Equestrian trails partnership opportunity

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Candace Bourne jeffeca@vetmed.auburn.edu
Dwayne Stutzman sent this announcement to me and I thought that
some of you would  be interested. We met Dwayne at NTS. He is 
Regional Trails Specialist , NC Division of Parks & 
Recreation/Trails Program. PLease read and let me know of you 
are interested. I will forward you an application

HELP PRESERVE HORSE USE OF THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS
NATIONAL PARK

Introducing a new Trail Maintenance Program for Equestrians who want to help the
Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park remain open to
equestrian use - A partnership between local equestrian groups, the NC Division
of Parks & Recreation, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Smoky
Mountains Hiking Club and the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC).

Horse use of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (A.T.) is unique to the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park.  About 35 of the 70 miles of A.T. in the Smokies
is open to horse use, the only equestrian section of the 2167 mile long
Appalachian Trail.  Constructed as a hiking path, most of the A.T. is not built
to equestrian standards.  Originally, more of the A.T. in the Smokies was open
to horse use, but A.T. sections that sustained significant resource damage to
the footpath, due to a combination of sharp hooves, steep slopes and heavy rain
were closed to horse use by the National Park Service, most recently in about
1978.

Since then, hikers have worked intermittently to close the rest of the A.T. in
the Smokies to equestrian use. That is until 1995, when hikers and riders
decided to bury the hatchet and work together.  Now A.T. managers are working
with riders to help assure that those sections of the A.T. open to horse use are
put into good shape so that they may remain open to horse use.

In 1995 an historic agreement was signed between horseback riders and hikers
regarding the A.T. in Smokies.  This agreement has resulted in close
cooperation, equestrian maintenance of some sections of the A.T., and several
significant relocations of the A.T. built to equestrian standards by volunteer
hikers under the direction of the ATC.  These hiking volunteers were members of
ATC's volunteer Rocky Top Trail Crew, with supplies packed in by local
equestrian groups.

Volunteer trail maintainers in the Smokies, both hikers and riders, are in short
supply, and the Park Service does not have the funds to hire enough people to
care for all the trails in the Smokies, let alone the A.T. Owing to the success
of the Rocky Top Trail Crew, equestrians suggested a similar volunteer crew be
started for riders. The NC Division of Parks & Recreation has taken the lead
with this new program which will be started in 2001.  There will be two summer
trips, which will be open to equestrians only.  Each work trip will last for a
five days.

The crew will stay in the beautiful and remote Pecks corner area, using a NPS
maintenance cabin as camp.  Led by a professional trail crew leader, the
equestrian trail crew will  rehabilitate the A.T. between Peck's Corner and
Tricorner Knob, all open to horse use.  This project will be used to provide a
model for future equestrian maintenance programs within the Smokies.

Come join us. Spend a week (or two) in one of the most beautiful places in the
eastern US.  All you need is your horse (which must be in good condition) and
yourself (also in good condition, as you will be doing fairly heavy labor.)  We
will provide you with GREAT SCENERY, GOOD FOOD, LODGING (after you get to the
trail), all the trail work tools and equipment needed, experienced leadership
and the opportunity for lots of fun and good companionship.  No experience is
necessary; only the willingness to work hard and get dirty.  And you will help
ensure that this part of the A.T. in the Smokies remain open to horse use!