Appalachian Trail Management Committee

Upcoming Activities

A.T. Corridor Boundary Work - Blotz Rd, Day 2

Come join us in maintaining the boundary lines of the land corridor that protects the A.T. We will be working south of Blotz Rd in Washington, MA, completing the section started on May 5. We start by hiking 1 mile, then locating yellow corridor blazes and clearing the boundary line as we work our way back toward the cars. Work is mostly clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a clear line of sight. We will also record data at survey markers. We will be following a straight compass course up and down hills. Pace will be slow, and brush may be heavy at times. Stooping is required to clip brush as we walk along. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.

National Trails Day: Trail Maintenance at Cheshire Cobble

We'll celebrate National Trails Day with opportunities to give back to the AT (and maybe snag some SWAG). We'll be meeting at 8:30 at Diane's Twist for some breakfast goodies, then we'll head out for some basic trail maintenance on the AT for 1.5 miles up to Cheshire Cobbles, with a lunch break at the top.

A.T. Overnight Site Maintenance: Laurel Ridge Campsite

We will maintain the tent pads and trails at this A.T. campsite near the CT border. We'll also install some numbered campsite signs. Work will be digging and raking the dirt tent pads, clipping encroaching brush, light carpentry to install signs, brushing in social trails.

Hemlock Shelter Maintenance

The Hemlocks Shelter on the A.T. is in need of some exterior cleaning and painting. It was last painted 20 years ago. There will be some ladder work, but most of the painting can be done at ground level. There is an easy 1/2 mile hike with one short steep section on bare rock between the meeting location and the work site.

Walling Mtn, A.T. Repairs: Day 1

We'll start repairs on an eroded section of the A.T. on the north side of Walling Mtn in October Mtn State Forest. Work on site will include digging with hand tools and moving rocks weighing up to 100lbs on sloping ground.

Walling Mtn, A.T. Repairs: Day 2

If necessary, we'll complete the work started on June 27th and bring back the tools from the work site. Work site is an approximately 1.3 mile hike on flat ground from the October Mountain State Forest ORV parking on Becket Rd in Becket MA. Work will include digging with hand tools and carrying rocks weighing up to 100lbs on uneven ground.

Field Edge Maintenance, A.T. Lands

We will be working with young people from Overland Summers to clear brush, small trees and overhanging branches that are encroaching on the edges of an open field maintained for the A.T. If this is not cleared regularly, mechanized equipment cannot fully cut and maintain the field. Open areas create important "edge habitat" where fields meet the tree line. This supports a diverse mix of species, creating habitat for both forest dwellers and those that prefer grasslands.

Trail Maintenance Near Blue Hill Rd

We will make repairs to the A.T. through a wet area adjacent to Blue Hill Rd in Monterrey. Work will include carrying lumber and rock weighing up to 100lbs short distances on flat, but muddy ground. Some light carpentry. Footing will be wet and muddy. Work will be with hand tools.

Trail Maintenance North of Home Rd

We will work with youth from Overland Summers clipping back brush and clearing water bars on this popular section of the A.T. We'll be moving slowly on this moderate to steep terrain, covering as much as 2 miles of trail. Work will be with hand tools to clip back encroaching brush and clear clogged drainage channels to reduce erosion.

Overnight Site Maintenance, Wilbur Clearing

We will do some basic maintenance and cleaning at the popular Wilbur Clearing Campsite near Mt Greylock. We'll do some regrading and defining of the tent pads, installing some signs, clip some brush, clean up the shelter and fire ring area, and maybe paint some stuff too.

Trail Maintenance, A.T. on Mt Williams

We will be working with youth from Overland Summers to perform routine maintenance on the section of the A.T. north of Mt Williams. We will focus on clearing debris and rebuilding drainage channels that direct rainwater off of the trail, reducing erosion. Work will be primarily digging with hand tools and occasionally carrying rock weighing up to 50lbs. We may also clip back some brush from alongside the trail. Work will extend as far as 1 mile uphill on rough trail from the meeting location.

Painting Upper Goose Pond Cabin: Day 1

We'll be painting the south facing side of Upper Goose Pond Cabin, a much beloved overnight facility for hikers on the A.T. Work will consist first of scraping off any loose paint, then applying a fresh coat of bright red paint. Some work will be on ladders, but there's plenty of square footage that can be covered standing on the ground.

Painting Upper Goose Pond Cabin: Day 2

We have this second day of painting work in case we get rained out on Saturday, or if there's more painting to do. Same info applies. Approx 1/2 mile uphill moderate hike to the work site. We'll plan on some swimming time after we wrap up work for the day.