[at-l] Trail Maintenance Program for Equestrians

[janl2@mindspring.com (Jan Leitschuh)]

Just got this today, cheap vacation, scenery galore, plenty to do. 
Anyone interested? Let me know if you go, I'm tugged toward the June
session. A Smokies Ruck...?
- jan

FYI:

HELP PRESERVE HORSE USE OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL IN THE GREAT
SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK 

This second-year Trail Maintenance Program for Equestrians, a.k.a. The
Rockin'
Horse Volunteer Trail Crew, is for those who want to help the Appalachian
Trail in
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park remain open to equestrian use. This
program is a partnership between local equestrian groups, the NC Division of
Parks & Recreation, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Smoky
Mountains Hiking Club and the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC). 

Horse use of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.) is unique to 
the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. About 35 of the 70 miles of 
A.T. in the Smokies is open to horse use, the only equestrian section of 
the 2167 mile long Appalachian Trail. Constructed as a hiking path, 
most of the A.T. is not built to equestrian standards. Originally, more 
of the A.T. in the Smokies was open to horse use, but A.T. sections that 
sustained significant resource damage to the footpath, due to a 
combination of sharp hooves, steep slopes and heavy rain were closed to 
horse use by the National Park Service, most recently in 1978. 

Since then, hikers have worked intermittently to close the rest of the 
A.T. in the Smokies to equestrian use. That is until 1995, when hikers 
and riders decided to bury the hatchet and work together. Now A.T. 
managers are working with riders to help assure that those sections of 
the A.T. open to horse use are put into good shape so that they may 
remain open for horses. 

In 1995 an historic agreement was signed between horseback riders and 
hikers regarding the A.T. in the Smokies. This agreement has resulted in 
close cooperation and equestrian maintenance of some sections of the A.T.
Several
significant relocations of the A.T. have been built to equestrian standards
by
volunteer hikers under the direction of the ATC. These hiking volunteers
were
members of ATC's volunteer Rocky Top Trail Crew, with supplies packed in by
local
equestrian groups. 

Volunteer trail maintainers in the Smokies, both hikers and riders, are 
in short supply, and the Park Service does not have the funds to hire 
enough people to care for all the trails. Equestrians suggested a similar
volunteer
crew be started for riders, and together with the Appalachian Trail
Conference
designed this program which will complete its' second year in 2002. There
will be
two five day trail work sessions. One week will be open to equestrians only
with the
possibility of the other week being combined with hikers. 

The crew will stay in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park, led
by a
professional trail crew leader. The equestrian trail crew will rehabilitate
the A.T.
where it is open to horse use. This project 
will be used to continue a trend for future equestrian maintenance 
programs within the Smokies. 

Come join us. Spend a week (or two) in one of the most beautiful places 
in the eastern US. We will provide you with GREAT SCENERY, GOOD FOOD,
LODGING (after you get to the trail), all the trail work tools and 
equipment needed, experienced leadership and the opportunity for lots of 
fun and good companionship. No experience is necessary; only the 
willingness to work hard and get dirty. And you will help ensure that 
this part of the A.T. in the Smokies remains open to horse use! 

For an application call Derek Ibarguen, Associate Regional Representative in
the
GA, NC and TN Regional Office of the Appalachian Trail Conference at (828)
254-3708 or e-mail dibarguen@atconf.org. Application Deadline is March 15,
2002. 


2002 SMOKIES/A.T. ROCKIN HORSE VOLUNTEER TRAIL CREW
APPLICATION 

PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS THOROUGHLY AND LEGIBLY 
Minimum age of 18, Deadline for application is March 15, 2002. Mail
completed
application to: 

Derek Ibarguen, Associate Regional Representative 
Appalachian Trail Conference 
P.O. Box 2750 
Asheville, NC 28802 
828-254-3708 
dibarguen@atconf.org 

NAME:________________________________________________ 
ADDRESS:______________________________________________ 
CITY:_________________________ STATE:___________________ 
ZIP CODE:_____________DAY TELEPHONE: ____________________ EVENING
TELEPHONE:_______________E-MAIL ADDRESS:_________ 

Are you a member of a horse club? If so which one(s)?
_____________________________________________________ 

Date preferred: May 31-June 4 ____ June 7-11 ____ 

Please describe your trail work experience:


Are you physically fit?_____ 
-- 
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    	Jan Leitschuh Sporthorses Ltd.

	Website:  
	http://www.mindspring.com/~janl2/index.html

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