Letter from the 
​In these unprecedented times, I am making an unprecedented request: please stay away from the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Whether your hike is for a couple of hours or a couple of days, staying away from the Trail minimizes the spread or contraction of COVID-19.

In a time when social distancing is necessary to minimize the spread and contraction of a dangerous virus, many have escaped to nature seeking isolation and unpopulated spaces. On the A.T., however, what they’ve found are trailhead parking lots exceeding their maximum capacities, shelters full of overnight hikers, day hikers using picnic tables and privies, and group trips continuing as planned. Popular spots along the Trail like Blood Mountain in Georgia, the McAfee Knob area in Virginia, and Annapolis Rocks in Maryland have seen day use reach record-breaking levels. Cars line the highways leading to popular day-hiking spots on the Trail. Hiking the A.T. has become, in other words, the opposite of social distancing.

These same crowds accessing the A.T. may not know how a simple half-day hike can spread COVID-19. While hiking, they may have eaten lunch at a picnic table, taken a break in a shelter, used a privy, or shared a map or food with someone unknowingly infected with COVID-19 and carried this highly contagious virus back to their communities at the end of the day. They may not have realized that ATC staff and Trail volunteers have been recalled from the A.T. and cannot maintain the footpath, trailheads, shelters and privies that may be heavily (or permanently) impacted by increased visitor use. And, they may not be aware of the rural communities adjacent to the Trail that may not have the healthcare resources to help a sick hiker or volunteer or manage a COVID-19 outbreak should a hiker transport the virus in from the Trail.

Many day hikers see the outdoors as an escape from the stresses of these difficult times. But with crowding from day hikers reaching unmanageable levels and the lack of any staff or volunteers to manage this traffic, it is necessary that all hikers avoid accessing the Trail. The A.T. is not a separate reality from the communities in which hikers live – so, until the risk of spreading COVID-19 has reduced significantly, hiking on a heavily-trafficked trail like the A.T. potentially increases rather than reduces harm.

The ATC does not want to do too little, too late. We cannot close the Trail. We cannot physically bar access to trailheads or connecting trails. We can and do, however, urge everyone to please stay away from the Appalachian Trail until further notice.

There is an unfortunate truth about this virus: unless everyone is safe, no one is safe. So, take a walk around the block. Spend time with your loved ones. And, please, stay home.

From: Experiential Consulting, LLC Outdoor Program / Risk Management Expertise

1) Think about what you need from the outdoors right now - and be specific. People benefit in different ways - some need an elevated heart rate on a strenuous hike, while others need to see wildlife or scenery. Start by identifying what kind of needs you have right now.  

2) Self-assess your own health: If you're not feeling well, or have any respiratory symptoms, don't expose others by going out. If you're uncertain at all about your health, find another way to meet your needs for nature. Recent studies show that simply seeing birds from your home or office window benefits health, for example.  

3) Assuming you're healthy, still operate as if you're not. Wash hands, maintain hygiene, and stay physically distanced as much as possible during your outing. Even though you may be "asymptomatic" (not showing any signs or symptoms) you can still infect those around you, and doctors do not yet fully know the extent of this incubation period for the virus.  Physical distancing is especially important when different parties encounter each other on the trail so give each other six feet or more of space.  Note: I prefer the term "physical distancing" over "social distancing" since we can be physically distanced while still socially connected online, virtually, etc.  

4) Keep group size small - five or less - and don't bring groups or people together needlessly. If you're already living together, it's reasonable to hike together - but avoid bringing groups and separate families together. All it takes is one asymptomatic virus carrier to potentially spread contagion to the whole group, as mentioned above.  

5) Be self-reliant with supplies. To minimize the spread of the virus, try to limit your contact to your own immediate area. For example, fill up on gas locally, and bring your own food on your trip rather than having to make multiple stops in different places. And of course, be aware that every time you touch a gas pump, open a store door, or hand money / credit cards back and forth, you should wash or sanitize your hands.  

