Appalachian Trail - Cutting back encroaching vegetation

We will primarily work on cutting back Mountain Laurel thickets which have overgrown into the trail corridor between Pine Grove Furnace State Park and Tagg Run. There are also a couple of drainage features to add that won't take much time. Overall distance to hike is about 6 miles but the problem area is only a fraction of the total.

The NPS standard for trail clearance is no vegetation more than 4 inches above grade for 2 ft either side of the center line. That means a lot of stooping and bending to cut the vegetation and throw it off the trail out of sight. Mountain Laurel has root runners between bushes so we'll also be pulling those out to delay regrowth into the corridor.

We'll be working in groups of 3 and leap frogging along the trail. This is to give everyone a break and leg stretch at reasonable intervals. It's tedious work.

Bring loppers if you have them. They will be the primary implement used by almost everyone. We will have a light chainsaw to cut thicker growth.

Bring gloves, water, lunch, appropriate clothing and footwear for working with tools on the trail, bug spray is recommended.

Meeting at the Pole Steeple parking lot on Old Railroad Bed Road to set up shuttle at Green Mountain Road.