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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.

Clearing Trail Near Sherman Brook

Location: North Adams, MA
Date: 06‑Sep‑2025
Register »
The laurel ha3 been vigorously growing for the past several seasons on the Trail north of the campsite. It's like hiking through a car wash in wet weather. We'll clip it back with hand and power tools to restore the 4ft wide hiking corridor.
Approximately 2-mile up hill walk on moderately strenuous trail to work site. Dress for the weather, bring lunch/snack and water to drink. Wear sturdy shoes. Work gloves and long pants are recommended.

AT Boundary Maintenance, Blotz Rd

Location: Washington, MA
Date: 19‑Sep‑2025
Register »
Come explore the backstage of the Appalachian Trail. We'll be maintaining the critical boundary lines of the protected land corridor that surrounds the A.T. For this project, we'll be working with folks from the American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacation crew as well as expert staff from ATC.
This off-trail work moves at a slow pace over varied terrain. We'll be clipping brush and painting blazes along the boundary line. Work is off-trail, occasionally in heavy brush and up and down hills. Expect some wet areas, too. Some stooping to clip back brush to maintain a clear line of sight along the boundary. We also refresh yellow blazes on trees with paint which will permanently mark clothing, so don't wear your favorite trail duds. Do wear sturdy shoes that can get wet and muddy. Long pants required; long sleeves and work gloves recommended. Tools such as loppers are provided or you may bring your own. Dress for weather conditions. Bring lunch/snacks and water to drink. Expect to spend the full day in the woods. Constant rain will cancel.

Wildlife Transect, Cady Brook Area

Location: Washington, MA
Date: 20‑Sep‑2025
Register »
We last visited Cady Brook to check on wildlife activity in January 2023. So it's time to see if the beaver have returned and restored any of the dams, if the moose have been visiting, and who has been up to what. Make sure to bring along your curiosity!
We'll be out all day (bad weather cancels). Bring along lunch, snacks and water. Dress and be prepared for being off trail most of the time. No experience necessary. Pace is slow, with plenty of time to examine and interpret spoor.

AT Boundary Maintenance, Cheshire

Location: Cheshire, MA
Date: 20‑Sep‑2025
Register »
Come explore the backstage of the Appalachian Trail in Cheshire. We'll be working with folks from the American Hiking Society's Volunteer Vacations maintaining the critical boundary lines of the protected land corridor that surrounds the A.T.
This off-trail work moves at a slow pace over varied terrain. We'll be clipping brush and painting blazes along the boundary line. Work is off-trail, occasionally in heavy brush. Expect some wet areas, too. Some stooping to clip back brush to maintain a clear line of sight along the boundary. The paint will permanently mark clothing, so don't wear your favorite trail duds. Do wear sturdy shoes that can get wet and muddy. Long pants required, long sleeves, work gloves recommended. Dress for weather conditions. Bring lunch/snacks and water to drink. Expect to spend the full day in the woods. Rain will cancel.

Open Area Maintenance - Shays' Rebellion Area

Location: Great Barrington, MA
Date: 30‑Sep‑2025
Register »
We will mow and cut back selected open areas to promote native plant growth. We'll be working with both hand and power tools.
Dress for the weather, bring work gloves, lunch/snacks and water to drink. Wear sturdy shoes. Work areas are flat within 1/2 mile of meeting location.

Wildlife Transect, Mt Bushnell / Dolomite Ledges Area

Location: South Egremont, MA
Date: 04‑Oct‑2025
Register »
This will be our first transect in this area; the east facing slopes of the Mt Bushnell area. We will approach the area from Jug End Rd and climb uphill west as far as we can looking for tracks and sign of what wildlife is using the area. Make sure to bring along your curiosity!
We will be out all day so dress for the season and weather (bad weather cancels). Bring lunch, snacks and water for the day. No experience necessary. Pace is slow, mostly off trail with plenty of time to examine spoor to see what the residents are up to.

Close Upper Goose Pond Cabin

Location: Lee, MA
Date: 12‑Oct‑2025
Register »
We'll close this iconic hiker stopover for the season. We'll clean up the inside, move some firewood, put shutters on the windows, take the dock out of the water, and float out some surplus materials. There will be sweeping, cleaning, carrying and general tidying.
Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes. Bring lunch/snack and water to drink. 1/2 mile moderate hike to the work area.

AT Corridor Boundary Work - Sheffield, Day 1

Location: Sheffield, MA
Date: 14‑Oct‑2025
Register »
Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. We will be working between Rt 7 and the Sheffield-Egremont Rd in Sheffield, MA, southern Berkshire County. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight - no painting required.
We will be working off-trail following survey maps with compass and GPS in remote areas with some hills and possible wet areas. Brush may be heavy in some locations. Pace will be slow as we walk and clip. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.
Dress in layers for the expected weather. Wear sturdy boots for off-trail grades. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended due to possible poison ivy. Bring work gloves, an extra layer and rain gear. Bring your own loppers if you have them, but leader will have extras.
Carry lunch/snack and plenty of water to drink. Take precautions against ticks by treating outerwear with permethrin following the manufacturer's instructions. Check for ticks soon after arriving back home.
Heavy rain will cancel. Exact meeting location to be emailed later.

AT Corridor Boundary Work - Sheffield, Day 2

Location: Sheffield, MA
Date: 15‑Oct‑2025
Register »
Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. We will be working between Rt 7 and the Sheffield-Egremont Rd in Sheffield, MA, southern Berkshire County. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight - no painting required.
We will be working off-trail following survey maps with compass and gps in remote areas with some hills and possible wet areas. Brush may be heavy in some locations. Pace will be slow as we walk and clip. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.
Dress in layers for the expected weather. Wear sturdy boots for off-trail grades. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended due to possible poison ivy. Bring work gloves, an extra layer and rain gear. Bring your own loppers if you have them, but leader will have extras.
Carry lunch/snack and plenty of water to drink. Take precautions against ticks by treating outerwear with permethrin following the manufacturer's instructions. Check for ticks soon after arriving back home.
Heavy rain will cancel. Exact meeting location to be emailed later.

AT Corridor Boundary Work - Sheffield, Day 3

Location: Sheffield, MA
Date: 26‑Oct‑2025
Register »
Enjoy the backstage of the A.T. Visit places no hiker has ever seen. Join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protect the A.T. We will be working between Rt 7 and the Sheffield-Egremont Rd in Sheffield, MA, southern Berkshire County. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight - no painting required.
We will be working off-trail following survey maps with compass and gps in remote areas with some hills and possible wet areas. Brush may be heavy in some locations. Pace will be slow as we walk and clip. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.
Dress in layers for the expected weather. Wear sturdy boots for off-trail grades. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended due to possible poison ivy. Bring work gloves, an extra layer and rain gear. Bring your own loppers if you have them, but leader will have extras.
Carry lunch/snack and plenty of water to drink. Take precautions against ticks by treating outerwear with permethrin following the manufacturer's instructions. Check for ticks soon after arriving back home.
Heavy rain will cancel. Exact meeting location to be emailed later.

Activity Schedule

All activities are subject to cancellation due to poor weather conditions. Check activities 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 Community Engagement Conservation Family Programs 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. These high elevation lands provide critical habitat for plants, animals and fungi, including hundreds of rare species. The Western MA A.T. Management Committee runs a robust program to catalog, monitor, and manage natural and cultural resources on A.T. land in our state. READ MORE »
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