How to Participate in CMC
The main activities of the Carolina Mountain Club are hiking and trail maintaining. You are invited to join before you participate, or you may come with us for a day or two of hiking or trail maintenance before you decide to join. Non-members must contact the event leader ahead of time.
In addition, there are other recreational and organizational activities in which you can take part or assume a leadership role. Since the Carolina Mountain Club is a non-profit organization and has no paid officers or staff, members donate hundreds of hours each month for the variety of functions necessary to accomplish our mission. Members are enthusiastically encouraged to find the niche that works for them to participate in the club and contribute to it.
Photo by Bruce Bente Photo by Bruce Bente
A major activity of CMC is hiking. We offer over 175 hikes per year on Sundays, Wednesdays and some Saturdays year round. Hike lengths vary from 5 to 15 miles, and take place in various areas in and around Western North Carolina. Occasional backpacking trips are offered. Organized challenge programs are set up for those who like to accomplish advanced hiking goals. Hiking is a social occasion, and offers an opportunity to meet new friends and maintain existing friendships. Go to the Hiking pages of this web site for more info on participating in hikes.
There is continuing opportunity for members to volunteer to lead these hikes and backpacks. The club offers training and mentoring for new hike leaders and an annual hike leader supper meeting. The responsibilities include scouting the hike route beforehand, meeting hikers at a designated meeting place, arranging carpools to the trailhead, acting as leader of the hike, and writing a hike report after the hike. Leading hikes is a great way to get to know the hike routes more thoroughly, to grow friendships, and to deepen involvement in the club.
Members interested in volunteering to lead hikes can contact our Councilor for Hiking, Charlie Ferguson, at 828-333-5165 or Email .
Photo by Don Walton Photo by Don Walton
Trail building and maintenance is the second major activity of the CMC. Males and females of all ages are invited to participate. Trail maintenance is a good way to stay physically and mentally healthy. Some maintainers have been working for over 20 years. A big part of the enjoyment of trail building is the camaraderie that develops.
Section Maintainers (individuals, couples, or groups) are responsible for routine trail maintenance of specific trail sections. Section Maintainers can work on their own schedule. Their duties include: 1) maintaining water and silt bars, 2) clearing debris from the trail, 3) keeping the grass, weeds and blackberry vines cut, 4) blazing trails, and 5) reporting to the trail supervisor work that requires a regular Trail Crew.
The Trail Crews work each Monday, Wednesday or Friday, twelve months a year, weather permitting. They are responsible for the more rigorous and physically demanding trail work: 1) building new trails, 2) major renovations of existing trails, 3) clearing trails after major storms, and 4) restoring trails which have been abandoned or neglected. A variety of tools including chain saws, light and heavy winches, weedeaters, Hazel Hoes, Pulaskis, bow saws and loppers are routinely used. Building bridges, repairing shelters and putting in stone or log steps are a few of the more interesting tasks involved.
The Club also organizes quarterly Saturday Work Days for individuals who have only a limited amount of time to devote to trail maintenance. If you don’t know anything about trail maintenance, these Saturdays are a great way to learn.
Persons can volunteer by contacting the CMC Councilor for Maintenance, Jeff Dektor, at Email or 828-274-4254.
Photo by Gerry McNabb Photo by Gerry McNabb
Other club activities include our annual business meeting and dinner, other social functions, weekend backpacking and resort trips, theme hikes such as berry picking and science topic hikes, conservation efforts, production of our quarterly newsletter Let’s Go and our biweekly E-News, and all the planning, training and organizational functions required to effectively run a club of 700-800 members.
So in addition to hiking, leading hikes and doing trail work, examples of other opportunities for involvement include:
1. Working on the club’s conservation projects. Contact Ruth Hartzler, Conservation Committee Chair, at 828-251-0886 or ruthmtn@charter.net
2. Assisting in the production of the newsletter or E-News, and contributing articles and photos.
3. Serving as hike scheduler or maintenance team leader.
4. Planning and coordinating events such as hiking weekends, member socials, and educational and training sessions.
5. Working in club committees and other leadership positions.
Members interested in volunteering or asking questions can contact any of our officers or Councilors. Fresh energy is welcome!