Location: Hanover, NH
Strenuous. Up to 4 miles daily. Bushwhacking.
Front country: structured housing (cabins)
Join a very unique project: the AT survey crew! We will clear brush with loppers, repaint yellow blazes on trees, replace US Boundary signs, and record the condition of metal survey markers on the trail corridor.
Service Project Details
Help protect the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) and enjoy the forests and mountains of New Hampshire! On this project, we will monitor and maintain the boundaries of the land protected for the Trail by the National Park Service. This public land is the backbone of the largest natural corridor that remains east of the Mississippi River, creating a haven and migration path for humans and animals alike. Maintaining the boundaries of this land helps to protect it from encroachments such as motorized vehicles, trash dumping, and illegal logging. Using a GPS, map, and compass, the crew will follow the surveyed boundaries of the trail corridor. We will clear brush with loppers, repaint yellow blazes on trees, replace US Boundary signs, and record the condition of metal survey markers, called “monuments.”
Each day, we will duck into the woods off the A.T., bushwhack to the boundary, and steadily move forward as we maintain the boundary line. At the end of the day, we’ll hike back on the A.T. and be amazed at how much ground we covered! Teams will maintain up to 1 mile of boundary line and hike 2 or more miles per day. Maintaining the boundary line involves off-trail bushwhacking over terrain that can be steep, rocky, brushy, and uneven. While we are not picking up rocks or digging, we will be on our feet hiking and bushwhacking all through the workday. Working off-trail involves the risk of slips, trips, and falls, and can be much more difficult than hiking on-trail.
This section of the Appalachian Trail is just to the south of the White Mountains, making it less visited but still quite beautiful and mountainous. The Corridor here is maintained by local volunteers, and extra help is needed to help us catch up with our cycle of regular monitoring and maintenance.
After a satisfying day’s work in the woods, volunteers will stay at the Dartmouth Outing Club’s Class of ’66 Cabin in Hanover, New Hampshire. On their days off, volunteers can hike right from the lodge, explore the quaint town of Hanover, NH, or explore the nearby White Mountain National Forest. We hope you join us on this challenging and rewarding project. Volunteers like you are the heart and soul of the Appalachian Trail!
Check out the photo gallery from past projects with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
Project leaders: Steve Breitbach and Bob Schneider
Agency Website
Itinerary:
Sunday, August 17th. The volunteer group should be prepared to meet at location TBD in the early afternoon. The group will go through check-in, introductions, orientation, and set-up camp.
Monday, August 18th. Workday.
Tuesday, August 19th. Workday.
Wednesday, August 20th. Day off.
Thursday, August 21st. Workday.
Friday, August 22nd. Workday.
Saturday, August 23rd. Break down camp, goodbyes, and depart.
Nearest Cities
Hanover, NH
Nearest Airports
Portsmouth International Airport (PSM) – ~121 miles away
Burlington International Airport (BVT) – ~105 miles away
Portland International Jetport (PWM) – ~167 miles away
Free Time Details
This facility is a wonderful base for hiking year-round. The Lodge is located near the Appalachian Trail, Harris Trail, Clark Pond loop and many other trails on Moose Mountain. The beautiful town of Hanover, New Hampshire is located on the Connecticut River with the majestic White Mountains to the east and the spectacular Green Mountains to the west. Hanover is home to Dartmouth College, and it has a wonderful variety of art galleries, museums, shops, and restaurants. There are many local places to hike, bike, or paddle, and it is about an hour’s drive to the nearest trailheads in the White Mountain National Forest.
Accommodations
Dartmouth Outing Club’s Class of ’66 Cabin in Hanover, New Hampshire. This is a rustic cabin designed for large groups, with several decks and lofts, solar electric lighting, a commercial 6-burner gas stove, and a two-stall outhouse.
Difficulty
Strenuous. Up to 4 miles daily. Bushwhacking.
Task Details
Bending, bushwhacking, cutting, hauling, swinging, digging, throwing, pushing, lifting, planting, etc.
Equipment List
View Equipment List