June 2008 - Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

Transcription

ISSN 098—8154
The Newsletter of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA 22180-4609
www.patc.net
June 7!
Volume 37, Number 6
June 2008
The Gypsy Moths are Back at Their Old Tricks
S
ome of you may remember
back to 1988 when gypsy
moth first invaded the North District of SNP. The gypsy moth
moved south along the Blue Ridge
and adjoining forests over the
next six years like a slow moving
wildfire until the population collapsed. As trail maintainers, we
are all still dealing with the longterm impacts of the first gypsy
moth defoliation in our area as
the last of the gypsy moth killed
oak trees come down and new forest types have transitioned from
weedy vegetation to manageable
woody vegetation.
Since the mid-1990s, the gypsy
moth has been among us, but living quietly in the background. In
2007 gypsy moth defoliation
become very noticeable in the
North District. I share this with
all of you because as I traveled the
Hike for the Hungry
T
he spicy sweet scent of ash,
birch, and maple delight your
nose and revitalize your mind. Rays
of sunshine wrap around you like a
freshly laundered blanket, warm
and fragrant, protecting and comforting you. Shades of green, yellow,
and brown mesh in a world that
feels like your own and the buzzing
of the insects create the soothing
sonata that perfectly compliments
all that you feel. Could anything
improve such a wonderful day; such
a wonderful hike? What if today you
were hiking for the millions of men,
women, and children who go hungry
each and every day?
In September the first annual “Hike
for the Hungry” will take place
throughout the Pennsylvania, Mary-
park over the last 9 months, I
have noticed new gypsy moth egg
masses from Front Royal to Rockfish Gap.
Following this article is an
overview of the spray plan for the
North District which focuses on
Skyline Drive and Mathews Arm
Campground. But, be aware that
pockets of gypsy moth defoliation
will likely begin to show up elsewhere in the park in the coming
years. It is near impossible to predict the impact of this coming
round of oak defoliation to park
trails, but we do know that there
are a lot less oak trees to munch
on this time around.
Questions on the park spray program can be directed to park biologist, Rolf Gubler 540/999-3291.
—Shawn Green,
Park Trails Coordinator
land, D.C., and Virginia area. Proceeds from this event will go toward
the fight against world hunger and
will be used to help people in such
countries as Haiti, Egypt, and India.
Participants will raise sponsorship
money through their local community, family, and friends, and then
hike along the numerous trails
maintained by PATC. The principles
of Leave No Trace will be strictly
adhered to and hikers will be able to
enjoy several different types of
hikes.
The organizers of “Hike for the Hungry” are looking for eager volunteers
willing to help out in any capacity. If
interested please contact Travis
Hurant at [email protected]. ❏
—Travis Hurant
This developmental stage of the gypsy moth
has been responsible for severe damage to
the forests of the appalachians
North District Spray Plan
Natural Resource staff and U.S. Forest Service are planning to aerially
spray 2,500 acres of forest in
Shenandoah's North District to supSee Gypsy Moth, page 17
In This Issue . . .
Council Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Lee’s Overlook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Half Tails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Overseers Workshop . . . . . . . . . . .4
EMS Grand Opening . . . . . . . . . . .4
PATC Election Changes . . . . . . . .4
Hiker’s Notebook . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Appalachian Nature . . . . . . . . . . .6
From the PATC Store . . . . . . . . . . .6
AT License Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Trail MaintainersWorkshop . . . . .7
Pleasant Valley Eyesore . . . . . . . .8
Tails from the Woods . . . . . . . . . .9
Forecast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Summer Sunday in the Park . . .16
Trail Talkers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
NTD Beyond the Trailhead . . . .17
Shawn Green Retires . . . . . . . . . .18
Trailhead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
New Boots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Save The Meadow! . . . . . . . . . . .22
Volunteer Ops/Swap Meet . . . .23
Help Needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Council Fire
P
ATC President Lee Sheaf fer
started the regularly scheduled
Council Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on
April 8, 2008, at the Club Headquarters. Lee and Staff Director Wilson Riley introduced David Haggerty of Casual Adventure who presented PATC with a $500 grant.
David participated in the PATC
Open House held on March 29.
Supervisor of Trails John Hedrick
announced that the MOU with the
Manassas National Battlefield Park
had been signed; PATC shares
responsibility for the 35 miles of
trail with an equestrian group that
has maintained trails for over 20
years. SNP Superintendent Chaz
Cartwright will be transferring to
Glacier National Park in May. SNP
has received approval to convert
Byrd’s Nest 3 into a hiker shelter
and PATC volunteers will construct
a privy when funding is available.
Supervisor of Lands Jim Peterson
reported that Shaver Hollow Property (PATC Environmental Center)
Committee met prior to this Council meeting to review the Shaver
Hollow Property Management Plan
prior to its being submitted to
Council in June.
John Hedrick outlined the new computer and phone system for PATC
Headquarters that will provide ten
desktop phones, a new switch, and
two Polycom speakerphones. This
phone system will save money on
maintenance and more than pay for
itself with these savings.
Cabins Reservations chair Sam Perdue described some recent inappropriate renter behavior at Tulip Tree
Cabin. There were incidents of
intentional tree cutting, occupancy
of the cabin by more than the
authorized number, and the renter
of record was not on site during the
rental period. Council approved a
floor motion to suspend the cabin
rental privileges for a year but this
penalty could be mitigated by the
member’s participation in two cabin
work trips, which are to be monitored by Charlie Graf.
Headquarters Chair Eliza Engle
reported that 80 non-members
attended the Open House on March
29; 21 had heard about it in the
newsletter; others saw the banner
when they drove by. PATC sold
$1,000 worth of merchandise and
signed up 10 new members.
Supervisor of Membership Jim
Tomlin displayed a PATC car mag-
net and he is having made. Of the
35 people who signed up to participate in a new members hike, only 4
showed up, presumably due to bad
weather.
Around the Room
Shelters - Henry Horn - Rocky Run
is nearing completion. There were
four homeless people at Pine Knob
Shelter in Maryland. Many people
coming through during work trips.
Blackburn - Chris Brunton has
hired new caretakers, Tina and Eric
- trail names Tina D and EC, who
See Council, page 15
Corrections
Last month we sent you
some bad information. The new
Cabins Book was listed with the
correct price on its own (page
4), but when paired with all of
our other publications we had
the old price. The correct price
is $6.00 for members, $7.50 for
non-members.
Also, the price for the
Notecards (see the image on the
back cover of this issue - that’s
one such sketch) has gone up.
The new price is $6.40 for members, $8.00 for non-members. ❏
HOW TO CONTACT US: HEADQUARTERS, SALES,
CABIN RESERVATIONS, AND MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Address: 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA 22180 Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Phone #: 703/242-0315
and Thursday and Friday 12 noon to 2 p.m.
24-hr. Activities Tape #: 703/242-0965
Facsimile #: 703/242-0968
To receive an information packet: main #
Club e-mail: [email protected]
Club President (leave a message), Lee Sheaffer: main # World Wide Web URL: www.patc.net
STAFF: DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS
Director of Administration: Wilson Riley (Ext. 105) e-mail: [email protected]
Trails Management Coordinator: Heidi Forrest (Ext. 107) e-mail: [email protected]
Business Manager: Monica Clark (Ext. 106) e-mail: [email protected]
Membership/Cabin Coordinator: Pat Fankhauser (Ext. 108) e-mail: [email protected]
Sales Coordinator: Maureen Estes (Ext. 103) e-mail: [email protected]
Potomac Appalachian
Chief Editor: Linda Shannon-Beaver, [email protected]
Features Editor: Joanne Erickson
Forecast Editor: Vince Ferrari, [email protected]
2
CLUB OFFICERS AND 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]
June 2008 • Potomac Appalachian
I
Lee’s Overlook: A Trail to Nowhere
was amused recently by an article in this publication that
described the building of a trail to
nowhere. In actuality, it is a major
reroute of our Tuscarora Trail. As
with all reroutes, the last section
to be completed is the part that
connects the new trail to the present trail. In this case an enterprising hiker found the unopened section of the reroute and followed it
until it ended in the woods. This
was truly a trail to nowhere. The
hiker did the smart thing and
returned the way he came. He also
did a little research and found out
what the new trail was and
showed up to help on the next
trail work trip.
As spring turns into summer, trail
crews from the southern Shenandoah to Pennsylvania are gearing up
to complete large and small projects
throughout our trail system.
Whether it is rerouting a trail,
building a bridge, or just making an
overused section of trail more hikeable, all of our trail crews will be out
swinging shovels and McLeods to
create a better trail system.
Make no mistake, this is hard work
for just a few feet of trail, paid for by
sweat and tired muscles, but it is
very rewarding work. Most people
who volunteer for this kind of duty
describe it as the hardest job you’ll
ever love. It’s true, most of the people who work with a crew return to
work with the crew again. Some join
more than one crew and do trail
work in more than one location and
different trail projects. Others join
our shelter or cabin crews and try
their hand at a building project.
No matter what the crew or the project, what people usually return for
is the companionship. The work is
hard, but rewarding, and the people
are great. A work weekend is not all
work either, there is plenty of time
to socialize and explore and the food
is not too bad either. Best of all, you
work with great and experienced
people on something that will last
for years to come. So how do you
Half Tails: A Question of Honor
S
o here is how it goes. The man gets ready to leave
and before he goes he feeds me; as it should be. A
little later the woman comes home and feeds me
again. Bonus!
Well it wasn’t very long before they discovered that they
were feeding me twice a day. I saw no problem with this,
but somehow the humans thought this was wrong.
Must I remind you humans that you typically eat not
twice but three times a day. I see no problem with twice
a day, plus snacks and the odd yards item. The humans
thought this was wrong though, that dogs should only
be fed once a day and then beg for snacks. You are a
cruel species.
Well in order to correct this wrong the humans would
leave notes to each other telling the other that they had
fed me. I could live with this since I knew they were
suckers for a good beg. What shocked me was when
one day the note blew off the counter top and landed
face up on the floor. Here is what the note said; The
Liar has been fed. LIAR, how can anything as cute as
me lie. How can anything that can’t talk be accused of
telling a lie. Standing there and looking hungry does
not constitute a lie.
Potomac Appalachian • June 2008
find a trail crew that needs help?
One good way is to look in the Forecast section of this newsletter. All
work trips should be listed by date
and location. Another way is to visit
our Web site at www.patc.net then
go to the contact us page. On that
page will be a link to our trail crews.
On this page you will find all manner of strange names which the
crews have named themselves.
Choose one that most suits your
personality, maybe you are a Flying
McLeod, a Roaring Tusker or a
Hoodlum or any other of the creative names which have evolved to
become a group of talented trail
builders.
No matter how you find a trail crew
be prepared to work hard, meet
great people, and gain a great sense
of accomplishment. For every mile
of trail there is a story. Start to
learn some of those stories and
maybe you can create a new story
that you can tell others. ❏
—Lee Sheaffer
This is largely a human problem, but because you think
you are in charge you blame the dog. First, I am not
responsible for telling the other human that I was fed
once. Back in the caveman days the dog ate as much as
he was allowed and as much as he could. Why is it such
a surprise that in modern times the dog eats as much
as he is allowed and as much as he can. Second, dogs
can’t talk and you don’t leave a typewriter handy where
we can type out messages to you. What do you expect
when you look me in the eye and say “Have you been
fed.” Wouldn’t you be surprised if I stood up on my hind
legs and said “Well yes I have, but if you are offering I
will have some more.” Third, Humans are guilty of projecting human qualities on dogs. Humans believe that
there should be a pause of a certain amount of time
between eating sessions. We dogs have heard humans
say things like, “No thanks, I just ate” or “I’m not ready
to eat again.” Dogs think this is a very funny joke that
you humans play with each other. We dogs believe that
you take your opportunities as they arrive.
It’s a tough world below your knees, if there is food
available then you take it, if food becomes available 10
minutes later than you take it again. It is improper and
See Tails, page 18
3
Overseers Workshop
Trails Day Weekend, June 7-8 – SNP
The Blue & White Crew will host the Annual SNP Central District workshop, June 78. The workshop is open to all trail maintainers and prospective trail maintainers (not just
SNP Central volunteers), and is designed to provide instruction to new maintainers (erosion control techniques, vegetation control, blazing, etc) and to teach “old hands” a few
new tricks. The workshop is taught by trail professionals from SNP in conjunction with
crew leaders from the Blue and White Crew.
Overnight accommodations will be at the Pinnacles Research Station, near MP
37 on Skyline Drive. Participants will camp on the Pinnacles lawn. The registration
fee for the weekend is $20, which will cover Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast,
and lunch (participants must provide their own trail lunch on Saturday).
The workshop always fills early, so timely registration is encouraged. We hope to see you
at the Pinnacles. More information is available on the Blue and White Crew Web site:
http://blueandwhitecrew.org or by e-mailing Kerry Snow at [email protected]. ❏
Eastern Mountain Sports - Grand Opening
New Store at Dulles 28 Center
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 20, 21 and 22.
Eastern Mountain Sports is thrilled to open a new location in this
area, at the crossroads of Rte. 28 and 625, so close to so many great
outdoor areas. And they are eager to help us share our outdoor passions, engage people, and promote involvement in our club, the outdoors, and the outdoor community.
