MST Trail Workdays - Blue Ridge Parkway
NC-16 to US 421

New 2010 Workdates Added Below!

9:00am – 4:30pm Workday Hours

2010 Dates

April 23 and 24, 2010
May 6, 7, and 8, 2010
May 20, 21, 22, 2010.

We will have two special workdays this Friday and Saturday, April 23 and 24.  We will meet  at 9:00 am just north of US 421 at Deep Gap between Milepost 275 and 276 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This is about 15 miles south of the NC 16 junction with the parkway.  If you arrive late, look for the  orange MST WORK sign, orange traffic cones and cars parked along the parkway shoulder between mileposts 275 and 276.  Look for a note on the windshield or back hatch of my white Suburban for directions to the work site.  [An alternative meeting location for Saturday will be at the Mount Jefferson Overlook near milepost 267.]  We are grateful for sawyers coming from eastern North Carolina to help out on these days!

We will continue work on this section to clear debris from the December ice storm along established trail.  All federal or state certified sawyers with complete safety gear and chainsaw are welcome to assist in the cutting operation.  All others are needed to cut small limbs with hand loppers and pull debris away from the trailway.  Wear suitable work clothes including sturdy boots with good traction soles and leather gloves.  We provide tools but you may want to bring loppers if you have them.  Bring safety glasses or goggles if you have them as some work is among  tangled  branches and vines.  Dress appropriately for the season and weather.  Bring a bag lunch, energy snacks and plenty of water.  There will be a variety of work to choose from to suit your ability .  If the weather forecast is too cold, or rainy I will cancel via email by 7pm the night before each scheduled workday.

MAY WORKDAYS SCHEDULED ARE: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 6, 7 and 8; and Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 20, 21 and 22.   Location will be Mount Jefferson overlook described above.

PLEASE RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO COME SO I CAN BRING ENOUGH TOOLS.  Also, let me know IF YOU ARE A CERTIFIED SAWYER and will be prepared to do chainsaw work.  We will organize saw crews to disperse the work as efficiently as possible.  Many thanks to all who share in the effort to reopen this part of the trail.

Happy Trails
Jim Hallsey
(336) 877-8831or jhallsey2@cs.com

Blue Ridge Parkway - South Ashe Task Force – Construction continues on the MST section between NC 16 and US 421 along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Look for orange “MST Work” sign and directions on vehicle windshield.  Some tools will be provided but you can bring mattocks, hand loppers, hand bow saws and leaf rakes.  Bring plenty of water, sturdy work boots, gloves, a jacket and raingear.  Lunch, energy snacks and a light day pack with first aid kit may also be helpful.  The worksite is near the parkway so access to your vehicle should be easy and nearby.  For questions contact Jim Hallsey (336) 877-8831 or jhallsey2@cs.com.

Every Thursday Before the Second Saturday we will meet at 8:30 AM at a location to be announced.Every Second Saturday of EACH MONTH we will meet at 8:30 AM at a location to be announced.As usual, rain/snow dates will be the following Thursday or Saturday if needed.  This extends our construction season to year round!

Contact - Jim Hallsey - (336) 877-8831 or jhallsey2@cs.com