Support the MST

Imagine a day when the Mountains to Sea Trail has been completed...

Hikers will start on Jockey's Ridge in early spring. They will travel for days over wind swept sand, with the ocean to their left and dunes to their right. Days with nothing but the roar of the waves and cries of wheeling gulls. After island hopping, they will take a ferry to Swan's Quarter. There they will journey over the salt-marshes of Cedar Island to the Long Leaf savannas of Croatan. Reaching New Bern, they will trace a river inland as it makes its way through the level Coastal Plain to the rolling hills of the Piedmont, passing through small towns and cities along the way.

They will journey into another river basin and continue to the foothills of the Appalachian Range. At Stone Mountain, they will ascend the Blue Ridge escarpment. For weeks they will follow the Blue Ridge, moving with the Parkway, but seeing the land in a way the drivers never see. At Grandfather they will leave the Parkway for a time, entering Pisgah and the wilderness. They will journey through some of the last, greatest wild lands in the East. Eventually, they will rejoin the Parkway where it leaves the Blue Ridge, dancing in and out as the land allows. Wilderness, to urbanity, and back to wilderness again.

At Cherokee they will enter the Smoks and the last 30 miles of their journey. They will reach the summit of Clingman's Dome, 3 months and 1000 miles from the sea. Tennessee, and the Appalachian Trail, the grandfather of all hiking trails. A state and a lifetime away. Reflecting on the summit tower, a thought enters their mind. It could be journey's end... but Springer is only 200 miles away. And what about Katahdin? That's only 1800, and I have the legs now.

Friends of the Mountains to Sea Trail is working hard to make the MST a reality. In order to achieve this goal, we need your support. Here is how you can help.

Become a Volunteer

FMST relies on the efforts of dedicated volunteers. Whether building new trail or maintaining existing trail, FMST needs all the hands we can get because great things require great effort. Volunteer opportunities are plenty and within the abilities of everyone. If the thought of hiking miles into a wilderness and grubbing new footbed appeals to you, we have several ongoing special projects to construct new trail sections. If you prefer to walk through existing trail with friends and clear the odd branch or repair a bridge on a trail section close to your home, we sponsor several statewide workdays each year for general maintenance. And if you live near a section of the MST and would like to adopt a section of trail to monitor, you can contact your nearest FMST Taskforce to find the closest opportunity to become a keeper.

Become a Patron Member

General membership in the FMST is free. In appreciation of your support, you will receive progress reports and other associated information throughout the year. To assist in the cost of publications, postage, materials, and equipment, we ask you to become a Patron Member.