The following information is to help you prepare for the Appalachia Rising: Rally and Day of Action 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 rally 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. Much of the information pertains to the march itself but much of what is provided there goes for the rally as well.
Accommodations
We will be tent camping at Chief Logan State Park. 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. Accommodations will be available beginning the evening of Thursday June 9th.
We cannot guarantee 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. If you require a hotel, please book a hotel room in the town of Logan and plan to meet us at Chief Logan State Park for event activities. If you are a member of an Alliance group and require a hotel, please contact Katey Lauer at Katey.Lauer@TheAllianceForAppalachia.org. Please contact us if you plan to stay in a hotel so we can be in touch with you about unique accommodations.
Vehicles, Parking, and Shuttles
Ralliers should plan to arrive for the Training Day on Friday June 10th at Chief Logan State Park if they are able. Parking will be available for participants at the park. On the morning of the rally, on June 11th, shuttles will be available at Chief Logan State Park from 7:30am until 11:00am to transport ralliers to the town of Blair. *There is not sufficient parking in Blair for ralliers. DO NOT PARK YOUR VEHICLE IN THE TOWN OF BLAIR. Shuttles will return participants to their vehicles beginning at 6:00pm.
Again, the town of Blair has literally NO parking beyond critical march vehicles.
Volunteers
In order to make this event a success, we need your help. The march and rally are 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 Training day on the 10th, participants will be asked to take on Day of Action volunteer roles. Please consider volunteering. Explanations of these and other roles will be given on the Training Day. It takes all of us to make this happen!
Meals
Meals will be provided for Ralliers beginning Friday June 10th for Lunch and Dinner. Breakfast and Lunch will also be available for ralliers on June 11th.
Vegetarian meal options will be provided.
Children
Participants 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. Please know that it is possible that there will be counter protestors who may wish to intimidate us and will likely yell obscenities.
Pets
Pets are NOT allowed at this march. Please contact the 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.
Expectations
An event 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.
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. See the safety statement for more information.
NOTE: All of these activities including training, camping, meals, and shuttles will take places at Chief Logan State Park. Please RSVP if you are coming so we can arrange accommodations accordingly.
Thursday June 9
Rallier Arrival Begins
*We are unable to serve meals to rally-only participants on this day
Friday June 10
Rallier Training Day, Rallier Arrival Continues
*We are unable to serve breakfast to rally-only participants this morning
11:30 Lunch
1:00-7:00 Critical Day of Action Trainings
7:00 Rest, Dinner, Help Prepare for Day of Action
11:00 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 from Blair to the top of Blair Mountain)
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