ISSN 098—8154

The Newsletter of the Potomac Appalachian Club Volume 32, Number 10 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA 22180-4609 October 2003 http://www.patc.net 75 Years of Service Celebrate 76 Years at PATC’s Annual Dinner ome out and join in the fun at our 76th CAnnual Meeting/Dinner!

Mark your calendar now, and sign up for PATC’s 2003 Annual Meeting/Dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 11, in Vienna to celebrate our 76th year. We will begin with a social gath- ering at 6:00 p.m., and dinner will follow. The cost is $25 per person. The event will be held again this year at the beautiful Atrium of the Northern Regional Park Authority, located next to the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens on Beulah Road in Vienna. The Atrium (pictured above) is a beautiful garden and conference center generously made available to us for the past two years by Our speaker this year will be Robert Rubin the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority$ who is Editor of the AT Conference AT The Atrium is located next to the Meadowlark Gardens are on the left. Shuttle service will be News and author of “On The Beaten Path,” Gardens at 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, available at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the the memoir of his AT thru hike. There will just off Beulah Road, Vienna, Va. Take I-495 Vienna metro station. Please call Pat also be displays made by the volunteers of north to the Vienna/Tyson’s Corner/Rte. 123 Fankhauser at 703/242-0693, Ext. 17, if you our various activities. When you look them exit. From Rte. 123, turn right onto over, you just may find a new volunteer Courthouse Road. Then go through the stop will be using the shuttle service. interest. sign and continue on Beulah Road. The See Annual Meeting page 

New SNP Cabin Rates and Winter Policy In This Issue . . . Council Fire ...... 2 New Cabin Rates for SNP Cabins Tom’s Trail Talk ...... 3 ew cabin rates for all cabins except the Committee Proposes New Award . . . .4 NShenandoah Park cabins went into Watch Those Thorns! ...... 4 effect beginning October 2002. New rental New Rail-Trail Under Study by NPS . .5 rates for all Shenandoah Park cabins – Book Review: Virginia’s Wild Side . . .5 Corbin, Doyles River, Jones Mountain, Wagon Wheel Shelter Dedication . . . .6 Pocosin, Range View, and Rock Spring – will North District Hoodlums Work Trip . .7 be effective for reservations made beginning Let’s Hear it for 20 Years of Pigs . . . .7 October 6, 2003. The new rates will be $18 Bob Pickett’s Appalachian Nature . . . . .8 for each weekday night and $28 for each K9 Hike at ...... 9 weekend night. Hiker’s Notebook ...... 9 Forecast ...... 10 New Winter Policy for SNP Cabins Volunteers Appointed ...... 15 If Skyline Drive is closed and a renter cannot Leave No Trace Trainers Course . . . .15 reach the cabin by vehicle, he or she can Backpacking 202 ...... 15 request a refund of the advance payment the first date of the reservation, no refunds In Memoriam ...... 15 minus the $5 processing fee. Hike-in direc- will be made regardless of whether or not the Notices ...... 16 tions are made available on the cabin direc- drive is closed. ❏ Trailhead ...... 17 tion sheets mailed out with the key. If PATC —Pat Fankhauser, is not informed of the cancellation prior to Membership and Cabins Coordinator Help Wanted ...... 20 Council Members, Chairs and PA Staff Council Fire Officers President: Tom Johnson ([email protected]) he Potomac Club’s Finance, 2004 Goals Weekdays, Reston, Va, ph. 703/435-2755 Tregularly scheduled Council meeting Treasurer Gerhard Salinger distributed the Weekends, Front Royal, ph. 540/622-6422 VP Volunteerism: Mickey McDermott was held at Club Headquarters Aug. 12, monthly budget report, noting that cabin VP Operations: Fred “Hop” Long 2003. President Tom Johnson welcomed rental revenue, as well as membership dues, Treasurer: Gerhard Salinger has increased since the last budget report. Secretary: Georgeann Smale ([email protected]) Lisa Still as the new Supervisor of Supervisor of : Liles Creighton Information, Education, and Activities. He The planning session for next year’s goals was Supervisor of Membership: Susan Nelson Supervisor of Land Management: Chris Mangold, also welcomed George Still as the new held prior to the Council meeting. Tom thanked [email protected] Chair of Public Affairs. Tom reported on the participants for attending the goals session. Supervisor of Facilities: Larry Marcoux biennial ATC Conference held in New Supervisor of Education, Information, and Activities: Lisa Still Hampshire. Approximately 40 PATC mem- Other Business bers had attended, including five Council SMRG: John Luck reported the group partic- General Counsel: Charles Sloan members and two officers. ipated in the search for a lost 10-year-old boy Sections/Chapters on the Dark Hollow Falls Trail in Mountaineering Section: Andy Britton Tom had attended two sessions on risk . The boy was SMRG: Christopher Smith found in a drainage area leading from the falls Ski Touring Section: Steve Brickel management and liability. He reported he North Chapter: Pete Brown had also attended an enlightening work- after being missing for 30 hours. A total of 23 N. Shenandoah Valley Chapter: Lee Sheaffer shop on accessibility issues. Tom com- SMRG members helped with the search, or S. Shenandoah Valley Chapter: Michael Seth had begun to respond to the call, when the Charlottesville Chapter: John Shannon mended Liles Creighton for introducing a child was found. He was dehydrated and had Chapter: Judy Smoot resolution accepted by the ATC minor injuries but has fully recovered. John Standing Committee Chairs Conference that called for Supervisors of also reported that, in response to a request (Council Members) Trails and their counterparts in other clubs AT Corridor Monitoring: Tom Lupp from the Park Service, SMRG was in SNP Blackburn Trail Center: Chris Brunton to meet and exchange policies and lessons over the busy July 4 weekend, ready to Budget: David White learned at the next biennial meeting. Liles respond as needed. They did assist with some Cabins Operations: Mel Merritt said the objective of the resolution was to Cabin Construction: Charlie Graf motor vehicle accidents over the holiday. Conservation: Jeff Pearcy get clubs back into ATC business to help Grants & Donations: Susan Nelson formulate policy, rather than merely con- Trail Patrol: Reporting for Trail Patrol, Holly Endowment: Don Price Finance: Gerhard Salinger form to policy set by ATC. Tom noted that Wheeler announced the Backpacking Hikes: Karen Brown & Lee Sheaffer attendance at the conference had dramati- Committee met recently to discuss the future Internet Services: Stephen Raia of the course. They will expand the number of Land Management: Chris Mangold, [email protected] cally decreased, from 1,100 attendees in Legal: Charles Sloan 2001 to 800 in 2003. While high costs of the classes to include a fall Backpacking 101 Maps: Dave Pierce 2003 conference may have contributed, he course and to include one-day seminars on Appalachian Trail Management focused topics, such as meal planning and Committee: Charlie Graf observed that attendance has been steadily Potomac Appalachian: Linda Shannon-Beaver declining since 1995. See Council Fire page + Public Affairs: George Still Publications: George Meek Sales: Vacant Shelters: Frank Turk HEADQUARTERS Trail Lands Acquisition: Phil Paschall HOW TO CONTACT US FOR CABIN RESERVATIONS, Trail Patrol: Kumait Jawdat MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION, AND SALES Land Management: Lloyd MacAskill Address: 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA 22180 Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Special Committees/Ongoing Activities and Thursday and Friday 12 noon to 2 p.m. Archives & Library: Carol Niedzialek Phone #: 703/242-0315 24-hr. Activities Tape #: 703/242-0965 Cabin Reservations: Shakuntala Ghare To receive an information packet: Extension 10 Communications Team: Tom Johnson To leave a message for the Club President, Tom Johnson: Extension 40 Deputy Finance Committee Chair: John Ferguson Club e-mail: [email protected] Facsimile #: 703/242-0968 Deputy Supervisor of Trails: Jon Rindt World Wide Web URL: http://www.patc.net Headquarters Facility: Orron Kee STAFF Information/Sales Desks: Annetta DePompa DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS Medical: Vacant Director of Administration: Wilson Riley (Ext. 11) e-mail: [email protected] Shelters, Cabins, & Cabins Land Fund: Larry Marcoux Trails Management Coordinator: Heidi Forrest (Ext. 12) e-mail: [email protected] SNP Boundary Trailheads Study Group: Business Manager: Monica Clark (Ext. 15) e-mail: [email protected] Mark Holland Membership/Cabin Coordinator: Pat Fankhauser (Ext. 17) e-mail: [email protected] Tuscarora Trail Shenandoah Valley Project: Sales Coordinator: Maureen Estes (Ext. 19) e-mail: [email protected] Phoebe Kilby & Larry Bradford Bus/Metro Directions to Headquarters: When taking Metro Orange line, get off at Dunn Loring station Potomac Appalachian (not Vienna, the last stop). Outside the station, find the stop for Metrobus 2T westbound in the direction Chief Editor: Linda Shannon-Beaver of Tyson’s Corner. When the bus starts down Maple Avenue in Vienna, exit at the library just past Center [email protected] St. Walk half a block in the same direction the bus travels, and turn right at Park St. PATC will be on the left Features Editor: Joanne Erickson only a few yards down from the corner. The fare is $1.10, but you can ride for $.25 if you remember to Forecast Editor: Suzie Shannon get a transfer ticket at your originating station. [email protected]

% October %'' – Potomac Appalachian Tom’s Trail Talk Computers, PATC, and You July, it is a transcendent crisis. This was not o err is human; to really foul up takes the first instance of computer gridlock, but it “Ta computer.” Frankly, I don’t know a was the most obvious example of a hidden cri- megabyte from a flourescent light. But igno- sis that has been building for years. Let me rance of the law is no excuse. I’m talking explain. about the iron law, so often quoted, above. Our computer systems have evolved over PATC’s size, its diversity, and its reporting time. Like everything else the Club does, they requirements demand a Club that is run, have been strapped together by volunteers increasingly, by (and some say for) computers. who have taken time away from trail work to We are completely reliant on electronic com- try to get the Club into the modern (that is, munications. Modern e-mail communica- the computer) age. Each new crisis engenders tions are so ubiquitous that every single vot- a new computer committee of committed vol- ing member of our Council (there are 40 of unteers who do their best. Each time we come them, in case you were wondering) now has to the end of a fix-it-up session we breathe a an e-mail address. Web sites are so pervasive sigh of relief and launch the new system. And that it is unthinkable for a club like PATC not each new system eventually breaks down. By to have one. To paraphrase one of our going cheap, we have worked ourselves into Council members, a functional Web site will some technological blind alleys, and it will will be discussing the requirements with be an absolute requirement for all organiza- not be easy to get out of them. companies that are in the business of creat- tions that pretend to serve the public. When I ing computer structures and Web sites that sit down at my desk in the evening, I normal- So, once again, we are faced with a crisis and function and interlock. ly do at least two hours of e-mail. When I fin- need to regenerate our computer committee. ish my trail work, my report goes in electron- But this time the role of the volunteers will This is serious. The Club needs your help. If ically. My District Manager knows within be different. They will be writing architec- you have any IT skills and a modicum of hours where I have been and what I’ve been ture and work requirements for a system understanding of some area of our operations, doing. That is now the way I communicate. I that will be maintained by professionals. contact me. No, I don’t mean by telephone – suspect that it is the same for most of you. The task demands people who, unlike me, [email protected] or [email protected]. are conversant with computer systems. But That is how I communicate these days. I’m When the Club’s communications do not more important, they must also be conver- waiting to hear from you. ❏ work, as they did not for most of the month of sant with the Club and its operations. They —Tom Johnson

Annual Meeting from page , to help coordinate a successful event. If you’re interested, please Reserve your seat by filling out the form below and mailing it contact Pat Fankhauser at 703/242-0693, Ext. 17, or back to PATC no later than Nov. 4, 2003. Space is limited. As [email protected]. ❏ always, we will need a lot of volunteers to handle various tasks —Pat Fankhauser

Registration for PATC’s ./th Annual Meeting/Dinner Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority’s Atrium. For more information, please contact Pat Fankhauser at 703/242-0693, Ext. 17, or [email protected]. Don’t delay, space is limited. Come on out and join us to celebrate 76 years! Name: ______, entree` preference (choose one) ❏ vegetarian ❏ chicken ❏ beef Name: ______, entree` preference (choose one) ❏ vegetarian ❏ chicken ❏ beef Daytime phone number: ______Please enclose a check in the amount of $25 ( or list your credit card information below) per attendee for dinner. If you wish to attend the meeting and not have din- ner, please contact Pat fankhauser and let her know you will be coming. ( ) Here is an additional $76 to for the Trail Land Acquisition Fund for 76 years of service on the trails. ( ) Sorry, I can’t attend the banquet, but here is $76 to support PATC’s Trail Land Acquisition Fund. For 76 years the Club has led hikes; constructed and renovated shelters and cabins; mapped the trails; taught trail construction, safety, and conservation; and built and cleared the trails in rain, snow, and sunshine. Your contribution will be used to enhance those activities. Let’s celebrate as we move into our 76th year! VISA/MasterCard Number: ______, Expiration Date: ______Please charge my credit card for ______for ______dinner(s) Signature: ______Mail to: PATC - Annual Meeting/Dinner 2003, 118 Park Street, SE, Vienna, Virginia 22180 Attn: Monica Clark, Business Manager Because PATC pays for dinners in advance, no refunds after November 4, 2003.

