Volunteer Activities

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Chapter Vice Chair

Are you someone who likes to see the big picture? Spend time getting to know your Chapter operations and how the larger AMC organization works while preparing to take over the role of Chapter Chair. You need to be good in motivating people to work as a team, have great organizing skills, be able to delegate tasks, and most importantly, have a passion for AMC. If this sounds like you please contact the Western MA Chapter Chair at chair@amc-wma.org.

Repairs to Hop Brook Boardwalk

We will be focusing on repairs to the boardwalk in this location. At several points, the substructure has shifted or become damaged. We may also raise the low end of the bridge. We must carry materials and tools approx 1/2 mile on an easy trail from the parking area. Work area is brushy and thorny, and may be muddy. We will be working at ground level and underneath the boardwalk.

AT Corridor Boundary Work - Tyringham Day #2

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 Fernside Rd and the Beartown State Forest boundary. Work will include finding and clearing the boundary by clipping brush and small trees with hand tools to maintain a line of sight, and painting yellow blazes along the boundary. We will be working off-trail, mostly in remote areas. Pace will be slow, route is mostly uphill, steeply uphill at times, and brush may be heavy. Expect to be in the woods the entire day.

Open Area Maintenance, Hale Field Edge Clearing

We will be pulling invasive plants and cutting back brush encroaching on this open area. Less than one mile easy hike to work area. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes bring lunch/snacks, and water to drink. Bring work gloves. Long sleeves and sun protection recommended. Take precautions against ticks by treating outerwear with permethrin following the manufacturer instructions.

National Trails Day: Brush Clipping at Reynolds Rock, Cheshire

We will be participating in National Trails Day activities based in Cheshire for this project. The work will include clipping brush on the access to Reynolds Rock, a huge boulder in a farm field on the A.T. in Cheshire. We'll be maintaining the path that leads to a climbing route to the top of the rock as well as brushing out the area immediately adjacent to it. We'll be working with hand tools bending and stooping to clear woody growth, some with thorns.

A.T. Relocation at MA/VT Border

On this joint project with the Green Mountain Club, we'll make a preliminary cut on the line of a future 0.4 mile relocation of the A.T. at the VT border. Work will consist of cutting small saplings and shrubs with hand tools. There may be a few downed trees across the route that will need a chainsaw. Our work is in preparation for a professional trail crew to come in later and create the actual treadway, rock steps, cribbing and bench cutting.

Natural Heritage Monitoring: Mt Greylock Day #1

Time once again to hit the Mt Greylock summit area for some natural heritage monitoring, so if you'd like to help monitor some rare plants, sign up for this volunteer activity.

Replace & Reset Bog Bridges

We will reset wobbly bog bridges and replace any that are failing in the swampy area immediately south of Blue Hill Rd. Conditions will be muddy, if not downright wet. Dress for expected weather conditions.

Natural Heritage Monitoring: Mt Greylock Day #2

This is Day 2 for rare plant monitoring in the Mt Greylock summit area. So if you'd like to help monitor some rare plants, sign up for this volunteer activity. Usually the 2^nd day takes only half the day, but depending on Day 1 weather we could be in the summit area all day.

Privy Moves - Maintaining Privies at A.T. Campsites

We will be moving the privies at Shaker Campsite and Wilcox South Campsite to new locations. Work involves digging with hand tools and lifting and moving the outhouse several feet to a new site. Work may involve incidental contact with human waste. We will start at Shaker Campsite, approx 1/2 mile down hill from the meeting location. Upon completion, we will drive approx 30 mins to the access to Wilcox South Shelter, and hike another 1/2 mile down hill to that work site.