We are looking forward to getting back to work on trails this summer. In the meantime, enjoy this article on some of the work that we did with the Great Appalachian Valley Conservation Corp last summer
Trail Work with GAVCC
by Zach Adams
“The Great Appalachian Valley Conservation Corps (GAVCC) partnered with Friends of the Blackwater in early August to repair badly eroded sections of the Canyon Rim Trail near the Olsen Fire Tower.
The GAVCC is a program based out of New Market, Virginia that works to connect young adults with meaningful conservation service work in the region. GAVCC crews partner with public land managers on projects that support trail construction, historical preservation, habitat improvement and natural disaster response.
On the Canyon Rim Trail the three-person GAVCC crew transported materials, repaired washed out sections and built 120 feet of elevated turnpike to improve trail conditions and reduce harmful sediment-laden runoff into sensitive areas.
The crew worked alongside Friends of Blackwater’s David Young and a machine operator over a 9 day period and battled rain and tough site conditions throughout the project. By the end of the work-period the crew and David left behind a series of durable trail improvements that will serve many years of public land users.”
