Latest news with #AppalachianTrailConservancy
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘You would have no idea that Helene had hit here.' Trail Days returns to Damascus
DAMASCUS, Va. (WJHL) — Trail Days this year looks a little different after Hurricane Helene left devastating flood damage. Trail Days is a testament to all those who have worked tirelessly for the last seven months. 'I think it's remarkable,' Dakota Jackson with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy said. 'I think if you didn't know that Helene had hit Damascus' downtown, you would have no idea that it had hit here, which is pretty amazing to think about.' Organizers stated that the event attracts approximately 25,000 people to the town each year, but they were uncertain if the hikers would participate this year. 'It's down to the work of the volunteers,' Jackson said. 'Clubs have put in over like tens of thousands of hours of trail maintenance time to get the trail cleared so that we can have the festival and a trail today.' I spoke with one hiker who told me they've been on the trail since April 4 and that the damage to the sections in this area is unlike anything she's ever seen. 'It's just like destruction everywhere,' they said. 'And like, the cleanup people have done, like a really incredible job, like the volunteers and the Forest Service and all of them have done an incredible job, like maintaining the trail and making it so that us hikers can easily continue on. But when you're looking around, I mean, it's like the destruction becomes normal. Like, there's so much of it. Thousands. Like it's an uncountable number of trees.' Hiking guide and outfitter Ryan Crawley said the town relies on the influx of people that Trail Days brings. 'So Damascus is an extremely small town here in Virginia, less than a thousand people,' Crawley said. 'So every year this event is their biggest event. And so it really means a lot for this to bring an economic boost, I'll say, to the town. So the fact that we're able to hold trail days this year is a huge benefit to these people.' Everyone interviewed by News Channel 11 expressed gratitude to those who worked to make the trail accessible and ensure the town was ready for the festival, which holds great significance for the community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Town of Boonsboro celebrates Appalachian Trail commemorative stamp
BOONSBORO, Md. () — The U.S. Postal Service has issued a commemorative stamp for a historic and scenic treasure that is the small town of Boonsboro. The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine. But closing out the week, Boonsboro is the center of attention. Frederick Community College launches cybersecurity program The town is one of the so-called 'A.T.' communities, special to small towns. 'Boonsboro is one of just 56 A.T. communities that run up and down the trail of the 14 states where the trail runs,' Sandra Marra, president and C.E.O. of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, said. The trail is an attraction for hikers, tourists, and history buffs 'that brings in people from all over the world,' according to Marra. '[It's] also a place where locals can go out and enjoy nature,' she said. The trail is a popular retreat for Washington County Commission Jeff Cline, who regularly hikes the trail for fitness, but also to take in the scenic vistas. 'It's a great view looking west into the Hagerstown Valley, and you can see the Greenbrier lake,' Cline said. As Mark Wahl with the Postal Service explains, commemorative stamps like these are reserved for unique treasures in the American landscape. 'There's a story for every stamp and a stamp for every story,' Wahl said. Maryland Governor Wes Moore says Japanese investment is paying off in western regions As for Boonsboro's postmaster, proud to display the new commemorative stamp in her post office? 'The Appalachian Trail is the best place to be,' Maria Johnson said. The newly-issued commemorative stamps will be available at the Boonsboro Post Office for the next 30 days. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Arab News
06-04-2025
- Arab News
Federal cuts disrupt repairs of America's iconic trails
CAMPO: Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is a challenge, especially for adventurers making the entire run from Southern California to Canada, and Eric Kipperman's job is to greet them at the start and lay bare the difficulties ahead. He has lately begun warning that the journey may be even tougher. Following cuts by the Trump administration, plans to clear downed trees and rebuild storm-battered stretches in 2025 have been scrapped. 'This year, we're going to have less trail work done on the trails, so just know that going into your hike, safety is the most important thing,' Kipperman told a group of backpackers from Europe and the United States at the trailhead near Campo, California, an hour's drive east of San Diego. He cautioned there is 'no trail' at all in parts of the 2,650-mile path through California, Oregon and Washington state. The cutbacks are not just on the West Coast. Ahead of the busy summer hiking season, funding freezes and mass layoffs also are disrupting repairs on the East Coast's Appalachian Trail after nearly 800 kilometers were damaged by Hurricane Helene, underscoring how President Donald Trump's dramatic downsizing of the US government is touching even the nation's remote backcountry where vacationers, wanderers and escapists alike retreat to leave modern life behind. Wildfires and more intense storms due in part to climate change have been taking a toll on the legendary trails. The federal cuts threaten their very existence, according to the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which oversee their preservation in partnership with the government and receive millions in federal dollars. The US Forest Service called the situation 'dynamic and evolving' in an email to The Associated Press, but said they are committed to ensuring public safety and access to recreation areas that are vital to local economies. The Trump administration has let go some 3,400 workers at the US Forest Service, and nearly 1,500 at the National Park Service, including trail repair specialists. The associations said the cuts also led to the rescinding of job offers for seasonal crews with technical skills to rebuild boardwalks, bridges and campsites and train thousands of volunteers. Courts have ordered federal agencies to rehire thousands of workers, but some say they are not coming back.