​6) Be flexible and adapt your routines to match the situation. We are in unprecedented times and the habits, patterns, and routines that have served us well in the past may need to change for the time being. This is a chance to discover new places, and new ways of enjoying the outdoors, while doing so responsibly. You may discover the joy of "nearby nature" right in your own neighborhoods, for example. 

Tell your Senators to support a newly released bill, the Great American Outdoors Act, which combines the Restore Our Parks Act (to address deferred maintenance in our National Parks (S. 500)) and the Land and Water Conservation Fund Permanent Funding Act (S. 1081).

The Great American Outdoors Act, which was released last Friday night, is a bi-partisan bill with support from President Trump. Majority Leader McConnell has indicated that he will take it up on the floor in the coming days if it can gather strong enough support.

The Great American Outdoors Act:

• Makes $1.9 billion available annually, for five years ($9.5 billion total) for maintenance projects with 70% allocated for National Park Service projects (same as originally proposed), 10% for the U.S. Forest Service, 10% for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5% for Bureau of Land Management, and 5% for Bureau of Indian Education.
• The Land and Water Conservation Fund section is almost identical to S. 1081 text, providing permanent, mandatory LWCF funding at the fully authorized annual amount of $900 million.
• The only substantive change beyond the existing bills is an additional $3 billion for other public lands infrastructure dedicated over five years. 

Thank you Senators Kaine and Warner of Virginia for already signing on as co-sponsors!

​The Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage is a bipartisan bill directing the Secretary of the Interior to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the Dismal Swamp and its associated sites as a National Heritage Area.
 
National Heritage Areas are sites designated by Congress to hold historical, cultural and environmental significance to the American people that tell regionally unique but nationally significant stories celebrating our nation’s diverse heritage.
 
Selected for consideration as an NHA due to its significant number of rich cultural and historical sites, the Swamp is home to the ancestral lands of the Nansemond Indian Nation and historic lands of the Haliwa-Saponi and Meherrin Tribes; the largest known collection of archaeological artifacts from maroon colonies (generational communities of people who escaped the horrors of antebellum slavery by living hidden in the Swamp); one of the only known water-based stops on the Underground Railroad to freedom; and a thriving community descending from early colonial Free People of Color whose families resisted oppression by retreating into the Swamp.
 
National Heritage Areas do not affect private property rights and the National Park Service does not assume ownership or impose land use controls over land inside the heritage area, leaving the decision-making authority in the hands of local communities.

Healthy natural landscapes are central to Virginia’s outdoor recreation industry, which generates $1.2 billion in state and local tax revenue each year. Help safeguard the vitality of the state’s habitat for wildlife by asking your elected officials to support Senate Bill 1004 and House Bill 1695 Virginia’s Wildlife Corridor Action Plan. https://wildlandsnetwork.org/protect-wildlife-corridors-in-virginia/

These new bills in the Virginia state legislature will protect wildlife corridors across the state, making our roads safer for both wildlife and people. Introduced by Senator David Marsden and Delegate David Bulova, the bill will also enhance habitat for native wildlife and create more resilient landscapes. Learn more about this landmark legislation here: https://wildlandsnetwork.org/blog/legislation-to-protect-wildlife-corridors-introduced-in-the-virginia-state-house/

The Staunton City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution of support for the proposed Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (SMNSA) at its Jan. 23 meeting.  The resolution reaffirms the City's desire to include Staunton Dam, Elkhorn Lake, and surrounding National Forest land in the SMNSA, provided the City can "access, operate, maintain, replace and improve its existing water facilities in the proposed scenic area and, if necessary, to construct and maintain new water infrastructure."
Staunton stands to benefit from permanent protection of the Shenandoah Mountain area.  ​National Scenic Area designation will safeguard the City's water supply and protect outdoor recreation opportunities, scenic beauty, and wildlife habitat.   All this contributes to a high quality of life for City residents and helps draw visitors that support the tourism industry in Staunton and in neighboring counties and cities.
SMNSA legislation will make this special area off limits to fracking for natural gas and other industrial development that would mar the natural character of the area and threaten water resources.
Resolutions of support from local governments are a crucial component of our campaign to protect Shenandoah Mountain.  Augusta County Board of Supervisors has also endorsed the proposal.

