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

 

 

Session Dates Project Description & Location
1 May 1-5 Work will involve constructing rock steps, waterbars, cribbing, and shutting down user-created/social trails. Near Grayson Highlands State Park and in partnership with working with Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club (MRATC). This project is in Wilderness. 
Sign Up
  May 1-5 Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread South of Bee Cove Lead, Near Fontana Dam, NC in partnership with the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (SMHC).
2 May 9-13 Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread near Gooch Gap in the proximity of Dahlonega, GA in partnership with Georgia A.T. Club (GATC). This crew week is full with University of Central Missouri military veterans group; please only register if you are part of this group. 
UCM Sign Up Only
  May 9-13 Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread South of Sams Gap, Near Flag Pond, TN, in partnership with Carolina Mountain Club (CMC). This crew week is full with University of Central Missouri military veterans group; please only register if you are part of this group.   
3 May 17-21 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 at Wilburn Ridge, Near Grayson Highlands State Park, VA. Experienced trail crew volunteers only this week. Konnarock volunteers will be leading small groups of Hardcore volunteers on small projects. 
Registration Closed
  May 17-21 Perform essential Trail rehabilitation that includes adding drainage, installing and repairing steps and cribs, and re-digging outsloped tread at Yellow Mountain, near Franklin, NC in partnership with Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC). This crew week is full with University of South Dakota students.
4 May 25-29 Work will center around rehabbing a steep section on the climb up to Battery Cliff, near Waynesboro, VA with project partner Old Dominion A.T. Club (ODATC). There will be rockwork heavy with rock splitting, Griphoist highline setup, rock waterbars and rock checksteps.
Sign Up
  May 25-29 Perform essential Trail rehabilitation that includes adding drainage, installing and repairing steps and cribs, and re-digging outsloped tread at Yellow Mountain, near Franklin, NC in partnership with Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC).
  May 30 - June 4 Mid-Season Break
Camp Closed (exceptions may apply) 
5 June 5-9 Work will center around rehabbing a steep section on the climb up to Battery Cliff, near Waynesboro, VA with project partner Old Dominion A.T. Club (ODATC). There will be rockwork heavy with rock splitting, Griphoist highline setup, rock waterbars and rock checksteps.
Sign Up
  June 5-9 Perform essential Trail rehabilitation that includes adding drainage, installing and repairing steps and cribs, and re-digging outsloped tread at Yellow Mountain, near Franklin, NC in partnership with Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC).
6 June 13-17 Work will center around rehabbing a steep section on the climb up to Battery Cliff, near Waynesboro, VA with project partner Old Dominion A.T. Club (ODATC). There will be rockwork heavy with rock splitting, Griphoist highline setup, rock waterbars and rock checksteps.
Sign Up
  June 13-17 Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread South of Bee Cove Lead, near Fontana Dam, NC in partnership with Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (SMHC). *We are seeking volunteers who can sign up for both sessions 6 & 7 for this project. Volunteers would register for both  June 13-17 and June 21-25 so the crew can enjoy 3 "off" days in Western North Carolina.
7 June 21 -25 Work will begin on this nearly 1 mile relocation. Project will be constructing brand new sidehill trail at a sustainable grade with few structures. The War Spur relocation is near Mountain Lake, VA working in partnership with the Roanoke A.T. Club (RATC). This project is in Wilderness. 
Sign Up
  June 21-25 Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread South of Bee Cove Lead, near Fontana Dam, NC in partnership with Smoky Mountains Hiking Club (SMHC). *We are seeking volunteers who can sign up for both sessions 6 & 7 for this project. Volunteers would register for both  June 13-17 and June 21-25 so the crew can enjoy 3 "off" days in Western North Carolina.
8 June 29-July 3 Work will begin on this nearly 1 mile relocation. Project will be constructing brand new sidehill trail at a sustainable grade with few structures. The War Spur relocation is near Mountain Lake, VA working in partnership with the Roanoke A.T. Club (RATC). This project is in Wilderness. 
Sign Up
  June 29-July 3 Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread South of Sams Gap, Near Flag Pond, TN, in partnership with Carolina Mountain Club (CMC).

July 5-10 Mid-Season Break
Camp Closed (exceptions may apply) 
9 July 9-11 Next Generation Trail Crew is open to participants aged 16 & 17. Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread near Gooch Gap in the proximity of Dahlonega, GA in partnership with Georgia A.T. Club (GATC). This crew meets in North Georgia rather than Konnarock Basecamp.  
Sign Up
  July 12-13 Latinx Trail Crew. Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread near Gooch Gap in the proximity of Dahlonega, GA in partnership with Georgia A.T. Club (GATC). This crew meets in North Georgia rather than Konnarock Basecamp.
Sign Up
  July 10-14 Work includes installing checksteps, increasing drainage, installing rock cribbing, and redefining tread South of Sams Gap, Near Flag Pond, TN, in partnership with Carolina Mountain Club (CMC).
Sign Up
10 July 18-22 Work will begin on this nearly 1 mile relocation. Project will be constructing brand new sidehill trail at a sustainable grade with few structures. The War Spur relocation is near Mountain Lake, VA working in partnership with the Roanoke A.T. Club (RATC). This project is in Wilderness. 
Sign Up
  July 18-22 This relocation will move the current alignment of the A.T. from a steep, eroding, fall line section to a more sustainable, sidehill location at Bobblets Gap, near Buchanan, VA in partnership with Natural Bridge A.T. Club (NBATC).
11 July 26-30 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 Mountain. The Davis Path relocation is near Groseclose / Atkins, VA in partnership with Piedmont A.T. Hikers (PATH). 
Sign Up
  July 26-30 This relocation will move the current alignment of the A.T. from a steep, eroding, fall line section to a more sustainable, sidehill location at Bobblets Gap, near Buchanan, VA in partnership with Natural Bridge A.T. Club (NBATC).
12 Aug 3-7 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 Mountain. The Davis Path relocation is near Groseclose / Atkins, VA in partnership with Piedmont A.T. Hikers (PATH).
Sign Up
  Aug 3-7 This relocation will move the current alignment of the A.T. from a steep, eroding, fall line section to a more sustainable, sidehill location at Bobblets Gap, near Buchanan, VA in partnership with Natural Bridge A.T. Club (NBATC).

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
S M T W T F S

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5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31

June
S M T W T F S

1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
July
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31

August
S M T W T F S

1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31

contact us

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