Smoky Mountain Volunteers Needed
Smoky Mountain Volunteers Needed! GSMNP is searching for volunteers to assist Trails Forever trail crews. Work will concentrate on the Ramsey Cascades Trail rehabilitation project. Volunteers are needed every Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., starting Wednesday, May 25, 2022, and continuing through Wednesday, September 28, 2022. Volunteers must register in advance.
Ramsey Cascades Trail is one of the most popular trails in the Smokies. The 100-foot Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in the park accessible by trail. The two-year rehab project is part of the Trails Forever program, a partnership between the National Park Service and Friends of the Smokies. The rehabilitation project will improve trail safety and help protect the park’s natural resources.
The Trails Forever program provides opportunities for both skilled and non-skilled volunteers to work alongside park crews to make lasting improvements to park trails. Work assignments will depend on volunteer experience level including installing drainage features, rehabilitating trail surfaces, constructing raised trail segments, and removing brush. All volunteers must be able to hike at least four miles and safely perform strenuous and difficult manual labor. Volunteers should be comfortable lifting heavy objects and using hand tools such as shovels, rakes, axes, and loppers. The park will provide all safety gear, tools, and equipment needed for the projects. Volunteers will need to wear sturdy close-toed footwear and long pants, and bring a day pack with food, water, rain gear and personal gear for the day.
To get involved and volunteer call 828-497-1949 or email Adam_Monroe@nps.gov.
Source material – GSMNP