EMS has been a long-time supporter of PATC through generous overseer discounts and now they want our help (in telling people about our
club). Please consider volunteering your time to help spread the word
about our club at the newest EMS location. The grand opening with
feature coffee and pastry each morning and Pot Belly Sandwiches for
lunch on Saturday and Sunday. The club will provide everything you
need. Contact Jane Thompson by June 13 ([email protected])
301/349-2496. ❏
PATC Election Changes
P
ATC will hold elections this year at its annual meeting
in November. Due to changes in our constitution there
are more officers and a more streamlined procedure for
running for a position on the PATC executive committee.
Any member in good standing may run for an office on
the PATC executive committee and may do so by simply
declaring an intention to run to the elections committee.
Candidates may submit a statement of intention to run to
the committee. Any such statement must be received by
the committee no later than Aug. 15, 2008 and shall be
less than 200 words. No nominations or request to run
for office will be accepted after that date.
The following officers shall be elected at the November
annual meeting: President, Vice President of Operations,
Vice President of Volunteerism, Treasurer, Secretary, Super-
4
PATC Trail Patrol Presents
Hike Leader
Training Course
July 26
This one-day course will be
conducted at PATC Headquarters in Vienna and is designed
to prepare you to lead hikes.
The course uses classroom
and outdoor instruction to
teach 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 emphasize hike
leadership skills.
Cost*: $20 for PATC members,
$35 for non-members. Send
payments to PATC, HL T
Course, 118 Park Street, SE,
Vienna, VA 22180-4609. Preregistration is required. Registration must be received no
later than July 18. Information:
Eric VanNortwick (TPHLT@
patc.net) Day; 202/548-0110
Evening; 703/878-7025 Cell;
571/264-9513.
* Join PATC at the time of registration and get the members’ price! ❏
visor of Trails, Supervisor of Facilities, Supervisor of Land,
Supervisor of Membership, Supervisor of Marketing, Supervisor of Communications, and Supervisor of Activities.
Election of officers will be by vote by those attending the
membership meeting and by absentee ballot. The election committee will be responsible for the collection and
tallying of the votes and will declare a winner by majority vote. Officers shall serve a two-year term and may be
reelected to one additional term in that position. Any
member in good standing who would be interested in
running for an officer position should contact the elections committee either via mail at: PATC Elections, 118
Park St SE, Vienna VA 22180, or via e-mail at [email protected]. ❏
Hiker’s Notebook
C o m m o n N a m e : Elderberry,
American elder, Common elder,
Black elder, European elder,
Black-berried alder, Sauco (Spanish), Schwarzer holunder (German), Sureau noir (French), Old
lady, Pipe tree – Elder is of uncertain origin, stemming from the
Indo-European root el, as in elm,
and related to the etymology of
alder, another type of tree.
S c i e n t i f i c N a m e : Sambucus
canadensis – The generic name is
from the Latin sambuca, which is
a harp-like stringed instrument
that was made from the wood of
the elder. The species name is a
Latinized geographic reference to
Canada.
The elderberry fruit is produced by
several species of elders that are
relatively fast growing shrubs or
small trees. There are about 30
species that are indigenous to temperate regions of both the northern
and southern hemispheres. The
most characteristic feature is the
broad, flat-topped cyme that bears
the berries, which range in color
from red to dark blue. The American elder is native to eastern North
America, even though the species
name is S. canadensis. The common elder S. nigra is frequently
treated as a representative for the
genus, as it is found in both
Europe and North America with a
number of variants.
The wood of the elder is relatively
hard; it has been used to make
items that take advantage of this
property including combs, spindles, and pegs. The generic name
Sambucus suggests that it was
used in Europe for the manufacture of musical instruments that
required strength to hold strings
in tension, such as the harp (sambuca). The stems of the shrub
have thick pith that can readily be
removed to create a hollow tube.
Flutes, blowpipes, and pipe stems
were thus fashioned from the
branches, the common name Pipe
tree a vestige of this application.
(sugar derivative) sambunigrin,
which contains cyanide. Instances
of cyanide poisoning have been
reported, the symptoms ranging
from gastrointestinal distress and
diarrhea to a general feeling of
debility. Cooking the berries dispels the cyanide toxicity.
The berries and flowers of the
elder have been a prime ingredient
in a wide variety of beverages in
Europe for centuries, likely due at
least in part to their reputed
medicinal properties. An elderberry brandy is made in Hungary
requiring one hundred pounds of
fruit per liter; In Italy, sambuca is
made by adding elderberries and
anise to alcohol. Socata is a soft
drink that is made from a combination of elderberries and lemon
that is reputed to be very popular
in Romania. Elderberry wine is
made from either the flowers or
the berries; its use as the lethal
conveyance for the poison in the
classic 1944 Frank Capra black
comedy Arsenic and Old Lace the
source for its notoriety.
As an edible fruit, elderberries are
highly nutritious; they contain
nearly 10 times as much Vitamin
A and Vitamin C as grapes; they
are sometimes given the sobriquet
Englishman’s grapes. Raw fresh
elderberries have an unpleasant,
mephitic smell that is dispelled by
cooking to make jam, jelly, syrup,
and pie filling. One pint of elderberries and one pint of claret are
combined with mace, peppercorns, and cloves to make a sauce
called pontack that is served with
liver. The entire flower cluster is
dipped in batter and fried to be
eaten directly or as an additive to
either pancakes or fritters.
Some caution must be exercised in
the consumption of products from
the elder. The raw/unripe fruit
and, to a lesser extent, the bark
and leaves, contain the glycoside
The elderberry has long been used
for a variety of medicinal applications. The elder tree was considered holy in medieval Europe on
account of its reputed salubrious
properties in the restoration and
maintenance of good health. The
flowers and the leaves have traditionally been used to relieve pain,
applied externally in a sitz bath.
Concentrated syrup from the
berries was used in West Virginia
as a remedy for colds and flu. A
cream was made from the flowers
as a salve to be applied to the
hands at night. Native Americans
used a poultice made from the
leaves and bark to treat sores,
bruises, and sprains, and to reduce
the swelling due to a bee sting.
The medicinal properties of the
elderberry are recognized in modern medicine. The flowers contain
compounds that improve the
immune function, particularly in
combination with their high levels
of Vitamin C. They are prepared as
a tea to break a fever and to stimulate sweating, in addition to a
wide variety of other conditions
including bladder and kidney
infections, headaches, indigestion,
and rheumatism. Clinical studies
have shown that the extracts of
the elderberry are effective in the
treatment of colds and flu; the
flowers have been approved for
use in Germany to ameliorate the
symptoms of a cold. Numerous
commercial products are sold as
cold remedies that have the elderberry as the primary ingredient,
notably Sambucol which has been
evaluated as a treatment for the
notorious avian flu virus H5N1. ❏
—William Needham
Visit the Hiker’s Notebook Web site:
www.mwrop.org/W_Needham/h_notebook.html
5
Bob Pickett’s Appalachian Nature: Black Bear Population is on the Rise
B
lack bear numbers are continuing to increase in our midAtlantic region. In our five-state
region (Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina), we now have a population of
nearly 40,000 black bear, with over
10,000 harvested annually. While
sows tend to produce fewer than two
cubs per litter in the West, and just
over two cubs per litter in the Southeast, the rate in Maryland and Pennsylvania is over three cubs per litter.
In fact, in Pennsylvania, the occurrence of five cubs is as common as
single cubs. Such prolific fecundity is
the result of the ideal habitat for both
food and shelter.
With the increasing number of black
bear comes the increased likelihood
of bear/human conflicts. Historically, black bear have not posed a
significant threat to our hiking population. Throughout the 20th Century, not a single death due to black
bear east of the Mississippi was
recorded in the U.S. (Deaths north
of the U.S. border are not included
in this statistic.) In fact, for every
bear death (grizzly and black bear)
that has been recorded throughout
the U.S., on average, there are 200
who die from hypothermia.
But the situation is changing. The
first black bear fatality (in the U.S.)
occurred in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in May of 2000
when an adult woman was killed by
a sow and her yearling cub. Then, in
2002, a five-month-old infant was
taken from a stroller in a New York
community and, in 2006, a six-yearold child was killed and her mother
and two-year-old brother seriously
injured in a black bear attack in the
Cherokee National Forest.
While these three episodes may or
may not portray a changing situation with respect to bear behavior,
there has never been any doubt
among bear biologists that, with the
increasing number of bears, and,
thus, bear encounters, such fatalities were just a matter of time in our
eastern deciduous forests.
6
On a more local level, add to this
information that a black bear tore
open an occupied tent this spring
near Dick’s Dome (Virginia), and
this issue strikes a little closer to
home. Let me reiterate that bear
attacks are extremely rare, with hikers more likely to succumb to insect
allergies, pit viper bits, or lightning
hits than bear attacks. Nonetheless,
there’s a changing attitude in what
constitutes appropriate hiker
responses to bear attacks.
Traditionally, the public has been
told to play dead when confronted
by a brown bear (grizzly), and fight
back when attacked by a black bear
(the only bear found east of the Mississippi River in the U.S.). This has
been based on the survival instincts
of each species. In the case of the
black bear, because it has evolved in
the forest, it has adapted the survival response of escaping threats
by tree-climbing. Tree-climbing ability is apparent in cubs when they
first emerge from the den and they
will quickly climb when a threat
appears. The sow needs only to wait
nearby and return after the threat
passes, thus protecting both herself
and her young without direct confrontation. Grizzlies, who live in
grasslands, plains, and other open
habitats, often lack such an escape
option, and thus have adapted to
aggressively defending their young.
Many bear biologists (including Steve
Herraro; Bear Attacks: Their Causes
and Avoidance, James Gary Shelton;
Bear Encounter Survival Book and
William Kemsley Jr.; Backpacker &
Hiker’s Handbook) now suggest we
respond to the bear’s behavior,
rather than to the species. This is
based upon the emerging understanding of two disparate bear reactions; defensive and aggressive. For
example, if you come across a bear
feeding on a carcass and it attacks
you, such an attack would be in
defense of its food supply. In such a
defensive attack it seems appropriate
to play dead. Similarly, if you were to
surprise a bear or a sow defending
her cubs, the bear is being defensive,
so by your playing dead, the bear
may feel the threat diminished and
end the attack. This contrasts with
the aggressive bear attack category,
such as when the bear forcibly enters
your tent, or appears to have stalked
you. In this situation you may be better off fighting the bear to the best of
your ability.
There is growing reason to believe
black bear are becoming more habituated to campers as an easy source
of food. In some of the western
National Parks (Yosemite, Sequoia,
Kings Canyon), backcountry campers
are now required to use approved
bear-resistant food canisters instead
of traditional methods of hanging
food. This is in part a response to a
study in Yosemite National Park that
found 92 percent of the backcountry
users stated that they stored their
food properly, whereas only three
percent actually did so.
It seems that this study says a lot to
me about hiking in bear country.
Especially out west, but even here
in the east, perhaps the days of apathy regarding bear safety should be
put to rest. Not that there’s an
emergency that now exists in our
forests. Clearly, no one in an
authoritative position would suggest
that it’s unsafe to camp in the backcountry of our eastern National
Parks and Forests. But it certainly
is within reason to suggest that we
focus our attention on proper procedures regarding food storage and
camping cleanliness. And, if you
spend a lot of time backcountry
camping, carry pepper spray and
food in bear-resistant containers.
For more information online, try
these resources:
Recreational Guide to living with
predators; Recreating in bear, wolf
and mountain lion country:
www.bearsmart.com/bearSmartCommunities/RecreationGuide.pdf
Massachusetts Wildlife Black Bear
Problems and Control:
www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/
dfw_bear_problem_faqs.htm ❏
AT License Plate Winner Announced. It’s Up to You to Make This Happen
T
he polls have closed and the
official results were announced
at Trail Days at Damascus. Here are
the results… (drum roll please …)
Option A – Hiker on McAfee Knob
with outstretched arms – diamond
logo – 277 votes (35 percent)
Option B – Backpacker on McAfee
Knob with arms crossed – sunburst
logo – 373 votes (47 percent)
Option C – Mountain scene – sunburst logo – 139 votes (18 percent)
Option B was our clear winner.
Thanks to every one of you that
voted – the response was amazing!
We now have until the middle of
July to collect at least 350 pre-paid
applications. If we can do that, drivers across Virginia will be able to
purchase license plates not only celebrating their love for the AT, but
contributing to this revenue sharing
program that will provide funds to
ATC for long-term capacity to help
AT volunteers manage, maintain,
This plate design was voted upon by the trails community and the winning design was
announced at Trail Days in Damascus in May.
and conserve the Trail. If we can’t
get those 350 pre-paid applications
we will have lost our opportunity to
make this happen.
Folks, it’s literally now or never!!
Please go to www.appalachiantrail.
org and search for Virginia license
plate for more information and to
download an application form.
