Program areas at Friends of the Mountains-To-Sea Trail
Education: provided information about hiking and caring for the Trail through a website, the media, newsletters, meetings, and events. Published Trail guides that are available online. Worked with online partner to launch an online guide. Organized and held a three-day annual event of 275 members to educate them about the Trail and how to help build, protect and promote it. Organized a month of hiking, 46 mile hiking challenge to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the recommendation to build the mst. Tens of thousands of people hiked sections of the Trail every day, with new people using the Trail to safely explore outdoors and connect with family. 12 people completed the entire 1,175 mile Trail in 2023. Participated in statewide year of the Trail initiative.
Trail building and maintenance: maintained and improved existing Trail and constructed new Trail near elkin in surry county, bentonville, and guilford county, near greensboro. Installed a new bridge in turnbull creek educational state forest and opened 1-mile of new Trail. Built an eastern terminus monument at jockey's ridge state park. 1,000 volunteers worked 42,182 hours to build, maintain, protect and promote the Trail.
Trail routing: identified new connecting routes on backroads and existing trails in areas where a final route has not yet been designated. Worked with local governments and non-profit land trusts to encourage and assist them in acquiring new land for the Trail.
Advocacy: educated federal, state and local elected officials and other stakeholders about the value of the Mountains-To-Sea Trail.