Long Term - PATC

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is one of many clubs that operate under the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. In these crews, consisting almost entirely of unpaid volunteers, they help maintain the entire Appalachian Trail and the connecting sub-trails. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, or PATC, though many members have expressed their disdain for that acronym to me, citing that it just sounds silly, maintains and cares for over 1,100 miles of trail, 49 cabins & 47 shelters. This group is not a glamorous job; in fact, many people have referred to it as a pain in the ass, yet they continue to contribute hundreds of hours to their trails month to month. The magic of the PATC club lies not in their vitality in the maintenance of the trail or their continued resilience after being kicked down by hurdles such as lack of funding or respect from the Department of the Interior, but in the passion of the volunteers. Every volunteer interviewed, ranging from a proud nudist to a former landscaper who now runs a YouTube channel documenting bushcraft, was bubbling with fervent care towards what they were doing. The PATC group allows these volunteers to break into a multitude of subsections, engaging in their interests while also providing the most benefit to the club. One of these is the group ‘The Hoodlums’ who primarily focus on the Shenandoah area. In addition to being trained in how to remove ‘blow downs’ or when a big tree or branch falls in the path of the trail, dig water dams, or look for invasive plants, they are also reimbursed for training such as first aid. Despite many striving to join groups like the Hoodlums, Jayne Mayne, vice-president of volunteerism, even states that a big problem with membership is that everyone wants to work in ‘nice’ places like Shenandoah; many step up to the plate when needed. Groups like the ‘crapper crew’ have a sole job of treating and cleaning out latrines, completely unpaid. Despite the apparent success of their efforts in the 2025 newsletter and continued praise from through-hikers, there is an ever-growing problem within this club. From a lack of funding to communication problems between park rangers, the Department of the Interior, and even within the club itself, they continue to run into problems such as insufficient funding and misappropriation of funds. At the time of writing this, there is a push for new members from some rivaling a split between others wanting to keep the old in charge. Some anonymous members have stated that this striving to keep the old is merely a ploy to create new paid positions for those in power. This is an ongoing struggle as the clock ticks towards elections for positions such as the presidency which take place next year. Despite the hurdles, the occasional tension between members continues to be knocked down; this time, in the way of the government shutdown, it would be a disservice not to pay attention to these dedicated volunteers. PATC is always accepting new members on its website, PATC.net. However, if you don’t have the time to see the treasures this group has to offer, just offer a wave if you see them on your favorite trail; after all, enjoyment from hikers has been their end goal.