Trail Maintainers Workshop
If you have any question about
this process, please contact Jack
Noll ([email protected])
540/953-3571 x 253. Thanks so
much for playing such a key role
in making this happen! ❏
—Jack Noll,
ATC Education
and Outreach Specialist
September 27-28 - Mathews Arm Campground, SNP
This workshop conducted by the North District Hoodlums and SNP, held in the north district of the Park, is
designed to teach new and prospective trail maintainers
the basic skills, as well as provide more advanced training in trail design, construction, and maintenance.
Instruction will be provided by SNP trail professionals
and PATC crew leaders. A tent camping loop at Mathews
Arm will be reserved for exclusive use by PATC. Participants will have free entry to the Park and campground.
The workshop will begin Saturday morning and end on
Sunday at 1:00 p.m. There is a $25 registration fee.
Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, and a buffet
lunch will be provided. Participants are requested to
bring their own trail lunch on Saturday. Please make
reservations early. The workshop is limited to 25 participants, and in past years has filled up early. Contact
Peter Harris ([email protected]) 540/349-2595
(h) or 301/640-2101 (w) for more information or to
make a reservation. ❏
During the summer of 1861 near Buffalo
Gap (in Augusta County) Robert E. Lee
remarked. “I enjoyed the mountains as I
rode along. The views are magnificent –
the valleys so beautiful, the scenery so
peaceful. What a glorious world Almighty
God has given us. How thankless we are,
and how we labor to mar his gifts.”
—Contributed by Madision Brown
7
Pleasant Valley Eyesore?
W
ashington Co., Md. is proposing to erect a communications
tower at the intersection of Keep
Tryst and Sandy Hook Roads. The
proposed tower would rise up 190'
and would intrude on spectacular
views that now exist from Weverton
Cliffs, Virginia Heights, Maryland
Heights, and Harpers Ferry. The
National Park Service has called the
proposed tower “unsightly and
unnecessary” and is proposing
alternatives that will enable good
emergency response communications, but also protect the natural
beauty and scenic qualities of this
historic area. Now is the time to let
your voice be heard.
Come See for Yourself!
What: The Potomac Appalachian
Trail Club will lead a hike to Weverton Cliffs.
Why: To learn more about alternatives to the proposed communications tower and what you can do to
voice your opinion.
When: Sunday, June 8, 1:00 p.m.
Where: Meet at Weverton Road
parking area (off MD 67)
For More Information: Contact Rick
Canter (southmountaineers@
yahoo.com) or Car oline Petti,
202/529-0953.
Following is a plea sent to the
decision-makers from our Club.
March 31, 2008
Dear Washington County Commissioners:
We are writing to express our strong
concerns regarding the communications tower proposed for the intersection of Keep Tryst Road and
Sandy Hook Road in Washington,
County, Maryland.
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
maintains over a thousand miles of
hiking and non-motorized trails in
the four-state area of Virginia, West
Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.
We maintain the entire Appalachian
Trail in Maryland as well as the trail
through Harpers Ferry National His-
8
Above is the view with a crane (vertical white line) in place of the proposed tower to simulate the final view.
torical Park, C&O Canal. We also
maintain other trails within the
Harpers Ferry National Historical
Park including trails on both Maryland and Virginia Heights.
We recognize the importance of clear
and available communications to
emergency response personnel. At
the same time, however, we are also
mindful of the natural beauty of the
Pleasant Valley region and the abundance of scenic landscapes and vistas found there. We, therefore, ask
you to reconsider the proposed communications tower located at the
intersection of Keep Tryst Road and
Sandy Hook Road. A recent crane
test demonstrated that this tower
would be visible from many of the
unique overlooks within the area,
including those from Weverton
Cliffs, Virginia Heights, Maryland
Heights and from Harpers Ferry
itself. (See attached photograph.)
Upon first observing this view
Thomas Jefferson wrote “The passage of the Patowmack through the
Blue Ridge is perhaps one of the
most stupendous scenes in nature.”
Jefferson went on to comment that
“the scene is worth a voyage across
the Atlantic.” Much of that scene is
still visible today with unobstructed
views from many directions to what
Jefferson called “the most powerful
agents in nature.” As the organization responsible for maintaining
many of the trails and overlooks in
this area, PATC is deeply concerned
with any visual impact to these beautiful and historic views. Unfortunately, the proposed communications
tower at Keep Tryst and Sandy Hook
Roads would impair all these views.
We are concerned that Washington
County appears to have done little
to examine alternative locations
better suited to protecting the views
from surrounding National Park
Service and State Park areas or to
examine mitigation alternatives
aimed at improving tower aesthetics
at the present proposed location.
This seems contrary to the County’s
own strictures and admonitions.
The County’s Comprehensive Plan
recognizes that Washington County
“has the most scenic and pastoral
landscapes in the mid-Atlantic
region,” singles out Pleasant Valley
as having an abundance of scenic
qualities, and generally recognizes
the importance of preserving the
county’s natural beauty and scenic
r e s o u r c e s . A n d , Wa s h i n g t o n
County’s Zoning Ordinances for
commercial communications towers
state that tower locations “shall be
compatible with and shall not
adversely impact the character and
integrity of surrounding properties.
Consideration shall be given to the
viewshed associated with scenic
and historic areas and to the use of
stealth technology to minimize the
See Tower, page 9
Emergency Response Training
and Trail Patrol presents
Basic Wilderness
First Aid And CPR
and AED
July 19-20, 2008
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 patient assessments, 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 $120 for
Trail Patrol members and $130
for Non-Trail Patrol members.
Pre-registration is required
before July 11, 2008. Classes
fill early. Class is held at the
PATC Headquarters from 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more
information or to download the
registration form, go to
www.patc.net/volunteer/trailpatrol.com or contact Saleena
DeVore ([email protected])
540/972-8394. ❏
Tower, from page 8
visibility of the proposed tower.”
Shouldn’t these requirements, and
the values embodied in them, also
apply to county government towers?
While we support better and
enhanced communications for
emergency response personnel we
feel that the placement of this tower
is in an inappropriate location. We
therefore ask that you reconsider
your tower proposal and develop an
alternative that will have less of a
visual impact on such an important
and historic area. ❏
—Sincerely,
Lee B. Sheaffer, Jr., President
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Trail Patrol Presents
Leave No Trace Trainer Course
June 28 - 29, 2008, SNP
Pre-outing classroom session: June 23, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
This two-day, low-mileage backpacking format course with an additional pre-outing classroom session is designed to enhance your
understanding of Leave No Trace practices and ethics and to
increase your level of expertise and confidence in teaching Leave No
Trace skills. Through focused activities, hands-on field experience
and both formal and informal discussions, you will be introduced to
concepts and methods that will advance your knowledge of Leave No
Trace issues, expand your repertoire of low-impact skills and
increase your effectiveness in teaching these important skills to others. Participants should be experienced campers or backpackers.
Instruction will concentrate on the incorporation of low impact techniques in camping and backpacking settings, but we will not be
teaching basic camping skills. This is a fun course where all participants have a part in demonstrating the choices that can be made
to minimize our impact on the land and our resources.
On completion of this course, participants will be registered as
Leave No Trace Trainers with the national Leave No Trace Center for
Outdoor Ethics and will receive a certificate of course completion as
well as their Leave No Trace Trainers lapel pin.
Cost: $35.00 for PATC members, $55.00 for non-member (Join
PATC at the time of registration and get the member price!) The cost
covers course materials and some meals.
Course Size: Limited to 8 participants. Register early!
Registration: Registration for ms are available on-line at
www.patc.us/volunteer/trailpatrol/Outreach/LNTClasses.htm.
Send registration form along with payment to: PATC, LNT Trainers
Course, 118 Park Street, SE, Vienna, VA 22180-4609. Please
include your e-mail address on the check.
Information: Cindy Majewski ([email protected]), 410/939-5029. ❏
TAILS FROM THE WOODS:
by George Walters
9
FORECAST
Charlottesville Chapter
The Charlottesville Chapter hikes every Saturday; summer, winter, and in between. Hikes are
usually 8 to 10 miles with some shorter hikes.
We usually maintain trails on the last Saturday
of the month. Meet at Albemarle High School in
Charlottesville at 9:00 a.m. with food and water
for the day. The majority of hikes are in the
South and Central Districts of SNP, with some
in the North District and in George Washington
National Forest. Our Chapter hikes are posted
at
w w w. a v e n u e . o r g / p a t c / f u t u r e _
hikes.htm. INFO: Jere Bidwell 434/295-2143 or
John Shannon 434/293-2953.
North Chapter
The North Chapter conducts monthly trail work
trips on the Maryland and Pennsylvania sections of the AT and Tuscarora Trail. We also
lead hikes on these and other trails. Maryland
AT work trips are generally held on the first and
third Saturdays – contact Nancy Hammond
([email protected]) 301/739-0442. Pennsylvania work trips are generally held on the AT on
the first Saturday and on the Tuscarora on the
third
Saturday
–
contact
Pete
Brown(peter.brown4@worldnet.
att.net) 410/343-1140. Pennsylvania AT work
trips also include an optional Saturday evening
dinner at the Gypsy Spring Cabin. For information on upcoming hikes, contact Chris Firme
([email protected]) 717/765-4833. North
Chapter home page (www.north.patc.net).
Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter
Bounded by geography and the principles of the
“Mother Club,” the NSVC is much like the early
PATC, a group of friends joining together to hike
and have fun. The Chapter usually holds at least
one hike per month. Members organize hikes of
easy-to-moderate length and difficulty in SNP, on
the Massanutten Mountain, and elsewhere. Quarterly post-hike, pot-luck dinner meetings are normally held at one of the club's cabins with an
opportunity to stay overnight in the cabin. Events
may be found in the “Forecast” section of the
newsletter, or at www.PATC.net. All are invited.
INFO: Jack Reeder ([email protected]).
KEY to Forecast Activities
All events are marked for easy identification.
Late changes or cancellations are listed on
the weekly information tape (703/242-0965),
which is updated on Sunday evening for
the following seven days. The Forecast
can also be found on PATC’s Web site at
www.potomacappalachian.org, then select
the calendar.
`
~
.
Q
s
✍
✎
õ
❄
Hiking Trips
Backpacking Trips
Trail Work Trips
Cabin/Shelter Work Trips
Special Events
Meetings
Classes
K9 Trail Blazers (dogs permitted)
XC Ski Events
Note to all hike leaders: Please ask nonmembers on your hike if they would
like to join PATC, then get names and
addresses so a club volunteer can
send them information packets.
Thanks!
10
Chapters
Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter
See www.ssvc.org or the one linked to the
PATC Web site for descriptions of hikes and
work trips. We usually hike in the southern and
central districts of the SNP and in the GWNF.
Contact the listed hike leader for information
about a specific event, or contact Mark Gatewood at 540/248-0442.
West Chapter
The West Chapter meets twice a year in March
and September at various locations within the
Chapter’s coverage area. The Chapter maintains the Black Locust Trail and the southernmost section of the Catoctin Trail in Gambrill
State Park (MD). Trailwork trips and hikes are
scheduled from March through December.
Overnight weekend trips for day hikes and backpacking trips are occasionally scheduled. All
activities are listed on the PATC Web site calendar and on the Chapter ’s Yahoo group
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PATCWest) to
communicate to Chapter members and to post
activities. This is open to anyone who is interested, however only current PATC members
may post messages. Contact Dave Jordahl
([email protected]) 240/777-7741.
Ski Touring Section (STS)
Since 1974 the STS has served to provide
cross-country skiing experiences for beginner
through expert. The Section sponsors winter
weekend ski trips to the mountains in Maryland,
West Virginia, and Pennsylvania; there are also
more extensive trips that travel west, north, and
across the ocean. Social events are scheduled
throughout the year. If you share a respect for
nature, enjoy outdoor exercise, peaceful scenic
trails, and cheerful, goodhearted companions,
join STS. Contact: Peggy Alpert, ([email protected]) 301/946-4497.
Mountaineering Section
We’re a diverse group of local DC-area
climbers. We also share common interests in
promoting safe climbing, conserving the outdoors, developing new climbers’ skills, representing the Washington-area climbing community, and having fun! We provide instruction for
Meetings
those wanting to learn the basics – we’re not a
school, but we can get you started. We go
climbing, either locally or further afield, nearly
every weekend. In the winter we organize trips
for beginning and advanced ice climbers.
Please visit our Web site at www.potomacmountainclub.org/. Contact Bob Graver
([email protected]).
PATC Hikes
PATC offers diverse organized hikes. There
are K-9 Hikes, which invite you to bring your
favorite dog; Family Hikes tailored to kids;
Natural History Hikes stalking the fascinating
but often elusive flora and fauna of the region;
hikes featuring varying levels of difficulty with
the Easy Hikers, In-Between Hikers, and Vigorous Hikers; Birding Hikes with experts to
help sight and identify our avian neighbors;
Historical Hikes tracking little-known structures in SNP; Series Hikes tracing the entire
length of the Tuscarora Trail or the trails of
Pennsylvania, section by section; Backpacking Hikes traversing the tracts of West Virginia
and Southern Virginia; hikes scheduled for
weekends; ones scheduled for weekdays;
Geology Hikes led by experts from the Smithsonian focused on the unique stratigraphy of
our area; Mushroom Hikes with mycologists;
Waterfall Hikes to beat the summer heat; and
Outreach Hikes to get together with the members of area groups like the Sierra Club or the
Congressional Hikers. Check out the Forecast calendar and hear updates on the weekly
tape (703/242-0965).
