When Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) member Gary Eblen recently received a cap in recognition for his work as a volunteer Trail maintainer, he felt as proud of his award as did of his first Boy Scout badge. This dedicated maintainer and hike leader has a lot to be proud of.
Gary has been a member of the SWEAT crew since 2007. He says that a Trail project in the Smokies is a “great way to spend a few days… like polishing the silver in a cathedral,” and adds that the work “takes you down to an elemental level that we all need to visit sometimes.” Though crew volunteers are all strangers to each other at first, the work creates a bond—there is “a whole lot of laughter” on a SWEAT crew, Gary notes.
When he is not “outsmarting rocks” on the SWEAT crew or with CMC, Gary works with teachers from the Trail to Every Classroom program, where he serves as hike leader and Leave No Trace educator for the students. Gary also helps ATC’s southern regional office with special events.
Gary wants to do Trail work for as long as he can. He is fascinated by A.T. history and feels a link to the CCC crews and others who walked the Trail before him. The A.T. has “been around for a long time, and I want it to keep being around for a long time.” Thanks, Gary!
Comments:
Anonymous @ 11/15/2010 6:23:01 AM
Every year the S.W.E.A.T. Crew leaders first question is: "When is Gary coming?" then: "Whats for dinner?", "Whats in that casserole?", followed by "How many fingers am I holding up?". Gary, i am glad you are 'hooked' on the A.T.!
Andrew Downs,
Trail Resources Manager
Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee
Anonymous @ 11/15/2010 3:37:22 PM
Congratulations on an excellent choice in Gary. I have known him since the early/mid-eighties. He is always pushing the merits and benefits of the A.T. to anyone who will listen. And when Gary talks everyone listens.
John Newman
A.T. Maintainer - NHC