(234) 5/1,2,3/2026
Appalachian Trail rehabilitation continues
at Agony Grind

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Friday morning 5/1/2026
A crew of 14 Volunteers out today

Clearing rocks from the trail

So we can build steps,
making this section safer

This will look totally different
after we are finished

Getting near the end of this project

The upper crew's task is to clear the pathway

Clearing rubble

Breaking our way through

All while hikers pass on through

A lot of rubble has been cleared

Tomorrow we'll break off the end of this boulder
and make the trail a little wider

Last section of our Agony Grind rehabilitation,
then comes the view

What a great view

The lower crew continues the final crib wall, and steps

Another new step rides the highline

And guided into place

New crib-wall, steps, and turn

A closer look at the steps

A little downhill,
rebar pins added to keep steps secure

Closeup of rebar support pins

End of day crew meeting on a beautiful Spring day

5/2/2026
A damp Saturday morning

And we're back to moving big rocks

Rich takes a turn at drilling

Waiting is the hardest part of splitting rocks

After splitting the boulder,
Rich knocks off the remaining sharp edges

When we say it was done by hand,
we mean it

Using a steel wedge to split this rock at a fracture

Terri drilling to make more steps

And there they are, three new steps

Looking downhill at new crib-wall and steps

New crib-wall and steps view 2

We definitely have a few challenges ahead

Sunday morning and I see a ladder

At the top of the ladder is Bob
our polecat for today

He's installing a spar block for the highline

Yikes Bob! Don't look down

Each highline needs two spar trees
so it's up again for polecat Bob

Today we are building temporary footing
so hikers have safe passage

These temporary measures
will keep hikers from sliding down this steep hill

Clearing rocks and making crush

Marty always has his camera ready

Try finding a flat or level place to have lunch

After lunch, Terri's back drilling holes

Back to building more steps

How are we going to build steps through here?

Only three new steps added today
but the conditions are brutal

Sunday end of day crew meeting

Sunday 5/3/2026 in 3 minutes



© Marty Costello 2013 - 2026