McAfee Knob Task Force

RATC Volunteer Ridgerunners
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We all love McAfee Knob. In fact, visitation has increased every year since we started tracking it, causing a noticeable increase in avoidable impacts such as litter, vandalism, negative encounters with wildlife, and damage to vegetation.

Brian Boggs
mcafeetaskforce@ratc.org
(540) 389-2656

We started a new group in 2014, the McAfee Knob Task Force, whose 140 members help the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s Ridgerunners patrol not only the AT around McAfee Knob, but also Dragons Tooth and Tinker Cliffs. Over 10 years, task force ridgerunners have seen 137000 day hikers, 21000 backpackers and 5500 thru hikers.

Last year (2024), volunteers patrolled 287 times – counting almost 15000 visitors; engaging with more than 13500 of them, removing 67 fire rings and hauling out 238 gallons of trash. And we were smiling, because we did all this on one of the most scenic parts of the entire AT. As one member signed always concluded her monthly reports: “Best.Job.Ever!”

Do you have what it takes to be a Volunteer Ridgerunner? You don’t have to be an athlete – many of the most important conversations and maintenance happens right in the parking lot or within the first mile.

If you want to join this lively group of dedicated stewards, you must:

  1. Be a member of the RATC
  2. Commit to volunteer at least one weekend day per month (Fri/Sat/Sun), April through November
  3. Attend a training day
  4. Join an orientation hike
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Join the RATC’s McAfee Knob Task Force Meetup group if you are interested in volunteering with us!