Christine Ramsey
January 2024
If there’s a rock wall to be built or a workshop to train others on trail maintenance, the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club has Christine Ramsey to count on as an active member of its rock crew. She is among the club’s first trail skills trainers supporting the development of other volunteers.
Christine retired from work in forestry two years ago, but she had been volunteering for six years before that, as a section maintainer, and for a while as the trail supervisor for the club. She beams when she says that now she’s retired she can spend even more time “out there.”
“Out there” is on the two sections of the Trail she cares for on either side of Tesnatee Gap, or working alongside other volunteers on any number of work trips where friendships are made and feelings of pride cap the day at their tailgate gatherings.
“I get a lot of satisfaction seeing how much we improve the trail, but it’s social time, too. The camaraderie and friendships created when we work together and have fun together allows me to build connections with people who like doing what I like to do,” said Christine.
Beyond trail work, Christine is a direct link between her club and her community of Blairsville, Georgia. She serves on the town’s A.T. Community Advisory Committee and fosters the kind of mutual benefits available for residents to know about the Konnarock Trail Crew and for businesses to benefit from hikers in the area.
The Georgia A.T. Club’s Trail Supervisor Rick Dicks says Christine’s willingness to help is seemingly in her DNA since she also volunteers for a local animal sanctuary.
“Christine has a great attitude. She is always pleasant to work with, considerate of her fellow workers, and willing to lead when needed. She is knowledgeable without being a know-it-all, and she takes on tasks she is capable of without hesitation,” said Rick.
As a member of the club’s Trail Advisory Committee, Christine assists the A.T. Supervisor in scheduling work trips and trainings for the club. Opportunities to learn are an increasing part of the club these days and a way this group is making sure everyone feels like they know what they can do to help.
“There’s a place to learn and to be mentored so you’re not standing there thinking ‘what do I do?’ We have people who will buddy up with you to teach you along the way so you have an enjoyable first experience,” said Christine.
The experiences Christine says she gains through volunteering also help her as a hiker.
“I love hiking. If we weren’t out there maintaining, you wouldn’t be able to hike. So there’s satisfaction in keeping the trail open for hikers and for myself.”