In late September, the powerful remnants of Hurricane Helene tore through parts of North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia, four of the fourteen states that make up the Appalachian Trail. Large sections of the legendary footpath were rendered impassable by fallen trees, obscured by debris, or in some cases, washed out completely.
Nearly two months later, the damage is still being assessed and cleanup is underway, but Appalachian Trail Conservancy president and CEO Sandra “Sandi” Marra believes a full restoration will take years, not weeks or months. The ATC is the only nonprofit responsible for the trail in its entirety, working in partnership with other volunteer clubs, government agencies, and the National Park Service, and they have deployed a rapid response team to begin that process. Here’s what they want people to know.
Patience and Flexibility Are Key
The storm was the largest natural disaster, in terms of geographic footprint, to hit the trail since its completion in 1937, causing what Marra calls “a patchwork of impact.” Navigating that patchwork can be tricky, because one stretch of trail might be fine, while hikers could encounter downed trees and washed-away bridges just a mile up the road. As the ATC’s website says in bold letters, “Just because an area is open does not mean it is safe.”
The ATC’s Trail Updates page offers timely updates on trail openings and closings as they receive information from volunteers and land management partners. As of now, some sections of the trail in North Carolina and southwestern Virginia remain closed, and thru-hikers have had to cut their journeys short.
While the ATC hopes to have more answers in the coming weeks, “there’s no absolute answer that’s going to be right or wrong” about when to hit the trail, Marra says. But there are a few different options to pursue.
Thru-hikers set on starting their trek in the coming months can consider beginning somewhere farther north instead of the popular trailhead in northern Georgia, which is known as a flip-flop hike. While you may not get your dramatic finale in the form of summiting Mount Katahdin, Marra says this approach will allow the ATC more time to repair damaged portions in the South, with the added bonus of avoiding some of the larger foot traffic.
Even for those who aren’t set on completing the two-thousand-plus-mile journey, it’s important to continuously check on the status of your intended destinations. In impacted states, there might be temporary relocation routes, debris blockage, and communities that are still in recovery mode. These communities are the destinations hikers longingly await for a meal, shower, or necessary supplies. Without access to such resources, hikers who brave these areas should be fairly experienced and self-reliant.
And if you’re on the fence about hitting the trail in the near future, rest assured it’s okay to wait. “The trail is going to be there,” Marra says. “It’s one hundred years old, and it’s not going anywhere.”
How to Help
Through ATC and volunteer efforts, restoration is well underway. Crews and volunteers have spent weeks working to clear the trail through southwestern Virginia and Tennessee, and have recently reopened sections in those areas.
“It’s going to be a tough year,” Marra says. “It doesn’t just end when we clear out all the damage from Helene because there’s going to be regular damage that happens, and some of that may be exacerbated because of lingering impacts from Helene.”
For those looking to pitch in, Marra emphasized the importance of proper damage control training, and that well-meaning lovers of the trail should not waltz into the woods with a chainsaw. Instead, they can donate to the Appalachian Trail Resiliency Fund, launched last month to rebuild the impacted locations, restore the natural landscape through conservation efforts, and reconnect the AT communities who were impacted. Additionally, 100 percent of the proceeds from Ultimate Appalachian Trail Store through the end of the year will go toward the fund.