CNN
06-04-2025
- CNN
Storms tore up two of America's most iconic trails. Federal cuts have disrupted repairs
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is a challenge, especially for adventurers making the entire run from Southern California to Canada, and Eric Kipperman's job is to greet them at the start and lay bare the difficulties ahead. He has lately begun warning that the journey may be even tougher. Following cuts by the Trump administration, plans to clear downed trees and rebuild storm-battered stretches in 2025 have been scrapped. 'This year, we're going to have less trail work done on the trails, so just know that going into your hike, safety is the most important thing,' Kipperman told a group of backpackers from Europe and the United States at the trailhead near Campo, California, an hour's drive east of San Diego. He cautioned there is 'no trail' at all in parts of the 2,650-mile path through California, Oregon and Washington state. The cutbacks are not just on the West Coast. Ahead of the busy summer hiking season, funding freezes and mass layoffs also are disrupting repairs on the East Coast's Appalachian Trail after nearly 500 miles were damaged by Hurricane Helene, underscoring how President Donald Trump's dramatic downsizing of the US government is touching even the nation's remote backcountry where vacationers, wanderers and escapists alike retreat to leave modern life behind. Wildfires and more intense storms due in part to climate change have been taking a toll on the legendary trails. The federal cuts threaten their very existence, according to the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which oversee their preservation in partnership with the government and receive millions in federal dollars. The US Forest Service called the situation 'dynamic and evolving' in an email to The Associated Press, but said they are committed to ensuring public safety and access to recreation areas that are vital to local economies. The Trump administration has let go some 3,400 workers at the US Forest Service and nearly 1,500 at the National Park Service, including trail repair specialists. The associations said the cuts also led to the rescinding of job offers for seasonal crews with technical skills to rebuild boardwalks, bridges and campsites and train thousands of volunteers. Courts have ordered federal agencies to rehire thousands of workers, but some say they are not coming back. 'For hikers, they're going to be crawling, navigating, working their way through downed trees across the trail that won't get cut out,' said Justin Kooyman, director of the Pacific Crest Trail operations. 'It's going to make for a little more rough and tumble.' While the trails are not in total disarray and many hikers may not see any damaged areas, maintenance is critical to their existence, the associations say. More than 20 miles of the Appalachian Trail remain closed following Helene, and downed trees could fuel wildfires. Last month, the Appalachian Trail turned 100 years old. The footpath stretches 2,193 miles between Georgia's Springer Mountain and Maine's Mount Katahdin. Its founder, the late forest scientist Benton MacKaye, saw a need for a place to escape stress following the end of World War I and the 1918 flu epidemic. The Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail officially became the country's first National Scenic Trails under the 1968 National Trails System Act. Completing them has come to symbolize the strength of the human spirit, inspiring books and movies. Only a fraction are thru-hikers, a term for those who walk the trails from end to end. Many don't succeed and several people have died trying. Most users hike for a day or two to enjoy the breathtaking beauty. 'I am so concerned with what seems to be a general lack of appreciation for what these protected outdoor spaces can bring to not just our physical well-being but to our souls,' said Sandi Marra, head of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. 'If we lose these things, we are really going to be lost as a species, and definitely as a country.' The Pacific Crest Trail Association said it is operating with a third less federal grant money than anticipated. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy said at least $1.5 million is at risk from federal downsizing. The National Park Service said its funding has continued for the Appalachian Trail as it works to 'address challenges collaboratively and seek solutions' to support the footpath's 'enduring legacy.' Both trails already had a backlog of projects. Wildfires have scorched nearly 250 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in recent years. The disruption exacerbates the deteriorating conditions and the spread of invasive plant species, which will ultimately increase costs, said Megan Wargo, head of the Pacific Crest Trail Association. