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Konnarock Trail Crew
Konnarock is the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s flagship crew program, founded in 1983 and named after its original base camp in southwest Virginia. The crew works on the Appalachian Trail from Rockfish Gap, near Waynesboro, Virginia, to the Trail’s southern terminus at Springer Mountain in Georgia. The program is a joint venture of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the 12 southern Trail clubs, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service.
At Konnarock, volunteers of diverse ages, backgrounds, and experience levels work together to build durable trail that will last for generations. After five days of working as a team, learning new skills, and living in the backcountry both the crew and the trail is transformed. No experience is necessary, but you must be 18 years or older. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy provides training, equipment, and room and board. Crews are transported in U.S. Forest Service vehicles from the base camp in Sugar Grove to a primitive, backcountry tent camp near the project site.
Past 2023 Konnarock Crew Sessions
Session 10
Saturday, July 29 – Thursday, August 3
Crew 1 (Session 10): High Country Restoration – Work will include improving drainages, waterbars, and rock steps, as well as other needs along this section of the Trail. Each workday the Crew will be hiking three-quarters of a mile to the worksite (1.5-miles roundtrip each day) with 400-feet in elevation gain. This crew session will require backpacking (with a day pack) approximately two-miles to the backcountry crew campsite near Damascus, VA. Please note that this campsite will not be accessible by car. Additional support will be provided for packing in the groups gear.
Crew 2 (Session 10): War Spur – Trail Relocation – Part of the A.T. near Wind Rock consists of a steep and eroded section of Trail. This multi-year project focuses on building an approximately one-mile stretch of new, sustainable, Wilderness-grade trail to avoid this steep and eroded section of the existing Appalachian Trail. Minimalist rock structures will be utilized as necessary. This project is taking place in a federally designated Wilderness area, so no mechanized tools will be used. Each workday there will be a roughly 1.5-mile hike to the project site (three-miles roundtrip each day), with approximately 400-feet in elevation gain. This crew will be camping near Newport, VA.
Session 9
Friday, July 21 – Wednesday, July 26
Crew 1 (Session 9): High Country Restoration – Work will include improving drainages, waterbars, and rock steps, as well as other needs along this section of the Trail. Each workday the Crew will be hiking three-quarters of a mile to the worksite (1.5-miles roundtrip each day) with 400-feet in elevation gain. This crew session will require backpacking (with a day pack) approximately two-miles to the backcountry crew campsite near Damascus, VA. Please note that this campsite will not be accessible by car. Additional support will be provided for packing in the groups gear.
Crew 2 (Session 9): War Spur – Trail Relocation – Part of the A.T. near Wind Rock consists of a steep and eroded section of Trail. This multi-year project focuses on building an approximately one-mile stretch of new, sustainable, Wilderness-grade trail to avoid this steep and eroded section of the existing Appalachian Trail. Minimalist rock structures will be utilized as necessary. This project is taking place in a federally designated Wilderness area, so no mechanized tools will be used. Each workday there will be a roughly 1.5-mile hike to the project site (three-miles roundtrip each day), with approximately 400-feet in elevation gain. This crew will be camping near Newport, VA.
Session 8
Friday, July 7 – Saturday, July 15
Crew 1 (Session 8): Albert Mountain Restoration – Update: This session is full! Please join the Konnarock Trail Crew at another upcoming 2023 session here. This work will include repairing and establishing step structures and will require extensive rock and log work. These stepping structures ensure that erosion does not take place on the Trail, in turn improving the Trail’s long-term sustainability and the visitor experience. Each workday the Crew will be hiking less than one-mile to the worksite with under 400-feet of elevation gain. The crew will be camping near Franklin, NC. Please note that this crew week is longer in length than most crew weeks. Individuals interested in volunteering for this project are welcome to either join the crew for the full-length of the week or meet the crew at the project site in the middle of the week.
Crew 2 (Session 8): Fontana Marina – Trail Relocation – Work will predominately include creating sidehill, which involves digging and moving dozens of cubic feet in dirt each day. This relocation of the Appalachian Trail will provide visitors with a more sustainable footpath that can be enjoyed by current and future generations. Each workday there will be less than 50-feet hike to the project site (100-feet roundtrip each day) with minimal change in elevation. The crew will be camping near Fontana, NC.
