We will start our efforts in the new year back at Moorefields, finishing the connector trail started in December (between the Moorefields trail and Seven Mile Creek’s North Forest Loop trail).

We’ll then turn to the main task: working on the invasive wisteria vines choking the forest near that new trail.

Date: Jan 10, 9 AM – 2 PM. If you can’t stay for the entire time, please know that we are deeply appreciative of any effort you contribute.

Meeting Location: 2201 Moorefields Rd, Hillsborough, NC 27278. Drive up the driveway, past the Seven Mile Creek parking, through the first white gate. Park in small field on the left of the drive just before you reach the second white gate (36°03’36.1″N 79°08’38.4″W), then walk up the driveway to the orientation, to the left of the building.

If you can join the team: Please respond by email to Bill.Boyarsky@gmail.com by Jan 6 — your response informs the breakfast preparation and tools that will await you, helps me plan the day, and puts you on the notification list for further updates or a workday cancellation message.

What to bring: You need to wear appropriate-for-the-weather work clothes (that can get dirty), solid shoes or boots, and bring lunch (if you plan to work into the afternoon), snacks, water, and work gloves. If you have a favorite tool, bring it.

What we bring: We will provide all tools, extra work gloves, and instructions. If you are new to this kind of activity, there will be experienced volunteers within asking distance: we are a supportive trail community that loves to grow.

Cancellation: If the workday is cancelled due to bad weather, an email will be sent out no later than 8:00 p.m. the preceding day, to the RSVP list.

Safety: Use tools carefully. If you do not know how to use a particular tool, or what to do in a particular circumstance please ask. Do not work too close together — avoid hitting the person next to you. When walking past another volunteer, please say something so they know you are approaching. Do not lift anything heavier than you can comfortably lift — know your own limits. Take plenty of breaks. Undertake different tasks with different tools throughout the day. Make sure to drink plenty of water, even when it’s cold outside. Be aware of holes in the ground, briars, ticks, chiggers, snakes, stinging insects, and poison ivy.

The Archaeological Conservancy (TAC) project: The Archaeological Conservancy now owns the 20 acres of former CAHPT land containing historic native american settlements (and which hosts the MST) between the riverwalk and the bridge over the Eno behind Vietri, in Hillsborough. The FMST chainsaw team has joined with TAC to start removing trees whose roots are corrupting remaining archaeological evidence. This will be a multiyear project which offers opportunity for sawyers to gain experience, and volunteers to support another worthy project (swamping). Workdays are about twice a month (one weekday, one weekend). Detailed announcements about this project will go only to those expressing interest in such mailings. If you want to be on that list or join a workday, email Bill.Boyarsky@gmail.com.

Next Orange County MST workdays (RSVP to Bill)
Feb 14
Mar 14
Apr 11
May 9
Jun 13

If you are not on our Eno/Orange County workday announcements email list (to get announcements like this one), but would like to be, let me know by email

Next Eno MST workdays (RSVP to Fred )
Jan 3
Feb 7
Mar 7
Apr 4
May 2
Jun 6

Next Alamance County MST workdays (RSVP to Andrew ).
The AC team is working on trail along the Haw River. Andrew, the Task Force Leader, would welcome email about a workday or a request to be added to his Workday Announcement email list.
Jan 17
Feb 21
Mar 21
Apr 18
May 16
Jun 20

Next Archaeological Conservancy (TAC/MST) workdays (RSVP to Bill).
Jan 4, 20, 31
Feb 11, 22
Mar 6, 15, 31
Apr 9, 16, 29
May 10, 23
Jun 3, 14, 27

Bill
Bill.Boyarsky@gmail.com
Friends of the MST Task Force Leader, Orange County
(919) 451-2900
Pronouns: he, him

The post Orange County MST Workday appeared first on Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Dress for the weather. Recommend long sleeves and long pants, and sturdy shoes. Bring your own water and snacks. We will have all tools and supplies (grabbers, gloves, buckets and bags)

Register on the FMST Meetup Site:  https://www.meetup.com/nc-fmst/events/312750222/?eventOrigin=group_events_list

The post MST Cleanup: Ghoston/New Light appeared first on Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

The 2026 weekend in Asheville will include:

• Early bird meet-up on Thursday evening
• Friday welcome reception and dinner at Highland Brewing
• Saturday Friends of the MST annual meeting at A-B Tech Community College
• Recognition of MST volunteers and completers
• Guided tours, excursions and hikes
• Opportunities to learn from and connect with local partners and learn about community recovery efforts in the Asheville area
• Time for fellowship with Friends of the MST and MORE!