JANUARY 07, 2020

Warner & Kaine Bill To Protect Wilderness In Bath County Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. 

​Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner applauded Senate passage of the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act, a bill they introduced to add a total of 5,600 acres to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County: the Rough Mountain Wilderness area and the Rich Hole Wilderness area. A wilderness designation is the highest level of protection for public land under federal law. These additions were recommended by the U.S. Forest Service in 2014 and endorsed by members of the GW National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, a group of forest users that has worked together for seven years to agree on acceptable locations in the GW for wilderness, timber harvest, trails, and other uses.  

“We’re proud that the Senate passed our bill to protect wilderness in Bath County. The George Washington National Forest is a critical part of Virginia’s environment and economy. This legislation would help ensure Virginians can enjoy more of its wildlife, scenery, and trails for generations to come. We’re so thankful to the folks from the U.S. Forest Service, conservationists, and leaders in Bath County for their collaborative efforts to make this happen. We’ll keep working together to get this bill signed into law,” said the Senators. 

“Senate passage of the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act affirms our belief that working in a collaborative manner with diverse interests groups including the timber industry, wildlife managers, and recreation interests creates an atmosphere where dialogue promotes trust and compromise. It is this spirit of cooperation that the Stakeholder Collaborative agreed to a plan that balances the need for managed young forest, recreation, and uninterrupted wilderness,” said Mark Miller, Executive Director, Virginia Wilderness Committee.

“I have supported an increase in active management of the GW National Forest while working with a diverse group of people that share a common interest in our public lands.  Where previously we may have advocated for different uses of the forest, we now look for ways to accomplish all of our goals.  I support the proposed Wilderness additions in this bill by understanding that the GW is large enough to provide a variety of forest conditions, through differing management techniques, as identified in the Forest Plan.  It is possible to simultaneously increase timber harvests, improve wildlife habitat, and create forest age diversity while setting aside remote areas that are valuable for recreation and certain species of wildlife.  This proposal reinforces several year’s-worth of work and demonstrates the ability to accomplish this balance,” said John Hancock, member and a previous President of the Virginia Forestry Association.

MOUNT CRAWFORD — Working to clear trails in the Ramsey's Draft Wilderness area of the George Washington National Forest can be a daunting task. 

Besides the normal issues that come with trail maintenance — overgrown vegetation and storm damage — the sheer size of some of the downed trees can present problems. Large oak trees killed by gypsy moths, and hemlocks killed by the wooly adelgids occasionally fall along the trails. Some of the trees are 30 inches or more in diameter. 

Lynn Cameron hears it all the time. When she and her husband, Malcolm, lead groups into the area to clear the trails, people tell them the work would be so much easier with a chainsaw.

​That's not an option, however, because mechanical equipment isn't allowed into the area, and that's just fine with the Camerons.
"We just laugh," Lynn Cameron said. "We actually like to use the crosscut saw." 

It's a lost art, she said, one that past generations used out of necessity and one the Camerons hope future generations choose to continue using. 
"I feel like the trail maintainers who use the crosscut are kind of keeping that skill alive," she said. "Learning the techniques, using wedges and axes. We go about it in a very methodical way."
The Camerons are one of our newsroom's 2019 News Leader Newsmakers. Each year our staff selects members of the community to feature work somewhat behind the scenes but are influential.
The Camerons' work in maintaining hiking trails in the area, a passion that both believe is worthy, has been invaluable. There are so many beautiful natural resources in the George Washington National Forest and the Shenandoah National Park, but without trail access the public wouldn't be able to see this beauty. The maintenance that the Camerons help provide allows that access.
"It's good for you physically, it's good for your mental health, and just your spiritual well-being," Lynn Cameron said about hiking. 
The couple met as part of an outdoor group. Together, they've hiked Mount Katahdin in Maine. They've hiked trails as far west as Washington and Oregon. They've hiked in Colorado and New Mexico and Montana. 
"It seems like as we get older we're staying close to home," Lynn Cameron said. "Just doing more in our backyard. And we've got a big backyard. I can't imagine a better place to live than the Shenandoah Valley. If you're a hiker this really is the best place to live."

