National Trails Day Celebrations in Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (June 1, 2009) - Join the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) in a series of A.T.-related celebrations in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6. Highlights include opening the newest part of the  Appalachian Trail as a relocation in the historic downtown area of Harpers Ferry is dedicated. We’ll also dedicate a series of new A.T. signs and an impressive rock stairway built by Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) and ATC volunteers, and launch ATC’s new A.T. Volunteer Clearinghouse.
Start at the ATC’s A.T. Visitor Center at 799 Washington Street (parking in back off of Storer College Place) at 11:00 a.m., take a moderate one-mile walk downtown, dedicating various features along the way, and return one-half mile to the A.T. Visitor Center at 1:00 for finger food, cake, and ice cream and the kick-off of the A.T. Volunteer Clearinghouse.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park will also be hosting a National Trails Day tent in the lower town with partner organizations, including ATC, PATC, the American Chestnut Foundation, and others. Hikes will be offered throughout the day. For more information, visit Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Web site.
Other ATC National Trails Day Events
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s regional offices in Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina are partnering or participating in events in their regions. Find out more about:
Foundry Day in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania
Mountain Lake Conservancy National Trails Day, Virginia
Southern Nantahala Wilderness Exotic-Invasive training and monitoring hike on the A.T., North Carolina
Boiling Springs Foundry Day
National Trail Days overlaps with the annual Foundry Day event in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. The event attracts some 10,000 people to the Children’s Lake area. Foundry Day features a juried arts & crafts show, plus dozens of local vendors and organizations. ATC will be on hand to promote and discuss the Trail, and will sell maps, books and our limited inventory of ATC clothing, plus sign up new members.
Local trail clubs and outdoors-oriented organizations will also be on hand with information stations and exhibits. This year, ATC expects ATC-MARO; CVATC, SATC and MCM trail clubs; Cumberland Valley Search and Rescue and Summit Search & Rescue (complete with the bloodhounds); Audubon of PA & Appalachian Audubon Society. Perhaps Central Pennsylvania Conservancy & Trout Unlimited (these and other organizations represented in the past are hamstrung by dwindling staff/volunteers). SATC will lead a hike; CVATC may also lead a hike, depending on interest.
Mountain Lake Conservancy National Trails Day Celebration
ATC Southwest and Central Virginia Office is partnering with the Mountain Lake Conservancy National Trails Day celebration by offering a guided family hike to Bald Knob. Other activities include a guided naturalist hike, family camping 101 clinic, and a guided mountain bike ride on Mountain Lake Conservancy trail system. Find out more and register for hikes on the Mountain Lake Conservancy Web site.
ATC and NHC Monitoring Hike for Exotic Invasive Plants
Come for a hike through the Southern Nantahala Wilderness, as you apply what you’ve learned in the morning session about the 12 species of exotic-invasive plants of greatest concern. Participants will learn about the impacts invasive-exotic plants have on our native ecosystems, as well as the protocol for monitoring and tracking data for these plans. Then, participants will gain experience with a hike on the A.T. through part of the Southern Nantahala Wilderness. The morning session will take place at the Nantahala Hiking Club's Clubhouse. The hike will begin from Mooney Gap, and depending on our time will be anywhere from 2 to 4 miles. For more information on invasive exotic plants and the data system we will be using, go to www.eddmaps.org. Register online.
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