reported by John Shannon

After a chance conversation a few months ago, Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity at the University of Virginia offered to help with the Appalachian Trail. So the morning of October 20, six students (four women and two men) arrived at a cool, breezy, Beagle Gap, while some of their colleagues went to other projects.

Mark Gatewood, crew leader of the Flying McLeods, walked the recently completed section of AT from Beagle Gap to Little Calf Mountain and noticed some spots where the trail could be improved from good to perfect. The volunteers offered to carry tools for the two older Flying McLeods to ensure that we had plenty of McLeods and Pulaskis.

In the first section of trail, the outslope made walking a little uncomfortable in some spots; the group divided up into twos and threes to improve these sections. Mark Gatewood noted that the students quickly learned what needed to be done.

We then headed to the summit so the volunteers could enjoy the view before stopping at some hairpin turns where previously the summer heat made it difficult to complete the desired water runoffs. Today, the settled earth and pleasant temperatures made the work easier. Besides moving earth, two of the volunteers removed a large rock whose above-ground tip interfered with a runoff that I had started. The volunteers’ schedule meant we could not complete all these improvements, but their efforts will make finishing easier.

Before leaving, the students helped clean tools and discovered the joys of pumpkin cake.

Mark commented, “What a great group” because they learned quickly, worked eagerly, and listened to the little speeches that Mark and I gave.

After the students left, Mark and I found some branches to put over the old section of Appalachian Trail to discourage its use. After that, I headed to McCormick Gap and Rockfish Gaps where the waterbars needed little clearing. There seemed to be some progress in reducing some invasive plants in a couple of spots, but growth in other areas. Bittersweet may have contributed to the death of one large tree.