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Trip Number: 12341A
Price: $345
Deposit: $50
Capacity: 12
Staff: Roger Straw
Highlights:
- Develop trail-building skills
- See the glorious fall colors at their peak
- Help with environmental preservation
Includes:
- All meals, drinks, snacks
- Work tools
The Trip
Join us in constructing a major hiking trail that will ultimately stretch hundreds of miles, redefining long-distance hiking in the Southeast. In Kentucky and Virginia's Cumberland Mountains, you can develop trail-building skills along the same ridges that welcomed Daniel Boone into the core of the southern Appalachians. At the same time, you can enjoy the glorious fall colors, which should be at their peak.
The Project
Photo: Roger Straw
We'll be building the Pine Mountain Trail, which runs along the crest of the Cumberland Mountains on the Kentucky-Virginia border. At Cumberland Gap it will connect to the Cumberland Trail, stretching on to Chattanooga, Tennessee. When it's done, this project will provide almost 600 miles of new trail, eventually connecting to the Appalachian Trail.
Itinerary
Each day we'll carpool from our base camp to the trailhead, and hike several miles to the work site. Depending on the terrain, we'll cut brush, dig trailbed, and build steps and switchbacks as needed to extend the trail. We'll try for variation, giving everyone a chance to contribute and develop their trail-building skills.
We will typically leave camp around 8 a.m. and return around 5 p.m. Evenings
will be free. We will have one rest day, when we can hike, tour historic towns,
or just relax in camp. We will have information about options, but will not
be planning a group activity.
Accommodations and Food
We will camp in tents on the grounds of the Letcher County Extension Service in Whitesburg, Kentucky. We'll have access to flush toilets, showers, and a full kitchen although we will eat outdoors.
We will provide all meals, drinks, and snacks. The first meal of the trip will be dinner on day one, and the last meal will be breakfast on day seven. We will carry bag lunches to the work site each day. Meals will be hearty, and will include meat with vegetarian options. Each participant will help with kitchen duties on at least one day of the trip.
Trip Difficulty
Photo: Roger Straw
The trip is considered strenuous. Each morning we will hike to the work site; the distance could be up to two miles with significant elevation gain. Much of the work will involve strenuous activities such as digging dirt and moving rocks, but there will also be lighter tasks such as pruning brush. We'll trade off jobs for variety. We endeavor to put in an honest day's work each day.
Equipment and Clothing
October in the Appalachians is usually relatively dry, cool, and crisp. Expect daytime highs in the low 70s and nighttime lows approaching 30 degrees. It is a beautiful time to be in the area -- usually -- but we could also spend our days in wind and freezing rain.
You will need sturdy boots, comfortable work clothes that can be worn in layers, raingear (rainsuits are much better than ponchos for service trips), work gloves, a day pack, tent, and a sleeping bag rated to 20 degrees. The leaders will send a detailed equipment list to registered participants.
References
Conservation
On this trip, we will help open major new hiking trails in the Southeast, providing new opportunities for people to see, appreciate, and support the Cumberland Mountains. Just as important, our work will relieve pressure on existing trails in the Appalachians.
Trip Price
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details
about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.
The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Staff
Leader:
Roger Straw has been leading service trips for the Southeast Subcommittee for 15 years. The trips have included trail maintenance in the Caribbean National Forest, Puerto Rico and vegetation removal in St. John National Park, US Virgin Islands. A current trip involves working with the Pine Mountain Trail Conference on a section of a new long distance trail that will serve as an alternative to the Appalachian Trail. His interests also include hiking and canoeing.
E-mail: rstraw@bellatlantic.net
Cook:
Margret Straw will be the cook on this trip.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips