Boundary Work Day – Sinking Creek Mountain
Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club Meetup Group
**Details**
This is a day of boundary marking and monitoring of the Appalachian Trail (AT) corridor on the Southern slope of Sinking Creek Mountain (near the Keffer Oak). We will meet at the indicated location and date at 9:00 am, aiming to return to the parking area by about 4 pm. Please read the entire posting for important details about the work trip.
One of the best ways to ensure that the AT remains conserved for years to come is by protecting the boundaries of the corridor on which it lies. Trail clubs can become a vital part of this process by participating in the Boundary Program. The Boundary Program focuses on clearly marking and maintaining the property lines of the land surrounding the AT, so that the AT remains free of encroachments and preserved for future generations.
A day of boundary work can be quite strenuous and can include painting blazes on trees along the boundary to bushwhacking and clearing dense, possibly thorny vegetation, establishing new witness trees, navigating with map and compass along boundary lines, a “treasure hunt” to locate boundary survey monuments. Following the boundary may take us past backyards in a residential neighborhood, or up steep, difficult climbs up a mountainside. For a more thorough discussion of boundary work, please refer to the “Corridor Stewardship Field Book” document linked below.
These workdays are designed for first-time boundary volunteers and veterans alike — so we’ll start the day with an introductory Boundary Maintenance 101 tailgate session, followed by field work to immediately put those skills to good use.
**Location:**
The Keffer Oak parking lot on State Route 630 (Northside Road).
**Please Bring:**
Sturdy boots for hiking off-trail, warm layers and work gloves that you don’t mind bushwhacking in or getting paint on, plenty of water, and lunch. Some volunteers find trekking poles to be helpful.
**Provided:**
Orange vest, compasses, measuring tapes, paint, paint brushes, folding saws, boundary maps, and PPE (eye protection and First Aid Kit).
**Cancellation due to Bad Weather:**
In the event of precipitation or below-freezing temperatures, this work day may be cancelled no later than the night before the scheduled work day. Please check your e-mail or Meetup app the night before for a cancellation notice.
Please direct any questions to Linda or Kelly Mulheren with the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club.
Landline: 540-544-3002
Linda: 757-705-1335; lindafsb@gmail.com
Kelly: 804-357-3610; landmanagement@ratc.org
For more information about this work, check out the excellent “**A.T. Corridor Stewardship Field Book**” at https://appalachiantrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/a-t-corridor-stewardship-field-book.pdf