Other Clubs’ Hikes
Capital (www.capitalhikingclub.org) and Wanderbirds (www.wanderbirds.org) hike on Saturdays and Sundays, traveling by bus and
leaving from downtown, with suburban stops
as well. Center Club, Northern Virginia Hiking
Club and Sierra Club hike on both Saturdays
and Sundays using carpools. Schedules are
available at PATC Headquarters and are published in area newspapers on Fridays. West
Virginia Highland Conservancy outings
information at www.wvhighlands.org.
Meetings
Meetings at PATC HQ, 118 Park Street,
S.E., Vienna, Va., unless otherwise noted.
New Members – First Week of the Month
Check Forecast schedule. Curious about the
club? Want to learn more? The best way is
to attend a New Members Meeting (both current and non-members are welcome).
Attend the meeting and find the mysteries of
PATC revealed in full. INFO: Jim Tomlin
([email protected]) 301/713-3265 x141.
Mountaineering – Second Wednesday
8 : 0 0 p . m . – We m e e t e v e r y m o n t h
on the second Wednesday except for
August, unless noted in the Forecast.
INFO: Bob Graver (rgraver9106@
hotmail.com) or our Web site:
www.potomacmountainclub.org
Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group
Business meeting - Last Tuesday of each
month, 7:30 p.m. INFO: Doug Sigman
([email protected]), 703/255-5034, or
www.smrg.org.
PATC Counc i l – Second Tuesday
The council meets at 7:00 p.m. sharp. The
PATC Council meets every month to conduct business of the club and once a year
for a dinner meeting. All members are
always welcome. Come see how we make
decisions about your club. INFO: Wilson
Riley ([email protected]) 703/242-0693 x11.
Trail Patrol – First Tuesday
7:30 p.m., except January. Trail Patrol
volunteers are PATC’s goodwill trail
ambassadors to the hiking public. They
provide a visible, reassuring presence on
the trails, and strive to educate the public
on good hiking practices, minimum impact
hiking, and camping ethics. Patrol members are trained in land navigation, emergency procedures, radio communications,
and personal equipment. INFO: Katrina
Hedlesky ([email protected]) 703/5333652, or see our Web site:
www.patc.us/volunteer/trail patrol.
FORECAST
JUNE
and along the Potomac, and removing invasive plants. Families and groups are welcome. Registration is necessary to ensure the
correct tool supply and work strategy for the
various portions of the project. INFO: Mark
Nelson ([email protected]) 703/379-9400.
1 (Sunday)
DEADLINE – July 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] or use the online submission form (e-mail Forecast editor for directions for using this method) and all other articles to the editor at [email protected]. NOTE:
Forecast events submitted after the deadline will not appear in the printed Forecast.
1 (Sunday)
Q CABIN WORK TRIP – Argow Cabin
South District, Shenandoah National Park, VA
Come join the continuing restoration of a
mid 1800s log cabin located 5 miles south of
Swift Run Gap entrance station to Skyline
Drive. Overnight accomodations in Argow
Cabin. Communal meals for Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast and lunch. All
that for $15.00 per person. Projects available
for all skill levels. Please visit the cabin crew’s
Web site at www.argowcabin.com. INFO:
Jeff Testerman ([email protected]) 434/589-2081.
3 (Tuesday)
` HIKE – Vigorous Hikers
North District, Shenandoah National Park, VA
Circuit includes the AT between Jenkins Gap
and Gravel Springs Gap and a decent to the
depths of Big Devils Stairs. About 16 miles
with 3,500' climb. INFO: Dave Green
3 (Tuesday)
MEETING - Trail Patrol, 7:30 p.m.
✍
4 (Wednesday)
✎ CLASS – Backcountry Cooking (REI)
Bailey’s Crossroads, VA
7:30 p.m. Explore the adventurous world of
backcountry dining at REI. REI Outdoor
School Guide, Beth Bojarski will share her
favorite hints for planning and preparing
tasty, nutritious trail meals. Get tips for enjoying prepackaged foods as well as learn
ideas for do-it-yourself cuisine. INFO: Mark
Nelson ([email protected]) 703/379-9400.
4 (Wednesday)
` HIKE – Easy Hikers
Gaithersburg, MD
We'll hike another segment of the Seneca
Greenway Trail, out and back so you may
choose your distance, up to 7 or 8 miles.
Bring lunch and water. Call hike leader on or
before Monday if you’d like a lift from Shady
Grove Metro. Directions to hike: I-270 N, exit
west on Rte. 28, and turn where 28 turns. Not
too long after you cross Quince Orchard Rd.,
turn right on Riffle Ford Road. Park on the
shoulder of Riffle Ford Rd. in the vicinity of the
bridge over Seneca Creek. INFO: Margaret
Chapman
([email protected])
301/977-8988.
4 (Wednesday)
` HIKE - Midweek Hikers
Location to be determined
The PATC Midweek Hikers carpool each
Wednesday from the Washington, D.C. 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 Activities Recording: 703/242-0965.
4 (Wednesday)
MEETING - New Members (PATC), 7:30 p.m.
Vienna, VA
PATC New Members meeting (open to all:
non-members, new members, old members). A one-hour discussion of PATC, including activities and volunteer opportunities.
Wednesday, June 4, 7:30 p.m., at PATC
Headquarters in Vienna, Va. INFO: Jim Tomlin
✍
5 (Thursday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Potomac Heritage Trail
McLean, VA
Thursday Morning Group is the perfect outdoor exercise. Less than three-hour commitment gets you back home for the afternoon.
Tools, training and after-work soda/chips
provided. INFO: Bruce Glendening
7 (Saturday)
s SPECIAL EVENT – National Trails Day
Central District, Shenandoah National Park, VA
Beyond the Trailhead - National Trails Day
Event; PATC’s Trail Patrol, in partnership with
SNP, will sponsor a day celebrating opportunities to experience our natural world. Join us
for guided hikes, displays, and information
on how you can improve your hiking skills
while minimizing your impact on the environment. Events will be held throughout the day
at Byrd Visitor Center. Admission is free and
open to the public (normal park entrance
fees apply). INFO: Cindy Majewski
7 (Saturday)
s SPECIAL EVENT - NTD Volunteer Project
(REI)
McLean, VA
8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Join REI and the Fairfax
County Park Authority, the American Hiking
Society, the Potomac Heritage Trail Association, Nature Valley, and PATC, for some great
fun doing great work outdoors at the Scott’s
Run Nature Preserve! We’ll have an outdoor
celebration of trails and environmental stewardship. We’ll be re-routing and reconstructing sections of trail through mature forest
7 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Manassas Battlefield
Park
Manassas, VA
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. PATC is joining the
Battlefield Equestrian Society (BES), the Alice
Ferguson Foundation and the Friends of The
MNBP in assisting the park for a cleanup of
two major vintage landfill sites just off, and
partly visible from, the Stuart’s Hill Loop Trail.
These sites include several large appliances,
televisions, broken glass, household debris,
etc. The NPS Maintenance crew will be on
hand to work with us. Tools will be provided
by the NPS but feel free to bring your own.
We also have several other trails to be
cleared of debris. In addition to the trail and
site cleanups PATC will be manning a table
at the visitor’s center to introduce ourselves.
INFO: Bud Cunnally ([email protected]) 703/296-0963 or Henry P. Elliott
703/361-0993 Ext. 1211.
7 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Prince William Forest
Park
Triangle, VA
Come celebrate National Trails Day at Prince
William Forest Park. PATC is partnering with
PWFP, REI, and MORE to rehab 1,200' of trail
for hikers and mountain bikers. Register at
the Pine Grove Picnic Area between 8:30
a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Bring leather gloves, pick
axes, McLeod’s, shovels, water, and lunch.
Dress for the weather. INFO: Mark Ellis,
7 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Rock Creek Park
Washington, DC
8:15 a.m. to Noon. Join us for National Trails
Day. Meet at the Rock Creek Nature Center,
located south of the Military Road NW park
entrance. Rain or shine. INFO: Alex Sanders
([email protected]) 703/465-8140 or
Ranger Ken Ferebee at 202/895-6221.
7 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – South Mountaineers
Boonesboro, MD
The Trail House in Frederick proudly sponsors
this National Trails Day event. This event
begins at the Washington Monument State
Park at 9:00 a.m. Come out to celebrate this
special day and enjoy a complimentary
meal afterwards. INFO: Nancy Hammond
7 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – SSVC
West Augusta, VA
Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter joins
with Wild Virginia for a work trip on the Bald
Ridge Trail along the eastern edge of the
Ramseys Draft Wilderness in the George
Washington National Forest. Bring saws and
loppers for blowdowns. Will meet at Mountain House Picnic Area on Rte. 250 west of
Staunton at 9:00 a.m. INFO: Al Dahler
11
FORECAST
7 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Stonewall Brigade
Woodstock, VA
Help us maintain the hiking trails of Great
North Mountain in the George Washington
National Forest west of Woodstock, Va. We
will gather in the parking lot of the Wolf Gap
Recreation Area at 9:00 a.m. For directions
and more information, visit our Web site at
www.patc.us/volunteer/trails/stonewall/ston
ewall.html.
INFO:
Lee
Manning
7 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – West Chapter
Thurmont, MD
This is the West Chapter’s National Trails Day
Event, at Cunningham Falls State Park. Erosion control structures needed on the Cliff
Trail which connects the lake area to the
falls. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the falls trailhead
located by the Cunningham Falls S.P. Lake.
Inform the attendant at the gate that you
are there for the trail work trip in order to
have the entrance fee waived. Free trail
maps to participants. INFO: Dave Jordahl
7 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Yankee Clippers
Appalachian Trial, PA
Set a good example and join the Yankee
Clippers Trail Crew for a National Trails Day
weekend work trip. INFO: Pete Brown
([email protected]) 410/3431140.
7 – 8 (Saturday – Sunday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Blue & White Crew
Central District, Shenandoah National Park, VA
Annual Trail Overseers Workshop Location:
Pinnacles Research Center. Projects: TBA
Sign up early for the annual workshop. The
fee for the weekend will be $20, which will
include dinner on Saturday night, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. The workshop will
be taught by SNP trails staff, in coordination
with PATC Trail Crew leaders. More information to follow. See: www.blueandwhitecrew.org.
INFO:
Kerry
Snow
8 (Sunday)
` HIKE – Conservation Committee Hike
Harpers Ferry, WV
1:00 p.m. The PATC Conservation Committee
will lead a hike to Weverton Cliffs, Md. The
view from Weverton cliffs (also known as the
Goodloe Byron Overlook after Congressman
Goodloe who was instrumental in helping to
protect the AT), looks out over Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia with a spectacular
view up the Potomac River to Harpers Ferry.
This view may become significantly compromised by a proposed 190-foot communications tower that the NPS calls “unsightly and
unnecessary.” Come learn more about the
proposal, alternatives to it, and what you
can do to voice your concerns. INFO: Contact
Rick
Canter
([email protected]) or Caroline Petti at 202/529-0953.
8 (Sunday)
` HIKE – West Chapter
Thurmont, MD
A 19 km (about 12 miles) hike featuring all
but one of the scenic overlooks at Cunningham Falls and Catoctin Parks. Starting at the
Cat Rock parking area the hike will proceed
12
Rocks, sweat, and mud never stop a good trail worker or detract from their good looks!
Thomas Jorgensen mentors a couple of up-and-coming PATC leaders, at right, Ricky Fink
(now a Marine), and at left, Kevin Smith.
Weekend of June 13-15, Help With Dawson Cabin
Roof, Windows, who knows what else. Anybody can help - ever break a window???
Old windows have to be removed. Someone has to hold the plywood to be cut. Lots
of jobs for everybody. HEY, we even need a cook for the weekend!!!
I'm thinking we’ll charge $10/person for food - that gets you Saturday dinner,
Sunday coffee, and Sunday brunch. All other meals are on your own. We'll plan
on Friday arrival, but for people close to the Pennsylvania border, if you want to
stop over for the day, it would be great. We’ll plan on wrapping up about noon
Sunday. Hopefully some wives will give out the Father’s Day present by coming
out and working in the woods together. Remember, you get to stay at Dawson FOR
FREE!!!! INFO: Thomas Jorgensen ([email protected]). ❏
—Thomas C. Jorgensen, PATC Southern Regional Cabins Supervisor
north into Catoctin Mountain NP to Chimney
Rocks, Wolf Rocks, Thurmont Vista, Blue
Ridge Vista, Hog Rock; and then south
across MD Rte. 77 to Cunningham Falls, then
onto the Old Misery Trail to Cat Rock. For the
more adventurous we can detour to Bob’s
Hill and then return back to Cat Rock or that
can be a hike for another day. INFO: Dave
Jordahl ([email protected]). This e-mail
address is being protected from spam bots,
you need Javascript enabled to view it.
9 (Monday)
` HIKE – Family Hike
Potomac, MD
Come join us at 10:00 a.m. for a 2-mile outand-back hike (to Bradley Blvd.) on a jogging-stroller passable trail. We will follow
Cabin John Creek and there will be opportunities for the kids to throw rocks in the creek.
