June 28 was an exciting day for Friends of the MST and our volunteers as trail cleanup efforts in Ashe County (MST Segment 5) resumed for the first time since Hurricane Helene caused so much devastation, followed by a damaging winter ice storm too.

We have been working closely with our partners at the Blue Ridge Parkway on MST recovery efforts along the entire trail corridor that parallels the Parkway, but because of ongoing road repaving and rehabilitation efforts in Ashe County our volunteers had not been cleared to resume trail work until June.

Sometimes in my role with Friends of the MST I spend more time behind a desk than I would like, so I was glad to join the June 28 workday, along with our Associate Director Betsy Brown and more than 20 volunteers. It was inspiring to see volunteers come to the mountains and help from as far away as Wake and Orange counties as well as other MST volunteer work crews in the foothills and other sections of the mountains.

Since this was the first time our volunteers were back on the trail, the primary task on June 28 was clearing downed trees. And there were plenty to clear. Volunteers cleared hundreds of trees that were blocking the trail and made their way through several miles of the MST on different sections between Route 421 in Deep Gap and Route 18 near Laurel Springs.

Our trained and experienced crew of volunteers were able to make good progress on that first workday and we can now start to see a point in the near future where the MST will be fully cleared and open in this area for hikers to enjoy.

As of today, nearly 75% of the MST in the mountains is reopened or has a detour in place while trail rebuilding efforts are underway. You can always find the latest status on the MST in the mountains on our website, including an interactive map of the trail’s status.

The MST is only possible thanks to partnerships, volunteers and community support, and recovery efforts on the trail after Helene are a perfect example. As a small nonprofit organization, Friends of the MST couldn’t be successful without the support of our partners and the volunteers on the ground working to ensure the trail is safe and accessible for all who wish to enjoy it.

Our volunteers will keep diligently working until every tree is cleared and the trail is fully open. It will take time, but we’re so appreciative of each and every hour volunteers give to the trail and Friends of the MST will support them and recovery efforts anyway we can until the trail is whole again.

– Brent Laurenz, Executive Director, Friends of the MST