For Spanish: https://conta.cc/4qLQJMa

On our February workday, we’ll return to the speedway to continue removing invasive plants, primarily autumn olive and privet.

Note: the April 11 workday is cancelled. Come join the Friends from across the state at the Gathering

Date: Feb 14, 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 (320Elizabeth Brady Rd, Hillsborough).

If you can join the team: Please respond by email to Bill.Boyarsky@gmail.com by Feb 10 — 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 holes in the ground, briars, ticks, chiggers, snakes, stinging insects, and poison ivy.

The Archaeological Conservancy (TAC) project: The Archaeological Conservancy now owns the 20 acres of former CAHPT land containing historic native american settlements (and which hosts the MST) between the riverwalk and the bridge over the Eno behind Vietri, in Hillsborough. The FMST chainsaw team has joined with TAC to start removing trees whose roots are corrupting remaining archaeological evidence. This will be a multiyear project which offers opportunity for sawyers to gain experience, and volunteers to support another worthy project (swamping). Workdays are about twice a month (one weekday, one weekend). Detailed announcements about this project will go only to those expressing interest in such mailings. If you want to be on that list or join a workday, email Bill.Boyarsky@gmail.com.

Next Orange County MST workdays (RSVP to Bill)
Mar 14
Apr 11 <– cancelled (this is the Gathering weekend)
May 9
Jun 13
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 )
Feb 7
Mar 7
Apr 4
May 2
Jun 6

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 email about a workday or a request to be added to his Workday Announcement email list.
Feb 21
Mar 21
Apr 18
May 16
Jun 20

Next Archaeological Conservancy (TAC/MST) workdays (RSVP to Bill).
Feb 11, 22
Mar 6, 15, 31
Apr 9, 16, 29
May 10, 23
Jun 3, 14, 27

A Year End Thank You note from the staff at the Friends:
Volunteers,

2025 was an extraordinarily difficult year on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. January started with the entire length of the MST closed in the mountains following the unprecedented destruction from Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024. Tropical Storm Chantal dealt a follow-up punch to the middle of the state, with severe flooding in Alamance, Orange and Durham counties, where the trail follows alongside rivers and streams that swelled high above their banks. High tides along the Outer Banks often closed the trail along Highway 12.

By the end of 2025, 97% of the MST had reopened in the mountains and tremendous progress has been made in the wake of Chantal in the Piedmont. Volunteer crews and park staffs have performed miraculous work to get to this point, and we know this wasn’t easy. This may have been the toughest year on the MST in its history.

Before we get too far into what we hope is a productive and more predictable 2026, we wanted to thank you for all you have done to bring the MST back. Even if you weren’t impacted directly by Helene or Chantal, every segment has had more storm maintenance, and more regular maintenance, than in years past. And with Complete the Trails funding, we’ll be adding more trail and infrastructure, creating more new opportunities for crews to get involved. Volunteers are what make the trail possible, and this past year reinforced that without people like you, there would be no Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

You are reliable, you are passionate, you are committed, and you are part of a large MST community that feels more like a family. The staff and board at Friends of the MST are humbled and so very proud to work with the thousand plus of you who give your time to make the trail a safe place of respite, recreation and adventure. And while they may not want to repeat this part out loud, you are led by tremendous task force leaders, whose knowledge and caring both for the trail and for each of you is unparalleled. They don’t do this for the glory, but like you, they are vital to the organization and the trail.

Here’s to another year of hard work, camaraderie, and adventure on the trail. While we wish for a year with no floods, ice storms, hurricanes or tornados, the MST is in good hands no matter what because of you. Thank you.

Betsy Brown, Brent Laurenz and the crew at the Friends of the MST