February 2010 - Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

Transcription

The Newsletter of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
February 2010 Volume 39, Number 2
Looking down Overall Hollow to the Page Valley
with the Massanutten mountains in the background
Photo by Lee Sheaffer
In this Issue
2 Great Eastern Trail
Guidebook
3 Lee’s Overlook
4 Who Met Their Spouse
Through PATC?
6 Appalachian Nature:
Nature’s Cupids
7 Coyote, the Song Dog
8 History Dept: “A contradiction in
democratic government”
8 PATC Holds elections this
year
9 Volunteer of the Month –
Lee Manning 9 As the World Turns
10 SHARE YOUR PASSION! BECOME A TRAIL TALKER!
10 Cabin Nom de Plume
11 PA Review Committee
Findings and Reader Survey
Results
12 Forecast
17 New Boots
18 Trailhead
21 Help Wanted
22 December 2009 Council Fire
118 Park Street, S.E.,
Vienna, VA 22180-4609
www.patc.net
ISSN 098-8l54
HIKE OF THE MONTH: FROZEN WATERFALL OF OVERALL RUN
Shenandoah NATIONAL PARK
Here’s to cold weather! Not just a day of cold, but a good long cold spell. A week of highs in
the 20s is transformative on the landscape. Anyone with a memory of how things were 40 years
ago knows that the winters aren’t what they used to be and the extended cold spells are rare in
the Mid-Atlantic states. However, when a week of weather below freezing does occur, then it is
time to prepare to see features that do not happen during the rest of the year.
The upper falls of Overall Run in the North District of Shenandoah National Park is one such
feature. This is a popular hike year round, but during the winter the falls and the views are even
more spectacular. Often during the summer the falls can be a little underwhelming. While the
falls are the highest in the park at over 90 feet, the volume of water can be low. During summer
the flow can be just a trickle, and the falls can look more like wet cliff than a waterfall. This
deficiency turns to an advantage during the winter, however, as the reduced water volume aids in
freezing the waterfall to a massive ice column 90 feet high. The longer the cold spell, the more
intricate the ice patterns as they freeze down the side of the cliff.
After an extended freeze the ice fall can look like a towering medieval cathedral, with many
columns of ice cascading down to a ledge and then pouring over that to the frozen pool at the
bottom of the falls. The overlook itself is outstanding; not only do you see the entire falls from
above, but turning 180 degrees affords an outstanding view down the Overall Run hollow and
into the Page valley and Massanutten range beyond.
A Better Way to Go
Most people access the falls by the parking lot on milepost 21 of Skyline Drive and walk down
the Tuscarora Trail to the falls. This leaves a steep climb up to your car after seeing the falls, and
during the winter the odds are good that Skyline Drive will be closed due to weather. This route
also misses the lower falls of Overall Run, which are worth the trip all by themselves. The way
to do this hike is to start from the bottom and end the hike with a descent to your car. From
Front Royal, take Rte. 340 south to the town of Bentonville and turn left on Rte. 613. In a mile,
turn right on Rte. 630 and follow this road until it ends. There is a small parking lot and a short
walk up a private driveway to the Thompson Hollow Trail. (The park has an easement over this
private land, and the trail is blazed blue. Please respect the land owners by staying on the trail.)
The Thompson Hollow Trails dead-ends after half a mile at the Tuscarora-Overall Run Trail.
(continued on p. 23)
Great Eastern Trail Guidebook
On May 31, 2008, Tom Johnson,
president of the Great Eastern Trail
Association (and former PATC
president), said something about what
we needed was a guidebook for the
Great Eastern Trail, specifically in our
area. I’m fairly familiar with that area, so
I volunteered. After a month’s delay, I
started hiking on Shenandoah Mountain
and North Mountain, taking pictures,
verifying maps, and preparing to write
up what I found.
I am now in the process of writing a
guidebook for the Great Eastern Trail
from Hancock, Md., south to I-64 in
Alleghany County. It includes parts of
the Tuscarora Trail (in the north) and
the Allegheny Trail (in the south), with
numerous trails and roads between.
This in-between part has been referred
to as the Allegheny-Tuscarora Link.
Tom has suggested a need for a new
name, as there are many “Link” trails.
I would suggest “Headwaters Section”
as this region is at the headwaters of the
Potomac, Shenandoah, and James Rivers.
“The Tuscarora Trail Guide to the
South Half” is the basis of this Great
Eastern Trail Guidebook, largely as 91
miles of it is shared, and the “Tuscarora
Guide” has recently been updated.
There have been some adjustments, as
I divide and name sections differently,
and I’ve added shuttle routes for each
section. I’ve written up some sections
that I have hiked, and I’ve written up
some that I have good maps for, still
hoping to hike them.
Currently, I have a Great Eastern Trail
Guidebook Web page, from which there
are links to pages that have individual
guides to each section. The goal is to
have a guidebook, but also to allow
others to check it over for corrections
and additions, perhaps to fill me in
on places I haven’t been yet. Once
everything is complete, we can publish
the guidebook. In the meantime,
they can be used for hiking guides. In
addition to each section guide is a Trail
Condition Report, telling the conditions
I found these trails in. Since I hiked
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most in the summer, lack of trimming is
a frequent problem. Places where road
signs are lacking are also noted.
The GET Guidebook can be found at:
www.brownmtnphotog.com/index.php?
option=content&task=view&id=122.
A Proposed Reroute
In the course of preparing this
guidebook, it came to my attention that
one gap in the GET is that immediately
south of I-64. The gap is in the
Allegheny Trail, which is continuous
north of I-64, and it has a 21-mile
segment further south, which is also used
by the GET, but between is a long road
walk, and you can’t do it directly because
I-64 is the only road that connects the
road with the Allegheny Trailhead—and
hiking on it is not allowed.
I looked over maps for an alternative
route so as to fill in the gap. It still
involved road walks to the south of I-64
but is nearly all trail north of it. I hiked
the trails to make sure they were there
(often trails shown on maps are not).
In October I wrote up a proposal for a
“Reroute of the Great Eastern Trail.”
Instead of going on the Allegheny
Trail (GET would still follow the
southernmost segment of the Allegheny
Trail) along the state line north of I-64,
the proposed reroute goes through
Covington. This reroute could be a
new route, a temporary route (until the
Allegheny Trail gap is completed), or
serve as an eastern branch of the GET.
This proposal can be found at: www.
brownmtnphotog.com/index.php?optio
n=content&task=view&id=150.
Since writing the proposal I’ve found
there is a walking route for the
Allegheny Trail gap, but it involves
leaving or reaching the trail several miles
north of I-64. If kept, we’ll need to
decide which way to do it.
—Tim Hupp is overseer of the Brown
Mountain Trail in the Southern Section
of the Shenandoah National Park, with
the Web page: www.brownmtnphotog.com/
index.php?option=content&task=view&
id=65.
February 2010 • Potomac Appalachian
Lee’s Overlook: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE UPCOMING YEAR
upcoming year that deserve additional
mention.
As we thaw out after a long winter, the
club is already looking forward to a
productive and eventful year. In 2010
we hope to see new reroutes to both the
Appalachian and Tuscarora trails, as well
as new shelters added to both. We will
also be adding some new cabins to our
rental system and continuing work on
others to bring into our system in
future years.
As we have done for the past 83 years,
we will continue to build and maintain
an excellent trail system in our four-state
area. We will continue to publish maps
and guidebooks that are both accurate
and informative. We will continue to
help educate the public about our trails
and the environment through our trail
patrol, our many education programs,
and our ridge runner system. If all goes
wrong, we will even help find lost and
injured hikers through our Shenandoah
Mountain Emergency Rescue Group.
In addition to the normal procedures,
there are two events taking place in the
By mid-year, our new computer system
should be complete and running. It
has taken an entire year to set up and
customize this system to our needs,
but when complete, it should enhance
the way our members and the public
interact with the club. The new system
will have an enhanced database and will
aid members in all areas of the club. For
members, it should be much easier to
rejoin, report work hours, and sign up
for and find out about club events. For
our staff, the new system will greatly
improve productivity, automating many
functions and freeing our staff to focus
on more important items.
For our members and the public, our
new Web page and Web store will be
much improved and much easier to use.
The system will also greatly improve
our membership database and make it
easier to submit the necessary reports
to our partners. By the end of this year,
all members should be able to check
their status, know what and where they
have contributed volunteer services, and
know where the club has opportunities
and needs.
In November, in accordance with our
constitution, PATC will elect 12 officers
to comprise a new Executive Committee
at our general membership meeting.
Any member in good standing can and
should run for office. The executive
committee is responsible for the daily
operations of the club and suggests
policy for our council. Executive
Committee officers are elected to twoyear terms and are limited to two terms
in that position. A list of officers up for
election and instructions on how to
run for office will appear in the PA for
the next several months (see table of
contents on page 1).
Come on Board
Keeping a club vibrant and viable
requires that new ideas and new
volunteers be integrated into the
organization at all levels, including the
Executive Committee. This is why we
have term limits on our officers and why
we need volunteers to become part of
the decision-making process.
Speaking personally, being a member
of the Executive Committee is always
fascinating. It is not always fun (though
most of the time it is), but the issues you
deal with and the people you interact
with prove to be far greater rewards
for your effort. Being on the Executive
Committee has made me much more
informed and improved my ability to
make informed decisions in all aspects
of life. In short, it has made me a better
and more informed person; it can do
that for you as well.
—Lee Sheaffer
PATC WEB SITE NEEDS NEW VOLUNTEERS
The team of volunteers who manage the PATC web site
(www.patc.net) is looking for new help with tasks related to
administering and enhancing the site. The PATC site is a busy one
with frequent updates of events and news. Also, our site will be
moved in 2010 to a new hosting system which is tightly coupled
with new PATC organizational support software. This will be
an exciting time and a great chance for creative and dedicated
individuals to contribute to the club in a way that will last for
many years.
We are looking for help with the following tasks:
Site Planner: Plan and direct the new web server and application
development (this position requires experience and knowledge of
web technologies). This is a very important task which will help
the club immensely.
Please consider volunteering with PATC for these tasks. The
more volunteers that assist and contribute, the better the PATC
website will be.
Contact Jim Tomlin ([email protected]), the volunteer IT committee
chair, for more information or to volunteer. Thank you!
Content Managers: Help edit and approve user submittals to the
PATC on-line calendar and documents. This is a daily function
that can be shared by a small team of volunteers. All responsible
volunteers are welcome.
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Who Met Their Spouse Through PATC?
Thanks to all of you who submitted
stories and photos for our Valentine’s
Day article. It seems that volunteering
for PATC, including office work and
PATC work trips, is fertile ground for
kindling long-term liaisons. So spread
the word and encourage your friends to
volunteer with PATC!
Here are our Valentine’s Day accounts:
Joanne and Kevin Parkes
Joanne: In 1989, Kevin and I met while
working on the Mutton Top Cabin
construction project under Roberto
Pena’s excellent guidance. Roberto
made each weekend fun even when
the day’s project involved removing
a massive rock from the hole where a
footer was supposed to be constructed.
The evenings were filled with exceptional
food and wonderful company. After
about the third month of driving 160
miles each way to Mutton Top, Kevin
and I learned we lived three miles
from each other. Even though it just
made sense to drive together, we credit
Roberto for setting us up. In 1991
Kevin and I were married and held our
wedding reception at Mutton Top so we
could share this wonderful place with
friends and family. I still remember trying
to coordinate the delivery of a wedding
cake to the cabin! Since our wedding,
Kevin and I have lived in Michigan,
Texas, Japan, Korea, and Germany,
finally settling in Flagstaff, AZ where
Kevin now works for Grand Canyon
National Park. We enjoy reading in
the Potomac Appalachian about PATC
projects presently underway.
John McCrea and Catherine Pipan
Catherine: Two girlfriends and I ran
across three PATC volunteers working
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on the Rocky Mount Trail in the
southern section of the SNP. Years later,
when I ran into Tex Herbel shopping
for a backpacking tent, I took him up
on his offer to join the North District
Hoodlums on their monthly Trail
Work Trip. Little did I know that I
would encounter a group of people
reminiscent of Cheers (a TV show) who
made Friends (another old TV show)
look blasé, shallow and boring and a
dinner cuisine to rival the palate of any
of the Washingtonian’s Best Restaurants
(and we’re not talking just the “Cheap
Eats” issue either). I also did not
expect to meet my future husband and
soulmate John McCrea. WOW (what a
wonderful weekend!).
