The G5 Trail Collective

09/04/2026

🌳⚒️ Meet the Team ⚒️🌳

It wasn’t long ago that these hills were bare of trees and wildlife from logging. A new industry is here now, an outdoor industry that cares for the long term social, environmental, and economic wellbeing of place. From the products made to the services provided in fueling our daily lives and adventures, our outdoor industry businesses are as important as they are unique. They span across districts and landscapes connecting us at our common bonds. Where hundreds of thousands of acres of forest are our playground, livelihood, and responsibility to protect. G5 is proud to work alongside so many amazing local and national partners!

Meet Joe 👋
He might be found on the trails more hours of the day than not. Also known as Dude’s Dad, for his white and black speckled four legged companion that logs his own impressive amounts of trail time. Joe possesses the power, might, and long limbed leverage to remove the most stubborn of trail obstacles. Just ask Snooks. If you want it dug out, Joe is the answer! His mountain bike industry experience and positive go get it mindset, sprinkled with ample stewardship stoke and wicked good tools skills, are assets to our team. We’re super grateful to have Joe on the G5 Team!

09/03/2026

🌳⚒️ Meet the Team ⚒️🌳

The G5 Trail Collective. Started from a need to help our land managers with trail maintenance in the Grandfather District, people rallied to support. Positive opportunities presented themselves as land managers worked alongside citizen groups for the benefit of thriving public outdoor spaces and communities of people. The beginning of G5 originates with people coming together to build and support a good life in the mountains.

Meet Skylar 👋
Man of many hobbies and talents with the spirit that can take a team through most any trail challenge. An Americorps Alumni and friend to hard work who’s rock climbing game has gotten significantly stronger since joining the trail crew. After a long day of trail work, Skylar has also been known to run the trail he works on and might be the first one to run the new Snooks Nose Trail. We’re super grateful for Skylar to be part of the G5 team!

AmeriCorps

09/02/2026

🌳⚒️ Meet the Team ⚒️🌳

A modern day reinvention of the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps, of the 1930’s that built the beginning’s of Old Fort Picnic Area, Curtis Creek Campground, and Hickory Branch Trail. A program to get more young folks into public lands and enhance NC’s land and water. Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) provides paid opportunities throughout the year and intensively during the summer for local youth to gain hands-on experience working with our public lands managers. G5 and the USFS Grandfather Ranger District work together for six weeks during school summer breaks on a variety of recreation infrastructure projects.

Meet Harlow 👋
A hard working wildlife biology researcher & patient salamander observer, expert drain maker and trail shaper. Harlow’s wildlife conservation background and perspective is important in crafting more sustainable trails that work with the land. They bring to life the whole ecosystem and diverse habitats we travel through while recreating on trails. Harlow is both a CCNC program Alumni and Crew Leader for youth summer sessions focusing on trail projects in the forest. We’re super grateful to have Harlows talent on the G5 Team!

09/02/2026

Registration opens this Friday via our website volunteer page! Link in Bio.
www.g5trailcollective.org/volunteer

08/31/2026

08/31/2026

Let’s go September 🔥

More info and RSVP @
www.g5trailcollective.org
Link In Bio.

08/28/2026

In collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, we’re excited to announce that Snooks Nose Trail is officially back open for the first time in nearly two years, following its closure due to landslides caused by Hurricane Helene.

The 1.6-mile reroute was the first trail rebuild completed by G5 Trail Collective’s new trail crew funded by the American relief Act. This project marks an important milestone in the ongoing recovery and restoration of Pisgah National Forest, Grandfather District. We’re incredibly grateful for the dedication, care, and skill our crew poured into this project:
Trail Crew Leaders: Brad Allen & Jessica Coffee-Johnson�Trail Crew: Harlow Higgins, Skylar Futrell & Joe Hoeper

This project was made possible through the collaboration and support of the U.S. Forest Service Grandfather Ranger District staff, Conservation Corps North Carolina, Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, and many volunteers. Thank you to everyone who helped bring this important trail back to the community.

Snooks Nose remains a hike-only trail and is a favorite among trail runners. While the entire length of Snooks Nose is now open, nearby portions of the Blue Ridge Parkway remain closed. Please respect all posted closures and remain on open trails are you explore the area.

We’re excited to see Snooks Nose back in action and are grateful to everyone who helped make it happen. See you out there!

Tanawha Adventures
RUN828 Foundation
Hellbender 100 Mile Race
Mountain Running Company- Black Mountain

08/28/2026

Old Fort Picnic Area will be closed today through the weekend. Kitsuma Trail is closed for TODAY ONLY due to the paving project. The picnic area will reopen to foot and bike traffic Saturday.

Don’t forget about the Allison Trailhead (across from Camp Grier) as an alternative parking option for your weekend rides!

The Old Fort Picnic Area will be closed starting today through the weekend for paving. The area will reopen for parking Monday, August 31. The parking lot, which was damaged during Hurricane Helene, is being repaved as part of a larger project to restore and improve the picnic area.

Due to the paving project, Kitsuma Trail between the community of Ridgecrest and the Old Fort Picnic Area will be closed TODAY ONLY! Visitors riding down Kitsuma will not have access through the Picnic Area today, but it will reopen to foot and bike traffic this weekend.

08/27/2026

🌳⚒️ Meet the Team ⚒️🌳

The G5 Pro Trail Team works in partnership with the Forest Service, and alongside trail crews from SAWS, Wild South, and North Carolina Youth Conservation Corps. They also lead volunteer workdays and trainings for the community on occasion. Several of our team members work out of the Grandfather District office in Nebo on Helene recovery projects across the forest including Linville Gorge and Harper’s Creek areas. All working for outdoor recreation in our beautiful Appalachian Mountains!

Meet Brad 👋
…also responds to “Brad-O”!
Dirt tool wizard and trail artist, he’s the guy at the beginning of a line volunteers outlining and breaking new bench by hand or machine. His decades of mountain biking experience and trails time both locally and nationwide add some sweet spice to multiuser trails experiences. You can also find Brad’s graphic artistry in many race logos and posters. We’re super grateful to have Brad’s leadership on the G5 Team!

08/27/2026

🌳⚒️ Meet the G5 Team ⚒️🌳

We’re excited to introduce to you the G5 Trail Collective Team we have grown into this year. We are a group of passionate trail folks who love connecting people with public lands.

Let’s start with the leaders of our professional trail crew in Old Fort. They’re always on the trail and just finished rebuilding Snooks Nose Trail, are currently working on Hickory Branch Trail, and soon to start Newberry Creek Trail. They’ve also been spending time between projects buffing out many of the Old Fort Trails. ✨✨

Meet Jess 👋
A WNC trails renaissance woman and one the most fierce diggers we’ve ever seen with badass skills such as backcountry chainsaw carpentry. She is a crew leader for our professional trails team and a trails specialist for her extensive knowledge and boots on the ground experience in GSMNP and parks across the US. You can also find Jess teaching trail skills at the upcoming women’s + workshop in October. We’re super grateful to have her on the G5 Team!