UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (AP) — Volunteers are still rebuilding parts of the iconic Appalachian Trail in eastern Tennessee nearly a year after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. Two damaged spots along the trail require hikers to take detours. A group of volunteers and staffers with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and local groups worked on repairs at a spot on the trail near the destroyed Cherry Gap Shelter in mid-July. Volunteers say their priority is fixing root ball holes in the ground caused by fallen trees. The work is intensive and slow. But the group hopes it can improve the trail’s resiliency against future severe weather.… Continue Reading