INFO: Jennifer Chambers ([email protected]) 301/588-1716.
10 (Tuesday)
` HIKE – Vigorous Hikers
Appalachian Trail, VA
We’ll use an easy car shuttle to ride the AT
roller coaster from Snickers Gap to Ashby
Gap. 14 mi. with 4,000' elev. gain. INFO: Bob
Livezey ([email protected]) 301/320-4679.
10 (Tuesday)
MEETING - PATC Council, 7:00 p.m.
✍
11 (Wednesday)
✎ CLASS – World Travel 101 (REI)
7:30 p.m. This is an amazing program that
introduces concepts, data, and tips that
enable you to travel with an open mind and
heart. Wendy Davis from Hostelling International, will present this informative travel
clinic and share great tips about planning a
trip overseas. INFO: Mark Nelson
11 (Wednesday)
Potomac, MD
Out and back on the C&O Canal from Pennyfield Lock to Swains Lock. Meet at 10:15
a.m. at Pennyfield Lock. From I-495 take the
River Road exit and go west 8.5 miles to Pennyfield Lock Rd. Turn left on Pennyfield Lock
Rd. (after Travailah Rd.) and go 1 mile to end
of road and parking area. This is a 6.5-mile
hike. Bring lunch and water. INFO: Arlene
Ring ([email protected]) 301/881-6462.
11 (Wednesday)
See June 4 event for more information.
11 (Wednesday)
MEETING - Mountaineering Section, 8:00
p.m.
✍
13 – 14 (Friday – Saturday)
Q CABIN WORK TRIP – Dawson Cabin
Hancock, MD
We will be repairing a section of roof, re-shingling the entire roof, replacing the front
wood siding, and possibly replacing the front
windows. The cabin sleeps 7, but we can
also put tents outside. We can especially use
people with some basic carpentry skills but
anyone willing to work would be a help.
INFO: Mike Seering ([email protected])
301/791-1760.
14 (Saturday)
` HIKE – Long Distance
Wardensville, WV
A 17-mile circuit hike on Great North Mountain that begins at Waite’s Run, near Wardensville, W.Va. The hike will ascend on the
Pond Run – Tuscarora Trail to Sugar Knob and
proceed down the Racer Camp Hollow Trail.
The return will be an ascent to Gerhard Shelter and the County Line - Tuscarora Trail back
to Waite’s Run. Total elevation gain 4,000'.
Moderate pace with frequent stops for
nature observations. Inexperienced hikers
call leader for details. INFO: William Needham ([email protected]) 410/884-9127.
14 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Flying McLeods
Location TBD
Waterbar repair and replacement, regrading, and treadwork. Tools, training, safety
gear, and encouragement will be provided.
Bring lunch, water, and insect repellant.
INFO:
Mark
Gatewood
14 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Roaring Tuskers
Gainesboro, VA
Join the Roaring Tuskers Central District Crew
as they relocate the Tuscarora Trail (Great
Eastern Trail) north of Gainesboro, Va., from a
sheep farm to adjacent horse pastures.
Please bring water, lunch, and gloves.
Camaraderie provided. INFO: Steve and
Kathy Sharp ([email protected])
240/338-3655.
14 (Saturday)
Frederick, MD
The weather is so nice this time of year, the
woods beckon. Have fun working with the
South Mountaineers. Please bring plenty of
water, lunch, gloves, and boots. We meet in
Frederick County, Md. INFO: Nancy Hammond ([email protected]) 301/739-0442.
14 – 15 (Saturday - Sunday)
Q CABIN WORK TRIP – Rosser Lamb Cabin
Stanardsville, VA
On Entry Run near Stanardsville, work on the
Rosser Lamb Cabin, a beautiful old farmhouse nestled up against SNP. We need people of all skill levels to help us bring this project to completion. Join Park Anderson, Peg
Manuel, and Charlie Graf for a weekend of
accomplishment, good fellowship, and
good food. INFO: Charlie Graf
18 (Wednesday)
✎ CLASS – Backpacking 101 (REI)
7:30 p.m. Go beyond the campground and
get ready for some adventure. REI will take
the mystery out of backpacking and share
our knowledge and experience. We’ll cover
the essentials: planning, gear and skills,
clothing, footwear, and tips to keep you
safe, warm, and dry. INFO: Mark Nelson
18 (Wednesday)
Washington, DC
Hike sections of the Western Ridge and Valley Trails in Rock Creek Park, totaling about 5
miles. Meet at 10:15 a.m. at the Rock Creek
Nature Center. Bring lunch and water. Directions: From the Beltway take Connecticut
Ave. south to Military Rd. Turn left (east) on
Military. Go 1.1 miles and turn right on Glover
Rd. Follow signs to Nature Center. E-mail or
call for directions from VA via Rock Creek
Parkway.
INFO:
Gary
Abrecht
([email protected]) 202/546-6089. Cell on
day of hike: 202/365-2921.
18 (Wednesday)
19 (Thursday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Potomac Heritage Trail
McLean, VA
“Thursday Morning Group” is the perfect outdoor exercise. Less than 3-hour commitment
gets you back home for the afternoon. Tools,
training, and after-work soda/chips provided.
INFO:
Bruce
Glendening
21 (Saturday)
` HIKE – North Chapter
Flintstone, MD
Overnighter at Dawson cabin; 5.5 miles, Map
213 PA Mid State Trail. From the PA/MD line to
the Prosperity Church. Woods hiking and
some road walking on the Covered Bridge
Rd. INFO: Christopher Firme (bncfirme@
innernet.net) 717/794-2855.
21 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP - North District Hoodlums
Pass the pasta! Join the Hoodlums in their
annual Mediterranean work trip. The Hoodlums Trail Crew works on the AT and blueblazed trails in the North District (Front Royal
Entrance Station to Thornton Gap) of SNP.
After a day of hard work, we will enjoy the
camaraderie of fellow trail workers with a
Mediterranean theme meal at Indian Run
maintenance hut. 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, MP 22 on
Skyline Drive just across from Matthews Arm
Campground at 9:00 a.m. INFO: Wayne Limberg ([email protected]) 703/533-8639.
21 (Saturday)
Washington, DC
8:15 a.m. to Noon. Meet at the Rock Creek
Nature Center, located south of the Military
Road NW park entrance. Rain or shine. INFO:
Alex Sanders ([email protected])
703/465-8140 or Ranger Ken Ferebee at
202/895-6221.
FORECAST
21 (Saturday)
Appalachian Trail, MD
You can get your exercise for the weekend
working on the AT. Expect to hike 2-5 miles.
Please bring plenty of water, lunch, gloves,
and boots. Tools provided. We meet in Frederick County, Md. INFO: Nancy Hammond
21 (Saturday)
TuscaroraTrail, PA
I N F O : P e t e B r o w n ( p e t e r. b r o w n 4 @
worldnet.att.net) 410/343-1140.
22 (Sunday)
` HIKE – Natural History Hike
9.5-mile hike through Riprap Hollow in the
south district of SNP. This is hike No. 29 in the
new PATC “Circuit Hikes in the SNP.” This is a
botanically unusual area with the southern
Catawba rhododendron making a rare
northern presence along the stream. A wonderful pool may tempt our visitation where
the former Riprap Shelter was located. INFO:
Bob Pickett 301/349-2496.
22 (Sunday)
` HIKE – North Chapter
Rainsburg, PA
Overnite on the 21st at Dawson cabin. 13.1
miles, Map 213 PA Mid State Trail: Mid-State
Trail at Prosperity Church to PA Rte. 326. Hiking in the Martin Hill Wildlife area of the
Buchanan State Forest. INFO: Christopher
Firme ([email protected]) 717/794-2855.
22 (Sunday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – West Chapter
Frederick, MD
In Gambrill State Park, we’ll complete cribbing projects on Catoctin and Black Locust
Trail. Some placement and clearing of water
bars and removal of exotic vegetation. Free
trail maps to volunteers. Meet 10:00 a.m. at
the Nature Center. INFO: Dave Jordahl
23 (Monday)
Darnestown, MD
Come join us at 10:00 a.m. for a moderate 3mile, out-and-back hike through a field and
into the woods along Seneca Creek to an
Old Mill House. This is a pretty hike into two
different ecosystems. This hike is not joggingstroller passable. INFO: Jennifer Chambers
24 (Tuesday)
MEETING - Shenandoah Mountain Rescue
Group (Business meeting), 7:30 p.m.
✍
25 (Wednesday)
Gaithersburg, MD
About 5 varied miles over rolling terrain.
Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot at 10:15
a.m. Bring water. No dogs. From the Beltway,
exit to I-270 N. After about 7 mi. (at the exit
for Rte. 370), move into the local lanes. In
about 3 mi., take Exit 10 (for Rte. 124 West
and Rte. 117 West). Follow the signs for Rte.
117, which becomes Clopper Rd. (and is still
Rte. 117). After 2.1 mi., turn left into the park.
In 0.1 mi., take the first right toward the Park
Offices (Visitor Center). In 0.1 mi., park at the
end of the road. We will lunch at Roy’s Place
in Gaithersburg after the hike. INFO: Sue King
703/356-6659
FORECAST
25 (Wednesday)
25 (Wednesday)
s SPECIAL EVENT – Get Out More Tour (REI)
Rockville, MD
6:00 p.m. BackpackerMagazine’s: “Get Out
More Tour” returns for another fun-filled and
enlightening evening. From packs, poles,
and sleeping bags, to jackets, socks, and
guides, the Get Out More Team will provide
you with useful information about the gear
and skills you need to Get Out More. Checkout the latest in outdoor gear and apparel!
Learn new skills and brush up on old ones!
Enjoy chances to win great outdoor prizes!
INFO: Keith Kuhnsman 301/230-7670.
25 (Wednesday)
s SPECIAL EVENT – GW Memorial Parkway
(REI)
7:30 p.m. You don’t have to venture far to
learn about nature and history or find great
places to “play” in the Metro D.C. area. This
slide program provides a window into
adventures and anniversaries at up to 25
“jewels” in one of your closest national park
sites – George Washington Memorial Parkway. INFO: Mark Nelson ([email protected])
703/379-9400.
28 (Saturday)
` HIKE – Manassas Battlefield Park
Manassas, VA
First Battle of Manassas or Bull Run PATC inaugural Hike, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This trip
will explore 5.5 miles of the mostly rolling hallowed ground, of the Manassas National
Battlefield Park (MNBP). We will see where
Confederate Col. Nathan Evens received a
signal that the union Army was advancing
on his flank. We will then follow the line of
battle back through the actual ground to
Henry Hill (we may meet some of the combatants). The Hill is named for Judith Henry,
the only civilian lost in the battle. We will see
the restored Henry House and the monument that the Civil War Veterans placed
there. We will also see the site of the Robinson House, a free black farmer’s residence
that was destroyed during the two battles.
Come see the spot where Thomas J. Jackson
got the nick-name Stonewall and why. We
will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the MNBP Visitors
Center/Business Rte. 234 with NPS Ranger
Henry P. Elliott. INFO: Bud Cunnally ([email protected]) 703/296-0963.
28 – 29 (Saturday - Sunday)
Q CABIN WORK TRIP – Argow Cabin
Come join the continuing restoration of a
mid 1800s log cabin located 5 miles south of
Swift Run Gap entrance station to Skyline
Drive. Overnight accomodations in Argow
Cabin. Communal meals for Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, and lunch. All that for
$15.00 per person. Projects available for all
skill levels. Please visit the cabin crew’s Web
site at www.argowcabin.com. INFO: Jeff
Te s t e r m a n
(blueridgehiker@
embarqmail.com) 434/589-2081. This e-mail
address is being protected from spam bots,
you need Javascript enabled to view it.
14
28 – 29 (Saturday – Sunday)
✎ CLASS – Leave No Trace Trainer Course
Shenandoah National Park, VA
This 2-day, low-mileage backpacking format
course with a pre-outing classroom session
on Mon., June 23 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.,
provides Leave No Trace Trainer certification. Participants will enhance their understanding of Leave No Trace issues while
advancing their low-impact camping and
hiking skills. Participants should be experienced campers or backpackers. Cost of the
course is $35 for PATC members and $55 for
non-members. Pre-registration is required.
Registration forms are available at:
www.patc.us/volunteer/trailpatrol/Outreach/LNTClasses.htm. INFO: Cindy Majewski
29 (Sunday)
` HIKE – West Chapter
Appalachian Trail, PA
An 8-mile hike on the AT in Pennsylvania
starting from PA Rte. 994 to Old Forge Rd.
Chimney Rocks will be the highlight of this
hike. Hike will begin at 10:00 a.m. RSVP by
June 28, 6:00 p.m. INFO: Beth Lipford ([email protected]).
29 (Sunday)
s SPECIAL EVENT – Battlefield Equestrian
Ride
Manassas, VA
The Manassas Battlefield Equestrian Society
(BES) is conducting a historical ride on at the
Manassas National Battlefield Park (MNBP)
for our PATC members with horses. This ride is
led by the 4th VA Black Horse Cavalry reenactors. Meet at 9:00 a.m. off rock road,
Rte. 29, across from NPS Law Enforcement.
