The following information is to help you prepare for the Appalachia Rising: March on Blair Mountain. We encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have about this information: organizeapprising@gmail.com. If you have not registered for the march yet, please do so as soon as possible by clicking here.

Safety

Please refer to the safety memo available under the “Safety” sub-tab for a full account of safety measures being taken by the organizing body.

Accommodations (a.k.a. Camping)

We will be camping in tents outside each night. You will be expected to bring your own equipment, ie: tent, sleeping bag, mat, etc. If it is impossible for you to access these supplies, let the planning team know.

We will probably not have access to showers.

We do have cots available for those who need more comfortable sleeping arrangements in camp. Let us know if you require a cot and we will reserve one for you. We STRONGLY encourage those to camp that are able to. We will be able to accommodate a small number of participants in hotel rooms at their own expense. Due to logistical constraints, we cannot ensure full participation of hotel stayers in all march events. Please contact EmmaKate if you plan to stay in a hotel so we can be in touch with you about unique accommodations.

Vehicles, Parking, and Shuttles

Marchers should plan to arrive for the event on Saturday the 4th and park their vehicles in Charleston, WV. We have been able to secure a group rate at the City of Charleston, Reynolds Street & Lee Street Garage in downtown Charleston for $3 per vehicle per day. Vehicles will not have “in and out” privileges and participants will be expected to prepay for their own parking. Do not plan to bring your vehicle along on the march. Arrangements will be made to return people to their cars at the end of the march.

There is NO parking at the Orientation Day space in Marmet, WV. However, shuttles will be provided from the Charleston parking garage to Marmet from 3pm until 11pm on June 4th.

Again, all of the spaces we will be marching through have literally NO parking beyond critical march vehicles.

For participants arriving late AND participants staying in hotel in Marmet, a shuttle will be available Monday through Thursday to accommodate your travel to the march. Shuttles will leave at 6:30am and 8:30pm to take participants to and from the March and Marmet.  You must move your reservations and belonging to a hotel in Logan on June 10th to participate in the June 11th rally as shuttles will be leaving from Logan to Blair.

Volunteers

In order to make this event a success, we need your help. The march is being planned on a small budget by an all volunteer organizing body. As such, we need your help to make the event go. On the first day of the event, participants will be asked to take on week-long volunteer roles. These roles include (but are not limited to):

Please consider volunteering for one of these positions for the week. Explanations of these and other roles will be given on orientation day and week-long work teams will be formed then. It takes all of us to make this happen!

Meals

Morning and evening meals will be prepared in camp. Lunch will be carried in a support vehicle and made available at mid-day. Please be prepared to help with cooking and cleaning responsibilities.

Vegetarian meal options will be provided.

Luggage

All luggage and equipment should be kept as light and compact as possible. Your gear will be loaded and unloaded in a trailer each day for transportation. You will not be expected to carry your equipment, though we do have limited trailer space. One important note: stuff tied onto the outside of your gear makes it hard to pack into the van. It is your responsibility to pack everything inside your luggage so it does not get lost or damaged.

Children

Marchers are welcome to come with their children. Please see the childcare information under the “IMPORTANT: Participant Info.” tab. Note: strollers and wagons are OK if pulled by adults, however, due to safety concerns, no one may ride on bicycles during the march. If you are bringing children, make sure you read the safety note. It is likely that people hostile to the march will yell obscenities at us.

Pets

Pets are NOT allowed at this march. Please contact us if you have a service animal.

Official March Gear

Official march merchandise including red-neck bandannas and march t-shirts will be sold at the event. Bring cash if you would like to purchase there or other items.

Daily Expectations

A march like this will be physically and emotionally exhausting. Many people will be outside of their comfort zones regarding physical activity, eating habits, and sleeping arrangements. The experience may also be exhilarating, thrilling, and inspiring. Bringing a positive attitude, willingness to be flexible, and an eagerness to chip in will enhance the experience for everyone.

Preparation

Training before the march will make the experience more enjoyable. Develop a walking routine to build up your endurance. Try to walk ten miles at least once before the march so you know what that feels like. Good walking or running shoes are preferred. Proper fit and good socks will help prevent sore feet and blisters. If you need to buy new shoes, do so ahead of time so you have time to break them in. Do not wear new shoes on the march.

Map of Route

Statement of Risk

Participating in this march is an inherently risky endeavor. We will be marching through communities where some residents will not agree with us, we will be marching on hot or rainy days, and we will be marching a long way. We will be marching on two-lane rural highways. We will do all we can to ensure that this event is as safe as possible for those who participate. Please take responsibility for yourself and consider the conditions for this march as you prepare mentally and physically. For more details about the precautions we are taking, please see the safety statement here.

 

Saturday June 4

Marcher Arrival

3:00pm-11:00pm Marcher Arrival

*Marchers should park and prepay at the City of Charleston, Reynolds Street & Lee Street Garage in downtown Charleston for $3 per vehicle per day. Event Shuttles will be available from that parking garage to our March Headquarters in Marmet from 3:00pm-11:00pm.