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses searing desert and traverses forests of giant sequoias, the world's largest trees, before climbing by snow-covered peaks in the rugged Sierra Nevada. After snaking over 50 mountain passes, it ends in Washington's remote Pasayten Wilderness at the Canadian border. As the trail's popularity grew through social media and the bestselling memoir 'Wild' that inspired a Hollywood film, drawing less experienced backpackers, the association hired what they call 'crest runners.' Kipperman is one of two at the southern end. Their duties include greeting hikers at the Mexican border, checking their permits and providing safety tips before they set off. The crest runners normally work from March until August, covering the hottest, riskiest months for that section. Last year, a crest runner also worked the northern end at the Canadian border. But this year they only will be at the southern end until mid-May unless more federal funds are unfrozen. Kipperman, whose trail name is 'Pure Stoke,' is infectiously cheery as he rattles off the dangers from rattlesnakes to dehydration and distributes bags for discarded toilet paper. He steers clear of discussing politics and instead talks about protecting water quality, burying human waste, packing out trash and building safe campfires. 'Remove the ego. Address the situation. See if going forward is really the right thing for you,' Kipperman said, warning hikers to beware that Mile 225 or so is washed out. After hearing Kipperman's spiel, backpacker Joshua Suran said he planned to try helping restore the trail where possible. Marias Michel of Germany trudged over, concerned about the weight of his backpack draped with gear, water bottles and a pair of Crocs. After quitting his job, he said he needed to do the trail, calling it 'a resetting, a big detox.' He was aware of the federal cuts but said he couldn't worry about that. 'I'm just going to be learning by doing because I don't want to be too much up here,' Michel said, pointing to his head. 'I want to test myself. No expectations. It's an attempt until you make it.'
CNN
06-04-2025
- CNN
Storms tore up two of America's most iconic trails. Federal cuts have disrupted repairs
Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail is a challenge, especially for adventurers making the entire run from Southern California to Canada, and Eric Kipperman's job is to greet them at the start and lay bare the difficulties ahead. He has lately begun warning that the journey may be even tougher. Following cuts by the Trump administration, plans to clear downed trees and rebuild storm-battered stretches in 2025 have been scrapped. 'This year, we're going to have less trail work done on the trails, so just know that going into your hike, safety is the most important thing,' Kipperman told a group of backpackers from Europe and the United States at the trailhead near Campo, California, an hour's drive east of San Diego. He cautioned there is 'no trail' at all in parts of the 2,650-mile path through California, Oregon and Washington state. The cutbacks are not just on the West Coast. Ahead of the busy summer hiking season, funding freezes and mass layoffs also are disrupting repairs on the East Coast's Appalachian Trail after nearly 500 miles were damaged by Hurricane Helene, underscoring how President Donald Trump's dramatic downsizing of the US government is touching even the nation's remote backcountry where vacationers, wanderers and escapists alike retreat to leave modern life behind. Wildfires and more intense storms due in part to climate change have been taking a toll on the legendary trails. The federal cuts threaten their very existence, according to the Pacific Crest Trail Association and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which oversee their preservation in partnership with the government and receive millions in federal dollars. The US Forest Service called the situation 'dynamic and evolving' in an email to The Associated Press, but said they are committed to ensuring public safety and access to recreation areas that are vital to local economies. The Trump administration has let go some 3,400 workers at the US Forest Service and nearly 1,500 at the National Park Service, including trail repair specialists. The associations said the cuts also led to the rescinding of job offers for seasonal crews with technical skills to rebuild boardwalks, bridges and campsites and train thousands of volunteers. Courts have ordered federal agencies to rehire thousands of workers, but some say they are not coming back. 