Potomac Appalachian – October %''  Award Nominations Need to be Submitted Now his is what every volunteer sweats, toils, ❏ Honorary Life Membership. A very special, ❏ Youth Under 14. Individuals under 14 years Tgrunts, and yes, sometimes curses when coveted award, reserved for members who of age who have participated in Club work- one drops a rock on one’s tow for the covet- have rendered outstanding service or contri- trips or other activities are eligible for special ed PATC Service Award. So if you’re a butions to the Club or its objectives over an recognition. Upon the recommendation of an adult member, a letter of appreciation, along District Manager of trails, shelters, or cabins, extended period of time. The recipient must with a PATC patch, will be sent to the indi- or a supervisor of a particular project, and be a long-time Club member and exemplify vidual, thanking him or her for contributing you would like to recognize a superior effort the service aims of the Club, such as leading to the Club’s work and encouraging him or by one of your volunteers, we need to hear trips, serving on committees, serving as trail her to become a PATC member when they from you. or cabin Overseer, or donating time at reach 14 years of age. Headquarters. ❏ Service Award. This award recognizes Send your nominations for Honorary Life members for outstanding service during a ❏ Member or Volunteer of the Year to Mickey PATC Appreciation Award. Primarily for specific year. The individual must be a PATC McDermott at [email protected] and nonmembers, this award would be given to member who has given a specific service or your nominations for Service Awards or individuals who have made some special con- completed a project within the year and has Special Commendations (for non-PATC tribution to the Club and its objectives. not received the award previously for the members) to Pat Fankhauser at Recipients could include government officials same service. [email protected] or by phone (federal, state, local) who have assisted the ❏ Honorary Membership. This award may be (703/242-0693, ext. 17) by Oct. 10. Club in its activities, individuals who have for a fixed or renewable term to a nonmember donated land or facilities to the Club, retired in recognition of outstanding contributions to Following are some general guidelines to help PATC employees, or anyone else who has the objectives of the Club. ❏ you in choosing award nominees: helped the Club in a significant way. —Susan Nelson, Supervisor of Membership

Watch Those Thorns! Council Fire from page % preparation. They also hope to facilitate trips s new members, my wife Pam and I by alumni through improved communica- Ahave looked forward to getting involved tions. Holly noted that Dave Paxton, the Trail in PATC trail projects, and a chance meet- Patrol’s training officer, has been working to ing a few months ago with Bruce increase the partnership between the group Glendening, the and SNP, working closely with Steve Bair, the Overseer, got us on the e-mail list for PHT backcountry Ranger for Shenandoah. projects. On Saturday, Aug. 30, we met redness and swelling and a touch of dizzi- Bruce and Alex Sanders at Windy Run to ness, it was time for a second opinion. Ski Touring Section: Burt Finkelstein reported help Alex maintain his portion of the PHT that winter ski trips are being planned and from Roosevelt Island to Windy Run. After A call to the Blue Cross Nurse Hotline led reminded members of the Nov. 1 Ski Fair at being shuttled to Roosevelt Island by us to the Alexandria Hospital at 12:30 a.m. Headquarters. Bruce’s wife, Cecile, Bruce, Alex, and I fired and a diagnosis of an infected tendon up the weedwackers and Pam manned the sheath. She was admitted at 3:30 a.m. and Facilities loppers as we worked our way back to put on intravenous antibiotics with the pos- Mel Merritt reported the Highacre paint job Windy Run and our cars. sibility of hand surgery if the infection trav- has been contracted. He introduced a fund- eled to the palm tendons, according to the raising idea to Council, proposing a “show of The steady rains of summer made for lots of hand surgeon, Dr. Jimmy Chow! cabins.” Mel announced the retirement of trail growth, and we were all soaked with Fortunately, a two-night hospital stay with Diana Niskern, Overseer for the Doyle River sweat when we hit Windy Run at 1 p.m. intravenous antibiotics every eight hours Cabin for 35 years. Pam casually mentioned that she had been turned the tide and she was released on stuck in a finger through her rubber-coated Monday afternoon with a prescription for Vining Tract Manager Hugh Robinson garden gloves by a huge, unseen thorn when oral antibiotics, rest, and a follow-up visit reported members of the Vining family had grabbing a bush she lopped. Through the with Dr Chow. It still amazes us what one granted legal access to Wineberry Cabin. rest of a normal weekend day of errands, thorn puncture can do! minor house projects, and relaxation, Pam The August Council meeting was attended by noticed her finger was starting to swell and So, watch those thorns, wear leather gloves, five Club officers, seven committee Chairs, become sore. Ibuprofen and soaking in ice and, if you suspect an infection, seek med- three chapter representatives, three section water didn’t seem to help, and by this time ical advice quickly. Also, look for us back on representatives, one staff member, and four she couldn’t remove a ring on the stuck fin- the trail soon! ❏ other Club members. ❏ ger. When the situation worsened with more —Ken and Pam Williams —Secretary Georgeann Smale

+ October %'' – Potomac Appalachian Spectacular New Rail-Trail Under Study by the ow does a trail with six high trestle bridges and three tunnels Hwithin 12 miles sound? In Morgan County, W.Va., in the Paw Paw Bends of the , this possibility exists.

The abandoned Western Maryland Railway right-of-way is owned by the C&O Canal National Historical Park (NHP). It is a 34-mile seg- ment between Pearre, Md.(on the C&O Canal towpath), and Cumberland, crossing over the Potomac River on those six magnifi- cent, high bridges three times into and out of West Virginia through lovely remote, wild mountains. The three stretches in West Virginia are one half, three, and 3.5 miles, respectively. The C&O Canal Park owns the right-of-way because it intersects the towpath four times, and, when not in a tunnel, it parallels the towpath most of the dis- tance. This abandoned railway has already been made into a rail-trail from Fort Frederick, Md., to Pearre, by the state of Maryland. From that point on, ownership is by the C&O NHP. It is within the first 14 miles from the termination of the Maryland rail-trail that these bridges and tunnels come up. However, the entire 34 miles offers wonderful scenery; dramatic cuts; interesting rock formations; and several short bridges over side streams, with views of the old aque- ducts of the C&O Canal paralleling. It passes through historic Oldtown, Spring Gap, and North Branch toward Cumberland. A man from North Carolina said it was “the premier /biking trail on the East Coast, perhaps in the country!”

At this time, a study is being done by the National Park Service to determine the fate of this right-of-way. The park is seeking citizen PATC Members get 20% off of in-stock input for alternative uses of the property. The C&O Canal Association and others are working very hard to ensure that the hiking/biking trail items. Bring proof of membership. is the alternative of choice. We must be sure that the Park Service knows the public wants this old rail line preserved for the purpose of a trail so that they do not dispose of the property, tear down the bridges, and seal the tunnels! Those are irreplaceable resources!!! Please let your Book Review: Virginia’s Wild Side voice be heard!! “Virginia’s Wild Side,” by Curtis J. Badger. University of Virginia Press, For your information, there is a beautiful Web site on the subject: 2003, 240 p., 13 illustrations, four maps, cloth, $24.95. www.wmwestsub.com. Click on “slide show.” Please check it out!! You can e-mail me at [email protected]. Please place WMRR as om thought he was being attacked by a shark.” Thus begins an the subject. ❏ “Texploration of Burton’s Bay on the Eastern Shore. Author —Emmie Woodward Curtis Badger searches for fossils at and Shepherdstown, W.Va. searches for gold at Lake Anna. He confronts a bear with nothing but a multi-use tool on Stony Man Mountain.

A letter supporting this trail would Don’t expect a travel guide from this book. There are no recommend- ed accommodations or restaurants. There are no detailed maps. carry a lot of weight! Please write to: Instead, Badger bikes, hikes, canoes, and kayaks through 50 unique ❏ Superintendent, C&O Canal NHP, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite places in Virginia, from the Eastern shore to the mountains. Along the 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740 way he entertains us with great stories and informs us of the natural and man-made history of these places. ❏ County Commission of Morgan County, 210 Fairfax St., Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 I enjoyed reading about the places I’ve already seen and learning more about them, such as the history of Crabtree Falls. I’m looking forward ❏ County Commission of Allegany County, County Office Bldg., to exploring some of the places I haven’t been. This is a good book to Suite 405, 701 Kelly Road, Cumberland, MD 21502 get you excited about seeing new and familiar places. ❏ —Cheryl Zebrowski

Potomac Appalachian – October %'' 2 Wagon Wheel Shelter Dedication Ceremony

Charlie Irvin led the 2001 effort to dismantle and relocate the former Hemlock Hills Shelter from the AT in Smithsburg, Md., and place it on the Tuscarora Trail in . This is what Charlie had to say at the Wagon Wheel dedication ceremony.

would like to thank you all for coming to the Wagon Wheel Shelter IDedication. There are many that worked on the shelter who are with us. We appreciate all the help that Jim Foose and the Tuscarora Forest Service have given us. Jim is not with us. Ed Franco is Overseer, Lynn Miller is Co-Overseer, and they are with us.

We had over 400 hours by 19 different volunteers on 10 worktrips in 2002. Now this new shelter for the Tuscarora Trail stands proudly. It is a solid and gentle testament to its background of caring trail workers, ready to help the hiking community today and for future time; but let us go back in time to recap how and why we are here today dedicating this place of rest. long days went by, after working 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. before they had supper. During this time the crews realized that having more than one As noted on PATC’s North Chapter Web site, our involvement with the shelter on the TT would be a great asset. There were not many good Tuscarora Trail officially goes back to April 1993 when KTA turned its locations for TT shelters due to its proximity in places to private land or maintenance over to the North Chapter. But for years before that, start- game land. ing about 1988-89, Jack Danner, Dale Kitchen, Charles Irwin, Elizabeth Johnston, and others came to help Dennis Helfrick from Today the Tuscarora Trail is a major U.S. Eastern trail, stretching 252 Mercersburg. He asked if the North Chapter could help with the four miles to touch the Appalachian Trail from Virginia’s Skyline Drive near miles of TT South of Rte. 16. Front Royal to Dean’s Gap on the AT in Pennsylvania’s capital region. Since it became passable again in 1994, its popularity has increased dra- According to Elizabeth, soon we somehow had 14 miles south of Rte. matically as an alternate to the busy AT, as well as providing loop hikes 16. After many a bloody trip from the blackberry and current brambles and much chainsaw work, it looked like a trail instead of a briar patch. and a byway via the Link Trail to Maryland state, on and on. There was literally no trail in many places when we started. Charlie and I had to flag it. Charlie noted that they worked south of 16 for three Having another shelter for the Tuscarora Trail became the next goal. years (thought we would never get it open), then started going north, Scouting around for a suitable location, the Wagon Wheel site was which wasn’t as bad until they hit Rte 641. approved. Since PATC planned to replace this shelter near Smithsburg, Md., plans were made to have it disassembled carefully and then recon- About this point in time, Ethel Nelson reported from KTA that the TT structed. Originally built as an Eagle Scout project in August of 1976 by was a problem for them, and they wanted to abandon it. By this time the son of Alfred and Karel Henneberger of Smithsburg, Md., the shel- the North Chapter had too much invested in it and proposed to take it ter has found a new home. Providing a haven from rain, wind, and over. This decision had to be ratified by both KTA and PATC in 1993. snow, and a place to sit, sleep and relax, this shelter patiently awaits the Elizabeth remembers Charlie took over with a vengeance, working all hikers venturing on the Tuscarora for years to come. ❏ summer almost full time with help from people like Jack Danner. Many Sincerely, Charles Irvin

/ October %'' – Potomac Appalachian A Typical August Worktrip for the North District Hoodlums he North District Hoodlums put in some good hours on Aug. 16, Trepairing and adding waterbars and checkdams to the AT just south of Jenkins Gap. Rain and a surprise appearance by a mama bear and three – yes, three, count ‘em – cubs forced an earlier-than-planned quitting time, and the crew retired to Indian Run for the Hoodlum’s annual Jamaican feast complete with jerked chicken and John McCrea’s flambeed plantains. Good, mon! ❏ —Wayne Limberg Photos by Wayne Limberg Photos by Wayne George Ivey crafts a waterbar$ Tails from the Woods by George Walters

Bernie Stahlman and John McCrea debate the philosophy of just where the waterbar should go$

Correction:

The photo on page , of the September PA contained an incorrect caption$ That caption should have appeared with the photo at right: Pictured are (l9r) Dave Trone Bill Jones Jim Stauch and Al Black$

Let’s Hear it for 20 Good Years of Pigs and Cheer!