Session 7
Friday, June 23 – Saturday, July 1
Crew 1 (Session 7): Albert Mountain Restoration – Update: This crew is full! Please join the Konnarock Trail Crew at another upcoming 2023 session here. This work will include repairing and establishing step structures and will require extensive rock and log work. These stepping structures ensure that erosion does not take place on the Trail, in turn improving the Trail’s long-term sustainability and the visitor experience. Each workday the Crew will be hiking less than one-mile to the worksite with under 400-feet of elevation gain. The crew will be camping near Franklin, NC. Please note that this crew week is longer in length than most crew weeks. Individuals interested in volunteering for this project are welcome to either join the crew for the full-length of the week or meet the crew at the project site in the middle of the week.
Crew 2 (Session 7): Fontana Marina – Trail Relocation – Work will predominately include creating sidehill, which involves digging and moving dozens of cubic feet in dirt each day. This relocation of the Appalachian Trail will provide visitors with a more sustainable footpath that can be enjoyed by current and future generations. Each workday there will be less than 50-feet hike to the project site (100-feet roundtrip each day) with minimal change in elevation. The crew will be camping near Fontana, NC.
Session 6
Thursday, June 15 – Tuesday, June 20
Crew 1 (Session 6): War Spur – Trail Relocation – Part of the A.T. near Wind Rock consists of a steep and eroded section of Trail. This multi-year project focuses on building an approximately one-mile stretch of new, sustainable, Wilderness-grade trail in order to avoid a steep and eroded section of the existing Appalachian Trail. Minimalist rock structures will be utilized as necessary. This project is taking place in a federally designated Wilderness area, so no mechanized tools will be used. Each workday there will be a roughly 1.5-mile hike to the project site (three-miles roundtrip each day), with approximately 400-feet in elevation gain. The crew will be camping at a backcountry campsite near Newport, VA.
Crew 2 (Session 6): Log Cabin – Trail Relocation – This multi-year project is centered around building a one-mile section of new and sustainable Trail in order to shift the A.T. away from adjacent private lands and development. Work will predominately include creating sidehill, which involves digging and moving dozens of cubic feet in dirt each day. Each workday there will be less than a quarter-mile hike to the project site (half-a-mile roundtrip each day). The crew will be camping at a backcountry campsite near Hot Springs, NC.
Session 5
Wednesday, June 7 – Monday, June 12
Crew 1 (Session 5): War Spur – Trail Relocation – Part of the A.T. near Wind Rock consists of a steep and eroded section of Trail. This multi-year project focuses on building an approximately one-mile stretch of new, sustainable, Wilderness-grade trail in order to avoid a steep and eroded section of the existing Appalachian Trail. Minimalist rock structures will be utilized as necessary. This project is taking place in a federally designated Wilderness area, so no mechanized tools will be used. Each workday there will be a roughly 1.5-mile hike to the project site (three-miles roundtrip each day), with approximately 400-feet in elevation gain. The crew will be camping at a backcountry campsite near Newport, VA.
Crew 2 (Session 5): Log Cabin – Trail Relocation – This multi-year project is centered around building a one-mile section of new and sustainable Trail in order to shift the A.T. away from adjacent private lands and development. Work will predominately include creating sidehill, which involves digging and moving dozens of cubic feet in dirt each day. Each workday there will be less than a quarter-mile hike to the project site (half-a-mile roundtrip each day). The crew will be camping at a backcountry campsite near Hot Springs, NC.
Session 4: Saturday, May 27 – Thursday, June 1
Crew 1 (Session 4): High Country Restoration -Work will include improving drainages, waterbars, and rock steps, as well as performing other needs (such as regrading) along this section of the Trail. Each workday the Crew will be hiking one-mile to the worksite (two-miles roundtrip each day) with moderate elevation gain. The crew will be camping at a backcountry project work site that is located near Troutdale, Virginia. This crew session will require backpacking (with a day pack) approximately half-a-mile to the backcountry crew campsite. Please note that this campsite will not be accessible by car. Additional support will be provided for packing in the groups gear.
Crew 2 (Session 4): Log Cabin – Trail Relocation – This multi-year project is centered around building a one-mile section of new and sustainable Trail in order to shift the A.T. away from adjacent private lands and development. Work will predominately include creating sidehill, which involves digging and moving dozens of cubic feet in dirt each day. Each workday there will be less than a quarter-mile hike to the project site (half-a-mile roundtrip each day). The crew will be camping at a backcountry campsite near Hot Springs, NC.
Session 3: Friday, May 19 – Wednesday, May 24
Crew 1 (Session 3): High Country Restoration – Work will include improving drainages, waterbars, and rock steps, as well as performing other needs (such as regrading) along this section of the Trail. Each workday the Crew will be hiking one-mile to the worksite (two-miles roundtrip each day) with moderate elevation gain. The crew will be camping at a backcountry project work site that is located near Troutdale, Virginia. This crew session will require backpacking (with a day pack) approximately half-a-mile to the backcountry crew campsite. Please note that this campsite will not be accessible by car. Additional support will be provided for packing in the groups gear.
