AT license plates fund mini trail grants

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy will once again be awarding mini-grants for projects in the region that will benefit the long-distance hiking trail.

This year the Appalachian Trail Conservancy will give out $25,000 in grants, not to exceed $5,000 per grant. The grants are funded through proceeds from the specialty AT license plates, which raised $116,000 last year for the AT Conservancy.

Grants can include trail work, conservation projects and trail promotion and education. Past projects have included:

• Smoky Mountains Hiking Club’s purchase materials to build mouldering privy at Cable Gap Shelter.

• Smoky Mountains Hiking Club’s purchase materials to build mouldering privy at Sassafras Gap Shelter.

• Efforts by the Nantahala Hiking Club to help the town of Franklin become an official “Trail Town.”

• Eforts to keep the bald on Roan Mountain from growing up, including a roving goat herd.

• Tennessee Eastman Hiking and Canoeing Club’s provision of food to volunteers participating in two-day volunteer Hard Core crew, working in N.C. to rehabilitate and relocate the Trail.

• Bear cables at backcountry trail shelters.

• Controlling invasive, exotic plant species.

For more information on the grants, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.