Hurricane Helene and the Appalachian Trail

Damage to Bluff Mountain Outfitters in Hot Springs, NC, as documented on the The Trek's Instagram account. The author obtained gear and shuttle rides from this merchant while completing the AT in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Pearisburg and Damascus, VA. Erwin, TN. Asheville and Hot Springs, NC. These are just some of the iconic towns along the southern Appalachian Trail decimated by Hurricane Helene.

Those of us who have completed the southern AT have visited all of these towns and enjoyed the hospitality of their residents. Our hearts break with the realization of what they have lost. You may be inclined to help with a donation and even volunteer work. We at Allentown Hiking Club are not positioned to offer advice on the best charities and organizations to pick; we urge you to research options carefully. We can direct you to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's webpage which describes the damage and links to reputable aid organizations.

We also urge you to monitor what the Appalachian Trail Conservancy has to say about trail access and use. Within the hiker community, there is often skepticism about the ATC's guidance during emergencies. Concerns include the loss of income to shuttle drivers and hostels when the ATC closes portions of the trail. And hikers tend to march (hike) to their own drummer; part of the appeal of the AT is that it stands apart from the restrictions of ordinary life. Given these unique circumstances though—that resources are strained along the southern AT, that the priority must be to restore housing and services to permanent residents, and that the ATC must follow direction from its land managers such as the Forest Service—we recommend that hikers heed the ATC's closures and stay off the trail where indicated. Note that the ATC has altered its normal rules for acknowledging thru hikes. Here is their webpage which summarizes guidance to hikers.

Finally, as climate change makes storms such as Helene more likely, it's worth noting that the ATC has been studying the impact of climate change on the Trail and its surroundings for decades. We are reminded of the expertise the ATC brings to stewardship along the Trail we love.