ATC appreciates the efforts of all Trail volunteers! On this page, learn more about the extraordinary people who keep the Appalachian Trail open and in good repair. If you would like to nominate a volunteer, see details here.
August 2010
 Millions of people live close enough to the Appalachian Trail to use it regularly, but few dedicate as much time to upkeep of their “neighbor” as Pat Yale and Neal Watson. Life-long residents of York County, Pennsylvania, Pat and Neal are skilled A.T. volunteers.
Pat and Neal are notable not just for their dedication, but also the variety of volunteer roles they’ve taken on. They’re adopters of a two mile section of the A.T. and participate in regular work trips with local Trail maintaining clubs. They also monitor and protect the Trail boundary – the outer edge of the land that buffers and protects the footpath - a place few hikers see. And they “are long time trail crew volunteers,” says Mid-Atlantic Trail Resources Manager Bob Sickley, “aside from the multiple weeks they volunteer for the Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew every year, they’ve also volunteered for the Maine A.T. crew and the Long Trail Patrol in Vermont.” Pat also chairs the PA A.T. Committee.
Their volunteer efforts have enhanced their experiences as hikers. They’ve hiked most of the northern half of the A.T, and with years of experience as trail builders and maintainers, they can better appreciate and protect the trail.
When asked why they volunteer – Pat and Neal respond first with jokes: “we like to hear people say thank you,” says Neal, and Pat adds: “we like getting down and dirty,” but “making sure that it is there for the next generation that comes along” is the real reason they volunteer.
ATC Thanks All Appalachian Trail Volunteers
ATC appreciates all the efforts made by Trail volunteers. Learn more about the extraordinary contribution made by other A.T. volunteers:
Regional Volunteer of the Year Awards
Silver and Gold Awards - Awarded for 25 and 50 years of service to the A.T.
If you would like to recognize a volunteer affiliated with ATC, a Trail maintaining club or other A.T. partner contact Jeanne Mahoney at jmahoney@appalachiantrail.org.
June 2010
 Though Appalachian Trail volunteers typically spend most of their time on the Trail, ATC volunteer Lorrie Schoettler focused most of her time and talents working “behind the scenes.” Lorrie came to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to fulfill service learning requirements for a Masters degree with Naropa University. Before she entered the masters program, Lorrie had spent almost twenty years working for nonprofit community development organizations in Baltimore. . .
May 2010
 Getting out of the city and spending time in open and unspoiled areas has always helped Libby Smith “maintain her sanity,” and she gives back by supporting hiking organizations. A relatively recent member of the A.T volunteer community, Libby came to ATC’s southern regional office in mid-June 2009 after relocating to North Carolina from California. She brought her professional experience in technology fields as well as previous volunteer experience as a leader in a state park in California. . .
April 2010
 Though he “grew up on city streets,” once he was exposed to mountains and the outdoors in his early twenties, Bill Hurlebaus took up hiking and skiing; and still enjoys spending time outdoors. When he and his wife retired to a farm near the Appalachian Trail in southwest Virginia, Bill looked forward to spending more time out in the woods hiking. As he began exploring the mountains near his new home, Bill contacted the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club (MRATC) and volunteered his time. . .
March 2010
 Ed Oliver’s fellow volunteers think he is part mole because he "loves to dig." A volunteer trail maintainer and builder for thirty five years, this member of the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club (TEHCC) has done plenty of digging - as well as other work - on the A.T. Ed signed up for the hiking club soon after starting work at Eastman, and when club leaders requested help maintaining the TEHCC's 134 mile Trail section, he signed on. . .
February 2010
 Though Terri McLellan has section hiked 25% of the A.T. with her hiking partner Python, when she first stepped on the Trail, it was to get a better view of Maine’s Kennebec River. Training to become a rafting guide at the time, she was more interested in rivers than trails. Her love of hiking the A.T. began when she moved to northern Virginia and started hiking near her home with Python. A Maine native, Terri chose the Maine state motto Dirigo (“I lead”) as a Trail name. . .
January 2010
 Don O’Neal, a member of the Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC), keeps the A.T. open and in good repair on his club’s 60 mile stretch of the A.T. A club leader - he is a former president of NHC - Don is happiest when he is out on the A.T. Don started out as an A.T. hiker - section hiking the A.T. between 1981 and 1991. During his hike, he had a chance to appreciate the efforts of volunteer maintainers up and down the trail. While hiking near his home, he noticed a section of the trail that “looked messy,” which led him to become a Trail maintainer . . .
