Spring at last

The National Park Service reopened access to Birch Knob on the 23rd of March, and we were able to return and assess how the shelter held up through the winter. Happy to report no problems of any kind. Unfortunately the trail itself had moderate damage from blow-downs. Our crew of seven trailed out a few miles to Blowing Rock removing trees and obstructions. Judging from the damage to the Laurel thickets, there must have been several heavy snowfalls over the winter.