This is SMHC’s and Friends of the Smokies TENTH annual Appalachian Trail Work Day in support of the American Hiking Society National Trails Day. This year’s theme is "Experience Your Outdoors"! Team members will receive a commemorative t-shirt and BBQ picnic at the end of this fun-filled day of work on the Appalachian Trail. Locust logs were dropped at various places along the A.T. between Clingmans Dome and Newfound Gap by helicopter, to use for installing steps and waterbars. This was possible with a grant from the Alcoa Foundation.

Proceeds raised during the event benefit the Appalachian trail Maintenance Fund managed by Friends of the Smokies and the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. Come be a member of a team making MAJOR improvements to a part of America’s National Scenic Trail. Pre-registration is required and forms will be mailed to volunteers who participated last year. For more details, contact Holly Burcham with Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park at 800-845-5665 fotshb@bellsouth.net or Phyllis Henry at 865/577-2604 or phyllishenry@yahoo.com. Come and bring your friends. A special prize will be given to the person who registers the most NEW FACES.

The Grand Opening of A.T. exhibit at Sugarlands Visitor Center was April 14. David Brill, an A.T. thru-hiker and author delighted the audience with reflections of his hike. He was the first speaker in a series of three being held to celebrate the first ever display in the Visitor Center about the Appalachian Trail in the Smokies. This exhibit was designed and produced as a joint effort between SMHC, ATC and NPS.

The next event in the series, on May 26 will feature Cindy Ross, of Pennsylvania, an A.T. thru hiker, as well as other long trails hiked, and book and magazine writer. The third event on June 23rd will be a round table discussion by former thru-hikers. Everyone is invited.

Kevin Hessler, who has been the leader on the section of trail from NOC to Grassy Gap for several years, has moved to Portland, Oregon. Kevin recruited his friend Nate Boike, a 1998 thru-hiker, to take over the section.

Sid Blomberg, who maintained the section from Davenport Gap to Lower Mt. Cammerer gave up the section so he could travel in his retirement days.

3/4/06 Alan Duff, Ed Faulkner, Jimmy Brink, and Jimmy Fox cleared blowdowns south from Yellow Springs Gap.

3/30/06 Mac McNutt and Stewart Taylor fixed the door on the Icewater privy.

4/1/06 Steve Higdon, Lucinda Turbeville, Tim Bigelow, Lynda Bryan, Jim Quick, Caleb Owenby, Tiffany Lambert, Dave Bentley, Janet Murray, Ed Faulkner, Kathlene Kitzmiller, Doris Gove, and Pamela Schoenewaldt moved MANY logs to prepare for waterbar building on Trails Day. They also trimmed trees and cleared waterbars. Several strong "trail magic" young men stopped handing out cookies and fruit to the A.T. hikers to help move some of the logs.

4/1/06 Stew Taylor, Phyllis Henry, and Mac McNutt cleared blowdowns north of Sugarland Mtn. trail junction and on the Sugarland Mtn. Trail down to the shelter, cleaned some waterbars, cleaned shelter and privy, and carried out two bags of trash.

4/5/06 Stew Taylor, Mac McNutt, and Jerry Troxler cut three blow downs on the A.T. between Newfound Gap and Mt Collins shelter.

4/7/06 Matt and Stacie Davis worked south of Indian Gap.

4/ 8/06 Dick Ketelle, Jim Russell, and Stew Taylor braved the stormy weather and backpacked to Pecks Corner maintenance cabin in rain, hail, and wind. Sunday morning dawned cold (20 - 25 degrees according to a cheap thermometer) and clear. Crosscut sawed all blowdowns and several "leaners" from Pecks Corner back to Icewater Spring shelter.

4/ 9/06 Bobby Baker, David Conners, Doris Gove, Laura Mellor, and Jeff Witenbarger moved about 40 locust logs from the roadside north of Collins Gap to the A.T. We moved a few logs into position for steps and waterbars and piled the others at Collins Gap and another site south of the gap. Andrew Baker (age 2) did his first section hike and identified muddy spots that need better drainage.

4/12/06 Wayne Williams cleaned the Double Springs shelter and privy, refilled mulch containers, cleaned all the waterbars to Welch Ridge, and packed out about a quart of trash. He reports that he met about 20 thru hikers. Many of them talked about what good condition the A.T. was in throughout the park.

4/13/06 Pete James, Phyllis Henry, Mac McNutt, and Stew Taylor moved the privy house at Icewater Spring shelter and hauled out lots of garbage from the box that had been composting for 2 years.

On April 8, The Happy Hiker sponsored "White Blaze Day, A Celebration of the Appalachian Trail", at their store in Gatlinburg, TN. The event attracted 33 sponsors, approximately 150 visitors, and included five non-profit exhibitors (including SMHC and ATC), five backpacking gear reps, four food vendors and a band. Barrett Ogle and Megan Jones, owner and buyer/special events organizer, respectively, were very pleased with the turnout on that rainy Saturday and reception of the festival by Gatlinburg locals and visitors, and are already planning next year’s event! The profits from White Blaze Day were substantial, over $1600, and have been donated to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy to help fund volunteer crew programs in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. ATC is very pleased and excited to accept this generous donation, which will benefit the ATC, SMHC, GRSM, and most importantly, the A.T. Thank you Happy Hiker!

Philip Royer submitted an article to the State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation about the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee to be published in The Tennessee Conservationist - July edition. This publication is at every state park, in all the cabins, and is available by subscription.

Thanks to Philip for doing this and hopefully the article will draw in more volunteers to help with the maintenance of the A.T.