Three ridgerunners patrol the Appalachian Trail in the Park from early March through May each year. One ridgerunner continues to work through October.

Ridgerunners are employees of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and work in the park under the coordinated direction of the ATC and the National Park Service.

Ridge Runners protect visitor experience by reducing social and resource impacts from visitor use.

Ridgerunners educate hikers about resource stewardship through example and conversation using the "authority of the resource" technique.

Ridgerunners are an official presence along the trail and report safety and wildlife issues that need attention. They help regulate/disperse thru-hiker use by providing information about space availability in shelters.

Ridgerunners clean trail shelters, service privy’s and promote efficiency of trail maintenance by reporting trail conditions to the ATC and Hiking Club volunteers who maintain the trail. They perform trail maintenance in their spare time (saw blown down trees, clean water bars and repair deteriorated dangerous trail segments).

Ridgerunners are available to assist park rangers if needed. They monitor the radio daily from 0900–1000 & 1500-1600.

Ridgerunners check permits and keep records of use to monitor the effectiveness of the park's backcountry use policies. They file written patrol reports after completion of each four or ten day patrol.

Each year 35% of the total backcountry camping in the park is in the twelve AT shelters.

Approximately 1000 thru-hikers pass through the park on the AT from March through May each year.

Welcome the 2009 Ridgerunner Staff:   Susan Powell, Jim Mowbray and Carl Goodman.

February 27, 2009