Appalachian Trail Management Committee
The AMC Western MA Appalachian Trail Management Committee (A.T. Committee) is responsible for the maintenance, management, and protection of that portion of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) located in Massachusetts. This section of the A.T. encompasses nearly 90 miles of trail. The A.T. Committee coordinates the extensive volunteer effort that keeps the trail open, overnight sites maintained, and the trail lands and natural resources protected. The Committee works in partnership with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the National Park Service. Each year from April to September, we organize regular work parties for maintenance and improvement of the footbed, trail shelters, signs, and so on. Projects vary in complexity, but all include activities for both first timers and seasoned maintainers. Contact a project leader or look in AMC's Outdoor Connector to join in the fun. No experience is necessary to participate! We also have some open positions for regular trail maintainers, corridor monitors, and natural resource volunteers. Our committee meets regularly at the Mt. Greylock Visitors Center in Lanesboro, MA.Donations
Donations are gratefully accepted! Please send your check made out to "AMC" with a note designating the gift is for the Western MA A.T. Committee. Checks can be mailed to: Appalachian Mountain ClubAttn: Rachel Sensenig
10 City Square, Suite 2
Boston, MA 02129
Upcoming Activities
Click or tap on the Register links to learn more and/or register for activities.
Erosion and Bog Bridges Near Jerusalem Rd
We have 8 to 10 bog bridges to replace just in a muddy area south of Jerusalem Rd. We'll also address erosion caused by nearby overflowing brook. Work involves carrying materials approx 1/2 mile to work site, some minor digging, and light carpentry.20S/30S A.T. Boundary Maintenance - Tyringham
Come explore the backstage of the Appalachian Trail. We'll be maintaining the critical boundary lines of the protected land corridor that surrounds the A.T. This off-trail work moves at a slow pace over varied terrain. We'll be clipping brush and painting blazes along the boundary line. Work is off-trail, occasionally in heavy brush. Expect some wet areas, too. Some stooping to clip back brush to maintain a clear line of sight along the boundary.Open Upper Goose Pond Cabin
We will open this near-famous hiker stop for the season. Remove shutters, sweep and clean, touch up paint, set up kitchen. We may need to install the dock, so check with leader if water wear may be needed.A.T. Boundary Maintenance - Becket
Come explore the backstage of the Appalachian Trail. We'll be maintaining the critical boundary lines of the protected land corridor that surrounds the A.T. This off-trail work moves at a slow pace over varied terrain. We'll be clipping brush along the boundary of National Park Service lands between the Mass Pike and Upper Goose Pond, including a likely stop for lunch at the Upper Goose Pond cabin.A.T. Boundary Maintenance - Dalton
Come explore the backstage of the Appalachian Trail. We'll be maintaining the critical boundary lines of the protected land corridor that surrounds the A.T. The day will involve 1 mile of on-trail hiking to the work site, about 1 mile of actual boundary work off-trail, and a 2 mile trail walk to return.Remove Potentially Hazardous Trees at South Wilcox Shelter
There are several dead/dying trees in the area around this campsite. We will assess and remove trees as necessary. Work is primarily for certified A.T. Sawyers, but others are welcome to join us, as there will be plenty of cut material to move. Work will involve lifting, dragging, rolling logs and carrying away small limbs into the surrounding woods. Worksite is a 1/2 mile hike off trail.Maintenance & Repair at South Wilcox Campsite
The porkies have been busy at this this historic shelter. We will carry in lumber to replace the porcupine-chewed planks on the shelter floor. We'll also carry in a new bear box to replace the rusted out old one.Clear Waterbars North of Rt 23
Support the A.T. - keep it in good shape for the future. Today we'll be maintaining waterbars (drainage channels) on a short section of the the A.T. that climbs moderately above the trailhead at Rt 23. Waterbars provide essential drainage that keeps this section of trail from washing out and turning into a trench. They need regular cleaning.Privy & Campsite Maintenance: Hemlocks & Glen Brook
We will work on emptying the composted material from the Hemlocks privy, and also move the Glen Brook privy over its empty bin. Not as gruesome as it sounds. The composted stuff doesn't smell (much) and is ready to be carried off and scattered into the woods. Then the outhouses need a few folks to slide them into their new position - ready for a busy hiking season. We'll also perform some light maintenance at both sites.Trail Rehab - A.T. Blue Blaze at Rt 20
Classic Trail Work: The blue blaze trail that connects the Rt 20 parking area to the northbound A.T. is sliding down the hill. We'll dig back into the hillside in several locations to build a more stable tread.Cheshire Variety Pack - A.T. Maintenance
We'll be working in several locations near Outlook Ave in Cheshire, MA. We'll set a new sign for Reynolds Rock, clip back some brush to make access to the rock more friendly. We'll stand up a new trailhead kiosk "downtown" in Cheshire. Remove a nearby illegal tree stand, if there's time remaining in the day.Trail Rehab North of Fernside Rd
We'll rebuild some water bars and repair some steps on this steep, often muddy section of trail between Shaker Campsite and Fernside Rd. Short hike to the work area carrying heavy tools. Digging, bending, stooping. Some rock carrying off-trail. Expect to get a bit muddy on this one.Activity Schedule
All activities are subject to cancellation due to poor weather conditions. Check volunteer opportunities on outdoors.org for up-to-the-minute additions not yet shown here. Not all activities may be posted yet.Committee Members
All committee members are volunteers. Feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have.
JOHN TAVARES
COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHT
Did You Know?
The 250,000-acre corridor of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) and its surrounding landscape are rich in natural and cultural resources. The Western MA A.T. Management Committee runs a robust program to catalog, monitor, and manage these resources on A.T. land in our state. READ MORE »Resources
- Appalachian Trail Management »Contact our committee
- Hiking on the Appalachian Trail »Basic information about hiking the A.T.
- Group Hiking on the A.T. »Guidance and advice
- Campsites and Shelters on the Massachusetts A.T. »A list from north to south
- Get Involved on the A.T. »Caring for the A.T.
- A.T. Maintenance and Shelter Adoption »Maintenance and adoption guidelines
- A.T. Monitoring »Observing and reporting on conditions
- Trail Adopter's Handbook (PDF) »Training reference and guide
- Appalachian Trail Links »Favorites with a distinct New England bias
- Who Did This? »Test your knowledge of wildlife tracks