I met John
again at a Cabin
work trip at
Range View in
January 2005.
By coincidence,
we were the only two to show up!
After that weekend hiking in the snow,
we have spent most of our weekends
together. When John would drive from
Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore or
wherever he was working, I realized it
must be true love, craziness or perhaps
a mixture of both. We were married
November 25, 2006 at St. Mary’s
Catholic Church in
Alexandria, VA.
Jay and Carrie Eisenberg (The Newlywed
Game, home version)
We always end this story by saying,
“we owe a lot to PATC,” and every
year when we gratefully renew our
membership, we fondly remember where
we started.
Carrie: In 1996, I was looking for a
volunteer opportunity that involved
the outdoors, nature, hiking and
generally meeting other people with
the same interests. I remembered
that my older brother had long been
a member of PATC and decided to
take his cue and join up. I eagerly read
the PA every month for opportunities
and noticed that the Cabins Desk
needed volunteers. I dialed and left
a message on the answering machine
offering up my services. After a few
weeks I called again and left another
message; this time the Chair person
called me back and sealed my fate. I
started volunteering at the Cabins desk,
taking reservations, and tending to the
business of rentals. Each month I would
receive the call from the “cabin guy” as
I now referred to my future husband,
to schedule my volunteer day for the
desk. Conversations grew longer each
month and occasionally he would call
during my volunteer hours, “just to
check in” and make sure all was well at
the Cabins Desk. This went on for about
four months until he finally asked me
out — we still had not met face to face,
but had developed a nice friendship over
the phone. We had what was essentially a
blind date in November of 1996 and hit
it off famously. By June of the following
year we were engaged and were married
four months later. We moved to Hawaii
for two years for his job, had our first
child there and then came home to
Virginia where we have been ever since.
We are now three children deep and
married 13 years. We owe a lot to PATC!
Jay: Back in the mid ‘90s I was the
cabin reservations Chair and one of my
duties was to process new volunteers
to work the Cabins Desk. As often
occurred, I called a prospective Cabins
Desk volunteer and chatted a bit to
see if she could handle the pressure.
She sounded very capable and was
enormously pleasant. Being a single
guy and not interested in getting the
reputation as hitting on the volunteers,
I kept my interest to myself. I set her up
to shadow a couple of our old veterans.
After each training session, I’d call her
to see how it went. Soon she entered
the rotation as a regular - but I still
called her after she worked. I called
her when I didn’t need to call her. I
called her, when I had just called her.
Our chats led to long discussions on
everything other than the Cabins Desk.
We became very good friends. We had
still never met - I was maintaining my
good reputation. Finally, after around
six months, I asked her out. By this
point we were very, very good friends
and I was sweating what she might look
like. I later found out, so was she. Now,
after 13 years of marriage and three
kids, my best friend is just as beautiful as
the first day I laid eyes on her.
Jane Thompson and Bob Pickett
Jane: As a new PATC member, I went
on a Natural History hike with Bob in
January 1993 and
found this to be
a very different
type of hike from
any I’d been on
– the highlight
being a dead doe in a stream with
signs that a bobcat had been scared off
by us. I’m not sure about this man…
But he brought up many interesting,
knowledgeable points and I got to enjoy
learning about the world around us!
Bob: Jane appeared to be a person
with a very strong voice who tended to
talk constantly throughout the hikes.
Suggesting she might be the sweep
seemed to be a good idea, but the
continual laughter and ever-present
smiles back there made me wonder…
I’m not sure about that woman. After
many years of listening, I realized here
was a very bright, active hiker and
backpacker who always seemed to bring
out the best of anyone. Funny, but
now when I hear my sweep talking, she
makes me feel proud and contented.
We became good friends and remained
that way for many years until Bob
decided we should be married and
persisted until we were. We continue to
have wonderful adventures here
and abroad.
Robert Johnson and Virginia Quesada
Robert: After several years of taking
advantage of the outdoor opportunities
in the Washington area, with a
particular fondness for Shenandoah
National Park, I decided it was time to
return something. I joined PATC and
submitted my name to several of the
“volunteers wanted” addresses on the
Web site. One of the main responders
(and definitely the most enthusiastic)
was Bob Pickett, the Naturalist. Soon
I found myself
involved in all
kinds of activities,
including helping
restore a cabin
dating from the
mid-1800s. On one of these work trips,
in February 2009, there was a new
worker: Virginia Quesada. Virginia and I
found we shared a lot of interests: chewy
beer, the outdoors, and volunteer work
for PATC, to name a few. After working
together on the cabin we started an
email correspondence that led to hiking
on a local trail, then a longer hike, then
to realizing that we also shared a love
of life and living that is a joy to find
in someone else. And that has led to
a much deeper relationship, which we
still enjoy and which gets better all the
time. Very Significant Other indeed!
And through it all I remember the wall
plaque my sister gave me: “Get out and
hike. Who knows where the trail might
lead you!” Thank you PATC!
Narcy Klag and Jane Thomas
Narcy: My wife and I met through
the PATC on a trail maintenance trip
headed up by Tom Floyd in 1975. We
were working to repair and re-route the
trail at Weverton Cliffs in Maryland.
Jane submitted an article for the 50th
anniversary edition (Magazine No. 6,
November 1977) of the PATC, which
of course we still
have a copy of. We
still enjoy hiking,
camping, biking
and skiing even
though we are a bit
older and slower. After our two children
(Tom and Margaret) became older we
switched our vacation activities to hiking
and camping out West and have visited
many of our fantastic National Parks.
They are indeed a national treasure.
However, we still do hike occasionally on
the AT and surrounding areas and I still
backpack in Shenandoah National Park
and the AT with the local Venture Scout
group a couple of times a year. We still
support the club and the trail and hope
to become more active once we retire.
Kathy McDermott Koutze and John Koutze
Kathy: I met my husband John Koutze
on a PATC backpack trip to Dolly Sods
in May of 1994. He was the trip leader
and loved to entertain everyone with
his endless supply of colorful jokes and
poetry recitations
around the
campfire. My
favorite ballad
was (and still is)
the “Cremation
of Sam McGee” by Robert Service.
During the three years following that
trip we continued to bump into each
other at various club events. We started
dating in March of 1997 and together
we led backpack trips and a few XC
ski trips for the club. Now we’ve been
married eleven years and have a fouryear-old son whom we have introduced
to our outdoor passions. André is a
good hiker and loves to camp, and we
hope to get him on skis this year.
Phil Paschall and Betty Cox
Betty: I had been on a number of trails
and cabin trips when I signed up for a
trip in December 1980 to what is now
called Morris Cabin. It had been recently
donated to the club as part of the Vining
tract and needed some work before it
could be rented out. As with some earlier
trips, I rode with Jed and Gaye Tucker.
Jed primed me all morning with tales
about Phil, so that by the time he hiked
in Saturday evening I was more than a
bit curious to meet him. We chatted at
length over the weekend and he kept
calling me afterward with various excuses
to get together – would I like to come
see a cabin for sale that the club might be
interested in (Meadows Cabin), would I
like to come to a PATC council meeting
at which the possible purchase of the
Meadows Cabin would be discussed,
would I like to join him and Jack Adams
when they moved a wood stove into a
cabin. You get the idea. By February, we
were going out and in October 1981,
we were married. We held our reception
at High Acre in Harpers Ferry. In
1982-1983, we led work trips to bring
5
Appalachian Nature: Nature’s Cupids
It’s nice to read about the couples that
I’ve met through PATC in this issue.
Ah, love!
Cupid shoots his love darts, and we
fall in love. How beautiful and simple,
yet, how totally misleading. Would you
believe that Cupid has his basis in the
reproductive strategy of the common
garden snail? And, it’s neither a beautiful
nor a simple story.
Maybe Not So Romantic
Snails are hermaphroditic, meaning they
have both male and female parts. Many
snails and slugs have what are called “love
darts,” calcified or chitinous projectiles
that are used to spear their partners
during foreplay. Sometimes one or both
partners are killed since the darts can
penetrate the heart or brain. These love
darts are shot prior to copulation and
do not carry sperm. The dart is coated
with a special mucus, which contains a
hormone-like substance that contracts
the female half of the reproductive
system of the snail that is struck with
the dart. This allows many more sperm
to survive, significantly increasing the
likelihood of a successful fertilization.
Cupid, known as Eros in Greek
mythology, fired love darts. The Greeks,
being excellent naturalists, certainly
were aware of the love darts used by the
common garden snail. Thus, it is easy to
make the connection between Cupid’s
arrows and the love darts of snails.
Use of these love darts appears limited
to certain species of snails and slugs,
while hermaphroditey is found in
worms, barnacles, and a few other
invertebrates.
A variation of this theme is found in
species of hermaphroditic flatworms.
Such flatworms mate hypodermically;
one must jab its partner with its penis.
When two flatworms meet, they rear
up, male organs at the ready, and try to
stab each other. This challenge match
on who will bear the burden can last
an hour. The flatworm that successfully
stabs its mate gets to fertilize eggs, while
the worm being stabbed has to bear
the cost of healing its wounds as well as
producing the off-spring. Some species
have sperm so aggressive that it eats
6
its way through the body tissues of the
recipient until it finds the ovaries. Such
recipients can have gaping holes from
the sperm, losing up to two-thirds of
their body mass.
A Different Approach
Ah, love. One might wonder if there’s
a way to avoid such conflicts while
maintaining the ability to reproduce.
Enter the parthenogenic species, whose
females can reproduce without “input”
from males. The non-native woolly
hemlock adelgid, responsible for the
decimation of our hemlock trees, are
strictly females—as are the woolly
balsam adelgids, responsible for the loss
of balsam firs in Great Smoky Mountains
National Park.
Parthenogenesis occurs naturally in
some invertebrate animal species (such
as crayfish, aphids, nematodes, some
bees, some scorpion species, and parasitic
wasps) and vertebrates (such as some
reptiles—whiptail lizards and geckos,
fish, and, very rarely, birds). Komodo
dragons and hammerhead sharks have
recently been added to the list. While
there are no known cases of naturally
occurring mammalian parthenogenesis, it
has been induced with rabbits and mice.
There are numerous variations of
parthenogenic reproduction, just as
there are virtually unlimited methods of
“normal” sexual reproduction practices.
Wild Mammalian Courtship
It always seems the opossum finds ways
to be unique. Males have a forked penis,
which matches the paired lateral vaginae
of the female. In other more advanced
mammals, the female reproductive tube
fuses in the middle to form a single
canal. In fact, the opossums produce
paired sperm. As a pair, the sperm swim
in a straight line, but if separated, they
swim in circles. Copulation involves the
male grabbing the female by the nape
of the neck and both falling over to
the right side. On occasion when they
may fall to the left, or remain upright,
copulation is likely to be unsuccessful.
when two males meet, they engage in a
squeaking contest. If neither backs away,
they will rise up on their hind feet and
continue squeaking. If still a stalemate,
they will roll over on their backs, with
one grabbing the tail of the other and
throwing him, judo style. Hence, the
winner finally emerges.
The phrase, “Mad as a March hare,”
comes from the springtime mating
antics of female hares, sizing up the
courting males. Females stand up on
their hind legs and cuff males in the
face and ears. Female hares and
rabbits are normally larger than males,
indicative of the evolution of selection
for combative females.
Regarding the courtship behavior of
lagomorphs, the following describes the
snowshoe hare, “The male snowshoe
approached the female, sniffed her, and
jumped into the air. After landing, the
male urinated on the female and left.
The male re-approached the female,
and the female jumped into the air
twice, after which the male left. The
male returned, jumped into the air, and
urinated on the female. Both snowshoes
then went into the bushes, where more
jumping occurred.”
So, how do porcupines mate? Of course,
the answer is—very carefully! In fact,
they do mate carefully, with the male
learning at an early age to move the
females’ bristly tail to the side!
Ain’t love grand?
—Bob Pickett
Among shrews, like reptiles and birds,
both genital and urinary tracts merge
into a single opening called a cloaca. A
study of European shrews shows that
Coyote, the Song Dog
The coyote (Canis latrans) is very
similar in appearance to the domestic
dog (Canis familiaris), as they are
closely, but not directly, related. The
distinguishing features that are key to
the identification of the coyote include
a coat that is coarse—buff-colored on
the dorsal side; white on the ventral side;
and a rusty-brown on the legs, snout,
and ears. The coarseness of the coat is
due to specialized protective hair known
as guard hair that extends from a thick,
dense, insulating undercoat.