December 2009
 When life-long hiker Dave Boone returned from the service, he picked up a local hiking guide and started hiking every trail he could find in his native Connecticut. Dave’s exploration of local trails soon led him to the Appalachian Trail. He became a volunteer Ridgerunner with the Connecticut Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC-CT) regularly hiking an assigned section of the A.T. and welcoming and providing help to hikers. Ridgerunning combined Dave’s love of hiking and his desire to support the A.T. and also allowed him to meet . . .
November 2009
 Lenny Bernstein hiked his first mile on the Appalachian Trail in 1974, and he has been hiking – and supporting – the A.T. ever since. Lenny and his wife Danny are “end-to enders” – completing the 2178 mile section hike in 1998. His volunteer efforts are equally impressive: He is a hike leader, trail maintainer and has served as a leader locally, regionally and Trail-wide. A past president of the Carolina Mountain Club, he now represents his club at regional meetings and is chairing the committee planning the 2013 Biennial. . .
October 2009
 Interest in cross-country skiing led Catherine Kelleher to the Appalachian Trail. Looking for a cross-country group to ski with, Catherine joined the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. While on a skiing trip, she met a trail maintainer, and her interest in the trail was piqued. Catherine volunteers two or three weekends a month on trail projects, and also edits the Trailhead column in PATC’s newsletter. Says PATC’s Rick Canter, “Catherine is equally comfortable helping build a bridge, moving a huge rock . . . or using a camera, keyboard or pen to get the job done. . .”
September 2009
 Every year, A.T. volunteer John Tatara dedicates several weeks to the Appalachian Trail. He has great credentials: he has thru-hiked twice, in ’94 and ’97, and is just 468 miles from completing the Trail for a third time as a section hiker. His A.T. experience is of great value in the Appalachian Trail Visitor Center. Since 1998, he has been on hand for a month each summer assisting Trail visitors. “John brings exceptional breadth of A.T. experience to his volunteer work,” says Laurie Potteiger, ATC’s Information Services Manager. Whether giving directions. . .
August 2009
 Together, Sam and Sharon Ripley have contributed more than 13,000 hours to the Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club (NBATC), based in Lynchburg, Virginia. They both recently received lifetime achievement awards from the National Park Service. “For the past 25 years, Sam and Sharon have been invaluable assets to the NBATC,” said board president Norman Sykora. “They have eagerly volunteered many hours of both maintenance and management time in support of the Appalachian Trail.” The couple first learned about the trail club. . .
July 2009
 Kim Simpson discovered the A.T. while “hiking the 4000 Footers” in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Intrigued by the vision of a long distance trail – a greenway with protected land on each side - Kim began volunteering on the A.T. with his wife Kathleen through their local club, the Green Mountain Club (GMC). Kim started his volunteer work in the late seventies by maintaining a section of the A.T. - work he continues to this day. Kim, an environmental engineer, has also contributed his skills to the protection and management of the A.T. in his region. . .
June 2009
 Several years ago, Bob Almand and his son went on their first hike on the A.T. Bob recalls that it was hot and they brought “way too much stuff” – and he loved it. He kept on hiking, and after meeting a crew of volunteers from the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club (GATC) building a shelter, he became a GATC member. Soon Bob was maintaining a section of the A.T. and volunteering for the Konnarock Trail crew. Volunteering with a committed group of energetic people was rewarding and led Bob to get involved in Trail leadership. . .
May 2009
 AMC-Berkshire volunteer Cosmo Catalano discovered the Appalachian Trail during a family trip to Mount Greylock when he was a boy. He recalls being intrigued by a footpath that led from Maine to Georgia. Now, he is one of the volunteer leaders who are responsible for making decisions about the maintenance and management of the Trail. Cosmo began volunteering on the A.T. in 1998; for his first project, he helped build a bridge. Though he is still an active Trail maintainer, he has taken on leadership roles at his club and the larger A.T. community. . .
April 2009
 Bill Boudman, a retired science teacher and active hiker and cyclist, has been an A.T. volunteer with the Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers (PATH) since the early eighties. While still working, he volunteered during the summer, gradually gaining more responsibilities; when he retired ten years ago, he became the Trail Supervisor for PATH, responsible for coordinating all work on the club’s 65 mile section of the A.T. Every year, Bill walks PATH’s section of the Trail, often joined by other club members. . .
