Summary: News on the Trail Appalachian Trail's November Volunteer of the Month The AT's volunteer of the month for November was Keith Brown. Keith works with the Rocky Top Trail Crew which maintains the section of the AT through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Keith is from Wooster, Ohio and one of the things people enjoy about Keith is that he's always a pleasure to work around and learn from--in addition Keith seems to enjoy working hard and is very productive. Sounds like Keith's enthusiasm is contagious. By the way, he must drive about 500 miles one-way to volunteer--now that's dedication. What to do with Shelter Registers? This was the question the November ATC Stewardship Council answered. Shelter registers can be put in a shelter by anyone but seem to usually be installed by either the trail club that maintains that section of trail or an individual who maintains the shelter. The ATC decided unanimously that they didn't have the space to archive the registers and left the decision up to the clubs that maintain a section to decide what to do. Hiker Safety During Hunting Season Deer season is now open in most if not all sections along the AT and as a hiker you should take some precautions. Hunting is permitted along approximately 1,250 miles of the AT that runs through game lands, national forests, etc. Here's some things you can do to protect yourself: 1) Wear hunter orange. You can wear anything from a ballcap, to a vest or even more and it's very noticeable. It's also available at many local stores for a modest price. 2) Hike in areas where hunting is not permitted. These areas include places such as National Parks and many state parks. 3) If you have a dog you should get a vest for them also. 4) Be cautious about hiking at dawn or dusk, this is the most active time for deer and other animals and visibility can be more difficult. 5) Avoid wearing white, red and blue. These colors are some of the colors of deer (white tails) and turkey. Here's a link to Hunting seasons for states that the AT resides.