Session 2: Thursday, May 11 – Tuesday, May 16
Crew 1 (Session 2): Woody Gap Restoration – This crew session will begin in Suches, GA as it will be a continuation of Session 1. Volunteers who have never joined the Konnarock Trail Crew before must participate in Session 1 if they are participating in Session 2. Part of the A.T. between Woody Gap and Preacher’s Rock consists of a steep and rugged section that needs to be restored via treadway hardening and the installation of proper drainage features. This crew will be working to mitigate these treadway erosion issues by installing drainage features and placing long-lasting rock steps into the Trail’s tread. This project is taking place in a federally designated Wilderness area, so no mechanized tools will be used. Each workday there will be a roughly half-mile hike to the project site (one-mile daily roundtrip), with minimal elevation gain. However, there is several hundred feet of elevation gain along the worksite to Preacher’s Rock. The crew will be staying at the Lake Winfield Scott campground which has access to onsite water and a bathhouse for the duration of this project.
Crew 2 (Session 2): Rocky Row Restoration – The crew will be installing rock structures, such as steps and waterbars, and reshaping the existing tread to mitigate erosion. This work improving drainages helps to create a sustainable Trail that can be enjoyed by future generations and improves the hiker’s experience as they travel the long climb to the sweeping views from Rocky Row. This project requires strenuous hiking each day to access the work site. The crew will be camping at a remote backcountry campsite near Glasgow, VA.
Session 1: Wednesday, May 3 – Monday, May 8
Crew 1 (Session 1): Woody Gap Restoration – Part of the A.T. between Woody Gap and Preacher’s Rock consists of a steep and rugged section that needs to be restored via treadway hardening and the installation of proper drainage features. This crew will be working to mitigate these treadway erosion issues by installing drainage features and placing long-lasting rock steps into the Trail’s tread. This project is taking place in a federally designated Wilderness area, so no mechanized tools will be used. Each workday there will be a roughly half-mile hike to the project site (one-mile daily roundtrip), with minimal elevation gain. However, there is several hundred feet of elevation gain along the worksite to Preacher’s Rock. The crew will be camping at the Lake Winfield Scott campground which has access to onsite water and a bathhouse. At the end of this crew session the crew will remain in Suches, GA leading into Session 2. Volunteers who have never joined the Konnarock Trail Crew before must participate in Session 2 if they are participating in Session 1.
Crew 2 (Session 1): Rocky Row Restoration – The crew will be installing rock structures, such as steps and waterbars, and reshaping the existing tread to mitigate erosion. This work improving drainages helps to create a sustainable Trail that can be enjoyed by future generations and improves the hiker’s experience as they travel the long climb to the sweeping views from Rocky Row. This project requires strenuous hiking each day to access the work site. The crew will be camping at a remote backcountry campsite near Glasgow, VA.
Base camp
The Konnarock Crew is hosted by the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area at its Sugar Grove Work Center. The main building houses dining and recreation facilities, an office, and the crew’s tool room. Separate buildings provide a large, institutional kitchen and two shower houses, with bathroom and laundry facilities. Crew members sleep in simple cabins (“pods”) near the shower houses, with beds and electricity.
Crew week
Crew members arrive on the evening before their work week starts in time to get settled in, eat dinner, and attend an orientation session. Whether they will be working with Crew 1 or Crew 2, crew members meet their crew leaders and fellow volunteers, and are issued safety equipment and loaner camping gear as needed. An early morning on the first day of the crew week (7 a.m.) begins with a hearty breakfast followed by any last-minute preparations and departure to the project sites. Volunteers work a five-day week in the field, tent camping at a remote site with vehicle access, and return to base camp for a celebratory dinner the evening of the fifth day.
Volunteers working more than one session are welcome to stay at Konnarock base camp between sessions, with the exception of the mid-season breaks. Other accommodations may be available for multiweek volunteers during the mid-season breaks. Multiweek volunteers should plan to spend at least an hour or two of their days off pitching in to keep base camp running smoothly—and the rest of it relaxing and exploring the beautiful Mount Rogers area!
Please note that there are now three days off between each crew week. Crew weeks are highlighted in yellow on the calendar below, with the first day of each week in red. Please contact us with any questions about the new schedule at 540.904.4393 or crews@appalachiantrail.org.
Contact us
Give us a call at 540.904.4393 or e-mail crews@appalachiantrail.org with any questions.