lease join us for the 20th Annual Blackburn Pig Roast, scheduled In keeping with our family-oriented events, we will have planned activ- Pfor Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, 2003, at Blackburn Trail ities for children of all ages, culminating in our annual jack-o-lantern Center, near Round Hill, Va. The organizers – who will admit to being contest, complete with scary stories and prizes for all. Of course all no more than 18 years old when the first Pig Roast was held – will be attendees can take a hike along the AT or simply enjoy the changing the same as always: Rick Portal with help from Tim Rahn and Nancy leaves from our front porch. Hughes. Registration this year is once again being taken by Trailboss Chris Brunton and Sandi Marra. Overnight accomodations include bunk space inside the trail center (first-come, first-served) and tent sites outside on the grounds. And all As is the Saturday evening tradition, black beans and rice, potato au are included with the low reservation fee. Confirmation with directions gratin, and apple crisp will accompany our Cuban-style roast pig. will be sent after a reservation is received. Happy hour will lead off the evening with Rick’s famous tamales. In addition, Tim will make sure anyone waking up Sunday morning still hungry will be taken care of with his quality breakfast fare. Anyone Members and friends interested in attending the event should complete wanting to participate in the Friday night Pig grease down and season- the registration form on page 8 and send a check for $25 per adult and ing (an event worth experiencing at least once in your life) are wel- for children over 10 to Sandi Marra, 9000 Piney Grove Dr., Fairfax, VA comed! Dinner on Friday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday are up 22031. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO SANDRA MARRA. Info: to each individual. Chris Brunton, ([email protected]) 703/560-8070. ❏

Potomac Appalachian – October %'' . Bob Pickett’s Appalachian Nature: The Forest World Prepares for Winter ith the coming of October, we reach the called middens. Well-developed cheek pouch- spring, when food resources are prevalent, Wend of the growing season. With the es have been known to hold up to 32 beech- but, shortly after fertilization, the egg’s decreasing solar energy, the rate of plant pho- nuts or 70 sunflower seeds. Red squirrels also growth is arrested and lies dormant within the tosynthesis and animal metabolism has sig- use the midden approach. Gray squirrels female for six months. Only in November nificantly slowed down (with the notable choose a different method of storage, prefer- does the egg implant on the uterus wall and exception of the warm-blooded mammals and ring individual holes for each acorn or seed. its growth continue, allowing birthing to birds). The days are getting colder, and the Stored foods are found by smell, not memory. occur in late January. Interestingly, if the mast killing frosts are near at hand. The mammals This is the time of year mass movements of crop fails and the sow fails to put on adequate and birds of the forest are stimulated to ingest squirrels have historically occurred. Such brown fat before entering the winter dorman- as many calories as possible before the onset movements are necessitated by local high cy, the embryo will abort. Thus, the delayed of winter. And the usable form of energy that populations and erratic annual acorn mast implantation prevents the sow from investing supports our diverse faunal community is crops. A famous naturalist of 100 years ago, in a pregnancy before her food reserves are largely based upon the hard mast crop pro- Ernest Thompson Seton, estimated one mass established. duced by the oaks and hickories. movement at more than 1 billion individuals in 1920. A more recent mass movement on a This delayed implantation also occurs among Prior to this last century, the American chest- reduced scale was reported in October of 1968 most of the weasel family, including minks, nut was also a major constituent of this ener- in the southern Appalachians of Tennessee, marten, skunks, river otters, long- and short- gy supply. It is believed that the chestnut was Georgia, and North Carolina. This followed a tailed weasels, and the recently re-introduced the dietary staple of passenger pigeons, sup- mast crop the previous year, resulting in an fisher. The fisher is the record holder, with a porting their annual fall migration. The value abundance of young squirrels. Unfortunately, delayed implantation period of 10 to 11 of the chestnut was not only in its prominence 1968 was a poor mast year, resulting in a months, resulting in a birth a year after mat- in the forest composition, but also in its habit major food shortage. ing (an average of 352 days, which includes a of producing a large crop of fruits every year. gestation period of 30 to 50 days). The female This is unlike the oak species, which may No Time for Mating: A Clever is quickly inseminated again (in fact, she is have a good fruit-producing “mast crop” only System not pregnant for only about 10 days), so that once every five years, or even less often. The mast crop is so important to black bears birthing takes place every year. that all other physiological functions take sec- Animals Store Fat ond priority. This even includes mating. With Amphibian Preparation October is a very busy time for wildlife. Much an eight-week gestation period, late fall is the What else is happening in October? of our wildlife counts on the acorns and nuts time black bears should be getting serious Rattlesnakes will enter their dens in our to provide them with the energy necessary to about mating. However, such activity would region from the last week of September until get through the winter season of scarcity. Bear, call for much time and effort being expended the middle of October, often denning with deer, raccoon, and other mammals join the seeking females and defending territories, copperheads and a few black rat snakes. Other food fight with grouse and turkey. And this something that would severely detract from snakes will burrow in individual holes, nooks, doesn’t include the fungi, bacteria, arthro- the important function of fattening up for the and crannies. And many of our turtles will be pods, and micro-invertebrates that count on upcoming winter season. hatching and leaving their nests for winter mast for their food supply. dens underwater or in individual burrows. An So, nature has provided a unique solution to exception to this is the painted turtle, which, Chipmunks cache their acorns and other the bear’s dilemma, known as delayed after hatching, will remain in its nest with the nuts, and conifer seeds in large hiding places implantation. The black bear mates in late See Bob page ,+ Make Plans Now for the 20th Annual Blackburn Pig Roast Blackburn Pig Roast — Saturday and Sunday, October 11/12, 2003

Name: ______

Address: ______

Phone: (day) ______(evening) ______Number of reservations: ______@ $25.00 each

Total enclosed: ______

I will also be bringing ______# children aged 10 and under (for whom there is no charge)

Include a $25.00 payment per person for each reservation with checks payable to Sandra Marra and mail to:

Sandra Marra, 9000 Piney Grove Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031. IMPORTANT: Please be sure to make your check payable to Sandra Marra.

: October %'' – Potomac Appalachian Gambrill State Park Proves Haven for Dogs he humidity was high but the rains held Toff until we finished our six-mile loop at Gambrill State Park. The trails were excep- tionally well-maintained, and even after so much recent rain we encountered no flood- ing. The Bootjack spring was running well, and the vegetation was lush everywhere.

Gambrill State Park is on , on a tract of land that was originally pur- Hikers Notebook chased by Frederick County and donated to Photos by Jeff Bolognese the city of Frederick for a municipal park. In Taking a break at the North Frederick overlook$ Common Name: Spotted Jewelweed, September 1934, Frederick returned the park water. Then we took off on the newly re-rout- Touch-me-not, Snapweed to the state, and it was later named Gambrill ed black trail, which is now a series of switch- State Park in honor of James H. Gambrill Jr., backs up to the North Frederick overlook, Scientific Name: Impatiens capensis described on the Maryland state Web site as a where we enjoyed a nice breeze and an even Frederick resident and leading advocate of the nicer view of the Frederick Valley. Everyone Family: Balsaminaceae conservation of natural resources. hung out on the native stone benches built by Jewelweed is prolific along shaded Today’s hike was led by Pat with Mickey, Jeff the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Cody sat up and begged. Jeff took some pic- stream banks and shaded swampy with Katy, and Cindy with Belle. Joining us areas. Flowers may be either orange- were newcomers Phyllis with Cody, Joe with tures. Sarah shared her special trail mix. Suddenly we heard a soft whining, which colored (spotted), as shown, or pale Hunter, and Karen and Victor with Loki. yellow (called pale jewelweed) and Regular K9TB hikers included Shirley with became grumbling and grew louder and more insistent. Belle had rested enough and was grows in dense stands about one to two Princess and Sarah and Eric with Toby and his meters in height. friend Poppy. We did the chocolate and biscuits eager to get the show on the road again! routine at the trailhead, but it was Sarah’s trail So off we went. It was all downhill from there. Potpourri: The name “touch-me-not” mix at the North Frederick overlook that really Literally. We hiked out on the wide yellow trail, refers to the manner in which the jew- hit the spot. The group voted her club hostess! stopping at the overlook to see Middletown elweed disperses its seeds. There are small elongated seed capsules contain- We hiked a large loop, starting with a downhill Valley, and continued on down past the Visitor Center. Club naturalist Cindy pointed out ing three to five seeds each that burst and then a long uphill, which became longer open at the slightest touch. This dis- when Pat and Mickey blew on by the next trail Indian pipe stem and explained that it is not a mushroom but a true flower that is pollinated perses the seeds up to five feet away, junction! Jeff, who was sweeping, radioed a which is very effective at propagating heads-up and the fast hikers retraced their by small insects, such as the clouds of gnats we were standing in. She also talked about the the seeds, particularly if they fall into steps back to join the rest of the group for the an adjacent stream. short climb to Bootjack spring. Dogs and peo- gniess rock we saw that had flecks of mica and ple were delighted to rest and drink the cool veins of quartz. This rock is formed by pres- sure deep inside the earth and gradually, over Jewelweed is unusual in that it has two millions of years, hardens and works its way to kinds of flowers. The more obvious the surface where we see it as slate. large flowers are either male or female and so must be cross-fertilized (polli- We turned onto the red trail and went steeply nated) by an insect or a bee. This is downhill, past the sign warning mountain desirable from the standpoint of genetic bikers about the steep descent, and finally the diversity at the expense of ensuring that trail flattened out again and we ambled back the species survives. The jewelweed to the parking area. therefore has smaller secondary flowers that are self fertilizing. They look like There are many varieties of wildlife in the small green buds on the stem. Park. Today we saw chipmunks, squirrels, and deer but no bears or coyotes or snakes. The juice of the jewelweed is said to be And we heard songbirds but didn’t see any of effective at reducing the effects of poi- the birds of prey. We didn’t see many people son ivy if applied soon enough after or mountain bikes either. It was peaceful in exposure. ❏ the forest, and we were fortunate to have it —William Needham pretty much to ourselves. ❏ Visit the Hiker’s Notebook Web site at: Hiking up the switchback toward the —Pat Fuhrer, K9 Trailblazers Dog Hiking Club mwrop.org/W_Needham/h_notebook.html. overlook$ http://www.k9trailblazers.org

Potomac Appalachian – October %'' ; FORECAST

Chapters Charlottesville Chapter Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter climbers. For further information contact Andy The Charlottesville Chapter hikes every Saturday; Please refer to our Web site at www.ssvc.org or the Britton, ([email protected]) 703/622-1920, or summer, winter, and in between. Hikes are usually 8 one linked to the PATC Web site for descriptions of ([email protected]). to 10 miles. We usually maintain trails on the last hikes and work trips. We usually hike in the south- Saturday of the month. Meet at Sprint parking lot, ern and central districts of the SNP and in the PATC Hikes 2307 Hydraulic Road, at 9 a.m., with food and water GWNF. Contact the listed hike leader for informa- PATC offers organized hikes appealing to the for the day. The majority of hikes are in the southern tion about a specific event, or contact Michael diverse interests of our members. There are K-9 and central districts of Shenandoah National Park, Seth 540/438-1301 for more information. Hikes, which invite you to bring your favorite dog; with some in the north district and in George Family Hikes tailored to kids; Natural History Hikes Washington National Forest. Our Chapter hikes are West Virginia Chapter stalking the fascinating but often elusive flora and posted at www.patc.net/chapters/ char/hikes.html. Chapter meetings at Highacre are on the second fauna of the region; hikes featuring varying levels of INFO: Jere Bidwell 434/295-2143 or John Shannon Wednesday of Feb., Apr., Jun., Aug., Oct., and Dec. difficulty with the Easy Hikers, In-Between Hikers, 434/293-2953. See Forecast for upcoming activities. For informa- and Vigorous Hikers; Birding Hikes with experts to tion about the chapter or to receive the newsletter, help sight and identify our avian neighbors; North Chapter contact Judy Smoot 540/667-2036 or e-mail Historical Hikes tracking little-known structures in The North Chapter of PATC conducts monthly trail [email protected]. Shenandoah National Park; Series Hikes tracing the work trips on the Maryland and Pennsylvania sec- entire length of the Tuscarora Trail or the trails of tions of the AT and on the Pennsylvania sections of Ski Touring Section Pennsylvania section by section; Backpacking Hikes the Tuscarora Trail. We also lead hikes on these and The Ski Touring Section has served since 1974 to traversing the tracts of West Virginia and Southern other trails. Maryland AT work trips are generally held introduce Washington area residents to cross- Virginia; hikes scheduled for weekends; ones on the first and third Saturdays – contact Mark country skiing and to provide cross-country skiing scheduled for weekdays; Geology Hikes led by Mitchell ([email protected]) 301/461-7048 for opportunities to experienced skiers. The Section experts from the Smithsonian focused on the information. Pennsylvania work trips are generally sponsors winter weekend ski trips for all levels of unique stratigraphy of our area; Mushroom Hikes held on the AT on the first Saturday and on the skiers to nearby mountains in Maryland, West with mycologists; Waterfall Hikes to beat the sum- Tuscarora on the third Saturday – contact Pete Brown Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well as periodic mer heat; and Outreach Hikes to get together with ([email protected]) 410/343-1140. social events year round. INFO: Steve Brickel the members of area groups like the Sierra Club or Pennsylvania AT work trips also include an optional 301/946-2520 or [email protected]. the Congressional Hikers. Just to name a few. Check Saturday night stay at the Gypsy Spring cabin. For out the Forecast calendar and hear updates on the Mountaineering Section information on upcoming hikes, contact Chris Firme weekly tape (703/242-0965). We’re a diverse group of local Washington, DC area ([email protected]) 717/794-2855. For general climbers. Young and old, male and female, crag rat, chapter information, contact chapter president Pete Other Clubs’ Hikes sport climber, and alpinist, active and armchair Brown or visit the North Chapter home page: Capital (www.capitalhikingclub.org) and types – we all enjoy climbing in its many varieties. www.patc.net/chapters/north/. Wanderbirds hike on Sundays, traveling by bus and We also share common interests in promoting safe leaving from downtown, with suburban stops as Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter climbing, conserving the outdoors, developing new well. Center Club, Northern Virginia Hiking Club and The Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter sponsors climbers’ skills, representing the Washington area Sierra Club hike on both Saturdays and Sundays hikes in national and state parks and forests in the climbing community, and having fun! We provide using carpools, which often leave from a suburban Shenandoah Valley vicinity, open to the public, on instruction for those wanting to learn the basics – Metro stop. Schedules are available at PATC a monthly basis except during the winter. Hikes are we’re not a school, but we can get you started. We Headquarters and are published in area newspa- posted in the Forecast. Other activities are in the go climbing, either locally or further afield, nearly pers on Fridays. The schedule of West Virginia NSV Chapter Newsletter. For further information every weekend. In the winter we organize trips to Highland Conservancy outings in the Monongahela contact Lee Sheaffer, ([email protected]) the Ice Festivals in the Adirondacks and the White National Forest and surrounding areas is on their 540/955-0736. Mountains for beginning and advanced ice web site at www.wvhighlands.org.

