Crew 1: Highcock Knob Relocation
Konnarock has hit the halfway point of the season with Crew 1 ending Week 6 on a very high note! After 4 years of work, Crew 1 leaves newly painted blazes on the opened relocation on Highcock Knob, near Natural Bridge, VA!
It was an exciting end to the project for Crew 1 and for the week for the volunteers who helped in finalizing the new trail. Opening a new section of trail and painting a new blaze is a rare opportunity and the crew and myself were feeling extra grateful for getting to experience it.
We had a terrific group of volunteers this week, with only one who was with Konnarock for the first time. The rest of the crew were seasoned trail lovers and maintainers that made for a fun, successful week. As always, we were joined by the dedicated local club, NBATC (Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club) who were just as excited to be finishing up this relocation as we were. We also had a visit from the one and only, Josh Kloehn (Resource Manager for ATC), who came out and worked alongside us for a day.
Day 1, we got back to Petites Gap, started with a stretch circle and made the first hike up to Highcock Knob with the new crew. We worked a half a day trying to finish putting in some rock steps, an armored drain and the trail where the old trail meets the new relo.
While crew set up camp, Jerry went and picked up one more volunteer and jumped right in with everyone upon arrival.
By the end of day 2 the rock steps, drain, and the trail at southern end of the relocation were all completed, junk walls and lots and lots of crush, later.
While we had half the crew completing those tasks, we had club members and the rest of the crew, along with Josh K, working on cleaning up the sloughed trail that had been dug years prior and digging the beginning of the relocation in to connect with the current AT.
By the 3rd day the entire crew was working at the beginning of the relocation, spread out on different tasks. We had volunteers working on rock steps, we moved some large rocks out of the trail and filled in the voids with plenty of crush. We also had a few solid crew members digging a "borrow pit" away and hidden from the trail to get some good dirt to put on the crush and make a nice trail surface. The pit soon became a "pit of despair #2" like the pit from the previous year.
Everyone stayed busy and worked hard until we tooled up and headed to the Falling Water Cascade waterfall, right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, for a refreshing "shower." The water was freezing but was enjoyed by all. The treats didn't end there, we decided to get some ice cream at the Peaks of Otter Lodge. The staff was a little confused at first that we came to the restaurant just for dessert but ended up with a room all to ourselves (for the good of everyone there). We enjoyed having a secluded room, although it got a tad chilly being in the AC with wet suits. The crew enjoyed some cherry cobbler, and apple pie with ice cream. Yum! I was happy to be in the sun again after that.
The next day, after a great breakfast of Jerry's grits, eggs, spam and country ham, was the most exciting day of all, as it was time to officially open the relocation, paint blazes and close the old trail. Everyone that had never painted a blaze had the opportunity to do so and it was a monumental experience. We had crew members who have worked on parts of this relocation in previous years and it was clear this was a big deal to them to paint a blaze and see it get opened and become a new part of the Appalachian Trail. How cool to have people walking on the work we have done for years and years to come!
We worked on closing the old trail, making it look like it was never there. We built check dams along the entire length to slow water and erosion down. There was a ribbon cutting ceremony at the other end of the relocation with happy cheers and celebrations.
We ended the day with a bigger celebration, with the club who came to Watson's Pond and had dinner prepared for us. There was grilling, side salads, homemade desserts and ice cream. A huge thank you to Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club for working alongside us these past few weeks and for showing your appreciation to us as well. We appreciated having NBATC out there with us and would not have been able to open the relocation this week without there skills and dedication. Thank you!
Our final day we packed up at Watson's Pond one last time and headed to Thunder Ridge for a view, the James River footbridge (the lowest point on the AT in Virginia) the Brontosaurus in Glasgow and a final lunch at The Pink Cadillac (delicious!).
This crew was a lucky crew to get to open a new trail and I hope people enjoy it as much as we do. This crew was nothing short of great with Konnarock veterans and one new volunteer who fit right in and did a fantastic job. Thanks to each of you for coming out and working hard on crew 1 this week and for helping finish this project of 4 years! I had a blast this week and was so thrilled to open this new relocation!
Crew 1- HOO-YAH!!!!!
--Julia Smith, Assistant Crew Leader
We had a terrific group of volunteers this week, with only one who was with Konnarock for the first time. The rest of the crew were seasoned trail lovers and maintainers that made for a fun, successful week. As always, we were joined by the dedicated local club, NBATC (Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club) who were just as excited to be finishing up this relocation as we were. We also had a visit from the one and only, Josh Kloehn (Resource Manager for ATC), who came out and worked alongside us for a day. 
Day 1, we got back to Petites Gap, started with a stretch circle and made the first hike up to Highcock Knob with the new crew. We worked a half a day trying to finish putting in some rock steps, an armored drain and the trail where the old trail meets the new relo.
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