ATC coordinates the development of standards and policies by which our volunteers work. Those policies and the related A.T. Comprehensive Plan and Local Management Planning Guide are the foundation on which the Trail is maintained.
ATC provides additional resources and reference materials for Trail-maintaining clubs, volunteers, and federal and state agencies. Some of those materials are found here. Please let us know what other information you would like to see here.
trail maintainers corner
Training and Workshops: Programs for volunteers, including sawyer certification information.
Trail Work Hazards and Safety Gear, this chart lists common trail-work tasks, potential hazards and safety gear.
Planning and Building a Trailhead Bulletin Board includes drawings and materials needed for constructing trailhead signboards.
Carolina Mountain Club plans for food storage cables (bear cables).
The Register, a monthly newsletter for Appalachian Trail volunteers, their agency partners, and others interested in the stewardship of the Trail.
Information for A.T. sawyers
See sawyer certification and sawyer reference materials.
Books for maintainers
Appalachian Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance. The primary stewardship manual for volunteers who are involved in designing, constructing, or maintaining portions of the Appalachian Trail. Available through the Ultimate A.T. Store (call 888-287-8673 for A.T. maintainer discount).
Appalachian Trail Fieldbook. Field supplement to Appalachian Trail Design, Construction, and Maintenance. Available through the Ultimate A.T. Store (call 888-287-8673 for A.T. maintainer discount).
Appalachian trail club leaders
Tips for volunteer managers include advice on recruiting, training, and managing voluneers, as well as links to ATC's volunteer database and online database training.
2002 Appalachian Trail Club Presidents Handbook
2002 A.T. Club Presidents Handbook, Appendices A-G
Other reference materials
Increasing Opportunities for Access on the Appalachian Trail—A Design Guide, by Carl Demrow, features case studies of accessible segments that have been built on the Trail. It offers information for Appalachian Trail clubs on designing and building accessible trail and includes current U.S. Forest Service guidelines.
Table of Contents and Introduction
I. Accessibility - What Is It?
II. Forest Service Guidelines
III. Case Studies
IV. Questions and Scenarios
V. Design Principles
Resources and Appendix
Additional information on accessibility can be found on the Forest Service Accessibility Web page.
Camping Impact Management on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (PDF), Jeffrey L. Marion. This 2003 report addresses overnight use on the Trail and the associated resource and social impacts, particularly in heavily used areas. It includes case studies of 17 overnight sites and recommendations for Trail managers.
Backcountry Sanitation Manual, by the Green Mountain Club and ATC. Information to help Trail managers and volunteer maintainers effectively manage human waste in the backcountry.
Content and Introduction (pages 1-12)
Background of Sanitation Management (pages 13-34)
Regulatory and Aesthetic Issues (pages 35-44)
Description of Systems (pages 45-96)
Case Studies (pages 97-116)
Decision Making Process (pages 117-127)
Gray Water Management (pages 128-132)
Appendices A-G
Appendices H-K
Appendices L-Q
Index (pages 214-220)
Appalachian National Scenic Trail Resource Management Plan (Sept. 2008). The purpose of this plan is to document the A.T.'s natural and cultural resources and describe and set priorities for management, monitoring, and research programs to ensure that these resources are properly protected and cared for. For a digitally indexed version of the Appalachian Trail Resource Management Plan with maps and appendices, please contact Casey Reese, Casey_Reese@nps.gov or 304-535-4009.
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 - Present Resource Status
Chapter 3 - The A.T. Resource Management Plan
Chapter 4 - Comprehensive Program and Project Statements
Chapter 5 - Maps, Tables, and Appendices
Appalachian Trail Vital Signs Report. Compiled through a collaborative effort led by the National Park Service ATPO, the Vital Signs report is the foundation for ongoing environmental monitoring efforts along the Trail and its corridor. Vital Signs Report (large PDF).
Trail Years: A History of the Appalachian Trail Conference (PDF). Includes never-before-published photographs and fresh insights into the lives of Myron H. Avery and Benton MacKaye. A special limited printing is available from the Ultimate A.T. Store.
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