KEY to Forecast Activities Meetings All events are marked for easy identification. Meetings PATC Council – Second Tuesday Late changes or cancellations are listed on the Meetings are held at PATC HQ, 118 Park Street, S.E., 7:00 p.m. sharp. The PATC Council meets weekly information tape (703/242-0965), Vienna, VA unless otherwise noted. every month to conduct business of the Club which is updated on Sunday evening for the and once a year for a Dinner meeting. All following seven days. The Forecast can also be New Members (PATC) – First Wednesday members are welcome. Come see how we found on PATC’s Web site at 7:30 p.m. Curious about the Club? Want to learn make decisions about your Club. INFO: Wilson www.patc.net/activities/forecast.html. more? The best way is to attend a New Members Riley ([email protected]) 703/242-0693 x11. ` meeting (but you don’t have to be new to qualify). Hiking Trips Attend the meeting and find the mysteries of PATC ~ Backpacking Trips revealed in full. Refreshments will be served. Trail Patrol – First Tuesday . Directions to PATC: Take Rt. 23 into Vienna, Va. and 7:30 p.m. Trail Patrol volunteers are PATC’s good- Trail Work Trips turn east on Park St. (Rt.675) to 118 Park St. on your will trail ambassadors to the hiking public. They i Cabin/Shelter Work Trips left. INFO: Jane Thompson 301/565-6704 x208. provide a visible, reassuring presence on the s trails, educating the public on good hiking prac- Special Events Mountaineering Section – Second Wednesday tices, minimum impact hiking, and camping \ Meetings 8:00 p.m. – We meet every ethics. Patrol members are trained in land naviga- month unless noted in the Forecast. INFO: tion, emergency procedures, radio communica- a Classes Mack Muir ([email protected]) tions, and personal equipment. All patrol volun- 703/960-1697 or PATC’s Web site: z K9 Trail Blazers (dogs permitted) teers are also expected to become certified in a www.patc.net/chapters/mtn_sect. recognized basic first aid course. Some equip- Note to all hike leaders: Please ask non- ment and uniform items are provided upon com- members on your hike if they would like to Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group join PATC, then get names and addresses Business meeting – Last Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. INFO: pletion of training. INFO: Kumait Jawdat 202/328- so a Club volunteer can send them infor- Zeb Whitaker ([email protected]) 703/255- 8137 or see our section in PATC’s Web site: mation packets. Thanks! 5034, then press #5. www.patc.net/volunteer/trailpatrol.

,' October %'' – Potomac Appalachian FORECAST

4 (Saturday) gloves. INFO: Georgeann Smale (gsmale99@ OCTOBER . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Crew yahoo.com) 301/581-9584. 1 (Wednesday) Rock Creek Park, DC 5 (Sunday) DEADLINE - November Potomac Appalachian 8:15 a.m. to noon .The end of the work-trip season . TRAIL WORK TRIP - WV Chapter Material due to Editors is drawing near. Get in a trip before it’s too late. Gambrill State Park, VA 5:00 p.m. All items for the next issue of the newslet- Meet at the Rock Creek Nature Center. INFO: Mark Continuation of ongoing trail maintenance on the ter due. Send Forecast events to PA- Anderson ([email protected]) or 202/462-7718 Black Locust trail. Meet at the Nature Center at 10:00 [email protected] and all other articles to or Ranger Ken Ferebee 202/895-6221. a.m. INFO: Dave Jordahl (dave.jordahl@ [email protected]. NOTE: Do not send photos or articles askdep.com) 301/834-7729. to headquarters. E-mail for address. 4 (Saturday) . TRAIL WORK TRIP - South Mountaineers 7 (Tuesday) 1 (Wednesday) ` a Appalachian Trail, MD HIKE - Family Hike CLASS - Meet Ed Viesturs, REI The colors are starting to change in western Fairfax, VA Fairfax, VA Maryland. Get away from the city for a day of work, Come join us for a 2-3 mile, kid-friendly hike in Tour & Book Signing with Ed Viesturs. 7:00 p.m. comradeship, and peace in the woods. INFO: Mark Fairfax. We will meet at Van Dyck Park, which has a Come visit REI’s new Fairfax store on Wednesday, Mitchell ([email protected]) 301/461-7048. farmer’s market and a wonderful playground with a Oct. 1, at 7:00 p.m., for a special presentation by big sandbox. Come early if you want to shop at the Ed Viesturs, America’s leading high-altitude moun- 4 (Saturday) farmer’s market, which is open from 8:00 a.m. - taineer. Ed is the only American, and one of only a . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Yankee Clippers 12:00 p.m.. We will cross Old Lee Highway and handful of climbers internationally, to stand atop 13 Appalachian Trail, PA head to Daniels Run Park. The trails are stroller-pass- of the world’s 14 8000-meter peaks. Ed climbs Meet at US 30 and PA 233 at the parking lot of able, paved and crushed stone. We will picnic at without the use of supplemental oxygen, adding to . Departure 9:00 a.m. sharp. Van Dyck Park after the hike. INFO: Lauren Lang the mental and physical difficulty of his climbs. Ed INFO: Pete Brown ([email protected]) ([email protected]) 703/631-9278. will be showing stunning photography from his 410/343-1140. climbing career as well as phenomenal new pic- 7 (Tuesday) tures from his recent summits of Nanga Parbat and 4 (Saturday) \ MEETING - Trail Patrol, 7:30 p.m. Broad Peak. He will also be signing his new book, sSPECIAL EVENT - Annual Display Himalayan Quest. Tickets are available at the REI Frederick, MD 8 (Wednesday) Fairfax store, 703/266-7655, beginning Friday, Sept. In the Streets Festival, an annual event in Frederick, ` HIKE - Easy Hikers 12, for $5. Ticket proceeds will be donated to the the first Saturday in October. The West Virginia Blockhouse Point, MD Central Asia Institute, a non-profit group supporting Chapter will have a display in front of the Trail We will do a circuit hike of about 4 miles. Bring community-based programs in education, House. Volunteers are needed to assist with man- lunch and water. Meet at 10:15 a.m. at the River women?s empowerment, public health, and con- ning the display. INFO: Dave Jordahl (dave.jor- Road parking lot about 2 miles beyond Pennyfield servation in remote regions of Central Asia. INFO: [email protected]) 301/834-7729. Lock on the right. INFO: Carol Niedzialek Mark Nelson ([email protected]) 703/379-9400. ([email protected]) 301/949-9729. 4-5 (Saturday - Sunday) 1 (Wednesday) a CLASS – LNT Trainers Course 8 (Wednesday) ` HIKE - Easy Hikers Shenandoah National Park, VA \MEETING - Mountaineering Section, 8:00 p.m. National Arboretum, DC PATC headquarters and SNP Leave No Trace (LNT) The Easy Hikers will hike about four easy miles Trainers Course will be held in a two part series. The 8 (Wednesday) through the Arboretum. Meet at 10:15 a.m. at the class room instruction (introduction and planning) \ MEETING - West Virginia Chapter, 7:00 p.m. main parking lot immediately inside the R Street will be held Monday evening 7:15- 9:45 PM. The Highacre Cabin, Harpers Ferry, VA entrance. Bring lunch and water. Directions: Take the field experience will be a backpacking trip in the Baltimore-Washington Parkway south from the SNP. Instructors will be LNT Masters from Trail Patrol. 9 (Thursday) Beltway. At the split with I-295, bear right on New The goal will be to enhance LNT skills and ethics a CLASS - Backpacking 202 York Avenue toward Washington. Continue 2 miles and to gain confidence in teaching LNT to others. Vienna, VA to Bladensburg Road, a major intersection. Turn left Pre-registration required, space is limited. INFO: 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This is the final group plan- and go 0.4 miles on Bladensburg Road to R Street, Anniell Miller ([email protected]) 703/250-8113 ning meeting for the Columbus Day weekend back- NE. Turn left and go 0.3 miles to the Arboretum (before 11:00 p.m.) packing trip. Pre-registration is required. INFO: Alex entrance gate. INFO: Nancie Coan Lampros [email protected]) 703/719-7846 evenings ([email protected]) 202/338-4580. 5 (Sunday) 7:30-9:30, weekends until 9:30 p.m. z HIKE - K9 Trailblazers 1 (Wednesday) Potomac, MD 9 (Thursday) \ MEETING - New Members (PATC), 7:30 p.m. Pennyfield Lock, C&O Canal. We’ll hike at a mod- ` HIKE - In-between Hikers erate pace for 8 miles along and near the scenic Clarksburg, MD 2 (Thursday) and historic C & O Canal and in the surrounding Little Bennett Regional Park. Joint hike with Sierra a CLASS - Backpacking 202 woods. The hike will take us over hilly and some- Club, MWROP. A moderate/fast 9-mile hike, over Vienna, VA times rocky terrain as we pass horse farms and varied, rolling terrain. Directions: I-495 to I-270 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This is the second of three climb up to the Blockhouse Point to eat lunch North, exit at Exit 18, Clarksburg Rd (MD 121). Go group planning meetings for the Columbus Day while enjoying fantastic views of the Potomac right (east) onto Clarksburg Rd., and continue on weekend backpacking trip. Pre-registration is (elevation change of ~200 ft). This is a joint hike this road approximately 2.3 miles (crossing Rt. 355) required. INFO: Alex Lampros [email protected]) with K9 Trailblazers so well behaved dogs are to a small parking lot on the right. Start at 10:00 a.m., 703/719-7846 evenings 7:30-9:30, weekends until welcome as long as you keep them on leash and no pets. Bring water/lunch. INFO: Henri Comeau 9:30; [between Aug. 23 and Sept. 6, contact John scoop after them. Maps, chocolate, and dog bis- ([email protected]) 703/451-7965; Marjorie Browne ([email protected]) 703/425-5645]. cuits provided at the trailhead. Bring snacks, and Richman ([email protected]). water for you and your dog. Visit www.k9trail- 2 - 6 (Thursday - Monday) blazers.org for more details. INFO: Pat Fuhrer 11 (Saturday) . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew ([email protected]) 301/482-2468 or ` HIKE - Historic Hike Appalachian Trail, VA Jeff Bolognese ([email protected]) Appalachian Trail, VA The Mid-Atlantic Trail Crew will be spending five 410/247-4434. Hike VIII-Washington Monument/Lambs Knoll sec- days rebuilding an eroded section of the AT in the tion I-70/Rte 40 to Crampton Gap/Gathland State Roller Coaster area. We will be building rock steps, 5 (Sunday) Park. 12.3 miles, difficult, elevation change 800 ft. water bars, check dams, and some cribbing. This is . TRAIL WORK TRIP - C&O Canal This section has the first monument built in honor of a great opportunity to learn how the experts do this Potomac, MD George Washington our first president. We will also type of work. The crew will be based at the Join us for a half-day work trip at the C&O Canal that climb around Lambs Knoll with a view to the east of Blackburn Trail Center during their stay. Come for a will leave you time for an afternoon hike or bike ride the with the little town of day or two, or all week. INFO: Chris Brunton (trail- on the towpath. Meet at the Great Falls Tavern Burkittsville to the southeast. We will hike south to [email protected]) 703/560-8070. Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. Bring water and work home of a famous Civil War cor-

