Tuesday, August 21, 2012

A BIG THANKS!!

It’s hard to believe the Konnarock 2012 season has come to an end!  We wanted to send out thanks to all of our partners for the great support of the Konnarock program this year.  We had a very successful and fun season! Thanks for all of your great planning leading up to this season, as well as your hardwork out on the trail with the crew.   And most importantly, thanks to all of you who came out to volunteer a week or more this season!! We look forward to seeing you in 2013!! 


Happy Trails!

Week 12

Dividing up tools before the big hike in! 
Crew one spent their last week of the season working with the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club on the Beartown Mountain Relocation.  They enjoyed the beautiful views near Roan Mountain and managed to get a lot of work done on the Trail!  They built nearly 500 feet of new sidehill and put in 10 rock steps along the way.  They also built 40 feet of grade dips to help shed water of the future A.T.!


New rock steps

Happy volunteers! : )

Crew 1! 

BEEEAUTIFUL 

Don't worry - Konnarock volunteers don't go hungry!

Painting a white blaze!

Hanging out in camp
































Crew 2 also headed south for their final week of the season to work with the Nantahala Hiking Club on the Water Oak Gap Rehab project.  They rehabilitated over 350 feet of trail, installing 22 rock steps and a lot of rock cribbing.  It was assistant crew leader, Kathryn's favorite project of the season (check out her sweet crib wall below)!  
Moving BIG rocks!
Drilling holes for the rebar


Impressive backcountry dessert!

Kathryn's Crib Wall -- oh yea!

Crew two!

Week 11

Crew 1!!
Crew 1 spent the week working with the Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club on the Thunder Ridge relocation.  They were build 600 feet of new sidehill -- wow!  They also put in a few rock steps and check steps along the way to help properly shed water off the trail.  

Digging new sidehill
Rock steps
Beautiful rock work!

Crew Leader, Tori

Crew 2 went up near Catawba to work with the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club on the Dragons Tooth rehab project.  It's a very rocky, challenging section of trail that sees a lot of visitors every season.  They rehabilitated 280 feet of trail with 39 rock steps and 35 cubic feet of junk cribbing to keep hikers on the trail.  
Using the rock drill

Enjoying the view from Dragons Tooth

Putting in new rock steps


Crew 2!!

Week 10

Tailgate safety meeting
Crew 1 headed south to work with the Tennessee Eastman Hiking Club to work on the Round Bald Rehab project.  They put in 26 rock steps and 20 log steps along the Trail.  They crushed and carried a lot of rock and placed over 130 pieces of rebar to hold everything in place! 







Crushing rocks!
Moving crushed rocks

More Crushing! 
Ta- dah!



Crew 1!
Crew 2 headed up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to work on the Humpback Rocks Rehab project with the Old Dominion AT Club.  They put in 27 new rock steps and rehabilitated over 270 feet of trail!  

Enjoying some dancing after a hard day of work :)

Hanging out with ODAT at the volunteer camp

Crew Leader, Josh, working hard!

New rock steps

Lots of rock moving this week

Storing tools and equipment for the evening


More rock steps & junk cribbing to keep hikers on the trail