Every year our trails need to be maintained by lopping overgrowth, picking up downed branches, cutting side-hill, installing steps in steep sections and repairing any accrued damage or re-routing sections of trail. Volunteers will be maintaining a hiking trail through The Nature Conservancy's Fortune's Cove Preserve, a rugged mountainous trail around 5 miles long. Volunteers will do a variety of tasks to help with erosion control. These may include using hand tools like heavy rakes and hoes and pulaskis to shape the trail, moving dirt, roots and rocks out of the way. Plan on hard work, but enjoy rewarding landscape views at the ridgetop. Be prepared to hike into the preserve carrying tools for about a mile before working on the trail.
Be sure to dress properly for the workday. It is a good idea to wear long pants and hiking or work boots. You should also bring work gloves, a backpack, water and lunch. Depending on conditions, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent are helpful as well. Predicting the weather in advance is tricky business. We will not work in severe weather or a downpour, but progress typically continues through sprinkles, showers, sizzles and stickiness. Please be sure you are in good physical condition to be able to hike and carry hand tools. If you have bad knees, ankles or back, you may want to choose another project.
The Nature Conservancy will provide all tools (hoes, loppers, rakes, shovels, etc.). We will also give volunteers an excellent overview of Fortune's Cove preserve, how the Conservancy works and its various nature protection projects throughout the state and around the world. Workdays give you the opportunity to help protect critical habitat for plants and animals that is quickly disappearing.
Carpooling is available from the Charlottesville Office of The Nature Conservancy on 29N. Allow 45 minutes from Charlottesville. From the north (Charlottesville area): take 29 south towards Lovingston. Before reaching Lovingston, turn right onto Rte 718, Mountain Cove Road. (Follow signs to Mountain Cove Vineyard). Go 1.5 miles and turn right onto Rte 651, Fortune’s Cove Lane. Continue 1.2 miles to vineyard, then bear left onto gravel road. Go 0.2 miles, then turn left into preserve parking area.