Potomac Appalachian – October %'' ,, FORECAST

respondent. Meet at 10:00 a.m. at the A.T. parking 15 (Wednesday) 18 (Saturday) lot along Rte 40. INFO: Christopher Firme (bnc- a CLASS - Explore Patagonia, REI . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Yankee Clippers [email protected]) 717/794-2855. Bailey’s Crossroads, VA Tuscarora Trail, PA 7:30 p.m. The roads begin to fall apart south of For meeting place and other details, INFO: Pete 11 (Saturday) Punta Arenas on the way to Paine National Park. Brown ([email protected]) 410/343- . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Fall Maintenance From Torres del Paine to Greys Lake the scale 1140. Massanutten, VA and grandeur make the rest of the world seem Massanutten West. Fall Maintenance of trail clearing ordinary. The wildlife is also unique: large 18 - 19 (Saturday - Sunday) blowdowns, brush, and erosion control. Overnight at Megallanic Woodpeckers, penguins, nandu and ~ BACKPACKING TRIP - Fall Outing Glass House. Community meals. INFO: David guanacos. Glacial-fed lakes with icebergs and George Washington National Forest, VA Reifsnyder ([email protected]) 410/586-8468. spectacular waterfalls are bordered by wild- Come join us for the fall colors and cool tempera- flowers and stunted, windblown forests. tures in the GWNF. Will average 8-9 miles per day on 11 - 12 (Saturday - Sunday) moderate terrain. Exact location dependent on s Nestled in this immense landscape are hoste- SPECIAL EVENT - PATC Annual Pig Roast rias, small hotels noted for beautiful gardens weather and group size. INFO: John Koutze Round Hill, VA and excellent cuisine. This is Chilean Patagonia, 703/846-9207. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of this delightful a world apart. Join local adventurer, Marjorie event. The Blackburn Trail center is the site for this Richman, for an evening?s trek, and find out 18 - 19 (Saturday - Sunday) family fun weekend. INFO: Chris Brunton (trailboss- a CLASS - Wilderness First Aid, WSC how you too can explore Patagonia with REI [email protected]) 703/560-8070. Alexandria, VA Adventures. INFO: Mark Nelson A program of the Wilderness Safety Council, this ([email protected]) 703/379-9400. 11 - 12 (Saturday - Sunday) eighteen-hour class includes classroom study, . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Cadillac Crew hands-on practice, and results in a two-year certifi- 15 (Wednesday) Stanardsville, VA ` cation. The cost is $140. Registration is limited to 25 Trail work/Clearing on Vining Tract near Stanardsville, HIKE - Easy Hikers people. REGISTRATION/INFO: Christopher Tate Va. An opportunity to see the arrival of Fall on , VA (http://wfa.net) 703/836-8905. Columbus Day weekend. The Crew will work on The Easy Hikers will hike 4-5 moderate miles. Meet some of the tract trails and possibly reopen some at 10:15 a.m. at the visitors center. Bring lunch and 19 (Sunday) trails since PATC recently acquired an additional 70 water. To reach the park, exit the Beltway at Exit 13 ` HIKE - Series Hike acres for the tract. Bring water and a lunch for onto Georgetown Pike (VA 193). Go west 4.1 miles Laurel Highlands, PA Saturday noon. Community meals on Saturday din- to the intersection with Old Dominion Drive. Turn Trail in western Pennsylvania. Second section of this ner and Sunday meals. Overnight at Mutton Top right at light and continue 1.1 miles to the visitor set of series hikes. Maple Ridge summit to Route 643, Cabin. INFO: Trudy Thompson (going2home2@ center. INFO: Shirley Rettig 703/836-0147. approximately 12 miles. In conjunction with car yahoo.com) 703/938-3973 or Jon Rindt camping weekend at . INFO: Dave ([email protected]) 540/635-6351. 17 - 19 (Friday - Sunday) Jordahl ([email protected]) 301/834-7729. ` HIKE - Car Camping 11 - 12 (Saturday - Sunday) Ohiopyle State Park, PA 21 (Tuesday) . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Hoodlums Oktoberfest Canoeing and biking (Youghigheny River bike trail) is ` HIKE - Family Hike North District, Shenandoah National Park, VA also available. Falling Water, a summer home in the Great Falls, VA Note the date change to the SECOND weekend of forest designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is near the Scotts Run Nature Preserve. This three mile circuit this month. More details in next months Forecast. state park. Commence weekend with a 12 mile hike hike will take us down a wide gravel path along INFO/RSVP: George Walters (gjwalters@ on the Laurel Highlands hiking trail. Trip leader has a Scotts Run to a waterfall at the mouth of Scotts Run, starpower.net) 410/426-2724. campsite reserved and will reserve more as interest where it flows into the Potomac. Then we will fol- dictates. INFO: Dave Jordahl low a narrow, rugged hiking path along the Potomac 11 - 13 (Saturday - Monday) ([email protected]) 301/834-7729. for a while, then join another wide gravel path ~ BACKPACKING TRIP - Columbus Day which winds through the uplands, and back to the Weekend 18 (Saturday) parking lot. INFO: Lauren Lang ([email protected]) Location to be determined ` HIKE - Waterfall and Wild Flower Series 703/631-9278. Weekend Outing, three days, two nights. Pre-reg- Central District, Shenandoah National Park, VA istration is required. Applicants must know the The fifth hike of the Waterfall and Wild Flower Series 22 (Wednesday) basics and have some backpacking experience. will be a 10-mile circuit with a total elevation gain is a CLASS - Women’s Backpacking, REI Fee: $40.00 for PATC Members; $55.00 for non- 2500 feet. The Dry Run and Cedar and South River Bailey’s Crossroads, VA members. REGISTRATION/INFO: Alex Lampros: Falls will be visited. There will be less than two 7:30 p.m. Women’s Backpacking Clinic - Yes! ([email protected]) 703/719-7846 evenings 7:30 miles of bush whacking. PATC Map 10. INFO: Jack Women ought to experience the adventure of back- p.m. - 9:30 p.m., weekends until 9:30 p.m. Thorsen ([email protected]) 703/339-6716 or country travel, and on their own terms. Pack, cloth- William Needham ([email protected]) ing, boots and sleeping bags all now come in mod- 14 (Tuesday) 410/884-9127. els specifically designed by women to perform for ` HIKE - Family Hike, C&O Canal women. Join REI’s resident women’s outdoor Potomac, MD adventure specialists for an evening of eye-opening 18 (Saturday) Join us for a kid-friendly 3 miles along the Berma dialogue on gear, skills, destinations, nutrition, and . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Fall Frolic Road and the tow path along the Canal. This hike is training for enjoyable backcountry adventure. INFO: Appalachian Trail, MD jogging-stroller friendly most of the way, except for Mark Nelson ([email protected]) 703/379-9400. the bridge and stairs that cross the Canal and some Don’t miss the fall foliage, come out and join this rocks on the tow path. There is some great rock event for fun work getting dirty in the woods. 9:00 22 (Wednesday) scrambling for the kids along the way. We will have a.m. in Frederick County. INFO: Mark Mitchell ` HIKE - Easy Hikers a picnic lunch by the Potomac River at the end. ([email protected]) 301/461-7048. Scotts Run, VA INFO: Jennifer Chambers ([email protected]) 4-5 mile moderate hike over varied terrain. Meet at 301/588-1716. 18 (Saturday) 10:15 a.m. in the dirt parking area on the north side of . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Stonewall Brigade Georgetown Pike. From I-495, Exit 44, go west on VA 14 (Tuesday) Shenandoah County, VA 193 (Georgetown Pike) 0.5 miles to Swinks Mill and ` HIKE - Vigorous Hikers Great North Mountain on the VA/WV state line. Join turn right into lot. Bring lunch and water. INFO: Mitchell Massanutten Mountain, VA the Stonewall Brigade at the Wolf Gap campground Helbrecht ([email protected]) 703/535-3236. Massanutten Loop Trail between Woodstock Gap parking lot at 9:00 am. We will get tools at the and Edinburg Gap and on Green Mountain Trail. campground and work on a trail in the nearby area. 24 - 25 (Friday - Saturday) About 14 miles and 2300 feet elevation gain. INFO: We may leave the parking area so, please, be on sSPECIAL EVENT - Retreat; Glass House Jack Thorsen ([email protected]) 704339-6716. time. Let me know by Wednesday evening if you Fort Valley, VA plan to attend. Bring lunch, work gloves, water, sea- Join the Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter for a 14 (Tuesday) sonal clothing, and hiking shoes. RSVP/INFO: Hop fall retreat at Glass House with a Pot Luck Dinner \ MEETING - PATC Council, 7:00 p.m. Long ([email protected]) 301/942-6177. Friday night, a hike and a dinner in a nearby restau-

,% October %'' – Potomac Appalachian FORECAST

rant Saturday night. Enjoy cool evenings and warm 28 (Tuesday) cross-country ski trips, renew / join your STS and company. INFO: Lee Sheaffer (thumper@ \ MEETING - Shenandoah Mountain Rescue PATC memberships, and attend trip presentations visuallink.com) 540/955-0736. Group (Business meeting), 7:30 p.m. and workshops. Everyone’s welcome. Plan your ski season, meet the members, and have a great time. 25 (Saturday) 29 (Wednesday) INFO: contact Bert Finkelstein ([email protected]) or a CLASS - Antarctica, REI z HIKE - K9 Trailblazers visit the PATC Ski Touring Section web site. Bailey’s Crossroads, VA Greenbelt, MD 7:30 p.m. Antarctica! Amundsen, Scott, Nansen, . This will be a hike at a moderate 1 (Saturday) Shackleton and Byrd: They all journeyed to the bot- pace for a 6-mile loop through the woods of . TRAIL WORK TRIP - South Mountaineers tom of the Earth for honor, glory, exploration and Greenbelt Park. We’ll enjoy the fall foliage on gently Appalachian Trail, MD science. And while much of the rest of the world The air is getting crisp, come out and enjoy the rolling trails (< 100 ft. elevation change) with a few had been mapped and explored for centuries, autumn colors. Work hard and get dirty like when stream crossings. This is a joint hike with K9 Antarctica was almost totally unknown less than 100 you were a kid. We meet at 9:00 a.m. in Frederick Trailblazers so well behaved dogs are welcome as years ago. Even today, with satellite navigation and County. INFO: Mark Mitchell, ([email protected]) long as you keep them on leash and scoop after communications and reliable air travel, weather rou- 301/461-7048. them. Maps, chocolate, and dog biscuits provided tinely renders travel impossible. Join adventurer at the trailhead. Bring snacks, and water for you and and medical missionary Glenn Geelhoed for an your dog. Visit www.k9trailblazers.org for more evening’s exploration of the bottom of the Earth! 1 (Saturday) details. INFO: Pat Fuhrer . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Yankee Clippers ([email protected]) 301/482-2468 or Jeff 29 (Wednesday) Appalachian Trail, PA Bolognese ([email protected]) ` HIKE – Easy Hikers Meet at US 30 and PA 233 at the parking lot of 410/247-4434. Lake Accotink, VA Caledonia State Park. Departure time is 9:00 a.m. The Easy Hikers will hike a mostly level five mile cir- sharp. INFO: Pete Brown (peter.brown4@world- 25 (Saturday) cuit hike around Lake Accotink. Meet at the net.att.net) 410/343-1140. ` HIKE - West Virginia Chapter Wakefield Park Recreation Center at 10:15 a.m. Bring Wardensville, WV lunch and water. Directions to Wakefield Center: 1 - 2 (Saturday - Sunday) County Line Trail. Hope for some fall leaf color on Leave the Beltway (495) at Exit 54A (Braddock a CLASS - Land Navigation, REI this moderate 8 mile ridge hike. Start on Route 55 at Road). Go West on Braddock and turn right at the Bailey’s Crossroads, VA the VA/WV State line and hike to Waites Run outside second light into Wakefield Park. Follow the park 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Prince William Forest Park This of Wardensville, WV. INFO: Judy Smoot road to the last parking lot (second lot on left) in comprehensive two-day course teaches all skills ([email protected]) 540/667-2036. front of the Recreation Center. INFO: Bill Burnett necessary to use map and compass in an integrated ([email protected] or 703/569-2154. land navigation system. The first day is spent in 25 (Saturday) intensive classroom exercises concentrating on . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Rock Creek Park Crew topographic map reading and interpretation, posi- Rock Creek Park, DC November tion plotting, compass fundamentals, declination 8:15 a.m. to noon. We are having a picnic as a thanks and azimuth. The second day is spent in Prince to our volunteers and to celebrate the end of anoth- 1 (Saturday) William Forest Park, primarily off-trail, engaging in er work season. Contact Mark Anderson to see what DEADLINE - December Potomac Appalachian practical navigation exercises of increasing com- you can bring. Meet at the Rock Creek Nature Center. Material Due to Editor plexity. The course fee is $85 and includes work- INFO: Mark Anderson ([email protected]) 5:00 p.m. All items for the next issue of the newslet- book text, course materials, compass, map, grid 202/462-7718 or Ranger Ken Ferebee 202/895-6221. ter due. Send Forecast events to PA- reader, and lunch on Saturday. INFO: Mark Nelson [email protected] and all other articles to ([email protected]) 703/379-9400. 25 - 26 (Saturday - Sunday) [email protected]. . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Cadillac Crew 2 (Sunday) Shenandoah National Park, VA 1 (Saturday) . TRAIL WORK TRIP - WV Chapter The Crew hopes to complete a new connector trail sSPECIAL EVENT - Ski Fair Gambrill State Park, VA from Tulip Tree Cabin to the SNP Crusher Ridge trail- Vienna, VA Continuation of ongoing trail maintenance on the head. Tulip Tree Cabin, being built only with hand It’s time to think snow! The Ski Touring Section (STS) Black Locust Trail. Meet at the Nature Center at 10:00 tools, will hopefully enter the rental system this year. opens this year’s ski season with their annual ski fair. a.m. Dave Jordahl ([email protected]) Bring water and a lunch for Saturday noon. The fair will be at the PATC headquarters on 301/834-7729. Community dinner on Saturday night. Overnight at Saturday, Nov. 1, from noon to 5:00. Signup for Tulip Tree Cabin. INFO: Trudy Thompson 4 (Tuesday) ([email protected]) 703/938-3973 or Jon ` HIKE - Family Hike Rindt ([email protected]) 540/635-6351. Rosslyn, VA Theodore Roosevelt Island. Join us for a regular- 26 (Sunday) stroller-passable, jogging-stroller friendly hike ` HIKE - Historic and Scenic Appalachian Trail, MD around this beautiful island. We will hike about 2 Moderate 12 mile hike on the A.T. in Maryland. We miles around the perimeter trail and have lunch at will start at Route 40 and continue south through the monument. INFO: Lauren Lang (at94L@netze- Washington Monument State Park, past the Dahlgren ro.net) 703/631-9278. Chapel, up and over Lamb’s Knoll and finish at his- \4 (Tuesday) torical Gathland State Park. Lots of scenery and his- MEETING - Trail Patrol, 7:30 p.m. tory will be seen! This hike will require cars to be 5 (Wednesday) placed at either end of our hike, so please be will- ` ing to help drive. INFO: Vince Ferrari HIKE - Easy Hikers ([email protected]) 301/249-2210. Chevy Chase, MD Old and New Crescent Trail. About 5 easy flat miles 28 (Tuesday) from Chevy Chase through Rock Creek Park to Silver ` HIKE - Family Hike Spring, returning via the new railroad trestle above Rock McLean, VA Creek. Meet at 10:15 a.m. at the Chevy Chase Public Trail, part of the Fairfax . Library parking lot, 8005 Connecticut Ave, just North of Come join us for a 4-mile, out and back hike begin- East West Highway across the Street from the Hyatt ning near Colvin Run Mill. The trail winds along Difficult Classic Residence. We’ll eat lunch at Einstein’s Bagel Run, through the woods. We will picnic at an open Shop after the hike - you can buy or bring your own. meadow at the halfway point. The trail is jogging- INFO: Renee Schick ([email protected]) 301/493-9525. stroller passable. It may be a little muddy. Designed for the under-5 crowd, all ages welcome. INFO: 5 (Wednesday) Lauren Lang ([email protected]) 703/631-9278. \ MEETING - New Members (PATC), 7:30 p.m.

