Hi Friends (of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail)
For Spanish: https://conta.cc/4eAkUPY

On our Oct workday we’ll return to the Occoneechee MOUNTAIN State Natural Area (NOT the speedway) and finish the raised trail project we started in May.

Date: Oct 12, 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 Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area parking lot (625 Virginia Cates Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278). For this workday, we have received permission to park next to the shed, since the parking lot will fill with regular park users. Drive past the parking lot, past the ‘authorized vehicles only’ sign, around the corner, and take the first left up a slight hill. (You’ll see us). We’ll hold our orientation by the cars.

If you can join the team: Please respond by email to Bill.Boyarsky@gmail.com by Oct 8 — 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.

If you are looking for invasive plant removal, The NC Wildlife Federation will be holding an invasive plant removal workday on Sept 29, from 2-4 PM at the Occoneechee Speedway. Their signup is at https://ncwf.org/event/occoneechee/.

This year’s Blaze Orange fundraiser is in the planning stages for Sunday, October 27, 3-6pm. Hold that date.

(and back to our Oct 12 workday…)

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)
Nov 9
Dec 14

If you are not on our Eno/Orange County workday announcements email list (to get announcements like this one), but would like to be, let me know by email.

Next Eno MST workdays (RSVP to Fred )
Sept 28 River Forest Park, 1000 Windermere Dr., trail repairs, removing invasive species
Oct 26 Eno River Association office, 4404 Guess Road, trail repairs (erosion
damage)
Nov 2 Eno River Association office, 4404 Guess Road, trail repairs (erosion
damage)
Dec 7 TBA

Next Alamance County MST workdays (RSVP to Andrew ).
The AC team is working on trail along the Haw River. Andrew, the Task Force Leader, would welcome you at his workdays or a request to be added to his workday announcement email list.
Oct 19
Nov 16
Dec 21

And thanks for all you do for the Mountains-To-Sea Trail

Bill
Bill.Boyarsky@gmail.com
Friends of the MST Task Force Leader, Orange County
(919) 451-2900
Pronouns: he, him