RATC is performing maintenance work on a 1.4-mile section of the Catawba Mountain Fire Road near McAfee Knob to stabilize and reshape the road surface, and to construct water drainage dips to reduce erosion. This project will occur November 10-20, 2025, weather permitting. Hiker access to McAfee Knob and the Appalachian Trail will not be affected by this work and will remain open throughout the project. Volunteer RATC “Safety Guards” will be in place during this contracted heavy equipment work to inform hikers and direct them away from active work areas.
The gated dirt Fire Road is used by hikers as an alternative or “loop” with the A.T., and provides important (limited) vehicle access for emergency responders and Club administrative use. This “Phase-2” project involves a section of the Fire Road located north of VA-311; beginning after the A.T. crossing of the Fire Road (near FarOut mi 713.2) and continuing northerly to near the Campbell Shelter water source (near FarOut mi 715.2). This “Phase-2” of the project will be very similar to the work completed in “Phase-1” during February 2022. RATC volunteer Pete Irvine is the Project Lead, and questions can be directed to him at: irvine.pete@gmail.com.