Potomac Appalachian – October %'' , FORECAST

15 (Saturday) 6 (Thursday) . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Stonewall Brigade ` HIKE - In-between Hike Great North Mountain, VA/WV Great Falls, MD. State line. Join the Stonewall Brigade at the Wolf 9 mile hike over varied terrain to include Goldmine, Gap campground parking lot at 9:00 a.m. We will River and Billy Goat Trails. Meet at 10:00 a.m. in the get tools there and work in a nearby area. Plans may parking lot across from Old Anglers Inn. INFO: Nena change so let me know by Wednesday evening the Ewing 301/652-9147 before 10:00 p.m. week before. RSVP/INFO: Hop Long ([email protected]) 301/942-6177. \8 (Saturday) 15 (Saturday) MEETING - North Chapter . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Yankee Clippers Thurmont, MD Tuscarora Trail, PA Fall meeting at Catoctin Cottage, 9:30 a.m. INFO Pete INFO: Pete Brown ([email protected]) Brown ([email protected]) 410/343-1140. 410/343-1140. 15 (Saturday) 8 (Saturday) 19 (Wednesday) z . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Rock Creek Park Crew HIKE - K9 Trailblazers ` HIKE - Easy Hikers Rock Creek Park, DC Brandywine, MD C&O Canal, DC 8:15 a.m. to noon. This is the bonus work trip you . We’ll hike at a moderate Old Angler’s Inn to Carderock. About 5 easy flat probably thought would never happen. Join us for pace for 6+ miles enjoying the natural and human miles. Meet at 10:15 a.m. at the parking lot across a rare November work trip that was triggered by the history of Cedarville State Forest. We’ll travel on from Old Angler’s Inn on McArthur Boulevard. Take rainy spring. Meet at the Rock Creek Nature Center. wooded trails and forest roads with a few stream Carderock exit from Beltway, go to the end of the INFO: Mark Anderson ([email protected]) crossings on wooden bridges. This is a joint hike Parkway, turn left on McArthur Boulevard to Old Angler’s Inn. The Inn is on the right, use the parking 202/462-7718 or Ranger Ken Ferebee 202/895-6221. with K9Trailblazers so well behaved dogs are wel- lot on the left. Bring water and lunch on Potomac 8 - 9 (Saturday - Sunday) come as long as you keep them on leash and scoop after the hike. INFO: Bob Williams 301/493-4449. . TRAIL WORK TRIP - Cadillac Crew after them. Maps, chocolate, and dog biscuits pro- North District, Shenandoah National Park, VA vided at the trailhead. Bring snacks, and water for you and your dog. Visit http://www.k9trailblaz- 22 (Saturday) The leaves should still have color as the Crew repairs . TRAIL WORK TRIP - South Mountaineers ers.org. INFO: Pat Fuhrer tread and installs erosion control devices on the AT Appalachian Trail, MD and side trails in the Shenandoah National Park ([email protected]) 301/482-2468 or Jeff Some of the most fun you will ever have being a North District. Bring water and a lunch for Saturday Bolognese ([email protected]) volunteer. INFO: Mark Mitchell noon. Community dinner on Saturday night and 410/247-4434. ([email protected]) 301/461-7048. Sunday breakfast. Overnight at Rindt’s house out- side Front Royal. INFO: Trudy Thompson 15 (Saturday) 25 (Tuesday) ([email protected]) 703/938-3973 or Jon ` HIKE - Natural History Cultural Hike \ MEETING - Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Rindt ([email protected]) 540/635-6351. Central District, Shenandoah National Park, VA Group (Business meeting), 7:30 p.m. Len Wheat leads us on another unique bushwhack 26 (Wednesday) 11 (Tuesday) to find homesites in the Park. This time, we’ll hike ` sSPECIAL EVENT - PATC Annual Meeting through the Haywood Mountain area, just east of HIKE - Easy Hikers Rock Creek Park, DC Vienna, VA Hawksbill Mountain. With Len as our leader, you can An easy to moderate approx. 4.5 mile, variable ter- The Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens is the site again be assured of an informative and entertaining hike. rain loop hike in the Northern Section of Rock Creek And, with Bob Pickett, you can be assured to learn this year for our Annual Meeting and dinner. This is Park in DC. Meet at 10:15 a.m. at the Nature Center a once-a-year opportunity to catch up on the Club something about the forests we hike through. Being parking lot off Glover Road in Rock Creek Park. Bring happenings for the year, meet fellow members, and a bushwhacking adventure, this must be consid- lunch and water. Hiking boots recommended. No be entertained as only a Trail Club knows how. ered a moderately-difficult hike, although the pets. INFO: Alec McRae ([email protected]) INFO: Pat Fankhauser ([email protected]) mileage may be only four or five miles. 202/686-1788. ❏ 703/242-0315 x17. RSVP/INFO:Bob Pickett 301/681-1511.

12 (Wednesday) \MEETING - Mountaineering Section, 8:00 p.m. Bob from page : can be found year-round in the higher eleva- tions of West Virginia south to the Smokies.) 14 (Friday) other juveniles until spring. Lizards and the \MEETING - Northern Shen. Valley Chapter myriad of almost all other life forms will seek Winchester, VA the protective warmth of the deeper soil hori- October ranks second only to April in the num- Dinner and meeting at Gagriela’s Restaurant. The zons or rotting wood and be gone from sight ber of changes that can be observed in the natu- chapters semi-annual meeting will include a short ral world. April is when the forest awakens from meeting, a speaker, and a chance to get reacquaint- until next spring. ed with old and new friends. INFO: Lee Sheaffer its winter dormancy with an explosion of activi- ([email protected]) 540/955-0736. Aquatic red-spotted newts are developing ty. October is when it must finish its prepara- lungs and becoming the terrestrial red efts, tions for the oncoming winter season. While the 15 (Saturday) beginning of the month is still dominated by the ` HIKE - Appalachian Trail Hike IX while our native brook trout are spawning in Harpers Ferry, WV the cold mountain streams. Look for their green of the forests, insects singing, and wildlife Weverton Cliffs/Potomac section. Crampton shallow foot-wide concave excavations in busily preparing for winter, by the end of the Gap/Gathland State Park to Harpers Ferry, W.V. ATC sandier stream sections. And our month, the forest will have experienced its first headquarters-10.0 miles-moderate hike, elevation killing frosts. And, with it, the growing season of 900 ft. This section of the A.T. is relative flat on the Shenandoah National Park wintering birds ridge. After the view of the Potomac River from are back, including the northern junco, our forest community will have been complet- Weverton Cliffs we will descend off of the mountain brown creeper, winter wren, red-breasted ed, and the onset of the next season of scarcity onto the C&O canal towpath, which will take us to nuthatch, golden crowned kinglet, white- and pursuit of survival will be upon us. And it’s the railroad/footbridge to get us across the river into throated sparrow, American tree sparrow, all because of the reduced solar energy available Harpers Ferry.Meet at 10:00 a.m. at Gathland State Park parking lot. INFO: Christopher Firme hermit thrush, short-eared owl, and yellow- to fuel our ecosystem. ❏ ([email protected]). bellied sapsucker. (For clarity, the first five —Bob Pickett

,+ October %'' – Potomac Appalachian Volunteers – Appointed in August In Memoriam Trail Overseers George L. Robbins - PATC Honorary Member - January 2001 George was Overseer of 2.5 miles of Dickey Ridge Trail for 22 years, Abhay Bagul - Kennedy Peak Trail giving up his section in January 2002 at the age of 91. He received hon- to Camp Roosevelt orary membership in 2001 for his yeoman work in maintaining that trail. He was a very strong hiker, a regular with the Wanderbirds David Nebhut Elkwallow Trail Hiking Club and active with PATC’s Mid-Week Hikers. For his 90th Bill Setzer Riprap Trail – Skyline Drive to Cold birthday, he chose his favorite hike, the Dickey Ridge Trail, from the Spring hollow entrance station to the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, more than eight miles round trip and over 1,000 feet of ascent. On other PATC trips, John Seeberger Appalachian Trail - Lewis Mountain hikers have said they could always see George on top of the next rise Trail to Pocosin Fire Road waiting for others to catch up.

