ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 22, 1996 TAG: 9604230148
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
There won't be any turnstiles on the trails in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area this season, but for the first time officials there will ask hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers to make donations for trail maintenance.
The 154,000-acre recreation area in Southwest Virginia provides some of the state's loftiest and loveliest trails, nearly 350 miles of them, including a scenic 60-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail.
Yet, there is scant money for trail maintenance this year, and at a time when the need is great, following a winter that sent mounds of melting snow cascading down the ridges and causing damage.
``Some of the trails in the high country really took a beating,'' said Steve Sherwood, the area manager. ``To top that off, we received absolutely zero dollars for new trail construction this year. We did receive some money for trail maintenance. We usually get maintenance money for somewhere between 15 to 20 miles a year. That is just not near enough.''
Sherwood has established a special account for donations that will be used for trail projects. He hopes some of the 1.5 million visitors to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests recreation area will stuff dollar bills into a donation box at the area's headquarters or will send them by mail. The headquarters is located on Virginia 16 south of Marion (Route 1, Box 303, Marion, 24354).
``Most units of the national forests do not have the authority to do this,'' Sherwood said, but Congress gave national recreation areas the right to collect donations about three years ago, he said.
The Mount Rogers area has developed a cadre of volunteer trail workers, a program Sherwood would like to see expanded.
``What we are working toward is developing a crew of volunteers, whether they are horseback riders, mountain bikers or hikers, so our volunteers do our target work for us,'' he said. ``What we would use our budget for is to support them by buying the equipment they need and teaching them the proper techniques they need to know.''
The next step following the donation system could be the establishment of an access pass that would be required of hikers, backpackers, bikers and horseback riders, he said.
``I have bounced this idea off of a lot of people, `What would you think about paying $10 for an annual access fee for the national recreation area?' They have said, `I think it is a great idea. I would be glad to buy one.'''
Camping fees are being increased at several Mount Rogers campgrounds, but only by a dollar or two, Sherwood said. A shortage of funds and weather-related damage has delayed the opening of several campgrounds. Officials say the New River Campground and Raven Cliff Campground may not open at all this season.
Other sections of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests suffered flood damage. Winter flooding closed the Cascades Trail in Giles County this year, when Little Stony Creek washed out bridges and eroded extensive sections of this popular footpath. It was re-opened this month with substantial detours.
Damage also has occurred to recreation facilities at Lake Moomaw, Sherando Lake and Brandywine, forest officials said.
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON. Backpacking is popular in the Mount Rogersby CNBNational Recreation Area, but officials say there are scant funds to
maintain the area's many scenic trails. Donations are being
accepted. color.