Trail Days 2022
A Look Back at Trail Days 2022
May 19, 2022
Thank you for helping us celebrate the 2022 Appalachian Trail Days Festival in Damascus, Virginia! Whether we were able to meet with you in person or you followed the festivities from afar, we hope Trail Days provided you with a look at the love so many people have for the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) and the one-of-a-kind experience it provides.
Trail Days 2022 was an unforgettable experience where thousands of people from around the world gathered in a shared love for the A.T. We are continually in awe of the love and support that so many show for the Trail and its community of hikers, volunteers, doers, and dreamers. Below are just a few of the highlights we experienced during Trail Days this year:
The Damascus Trail Center (DTC) lawn hosted the ATC’s booth and several local and nonprofit organizations.
Hiking in for Trail Days
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Hikers and Trail enthusiasts — including those who are currently attempting an A.T. thru-hike — travel from around the country to take part in Trail Days festivities.
Hikers and Trail enthusiasts — including those who are currently attempting an A.T. thru-hike — travel from around the country to take part in Trail Days festivities.
Our friends at BearVault hosted a live demo on how to properly store food using a bear canister while on the Trail.
Special thanks go to our friends at Hike for Mental Health for their generous donation to our work!
ATC Gear Raffles
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The ATC held regular raffles for awesome backpacking gear. Congrats to all of our winners!
The ATC held regular raffles for awesome backpacking gear. Congrats to all of our winners!
The ATC held regular raffles for awesome backpacking gear. Congrats to all of our winners!
The ATC held regular raffles for awesome backpacking gear. Congrats to all of our winners!
The ATC held regular raffles for awesome backpacking gear. Congrats to all of our winners!
The ATC held regular raffles for awesome backpacking gear. Congrats to all of our winners!
ATC Senior Regional Director Andrew Downs (left) highlights some of the DTC’s unique designs — including a visual representation of the topography of the Trail —to backpacking teacher & author Jennifer Pharr Davis and A.T. Hall of Fame Member Warren Doyle. Photo courtesy of the Town of Damascus.
It wouldn’t be Trail Days without a little (or a lot) of rain — even when the sky is blue!
Washington County Master Gardeners and the ATC planted a native garden outside the DTC.
The Hiker Parade
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One of the most cherished Trail Days traditions is the Hiker Parade. Past and current classes of thru-hikers travel through Damascus and are both cheered by the crowds and sprayed with water guns. Photo courtesy of the Town of Damascus.
One of the most cherished Trail Days traditions is the Hiker Parade. Past and current classes of thru-hikers travel through Damascus and are both cheered by the crowds and sprayed with water guns.
One of the most cherished Trail Days traditions is the Hiker Parade. Past and current classes of thru-hikers travel through Damascus and are both cheered by the crowds and sprayed with water guns.
The countdown begins for Trail Days 2023 — we’ll see you there next year!
It may be another year until the next Trail Days, but through your support, we will be able to continue the celebration of the Trail and ensure the A.T. experience is protected for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.
Continue the Celebration at the Damascus Trail Center
Opening Late Summer 2022
Located in the heart of Damascus, Virginia, or “Trail Town, USA,” the DTC acts as a regional hub uniting visitors and volunteers with a wide range of outdoor resources in the region. Join us at the DTC throughout the summer for a variety of events and workshops.
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We are the stewards of the world’s longest hiking-only footpath, the Appalachian Trail.
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Damascus
Once a struggling mountain community, the town of Damascus, Virginia has become an inseparable part of the Appalachian Trail’s identity.
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