George was way ahead of everyone in other volunteer work, whether Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Trail Patrol taking people to dialysis treatments, shoveling snow on church Presents grounds, or his concern for youth. George was an inspiration to all for Leave No Trace Trainers Course his upbeat, cheerful attitude, his impressive career as USDA economist, and his kind, thoughtful, generous ways. Oct. 4 - 5, 2003 This weekend course is designed for those who want to learn more George joined PATC in March 1979 and was a member until the 1990s, about Leave No Trace (LNT) and to help others better understand their when his membership somehow lapsed. impact on the back/front country. You will have opportunities to learn more about the impact of your choices More than 25 members of PATC and the Wanderbirds attended a in the back/front country, to practice minimizing your impact, and to gain memorial service for George on Aug. 27. ❏ confidence in helping others practice LNT skills. —Carol Niedzialek, Mary Massey, Joan Cooper After completing the course you will be certified as an LNT trainer. It is our hope that you will be willing to give LNT presentations to communi- Elsie Kinsey - PATC Member June 1952 – February 2003 ty groups if your schedule permits. This course takes place in the SNP. We The many members who knew Elsie were very saddened to hear of her will be day-hiking, and you will have the option of staying in a car-acces- passing last February. Elsie started leading trips in 1957 and served on sible cabin at night. the Excursions Committee from March 1971 until she and her husband Fee: $30 (nonrefundable), For more information or to register moved to Florida in the late 1980s. Elsie was a charming person who (required), please e-mail Anniell Miller at [email protected] led PATC’s overseas trips for many years. She coordinated a large con- or call 703/250-8113 (before 11:00 p.m.). tingent of PATC members who connected with the Holiday Fellowship for their week-long hiking trips in Great Britain and on the Continent, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Trail Patrol introducing many members to hiking in faraway places. Elsie picked presents really good trips of wonderfully memorable places and challenges that will long be remembered. ❏ BACKPACKING 202 —Carol Niedzialek How to Plan and Enjoy a Backcountry Outing An Intermediate Course Focused On Planning Small-Group Trips Working in groups of eight or fewer, participants have the opportuni- ty to expand or renew their skills by planning and executing a three- day group backpacking trip. The course covers equipment selection and use, route planning, food planning, safety and comfort in chal- Attention Federal Employees lenging conditions, and Leave No Trace (LNT) principles. PATC is participating again this year in Experienced instructors facilitate group planning sessions and accompany the weekend trip. the Combined Federal Campaign of the GROUP PLANNING SESSIONS: Three Thursday nights, 7:30-9:30: National Capital Area$ Please consider a Sep 25, Oct. 2, and Oct. 9, PATC Headquarters, 118 Park Street, SE, Vienna, Virginia donation to PATC$ Our %'' designation WEEKEND OUTING – LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED Three days, two nights: Columbus Day weekend, Oct. 11 - 13 number is .;2/$ FEE: $40.00 for PATC Members; $55.00 for non-members PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Applicants must know the The fund will be active through basics and have some backpacking experience. To receive a regis- December$ Thank you for your support tration form and for all other information, call or e-mail Alex Lampros: 703/719-7846 evenings 7:30-9:30, weekends until 9:30; E- and thanks to the members who con9 mail: [email protected]. Visit PATC Trail Patrol’s website: tributed via the CFC last year$ trailpatrol.patc.net ❏

Potomac Appalachian – October %'' ,2 NOTICES

NEW NOTICES HELP NEEDED: CALLING ALL LAWYERS, ACCOUNTANTS AND TAX ATTORNEYS. Want to give something of FOR SALE WALRUS MICRO SWIFT SOLO TENT - Hello Kerry, value to the Club, but don’t want to swing a Used once. Tent, fly, poles, stakes, ground cloth, We want to inform members that Ruth is in Pulaski? Virginia has enacted a new law that per- straps for setting up fly-only shelter, stuff bags, need of a kidney replacement and effective this mits donors of conservation easements to sell the instructions. Great tent, extremely light and compact week she has been placed on the kidney tax credit and reap a substantial cash infusion. - but not for the claustrophobic (me). $90 ppd. replacement list at UVA and has begun testing. PATC owns property in Virginia that would be eli- Contact Bill at 302/636-1149 or [email protected]. Many of our friends at Blackburn will recall the gible for such a rebate. The Club needs you to kidney disease she contracted in 1990 which help write the proposals that would help the FOR SALE has brought us to this point. We are asking for Club save thousands of dollars. Contact: Phil FOUND-FLUORESCENT TUBE LANTERN - July 17, their thoughts and prayers. We are praying for a Paschall ([email protected]), or phone 2003 at Olive Green cabin. It is forest green and living donor and I have agreed to be donor if I black, has a remote control, and runs on four D- qualify. However, my blood doesn’t match so 540/882-3027. But hurry – before the State cell batterries. Mfr. appears to be GE/Eddie Bauer. we are exploring the possibility of locating changes its mind. Contact Bryan Bishop at 703/641-0300 or at another person in need of a kidney who also [email protected]. has a living donor and then affecting a living DONATIONS WANTED donor exchange between me and the other LAPTOP AND COMPUTER PROJECTOR NEEDED: FOR SALE: Quality one-man crosscut saws, donor. Thanks very much. PATC HQ needs a laptop computer and comput- sharpened and set for hardwoods. Includes sec- —Hal and Ruth er projector for presentations at conferences, ond handle and blade guard. Guaranteed to meetings, and community gatherings. Projection never run out of gas. Contact Dan Dueweke at Hal Washington, who along with his wife Ruth, at 1024 X 768 desired. If you work for a corpora- 703/266-3248 or [email protected] maintains the AT section from Swift Run Gap to tion which might make such a donation, contact the Saddleback Trail (and who also served as Wilson Riley ([email protected]). FOR SALE: Great opportunity to outfit yourself the caretaker of the Blackburn Trail Center), with like-new items at reasonable cost – asked me to pass along the above message. CONSERVATION OPPORTUNITIES Mountainsmith Frostfire III backpack, fits tall peo- —Kerry Snow DO YOU WANT TO BE A LANDOWNER along the ple well, 6037-7213 c.i. capacity; MSR AT? And have a home in the woods! Are you in a WhisperLIte Internat’l stove; Mountainsmith position to become a Conservation Buyer through Alouette dog pack for large dog; EMS down VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES the Appalachian Trail Conference Land Trust? Our sleeping bag rated to zero; Karhu x-c 215 cm. skis program matches conservation buyers – people w/150 cm. poles AND size 47 Heierling boots. SALES COMMITTEE VACANCY: A person like you – with people who are selling land along And for family activity: Kelty child carrier with with experience in Sales and Marketing is the AT. You locate your home or cabin out of sight sun/rain hood, small zip-off day pack and large sought to serve as chairman of the Sales from the Trail. All we ask is that you donate a con- capacity detachable day pack; Burly D'Lite bike Committee that oversees the pricing of servation easement on the rest of the property. A products and services including maps, pub- trailer for 2 children; Baby Jogger II stroller w/ sun conservation easement “runs with the land;” that lications, resale items, and cabin rentals, shade, rain cover, basket, folds flat. Will donate 10 is, no present or future owner can develop it! and, in collaboration with other appropriate AND, because an easement is an irrevocable gift percent of sale to PATC. Joy Imel, 703/642-8350, committees, recommends cost-effective 703/403-5206 or [email protected]. changes in procedures. Interested people of a property right, you get a nice income tax should send a resume to Wilson Riley, deduction equal to the value of the easement. HELP WANTED Director of Administration, at Contact Bob Williams, Director of Land Trust C&O CANAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK is [email protected] or fax it to 703/242-0968. Programs, at [email protected], or at seeking volunteers for the Williamsport Visitor FURNITURE UPHOLSTERER NEEDED: 304/535-6331, or write to P.O. Box 807, Harpers Center. This is an opportunity to share your knowl- Looking for an individual who can reuphol- Ferry, WV 25425. edge and enthusiasm for trails and the towpath, ster the settee and four chairs that belonged and to meet and greet visitors to the towpath. The to Katherine Fulkerson (PATC’s General TRAIL OVERSEER OPPORTUNITIES positions involve staffing the visitor center and Secretary in the 1930’s and donor of PATC OVERSEERS GET DISCOUNTS from the bookstore, and can include informal interpreta- Highacre). The furniture pieces are a won- following merchants who support our volun- tion. We are looking for people who can volunteer derful addition to the setting of Highacre, teer programs: Blue Ridge Mountain Sports as part of a regular schedule, even if it is only for but are in major disrepair. If interested, call (Charlottesville, Tidewater) – 20%, Hudson Trail Pat Fankhauser 703/242-0693, Ext. 17 or half a day a week. Please call Gloria Updyke, Outfitters (Metro DC) – 15%, The Trail House email [email protected]. 301/582-0813 or email [email protected]. (Frederick, Md.) – 15%, Casual Adventures DAYTIME AND EVENING CABIN (Arlington, Va.) – 10%, Campmor (mail order ENDOWMENT COMMITTEE VACANCY: A person RESERVATIONISTS NEEDED: Openings are avail- via PATC HQ) – 10%, and Weasel Creek Outfitters able to any individual who has a pretty good with experience in investing is sought to serve on in Front Royal – 10%. Check the back page of the attention to details, can work independently, and the PATC Endowment Committee. The Committee PA for the latest trail, cabin, and shelter work under pressure some seasons of the year. meets quarterly to review performance and the Daytime volunteers are needed on Thursday Overseer opportunities. All PATC members asset allocation of the PATC Endowment. afternoon between 12 noon and 2 p.m. Evening receive a 10% discount from Blue Ridge Interested people should send a resume to volunteers are needed to take one or two nights Mountain Sports. Be sure to have your member- Wilson Riley, Director of Administration, at per month. We Need You Now! Call Pat ship ID or Overseer ID ready when you shop. [email protected]. Fankhauser for interview at 703/242-0693 or e-mail, [email protected]. Notices are published free of charge for HELP WANTED: Help is needed for a new project CREW LEADER TO PLAN, ORGANIZE, and carry PATC members only. PATC cannot vouch at the Blackburn Trail Center. Work includes elec- out the assembly of a milled-log cabin kit. The for any of the advertised items. No com- trical, plumbing, drywall and painting. Volunteers cabin will be erected on PATC owned proper- mercial advertisement or personal notices may stay at the Center while working on this proj- ty near Shawneeland, WV. All materials are pre- unrelated to hiking will be accepted. ect and work may be done on weekends or dur- cut and the kit comes with full instructions. The Deadline for inclusion is the first day of the ing the week. We would like to get this project fin- construction site is in a heavily wooded area month preceding issuance of the newslet- ished as soon as possible. For info call Chris well up the mountain but is accessible by a dirt ter. Notices will be run for 3 months, at the Brunton at 703/560-8070 or e-mail at trailboss- road. INFO: Charlie Graf (410/ 757–6053) or e- discretion of the editor, unless we are oth- mail: [email protected]. [email protected] erwise advised. ❏

,/ October %'' – Potomac Appalachian Trailhead hey say the jet stream has been responsible for the cooler and wet- Tter-than-normal summer. One has to wonder what is in store for next year. One also wonders if the cool, wet spring has anything to do with the conspicuous absence of gypsy moths this year. However, this has been a good year for trail work with a lot of effort to control the weeds, and a number of improvements have been made to existing trails. The Entry Run Trail into SNP through the Per-Lee/West Tract should enter our trail system shortly. The addition of the Johnson prop- erty to the Vining Tract should open the way for new tract trails. ATPO has added the Ovoca Farms section to the AT corridor, which provides an opportunity to route the trail through open pastures with a great view of the Rte. 50 farmland to the east.

Overseers are reminded that Oct. 10 is the cutoff date for submission of this year’s volunteer hours to our partners. By the time you receive this issue of PA, you will just have a few days to send in your work- trip reports. Laundry day for the South District Shenandoah Trail Crew has not yet arrived although the requirement for one is obvious$ Dedicated Overseer Will be Missed hikers (and bikers and horsemen) to traverse this mess. Lee District On Aug. 19, former AT Overseer George Robbins (92) died in his Trails Manager Don Sawyer, Glenn, and Rick scoped the project out home. George had been Overseer for the 2.5-mile section from one snowy day in March and agreed that it should be done. Best of all, Rattlesnake Point to Little Hogback (over Hogback Mountain in the Don agreed to buy the materials (a huge amount of timbers and North District of Shenandoah) for more than 20 years. He had boards) and deliver them to the mountaintop site. The delivery was remained active as a Co-Overseer until hanging up his pick and the real task. There were two options – helicopter them in (discarded McLeod two years ago. An avid hiker with the Wednesday group, as because of the weight) or improve an old forest road enough to allow well as the Wanderbirds and others, he was a great guy and an inspira- a truck part way, followed by an ATV with trailer that would come in tion to talk to. He will be sorely missed. Thanks, George, for the dedi- the last quarter-mile. cation and example for the rest of us. May we carry on your legacy. Delivery of the materials was a story itself. Who knew we would Palatini’s Puncheon Party have the wettest year on record? After two weeks of heroic efforts, “The most fun you can have in the mud.” This summarizes Overseer though, the Forest Service had the materials (including 40 eight Glenn Palatini’s recent escapade – with 20 of his good PATC and Forest inch by eight inch by twelve feet long timbers which would serve as Service friends over a recent hot August weekend on top of Great North “mud sills”) on site. The Forest Service also provided all the hard- Mountain. How do you have a swamp on top of a mountain? Only ware and necessary tools. Mother Nature knows how – but hikers who have been to the intersec- tion of the Tuscarora and Half Moon trails know the reality. Regardless The stage was set for Glenn and the first contingent of PATC volun- of the year or season – it’s a muddy slog up on Glenn’s section. teers, who arrived early Saturday morning for the two-mile hike up to the work site. The site, normally boggy, was a sea of deep mud after So Glenn appealed to his District Manager Rick Rhoades and the all the Forest Service trips hauling in all those materials. Undaunted, Forest Service gods for money and support to build two sections of PATC volunteers and Forest Service workers waded into the mud, puncheon – that is a fancy word for boardwalk – that would allow lugging the 250-pound mud sills into place. On top of the mud sills went 4”x 6” 10-foot-long stringers (light by comparison), and on top of that 2”-thick decking. Since this is a National Forest multi-use trail, the puncheon plan was designed with heavy running boards and bull rails in order to carry horses.

