Designing Endurance on the Appalachian Trail
Adjunct professor Dr. Jeff Marion measures up Appalachian Trail conditions with doctoral student Holly Eagleston. Photo courtesy of Jeff Marion
By Kimber Ray
Though some may dream of a solitary retreat, the wayfarers and romantics along the Appalachian Trail are far from alone.
With between 2 and 3 million visitors each year, the steady trudge of hikers along this protected corridor of land, spanning from Georgia to Maine, wears down the trail and strains natural resources. At the same time, the persistent advance of climate change is driving more intense storms and droughts along the footpath.
Jeff Marion, a recreation ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and adjunct professor at Virginia Tech, launched a three-year study this May to help reduce the impact of this annual flood of hikers and unpredictable weather.
Equipped with a $300,000 grant from the National Park Service, Marion’s team of researchers from Virginia Tech and North Carolina State University are collecting data about how the trail is used, whether this use is sustainable and how this impacts nearby natural resources. This includes information such as soil compaction and erosion, water drainage, waste disposal and the unauthorized creation of campsites and side trails. With this knowledge in hand, Marion’s crew will create low-impact guidelines for sustainable trail maintenance, which will be shared in workshops with trail staff and volunteers.
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
Signs of Life
In the Nantahala National Forest, a team of biologists spotted Indiana bats, an endangered species that hasn’t been seen in North Carolina for the last 11 years.
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
After 20 Years, Letcher County Prison Proposal Is Still Alive, Though Obstacles Remain
A $605 million proposal for a federal prison on a former strip mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky, championed by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, refuses to die, despite local opposition, a lack of support from the executive branch and numerous other obstacles.
The Washout and Rebuild
For nearly two years, residents of Unicoi County, Tennessee, have had to make do without a hospital after Hurricane Helene destroyed the rural hospital. Ballad Health, which owns the hospital, broke ground on a new location — in another floodplain — in August 2026.
The Shenandoah Salamander
The Shenandoah salamander is a woodland salamander, which has adapted to life at higher elevations away from water. This sparkling rarity lives among the dry leaves, cracked logs, and stony hillocks on the highest peaks of Shenandoah National Park.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment