Augusta, GA

501 trees cleared to open just one 3-mile trail in Augusta, GA after Hurricane Helene

Published

1 year ago

October 26, 2024

501 trees cleared to open just one 3-mile trail in Augusta, GA after Hurricane Helene

Three individuals are working in a wooded area, clearing brush and fallen branches. One person is using a chainsaw to cut through thick vines, while another assists nearby. The third individual is wearing a hardhat and is focused on gathering debris. They are dressed in bright safety orange shirts for visibility. The scene is set in a sunny environment with a clear blue sky and green foliage surrounding them. — Photos provided by Angela Allen.

By now everyone is aware of the damage Hurricane Helene brought to the mountain communities in and around Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding Pisgah National Forest. Augusta, GA was hit hard by the storm too, and while flooding wasn’t as widespread or catastrophic there as it was in western North Carolina, thousands of trees rooted in rain-soaked soil were toppled by the strong winds that whipped through the area.

“We had over 100 miles of trail here, but unfortunately hurricane Helene took us down to none,” Angela Allen told me. Allen is the Communications Chair and work party coordinator for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Southern Off Road Biking Association (SORBA) chapter. The volunteer group is responsible for maintaining more than 100 miles of singletrack, and had just finished their annual three-month-long foliage maintenance work cleaning every inch of those trails the weekend before the storm hit. Their celebration of a job well done was short lived.

Two individuals are engaged in outdoor volunteer work, clearing brush and debris from a wooded area. One person, wearing a hard hat and an orange volunteer shirt, is pulling on a branch, while the other, dressed in a gray shirt, assists nearby. The scene is set in a natural environment with sparse foliage and trees in the background under a clear sky.

Just this week, Augusta Mayor Garnett L. Johnson held a press conference with representatives from FEMA to give an update on recovery efforts following the record-breaking storm. Nearly a month after Helene, which initially left the entire city without power, communications remain limited. “More than 95% of our residents still may remain without internet, and cell service to this date still remains to be spotty in some areas. Thousands of homes and properties sustained significant damage, and tragically, some of our fellow Augustans lost their lives,” he said. In the press conference, City Administrator Tameka Allen noted that the city had only recently been able to restore all traffic signals to full functionality.

Jake Veriato, SORBA CSRA President, said that local mountain bikers got to work immediately, clearing trees off their own homes, driveways, and roadways, and helping neighbors do the same. After some time, there was a desire to get at least a small sliver of singletrack open for mountain biking again.

“A lot of them just wanted a break from helping the community and wanted to help the community in another way, which is to get back out into the forest.” For many area riders, a quick mountain bike ride was exactly what they needed to recharge.

Two individuals in safety gear walk down a dirt path towards a wooden bridge, surrounded by tall trees and a clear blue sky. In the background, a small group of people is gathered near the bridge, with some engaging in outdoor activities. The scene depicts a natural setting, likely in a park or recreational area.

A group of four people in outdoor clothing working together to lift a large log in a wooded area. They are focused on their task, with one person wearing a green bandana, another in an orange helmet, and the others in caps. The ground is covered with fallen leaves and branches.

SORBA CSRA rallied 186 volunteers, including 26 certified Sawyer teams, to focus on getting the Canal singletrack trail re-opened. The flowy singletrack trail, located between the Augusta canal and Savannah river, is the only mountain bike trail within the city limits, which made it a good trail for volunteers to focus on. Allen and Canal trail champion John Pilcher “went out there two separate days to literally climb under and over logs [tying flags] so you can see where the trail went,” Allen said. All told, 501 trees were cleared and 746 volunteer hours were logged.

“We thought that would be the best for the trail community to get at least one trail system open and we achieved that,” Veriato said.

A person wearing a bright orange shirt and a backpack walks along a wooded trail with fallen logs and pine needles scattered on the ground. The setting is surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery, hinting at a natural outdoor environment. — Surveying the newly re-opened trail.

A person in an orange shirt stands on a dirt trail surrounded by tall trees in a wooded area. The ground is covered with fallen leaves and branches, and sunlight filters through the leaves above, creating a serene outdoor atmosphere. — Surveying the newly re-opened trail.

