Keep the Trail Magic alive in Great Barrington

Here’s what your support makes possible:

$10 feeds a hungry hiker

$25 keeps the power on and allows for charging stations

$50 restocks hiker essentials

$75 mows the tenting grounds and keeps things welcoming

$100 we can add extra treats and surprises

$200 provides Porta Potties for a month

$1,000 builds the tent platforms we so desperately need

We are Marc and Susan Serra, the owners of the Chapel, and the founders of The Memorial Chapel AT Great Barrington, Inc.. The Memorial Chapel AT Great Barrington, Inc is a recognized tax exempt organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3), Massachusetts AGO Charity Number: 084684

Each year thousands of hikers set off to ambitiously complete an end-to-end hike of the Appalachian Trail (AT) spanning almost 2,200 miles and passing through 14 states from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mount Katahdin, Maine. Carrying all their needs of food, water, and shelter strapped to their back, some head Northbound (NoBo), some Southbound (SoBo), some flip-flop, but all are considered a thru-hike of the AT when completed within one calendar year. This adventure can take five months on average and is estimated that fewer than 20% complete the trail.

By the time hikers reach mile 1537.4 in Great Barrington, MA, it’s been months of eating dehydrated food, sitting on stumps, and occasional loneliness. Our goal is to lend support to these long-distance hikers. Located just off the Appalachian Trail on Route 23, our tiny Chapel offers a refuge where these weary hikers can refuel their souls with home-cooked meals and baked goods, recharge their devices, refill their water, resupply their packs, sit in a real chair, enjoy some conversation, and even shelter for the night – all free of charge.

Lending free support to long-distance hikers is not a new concept. When the trail was being laid out in 1923, volunteers would show up to feed the workers who were blazing the trail. These acts of generosity became known as “trail magic”, and the folks offering the trail magic are commonly called “trail angels”. Hikers consider these acts of trail magic to be remarkable acts of kindness and a positive influence on their trail experience.

When we purchased the Chapel in 2021, we never intended on asking for financial help. The Chapel was our gift to weary hikers, and Trail Magic was an altruistic event we wanted to undertake. But as you are no doubt aware, food prices have spiked 35% since 2021. Our 2024 GFM was widely successful, and we were able to host 6 Trail Magic weekends in which we fed and sheltered over 220 hikers. The donations also allowed us to have Porta-Potty's onsite from May to October. Feeding hungry hikers is not cheap, but with your help, we can give them an experience they won’t forget.

We are also looking at major improvements to The Chapel, both interior and exterior. Weatherproofing and re-shingling is a must, ventilation issues need to be addressed, and we are exploring building a large covered pavilion so tired hikers can rest in the shade. 100% of your donation goes directly to food, water, operating essentials, and improvements that directly benefit AT hikers who stop by the Chapel. Any funds not used are carried over to the next year.

If you're interested in the history of the Chapel and our story, please watch this short YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ia_l6_5Sb-w. We were also featured on Boston's WCVB Chronicle, and also the TV debut of Yellow Brick. You can watch that here: https://youtu.be/cSCIxQKmK4k

In closing, we say...thank you! Thank you for all that you have done, and thank you for what is to come. Some of you have already volunteered your time alongside us, some have donated food and supplies, and so many of you have offered words of encouragement. It all means the world to us, and we can't wait to share it with this year's crop of hikers and non-hikers alike. If you see us there, please stop by and say hi. If you're lucky, you may even get one of Sue's cookies.

Sincerely,

Marc and Susan Serra (Papa Razzi & Sneak Attack)