The second annual Show Your Love for Shenandoah Day was on Saturday, April 22 and Charlottesville PATC had a strong presence for this service day. Marit Anderson and Mark Perschel headed up the group of eleven volunteers including Margaret Helber, Vicky Lee, Rebecca Smith, Susanna Williams, Mike Hammer, Barbara Martin, Peggy Byrd, and two others from Shenandoah National Park Trust (Tracey Hill and Tori Lev). We met up at Skyland Visitor Conference Center at 9 am for light breakfast snacks and coffee followed by speeches from the Shenandoah National Park Trust, Shenandoah National Park Superintendent-Pat Kenney, and from SNP/Appalachian Conservation Corps volunteer coordinator-Leah Cawthorn. Tools, PPE, lunches, and other gear were collected and the teams of over 125 volunteers dispersed to their work sites. Charlottesville PATC carpooled north to Jewell Hollow Overlook and we proceeded to the Appalachian Trail to begin our project of re-establishing waterbars. Mark gave a demonstration on how to do the maintenance and we got into groups of 2-3 people. We began the work using pick mattocks, McLeods, shovels and buckets. The skies were beginning to look dark as the forecast had predicted, but we were able to complete eight waterbars before the rain began around noon. Fortunately we made it back to our cars before the downpour. Marit and Mark gathered tools and equipment, and we all said our good-byes. Despite not finishing the entire project, we were happy with what was accomplished and that we could do our small part on Earth Day 2023! We hope to finish the rest of the waterbars in the near future.
photos and submission by Marit Anderson
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