Maintaining trails for other hikers a joy for Malcolm and Lynn Cameron: Newsmakers
Patrick Hite, Staunton News Leader Jan. 1, 2020
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/
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/
RSS Feed