Hi Friends (of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail)

For our February workday, we will return to the Historic Occoneechee Speedway and the James M Johnson Nature Preserve trail and work on trail improvements: muddy trail to raise, and sections of eroded side-hill trail to repair. And there are still invasive plants to work on, if that is your cup of tea.

Date: February 10, 2024, 9 AM – 2 PM. If you can’t stay for the entire time, please know that we are deeply appreciative of any effort you contribute.

Meeting Location: The Historic Occoneechee Speedway parking lot (320 Elizabeth Brady Road, Hillsborough 27278).

If you can join the team: Please respond by email to Bill.Boyarsky@gmail.com by February 6 — your response informs the breakfast preparation and tools that will await you, helps me plan the day, and puts you on the notification list for further updates or a workday cancellation message.

What to bring: You need to wear appropriate-for-the-weather work clothes (that can get dirty), solid shoes or boots, and bring lunch (if you plan to work into the afternoon), snacks, water, and work gloves. If you have a favorite tool, bring it.

What we bring: We will provide all tools, extra work gloves, and instructions. If you are new to this kind of activity, there will be experienced volunteers within asking distance: we are a supportive trail community that loves to grow

Cancellation: If the workday is cancelled due to bad weather, an email will be sent out no later than 8:00 p.m. the preceding day, to the RSVP list.

Safety: Use tools carefully. If you do not know how to use a particular tool, or what to do in a particular circumstance please ask. Do not work too close together — avoid hitting the person next to you. When walking past another volunteer, please say something so they know you are approaching. Do not lift anything heavier than you can comfortably lift — know your own limits. Take plenty of breaks. Undertake different tasks with different tools throughout the day. Make sure to drink plenty of water, even when it’s cold outside. .Be aware of ticks, chiggers, snakes, stinging insects, and poison ivy.

Next Orange County MST workdays (RSVP to Bill), Mar 9, Apr 13, May 11, Jun 8

Thanks to our major sponsors: To REI Co-op, whose 2022 gift of $15,000 supports our efforts with (among other things) signage improvement, updates to trail guides, the purchase of new tools, and tool repairs.

En español

Please RSVP to Bill Boyarsky if you can help.