The color of the coat varies according
to the habitat of the coyote, with darker
hair in northern ranges; red coloration
prevails in the south. Northern coyotes
are also much larger and heavier than
their southern counterparts—about
75 pounds compared with 25 pounds.
Those that have migrated east of the
Mississippi River occupy the middle of
the range—about 35 to 55 pounds. The
bushy, black-tipped tail, yellow eyes, and
long pointed ears and muzzle complete
the picture of a very intelligent and
alert-looking animal.
Coyotes are reputed to be loners,
though recent observations have
refuted this stereotype. They also travel
in small, unisex groups that have no
definitive membership. The female
coyote is monestrous, with a week-long
fertilization period that normally occurs
in February or March; she is courted
by several males and chooses one. The
mated pair frequently stays together for
several years and occasionally for life in
areas of low coyote population density.
After a gestation period of about two
months, the female might dig a den,
adapt an extant fox or badger burrow, or
use any convenient shelter such as a cave
or log to give birth to about six pups.
The pups are cared for by both parents
after weaning until the males depart
in about seven months; the females
generally stay with the family group.
It is by their calls that coyotes are
most well-known; the coyote’s iconic
ululating call is the basis for the species
name, latrans, which is from latratus, the
Latin word for “barking.”
Photo from Smithsonian Institution Megatransect of Appalachian Trail 2007.
How Coyotes Survive
The versatility of the coyote is a matter
of lore and legend, a trait to which
its survival and endurance in diverse,
unforgiving environments may be
attributed. A primarily carnivorous
omnivore, the coyote eats small
mammals, including rabbits, squirrels
and mice, reptiles and amphibians,
insects, and fruit and vegetables. Carrion
from dead carcasses, especially deer, are
an important winter food source.
The hunting capabilities of the coyote
are prodigious, a combination of
physical prowess and mental cunning.
It is the fastest of the canines and can
run at speeds of up to 40 miles per
hour and leap over 14 feet in pursuit of
prey. Although coyotes can hunt singly,
stalking prey and “pointing” before they
pounce, they also hunt in small groups
to take advantage of tactics that require
a second party.
These techniques include the pursuit
of prey in relays where coyotes of the
group take turns in the chase until
their quarry is exhausted and can be
dispatched with relative ease. Another
technique is the ambush—one coyote
chases the intended prey into the lair
of its cohorts. The coyote is virtually
indefatigable in the hunt; pursuits of
over 20 hours have been recorded.
Members of the Canis genus, including
wolves, jackals, coyotes, and domestic
dogs, are all thought to have evolved
from a single ancestor, though the
evolution is not yet totally clear in the
fossil record.
One of the theories of the origin of
the Canis genus is that it first evolved
in North America late in the Miocene
Epoch. Subsequently, one or several
species, crossed Beringia, the land bridge
between Alaska and Siberia, to become
the progenitor of the gray wolves,
jackals, and, about 10 thousand years
ago, the domestic dog. The gray wolf
is thought to have returned to North
America from Eurasia across Beringia in
the Early Pleistocene just before end of
the Ice Age and the flooding of the land
bridge. The coyote, on the other hand,
evolved from speciation indigenous to
North America. Therefore, the coyote is
the only “native” member of the Canis
genus in North America and is a distant
relative of the dog.
Another Misunderstood Canine
The inexorable spread of the coyote
from its original prairie and desert
canyon habitat of southwestern North
America north to Canada and, more
recently, to the more populated
regions east of the Mississippi River has
inevitably resulted in some friction in
their encounters with humans. In spite
of laws written to extirpate the coyote,
such as the Animal Damage Control
Act that passed in 1931 directing the
secretary of agriculture to “promulgate
the best methods of eradication and
suppression of mountain lions, wolves,
coyotes, bobcats, prairie dogs, [and]
gophers,” the range of the coyote has
expanded and their numbers have
increased over this period as they
have replaced the other predators that
were eliminated.
Research by wildlife biologists that
began in 1937 with the seminal work of
Adolph Murie revealed that predators
7
Backpacking 101
An Introductory
Backpacking Course
Expand your enjoyment of the outdoors
through the practice of backpacking.
• Provides basic instruction in
equipment selection and use,
information and techniques to enhance
safety and comfort, and Leave No
Trace methods to protect our fragile
backcountry environment.
• Includes an overnight backpacking
trip accompanied by experienced
backpacking instructors.
• Designed for persons 18 years and
older who have no prior backpacking
experience, as well as former
backpackers seeking to update their skills.
Introduction night: Monday, April 12, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, PATC HQ
vInstruction Weekend: April 17-18
Prince William Forest Park, Triangle, Va.
(Sat. overnight car camping in
campground encouraged but not required)
Overnight Backpacking Trip: May 1-2 (Sat. - Sun.) Trip destination and times TBD.
Alternate dates: May 8-9 in case of
extreme weather.
Fee: $75.00 for PATC members, $95.00 for nonmembers
Pre-registration required at least 10 days prior to class.
For more information, go to http://patc.
us/volunteer/trailpatrol/Outreach/
BP101.htm or contact John Bridges at
[email protected], 703/726-0188.
History Dept: ‘A contradiction
in democratic government’
Terence Young,
geography
teacher and
researcher at
Cal Poly –
Pomona, has
a special interest
CCC Shelter at
in recreation and
Pinnacles Picnic
camping history. In
Grounds. Credit one of his original
Historic American
contributions to the
Engineering
literature, published
Record 1996.
last October*, he
delved into a particular aspect of U.S.
recreation history, viz., the tenacious effort
to rollback racial segregation in national
parks, spurred on by an advisor to Interior
Secy. Harold Ickes, William Trent, Jr.
From his article summary:
… As complaints [of systematic
racial discrimination in the national
parks in the southeast] flowed in,
[Trent] became adviser for Negro
affairs to Interior Secretary Harold L.
Ickes. He had no special interest in
the outdoors or national parks, but
Trent championed increased African
American access to the parks and an
end to discrimination in them. NPS
leadership resisted Trent’s efforts until
Secretary Ickes ordered them to create
one non-segregated demonstration
It was vital that the effort to end racial
segregation on land controlled by the
federal government succeed, if all else
was to follow, including the end to
racial segregation in the military and
in schools. Trent left government but
remained involved in the effort not
only to end segregation in the parks,
but to encourage and promote outdoor
recreation as character building activity.
There’s a précis about his professional
life at a Wharton School web site
(see http://www.wharton.upenn.
edu/125anniversaryissue/trent.html).
*Terence Young, “‘A Contradiction in
Democratic Government’: W. J. Trent, Jr.,
and the Struggle to Desegregate National
Park Campgrounds,” Environmental
History October 2009 <http://www.
historycooperative.org/journals/
eh/14.4/young.html> (19 Jan. 2010).
–Alan Koontz
PATC HOLDS ELECTIONS THIS YEAR
In accordance with our constitution,
PATC will hold elections for our
Executive Committee at our annual
meeting in November. Members in good
standing are allowed and encouraged to
run for these important positions. The
Executive Committee is responsible for
the day to day operations of the club and
helps the president set the agenda for the
club. The club officers are elected to a
two-year term and may run for re-election
for one more term. The lists of officers up
for election are as follows:
President
Vice President for Operations
Vice President for Volunteerism
Supervisor of Trails
Supervisor of Lands
Supervisor of Marketing
Supervisor of Facilities
Supervisor of Membership
Supervisor of Activities
Supervisor of Communications
8
area [the Pinnacles picnic area] in
Shenandoah National Park in 1939.
The policy was extended to other
areas in 1941 and the next year, with
World War II shifting into high gear,
campground and other forms of
segregation were ended throughout
the park system.
Treasurer
Secretary
Any member wishing to run for executive
committee may do so by informing the
PATC Executive Committee at elections@
patc.net. Members wishing to run for
office should inform the committee
no later than August 15, 2010, and
submit a short statement of no more
than 200 words to be published in the
Potomac Appalachian in the October and
November issues. No request to run for
office shall be received after that date and
no nominations can be taken from the
floor at our General Membership meeting
tentatively set for Nov. 9, 2010. Every
member should consider running for
one of these important offices and if you
should have any further questions please
feel free to contact me at president@
patc.net or the elections committee at
[email protected]
—Lee Sheaffer
Volunteer of the Month – Lee Manning
the Potomac Appalachian newsletter
related to its presence on the Web.
He first became interested in hiking and
camping as a Boy Scout in Arlington,
Va., in the 1950s. As an adult, he
rekindled his interest in backpacking,
mostly in the Shenandoah National
Park and in the George Washington
National Forest. He met his wife, Leslie,
hiking in SNP, and they have been
married for over 32 years. Their love
of the outdoors is a mutual joy. Today
they share trail overseer duties for Little
Stony Creek Trail, below Big Schloss in
the GW forest.
Lee Manning is the district manager for
the Great North Mountain District and a
tireless volunteer working with all aspects
of the PATC Web site. Lee also sits on
the Information Technology Committee
and is active in planning for changes to
Lee retired from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency in 2005 after 40
years of government service and turned
to PATC “to stay physically active and
do work I enjoy.” From volunteering
with Hop Long and Jim Tomlin on the
Stonewall Brigade, Lee advanced to trail
overseer, assistant district manager, and
district manager. When PATC began to
look at future options regarding its Web
site, Lee volunteered for that project as
well. Like many of our volunteers, Lee
wears many hats. He also assists at PATC
HQ with data entry chores related to
trail work.
In addition to his work with PATC,
Lee has been a Boy Scout leader in
the Vienna/Dunn Loring area and has
mentored many boys as they became
Eagle Scouts. Lee has four children, all
adults (and all involved with the great
outdoors), and four grandchildren.
He remains active in information
technology, with expertise in database
design and Web site maintenance. PATC
is fortunate to enjoy the services of
volunteers like him.
—Rick Canter
As the World Turns
Where are we going, where have we
been? No I’m not talking psychotherapy
or any deep inner search for meaning
but literally, where are we on this third
rock from the sun. As the world turns,
we have 24 (or so) satellites 13,000
miles above transmitting signals (1227
MHz) towards earth.
At a two-day weekend course on Dec.
5-6, 2009, Jim Tomlin tried to elucidate
the Global Positioning System (GPS)
to a group of 18 dedicated PATC
volunteers to enhance our future
contributions to the club. The GPS can
be used to help relocate trails, identify
our boundaries to keep us from building
bridges on private property, identify
possible future acquisitions, locate
blowdowns and trailwork that needs to
be done when we hike on trails or help
in search and rescue operations, among
a multitude of other possibilities.
Jim’s vast knowledge in geodesy
informed us that the world indeed is not
flat like it is on some mapping systems
such as Universal Transverse Mercator,
which takes small sections of an area (60
zones, six degrees wide) and assumes
there is no earth’s curvature to make
local surveying and map making easier.
The GPS system assumes the earth is an
ellipsoid and computes positions based
on an ellipsoid model. A handheld GPS
detects the distance traveled and the
data emitted (timed by a very precise
clock) from at least four satellites
and calculates latitude and longitude,
sometimes reaching an accuracy of
three meters depending on the signals
received (the more satellites visible, the
more accurately your position can be
calculated).
We concluded that conditions such
as high foliage, the bottom of a
canyon such as Little Devil’s Stairs,
or Vienna on a snowy day would not
be conditions for the GPS system. In
fact, on Saturday, our GPS was able to
detect zero satellites while it snowed at
PATC Headquarters. By Sunday, we
had five or six satellites visible, which
helped us locate the Subway restaurant
in our jaunt around Vienna. We used
DeLorme TopoUSA software to enter
our “hike,” which accurately
superimposed our route on a detailed
map of Vienna (it worked!).
Jim is planning a second Introductory
GPS course for PATC volunteers on
May 8-9, 2010, at Pinnacles Ranger
Station. Keep your eyes out for more
information to learn how you, too, can
be a GPS Geek.
—Catherine Pipan
signing off at 38 50”, 77 26”
(Left) Members of class of 2009
(Right) GPS class of 2009 navigate the
WO&OD
Photos by Catherine Pipan
9
SHARE YOUR PASSION! BECOME A TRAIL TALKER!
It is still early in 2010, but plans are
already in the works to reach out to
the surrounding communities with
information about PATC and local trails.
In order to adequately staff our display
at events in and around the D.C. area,
we need a large number of Trail Talkers.