Start riding at 9:30 a.m. It should end around
12:30 p.m. Distance: Very flexible but rarely
over 10 miles. INFO: Bud Cunnally ([email protected]) 571/220-9234 or Kari
Briggs, 571/220-9234.
JULY
1 (Tuesday)
DEADLINE – August 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] or use the online submission form (e-mail Forecast editor for directions for using this method) and all other articles to the editor at [email protected]. NOTE:
Forecast events submitted after the deadline will not appear in the printed Forecast.
1 (Tuesday)
MEETING - Trail Patrol, 7:30 p.m.
✍
2 (Wednesday)
5 (Saturday)
Appalachian Trail, PA
INFO: Pete Brown, ([email protected]) 410/343-1140.
8 (Tuesday)
MEETING - PATC Council, 7:00 p.m.
✍
9 (Wednesday)
HIKE - Midweek Hikers
`
9 (Wednesday)
MEETING - Mountaineering Section, 8:00
p.m.
✍
12 (Saturday)
` HIKE – Rainsburg, PA
12.4 miles, Map 214 PA Mid State Trail: PA Rte.
326 to signed junction for SR 2023/ Ashcom,
Pa. Hiking in State Game Lands 97, with
excellent views. INFO: Christopher Firme
12 – 13 (Saturday-Sunday)
Q CABIN WORK TRIP – Rosser Lamb Cabin
Stanardsville, VA
On Entry Run near Stanardsville, work on the
Rosser Lamb Cabin, a beautiful old farmhouse nestled up against SNP. We need people of all skill levels to help us bring this project to completion. Join Park Anderson, Peg
Manuel, and Charlie Graf for a weekend of
accomplishment, good fellowship, and
good food. INFO: Charlie Graf
14 (Monday)
Silver Spring, MD
Come join us at 10:00 a.m. for a 2-mile, outand-back hike along the Northwest Branch
Trail. We will hike southeast from Rte. 29. This
hike is jogging-stroller friendly; however, at
the end of the hike groups that don’t have
strollers can rock scramble along the rapids.
INFO: Jennifer Chambers ([email protected]) 301/588-1716.
16 (Wednesday)
19 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – North District Hoodlums
It’s all good! Join with the Hoodlums in their
annual BBQ work trip. The Hoodlums Trail
Crew works on the AT and blue-blazed trails
in the North District (Front Royal Entrance
Station to Thornton Gap) of SNP. After a day
of hard work, we will enjoy the camaraderie
of fellow trail workers with a BBQ theme meal
at Indian Run maintenance hut. 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, MP 22 on Skyline Drive just across
from Matthews Arm Campground at 9:00
a.m. on Saturday. INFO: Wayne Limberg
19 (Saturday)
. TRAIL WORK TRIP – Prince William Forest
Park
Triangle, VA
Trail work trip in Prince William Forest Park.
Meet in the parking lot of the Visitors Center
at 9:30 a.m. Bring water, wear boots, and be
prepared to fix trails and have fun doing so.
INFO: Liles Creighton ([email protected])
410/573-0067.
19 (Saturday)
Washington, DC
8:15 a.m. - Noon. Meet at the Rock Creek
Nature Center located south of the Military
Road NW park entrance. Rain or shine. INFO:
Alex Sanders ([email protected])
703/465-8140 or Ranger Ken Ferebee
202/895-6221.
19 (Saturday)
Tuscarora Trail, PA
INFO: Pete Brown, ([email protected]) 410/343-1140.
19-20 (Saturday - Sunday)
✎ CLASS - CPR/AED/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. Cost of the class is $120 for Trail
Patrol Members and $130 for Non-Trail Patrol
Members. Pre-Registration is required by July
11. Go to www.patc.net/volunteer/trailpatrol.com for more information and the regist r a t i o n f o r m . I N F O : S a l e e n a D e Vo r e
23 (Wednesday)
26 (Saturday)
✎ CLASS – Hike Leader Training
Vienna, VA
Presented by PATC Trail Patrol, 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: $20 for PATC members,
$35 for non-members. Registration: Send
payments to PATC, HLT Course, 118 Park
Council, from page 2
were south-bound through-hikers. They have taken up
residence in the new apartment.
Bears Den - While Scott and Marie Wheaton were on a
short trip Lori Watkins providing coverage. Lee chaired
the Committee meeting on April 5. A contract has been
signed to repair the roof. Bears Den is in good shape
financially although the cost of fuel oil has sky-rocketed.
The Committee is dealing with kids partying on the rocks
in the vicinity of Bears Den. There are drinking and creating trash problems; Clarke County police have been
notified. Dave Appel will be returning to Bears Den May
1 to replace six windows in the main lodge. We expect
him to be there for about two weeks before returning to
Wisconsin. This will help with the fuel oil costs.
Trail Patrol - Katrina Hedlesky - Ridge Runners starting
in April - Robert Freeman, Auggie Buckheat, Eric
Lenhart, and Shane McManus. Trail Patrol is interested
in supporting the Maps Committee map data collection/map checking.
AT Corridor Management - Tom Lupp reported that there
are 14 designated areas for Gypsy Moth spraying this
spring (see article on page 1 of this issue).
Naturalist - Bob Pickett - all the spring monitoring programs have starting.
Conservation - Sonya Breehey - contacted Fairfax
County Chairman Gerry Connolly’s office and got him
to modify his proposal for a wilderness designation in
the Massanutten area. He will instead propose a scenic
area designation. His original proposal was to extend
FORECAST
Street, SE, Vienna, Va. 22180-4609. Pre-registration is required. Registration forms must be
received no later than July 18. Join PATC at
the time of registration and get the members
price!
INFO:
Eric
Va n N o r t w i c k
26 (Saturday)
Appalachian Trail, MD
Join our volunteer crew, enjoy the peace of
the woods and go home happy and tired.
Bring plenty of water, lunch, gloves, and
boots. If it is hot we will work and quit early.
INFO:
Nancy
Hammond
29 (Tuesday)
MEETING - SMRG
Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group (Business meeting), 7:30 p.m.
✍
30 (Wednesday)
See June 4 event for more information. ❏
wilderness status to portions of the GWNF in both the
Massanutten and in Great North Mountain area. Caroline Petti is monitoring a proposed 190' communication
tower which PATC has provided written comment on.
The Committee is contenplating the establishment of
conservation hikes (Jim Peterson’s suggestion – call
them Justice Douglas hikes.)
West - Dave Jordahl - Hagerstown meeting turnout not
good.
SMRG - Stephanie Lane - One search for a despondent
man - SNP personnel found the body.
Mountaineering - Bob Graver - started the after-work
sessions at Carderock in which SMRG is participating. A
conservation project is being defined and planned.
Tools - Hop Long - has an air compressor that is not
needed. If your crew can use this piece of equipment
please see him.
John Hedrick - Traditional Tools Workshop on April 1213 is planned at SNP’s Pinnacles Research Station.
Ski Touring - Peggy Alpert - is finished for the season and
had a good trip to Vermont, but not much snow around
here.
Annual Meeting - Jim Tomlin - had rescheduled this for
Wednesday, Nov. 12, as Nov. 11 is Veterans Day.
On April 16 Lee was interviewed about PATC and hiking;
it was broadcast on April 20 on WVIE 1370 Am from
Baltimore, Md. ❏
—Alan Day, Secretary
15
Summer Sunday in the Park
July 13, 2008 Carderock Picnic Pavilion, C&O Canal National Park
Summertime: friends gathering – kids
playing – food on the grill – hiking – rock
climbing – seniors reminiscing
Join us in Maryland for a relaxing day with fellow
trail enthusiasts! The fully accessible facilities
make this a chance for the youngest to the oldest
members to have an enjoyable time. Rain or shine
we’ll have the pavilion and canopies for protection.
What’s There to Do?
Bring the whole family! The Mountaineering Section will be at the rocks with enough equipment so
that you can give rock climbing a try; a leisurely
stroll can be taken on the canal; and the Billy Goat
trail will give the more adventuresome a little challenge. Activities will be set up for the younger set;
as well as volleyball and horseshoes! If this is a
typical hot, summer, D.C. type of day we’ll have a
sprinkler and wading pool to help cool you off.
History From the Past
We’ll have some of the old videos taken back in the
early days of PATC showing on a TV and probably
we can convince some of the senior members to
talk about how the club used to be.
Trail Talkers on the Road Again
L
ike to talk trails? Interested in letting others know
about PATC? Would you like more volunteers to help
maintain your trail/cabin/shelter? Join us at an event
this year! No experience necessary!
National Trails Day in Harpers Ferry
June 7, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Bring the family and enjoy the town, hikes (along the
canal and Virginius Island for easy hikes, to a more
strenuous Maryland Heights), and the American Chestnut Foundation who will have a special event. Contact
Jane ([email protected]) or 301/349-2496 if you
can help out any time during the day to man the PATC
display. The Trail Patrol is also looking for volunteera
for this event.
40th Anniversary Heritage Days Festival
Saturday June 14 & Sunday June 15, 2008
Cumberland, MD
Over 150 vendors participate with continuous entertainment, arts and crafts sidewalk booths, scenic train
excursions, live theater presentations, historic tours,
and more! Volunteers are needed to help out at the
PATC display. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce Cumberland to the Tuscarora Trail – maybe even
round up some new trail maintainers! www.heritagedaysfestival.com. Contact Bonnie Buchanan
([email protected]) 301/697-9096. This is a bit
of a drive from the D.C. area but it’s where new PATC
volunteers are waiting to be found! ❏
What Time?
Members may start to arrive at 10:00 a.m. and
spend the day. Appetizers will be served starting at
4:00 p.m. and dinner (typical picnic food such as
hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, chips,
baked beans, sodas, and more) will be served from
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. If you come early be sure to
bring your lunch and beverages to last until 4:00
p.m.! You may also bring wine and beer, which
may only be consumed in the pavilion area.
Cost
Under 4 years: Free
4 - 12 years: $5.00
12 - 18 years: $7.00
Over 18:
$10.00
Registration and check must be received no later
than Thursday, July 3. Senior members who need
a ride should let Jane know when they register.
Who to contact?
Volunteers are needed for all aspects: food, registration, setting up, taking down, etc. If you are
interested in volunteering or have questions about
the
picnic
contact
Jane
Thompson
([email protected]) 301/349-2496. ❏
16
Name:
Picnic in the Park Registration Form
Address:
Phone:
______________________________________________
____________________________________________
(day) ____________________ (evening) __________________
E-mail Address: ________________________________________
# of Reservations:
4-12 ____________ x ($5.00) ________________
13-18 __________ x ($7.00) ________________
4-12 ____________ x ($5.00) ________________
Over 18 ________ x ($10.00) ________________
Total enclosed: $ ____________________________
I will also be bringing ______ (# of children under 4 at no charge).
With this reservation form, include a check for the total amount made
out to: Jane Thompson. Mail to: Jane Thompson, PO Box 82, Barnesville, MD 20838. IMPORTANT: Be sure to make your checks
payable to Jane Thompson, not PATC!
Registration and check must be received by Thursday, July 3, 2008.
Gypsy Moth, from page 1
press the exotic gypsy moth. The
areas treated will be primarily along
the Skyline Drive corridor. The
spray blocks include a section from
milepost 16.5 - 28.5 (600 ft. on both
sides of the Drive) and Mathews
Arm Campground. The Park will be
using a biological insecticide (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki or
Btk) that acts upon the digestive
systems of lepidopterans only.
Why is this occurring?
In 2007 the Park saw 7,305 acres
of gypsy moth defoliation. To protect tree health in high visitor-use
areas, a total of 2,500 acres will be
sprayed this Spring along portions
of Skyline Drive and in Mathews
Arm Campground. The goal of the
Park’s Gypsy Moth Suppression
Program is to protect sensitive historic areas, sensitive natural
areas, and to provide for visitor
safety (reduce hazard tree development). It is recognized that these
suppression goals will not eliminate gypsy moths from the Park at
large, but will minimize their
impacts in specific areas.
“National Trails Day 2008 Beyond the Trailhead
Saturday, June 7, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
In partnership with SNP, PATC’s Trail Patrol is sponsoring
“Beyond the Trailhead,” an opportunity to leave your car behind
and experience the outdoors through hiking.
Join us for guided hikes and informational displays to learn more
about safe and responsible enjoyment of the natural world. Events
will be held throughout the day at Byrd Visitor Center (MP 51).
Hands-on demonstrations of the use of traditional tools such as
two-man crosscut saws will be offered. Admission to the event is
free* and open to the public. Hikers will need to sign in at the registration table at Byrd Visitor Center 15 minutes before the hike time.
Please be sure to bring water, food, clothing, and footwear as
appropriate for the hike.
Hikes leaving Byrd Visitor Center:
Easy
Easy
Moderate
Moderate
Advanced
Story of the Forest Nature Trail
1.8 mi. 10:00a.m.,1:15p.m.
Appalachian Trail Ramble
2.0 mi. 10:45a.m.,1:00p.m.
Dark Hollow Falls Hike
1.4 mi.
