Many GATC members have been hoping for a good solution to a proposed private development on an inholding in the Tusquittee Mountains along the Fires Creek Rim Trail system in the Nantahala National Forest. This is a very remote area with steep slopes, trout streams, and the location of numerous GATC hikes over the years. The Rim Trail had to be rerouted to skirt the property. The owners had successfully petitioned for vehicular access via Forest Service lands and proposed to construct several houses on the property, but now they are willing to sell this land to the Mainspring Conservation Trust. If Mainspring can raise the funds to purchase this property, they will eventually transfer it to the Nantahala National Forest and the land will remain undeveloped in this pristine area.

Mainspring is in a campaign to raise $525,000 to close on the project before the end of the year. An article about this and a link to donate to this project is at:

http://www.mainspringconserves.org/press-room/conservation-purchase-end-controversy-fires-creek-property/

Help Preserve the AT in Georgia

As a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Charitable Organization, the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club can accept your financial donation in any amount. Donations of $100 or more may be designated to one or more of the following specific purposes:

• General Donation
• GATC Building Fund
  
• Trail Ambassador Program
• Outreach Programs
• Conservation
• Activities
• Trail Maintenance/Repairs

Donated amounts of less than $100 will be considered a general donation. Click here to make a donation.

Sport your support when you have a Georgia AT License Plate!

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) receives $10 annually for each Georgia specialty A.T. plate purchased or renewed. Since the plate became available in 2013, Georgia license plate holders have raised over $300,000 for ATC.

Apply for Your Georgia A.T. Plate

Apply for your plate by visiting your local Tax Commissioner’s tag office, or by choosing the “Appalachian Trail Conservancy of Georgia” specialty plate when you renew your registration online. In addition to the regular vehicle registration fees, a standard, numerical A.T. license plate costs $35. There is also a one-time manufacturing fee of $25 when you first purchase your tag.

Georgia A.T. License Plate Grant Program

Each year, the ATC uses funds from the sale of Georgia A.T. license plates to provide grants to organizations and individuals who are working to help fulfill the ATC’s mission within the state of Georgia. As of 2021, nearly $500,000 has been raised through this program in support of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. Click here for a year-by-year summary of previous grantees and projects that received funding.

Create a Facebook Fundraiser in Support of Your Trail

Are you at a point in your life where those gifts you get for birthdays or other celebrations aren’t so special anymore? You can easily turn those potential gifts into a meaningful donation to your favorite trail – the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. If you have a Facebook account, you can set up a fundraiser that benefits the GATC, a 501c3 nonprofit. Your friends and family could donate the money they would spend on a gift to the club and perhaps get a tax benefit as a result as well. The funds generated by your Facebook fundraiser would amount to a generous gift to the Appalachian Trail here in Georgia.

To set up a benefit fundraiser, open your Facebook account and look for Menu items. Locate the Fundraiser tab (note: you may need to select "See more" to find it.) Search for the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club then set your preferences for the fundraiser.

All the money raised through your fundraiser will benefit the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. Your fundraiser will also help spread the word about the good work this club does to protect, maintain and advocate for the Appalachian Trail here in Georgia.

GATC has received a 2017 Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award from the Rollins School of Public Health and the Goizueta Business School of Emory University. The award ceremony was held in Atlanta at Emory on January 19. Accepting the award was GATC’s current director of Community Outreach Jay Dement. Also in attendance were three former Outreach directors Marianne Skeen, Frank Wright, and Tom Ottinger.

This award recognizes and celebrates people and organizations in greater Atlanta whose work exemplifies the legacy of Dr. King. Some of the criteria for the award specify that recipients should celebrate diversity and impel action in building a better future for all. Additionally, it looks for organizations that invest resources for the well being of all children, especially those who would otherwise miss out on the many opportunities a young life should offer.

The award cites GATC for conducting a youth outreach program over the last ten years that helps young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in hiking and camping on National Forest lands. The program focuses both on children in areas of concentrated poverty in the metro Atlanta area and on youth in rural north Georgia counties through which the Appalachian Trail passes. Multi-day backpack trips are arranged for the metro Atlanta kids to build their self-reliance and give them a more immersive experience in the outdoors.

The award citation noted that over 25 GATC volunteers have been involved with these outreach activities. GATC thanks all of you who have participated and were instrumental in the club’s receiving this prestigious award. The Club also encourages any other members who are interested to join in this worthwhile outreach effort.

In anticipation of the increase in thru-hiker traffic as a result of the upcoming release of the movie "A Walk in the Woods", ATC has released a series of videos highlighting Leave No Trace (LNT) ethics.  The short (1-2 minute) videos focus on each of the seven LNT principles, as well as the story behind the videos and a blooper/outtake reel.  Spread the word -- "Don't Be That Guy".  #ATLNT

Harpers Ferry, WV (Feb. 9, 2015) – In order to enhance the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) experience for thru-hikers and better manage this natural resource, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), in cooperation with its partners, has launched a new voluntary registration system for those attempting to hike the estimated 2,185-mile-long Trail in one year.  This registration system, available at www.appalachiantrail.org/thruhikeregistration, exists to ease impacts from the increased number of hikers expected after the release of two hiking related films, “Wild” and “A Walk in the Woods.”