In fact, our first event, the Adventures
in Travel EXPO at the D.C. Convention
Center on March 6-7, is already
confirmed. Many volunteers have
already stepped forward to help, but
because this travel expo is such a large
event, with more than 10,000 people
expected to attend, we could use more.
If you would like to help out for two to
four hours by staffing our display and
telling people about what PATC does to
protect and preserve our local trails, as
well as giving visitors details about our
many activities, drop me an e-mail at
[email protected].
If you are wondering what a Trail Talker
is, or how you can get involved in this
worthwhile PATC activity, here are
the details. As part of PATC’s overall
mission to protect and maintain trails,
we focus on educating the general
public about those trails. To accomplish
this, we have a team of what we call
Trail Talkers. These volunteers staff
our information booths/displays for
one to two hours at community events
and provide a source of information
on all aspects of hiking, climbing, and
wilderness preservation throughout
our metro area. They also let people
know about the other activities and
services that PATC provides. Many
of these volunteers are veterans of
the organization, but there are also
many Trail Talkers who are new to the
organization but who have a burning
desire to share their love of the trail
with others.
It is not necessary that a Trail Talker
be an expert on every aspect of what
PATC does, because we provide “PATC
Talking Points”—sheets that highlight
the main points of our history and
mission. Our informational displays also
come with a wide range of reference
YOU ARE INVITED TO A SPECIAL VALENTINES DAY EVENT! In
commemoration of Valentines Day, join PATC members, Georgia
“Mom” Harris and Randy “Windtalker” Motz, for a signing of their
book, “Solemates – Lessons on Life, Love & Marriage from the
Appalachian Trail,” from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, on Sunday, February 14,
2010 at ATC headquarters in Harpers Ferry. Snow date, February
21st. Those purchasing a copy of their book, will automatically
materials, such as maps, trail guides,
and brochures, so virtually any question
about PATC or the trails in our area
can be answered by simply referring to
those resources. We always attempt to
schedule a “newbie” with a “veteran”
so you can learn the ropes. After a few
events, you will have it down and will
feel confident in working solo if you
have to, though that is seldom the case.
The Activities Committee is also
responsible for planning and
implementing several social events
during the year, such as our Family
Weekend at Bears Den in May, our
PATC picnic, and our annual Pig Roast
at the Blackburn Center in the fall.
If you would like to become a Trail
Talker or a member of the Activities
Committee, contact me at activities@
patc.net or by phone at 240/338-3816.
—Randy A. Motz
be entered to win a couple’s prize package containing a copy of
“Exploring the Appalachian Trail by RV, Sort Of…” an “Appalachian
Trail Reflections” DVD, and a “Windtalker – Native SoundScapes”
CD. The winner will be chosen at 3:00 pm but you need to be
present to win.
Although, Randy is a PATC officer, no proceeds from the sale of the
book will go to the club. – Ed.
Cabin Nom de Plume
Ode to an Outhouse
Blessings on thee little house,
Thou hast seated many a louse.
With thy underground canals,
Running to meet thy many pals.
Under the tall and stately pines,
Covered by the ivy vines.
With thy insects varied and rare,
No wonder occupants get grey hair.
With pleasures belonging to you and yours,
You should put on guided tours.
Out amongst the thorns and thistles,
Thou art the object of guided missiles.
Bravely standing through the seasons,
Accommodating many for obvious reasons.
At last in tribute to thy soul,
We dig for thee a brand new hole. by Ruby and Sandy Rice, Range View Cabin, 1956
10
PA Review Committee Findings and Reader
Survey Results
Last May, PATC set up an ad hoc committee consisting of staff and volunteers tasked
to review various aspects of the club’s newsletter, The Potomac Appalachian, and to
determine any changes needed. Last September, the committee conducted a reader
survey primarily to find out to what extent club members were in agreement with various
committee proposals. The survey was designed by Bill Collins, a PATC volunteer.
The committee presented its findings and recommendations to PATC’s governing
Council for approval. On Dec. 8, 2009, the PATC Council unanimously approved the
committee’s recommendations.
What follows are the notable results of the survey of over 700 respondents and the
committee recommendations approved by the Council.
Would you prefer to receive an electronic version of the PA instead of your current
hard-copy version? — Yes 46.3%
No 53.7%
Review Committee Recommendation: Provide members the option of receiving the PA
electronically.
PATC is considering adding color to the newsletter. Keeping in mind that adding color
will add cost to the publication, which of the following do you prefer? —
Add Color 13.5% Keep B/W 86.5%
Review Committee Recommendation: Keep the PA black and white.
PATC is considering the possibility of transitioning to a more “environmentally
friendly” printing process. How important is this? —
Very 48.5% Somewhat 40.1% Not important 11.4%
Review Committee Recommendation: Transition to a more “environmentally friendly”
printing process.
PATC is considering accepting hiking-related paid advertisements in the PA. How do
you feel about this? — Should accept paid advertisements 80.6%
Should not accept paid advertisements 19.4%
Review Committee Recommendation: Accept paid advertising related to PATC
interests when a volunteer is found to take charge of the work involved.
Should the Forecast calendar be removed from the PA? —
Yes 25.6% No 74.4%
Review Committee Recommendation: Retain Forecast in both the PA and on the
PATC Website.
What do you like most about the PA? Common responses: Forecast/Calendar of
events, news of PATC, nature articles, folksy style, not flashy, not slick, easy and quick
to read.
If you could change one thing, what would it be? Common Responses: It’s fine as it is!,
arrive earlier/more timely, the dog needs a new occupation, more photographs
For a complete set of the reader survey results and PA Review Committee final
recommendations, see the PATC website at www.patc.net and click on “Newsletter”.
Many thanks to the PATC staff, members, and volunteers who gave so generously
of their time to participate in this effort! If you’d like to be involved in helping to
implement these recommendations or otherwise contribute to the PA, contact the
supervisor of communications through the website.
Mission Accomplished—
PA is Now in
Good Hands
Two thousand nine has been quite a
year for PA! Finally we have a team
who are willing, eager, and ready to
publish the magazine.
New on the PA staff are: Alan
Koontz, chief editor; Rachel
Levin, co-editor; and Emily Dorr,
layout designer. Vincent Ferrari
will continue as Forecast editor,
Hop Long, PATC supervisor of
communication, has taken over as
mentor, and I will be giving support
as requested.
The newsletter would not read
very well without the continuing
PA staff: Joanne Erickson, features
editor, and the proofreaders
Bill Collins, Pat Fankhauser,
Tom Johnson, and Kit Sheffield.
Unfortunately, Janet Hogenauer,
an excellent proofreader for many
years, has resigned. Kit joined as
proofreader this year, the others
have been volunteering for many years.
They all deserve a big Thank You!
With information received from the
member survey, more supporting
players are needed to get the
articles and information members
have requested. What we need are
stringers with skills in writing or
photography or both to seek out and
cover stories from the four corners
of the club. We also need additional
volunteer staff to manage new PA
departments, such as advertising
and letters to the editor.
How about you? Would you like to
help with PA? Send an e-mail to:
[email protected] and let us know!
Thank you for your patience over the
past year as we struggled to make a
better PA! The new staff welcome
your comments.
—Jane Thompson
—Caroline Petti, Chair,
Potomac Appalachian Review Committee
11
Forecast
February
1 (Monday)
DEADLINE - March Potomac Appalachian
Material due to editors 5:00 p.m.
All items for the next issue of the
newsletter due. Send Forecast events
to [email protected] and all other
articles to the editor at [email protected].
NOTE: Do not send photos or articles to
headquarters. E-mail for address.
2 (Tuesday)
HIKE - Vigorous Hikers
Central District, Shenandoah National
Park, VA
(PATC Map10). Parking at the end of
VA 662 out of Wolftown, we’ll climb the
Staunton River Trail all the way to the
AT via the Fork Mountain, Laurel Prong
and Mill Prong trails. We’ll hike south
on the AT to the Laurel Prong Trail and
follow it and the Cat Knob and Jones
Mountain Trails back to the Staunton River
Trail and back to the cars. This circuit
is about 20 miles with about 4500 ft. of
climb. A shorter circuit of 15 miles with
approximately 3000 ft. of climb is available
by turning left on the Laurel Prong
Trail from the Fork Mountain Trail and
continuing the circuit on the Cat Knob Trail.
INFO: Tom Kloster ([email protected]).
2 (Tuesday)
MEETING - Trail Patrol, 7:30 p.m.
3 (Wednesday)
HIKE - Easy Hikers
Washington, DC
The Easy Hikers will hike approx. 4 miles
in Rock Creek Park. From Pierce Mill we
will hike up the Melvin Hazen Trail to
Connecticut Avenue then down the Avenue
to the National Zoo. After a couple of stops
in the zoo and lunch in the Mane restaurant
we will return via the Parkway Trail or
the Western Ridge Trail. Meet at 10:15
a.m. on the parking lot of the picnic area
opposite Pierce Mill (2601 Tilden Street,
NW). From the beltway follow Connecticut
12
Avenue inbound to Tilden St. NW. Turn left
(east) on Tilden and go .5 miles to picnic
area opposite the Mill. From VA take Rock
Creek Parkway/Beach Dr. to left on Tilden.
Contact leader for more detailed directions
from VA if required. Hike is canceled if DC
Public Schools are closed due to inclement
weather. INFO: Gary Abrecht (GAbrecht@
AOL.com) 202/546-6089.
3 (Wednesday)
HIKE - Midweek Hikers
Location to be determined
The PATC Midweek Hikers carpool each
Wednesday from the Washington, DC
area to various trailheads. Hikes are at
a moderate pace and about 8 to 12 miles
in length with varied elevations. Current
information, including meeting place,
time, leader’s name and phone number,
and a detailed description of the hike are
available on the PATC calendar at http://
www.patc.net.
4 (Tuesday)
CLASS - Winter Wonderlands (REI)
Fairfax, VA
7:30 p.m. Winter is a great time to get
outside where the serene, quiet beauty of
landscapes come alive. It’s easy to spot
animal tracks, raptors through the leafless
trees, and starry night skies. The DC metro
area is chock full of great destinations near and far. Whether your hiking, bird
watching, snowshoeing, or backpacking, a
little planning and preparation, can make
for an incredible adventure. INFO: Rhonda
Krafchin ([email protected]) 571/522-6568.
4 - 7 Thursday - Sunday)
CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRIP - Ski Touring
Section
Canaan Valley, WV
One of the most convenient lodging
locations in Canaan Valley for skiing at
White Grass, the downhill resorts, and
points in between. Good trip for eclectic
skiers open to a mixture, of cross-country
with telemark skiing and/or lessons at
Timberline downhill area. Preference given
to high skill-level skiers or mid-level skiers
with high adventure quotient (contact
leader for details) Lodging in Canaan Valley
State Park Cabin with complete kitchen
for breakfast, pot luck and/ or individual
dinner. Cost is $115 per person lodging only,
assuming 6 participants. Note three-night
stay and carpooling to be arranged. This
trip is a go regardless of ski conditions.
INFO: Doug Lesar ([email protected])
301/587-8041. 5 - 7 (Friday - Sunday)
CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRIP - Ski Touring
Section
Laurel Highlands, PA
Join a dozen or more fellow skiers
gliding at usual favorites (Laurel Ridge
STC, Laurel Mtn., Roaring Run Natural
Area, North Woods, Hidden Valley)
with more kilometers than you ever do
in a weekend. Trip goes only if skiable
snow likely. Lodging will be at Super
8 motel in downtown Somerset, Pa.
Cost is $80, which covers only lodging,
double occupancy. INFO: Greg Westernik
([email protected]) 703/763-3833.
6 (Saturday)
TRAIL WORK TRIP - Yankee Clippers
Appalachian Trial, PA
INFO: Pete Brown (peter.brown4@
worldnet.att.net) 410/343-1140.
9 (Tuesday)
McLean, VA
The Potomac Heritage Trail winds for 10
miles along the Potomac River, through
steep, rocky hill sides, forested stream
valleys and years of history. For centuries,
native Americans lived and traded along
this route. Captain John Smith explored
the area in 1608. George Washington
envisioned this part of the Potomac as
the beginning of a great avenue into
the Western Country. The river was the
dividing line between the North and
South during the Civil War. Quarries,
mills, and farms along the Potomac
helped create a strong local economy and
provided material for the development of
Washington, D.C. Today, the area serves as
a haven for wildlife and outdoor recreation,
preserved within the George Washington
Memorial Parkway. We will go from the
Turkey Run Park parking lot to Roosevelt
Island or Cabin John bridge and return.
16 or 20 miles. See: http://groups.google.
com/group/Vigorous-Hikers. INFO: Lou
Hurwitz ([email protected]).
9 (Tuesday)
MEETING - PATC Council, 7:00 p.m.
10 (Wednesday)
HIKE - Easy Hikers
Wheaton, MD
Four miles in/out from Brookside Gardens
(1800 Glenallan Avenue, Wheaton) to
Wheaton Regional Park to city streets
and lunch in Wheaton. Meet at 10:15 a.m.
at Visitor’s Center at Brookside Gardens.
No pets. Bathrooms are available. Hike
cancelled if Montgomery County schools
are closed. DIRECTIONS: Beltway (Rt.
495) to Georgia Ave. (Rt. 97) North on Exit
31A. Go 3.2 miles to Randolph Rd. and turn
right. Go 0.2 miles to Glenallan Ave. and
turn right. Go 0.3 miles to park entrance
on right. (NOTE: Gate will automatically
open as you drive slowly toward it.) Go
straight into parking lot. Alternatively,
Glenmont metro stop is 1milefrom park
entrance. Walk south on Georgia Ave.
to Randolph Rd. and go left. (See above.)
INFO: Pat Christopher (thechris@erols.
com) 310/948-4149.
10 (Wednesday)
See Feb. 3 event for more information.
10 (Wednesday)
SPECIAL EVENT - Exploring the Grand
Canyon (REI)
Timonium, MD
7:00 p.m. Join REI staff member and former
National Park Ranger Greg for a Grand
presentation. Greg will discuss the park’s
attractions, day hikes that anyone can
do, and longer trips. He’ll also discuss
descending into the canyon without heavy
packs by reserving lodging and meals at
the Phantom Ranch and share resources
for planning your own Grand Canyon
adventure. INFO: Vernon Kreisel (vkreise@
rei.com) 410/252-5920.
10 (Wednesday)
MEETING - Mountaineering Section,
8:00 p.m.
11 - 16 (Thursday - Tuesday)
CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRIP Ski Touring Section
Stowe, VT
Over 200 miles of trails in the Green
Mountains. Ski touring Centers include
Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, Craftsberry
and Bolton. Will fly into Burlington,
VT. Lodging is at the Alpenrose Motel.
Funky place in the heart of Stowe.
Community trail out the front door. Trapp
and Stowe Centers 10 min. away. Refrig.
& microwave in each room. Shuttle bus
stop nearby. Cost is $303/person includes
lodging only, for total of 8 participants.
Additional $ for airfare, car rental, and
food. PATC membership is required for
this trip. INFO: Margaret Peggy Alpert
12 - 15 (Friday - Monday)
Canaan Valley, WV
Ski at White Grass, around the cabin area
at Canaan Valley State Park, and possibly
Blackwater Falls State Park. Lodging in a
Canaan Valley State Park Deluxe Cabin:
Each room has 2 double beds. The living
room has TV, phone, fireplace. There is a
full kitchen. We will have a potluck dinner
on Saturday night. After a long day of
skiing we can use Lodge amenities: hot
tub, sauna, and pool. Cost is $125, which
covers lodging only, double occupancy,
assuming 8 participants. If we can’t ski,
we will hike. INFO: Kathy Brumberger
12 - 15 (Friday - Monday)
The 26th Ski-Dance Weekend at Camp
Harmony has cross-country skiing,
sledding, contra dancing, and music
making. Have lots of fun outdoors and
indoors in a beautiful rustic setting.
Dance to live music in the evening by
Dave Weisler and the Avant Gardeners.
Bring your talents and instruments to
share. Lodging is dormitory-style at Camp
Harmony. Trip begins on Friday evening
with an informal potluck supper and
dance and ends on Monday with lunch;
eight meals are included. Camp Harmony
has over 100 acres available for crosscountry skiing, slopes for sledding and
several different types of habitat. Other
cross-country and downhill skiing areas
are nearby. Check out the website, www.
skidance.com for more information and
a registration form. The weekend will
NOT be cancelled for lack of snow. Cost:
Adults $170 ($160 for STS/Sierra Club
members), Children ages 3-13 $75.00,
Infants – 2 years $5.00. INFO: Eliot
Applestein ([email protected])
or Bob Mathis (301-589-7539) (talibob@
starpower.net) 301/589-7539.
13 (Saturday)
HIKE - Long Distance
North District, Shenandoah National
Park, VA
A 16-mile circuit hike starting at Thompson
Hollow and crossing to the Heiskell Hollow
Trail to ascend to the Matthews Arm area.
The return will be on the Overall Run Trail
with an excellent view of the Overall Run
Falls, the tallest waterfall in Shenandoah
National Park. Total elevation gain 3,000
feet. Moderate pace with stops at trail
intersections, views, and anything else
that looks interesting. Inexperienced
hikers call leader for details. INFO: William
Needham ([email protected]) 410/884-9127.
13
Forecast
13 (Saturday)
HIKE - North Chapter
Appalachian Trail, PA
Caledonia, PA. 11.3 miles; Big Flats
(Arendtsville-Shippensburg Rd.) to
Caledonia State Park (Rt. 30). INFO:
Christopher Firme (bncfirme@innernet.
net) 717/794-2855.
16 (Tuesday)
Park, VA
AT Out and Back, Thornton Gap to Stony
Man. Non-stop great winter views on this
two-way tour of several central district
big peaks. Cool off from Valentine’s Day
with 18 mi. and about 4500 ft. of ascent.
INFO: Bob Livezey ([email protected])
301/320-4679.
17 (Wednesday)
HIKE - Easy Hikers
Mt. Vernon, VA
Let’s offer a February 2010 tribute to
our country’s first leader by marking
President’s Day Week with a 6-mile
hike along the Potomac River to George
Washington’s home. Meet at 10:15 a.m.
in the parking lot of Fort Hunt Park. Take
George Washington Parkway south to Fort
Hunt Park entrance. Turn right into the
park. Lunch will be in the fast food court
at the Mount Vernon Inn. Mount Vernon’s
new museum and education center open
for those interested. Group will return to
the starting point after lunch. No pets! This
hike is canceled if Virginia Public Schools
are closed due to inclement weather and/
or icy conditions on the trail. INFO: Dick
Rogers ([email protected]) 703/979-1270.
17 (Wednesday)
17 (Wednesday)
MEETING - PATC New Members Meeting
Vienna, VA
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Come meet other
14
new members, see PATC Hqs, & get
questions answered. Location is at 118
Park Street, SE, Vienna, Va. INFO: Alan Day
19 - 21 (Friday - Sunday)
Davis, WV
Ski beautiful Blackwater Falls State
Park with over twenty miles of trails for
beginners and more experienced skiers.
Many of the trails are groomed and
maintained. A sledding hill is available
when snows are sufficient. Skis, poles,
boots and sleds are available for rent at
the Sled Run & Cross Country Ski Center.
Lodging is at the Blackwater Falls Lodge.
Rooms have private bath, phone, TV. Lodge
amenities include game room, sitting room
with fireplace, indoor pool, hot tub and
fitness equipment. Cost is $110, which
covers lodging only, double occupancy,
assuming 8 participants. Cancels if no
snow. INFO: Keith Chanon (keithchanon@
yahoo.com) 703/752-0245.
20 (Saturday)
HIKE - Natural History Hike
Park, VA
Steve Bair, long-time ranger with the
SNP and great friend of PATC, joins Bob
Pickett and Jane Thompson for a 7-mile
informative hike. We’ll travel up Little
Devils Stairs and back down Keyser Run
Fire Road. Steve and Bob will share stories
of the mountain residents and the cultural
and natural history of the Park. We’ll also
visit a former home site and the Bolen
Cemetery, with a photo of the site from
pre-park days. INFO: Bob Pickett 301/349-2496.
20 (Saturday)
Tuscarora Trail, PA
23 (Tuesday)
Park, VA
Leading Ridge/Hannah Run/Nicholson
Hollow/Crusher Ridge— Starting at the
access road (669) to Leading Ridge hikers
will complete a tough climb to the AT,
follow along Skyline to Hannah Run and
take it down to Nicholson Hollow. Hikers
will then climb back up to the AT passing
Corbin Cabin on the way. Hikers will then
descend Crusher Ridge down to 669, make
a right and head for the parked cars near
the Leading Ridge Trail. Approx. 17 miles
and over 4000’ of elevation gain. Options
available to shorten the hike. For more
information, see http://groups.google.com/
group/Vigorous-Hikers. INFO: David Saah
23 (Tuesday)
MEETING - Shenandoah Mountain Rescue
Group (Business meeting), 7:30 p.m.
24 (Wednesday)
CLASS - Recreational Resource Impacts
on America’s Front Yard (REI)
Bailey’s Crossroads, VA
7:30 p.m. Recreation? In Washington, DC?
On the Ellipse? What would that look like? Find Out! Join Scott Tucker of the National
Park Service for a historic look at the
Ellipse and the unlikely ways it has been
impacted by recreational activities over
the past 200 years. INFO: Mark Nelson
24 (Wednesday)
HIKE - Easy Hikers
Washington, DC
We’ll meet at 10:15 a.m. at the Rock
Creek Park Nature Center (5200 Glover
Road NW), that has parking, toilets, and
nice exhibits. We will hike 4 to 6 miles,
depending on trail conditions and weather,
including part of the Western Ridge trail.
Bring lunch and water. DIRECTIONS: North
on Connecticut Avenue, right on Nebraska
for 0.4 miles, half-right on Military Rd.
for 0.7 miles, right on Glover Rd, follow
signs for Nature Center. INFO: Bob Parker
Larry Doff ([email protected]) 703/615-3195.
24 (Wednesday)
27 (Wednesday)
CLASS - Philmont Clinic (REI)
Timonium, MD
If you are a Boy Scout or a leader, this
clinic is a great resource. Our staff
member John has been to the Philmont
Scout Ranch in the high mountains of New
Mexico six times and worked with the
Balto Council as a training coordinator.
He will guide you through gear choices,
and answer questions about Philmont. He
will also demo the latest in light weight
gear & clothing for your trek. Walk away
with a gear list, and be prepared for
your Philmont experience. Registration
required. INFO: Vernon Kreisel (vkreise@
rei.com) 410/252-5920.
24(Wednesday)
SPECIAL EVENT - Trekking the Khumbu
Region of the Himalayas (REI)
Timonium, MD
7:00 p.m. Trekking among the highest and
most beautiful mountains in the world
was the lifelong dream for REI member,
Marianne S. Join us as Marianne shares
pictures and stories from her 10-day
adventure in the legendary Khumbu
region of Nepal. Marianne’s dream was to
witness views of Mt. Everest, visit ancient
Buddhist monasteries, and experience the
quiet beauty of the Sherpa villages and
their native peoples. INFO: Vernon Kreisel
26 - 28 (Friday - Sunday)
We will ski the extensive cross country
trail network of Laurel Mountain State
Park (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/
stateparks/parks/laurelmountain.aspx),
with trails for each level of experience.
Lodging will be in the Laurel Manor
Motel (www.laurelmanormotel.com)
Jennerstown, Pa., located in the heart of
Laurel Highlands, just minutes from our
cross country ski venue. Non-smoking,
double occupancy rooms with 2 double
beds. Plan on an upscale Friday group
diner, a down-home Saturday group diner,
with breakfasts at a local dive, lunches on
the trail or at the Laurel Mountain Warming
Hut; pack your own or purchase locally.
Cost is $80 per person for lodging only,
double occupancy, assuming 12 person
minimum. $5 daily trail fee. Meals and
entertainment extra. Leader will facilitate
carpooling or participants to arrange own
transportation. Cancels if no snow. INFO:
27 - 28 (Saturday - Sunday)
CLASS - Basic Wilderness First Aid
Vienna, VA
9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. This 2-day class
provides American Heart Association
certification in Adult CPR, AED, and Basic
First Aid. The second day the student
will learn American Safety and Health
Institute (ASHI) Basic Wilderness First
Aid. All certifications are valid for two
years. class will be held at the PATC
headquarters. Cost of the class is $130.
Pre-Registration is required by February
19. Go to http://www.trailpatrol.patc.net/
for more information and the registration
form.INFO: Saleena DeVore (emailert@
yahoo.com) 540/972-2059.
