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2026 Cohutta Wilderness
Role: Crew Member
Log out and brushing operations on the Hickory Ridge Trail were completed in late June 2026 by the SAWS Georgia crew, resulting in the reopening of the trail (slated for July 30, 2026). 418 downed trees were removed by the 7 person crew. According to the U.S. Forest Service, the closure was necessary because "Hurricane Helene’s high winds and heavy rainfall have compounded ongoing changes to the Wilderness resulting from the 2016 drought and wildfires. These combined impacts have created dense understory growth and extensive blowdowns, resulting in hazardous trail conditions for hikers."
Pic 1: Log out by Sky Dudley and I
Pic 2: Log out by Arjay Ruotolo, Blake Garrison, and I
Pic 3: Log out and brushing by Mollie Unruh and I
Pic 4: Log out by Cyrus Issari and I