Rebuilding the Appalachian Trail After Hurricane Helene

I had the opportunity to document important recovery work with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) near Cherry Gap just outside of Erwin, Tennessee. The assignment brought me into the heart of the Appalachian Trail’s recovery efforts following the impact of Hurricane Helene.

I met up with ATC’s Joke Stowe at the trailhead on Unaka Mountain Road around 9 a.m. From there, we made the mile-and-a-half uphill hike to reach the crews already working. The damage was immediately clear. Massive root holes, some the size of minivans, blocked sections of the trail, and fallen trees covered the landscape.

The focus of the day was on three individuals from Japan’s long trails who had traveled here to volunteer with the ATC’s flagship Konnarock Trail Crew. They came to support recovery from Helene and to learn trail maintenance skills that they could share with trail maintainers in their home country.

As I photographed, I saw local volunteers, ATC staff, and the visiting crew from Japan working with determination to restore access to one of the most iconic trails in the world. I spent the next few hours documenting the energy, teamwork, and dedication it takes to rebuild a trail. Along the way, I captured portraits of the Japanese volunteers, using off-camera flash to balance the forest light and highlight the people behind the work.

The main takeaway from this assignment is that the Appalachian Trail depends on volunteers. Their hard work ensures that millions of hikers each year can continue to enjoy the trail in safety.

As a resident of Damascus, Virginia, where the Trail runs directly through town and plays a major role in our economy, culture, and events like Trail Days, I am grateful to have been part of telling this story. Thank you to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for hiring me to document this important work.