9:30a.m.,1:30p.m.
Lewis Falls Hike
2.0 mi
10:15a.m.,1:15p.m.
9:45a.m.,12:00p.m
Rapidan Camp National Historic
4.0 mi.
Landmark (Camp Hoover) by Mill Prong Trail
Pre-registration is encouraged but you may also register on
June 7 at Byrd Visitor Center. To pre-register, send an e-mail to
[email protected] by June 5. Please include your name and which
hike you wish to join. For further information visit www.potomacappalachian.org. * Normal SNP entrance fees apply.
What is occurring?
A specialized plane will spray a biological insecticide. A detailed map
showing the six treatment areas is
available at the Park’s Web site at
www.nps.gov/shen. T reatment
areas were chosen through an
annual fall egg mass survey of the
gypsy moth population.
Spraying will be done in the early
morning on two separate days.
Because park weather conditions
are unpredictable, officials do not
know the exact dates of the spraying operation, but should take place
in mid-May depending on larval
development.
What Are The Impacts To Visitors
And Other Park Operations?
Park staff will inform all employees,
cooperators, and ARAMARK staff of
the project, projected spray dates,
and spray areas. Park staff will
inform the local counties and park
visitors of the gypsy moth spray
operations by using our Web site,
local press release, posted flyers,
and by contacting local tourism
offices, etc. It should be noted that
Bacillus thuringensis var. kurstaki
(Btk) poses no risk to human
health. It is considered a biological
insecticide and is only effective
against lepidopterans (moths and
butterflies). Btk is registered with
the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and is sanctioned by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture for
use against gypsy moths. The spray
mist is a bit sticky (it includes a
sticky organic carrier) but it is not
harmful to car paint and can be
cleaned off with soap and water.
There will be minimal impacts to
visitors or park operations. ❏
—Karen Beck-Herzog
17
I
Shawn Green, SNP Park Trails Coordinator, Retires
Dear Friends in the Trails Community,
can’t believe it, but the time has come for me to close
out my 30-plus-year NPS career. I hope to be out of
the door on June 2nd.
To help with the transition, Melissa Rudacille, a longtime SNP Trails Worker who is very knowledgeable of the
park trail system, plus has great computer and communication skills will be taking over where I leave off. Starting now, any SNP trails topics that you would direct to
me, should go to Melissa or Steve Bair. You can contact
Melissa: ([email protected]) 540/999-3142
At age 55, I feel like a high school senior, not really. But,
I have been busy figuring how to retool for another
career. My plan is return to school over the next two
years to get an associates degree in Occupational Therapy. I thought that I would specialize in OT for aging
trail workers . . . PATC members could get a 10 percent
discount. But, you know how plans go, who knows what
I’ll really be doing two years from now.
It has been a great pleasure and honor to serve with the
amazing army of volunteers and professionals who diligently labor to keep the trails of the Blue Ridge on the
maps. The last 15 years have been the most exciting as
we have wrestled with the impacts of floods, fires, hurricanes, ice storms, and bugs on the maze trails. It has
been very exciting for me to watch the level of sophistication and trail skills grow in the volunteer trails community with each passing year as you take on the neverending challenges of trail maintenance and manage-
ment. I still plan to stay on the volunteer roles looking
after my little section of paradise, 2 miles of AT in the
South District.
My retirement is the first of several to come in the SNP
BC/Trails program over the next three years. Thank you
for your patience in the coming years as your agency
partners retune our organization. Thanks for the great
memories and friendships, ❏
—Shawn Green, SNP Park Trails Coordinator
Tails, from page 3
just downright stupid not to eat food when it becomes
available. I have heard of dogs that only get fed once a
day and can wait for weeks before any additional food
falls off the dinner table. My motto is: Take advantage of
what you can get. In my house this is especially true.
You see, there is a second dog in this house. There is no
food that is left just standing around. If, and this would
be a big if, IF I left some food in my dish, Iggy would not
come up and say “Oh, Peabody left some food, she might
want to eat it later.” No, it would be gone before you
could say ‘extra food.’ I of course, being the polite lady
that I am would not eat food in Iggy’s dish that fast. You
might be able to get out “Wow, there’s extra food,” but
not a syllable more.
Shawn, at left, was instrumental in training many a PATC volunteer
at the regularly scheduled trail maintainer and chainsaw workshops.
18
The point to all this is that you should not accuse your
dog of lying simply because you can not communicate
with the other humans in your house. The other thing to
remember is that if you do accidentally feed your dog
twice, they will gladly accept it. ❏
—The Famous Peabody
Trailhead
The Power of Numbers
On Buck Ridge Trail in Shenandoah, district managers Patrick Wilson and Dan Dueweke introduced
nearly 50 Wakefield School students
and their teachers to the joys of
sidehill-cutting in early spring. The
students transformed a textbook
case of sidehill slippage into 700
yards of beautiful new trail awaiting
summer hikers. Many thanks to the
students and their leaders for volunteering their time.
John Hebbe, overseer on Buck
Ridge Trail since 1988 was particularly grateful for the help. Because
Wakefield School students at work cutting sidehill.
the trail is in a wilderness area, no
motorized tools can be used, which
adds to the challenge of keeping
things up to standards. John estimates the student’s efforts saved
him at least two months of work.
Two Trails Day Events in Maryland
The South Mountaineers Trail Crew
will have their regular National
Trails Day event on Saturday, June
7 at 9:00 a.m. This will be at Washington Monument State Park near
Boonsboro, Md. From 9:00 a.m.
until 3:00 p.m., volunteers will perform trail maintenance activities,
typically weeding and clipping,
spread out over miles of the AT. At
3:00 p.m., these volunteers will be
treated to a catered meal and social
hour. For more information, contact
The Wakefield School Volunteers.
Photo by Patrick Wilson
une trail work gets an extra
boost each year from the people
who come out and help as part of
Trails Day. Many crews plan special
Trails Day work events and have
plenty of tools on hand to keep each
volunteer challenged. It’s a great
way to meet other people in the club
as well as help get the trails in
shape. One prime objective is often
weed control. If you can’t make it
out for a trail day event, consider
helping for a day or two, maybe in a
SNP wilderness area where only
hand tools may be used. Contact
one of the district managers listed
on the back page to volunteer. Getting a jump on weeds in June
makes controlling them easier for
the rest of the season. And while
trail work can be very enjoyable,
there’s no reason to spend extra
labor later in the season for something that could have been curtailed
back in June.
Photo by Dan Dueweke
J
Nancy
([email protected])
301/739-0442. This event is sponsored by the Trail House of Frederick, Md. Trail House has supported
the efforts of the South Mountaineers Trail Crew for many years
and this event continues the strong
relationship between PATC and the
Trail House.
One week later, on Saturday, June
14, the Friends of Cunningham
Falls and Gambrill State Parks will
sponsor a similar event along the
Catoctin Trail. PATC will interact
with other park volunteers to get
necessary trail work accomplished
during the day. A catered meal will
follow. For details, contact Maryland trails manager Rick Canter
Harvey Bars and Hungry Hoodlums
April 19 found Head Hoodlum Wayne
Limberg facing an enviable “problem:” perfect weather and an overflow crowd. By the end of the day 22
volunteers showed up to lend a hand
on the Hoodlum’s Southwestern
work trip, including a camera crew
led by Jim Tomlin snapping some
pictures for the new PATC membership brochure. (Note: No camera was
harmed during the shooting of those
See Trailhead, page 20
19
Harvey Bars Unwrapped
For the last year or two, the Hoodlums have been installing what they
call Harvey bars on trails in the
SNP’s North District. These combination waterbars-checkdams-steps
are named after their inventor, Park
Ranger Don Harvey, who introduced
them during the last couple of SNP
North District summer crews. They
20
A “Harvey Bar” for getting water off
steep terrain. Original Diagram by
Wayne Limberg.
can be made of rock or log and are
best used on a curving or steep section of trail where a simple waterbar
would create too high a step for hikers to negotiate comfortably. The
idea is to create a platform or step
by tying a checkdam into a waterbar
and filling in the space between
them with rock and dirt fill. There
are three excellent and easily accessible examples on the AT just south
of Jenkins Gap.
New Faces at Blackburn
If you find yourself going out to the
Blackburn Trail Center, you can
meet the new caretakers, Eric
Toombs from Cincinnati, Oh., and
Tina Dean from Knoxville, Tn. They
are both 2007 southbounders who
met on the trail in SNP and walked
on together from there to Springer.
Their trail names are ET and TinaD.
They started their job at Blackburn
the last weekend of March and,
thanks to the hard work of some
great Blackburn volunteers, were
able to move right into the new
apartment. They have been hosting
thru- and section hikers ever since.
Snakes Versus Mice on the PHT
The black snake first appeared
slithering out of the downed tree
spanning the gully. Work stopped.
The Thursday Mor ning Group
rushes to the sighting and a field
mouse is spotted scurrying across
the bottom of the gully stage. The
Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom
moment is set as someone sees the
mouse grab a baby from center
stage and drag it to the wings. But
the snake takes its time to work
out of the tree and down a vine to
the gully. Were there other babies?
The Group waits with dread and
anticipation.
Out from stage right, the mouse
shoots directly in front of the
snake’s mouth, but the snake never
strikes! The mouse never appears
again and the snake ends the scene
slithering into nearby dead kudzu
vines. Just another “circle of life”
drama witnessed by the Thursday
Morning along the Potomac Heritage Trail on a beautiful spring day.
With relief, or maybe disappointment, the Group got back to work
armoring the gully embankments
with rocks to protect the 12' plank
bridge abutments.
Since that day was spent working
within yards of the Potomac River,
the Group also spotted feeding cormorants and a large patch of
Solomon’s Seal wildflowers in full
bloom. It was a satisfying Thursday
morning. If you want to join the biweekly worktrips, contact Bruce
Glendening at (abbyg1428@
yahoo.com).
Tuscarora’s New Shelter Crew
Frank Turk has organized a new
shelter crew for the Tuscarora’s
Central District. On April 5, the new
crew under Frank’s leadership and
with the Shelter Overseer John
Spies, worked on improving the Pinnacle Shelter, as well as its pavilion
and privy. Chris Henson and Amelia
Dubsky, seniors at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington, D.C. didn’t shy away from
work, including fixing the privy.
Rock Creek Awakening
April was a busy month in Rock
Creek Park. Not only did the regular
Rock Creek crew begin work, but
also other volunteer groups started
signing up to pitch in. Two of the first
groups hosted were an excellent
class of high school students led by
Photo by Walt Smith
Trailhead, from page 19
photos. Some older Hoodlum egos,
yes, but no cameras.) More, including our favorite district managers
Dick Dugan and Peter Harris, would
have been there had it not been for
the chainsaw certification course
being run down the road at SNP
headquarters that weekend. The
Hoodlums divided into two crews.
Steve Osbrach, Don Upton, and Bill
Downes went down Fort Mountain to
do some crosscut sawing on blowdowns while the rest worked the AT
south of Jenkins Gap. With Tom
Ryan setting the pace, the Hoodlums
in short order did 50 – Tom claims
100 – yards of sidehilling and went
on to rehab over 30 checkdams and
waterbars. Tex Herbel gave Susan
Olmstead, Ron Meister, Eric Downes,
and Evan Benoit a crash course in
rock work; at the end of the day they
were still going strong. Dave Nebhut,
meanwhile, showed Andy Harbert
and others the art and elegance of
Harvey bars. The only downer was
that the planned Tex/Mex dinner at
Jalisco’s in Front Royal failed to
materialize but the Hoodlums May
Cajun trip promises to be mo’ bettah!
Chris Henson and Amelia Dubsky work on
the Pinnacle Privy.
The Rock Creek Crew started its year by revisiting the
southern end of the Western Ridge Trail. Over the past
18 months, the crew has dug a major alternate route,
closed off numerous social trails, and built several
structures to control erosion. Unfortunately, utility
crews altered some of this work over the winter while
repairing a broken sewer line. So the crew went back to
return the trail to its former glory. Moreover, they closed
off another section, re-routed the trail around a steep
stretch and installed a few signs. Assisted by new volunteers Beth Daniel and her friend Teresa, as well as Eric
Moore and Rebecca Christie the tasks were finished in
record time.
Two weeks later, the crew reassembled at the intersection of Holly and Valley Trails to work a major project,
building a bridge across a gully on the Valley Trail. Ably
led by Ranger Ken Ferebee, the crew built a lovely 18foot bridge in just four hours and were rewarded for
their efforts by the thanks of appreciative runners. No
word yet on the proposed toll booth. 2008 will be a big
year for the Rock Creek Crew, so please join them on
one of their many projects this year.
Sprucing Up Jones Mountain Cabin Grounds
Photos by Angela Fellers
For an early April retreat, the Blue and White crew made
their home at the most remote structure in SNP. Working in and around Jones Mountain Cabin, they
improved the cabin grounds, installed numerous water
bars and check dams on the spur trail, cut locust logs
for more erosion-control devices, and even cut and split
firewood for future cabin renters. Organizers Melanie
Perl, Kurt Fisher, and Patrick and Uli Wilson were joined
by Stan Turk, John Hebbe, and Fran Okeson, all of
whom took full advantage of the perfect weather and
cozy, historic accommodations.
