Completed Project Highlights
Aug 7, 2025
War Spur Relocation – Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club (RATC) Section, Virginia
On June 16, 2025, the Konnarock Trail Crew and RATC officially opened the War Spur A.T. Relocation in Mountain Lake Wilderness, about 30 miles north of Pearisburg VA at nobo mile 667. This one-mile project has been under construction since 2019 (the first photo in the gallery), but was first dreamed up and flagged decades ago by legendary RATC Trail Supervisor Charles Parry (now deceased). Many hands kept this project going over the years in spite of COVID delays, rocky terrain, and the remote location: Konnarock Crews, local RATC volunteers, and crews from the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS). The result is a beautiful mile of Trail threading through interesting rock features, lush laurels, and waist-high ostrich ferns at a gentle and sustainable grade. The relocation replaces a half-mile of steep, fall-line trail that was eroding into a deep ditch full of loose rocks. Many thanks to all the volunteers from near and far who made the long hike into the Wilderness to make this improvement possible!
War Spur Relocation
Brown Mountain Creek Bridge – Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club (NBATC) Section, Virginia
The hike between the Lynchburg Reservoir and US 60 just got more interesting thanks to a new 40-foot, single log-stringer bridge constructed over the southern crossing of Brown Mountain Creek, located in central Virginia around nobo mile 806. Replacing this bridge after the original was damaged by downed trees (pictured, from January 2020) was a cooperative effort, exemplifying the spirit that makes the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (ANST) a success.
The National Park Service Appalachian National Scenic Trail office (APPA) provided the project funding. The United States Department of Agriculture’s US Forest Service (USFS) provided the bridge design, approvals, and technical staff to lead the design and implementation. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s (ATC) staff coordinated the use of grant dollars for supplies, materials, and equipment. The Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club (NBATC) volunteers provided the soul and much needed skilled labor at every phase of construction of both the bridge and Trail relocation. This project relied heavily on and was successful because of a small handful of folks: John and Trudy Phillips, NBATC volunteers; Tyler Beach, USFS Engineer; and USFS Glenwood-Pedlar district recreation staff Megan Martin and Austin Gebers.
