OCVT Outdoor Club at Virginia Tech

02/17/2026

February 20, 2026 Writing About a Very Long Trail 2:30pm in Fralin Auditorium, with refreshments at 2:00pm

SPRING 2026 FREC SEMINAR SERIES

Mills Kelly

Emeritus Professor of History, George Mason University

February 20, 2026

Writing About a Very Long Trail

2:30pm in Fralin Auditorium, with refreshments at 2:00pm

Abstract: Professor Mills Kelly is the author of two books, several articles, and the host of a popular podcast on the history of the Appalachian Trail. In this seminar, Mills will discuss his research processes (some of them unconventional), and how he made sense of information spread across 100 years, 14 states, 35 volunteer organizations, three federal and countless state agencies. His two books, Virginia’s Lost Appalachian Trail (2023) and A Hiker’s History of the Appalachian Trail (2025) are rich in detail about America’s most iconic long-distance hiking trail and offer a wide variety of stories about how the trail came to be, how it has been maintained, the people who hike it, and the local communities affected by its presence. In addition to explaining how he works with very messy historical data to craft compelling narratives, Mills will offer a few stories from the trail’s history and its present.

About Mills: Mills Kelly is an emeritus Professor of History at George Mason University where he taught for 24 years before retiring in 2025. He has won a variety of university, state, national, and international awards for his teaching, including a Fulbright Fellowship (2024), the Gutenberg Teaching Award from Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany (2020) and the SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award (2010), Virginia’s highest recognition of faculty excellence. From 2019-2024 he was the executive director of George Mason’s award-winning Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media and these days is the chair of the board of directors of the Handmade Music School in Floyd, Virginia. Mills is the maintainer of the historic Manassas Gap Shelter on the Appalachian Trail and an active volunteer with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Mills is also an avid photographer and recently returned from a photographic expedition to Antarctica.

10/21/2025

We are excited to announce that Cinda Merrill Waldbuesser will be the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's 11th President and CEO!

Cinda brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in conservation and the public sector, spanning roles with the National Park Service and nonprofits. She will assume the role of incoming President and CEO on Monday, November 17, working closely with the ATC’s current President and CEO, Sandi Marra. This structured handover period will allow time for knowledge transfer and continuity in leadership through the end of the ATC’s centennial year. Cinda will take over leadership of the ATC on January 1, 2026.

A passionate advocate for the outdoors, Cinda has explored sections of the Appalachian Trail through Delaware Water Gap, Shenandoah National Park, and along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park towpath. She loves how each stretch of the Trail has its own unique character and how it connects diverse landscapes and communities.

🔗 Learn more about Cinda: https://appalachiantrail.org/news/president-ceo-announcement/

10/01/2025

BELOW A LETTER TO AT CLUB LEADERS

Dear A.T. Club Leaders in Virginia:

At 12:01 a.m. Oct 1, 2025, the U.S. government is in lapse in appropriations. During this lapse in appropriations, units of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail will remain open to the public wishing to recreate. While the Appalachian Trail remains accessible to visitors, no volunteer maintenance or other volunteer activities will be conducted.

A.T. VIP volunteers should cease work on the A.T. and its side trails immediately. The NPS Volunteer in Parks (VIP) program (on NPS and state lands) is suspended. The USFS Volunteers in Forests (VIF) program covers volunteers on National Forest lands; any program suspension will be conveyed from the personnel in those forests. VIP/VIF programs extend authorization to work and, in the event of an accident, extend worker compensation protections. Any suspension of these programs means all physical work should stop since any volunteer accident would expose A.T. workers, their clubs and ATC to medical costs or other expenses.

Except for NPS-APPA Chief Ranger Kurt Speers, most APPA park personnel have been furloughed, as have most of the staff in the six national park units crossed by the Trail.

NPS lands are closed but accessible and include the six other National Parks through which the A.T. passes. The remainder of the Trail through state and municipal management agency lands, as well as a few other federal agencies, remains accessible. While shelters, vistas and privies will generally remain open to visitors, volunteers are reminded not to engage in maintenance or clean-up of these facilities during this time. If a health/safety issue arises on NPS lands due to privy or garbage issues, notify Chief Ranger Speers to discuss if action can be taken with special permission.

We urge your compliance in honoring the volunteer standdown orders to ensure the safety and protection of all volunteers. The NPS-APPA main number is (304) 535-6278. It will be checked daily but should not be used for emergency purposes.

If you have any other questions, please call your ATC regional office.

Related to upcoming Regional Partnership Committee Meetings, participation by A.T. Club representatives is welcome. Participants should be advised that they will be participating without VIP/VIF protection and are encouraged to be as safety conscious as they would any other time related to hazards and appropriate precautions. If your region will also host a partnership hike, note that is categorized as a recreational opportunity.

ATC’s Trail Updates webpage for visitors to the A.T.

APPA CONTACT INFORMATION
Kurt Speers
Chief Ranger
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
[email protected]
Cell: 540-784-0301

06/24/2025

Bailey Gap Shelter closed due to aggressive bear.

04/06/2025

01/13/2025

Download FREE Forest Service maps to find trails, campgrounds, and recreation areas near you.

Start your journey here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/maps.

12/29/2024

12/11/2024

11/19/2024

This exciting news certainly has our stamp of approval! 💌📫 Today, the United States Postal Service announced a sneak peek of the stamps it will issue in 2025. Among the designs includes a pane of 15 Appalachian Trail forever stamps in celebration of the ATC's Centennial in 2025 and the beauty and history of this national treasure in each of the 14 Trail states.

The A.T. stamps will be available for purchase in 2025. Check out these and other 2025 stamp program releases in the U.S. Postal Service's news release: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2024/1115-usps-provides-sneak-peek-at-2025-stamps.htm

10/28/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/yT4gEoMYUzGNAK5K/

Looking for a unique job opportunity on the Appalachian Trail? The ATC is hiring Ridgerunners for the Great Smoky Mountains and Georgia! Ridgerunners play a crucial role in educating hikers about Leave No Trace principles, maintaining the Trail, and ensuring the safety of the hiking community. If you're passionate about protecting the A.T. and enjoy spending time outdoors, this could be the perfect job for you.

See other seasonal opportunities and all current openings at appalachiantrail.org/careers.

10/03/2024

Only 3 hours left and Stacee Landsman - Ash has made a serious commitment to Western NC.
https://ultexplorer.org/2024/stacee-ash-LyuJ?fbclid=IwY2xjawFqyw1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSliSzqAIzt3sC_tLloQPiSDWtnFx3RMhCrPpOmsxmagn0fMZ7BlRzT3TQ_aem_Zy5IJIJpJwbs5Lh7jMkCsg