Looking beyond the Canal trail, most Augusta-area singletrack lies on land that’s under state and federal land management. “We still don’t have access to the Forest Service trails in the Long Cane Ranger District, which is okay, they are working through it,” said Veriato.

SORBA CSRA is still in triage mode, assessing which trails are even accessible at this point, and whether infrastructure like bridges and signage will need to be repaired. No doubt there are many more trees that need to be cleared.

“It’s easy to see the long road we have ahead of us. I mean, you’re talking thousands upon thousands of trees, thousands of man hours, thousands of days out there,” Veriato said. “So yeah, it’s going to be tough.”

To volunteer, or donate funds to SORBA CSRA to help offset the cost of fuel and equipment, visit sorbacsra.org.

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Related Topics:3-mile 501 90's After article Articles augusta bike bike blog Blog cleared Featured Ga helene hurricane in just mountain mountain bike mountain biking mtb news one open Singletracks to trail trees

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Augusta, GA

Abercrombie Becomes a Leader On and Off the Court – Augusta University

Published

10 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Abercrombie Becomes a Leader On and Off the Court – Augusta University

Augusta, Ga. – A year ago when Quinasia Abercrombie was a freshman, she let her work on the court do the talking as she became one of the top players in the Peach Belt Conference. Abercrombie didn’t have to be a vocal leader since the Jaguars had several upper classmen that handled that role. This year, her sophomore season, Abercrombie is still one of the best players around, but now has become the vocal leader of the team, something that didn’t come naturally.

“I’m just leading my team by voice now, not just leading by example,” Abercrombie said. “Since I don’t really talk, I think they (my teammates) were really surprised, but they’re listening.”

She leads the Augusta women in several offensive categories and has proven to be a major asset to the program.

From Greenville, S.C., Abercrombie was an all-state high school player. She gives part of that credit to her siblings, one older brother and three younger brothers. She had to scratch and claw on the basketball court with them and she’s the first to give them credit for helping make her the player she is today. Abercrombie went as fas as saying she enjoys playing against guys since they’ll push her hard to become better, and she likes the competition.

Now, she’s also being pushed by coach Celeste Stewart. So much so, it’s taking Abercrombie out of her comfort zone. But it’s all for the betterment of her.

“She’s put me in multiple, uncomfortable situations, like talking, being more verbal, and just putting me in positions I wouldn’t normally put myself in,” added Abercrombie.

With the Peach Belt Conference tournament up next for the Jaguars, Abercrombie thinks this team can find another gear and make a run. While she has elevated her game, she knows her teammates can do the same.

Even going forward as a player, Abercrombie knows there’s plenty of room for improvement. One of the most notable for her, her ball handling skills.

“I know I like to pick up my dribble a lot and give it to my point guards,” said Abercrombie. “But I know I can bring it down the court, I just need to work on my ball handling and just being confident handling the ball.”

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.

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Augusta, GA

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

Published

22 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Peach Belt tournament: Augusta misses out for the first time in Metress era

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 2025-2026 Peach Belt Conference brackets are set, and there is plenty of shakeup this year.

Starting with the women’s bracket, Augusta University secured the #4 overall seed and will face #5 seed Middle Georgia in round one.

USCA’s women’s team did not fair as well, finishing in last place of this season’s standings.

On the men’s side, USCA’s men’s team secured the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament.

In a shocking turn of events, AU’s men’s team did not qualify for the tournament.

This marks the first time the program has missed the PBC tournament since Dip Metress took over the program in 2004.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Falls to Georgia Southwestern in Final Game of the Series – Augusta University

Augusta, Ga. – Augusta managed just five hits and one run and fell to Georgia Southwestern 12-1 Sunday as the Hurricanes win two of the three games of the series. The Jaguars are now 7-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 11-8 overall. The Canes improve to 7-2 in conference play and 12-7 overall.

Georgia Southwestern scored runs in all but one inning including four runs in the first two innings and plated five runs in the fifth, highlighted by a grand slam.

The only Augusta run would come in the fourth inning. Landon Leonard would reach on an error and would come around when Kent Moon reached on a fielder’s choice that would plate Leonard.

Leonard, Moon, Davis Newman, Harris Bachelder and Jakob Cowart would collect the hits for the Jaguars.

Augusta will next be in action on Friday when the open up a three game series with Lander at Jaguar Field. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:00 p.m.

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