Appalachian Trail Conservancy

Our Appalachian Trail Club spotlight series continues with the Allentown Hiking Club (AHC)! AHC members enjoy escaping the crowded city to hike and to maintain the club’s 10.3-mile section of the Appalachian Trail. The club’s section of Trail includes the Allentown Shelter and the rocky, exposed section of Trail known as Knife Edge. AHC is entirely supported by volunteers, and the club reminds anyone interested in caring for the A.T. that many hands make light work! Even helping for a few hours each month can make a big difference, and all are welcome to attend a club work day or meeting. Find opportunities to volunteer with AHC or your local Trail Club at https://lnkd.in/dTMz7sSV.  📸 Paula Uhrin

🚨 Exciting News for A.T. explorers! 🚨 We’re thrilled to announce that FarOut, the go-to app for navigating long-distance trails, is now the official hiking app of the Appalachian Trail! 🎉 Through this new partnership, you’ll have access to expert, up-to-date information on the A.T., straight from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Whether you’re a thru-hiker or a weekend adventurer, you can explore the Trail with confidence using FarOut’s comprehensive guides. 🌲🥾 Plus, ATC Members get a 20% discount on all A.T. Trail Guides in the FarOut app! And, as a bonus for current members, we’re giving you an exclusive, limited time 20% discount on FarOut’s Trail Guides at 17 other outdoor destinations. Current members should check their email for more info. 📧 Join us in celebrating this partnership that enhances your trail experience and supports the future of the Appalachian Trail. 🔗 Not a member yet? Sign up at https://lnkd.in/dwFN9i9 to unlock your FarOut discount. #AppalachianTrail #Hiking #ATConservancy #FarOutApp #TrailGuides

Ready to get away from it all? Take a volunteer vacation on the Appalachian Trail and enjoy the beauty of the Berkshire Mountains in western Massachusetts! During this volunteer vacation, hosted in partnership with the American Hiking Society, volunteers will use a GPS, map, and compass to follow the surveyed boundaries of the trail corridor. Protect the A.T. by helping to maintain the boundaries of the Trail's landscape. No experience is necessary — come ready to learn new skills, make new friends, and enjoy the great outdoors! Learn more and sign up: https://lnkd.in/ef9TAiqS 📸 Ryan Seltzer

Want to make a BIG difference on the A.T. before summer ends? The ATC’s Mid-Atlantic Crew needs your help with important restoration projects on the A.T.! Spend five days making a difference, making friends, and making memories you’ll never forget. The first crew session starts August 28 and still needs volunteers! For more information and other crew dates, check out https://lnkd.in/ex3tvK_M 

Our Appalachian Trail Club spotlight series continues with the Susquehanna Appalachian Trail Club (SATC)! This year, SATC is celebrating 70 years of being champions of the A.T.! Each year, SATC volunteers contribute at least 2,000 hours toward the care and preservation of a 20-mile section of the Trail in Pennsylvania, from PA-225 on Peters Mountain to Rausch Gap. SATC also maintains the Peters Mountain shelter and privy, and protects and monitors the Trail’s corridor.   The club offers about 100 group hikes each year around central Pennsylvania, the area known to many thru-hikers as "Rocksylvania!" SATC is especially proud of their work in the conservation of wildlands and wildlife, and invites anyone interested in taking care of the A.T. to join them on a work trip! Find opportunities to volunteer with SATC or your local Trail Club at https://lnkd.in/dTMz7sSV.  📸 Jeff Buehler

Reminder! ⏰ The 2024 ATC Membership Meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 21 at 7 p.m. EDT. Like the past several years, the annual Membership Meeting will be online only. Active ATC members can vote for Board of Director candidates through noon EDT on August 21. All members in good standing as of August 1 have received an email with detailed instructions once voting begins. During the meeting, we will announce the results of the 2024 Board of Directors election. Learn more and view the meeting here: https://lnkd.in/emMzfSeY 📸 Horizonline Pictures

This #NationalNonprofitDay, make a difference for the Appalachian Trail by creating your own fundraiser on Facebook or Instagram! Creating a fundraiser is easy—just head to your profile on Facebook or Instagram, select "Create Fundraiser," and choose the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as your charity. As the only nonprofit responsible for managing the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine, we rely on the support of people who love the Trail to help protect it forever and for all. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to protecting the Trail! 🌄💚 📸 Eddie O'Leary

A.T. Conservation News! 📣 194-acres adjacent to the Appalachian Trail in Tyringham, Massachusetts are now protected thanks to a partnership between the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Trust for Public Land, National Park Service, and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Although the A.T.’s footpath is protected, its iconic viewsheds, a core part of the hiking experience, are threatened in many places along the Trail. The Fernside Shaker property, now permanently protected, represents one of the most scenic sections of the trail in Western Massachusetts, as well as one with deep cultural and historic value to the Appalachian landscape. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eAC5QHWR 📸 Marian Orlousky

Can you hike the Appalachian Trail on a budget? You sure can! For #NationalFinancialAwarenessDay, our latest blog post highlights 6 ways you can experience the A.T. while saving money. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eeDkvsv2 What would you add to the list for those who want to experience the A.T. on a budget? 🤔 📸 Horizonline Pictures

"What's the value of a National Scenic Trail that traverses a compromised landscape?" — Matt Drury, ATC's Associate Director of Science and Stewardship. Protecting the A.T.'s ash trees and other iconic flora and fauna along the Trail means protecting the unparalleled A.T. experience that millions of visitors have had the chance to enjoy over the last century. Millions of ash trees across the East Coast, Appalachian region and beyond have been impacted by the tiny but deadly emerald ash borer. When ash trees are dead or dying along the A.T. landscape, it causes cascading ecological effects that diminish the hiking experience and even present safety concerns for hikers. Learn more about the ATC's ongoing work to protect the Trail's ash trees — and with them, the Trail's scenic natural beauty — in our most recent blog post. https://lnkd.in/e_n5rpK5