Beasley Knob Adopt-A-Trail Work Weekend

by Rita Barnhart, Georgia Bounty Runners,

The Georgia Bounty Runners (GBR) work the Beasley Knob ORV area twice per year to assist in keeping this area open for our sport. All members of Southern are invited to help. Please contact us if you'd like to assist in our October 2006 effort.

Our latest work weekend (renamed the "Fun Run" for obvious reasons), was held the weekend of March 18, 2006. Curtis and I met with Teressa from the US Forest Service on Friday to pick up supplies and get our orders for the weekend. She has always been supportive of our efforts at Beasley.

On Saturday morning, bringing fresh-baked donuts, Ms. Alison Koopman (the Forest Service's new Natural Resources Recreation Manager for the area) came out to speak with our group. She wanted to meet the people that use, support and take care of the area.

She reported to us that the previous Beasley Knob requests for "Recreational Trails Program funding" (grants administered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources) have been approved. She wished to pass along to us that she personally appreciates the time and volunteer commitment that helps to obtain these maintenance funds. She also stated that there are several steps that have to be completed by her office before those funds can be utilized, but that she will be in touch with us if further assistance is needed in any area and she will keep us posted of the progress.

Over the two-day weekend, the GBR covered the entire trail system for trash cleanup and normal water-bar upkeep. We had 29 members participate that drove a total of 2997 miles to come up and help. Total man-hours logged for the weekend were 253 hours. As always, we found an amazing collection of discarded items. This time it included a bicycle, marble counter tops, metal frames and a trolling motor among the usual tires, trash and auto and ATV body parts.

As always, thank you to the GBR members that take their time to come out and help.