For participants that are unable to arrive on Saturday for this very important Orientation Day, please park in the same lot in downtown Charleston and prepay. Take the KRT Transit Bus from the Virginia/Laidley (#2) to the Marmet City Hall Stop (#8). Directions, schedules, and fare information is available here: http://www.rideonkrt.com/schedules.html#schedules. We are on the “ State Capitol, Kanawha City, Cabin Creek” route. Once you exit the bus, head northwest toward 90th street to find our Headquarters space.

Note: THERE IS NO PARTICIPANT PARKING FOR MARCHERS AVAILABLE NEAR THE HEADQUARTERS SPACE IN MARMET.

For participants arriving late AND participants staying in hotel in Marmet, a shuttle will be available Monday through Thursday to accommodate your travel to the march. Shuttles will leave at 6:30am and 8:30pm to take participants to and from the March and Marmet. You must move your reservations and belonging to a hotel in Logan on June 10th to participate in the June 11th rally as shuttles will be leaving from Logan to Blair.

Sunday June 5

Orientation Day

7:30am Breakfast
9:00am Optional Interfaith Service
9:30am Welcome
10:00am History and Cultural Orientation
10:30am Group Activity
11:00am March Route
12:00pm Safety
1:00pm  Lunch
2:00pm Group Activity
3:00pm Peacekeeping and Deescalation
4:00pm Group Activity
4:30pm Volunteer Role Breakouts
6:00pm Why We are Marching!
7:00pm Dinner

Note: On Sunday evening, we must adequately prepare for the march. This means learning our roles, packing vans, eating, pitching in and getting some sleep! Many marchers will be preparing for the week ahead. Marchers who are not busy with these important tasks are encouraged to attend the Hazel Dickens concert at the WV Culture Center at 7 pm. Limited shuttle service will be available roundtrip will beginning at 6 pm.  If you are involved in preparation activities, there will be live web streaming available at our space.

 

Monday June 6

March Day 1—Marmet to Racine, 11.4 miles

6:00 Wake Up
6:30-7:30 Breakfast
7:45-8:15 Load up
8:30-9:00 Media Event
9:00-12:00 March (~4 miles, take breaks as appropriate)
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-6:00 March (~7 miles, take breaks as appropriate)
6:00 Arrive at Racine John Slack Park
6:00-8:00 Rest, Dinner, Set up Camp
8:00-10:00 Evening Program and Meetings
10:00 Quiet Hours

Tuesday June 7

March Day 2—Racine to Foster, 13.5 miles

6:00 Wake Up
6:30-7:45 Breakfast
7:45-8:15 Load up then announcements
8:45-12:00 March (~6 miles, take breaks as appropriate)
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-6:00 March (~7 miles, take breaks as appropriate)
6:00 Arrive at Community College
6:00-8:00 Rest, Dinner, Set up Camp
8:00-10:00 Evening Program and Meetings
10:00 Quiet Hours

Wednesday June 8

March Day 3—Foster to Madison, 6 miles

6:00 Wake Up
6:30-7:30 Breakfast
7:45-8:30 Load up then announcements
8:45-12:00 March (~3 miles, take breaks as appropriate)
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-4:00 March (~3 miles, take breaks as appropriate)
4:00 Arrive at Madison
4:00-7:00 Rest, Dinner, Set up Camp
7:00-10:00 Evening Program and Meetings
10:00 Quiet Hours

Thursday June 9

March Day 4—Madison to Ottowa, 12 miles

6:00 Wake Up
6:30-7:30 Breakfast
7:45-8:30 Load up then announcements
8:45-12:00 March (~5 miles, take breaks as appropriate)
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-6:00 March (~7 miles, take breaks as appropriate)
6:00 Arrive at Mifflin Lake
6:00-8:00 Rest, Dinner, Set up Camp
8:00-10:00 Evening Program and Meetings
10:00 Quiet Hours

Friday June 10

March Day 5–Ottowa to Blair, 8 miles

(Ralliers arrive—see Rallier Schedule)

6:00 Wake Up
6:30-7:30 Breakfast
7:45-8:30 Load up then announcements
8:45-12:00 March (~5 miles, take breaks as appropriate)
12:00-1:00 Lunch Break
1:00-6:00 March (~3 miles, take breaks as appropriate)
6:00 Arrive at Blair
6:00-8:00 Rest, Dinner, Set up Camp
8:00-10:00 Evening Program and Meetings and Rally Prep
10:00 Quiet Hours

Saturday June 11

Day of Action

10:00-12:30 Rally in Blair
12:30-1:00 Prep to March up Mountain (LIMITED shuttles)
1:00-2:30 Hike Up Mountain
2:30 Culminating Events
6:00 Depart, those that need or want to
7:00 Shuttles from Blair to Logan and Charleston

Sunday June 12

Clean-up, Support