27 - March 6 (Saturday - Saturday)
Utah
This late-season ski trip is a full week
of skiing in both southern Utah, around
Bryce Canyon National Park, and in the
Park City area of northern Utah. Near
Bryce the landscape is gently rolling, the
scenery is stunning, especially the unique
red sandstone ‘hodoos’ at Cedar Breaks
and Bryce. Lodging for the first half of
the week will be at Ruby’s Inn (www.
rubysinn.com). Pool, hot tub, store and
large restaurant that focuses on Western
U.S. food. The skiing in this area is all easy
backcountry. Regular track skis will work
fine here, given the terrain. Latter half of
week will be near Park City (7000 ft. elev.)
where the Winter Olympics were held in
2002. Skiing will include the Soldier Hollow
Ski Resort (http://www.soldierhollow.
com/) and The Homestead Ski Center
(http://www.homesteadresort.com/
Winter). Backcountry and groomed trail
Nordic skiing is also available in Wasatch
Mountain State Park (http://www.utah.
com/stateparks/wasatch_mtn.htm).
Lodging here will be in rented chalets. Cost
is $600, which covers lodging and ground
transportation only. Trail fees, most food,
air fare and incidentals additional. INFO:
Rob Swennes (robertswennes@hotmail.
com) 703/405-8232.
March
1 (Monday)
DEADLINE - April Potomac Appalachian
Material due to editors 5:00 p.m.
All items for the next issue of the
newsletter due. Send Forecast events
to [email protected] and all other
articles to the editor at [email protected].
NOTE: Do not send photos or articles to
headquarters. E-mail for address.
2 (Tuesday)
Location given on web site
Fast-paced and strenuous, generally 1520 miles and 2-5000’ of ascent. See the
schedule at http://groups.google.com/
group/Vigorous-Hikers.
2 (Tuesday)
MEETING - Trail Patrol, 7:30 p.m.
3 (Wednesday)
15
Forecast
3 (Wednesday)
MEETING - PATC New Members Meeting
Vienna, VA
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Come meet other
new members, see PATC Hqs, & get
questions answered. Location is at 118
Park Street, SE, Vienna, Va. INFO: Alan Day
6 (Saturday)
HIKE - Natural History Hike
Park, VA
Len Wheat joins Bob Pickett and Jane
Thompson on another of Len’s great
off-trail rambles to the historic relics that
exist in our SNP. No one knows the cultural
sites of the Park better than Len. We’ll be
exploring Dry Run down to the lower falls,
traveling along the Dry Run Fire Road, on
the west side of the Drive. This fire road is
essentially a westward extension of the
South River Fire Road. Join Len, find an
artifact, and get a nickel! We’ll hike six
or seven miles, but this includes a lot of
bushwhacking and explorations! INFO:
Bob Pickett 301/349-2496.
6 (Saturday)
Appalachian Trail, PA
6 - 7 (Saturday - Sunday)
SPECIAL EVENT Adventures in Travel Expo
Washington, DC
Convention Center 801 Mount Vernon
Place, NW Washington, DC. Time:
Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday,
11:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ADVENTURES IN TRAVEL EXPO invites you to attend
the largest active and adventure travel
marketplace showcasing hundreds of
travel destinations and tour operators
from around the world. Plus, try handson adventure activities and meet travel
experts from the Travel Channel. To
receive your FREE admission, visit www.
16
adventureexpo.com/consumer and enter
PROMO CODE: PATC or simply cut out the
coupon found in the January, February or
March issues of The Potomac Appalachian
and present it at the door. PATC will have
a display at this event, so please stop by
and say ‘Hello.’ We are looking for help at
our booth. INFO: Randy Motz (activities@
patc.net).
9 (Tuesday)
9 (Tuesday)
MEETING - PATC Council, 7:00 p.m.
10 (Wednesday)
10 (Wednesday)
MEETING - Mountaineering Section,
8:00 p.m.
13 (Saturday)
HIKE - Long Distance
North District, Shenandoah National Park, VA
A 17-mile circuit hike that starts on the
west side of Shenandoah National Park
on Route 611 and ascends the Knob
Mountain Trail to the AT, turning south. The
return will be on the Neighbor Mountain
Trail (Jeremy’s Run Trail offers a shorter,
though wetter, option). Total elevation gain
4,000 feet. Moderate pace to hopefully
stop to look at wildflowers (if they are
up yet). Inexperienced hikers contact
leader for details. INFO: William Needham
13 (Saturday)
HIKE - North Chapter
Hancock, MD
Tuscarora Trail Hikes - 9.6 miles. Hancock,
Md. canal parking lot to WV Rte 9. INFO:
l Christopher Firme (bncfirme@innernet.
net) 717/794-2855. 16 (Tuesday)
17 (Wednesday)
20 (Saturday)
TRAIL WORK TRIP - North District
Hoodlums
Park, VA
Did your mother come from Ireland? No
matter. Join the Hoodlums in their annual
‘Irish’ work trip. We will be doing spring
cleaning of the trail sections in the SNP’s
North District (Front Royal Entrance
Station to Thornton Gap). The crew will
be hand sawing and clearing limbs as well
as chain-sawing to remove blowdowns.
We will be based at Indian Run Hut where
we will have our Irish dinner after a day
of work. Come for the day, stay for dinner,
and camp overnight if you wish. Or just
come out and work with us for the day.
Newcomers are always welcome! We
will meet at Piney River Ranger Station,
milepost 22 on Skyline Drive just across
from Matthews Arm Campground at 9:00
a.m. INFO: Wayne Limberg (wplimberg@
aol.com) 703/533-8639.
20 (Saturday)
Tuscarora Trail, PA
23 (Tuesday)
Fast-paced and strenuous, generally 15-
20 miles and 2-5000’ of ascent. See the
24 (Wednesday)
27 (Saturday)
CLASS - Hike Leader Training
Vienna, VA
PATC Trail Patrol Presents Hike Leader
Training. This one-day course will be
conducted at the PATC Headquarters
building in Vienna and is designed to
prepare you to lead hikes. The course
uses classroom and outdoor instruction
to prepare participants with skills to lead
safe and enjoyable hikes while minimizing
impact to the environment. Topics covered
include medical emergencies, personal
equipment, Leave No Trace, leadership,
planning, standard procedures and
navigation. Scenario exercises will also be
used to emphasize hike leadership skills.
Cost: $35. Registration: Send payments
to PATC, HLT Course, 118 Park Street, SE,
Vienna, VA 22180-4609. Pre-registration
is required. Registration form may be
obtained via the PATC Web Site, under
‘Training’ then ‘Hike Leader’. INFO: Eric
VanNortwick (edvannortwick@comcast.
net) 202/756-3828.
30 (Tuesday)
30 (Tuesday)
MEETING - Shenandoah Mountain Rescue
Group (Business meeting), 7:30 p.m.
31 (Wednesday)
New Boots
Volunteers Appointed in December
Shelters
Wesley Schmidt
Cowall Shelter
Trails
Sally Snow
Don Upton
Jeff Landis
Richard Ashbacker
Biby Wilderness Trail
Half Moon Trail & Half Moon Lookout
Furnace Mountain Summit Trail
Tuscarora Trail – Shawl Gap to Sherman Gap
Continued from page 7
Coyote, the Song Dog
like the coyote are not voracious sheep
killers, but rather important members
of a complex ecosystem that controls
populations of range animals and
rodents by removing the weak and
infirm. With the spread of the human
populations to suburban areas that
have become the new habitats of the
coyote, concerns have been raised about
the possibility of attacks on humans.
However, coyote attacks on people are
very rare; it is estimated that there have
been a total of about 20 to 30 attacks
on humans by coyotes that resulted in
injury. The last human killed by a coyote
was a child in California in 1980, By
contrast, between 1979 and 1990, 300
people were killed by domestic dogs in
the United States.
Role in Native Lore
The coyote occupied a pivotal position
in Native American mythology.
In general the coyote character
was anthropomorphic, with some
distinguishing canine characteristics like
a pointed snout. The roles played by
coyote varied widely from one tribe to
another and ranged from creator and
cultural hero to magician and trickster.
As a benign entity, coyote provided for
basic human needs and was the fount of
wisdom and art. However, coyote was
more commonly a nefarious character
who engaged in deception but who
was frequently bested by those who
exploited his greed, recklessness, and
jealousy. Perhaps this was the basis for
the inexorable triumph of Road Runner
over Wile E. Coyote.
—William Needham
17
Trailhead
The winter months bring some logistical
challenges for trailwork, beginning with
getting out to trails themselves. There
were plenty of cross-country ski tracks
at places like Great Falls and Manassas
during the recent snows, but that’s
not a suitable answer for most trails.
However, a little planning and tool prep
are a perfect alternate activity. Get out
the calendar and pencil in some days to
go out to your trail, spread out across
the year. If you’d like to build skills,
note when a particular workshop is
held. Consider joining a trail crew for a
week, to help with a larger project and
share some time with fellow volunteers.
Examine any tools you have to see if
they need a little repair or even just a
good cleaning. Maybe assemble a special
purpose pack or bucket to carry tools
or supplies out to the field. Enjoy the
down time, but get ready to hit the
ground running when warmer days start
sneaking in.
Life on a Summer Trails Crew
It’s not all work on the SNP summer
crews. The North District May crew
allowed themselves a daily lunch break at
lower Cedar Run falls. The crew—Wayne
Limberg, Tony Snyder, Dave Nebhut
and Scott Miller—worked with seasonal
park ranger Dave Jenkins on the White
Oak Canyon and Cedar Run trails last
May, constructing or rehabbing 45 rock
steps, over 100 feet of sidehill and a
dozen or more waterbars and checkdams.
The crew was joined on mid-week by
Dick Dugan and Steve Osbrach, vets
from past crew weeks who just couldn’t
stay away. After hitting the showers at
Pinnacles Research Center, evenings
found the crew once again sampling the
“bona fide” haute cuisine of downtown
LU-ray. With the Tastee Freeze closed,
the hunt was on for squirrel ice cream. As
in the past, all agreed that nothing beats
a crew week for honing trail building
skills—and fun. Check the PATC
website under summer crews for more
information or to sign up.
18
Effective Preparation for a New Bridge
Write-ups of project executions
sometimes fail to fully convey the
amount of up-front work that made it
successful. DM Dave Fellers described
an Eagle Scout project recently
completed in his district, along with
some insights into what planning and
preparation steps it required.
Eagle Scout candidate Matt Renner
of Troop 670 Manassas contacted Bill
Olson, a PATC overseer on the Bull
Run Occoquan Trail (BROT), about
a possible project. Bill contacted Dave
Fellers for ideas. Dave had already
pegged a problem area where a small
stream runs through a marshy area. An
existing bridge across the stream was
barely above the water since the stream
has almost no banks. During heavy rain,
the bridge acted as a dam and forced
water out of its usual channel and caused
erosion on the BROT. The need was
for an elevated bridge. Matt visited the
site with Bill and accepted the challenge.
Meetings between Matt, Bill, and Dave
fleshed out a plan. Matt prepared a
Project Leadership Service Workbook
with the details and Dave approved
it. The project execution was set for
December 5th.
The Northern Virginia Regional Park
Authority (NVRPA) was the beneficiary
and Dave was their representative.
The Northern Virginia Elec. Coop
(NOVEC) donated the two 21-feet
telephone poles to be the spanners. Bill
Olson donated the lumber for the tread,
and NVRPA provided the required 6 by
6’s to be used as the vertical posts and
cross beams to hold the telephone poles
about 3-feet above the stream.
December 5th was a snowy and rainy
day so the project was re-set for the next
day, Sunday. That turned out to be a
beautiful sunny day though snow still
lay around. Bill, Dave, and Bob Austin,
the overseer for this section, were onsite
along with 20 scouts, scout officials, and
some parents. All the lumber had been
pre-cut. Matt arranged the workers into
teams for digging post holes, assembling
the two post structures with dead-men
anchors, dredging the stream channel,
building up the banks, filling eroded
areas, placing the spanners in position,
nailing on the tread, and building ramps
to the bridge. It all came together and
then it was time for the final photos.
Dave returned several days later after
a very significant rain and observed a
completed project working as planned.
