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| A young volunteer helps with trail work along the Forney Ridge Trail. |
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Date: November 12, 2008
Contact: Jeremy Sweat, (865) 436-1711
Volunteers from the Maryville Housing Authority’s Youth Outdoor Recreation Program in Blount County, Tenn., responded to a call to assist Great Smoky Mountains National Park in improving trails during “Make a Difference Day” on October 25, the nation’s largest single day of volunteerism.
The group took part in a number of volunteer activities including working with the park’s Trails Forever crew to improve a section of the Forney Ridge Trail between Clingmans Dome and Andrews Bald. The work involved building water bars and check dams and stabilizing the surface of the trail by removing loose materials and rock.
“The volunteers braved cold and wet conditions to help mitigate resource impacts to one of the park’s most popular high elevation trails, creating a better and safer experience for hikers,” said Jeremy Sweat, 75th Anniversary Volunteer Coordinator. “They worked long and hard making a positive difference in the park and leaving a positive impression in their community which is the central theme of ‘Making a Difference Day’,” he continued.
The Forney Ridge Trail work is part of a new initiative called Trails Forever, a partnership program between the park and the Friends of the Smokies to benefit trail resources and trail users for countless generations to come. A Trails Forever fund-raising campaign is underway to create a $4 million endowment from which annual proceeds will finance additional trail workers to conduct rehabilitation on high priority trails.
Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson said that “Trails Forever will enhance the park’s trails program by making needed improvements to the large and complex 800-mile trail system in the Smokies. Thanks to a generous donation from the ASLAN Foundation of Knoxville, a Trails Forever pilot program is already underway. Trails Forever crews have already completed rehabilitation of two trails and are currently working on two more trails.”
Persons interested in supporting the trail campaign can do so through donations to Friends of the Smokies or through volunteer service. For more information and to get involved, visit www.greatsmokies75th.org and click on the Trails Forever icon or contact Jeremy Sweat at 865/436-1711.
