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Appalachian Trail Management Committee

The AMC Western MA Appalachian Trail Management Committee (A.T. Committee) is responsible for the maintenance, management, and protection of that portion of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) located in Massachusetts. This section of the A.T. encompasses nearly 90 miles of trail. The A.T. Committee coordinates the extensive volunteer effort that keeps the trail open, overnight sites maintained, and the trail lands and natural resources protected.
The Committee works in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the National Park Service. Each year from April to September, we organize regular work parties for maintenance and improvement of the footbed, trail shelters, signs, and so on.
Projects vary in complexity, but all include activities for both first timers and seasoned maintainers. Contact a project leader or look in AMC's Outdoor Connector to join in the fun. No experience is necessary to participate! We also have some open positions for regular trail maintainers, corridor monitors, and natural resource volunteers. Our committee meets regularly at the Mt. Greylock Visitors Center in Lanesboro, MA.

Donations

Donations are gratefully accepted! Please send your check made out to "AMC" with a note designating the gift is for the Western MA A.T. Committee. Checks can be mailed to:
Appalachian Mountain Club
Attn: Rachel Sensenig
10 City Square, Suite 2
Boston, MA 02129

Upcoming Activities

Click or tap on the Register links to learn more and/or register for activities.

Wildlife Transect

Location: Old Adams Rd, Noepel Shelter Area
Date: 26‑Sep‑2023
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It's time again to check on what the wild residents of our Appalachian Lands are up to. This time we'll be exploring the trail lands in the Old Adams Rd/Jones Nose/Noepel Shelter area.
We will be out all day so dress for the weather (bad weather cancels). Bring lunch/snacks and water to drink. No experience necessary, pace is slow, mostly off-trail.

Bog Bridge Repair

Location: Noepel Shelter
Date: 01‑Oct‑2023
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We'll take advantage of some (hopefully) lovely fall weather to replace a dozen bog bridges near Old Adams Rd and perform some routine maintenance at nearby Noepel Shelter. Materials will be waiting for us near the work site, so no heavy lumber to carry in.
Meeting at Jones' Nose parking on Mt Greylock, we'll hike in approx 1 mile on easy trail to the bog bridge site. When that work is complete, another mile of moderate uphill (with a short, steep section) hiking will bring us to the shelter. At the shelter, we'll clear brush and fire rings, sweep the shelter and reset the moldering privy. A two mile hike will take us back to the meeting location.
Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes. Work gloves are recommended. Bring lunch and water to drink.

Maintenance at Upper Goose Pond Cabin

Location: Lee, MA
Date: 07‑Oct‑2023
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We will perform end of season maintenance projects at beautiful Upper Goose Pond Cabin in (hopefully) spectacular fall foliage. Cut/split/stack firewood, minor repairs to the cabin windows and doors. Service privies.
Work available for all skill and fitness levels. Short, moderate hike to the cabin from meeting location. Actual closing of the Cabin will be the following week, October 15th. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes. Work gloves recommended. Bring lunch/snack and water to drink.

Close Upper Goose Pond Cabin

Location: Lee, MA
Date: 15‑Oct‑2023
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We'll get this iconic A.T. overnight location tucked in for the winter. Tasks include sweeping/cleaning, installing shutters, taking the dock out of the water. Work available for all sill and fitness levels.
Bring water shoes/boots if you want to work on the dock project. Short moderate hike to the cabin from the meeting location. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes. Bring lunch/snacks and water to drink. Most work will be outside the cabin, but some tasks need to be done indoors. We should wrap up in early afternoon.

Wildlife Transect

Location: A.T. Lands, Webster Rd area
Date: 21‑Oct‑2023
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Our transect will take us to the area we are considering for the relocation of the Shaker Campsite. We are studying this area to determine if we can establish a campsite here without disturbing the local wildlife.
We will be out all day so dress for the weather (bad weather cancels). Bring lunch/snacks and water to drink. No experience necessary, pace is slow, mostly off-trail.

A.T. Corridor Boundary Maintenance - Day 1

Location: Dalton, MA
Date: 21‑Oct‑2023
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Ever wondered about how the A.T. is able to make its way through the Berkshires with minimal road walks? Come join us as we maintain the boundary lines of the narrow corridor lands that surround the Trail. Keeping these boundaries visible and monitoring their condition is critical to preserving A.T. values as it travels through the "front country" of the Berkshires. This project will spend two days near Dalton maintaining the Corridor boundary by clipping brush, painting blazes and replacing any missing signage.
Work is off trail, in occasionally heavy brush, and on some short sections of steep slopes. Pace will be slow. Fall colors, while probably a bit past peak, will make for a lovely day in the woods in areas that no AT hiker ever sees. Who knows WHAT you'll find out there!
Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes and long pants. Work gloves and long sleeves are highly recommended. Work involves stooping and bending, traveling off trail through brush. Take precautions against ticks. Bring lunch/snacks and water to drink.

A.T. Corridor Boundary Maintenance - Day 2

Location: Dalton, MA
Date: 28‑Oct‑2023
Register »
Ever wondered about how the A.T. is able to make its way through the Berkshires with minimal road walks? Come join us as we maintain the boundary lines of the narrow corridor lands that surround the Trail. This is a continuation of work begun on Oct 21st.
Off-trail, slow pace, some occasional short steep sections. Heavy brush in some locations. Take precautions against ticks. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes and long pants. Work gloves and long sleeved shirt recommended. Bring lunch/snack and water to drink.

Mt Williams Viewshed Clearing

Location: Mt Greylock State Reservation
Date: 04‑Nov‑2023
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The Mt Williams view on the A.T. in the Mt Greylock State Reservation has once again closed in. It's been quite awhile since we cleared the tall shrubbery which now blocks the view, so it's time to clear it again. Loppers and hand saws should do the trick and we can enjoy the view when we're done!

Activity Schedule

All activities are subject to cancellation due to poor weather conditions. Check volunteer opportunities on outdoors.org for up-to-the-minute additions not yet shown here. Not all activities may be posted yet.

Committee Members

All committee members are volunteers. Feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have.
Executive 20s & 30s A.T. Management Bicycling Communications Conservation DEI Family Outings Hiking Membership Mountaineering Net Management Paddling Training and Education
Trail crew at work
JOHN TAVARES
Tyringham boardwalk repairs
Three bears
COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHT

Did You Know?

The 250,000-acre corridor of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) and its surrounding landscape are rich in natural and cultural resources. The Western MA A.T. Management Committee runs a robust program to catalog, monitor, and manage these resources on A.T. land in our state. READ MORE »
Resources
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