Konnarock Trail Crew Logo

​konnarock trail crew

Konnarock is the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's flagship crew program, founded in 1983 and named after its original base camp in southwest Virginia. The crew works on the Appalachian Trail from Rockfish Gap, near Waynesboro, Virginia, to the Trail's southern terminus at Springer Mountain in Georgia. The program is a joint venture of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the 12 southern Trail clubs, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service.

At Konnarock, volunteers of diverse ages, backgrounds, and experience levels work together to build durable trail that will last for generations. After five days of working as a team, learning new skills, and living in the backcountry both the crew and the trail is transformed. No experience is necessary, but you must be 18 years or older. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy provides training, equipment, and room and board. Crews are transported in U.S. Forest Service vehicles from the base camp in Sugar Grove to a primitive, backcountry tent camp near the project site.


KONNAROCK TRAIL CREW BLOG    VOLUNTEER TODAY

 

 

Week Dates Project Description Notes:
1 May 1-5 Crew 1: Grayson Highlands Rehab - Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club (MRATC) Work will involve constructing rock steps, waterbars, cribbing, and shutting down user-created/social trails. Near Grayson Highlands State Park. Wilderness project - Volunteers capped at 8
    Crew 2: South of Bee Cove Lead Rehab - Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (SMHC) Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread. Near Fontana Dam, NC  
2 May 9-13 Crew 1: Gooch Gap Rehab - Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC) Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread. Near Dahlonega, GA This crew week is FULL with University of Central Missouri military veterans group
    Crew 2: South of Sams Gap Rehab - Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread. Near Flag Pond, TN This crew week is FULL with University of Central Missouri military veterans group
3 May 17-21 Crew 1: Wilburn Ridge Rehab - MRATC & Hardcore Konnarock will be partnering up with Hardcore volunteers for a unique crew week installing rock waterbars, steps, and cribbing on a heavily used and gullied section. Near Grayson Highlands State Park, VA. Experienced trail crew volunteers only this week. Krock volunteers will be leading small groups of Hardcore volunteers on small projects. 
    Crew 2: Yellow Mountain Rehab - Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC) This project includes basic Trail rehab: i.e. adding drainage, installing and repairing steps and cribs, and re-digging outsloped tread. Near Franklin, NC This crew week is full with University of South Dakota students
4 May 25-29 Crew 1: Battery Cliff Rehab - Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club (ODATC) Work will center around rehabbing a steep section on the climb up to Battery Cliff. Rockwork heavy with rock splitting, Griphoist highline setup, rock waterbars and rock checksteps. Near Waynesboro, VA  
    Crew 2: Yellow Mountain Rehab - Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC) This project includes basic Trail rehab: i.e. adding drainage, installing and repairing steps and cribs, and re-digging outsloped tread. Near Franklin, NC  
Mid-Season Break May 30 - June 4 Camp Closed (Exceptions may apply)
5 June 5-9 Crew 1: Battery Cliff Rehab - Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club (ODATC) Work will center around rehabbing a steep section on the climb up to Battery Cliff. Rockwork heavy with rock splitting, Griphoist highline setup, rock waterbars and rock checksteps. Near Waynesboro, VA  
    Crew 2: Yellow Mountain Rehab - Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC) This project includes basic Trail rehab: i.e. adding drainage, installing and repairing steps and cribs, and re-digging outsloped tread. Near Franklin, NC  
6 June 13-17 Crew 1: Battery Cliff Rehab - Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club (ODATC) Work will center around rehabbing a steep section on the climb up to Battery Cliff. Rockwork heavy with rock splitting, Griphoist highline setup, rock waterbars and rock checksteps. Near Waynesboro, VA  
    Crew 2: South of Bee Cove Lead Rehab - Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (SMHC) Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread. Near Fontana Dam, NC *We are seeking volunteers who can sign up for Weeks 6 & 7 for this SMHC project. Volunteers would register for both weeks, June 7-19. The crew stays down in TN near Fontana Dam over the 3 "off" days.
7 June 21-25 Crew 1: War Spur Relo - Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club (RATC) Work will begin on this nearly 1 mile relocation. Project will be constructing brand new sidehill trail at a sustainable grade with few structures.  Near Mountain Lake, VA Wilderness project - Volunteers capped at 8
    Crew 2: South of Bee Cove Lead Rehab - Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (SMHC) Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread. Near Fontana Dam, NC *We are seeking volunteers who can sign up for Weeks 6 & 7 for this SMHC project. Volunteers would register for both weeks, June 7-19. The crew stays down in TN near Fontana Dam over the 3 "off" days.
8 June 29 - July 3 Crew 1: War Spur Relo - Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club (RATC) Work will begin on this nearly 1 mile relocation. Project will be constructing brand new sidehill trail at a sustainable grade with few structures.  Near Mountain Lake, VA Wilderness project - Volunteers capped at 8
    Crew 2: South of Sams Gap Rehab - Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread. Near Flag Pond, TN  
Mid-Season Break July 5 - 10
9 July 10-14 Crew 1: Gooch Gap Rehab - Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC) Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread. Near Dahlonega, GA Introducing Konnarock Lite! This normal 5-day crew week will be now be two 3-day sessions, and filled by local volunteers for a shorter crew experience. Volunteers will be meeting crew staff down in GA.
    Crew 2: South of Sams Gap Rehab - Carolina Mountain Club (CMC) Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread. Near Flag Pond, TN  
10 July 18-22 Crew 1: War Spur Relo - Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club (RATC) Work will begin on this nearly 1 mile relocation. Project will be constructing brand new sidehill trail at a sustainable grade with few structures.  Near Mountain Lake, VA Wilderness project - Volunteers capped at 8
    Crew 2: Bobblets Gap Relo - Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club (NBATC) This relocation will move the current alignment of the A.T. from a steep, eroding, fall line section to a more sustainable, sidehill location. Near Buchanan, VA  
11 July 26-30 Crew 1: Davis Path Relo - Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers (PATH) Work will begin on this nearly .5 mile relocation. Currently the Trail runs directly adjacent to the Davis Path campsite and privy; the new alignment will shift the Trail away from the overnight site and will offer views of Walker Mt. Near Groseclose / Atkins, VA  
    Crew 2: Bobblets Gap Relo - Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club (NBATC) This relocation will move the current alignment of the A.T. from a steep, eroding, fall line section to a more sustainable, sidehill location. Near Buchanan, VA  
12 August 3-7 Crew 1: Davis Path Relo - Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers (PATH) Work will begin on this nearly .5 mile relocation. Currently the Trail runs directly adjacent to the Davis Path campsite and privy; the new alignment will shift the Trail away from the overnight site and will offer views of Walker Mt. Near Groseclose / Atkins, VA  
Crew 2: Bobblets Gap Relo - Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club (NBATC) This relocation will move the current alignment of the A.T. from a steep, eroding, fall line section to a more sustainable, sidehill location. Near Buchanan, VA