Visit our website for more information and to register.

The post Gathering of Friends appeared first on Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

If you can not volunteer for the entire day know that your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Enjoy a complimentary biscuit and coffee before a short safety and organizational briefing after which we will disperse to various activity locations.

Meeting location: Meet at the outside edge of the Food Lion parking lot at the intersection of Sherron Road and Highway 98. The address is 115 Sherron Rd., Durham, NC 27703. GPS: 35.97563, -78.79278

PLEASE RSVP: to jdbrewer104@gmail.com  / 919-900-0483 by Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2026 for this workday.

BAD WEATHER POLICY: If the workday is canceled due to bad weather a mass email will be sent by 10:00 PM the evening before the event to all who RSVP to jdbrewer104@gmail.com  So please check your email first thing the morning of the event before leaving for the meeting site.

If you are new at trail work please let us know and we will pair you up with an experienced person.

What you will need to provide:
Work clothes and solid shoes or hiking boots.
Proper Clothing for the Weather!
Plenty of water
Bag Lunch
Work gloves, if you have them (If not, we have some)

We have the tools that will be needed.

WORK SAFELY! This is the most important thing, and our main goal.
In particular:

• Use tools carefully. If you do not know how to use a particular tool, or what to do in a particular circumstance please ask.
• Do not work too close together and be careful with rakes, shovels, and mattocks to avoid hitting the person next to you. When walking past another volunteer, please say something so they know you are there.
• Do not lift anything heavier than you can comfortably lift and lift with your legs not with your back.
• Know you own limits. This is not a race. We will be working on and maintaining this trail for years to come. Take plenty of breaks.
• Make sure to drink plenty of water, even when it’s cold outside.
• There are holes in the ground to step in, branches to trip over, thorns, wasps, poison ivy (fortunately not too much of that on this segment of trail), ticks, chiggers, and other hazards. Please be cautious.

Have a good time. This is a scenic area. There are box turtles, heron, woodpeckers, deer, beaver, and other wildlife in this area as well as scenic views of the lake.

TASKS for this workday: Specific project details may be added as the workday approaches.

TYPICAL WORKDAY TASKS:
TRIMMING: Cutting branches and logs across the trail.
RAKING THE TRAIL: It is necessary to rake the trail tread clear of leaves, branches, other debris so that we know where we need to level the trail, fill holes, etc. Please use caution while raking to avoid poking others with the rake handle.
PULLING OUT SMALL SAPLINGS FROM TRAIL TREAD: There will be some small saplings in the trail tread. If these are cut off they tend to grow back from the roots, so we need to either pull them by hand (if they are very small), dig them out with a mattocks, or if they are up to an inch in diameter, pull them out with the weed wrench.
FILLING HOLES: These need to be filled if they are within the 2′ wide trail tread, or if they are within several feet of the trail on either side. We have shovels and buckets for this purpose.
LEVELING TRAIL TREAD: Walking across the side of a hill is tiring and increases the likelihood of injury. The finished trail tread should be, in cross section, close to level.
REMOVING TRASH: We have trash bags to pick up trash along the way. We will carry the trash out to one of the ends of the trail section.

Thanks to:

• Great Outdoor Provision Company for sponsoring our breakfast biscuits from Bojangles for Sunday workdays.
• Starbucks off Falls of Neuse Road and Durant Road for the coffee.
• REI Co-op, whose local stewardship grants support our volunteer trail crews, add new miles of footpath, and improves signage helping more people find and follow the MST.

The post Falls Lake Trail Workday appeared first on Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Dress for the weather, long sleeves, long pants and sturdy shoes recommended. Bring your own water and snacks. We will provide the tools for the cleanup (grabbers, gloves, bags, buckets).

Register on the FMST Meetup Site: https://www.meetup.com/nc-fmst/events/312750502/?eventOrigin=group_events_list

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