High Country Restoration: (Konnarock Crew 1: Session 3)

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The Konnarock Trail Crew is the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s flagship crew program, founded in 1983. The Konnarock Trail Crew offers volunteers of diverse ages, backgrounds, and experience levels the opportunity to spend five days working together in the backcountry building durable sections of the Appalachian Trail that will last for generations. Konnarock is a joint venture of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the twelve southern A.T. maintaining clubs, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service.

The Konnarock basecamp in located in Sugar Grove, Virginia where volunteers are expected to meet at the start of the crew session. The Konnaorck Trail Crew works on projects along the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in backcountry settings anywhere from Waynesboro, Virginia, to the Trail’s southern terminus in Georgia. Read a complete volunteer position description for the Konnarock Trail Crew HERE.

Session 3 will begin on Friday, May 19 (starting at 5 p.m.) and finish on Wednesday, May 24 (ending around 8 p.m.). Volunteers must arrive at basecamp on the start date prior to 5:00 p.m. for crew introductions and orientation. Dinner will be provided at 6 p.m., and afterwards, the crew packs group gear and has an orientation meeting before wrapping up for the evening. On Saturday morning the Crew will pack up and travel from the Sugar Grove basecamp to the backcountry project work site that is located near Troutdale, Virginia. This crew session will require backpacking (with a day pack) approximately half-a-mile to the backcountry crew campsite. Please note that this campsite will not be accessible by car. Additional support will be provided for packing in the groups gear. At the end of the crew session, volunteers are welcome and encouraged to spend the final night at Konnarock basecamp.

Crew 1 will spend Session 3 working on part of the A.T. that is a popular hiking destination near Troutdale, VA. Work will include improving drainages, waterbars, and rock steps, as well as performing other needs (such as regrading) along this section of the Trail. Each workday the Crew will be hiking one-mile to the worksite (two-miles roundtrip each day) with moderate elevation gain.

The following resources will be provided to volunteers:

• Shuttles to and from the nearest airports/bus stations, provided upon request.
• Transportation from basecamp to primitive, backcountry tent camping near the project work site.
• Room and board.
• Three meals a day (with lots of snacks!), including a large welcome and thank you dinners.
• All cooking/kitchen equipment for the backcountry
• Loaner camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, daypack, water bottles, etc.).
• All trail work tools, gear, and PPE (gloves, glasses, hardhat).
• Training and leadership guidance throughout the week.

Volunteers are expected to provide the following:

• Appropriate work clothes (long pants, clothes you don’t mind getting dirty).
• Personal camping equipment if desired.
• A willingness to work hard within personal capabilities.
• An ability to follow crew staff instruction and example.
• A great attitude and being open to meeting new trail crew friends!

Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older to participate in Konnarock. Volunteer who are 16 years old, must have a parent/guardian accompany the volunteer during the crew week. Volunteers who are 17 years old need a parent/guardian to sign a release form prior to the work week (the parent/guardian does not need to accompany the volunteer).