Appalachian Trail in Northern Virginia, November 9 -12, 2016 — While it is self evident that the Appalachian Trail itself requires frequent maintenance. After all, an estimated three million hikers tread on some part of it annually. That’s a lot of wear and tear.
What few hikers may realize is that the trail itself is one thing. The land through which it flows is another. That land can be federal, state, or local. In some cases it belongs to private conservation groups or other entities. All of those land parcels have borders, borders that are surveyed and marked. They must be checked from time to time to ensure the markers are still there and no encroachment or other illegal activity is underway.
Checking the AT corridor boundary is what I’ve been doing in northern Virginia for the past several days. I was on a corridor monitoring trip organized by the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA). Over time 30 some folks dove in, some for the whole time; others for a day or two. Together we were able to check and remark several miles of boundary.
The boundary has no trail. Crews edge their way along the border, bushwhacking through thickets and briars.
Sometimes monitors have to get down into the weeds to find the survey monuments.
Once a monument is found, it is recorded and the brush is lopped away.
Witness trees get refreshed.
The boundary is marked in mustard yellow. The paint, from bottles, is squeezed on brushes toothpaste style. Bottles are refreshed daily.
Sometimes monuments can only be found using the surveyor’s measurements.
Brush trimming is not as fun as it appears to be. 🙂
The threats to trail lands and by extension to hikers are real. People dump trash, extend their fences, or hunt illegally on these lands.
Who knows what led to this tragic scene.
One thing for certain. The former residents were unhappy with the government as other graffiti attested.
Later we decided to bushwhack our way to the AT for an easier hike out. I found an illegal trail built by a hunter the previous year as noted in this blog post about my hike with ridgerunner Hal Evans. Vegetable Territory The hunter had put up an illegal deer stand which was supposed to have been removed. Of special interest, it faced the hiking trail which was less than 100 yards away. This was an intolerable situation regardless of other circumstances.
Note the odd-colored green paint the hunter used to blaze his trail. The bottom part of the ladder was removed. Standard procedure.
Our intrepid crew cut the bicycle lock with bolt cutters and carried out the offending tree stand. Some disassembly was required before it would fit into the ATC’s van for disposal. The Appalachian Trail is a national park and a note and business card from the park’s chief ranger was substituted on the tree to account for the missing stand. In a sign of the times, monitors were concerned that face recognition software might identify them to a revengeful hunter, so faces are not visible.
The ATC crew has a van donated by Toyota.
We stayed at the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s Blackburn Trail Center. It features three bunk rooms and a large commercial kitchen. It is rentable for group events and weddings. Otherwise it is used by trail crews, ridgerunners and others working on the trail.
Accommodations are rustic. The plumbing is outside.
Blackburn features a hiker cabin, tent pads and a covered eating area.
Unfortunately the solar shower wasn’t working this late into autumn.
Gorgeous stone work at Blackburn.
Sisu
Maintaining the trail is a hard enough job. Walking and marking the boundaries is several pay grades higher. Not to mention the potential for encountering angry people. You and the others have even more of my respect, Jim.
Beats politics!
Just like being a property maintenance inspector for a town. Having one of those days where you want to quit your job. Could do that then go maintain on the trail. Would be a lot less stress!!! You get to have all the fun!
It’s interesting for sure.