Malcolm Cameron's two-year term as president of the Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club expiries at the end of 2019. It's his second time serving as the organization's president. Lynn Cameron has also served as president. She's currently the club's conservation chair, and has developed the club's website and Facebook page. 
"I would have had a hard time really just covering all my duties and getting things done without her help," Malcolm Cameron said. 
They've both been members of the chapter since 1986, shortly after it was formed. 
"We heard there was a new trail club and we like to hike," Lynn Cameron said. "We thought, 'Oh, a group we could hike with. That sounds like a good idea.'"
Hiking with others added a social aspect to their adventures. Thirty-three years later, the Camerons are still part of the club, but have become much more active in maintaining the trails that they love to hike. 
"Malcom and Lynn have dedicated their lives to helping the PATC, our chapter, Friends of Shenandoah Mountain and other groups to provide an atmosphere for expanded hiking opportunities," said club member David Bennick of Stuarts Draft. "All of us benefit from their dedication." 
The club draws members from throughout the Staunton-Waynesboro-Harrisonburg area. The Camerons estimated the club has about 100 active members. 
Members are involved in both hikes and trail maintenance. The group hikes mostly in the George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park, and maintains a two-mile section of the Appalachian Trail in the Southern Section of Shenandoah National Park. The group also does some trail maintenance along the Shenandoah Mountain trails in the George Washington National Forest. 

The Camerons enjoy working in the Ramsey's Draft Wilderness area. In addition to leading maintenance trips there through PATC, the couple has also collaborated with other groups on work trips into the area. They've led trips with Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, AmeriCorps, and even a group of Midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy. 
"There are a lot of blowdowns and vegetation with all the rain we've had growing over the trails," Lynn Cameron said. "Somebody has to cut that back and clear off those blowdowns to keep the trails open for the public."
Over the past 30 years, the couple also has been the overseers for a 1.6-mile section of the Appalachian Trail from Sawmill Run to Turk Gap about 10 miles north of Waynesboro. 

Recently Pam Heinrich began helping the couple along that stretch of trail. Heinrich is an avid hiker, but only started trail maintenance about a year ago. She said the willingness of the Camerons to teach others about maintaining trails will ensure that it continues long after they stop. 
"I was glad that I knew who I would be working with so they could teach me," Heinrich said. "To kind of pass that on, to let me join them in something that they've done, just the two of them, for 30 years, is great." 

Before getting involved in trail maintenance, Heinrich, as a hiker, said she sometimes took the work people like the Camerons do for granted. 
"Once you do trail work you never look at trails the same," Heinrich said. 
In addition to that work, they are trail overseers for the Groom's Ridge Trail on the Shenandoah Mountain, a trail that climbs 1,250 feet in 1.6 miles. 
"[The trail] has been described as relentless," David Bennick said. "It is in excellent condition because of their effort." 
With Malcom's term as president ending this year, the couple will take on a new role as district managers for the North River Ranger District. Part of that job will include recruiting volunteers as overseers for trails on Shenandoah Mountain. 
The work isn't easy, but the final result is rewarding.
"You feel so good at the end of the day when you walk out and see a clear trail when you know it was almost impassable before." Lynn said. "That's very satisfying." 

For photos: https://www.newsleader.com/story/news/2020/01/01/hiking-trail-maintenance-malcolm-lynn-cameron-patc-newsmakers/2586371001/