Upcoming Trails Workshops
Many members build their trail skills
just by going out on work trips with the
various trail crews. However, for those
who like more formal instruction, there
are a variety of workshops planned for
the coming year:
Chainsaw certification (SNP)
Apr. 17-18
Traditional Tools Workshop
May 22-23
Chainsaw certification
(GWNF Lee District)
TBA
Rigging Workshop
June 19-20
SD Trails Workshop
Aug. 7-8
ND Trails Workshop
Sep. 17-19
Chainsaw certification (SNP)
Nov.6-7
Based on the popularity and positive
feedback from last year’s stone workshop,
a Stone Shaping workshop will also likely
be added sometime in the spring.
To Dream the Impossible Dream
In 1982, the original builders of the
Potomac Heritage Trail had a quartermile stretch prone to Potomac River
flooding. They constructed a “high
water” alternative across a stony hillside. A major flood came in 1996 and the
entire area was flooded out. The trail was
rebuilt, but the alternative abandoned.
As a last-of-the-year project, the
Thursday Morning Group attempted
to reopen this “high-water” alternative. But the Group had never experienced
such rocky terrain with uneven footing,
wobbly rocks or small holes in the
tread waiting to injure. The going
was difficult and slow. How did those
PATCers do it in 1982?
The cool December morning was no
match for the Group’s ample sweat
moving tree debris and rocks making
the alternative better, but the morning
ran out and the rains came. The Group
now has all winter to dream whether
it’s worth trying again to reopen this
difficult alternative. Although now
passable, the high water alternative will
be a route few would choose to take.
Time Lapse Improvements
As with gardening, one of the pleasures
of working on the same trail is seeing
improvements over time. Damon
Yeh, Erin Dowd and others from the
University of Maryland Terrapin Trail
Club experienced that during their
efforts out on the Billy Goat A trail
this past year. At an early spring work
trip, they observed a spot where many
new side trails were getting created as
people searched for ways to get around
a wet pool crossing. On a later trip
they worked with C&O NHP Trails
coordinator Kyle Anderson to position
some large stones to aid the crossing. For
good measure they later installed
some snow fence and one more
large stone to make the crossing
even easier. (The biggest challenge
wasn’t moving the stone but rather
crowd control to temporarily stop
hikers as it was moved.) By late
summer the side trails were filling in
nicely. On a late fall trip, the old trails
were well grown over and it was time
to take down the temporary fencing. It
doesn’t take long for popular trails to
get degraded if many feet start getting
off track. However, it is encouraging
to see that those effects can be reversed
in as short as one season with some
planning, patience and perseverance.
Please send tales, technical advice, or
trail maintenance questions to Catherine
Kelleher at [email protected].
(Top Right) Thursday Morning Group strike
out onto the PHT
Photo by Bruce Glendening
(Bottom Left) Matt Rennerís bridge building crew
Photo by Matt Rennerís bridge building crew
HOW TO CONTACT US, Headquarters, Sales, Cabin Reservations, And Membership Information
Address: 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA 22180
Phone #: 703/242-0315
Fax #: 703/242-0968
Club E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: www.patc.net
Club President (leave a message),
Lee Sheaffer: 703/242-0315
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday and Friday 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM
Club Officers & Chairs Contact Info
www.patc.net then select [*contact us] from the
list on the left or call the main number. Contact list
published twice annually in the PA.
Change of Address? Contact: [email protected]
Staff, During regular business hours
Position
Staff
Staff Director
Wilson Riley
Trails Management Coordinator Heidi Forrest
Business Manager
Monica Clark
Membership/Cabin Coordinator Pat Fankhauser
Sales Coordinator
Maureen Estes
Lands Management
Sonya Breehey
Potomac Appalachian
Editor
Co-editor
Features Editor
Forecast Editor
Layout Editor
Ext
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106
108
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E-mail
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Alan Koontz
[email protected]
Rachel F. Levin
Joanne Erickson
Vince Ferrari
[email protected]
Emily Dorr
19
PATC Trail Patrol Presents
Hike Leader Training
March 27, 2010
This one-day course will
be conducted at the PATC
Headquarters building in Vienna and
is designed to prepare you to lead
hikes. The course uses classroom
and outdoor instruction to prepare
participants with skills to lead safe
and enjoyable hikes while minimizing
impact to the environment.
Topics covered include medical
emergencies, personal equipment,
Leave No Trace, leadership,
planning, standard procedures and
navigation. Scenario exercises will
also be used to emphasize hike
leadership skills.
Cost: $35.00
Registration: Send payments to
PATC, HLT Course, 118 Park Street,
SE, Vienna, VA 22180-4609. Preregistration is required. Registration
form may be obtained via the PATC
Web Site, under “Training” then “Hike Leader”.
Information: Eric VanNortwick
([email protected])
Day: 202/756-3828 Evening:
703/878-7025 Cell: 571/264-9513
Peru Service Trip
Looking for an adventurous holiday next
summer? Ever considered a service trip
to another country? If so, here is your
opportunity. Join eleven of your fellow
PATC members to Peru this summer
and not only experience this beautiful
country, but also spend four days
performing community service projects.
The balance of our time will be spent
touring. Interested? Read on.
Trip dates are June 23, 2010, returning
to the United States on July 7. The
roundtrip TACA Airline flight is from
Dulles to Lima with one stop. The trip cost is $2,553 and includes
international and two in-country
flights, in country travel by a dedicated
vehicle, some train travel, trekking the
Inca Trail (or an alternative option),
exploring Cuzco and the ancient Inca
sites outside of Cuzco, and four days
of community service in Raqchi. If you
have hiked the Inca Trail, an alternative
adventure to hike and explore other
sites is offered. It includes hiking and
exploring Ollantaytambo, the Pisac ruins,
a traditional market, and Aquas Calientes
where you will meet up with the Inca
Trail trekkers. Also included are hotels, breakfasts,
and entrance fees to museums and
other activities that are included in the
itinerary. Also provided is full support
on the Inca Trail to include guides,
cooks, and porters. All you carry is your
daypack. You will enjoy fabulous meals,
spacious tents, and some of the most
spectacular scenery in the world. Not included are tips, other lunches
and dinners, medications, and personal
expenses. If you do not want to bring
your sleeping bag or do not own one,
they are available for a nominal fee. The Raqchi service projects do not
require special skills. While the specific
projects have yet to be identified, the
following are the types of projects you
may be engaged in. No prior experience
is needed and tools are provided.
•C
learing boulders/rocks for a
community garden
•B
uilding mud brick walls to keep farm
animals from straying
•H
elp the locals make mud bricks
for building schools or other
community structures
•A
ssist local tradesmen build
communal structures
•H
elp tradesmen build a stove to
replace interior open-fire cooking
•H
elp manage a trash exchange
program where local people are paid
to collect trash from trails or other
communal areas
•C
lear debris out of a school storage
house and replace with a sink with
running water
We invite you to visit (formerly
Adventure Holidays Peru). If you are
interested please contact Donna Brother
at 703/435-8315 or e-mail dbrother1@
gmail.com. A $500, non-refundable
deposit made payable to Donna Brother
will secure your reservation. You must
be a member of PATC and you must
carry trip insurance and the policy
must include medical evacuation and
repatriation coverage. New at the PATC Store:
the PATC TICK KEY
The only tick removal device that uses natural forward leverage
to remove the entire tick, head and all, quickly and safely without
touching or squishing even the toughest engorged ticks. Early and
proper tick removal is known to help prevent tick-borne diseases.
The Tick Key is 99.9% effective on all sizes and types of ticks.
Fabricated from high-strength anodized aluminum, the Tick Key
is flat and easily stored in a wallet, pocket, on a key chain, collar,
saddle, or leash. The Tick Key is currently available in 7 bright
metallic colors: Green, Blue, Orange, Purple, Red, Pewter & Black
AND imprinted with our PATC logo! Order them now for yourself,
family and friends for the super price of $4.76 members, nonmembers $5.95, item number PE330, at PATC Headquarters or
online at www.patc.us/store.
20
Help WanteD
Shelters
Volunteers needed for the
AT SHELTER CONSTRUCTION CREW –
Henry Horn – 301/498-8254,
[email protected]
Devils Racecourse Shelter – MD Map 5-6
[Rick Canter – H 301/924-4942,
[email protected]]
Corridor Monitors
Tom Lupp – 301/663-6644,
[email protected]
Virginia Map 8 – Ashby Gap North
Virginia Map 9 – Harmony Hollow
Trails
Pennsylvania Maps 2-3, 4, J, & K
Pete Brown – 410/343-1140, peter.
[email protected]
PA Appalachian Trail [4] – [co-overseer] –
PA 16 to Buena Vista Road (3 miles)
PA Appalachian Trail [4] – [co-overseer] –
Buena Vista Road to Pen Mar (1.1 miles)
PA Tuscarora Trail [J] – McClures Gap to
Warner Trail (3.7 miles)
PA Tuscarora Trail [J] – [2 or more
additional sections after a proposed relo]
PA Tuscarora Trail [J] – PA 16 to Alice Trail
PA Tuscarora Trail [K] – [co-overseer] –
Yellow Blazed Trail to PA 456 (6.7 miles)
SNP North District Blue-Blazed – Map 9
Wayne Limberg – H 703/533-8639,
[email protected]
Tuscacora Trail [W] – SNP Boundary to
Thompson Hollow Trail (1.5 miles)
SNP Central AT – Map 10
Dan Dueweke – 703/266-3248,
[email protected]
Appalachian Trail – Jewell Hollow to
Corbin Cabin Cutoff Trail (1 mile)
Appalachian Trail – [co-overseer] – Stony
Man Overlook to Passamaquoddy Trail (0.7 mile)
Appalachian Trail – Hawksbill Gap to
Spitler Knoll (1.2 miles) Triple Crown
Hiker (AT/PCT/CDT) will tutor new
overseer in trail maintenance and provide
refreshments in the form of homebrew!”
SNP Central BB [north end] – Map 10
Melvin Ellis – freestatehollow@hotmail.
com (H) 703/860-1253 or 540/987-9797
Crusher Ridge Trail – Nicholson Hollow
Trail to Lambert Cabin parking (2.5 miles)
Tulip Tree Cabin Trail – Tulip Tree Cabin
driveway to Crusher Ridge Trail (0.3 mile)
SNP Central BB [south end] – Map 10
Melanie Perl – H 540/717-2821,
[email protected]
Cat Knob – Laurel Prong Trail to Jones
Mountain Trail (0.5 mile)
Jones Mountain Trail – Fork Mountain Fire
Road to Cat Knob Trail (1 mile)
SNP South Blue blazed – Map 11
Pete Gatje – 434/361-1309,
[email protected]
Rocky Mount Trail – [co-overseer] –
Summit of Rocky Mt. to 2nd Junction of
Gap Run Trail (2 miles) [Person should live near the trail & should be in good
physical condition.]
Rockytop Trail[lower] – Lewis Peak Trail
to Big Run Portal Trail (3.5 miles)[requires
strong hiker with a passion for trailwork on
a remote trail]
Tuscarora Central – Map L
Walt Smith – 540/327-1241,
[email protected]
Tuscarora Trail – Tuscarora Pinnacle
Power Line to Larrick Overlook (1.4 miles)
Fry Path Trail – Tuscarora Trail to Laurel
Run Trail (0.4 mi)
Laurel Run Trail – Tuscarora Trail to Fry
Path Trail (0.5 miles)
Rock Cave & Overlook Trail – Pinnacle
Overlook to Pinnacle Campground (0.1 miles)
Tuscarora South – Map F, G, 9
Rick Rhoades – 540/477-3247, Rrhoades@
shentel.net
Tuscarora Trail – US 340 to SNP Boundary
(1.1 miles)
Tuscarora Trail – Capons Springs to Hawk
Camp (3.7 miles)
Massanutten South – Map H
Tate Heuer – 202/255-6055, tate@wth2.
com
Bird Knob Trail – Mass Mtn South Trail to
Mass Mtn South Trail (2.1 miles)
Morgan Run Trail – Cub Run Road to
Massanutten Mt. South Trail (1.4 miles)
Suburban Maryland – Map D
Catherine Kelleher – 301/493-6956,
[email protected]
[vacancies opening soon]
Manassas National Battlefield Park
John “Bud” Cunnally – 703/393-9808,
[email protected]
This new district with 22 miles of hiking
& horse trails will be maintained with a
crew of PATC volunteers in conjunction
with other volunteer groups. Join the
“Manassas BullRunners”
Prince William Forest Park
Liles Creighton – 410/573-0067,
[email protected]
Laurel Loop – Picnic Area to Picnic Area
(1.4 miles)
North Valley Trail – Quantico Falls Trail to
Cabin Branch Mine Trail (1.5 miles)
South Valley Trail – [co-overseer] – High
Meadows Trail to 1st Intersection with
Scenic Dr (1.7 miles)
South Valley Trail – Scenic Drive
1st intersection to Scenic Drive 3rd
intersection (1.9 miles)
Farm to Forest Trail – Oak Ridge Camp to
Oak Ridge Camp (1 mile)
Spotsylvania Battlefield Park
Frank Haas – 540/898-2213,
[email protected]
Lee Drive North Trail – Howison Hill to
Lansdowne Valley Road (3.0 miles)
Mutton Hollow – Map 11
Hugh Robinson – H 703/525-8726
Meadow Trail – Boundary Trail to
Muttontop Trail (0.8 mile)
PA Writers and Photographers
The newsletter seeks stringers with skills
in writing, photography, or both to file
stories and features from the four corners
of the club. Topics might include regularly
scheduled and special events, work and
recreational hikes, new and completed
construction and renovations, club history,
training classes, rescue group cases,
notable natural and historical locales
and monuments, interesting flora and
fauna sightings and trends, documentary
film events, map work, interaction with
other clubs, real estate negotiations, trail
planning and relocation, and environmental
impacts, just for starters. File your 500
word or less stories with full-sized photos
to [email protected].