Konnarock Trail Crew In the Field

base camp

The Konnarock Crew is hosted by the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area at its Sugar Grove Work Center. The main building houses dining and recreation facilities, an office, and the crew's tool room. Separate buildings provide a large, institutional kitchen and two shower houses, with bathroom and laundry facilities. Crew members sleep in simple cabins ("pods") near the shower houses, with beds and electricity.

Konnarock Trail Crew Hammer Drill

crew week

Crew members arrive on the evening before their work week starts in time to get settled in, eat dinner, and attend an orientation session. Whether they will be working with Crew 1 or Crew 2, crew members meet their crew leaders and fellow volunteers, and are issued safety equipment and loaner camping gear as needed. An early morning on the first day of the crew week (7 a.m.) begins with a hearty breakfast followed by any last-minute preparations and departure to the project sites. Volunteers work a five-day week in the field, tent camping at a remote site with vehicle access, and return to base camp for a celebratory dinner the evening of the fifth day.

Volunteers working more than one session are welcome to stay at Konnarock base camp between sessions, with the exception of the mid-season breaks. Other accommodations may be available for multiweek volunteers during the mid-season breaks. Multiweek volunteers should plan to spend at least an hour or two of their days off pitching in to keep base camp running smoothly—and the rest of it relaxing and exploring the beautiful Mount Rogers area! 

Please note that there are now three days off between each crew week. Crew weeks are highlighted in yellow on the calendar below, with the first day of each week in red. Please contact us with any questions about the new schedule at 540.904.4393 or [email protected].

2019 Konnarock project schedule & calendar

The 2019 schedule and registration will be available starting February of 2019. If you have any questions or would like to be added to a waiting list, please contact Josh Kloehn at [email protected] 
May
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June
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July
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August
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contact us

Give us a call at (540) 904-4393 or e-mail [email protected] with any questions.