Dave Fellers assessing his big and compound problem on the BROT.
Uli Wilson, Stan Turk, Fran Okeson, and Kurt Fisher defy erosion
above Jones Mountain Cabin.
Photo by John Hebbe
Jennifer Chambers and the Colorado State University
alumni association. Both groups continued the work of
re-grading and improving drainage on the southern end
of Glover Archbold Trail. This project will continue
through the summer.
The Challenge and the Result
District Manager Dave Fellers found himself confronting
one of his greater challenges along the Bull Run Occoquan Trail. A dead oak on top of the 60-foot hill toppled
taking out the beech that then took out a live oak – a
230 year old tree. The danger was the presence of limbs
and logs high off the ground and under lots of tension.
Dave used a combination of three chainsaw trips and
two griphoist trips to dismantle the jumble. His wife,
Angela, joined him on two of the trips and documented
the work with pictures.
A Would Be Recruit
It was around 9:00 a.m. and members of the Cadillac
Crew were assembling in Spruce Pine Hollow Roadside
Park for the start of a work trip weekend. It was a bit
odd the way the newcomer appeared rather suddenly
and ambled across Rte. 9 toward them, apparently
oblivious to traffic. He had a certain gangliness that
comes with youth. Crew members found themselves
unable to avoid staring as he approached the group
Afterward, order is restored on the BROT.
21
then veered off slightly. A few thought of grabbing a
camera but not before the newcomer had wandered off
into the woods. He must have known the special youth
hunting day applied to turkeys, not black bears.
Speculation on the would-be recruit’s capabilities was
an immediate topic of discussion. Several noted he had
a wonderful set of scratchers very useful for removing
duff from the trail, plucking at roots, and gouging
around rocks. Others were concerned he might have a
hard time wielding a McLeod.
There was some talk among the realists regarding the
quantity of food the new recruit might demand. It was
decided to ask for edible donations as additional crew
members arrived.
SNP Superintendent to Move to Glacier National Park
Chas Cartwright, a 21-year veteran of the National Park
Service has been named superintendent of Glacier
National Park in Montana. Cartwright will assume his
new position in late May. He will replace Mick Holm,
who served as superintendent for six years.
Cartwright currently serves as SNP superintendent at
where he is responsible for the management of 199,045
acres. During his 36 years of federal service, he has held
a number of managerial positions including associate to
the NPS deputy director in Washington, D.C. Since
1989, he has held a number of superintendent positions
at park units all over the country.
As superintendent of Glacier National Park, Cartwright
will be responsible for the management of 1,013,572
acres, a staff of approximately 151, and an annual operating budget of more than $12,030,000. There has yet
to be an announcement of his replacement.
Please send any interesting tale, technical advice, individual or group accomplishments, and trail maintenance questions to Catherine Kelleher at
[email protected]. ❏
New Boots
Trail Volunteers Appointed April
Walter “Chip” Morgan
Robert H. Brockman
Travis Hurant
22
Furnace Mountain
(upper) Trail
Old [AT loop] Trail
South Valley Trail
Oak Ridge Trail to
Mawavi Rd.
Third Save the Meadow! a Success
T
he Save the Meadow! 2008 SNP volunteer event took
place Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18, amid
weather forecasts for wind and rain. It became a celebration, however, in observing the success that volunteers
have had in controlling the exotic garlic mustard and
yellow rocket, both aggressive invaders in the globally
rare communities of Big Meadows swamp. This was the
third annual Save the Meadow! event and it became
clear that previous efforts made a very big difference in
stopping the advance of those invasives. There were far
fewer invaders than before! Whereas efforts focused on
land northeast of The Story of the Forest nature trail
(toward the swamp), future efforts can now expand
south toward the Big Meadows access road, thus
expanding the protective buffer.
Over 50 people attended the presentations by Jake
Hughes, botanical Biological Science Technician, at
Byrd Visitor Center. He provided a beautiful slide show
summary of the high values associated with the
meadow, describing the species and communities of the
wetland, a Northern Blue Ridge mafic fen. Another 80
people were reached at the Iron Mike meeting area
where visitors were attracted to the ARAMARK refreshments and NPCA tent containing information and handouts of the event. There were three field events for controlling invader plants that attracted 28 volunteers. All
told, they contributed 62 hours controlling invaders
which was sufficient to cover all the ground treated in
previous events. Perhaps as important as the numbers,
a good time was had by the volunteers and attending
staff. There is a developing and committed corps of volunteers willing to help SNP protect its most valued
areas, at the meadow and beyond.
In a little over two field seasons through their short-term
volunteer program, SNP has garnered over 2,500 volunteer hours preserving and protecting its natural and cultural resources from the impacts of invasive exotic
plants. The program created an opportunity for Park
staff to inform over 1,150 volunteers about the threats
due to invasives. Volunteers often become the Park’s
best advocates on issues facing park management. ❏
—James Akerson,
Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team Liaison
POTOMAC APPALACHIAN
(UPS-440-280) ©2008, 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: Potomac Appalachian Trail
Club, 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA 22180
Subscription: (Free with PATC membership)
$9.00 annually; $.75 single copies.
Part Time Position
PATC
Land Management Staff
Non-profit outdoor organization
seeks a detail-oriented individual
with general office skills, including computer, data management, and scheduling experience. Good working knowledge
of MS Word, Excel, and Access
required. Familiarity with real
estate transactions, land and
title records, etc. a plus. Approximately 24 hours weekly. Salary
$20-25/ hour. E-mail cover letter
and resume by June 20 to:
[email protected], or mail to:
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club,
Attn: Jim Peterson, 118 Park St.,
SE, Vienna, VA 22080 EEO
Employer.
FOR SALE
B A C K PA C K I N G G E A R : S i e r r a
Designs Light Year CD tent (1-person,
lightweight)- never used : $75; Marmot
Equinox tent (2-person, best for car
camping & campgrounds) - used once:
$100; MSR Hubba tent ( 1-person,
lightweight) - used once: $150; Marmot
Hydrogen sleeping bag (regular length)
- used once: $150. Contact Barb Nash
[email protected] or 301/974-4841.
LOST AND FOUND
F O U N D AT J O H N S O N C A B I N
3/15/08: Pair of ear rings. Phone or
camera size belt holster. Contact Ken
Ly o n s 7 0 3 / 5 4 9 - 2 1 5 6 o r C o n l e y [email protected].
EXCURSIONS
WANT TO EXPLORE a seldom-visited
but spectacular national park in Utah?
Join me and five others for a trip to
Capitol Reef National Park on Sept. 1824, 2008. This trip will involve both day
hikes and a small backpacking trip.
Contact Susan Bly (susanbly32@
yahoo.com) 910/495-3820.
Volunteer Opportunities
Shame on Us!
In a club with over 6,000 members there must be ONE SPECIAL PERSON with
the time, interest, and ability to head up our publications committee. Our guidebooks
have always been the best, created lovingly and professionally by dedicated volunteers. In this expanding market of writers, more and more books are being published
privately, making it more important than ever to keep our books up-to-date and relevant. But our books will not up-date themselves! They need a little guidance.
The Club has been advertising for over 2 years for someone to fill this position,
and NO ONE has stepped forward. I held this position for nearly 15 years. Several
years ago I retired, then had to came back temporarily to keep things going. BUT I
MUST FIND A REPLACEMENT! This is a wonderful opportunity for a retiree looking
for a meaningful use of some spare time, or anyone else not completely overwhelmed
with their paying job. It’s quite rewarding to view the fruits of your work in print, and a
great way to meet and communicate with some of the wonderful hikers in our club.
I’ll be happy to talk to anyone interested, and will also be available to help out
while you get oriented. Call me at 703/591-9363 or e-mail [email protected].
—Jean Golightly.
PATC
Swap Meet
Notices are published free
of charge for PATC members only. PATC cannot
vouch for any of the advertised items. No commercial
advertisement or personal
notices unrelated to hiking
will be accepted. Deadline
for inclusion is the first day
of the month preceding
issuance of the newsletter.
Notices will be run for three
months, at the discretion of
the editor, unless we are
otherwise advised.
Worktrip Cabin Reservations
ANY reservations for cabin or trail work
trips MUST go through Pat. Even if you
know how to enter a reservation and
remove the charge, please tell the
caller that they have to call Pat during
the day (or, if Pat is still in the office,
direct them up to her then).
Calling all History Buffs!
We’re looking for a group of like-minded
volunteers to dedicate a small amount of
time to create the PATC History Committee. PATC has had History Committees in
the past, and we’d like to continue this tradition of honoring our history and ensuring
that the knowledge of our membership and
our organization is captured for the future.
We have many exciting ideas, including
the implementation of an Oral History Program, and we’d like to gather together a
group of volunteers to help us capture and
communicate the history of our club. Interested members can contact Past President Tom Johnson ([email protected])
540/622-6422
or April
Miller
([email protected]) 202/2326621 to receive more information.
23
Trail, Shelter, and Corridor Overseers / Monitors Needed
SHELTERS
Volunteers needed for the shelter
crew in Maryland at the Rocky Run
Shelter
Henry Horn, 301/498-8254
[email protected]
SNP Hut District Manager
Local person available to assist Hut
Overseers with large projects, be
available for inspections, report on
needed work, and do emergency
repairs.
Rick Rhoades, 540/477-3247
[email protected]
Paul Gerhard Shelter – VA
George Washington National Forrest,
PATC Map F
Rick Canter, 301/924-4942
[email protected]
Annapolis Rocks – MD
“Leave No Trace” Campground
Map 5-6
Rocky Run Shelter – MD
PATC Map 5-6 (& composting privy)
Open Trails - Contact the District
Manager for the section that
interests you.
PENNSYLVANIA MAPS 2-3, 4, J, & K
Opportunity to work long hours
with no pay or benefits. Generous
allowance of blisters, stinging/biting insects, and poisonous plants.
Special provision for rain and mud.
Little or no supervision. Work hours
optional. Location somewhere on
the Tuscarora Trail in Pennsylvania.
No certification from your doctor
or hospital required.
Pete Brown, 410/343-1140
[email protected]
118 Park Street
Vienna, VA 22180-4609
Telephone: 703/242-0315
Mon.-Thurs. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thurs. & Fri. 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.
AT - Co-Overseer (3.0 mi.)
Tuscarora Trail (2.2 mi.)
Gas Pipeline to Rattlesnake Run Rd.
Sidewinder Trail to Elizabeth Furnace
Cowans Gap State Park to Lincoln Trail
MASSANUTTEN SOUTH – MAP H
PA Tuscarora Trail [J] - Co-Overseer (4.3 mi.)
SNP ND BLUE-BLAZED – MAP 9
Become an Overseer! Coveted by
Many ... Achieved by Few!
Peter Harris, 540/349-2595
[email protected]
Big Devils Stairs Trail (1.6 mi.)
Bluff Trail to Park Boundary
SNP CD AT – MAP 10
Dan Dueweke, 703/266-3248
[email protected]
Appalachian Trail (1.7 mi.)
Tate Heuer, 202/255-6055
[email protected]
Massanutten Mt. South Trail (3.3 mi.)
Pitt Spring to Morgan Run Trail
Massanutten Mt. South Trail (2.3 mi.)
Morgan Run Trail (1.4 m FR 65) to
Fridley Gap
SPOTSYLVANIA BATTLEFIELD PARK
Frank Haas, 540/8982213
[email protected]
Lewis Mt. to Pocosin Fire Rd.
Gordon Flank Attack Loop Trail (2.0 mi.)
Melvin Ellis, H 703/860-1253 or
540/987-9797
[email protected]
New overseer opportunities are
building and available soon.
Choice trails rich in Shenandoah
history. Don’t miss this rare
opportunity to stake your claim.
Spotsylvania History Loop Trail (5.1 mi.)
SNP CD BLUE-BLAZED [NORTH END] –
MAP 10
SNP SD BLUE-BLAZED – MAP 11
Pete Gatje, 434/361-1309
[email protected]
One Mile Run (3.7 mi.)
2 Mile Run Ovrlk. to West Park Bndry.
TUSCARORA SOUTH – MAP F, G, 9
Rick Rhoades, 540/477-3247
[email protected]
Orange Turnpike to Wilderness
Exhibit Shelter
History Loop to History Loop
Lee Drive North Trail (3.0 mi.)
Howison Hill to Lansdowne Valley Rd.
SUBURBAN MARYLAND - MAP D
Catherine Kelleher, 301/493-6956
[email protected]
[vacancies opening soon]
MUTTON HOLLOW – MAP 11
Hugh Robinson, 703/525-8726
[email protected]
Boundary Trail (0.5 mi.)
CCC Road [inside gate] to Mutton
Top Trail
Boundary Trail (0.5 mi.)
Fetzer Gap to Maurertown
Mutton Top Trail to Cliff Trail
Gerhard Shelter to Waite’s Run Rd.
Boundary Trail to Mutton Top Trail
Meadow Trail (0.8 mi.)
PERIODICAL
US POSTAGE PAID
AT VIENNA VA
& ADDITIONAL
MAILING OFFICES

June 2008 - Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

Transcription

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