21
December 2009 Council Fire
The regularly scheduled meeting of the
PATC Council was called to order on
Dec. 8, 2009, at Club Headquarters by
President Lee Sheaffer. After compiling
the information for the Annual Report,
Wilson Riley announced that the club
generated 103,104 volunteer hours for
2009.
Treasurer Ric Francke introduced the
2010 budget. After minimal discussion,
the budget was approved by Council.
John Hedrick introduced two motions.
The first was to grant honorary PATC
memberships to Donald Kline and
Joshua Montanari, both of whom
have contributed substantially to the
club. Donald is a Forester and Joshua
is a DCNR Law Enforcement Ranger.
Council unanimously approved the
motion. The second motion was to
approve a State of West Virginia grant
to for a bridge to be placed on the
Tuscarora Trail near Devil’s Nose. This
was also approved.
Mel Merritt, Cabins, announced that the
Lambert Cabin has been put into the
rental system as of November 1st. The
Shairer Trail Center and the High Acre
barn renovations are underway.
adoption of the Review Committee’s
proposals.
Supervisor of Lands Jim Peterson,
informed Council that the Forest Service
approved the foundation holes for the
new Bird Run Shelter. After 8,000
lbs concrete was mixed, the footers
were poured and block was laid, so the
foundation is ready for the shelter to be
built in the spring.
Thom Kaye, Maps Committee,
announced the appointment of a
GIS subcommittee chair, Stephanie
Cardenas, who brings a wealth of
information with five to six years of
GIS experience. Her first task will be to
procure new GIS software.
Supervisor of Communication Hop
Long, introduced Caroline Petti and
Bill Collins to review the results of
the Potomac Appalachian survey and
Review Committee’s proposals. Bill
reported on the survey results and
Caroline touched upon the committee’s
proposals such as: to provide members
with a choice to receive the PA
electronically; to incorporate the article
ideas and suggestions of the members
and committee members; for the
editors to have a standing opportunity
during Council meetings to discuss
possible future article topics; to include
letters to the editor; and move to an
environmentally responsive printing
process. The Council approved the
Katrina Hedlesky, Trail Patrol,
introduced a color version of the Trail
Patrol class schedule.
Tom Lupp, AT Corridor Management/
MD AT Management, announced
that the ATC has produced a new AT
Corridor Stewardship field book and the
Weaverton parking lot is open
for business.
Jim Peterson, supervisor of lands,
thanked Caroline Petti, Bill Collins, and
the members of the Review Committee
for their in-depth analysis of the Potomac
Appalachian. He also thanked Pete
Brown for his many years of service as
the Chapter representative of the North
Chapter.
Who Met Their Spouse Through PATC?
Meadows Cabin into the rental system.
At my final work trip at Meadows Cabin
when I was seven months pregnant, the
work crew surprised me with a baby
shower—very sweet! We now have two
children, Amy and Daniel, who clearly
are no longer children.
Bill and Elizabeth Collins Oscanyan
Bill and Beth met on a construction
trip at Michener Cabin on August 27,
1965. Their first date soon followed at
the KTA annual meeting on September,
1965. Following an evening of
enthusiastic square dancing, they drove
to the Michener parking area, hiked in
by starlight, and slept on the porch of
the cabin. In the morning Beth checked
Bill carefully for signs of life because it
appeared that he had not moved since
he had gone to sleep; she was pleased
to find that he was still breathing.
Over the next 21 months they spent
many enjoyable weekends working on
Michener Cabin and became engaged.
22
A July 1, 1967 wedding was held at
Michener Cabin. Beth arrived with her
father and stepmother, who’d been
persuaded to forgo her high heels for
tennies. En route they picked daylilies
for floral accents. Other amenities
packed in from upper parking included
champagne, Beth’s grandfather’s crystal
hollow stemmed glasses, and an icecream cake. Beth made dresses for
herself and Peg Peterson, who served
as matron of honor. Bob Hendricks
was best man, and Pete Peterson was
photographer. Fred and Ruth Blackburn
and Helen and Harold Wiese were
also there. Everyone stayed overnight
except for the minister, but Bill and Beth
occupied their own tent as a prelude to a
honeymoon on the Long Trail
in Vermont.
George J. Walters submitted the following
account of the North Hoodlums trail crew,
apparently a particularly congenial group:
The work of the North District
Hoodlums trail
crew in SNP
provided fertile
ground for several
such relationships.
Lifetime member
John McCrea met Catherine Pipan on
a Hoodlums worktrip. Regular crew
members Stephanie Bill and Tex Herbel
met likewise. Both couples are now
married. In fact, even the former crew
leader George Walters succumbed to
the charms of Maureen Harris, one of
his crew members while swinging picks
and moving rocks on the AT. There
are many more stories of Hoodlum
relationships. Some lasted. Some did
not. It can be said however, that the
proverbial little red chapel has nothing
over Indian Run Hut for fueling PATC
relationships.
Hope you enjoyed these accounts. We
think they just prove there are many fine
rewards to volunteering with PATC!
HIKE OF THE MONTH: FROZEN WATERFALL OF OVERALL RUN
SHENAnDOAH NATIONAL PARK
Instead of turning left toward the upper
falls, turn right and proceed downhill on
the Overall Run Trail. In about 200 yards
there will be a concrete marker showing
the way to the lower falls. These falls,
known as the ponds to locals, are a series
of cascades tumbling ever lower to deep
pools. These pools offer great swimming
in the summer.
Continue down the Overall Run Trail
until it ends at the Beecher-Overall
Connecting Trail. This short, steep trail
connects to the yellow-blazed Beecher
Ridge Trail in about half a mile. From
this point, it is a long steady climb up
Beecher Ridge through the forest canopy.
The Beecher Ridge Trail ends at the
Matthews Arm Trail, which proceeds
downhill to the Tuscarora Overall Run
Trail. This trail goes steeply downhill over
steps and passes many small waterfalls
and cascades. Stop to look at these water
features; just like the large falls, these will
be frozen. Finally the trail will descend via
switchbacks to a rock ledge that will give
you outstanding views of both the falls
and the wide valley below the falls.
Can you say Wind Chill?
There are many different ledges here, and
you can see the falls from many different
perspectives. Take some time to study
the falls in all its frozen glory; you are
looking at a unique feature. The falls
freeze differently each time and can be
very different in appearance from the last
freeze. The presence of snow can add to
the scene, but for greater contrast, choose
a time with little snow to get the full
effect of ice and rock cliff.
The other feature about this ledge is wind
chill. Since the ledge stands at the top
of a high, exposed cliff, the wind rushes
up the hollow and blasts you with its full
force. There are a few protected areas
that will shelter you from these frigid
blasts, but expect to experience the true
meaning of wind chill.
From the ledge, the trail proceeds steeply
downhill. This is the steepest downhill
section of this hike and one of the
steepest in the national park. Care must
be taken, because this area gets little
winter sun and the trail is often icy. The
trail does pass a short side trail that gives
a view back to the falls. This is worth the
trip, but the view is not nearly as good as
from the ledge.
The trail continues steeply downhill over
switchbacks. This is an improvement
over the original trail, which the astute
eye can see proceeding straight down
the hill. At the bottom of this descent,
the trail becomes flat and goes through a
broad hollow with many signs of previous
human habitation. One must imagine
how people made a living in such a rocky
and sun-sheltered place. The trail winds
back and forth crossing Overall Run
twice before a short rise brings you to the
intersection of the Thompson Hollow
Trail. This trail takes you back to your car.
Statistics:
Map: PATC Map #9; Appalachian Trail and other trails
in Shenandoah National Park North District
The parking lot is really a traffic circle at the end of VA SR 630. There is a sign here stating that this is parking
for Shenandoah National Park and that the trail goes
through private land.
Altitude Gain; 2230 feet
Distance; 9 miles
Difficulty Factor; 200.3 (the altitude gain time 2 times
the distance in miles, take the square root of that).
—Lee Sheaffer
ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE
NOW FORMING!
To ensure the future success
of PATC’s expanding outreach
efforts, and increase our
membership, an Activities
Committee is being established
and it needs your help. The
basic role of the members of this
committee would be:
1.Maintenance of display
materials
2.Preparation of displays and
materials for outreach events
3.Copying of handouts for
events
4.Development of new “Trail
Talker” materials to hand out
and refining those materials
already in use
5. Development of a succession
plan for the position of
Supervisor of Activities
6. Long-term strategic planning
7. Evaluation of past outreach
activities and assessment of
their future viability
8. Posting of Activities on
website
9. Authoring of Activities
articles for Potomac
Appalachian
10. Preparation of annual
Activities budget
If you are interested in becoming
a member of the Activities
Committee, and ensuring the
future of this vital component
of PATC’s long-term growth,
please contact me at actvities@
patc.net. You can also reach me
at 240-338-3816. As soon as
we have 4-6 people to form this
committee, I will contact you
about our first meeting.
—Randy A. Motz
23
PERIODICAL
118 Park Street, S.E.
Vienna, VA 22180-4609
US POSTAGE PAID
AT VIENNA VA
Telephone: 703/242-0315
Mon. - Thur. 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Thurs. & Fri. noon - 2 p.m.
Mark Your Clendar Now to join other PATC Members at
Adventure Travel Expo Washington DC Convention Center | March 6-7, 2010 A
Attend the largest active and adventure travel marketplace showcasing hundreds of travel
destinations and tour operators from around the world. Plus, try hands-on adventure
activities and meet travel experts from the Travel Channel. FREE admission offer below.
Emergency Response
Training and Trail
Patrol presents
Basic Wilderness First
Aid And CPR and AED
February 27-28
Day one of this two-day
class covers Adult CPR and
AED and American Heart
Association First Aid. You
will receive a textbook and
a certification card good
for two years. Day two is
American Safety and Health
Institute (ASHI) Basic
Wilderness First Aid. You
will learn how to do bleeding
control, splinting, and other
basic first aid skills in the
wilderness setting. There
is plenty of hands-on time
and paramedics with years
of backcountry experience
teach the classes.
Cost of the class is $130.
Pre-Registration is required
no later than the Friday one
week prior to the class.
For more information or to
download the registration
form, go to http://patc.
us/volunteer/trailpatrol/
Forms/1stAidRegForm.pdf or contact Saleena DeVore at [email protected] or
540-972-2059.
The Show
for
Travelers
Mark Your Calendar!
• Comparethousandsofunique
adventurevacationsanddestinations
–optionsforallbudgets
• Savehundredson“showonly”
travelspecials
• Tryhands-onadventureactivities
includingscubadiving,rockclimbing
andzip-lining
• Experiencethemusicanddanceof
culturesworldwide
WASHINGTON, D.C.
March6-7,2010
WashingtonConventionCenter
FREE ADMISSION
Register Online
or
Bring Coupon to the Show!
Regular Price: $15
www.adventureexpo.com/consumer
Enter Promo Code: PATC
www.adventureexpo.com/consumer
Potomac Appalachian
(UPS-440-280) ©2009, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, Inc.
Published monthly by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA 22180.
Periodical class postage paid at Vienna, VA. Postmaster: send address changes to: PATC, 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA 22180 Subscription: (Free with membership) $9.00 annually; $.75 single copies.

February 2010 - Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

Transcription

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