March 2009
 Bruce Dunlavy (Trail name: Ishmael) is a hiker and volunteer who is active in many parts of the A.T. community. He first became interested in the A.T. while living in Boiling Springs, PA. He met many of the hikers who regularly pass through that A.T. community and, drawn to the openness that he sensed from long distance hikers, he began to get more involved with local hikers and Trail clubs. Hiking the A.T., particularly his 1996 thru-hike, strengthened Bruce’s commitment to the Trail. As a hiker, he learned to appreciate A.T. volunteers firsthand. . .
February 2009
 In more than 25 years as an A.T. Volunteer, Carl Fritz, a member of the Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club (TEHCC), has built up an impressive record. Since starting as a Trail maintainer in 1982, Carl has become an experienced Trail builder, leader and mentor. Though Carl is modest about his accomplishments, he has logged more hours since 2005 than any other club member, says TEHCC's Joe DeLoach. In his role as Maintenance Coordinator, Carl led his club to the "best two years in TEHCC’s history". . .
January 2009
 Lifelong hiker Dick Fecteau started volunteering on the Appalachian Trail at the urging of a friend, Dick Brown, a leader of the Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) until his death in 1998. Dick Fecteau started out maintaining a section of the A.T. and within two years was overseeing 65 miles of the Trail. As an Overseer, Dick plans major projects and recruits and coordinates several volunteer maintainers. Among the most satisfying experiences Dick has had working with volunteers comes from MATC’s partnership with Camp Tekakwitha. . .
December 2008
 Daniel Chazin has hiked much of the Appalachian Trail, but unlike most Trail visitors, he takes notes as he hikes. Daniel, as the editor of the A.T. Data Book and NY-NJ Guidebook, has used his skills as a writer and editor to help keep A.T. hikers on the right path for more than 25 years. Daniel’s work for the A.T. started in 1982 after he was appointed to the board of the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC), where he immediately started updating the A.T. Guidebook for N.Y. and N.J. . .
November 2008
 Phyllis Henry discovered the Appalachian Trail at a stressful time in her life. A single parent working two jobs, she found that hiking provided a sense of peace often missing from her hectic life. She joined the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club (SMHC), soon after her first hike nineteen years ago. Phyllis has been a hiker, Trail maintainer and leader ever since. While Phyllis still goes out on regular Wednesday A.T. maintenance trips with fellow volunteers Mac, Jerry and Stew, for ten years she has been the “chief cook and bottle washer”. . .
October 2008
 When A.T. volunteer Dean Sims (Trail name: Mr. Konnarock) first hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1946, he had to bushwhack and knock on doors to find the footpath. Many Trail maintainers had been fighting WWII, and the Trail had fallen into disrepair. Dean, a seaman, continued to hike sections of the Trail whenever his ship docked in a port close to the A.T. By the time Dean retired in 1984, he had hiked about half the Trail and seen the A.T. renewed. He has spent 25 years volunteering on A.T. Trail crews. . .
September 2008
 Jack Dalton (whose Trail name is Pipsissewa after a favorite wildflower) was inspired to hike the Appalachian Trail after reading Earl Shaffer’s 1948 account of the first reported thru-hike. Jack was impressed and determined to hike the A.T. one day. Many years later, Jack and his wife Maxine completed the 2,175 mile hike. Hiking the Trail marked the start of Jack’s work as an A.T. volunteer. He and Maxine moved to Hot Springs, N.C. to be near the A.T. and contribute to the local community. Jack is always willing to do what he can. . .
August 2008
 Soon after moving to Franklin, N.C. in 2002, outdoor enthusiasts Bill and Sharon Van Horn joined the Nantahala Hiking Club (NHC), the A.T. maintaining club in their area. Avid hikers who are currently section hiking the Appalachian Trail, Bill and Sharon have also become active volunteers through NHC. Bill and Sharon’s work for the A.T. includes Trail maintenance, ridgerunning and support for ATC’s Trail Crew program. Bill is also a NHC leader, now serving as President. One of their most important efforts, however, involves outreach . . .
July 2008
 Jim Sexton grew up in the Adirondack Mountains and spent much of his time in the wilderness – hunting, fishing and trapping. When he moved to coastal Virginia as an adult, he found himself missing the mountains and regularly traveled to western Virginia to hike sections of the Appalachian Trail. Jim joined the Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club (TATC) – the club responsible for maintaining the A.T. in his area – in 1993. Since joining, Jim has taken on several volunteer roles. He is a TATC leader; he was President of the club. . .
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