Saturday night some of the crew departed. The rest – after a very refreshing stream bath – camped out at the site on nearby dry ground and enjoyed a chili dinner with all the trimmings and a selection of appropriate beverages. After we had finally “crashed” into bedrolls, we were visited by a large, curious deer, who stomped and snorted to let us know he did not appreciate our visit on his turf.

Sunday morning after coffee and breakfast it was back at it, with a fresh contingent of PATC volunteers arriving at 9:00 a.m. To everyone’s Planking for the Puncheon Project is being installed by Jim Photo by Jon Rindt “Jumbo” Norton Mark Allen and Sterling “Suds” Suddarth$ See Trailhead page ,:

Potomac Appalachian – October %'' ,. Trailhead from page ,. delight and in spite of a short rain shower, we finished “on time and on budget.” By 3:00 p.m. we began packing up all the equipment, and the Forest Service shuttled it out in four ATV and trailer trips. The final look back and hike down the mountain felt very good.

This was a great effort by PATC volunteers working directly with our Forest Service part- ners. As a result, hikers, bikers, and horses will pass easily across more than 200 feet of swamp for decades to come. Unless they stop to think about it, most will not appreciate the huge effort expended by this hardy crew. But those who were there will not soon forget this weekend of hard work and good fun. —Rick Rhoades Photo by Jon Rindt AT Corridor – Calf Mountain A %2'9pound mud sill is set in place for the Puncheon Project by (left to right) Forest After a slowdown for several years, work on Service’s Wade Bushong Danny Don Sawyer and PATC’s Rick Rhoades$ maintaining the balds on Calf Mountain saplings, a truck will take clearing machin- The Acme Treadway Co. has started flagging (SNP south district) resumed after Andy ery to the areas that are changing from the new trail and hopes to finalize the route in Willgruber became corridor Manager. In grass-covered to tree-covered. October. The trail will pass through some the late 1980s, PATC cleared the historic interesting natural scenery. Trail construction balds, but trees are creeping back. At the Tuscarora Access is planned for an April start, so look for work trips in the PA’s Forecast. end of July, with a group from the New access to the Tuscarora Trail through Charlottesville Chapter, he took the first the recently donated Biby property at steps to reclaiming the balds. The first step Shawnee Lands is beginning to take shape. Your Trail or Mine was clearing a road from Beagle Gap A couple of Overseers have reported encoun- When finished, the new trail will add an around the mountain up to the AT near ters with a not-too-friendly bear near the access point to a remote section of the Little Calf Mt., using a chainsaw and lop- Rockytop and Big Run Loop South Trails. pers. Then with a sketch and some guid- Tuscarora two miles north of the Pinnacle They made a rapid exit with no problems, but ance from Tom Lupp in June, assisted by Shelter for hikers and trail maintainers. it was obvious the bear did not appreciate John Shannon, he rediscovered and flagged Hikers will have an interesting hike to the their presence. an overgrown road from the AT to Little Pinnacle Shelter as well as the views from Calf Mountain summit. After this road is the Pinnacle Peak and the Rock Cave and Jamaican Hello liberated from briars, poison ivy, and Overlook Trail. The North District Hoodlums used their August “Jamaican” worktrip to build new waterbars and checkdams on the downhill stretch of AT just south of Jenkins Gap in SNP. John McCrea went out a week earlier, cut an ample supply of hearty locust logs for the crew, and laid them right alongside the trail. The crew installed and rebuilt many structures even while our forward advance was blocked by a momma bear with three cubs who claimed part of the AT as their own. (P.S.: And don’t ask Bernie about the locust tree from hell.) Afterwards, Jamaican cooks suddenly appeared and whipped up some jerk chicken and island chow for the crew. And Red Stripe?... Noooo problem, mon!

Sugarloaf Mountain – Northern Peaks West Trail

Photo by Kathy Doyle On July 12, the Single Volunteers of D.C. Group of Single Volunteers of D$C$ provide heavy9duty trail9maintenance help for (SVDC) came through again to help main- Overseer Kathy Doyle on Sugarloaf’s Northern Peaks West Trail$ See Trailhead page ,;

,: October %'' – Potomac Appalachian Trailhead from page ,: tain a section of the Northern Peaks West Trail on Sugarloaf Mountain in Maryland. This is the second time SVDC has helped with the trail. In January’s 35 degree weather, 16 volunteers helped clear the many blowdowns on the West section of the trail. Stephanie Allgaier, the team leader for the July work trip, organized 14 volunteers, who performed such tasks as painting blazes, clipping bushes, removing blowdowns, stripping bark, and cleaning out waterbars and checkdams. Everyone was enthusiastic and seemed to have a good time while working on the trail. Several volunteers enjoyed the work so much that they suggested organizing a fall work trip!

And, on Aug. 9, Jason Cook and his fellow Boy Scouts from Troop 941 in Olney, Md., constructed 10 waterbars and checkdams on the Photo by Kathy Doyle Northern Peaks West Trail. Jason had submitted his proposal for ero- Boy Scouts from Troop ;+, Olney Md$ use crosscut saw to sion control work on the trail as an Eagle Scout Project. The project was remove blowdown on Sugarloaf’s Northern Peaks Trail as part approved, and a date was scheduled. Kathy Doyle, trail Overseer, began of an Eagle Scout project$ the day with a safety talk concerning tool usage and then gave instruc- Meanwhile on Team 2, Dan Dueweke, John Hebbe, Mark Holland, tion on building waterbars and checkdams. These young men did a and Cliff Willey were boulder-wrestling on some of the slipperiest rocks great job and worked hard to build excellent bars with the locust trees in the Park. As with any griphoist exercise, progress is measured not in that the SVDC volunteers had stripped in July. Some rocks were used feet but in inches. In time, two stream crossings emerged from the shal- for waterbars where possible. Nathan Harris and Shelby Miller built a lows and should keep feet dry in all but the highest water. rock waterbar that any PATC crew would be proud to call its own! In addition, two large blowdowns were removed from the trail with the Having a good turnout meant being able to spare a few crew members help of three Scouts, a two-man crosscut saw, and a rock bar. for other nearby trail work. Attacking a perennial bog at the lower end of Nicholson Hollow, Ron Kutz and Melanie Falk led a trail rehab crew Kathy cannot express enough gratitude and appreciation for the work that raised and cribbed a soggy section of the old wagon road upon done by these two groups. (See photos at top right and at bottom of pre- which the trail was built. vious page.) Day’s end brought the crew back to the Pinnacles Research Station Hughes River Stream Crossings where Kerry Snow’s home-cooked lasagna (well, Pinnacles does seem The long-delayed re-engineering of the Hughes River stream crossings like his home) was devoured with reckless abandon. was put into motion by the Blue and White Crew on a rare cool day in August. With water levels finally low enough to work in the streambed, Find Love on the Trail the crew broke into two teams, each taking a branch of the river. Here In the heat of summer, the Potomac Heritage Trail (PHT) provided a was an opportunity to see PATC trails money put to good use. Each cooler canopy for the DC Singles volunteer group to build ditchwork. team had a griphoist and an assorted package of chains, slings, rock- By Washington D.C.’s Key Bridge, the Potomac River’s high tide mark bars, and snatch blocks. Having twice the gear meant that the stream reaches PHT’s elevation, creating a constant muddiness in the area. crossings could be accomplished in a single day, and none of the 16 vol- Ten volunteers and Overseer Alex Sanders worked a full dog-day of unteers would have much down-time waiting for a tool. August to construct two drainage trenches from the trail. Hydration Patrick Wilson, Team 1 supervisor, immediately dove for the largest was the key problem, but PHT’s famous “delivered pizza” helped rock in the river and managed to incorporate three snatch blocks in a infuse some energy into the group. Though ditch work may not lead technical exercise of irresistible force meeting immovable object. With directly to love, the drainage will certainly improve the trail – and that Aksel Falk on that team, the immovable object never had a chance. is the goal of PATC.

Please send any interesting tale, technical advice, individual or group accomplishments, and trail-maintenance questions to Trailhead, c/o Jon Rindt, 621 Skyline Forest Drive, Front Royal, VA 22630 or to [email protected]. ❏

POTOMAC APPALACHIAN (UPS-440-280) ©2003, 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 Photo by Tom Vis Photo by Tom South District Shenandoah Trail Crew takes advantage of a Subscription: (Free with PATC membership) photo op and a nice soft seat$ $6.00 annually; $.70 single copies.

Potomac Appalachian – October %'' ,; Trail, Shelter and Corridor Overseers / Monitors Wanted Shelter Overseer Wanted Harpers Ferry / Ashby Gap AT & BB – Tuscarora Central – Map L Call Frank Turk, 301/249-8243 Maps 7 & 8 Call Walt Smith, 540/678-0423 E-mail: [email protected] Call Chris Brunton, 703/560-8070 E-mail: [email protected]. Rock Springs Hut - SNP Central District E-mail: [email protected] High Rock Trail Appalachian Trail Calf Mountain Shelter – SNP South Packhorse Trail Road to Tuscarora Trail (2.3 miles) District/ATPO Trans Mountain Trail to Duke Hollow (1.3 miles) Rod Hollow Shelter Trail AT to Rod Hollow Shelter (0.2 miles) Tuscarora South – Maps F, G, 9 District Managers Wanted for Fishers Hill Loop Trail Call Rick Rhoades, 540/477-3247 SNP Central Side Trails (North End) – Map 10 AT to AT (1 mile) E-mail: [email protected] US Rte. 211 to Old Rag Tuscarora Trail Call Dan Dueweke, 703/266-3248 SNP North District Blue-Blazed – Map 9 Hawk Camp to VA/WV 55 (3.6 miles) E-mail: [email protected] Call Dick Dugan, 703/836-0391 Tuscarora Trail E-mail: [email protected] Fetzer Gap to Maurertown (5.7 miles) Co-District Manager for DC Metro – Thornton River Trail – Co-Overseer Tuscarora Trail Map N Skyline Dr. to Hull School Trail Rock marker to Massanutten Trail (1.5 miles) Rock Creek, Glover Archbold, Battery Kemble, Tuscarora Trail Dumbarton Oaks, Melvin Hazen & Soapstone SNP Central Blue-Blazed, south end – Map 10 Shawl Gap to Sherman Gap (2.5 miles) Valley Park Call Steve Paull, 703/361-3869 Call Mark Anderson, 202/462-7718 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Jones Mountain Trail Massanutten North – Map G Bear Church Rock to Cat Knob Trail (2.8 miles) Call Ed Brimberg, 703/430-6481 District Manager for SNP South AT - Rose River Loop Trail - Co-Overseer E-mail: [email protected] MAP 11 Rose River Fire Road to Horse Trail (2.7 miles) Massanutten Connector Trail US Rte. 33 to US Rte. 64 Massanutten Trail to US 211 (1.8 miles) Call Mike Karpie, 540/785-9553 SNP South AT - Map 11 Call Mike Karpie, 540/785-9553 E-mail: [email protected] Great North Mountain – Map F E-mail: [email protected] Call Hop Long, 301/942-6177 Trail Overseer Openings. Contact the Appalachian Trail – Co-Overseer Frazier Discovery Trail to Loft Mt. Camp Store E-mail: [email protected] District Manager for the section that (1.1 miles) Gerhard Shelter Trail interests you. Appalachian Trail - Co-Overseer Tuscarora Trail to Vances Cove (1.5 miles) Beagle Gap to McCormick Gap (1.8 miles) Tibbet Knob Trail Tuscarora Pennsylvania – Maps J & K Appalachian Trail Wolf Gap Campground to SR 691 (2.4 miles) Opportunity to work long hours with no pay or Hightop Parking Area to Hightop Hut Trail benefits. Generous allowance of blisters, (2.1 miles) Bull Run Occoquan Trail stinging/biting insects, and poisonous plants. Call Dave Fellers, 703/560-2171 Special provision for rain and mud. Little or no SNP South Blue-Blazed – Map 11 E-mail: [email protected] supervision. Work hours optional. Location some- Call Pete Gatje, 434/361-1309 where on the Tuscarora Trail in Pennsylvania. No E-mail: [email protected] Bull Run Occoquan Trail certification from your doctor or hospital required. Rocky Mount Trail Little Rocky Run to Johnny Moore (2.0 miles) Call Pete Brown, 410/343-1140 Skyline Drive to the upper intersection of the Gap Bull Run Occoquan Trail E-mail: [email protected] Run Trail (2.2 miles) Bull Run Park to Route 28 Parking Lot (2.5 miles)

Periodical Postage 118 Park Street PAID Vienna, VA 22180-4609 Vienna, VA

Telephone: 703/242-0315 Mon.-Thurs. 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Thurs. & Fri. 12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.