"How more pleasant traveling the forest on sturdy footpath unencumbered..."

(- anonymous)

True, but good trail doesn't just happen. It takes the efforts of people like you to come out a few times a year and cut back the overgrowth, clear the blowdowns, dress the treadway, and mark the trail so that many may enjoy that most pleasant "unencumbered" travel.

While the backbone of the BMTA is the membership, it is the maintainers and Section Maintainers, all those who go out to work, who keep the trail open.

MAINTAINER'S REPORT FORM

Click for Maintainer's Report Form used by section maintainers to report work and trail conditions.

Trail Conditions by Section

Click for Section Mileages, Conditions and Maintainers listed by section number.

Report/View Trail Work Needed

To see or submit work items that need doing, visit the Trail Work Management System. (For detailed instructions on its use, click the Help button on that page.)

One Trail in Three Parts

The BMT consists of three regions, each with its own needs. The southernmost 80 miles ("BMT-South") is located in Georgia and is the longest established. Trail workers are drawn from a surrounding area of higher population density to the several available access points. Maintenance needs are high but help is not far away.

The northernmost 100 miles of trail ("BMT-North") are located entirely within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (the Smokies). This region, though quite remote, is maintained by Park staff. Some volunteer help is needed, but only to keep campsites clean along the BMT route. Maintenance requirements here are currently low.

This leaves the new 100-mile section in Tennessee and North Carolina ("BMT-Middle"). This segment of trail creates wonderful opportunities for hiking but requires extra work to keep open because it traverses some of the most remote backcountry in the southeastern United States. Unlike BMT-South, trail workers come from a more sparsely populated area to trailheads that are fewer and farther away. Also, over a third of BMT-Middle lies in Wilderness or Wilderness Study areas where vehicular access and motorized tools are prohibited. Some trail sections are still open for adoption. Maintenance needs are currently highest here and the BMTA heartily welcomes your help.

The Work

To keep the trail open and hiker-friendly, the following tasks are needed: repair of the pathway, cutting back of brush and annual growth, removal of downed trees, upkeep of water diversions, and keeping the trail marked with signs and blazes. Special projects, such as bridge construction and repair, are also done occasionally.

Ways You Can Help

If you are a hiker or outdoorsperson who would like to give something back to the wilderness resource, one of the best ways to contribute is by attending the monthly work trips. It's not all work and can be very rewarding. Another option is becoming a Section Maintainer by adopting a length of trail. This requires a higher level of commitment - approximately 12 hours work per year per mile. Yet another way is available to any who are willing to tackle high-priority items, such as large blowdowns, by joining the Quick-Response Crew. Lastly, donations can be targeted specifically toward trail maintenance. If any of these suggestions have piqued your interest, please contact us or for further information, see the Want To Help? page.

Stay in Touch

Members can ask to join the BMTA email list. There is no charge and no personal information is needed. Let your fellow BMTAers know when you plan a hike and they can do the same for you. (Note: The list does get some spam but members with leading email services, such as Hotmail, have reported that none gets through.) To subscribe, contact us with the subject line, "Subscribe to BMTA List".

Trip Leader's Signup Sheet

Leaders of worktrips or other scheduled BMTA outings are asked to print out the Signup Sheet and have all participants fill in a line prior to starting activities. The second page (which can be printed on the side opposite the sign-up form) contains information that should be reviewed during the safety meeting. See form for further instructions.

What are the requirements to be a Section Maintainer?

To be named a Section Maintainer, an individual is expected to:
 1. Be a member in good standing;
 2. Have read and absorbed the Guidelines for Section Maintainers and had any questions answered by the responsible Maintenance Director; and
 3. Have either attended at least two worktrips for training, or received individual training.

Temporary Assignments: Individuals who have met the first two requirements above, but not yet the third, may be assigned a section on a temporary basis, at the discretion of the appropriate Maintenance Director.

Questions? Want to adopt a trail section, or volunteer? Contact us now!

Guidelines for Section Maintainers

After adopting a section of trail, please review these Section Maintainer Guidelines.

Annual Walk-Thru

Maintainers and hikers, please see the Annual Walk-Thru Page for information on how you can help walk the BMT in one day to report on problem trail conditions. This is the event that gathers data to help direct work in the coming year. All that's needed is to hike and take notes on areas that need improvement.

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All content copyright © 2003-2008 by Benton MacKaye Trail Association, Inc. All rights reserved.
Sawing a Log photo courtesy of Mike Pullen