'For hikers, they're going to be crawling, navigating, working their way through downed trees across the trail that won't get cut out,' said Justin Kooyman, director of the Pacific Crest Trail operations. 'It's going to make for a little more rough and tumble.' While the trails are not in total disarray and many hikers may not see any damaged areas, maintenance is critical to their existence, the associations say. More than 20 miles of the Appalachian Trail remain closed following Helene, and downed trees could fuel wildfires. Last month, the Appalachian Trail turned 100 years old. The footpath stretches 2,193 miles between Georgia's Springer Mountain and Maine's Mount Katahdin. Its founder, the late forest scientist Benton MacKaye, saw a need for a place to escape stress following the end of World War I and the 1918 flu epidemic. The Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail officially became the country's first National Scenic Trails under the 1968 National Trails System Act. Completing them has come to symbolize the strength of the human spirit, inspiring books and movies. Only a fraction are thru-hikers, a term for those who walk the trails from end to end. Many don't succeed and several people have died trying. Most users hike for a day or two to enjoy the breathtaking beauty. 'I am so concerned with what seems to be a general lack of appreciation for what these protected outdoor spaces can bring to not just our physical well-being but to our souls,' said Sandi Marra, head of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. 'If we lose these things, we are really going to be lost as a species, and definitely as a country.' The Pacific Crest Trail Association said it is operating with a third less federal grant money than anticipated. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy said at least $1.5 million is at risk from federal downsizing. The National Park Service said its funding has continued for the Appalachian Trail as it works to 'address challenges collaboratively and seek solutions' to support the footpath's 'enduring legacy.' Both trails already had a backlog of projects. Wildfires have scorched nearly 250 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail in recent years. The disruption exacerbates the deteriorating conditions and the spread of invasive plant species, which will ultimately increase costs, said Megan Wargo, head of the Pacific Crest Trail Association. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses searing desert and traverses forests of giant sequoias, the world's largest trees, before climbing by snow-covered peaks in the rugged Sierra Nevada. After snaking over 50 mountain passes, it ends in Washington's remote Pasayten Wilderness at the Canadian border. As the trail's popularity grew through social media and the bestselling memoir 'Wild' that inspired a Hollywood film, drawing less experienced backpackers, the association hired what they call 'crest runners.' Kipperman is one of two at the southern end. Their duties include greeting hikers at the Mexican border, checking their permits and providing safety tips before they set off. The crest runners normally work from March until August, covering the hottest, riskiest months for that section. Last year, a crest runner also worked the northern end at the Canadian border. But this year they only will be at the southern end until mid-May unless more federal funds are unfrozen. Kipperman, whose trail name is 'Pure Stoke,' is infectiously cheery as he rattles off the dangers from rattlesnakes to dehydration and distributes bags for discarded toilet paper. He steers clear of discussing politics and instead talks about protecting water quality, burying human waste, packing out trash and building safe campfires. 'Remove the ego. Address the situation. See if going forward is really the right thing for you,' Kipperman said, warning hikers to beware that Mile 225 or so is washed out. After hearing Kipperman's spiel, backpacker Joshua Suran said he planned to try helping restore the trail where possible. Marias Michel of Germany trudged over, concerned about the weight of his backpack draped with gear, water bottles and a pair of Crocs. After quitting his job, he said he needed to do the trail, calling it 'a resetting, a big detox.' He was aware of the federal cuts but said he couldn't worry about that. 'I'm just going to be learning by doing because I don't want to be too much up here,' Michel said, pointing to his head. 'I want to test myself. No expectations. It's an attempt until you make it.'
