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President's Logbook

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:56:13 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

For one, I’m looking forward to the warmer months. After the winter we enjoyed, I won’t even complain until the temperature reaches 80. I’ve been out on the trails and so are the bugs. The kind of precipitation we had this year is just what the gnats ordered.

Over the winter, I came across some data describing the impact beavers have on ecosystems. As it is with bugs, it’s not all positive in some cases.

The reading reminded me of a blog post I wrote on my thru hike about a trail reroute around some high tension line construction in New Jersey. The story was written right there on the ground for all to see. No doubt the beaver had a melt down in the cereal isle. He won too. Hope you enjoy it.

Brink Road Shelter, N.J., AT NOBO mile 1,314.4 Friday May 9, 2014 — Once upon a time a hard-working beaver built a dam and all was good.

It was a strong dam with a very large pond, far away from people. Each day the beaver greeted the other animals when they came to drink. They were happy that the beaver chose their neighborhood to make his living. Everyone was happy.

Then one day the beaver heard strange noises. Heavy construction equipment was making a lot of noise. He learned from passing deer that men were building a power line on the next ridge over.

That same day people with picks, McCleods, Pulaskis and white paint began carving a hiking trail reroute around the power line construction right on the beaver’s dam and around the edge of the pond. The Appalachian Trail was being rerouted around the power line construction.

This was sad news for the beaver and the other animals in the forest. People, especially smelly hikers, would be everywhere. Their peace and quiet would be gone forever.

With winter coming, the beaver knew he needed to raise his pond’s water level to make sure he would have room under the ice. So, he set out to reinforce his dam and the water rose to the brim of the pond.

Sadly, the trail crews didn’t like it when the water rose and covered the trail they had worked so hard to build. The crews installed a drain to lower the water level. The beaver plugged it and the trail crews unplugged it, and so it went.

In time the beaver decided to draw the line. He permanently plugged the drain and then he cut down the trees with white blazes. Finally, be blocked the trail itself. That’ll show ’em, he thought … and it did. The trail crews moved the trail up slope, away from the pond and decided to leave the beaver alone.

When the hikers saw what the beaver had done, they cheered. They like it when nature wins. Life is good and the beaver story is true.

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The AT at Bears Den Rocks gets a better view

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:56:09 GMT

The AT at Bears Den Rocks gets a better view

By Dan and Ellen Feer

The crew stayed at Bears Den in February. If you haven’t had a chance to look around inside, you should. It’s a wonderful place. The views from the rock just down the hill from the hostel are spectacular and this month we made them a little easier to get to from the south.

Heading south from the overlook, the trail went over a root mass and then steeply downward before heading steeply up again. Most hikers went around this section through some loose rocks and up the severely eroded trail. On this beautiful weekend, we wanted to change that. We broke into six teams working on small sections of the trail. Four teams built stairs and grade dips. Another team made gravel to fill in around the stairs and the finish team found mineral soil to spread over the gravel to complete the tread.

Thirty four people ( Philip Abruzzese, Janet Arici, Edlyn Becton, Nina Blagrove, Karen Brown, Maria De La Torre, Alice DeCarlo, Kirsten Elowsky, Joe Falcone, Dan Feer (co-leader), Ellen Feer (co-leader), Vic Fickes, Stacy Furukawa, Chris Glembocki, Erica Glembocki, Bill Greenan, Neil Hopper, George Jones, Rob Lamar (District Manager), James Martin, Molly McKinley, Brian Napier, Don Oellerich, Cat Randall, Tysha Robinson, Samuel Rulli, Alisa Schaefer, MaryAnn Stetter, Steve Taylor, Steve Thompson, Kate Walker, Dan Wooley, and Mark Wrobel ) worked along 50 yards of trail moving 1000 pound rocks, making gravel, sidehilling, digging drains, digging mineral soil using sharp and heavy tools. While we trained new crew volunteers we were safe and we had fun. We all finished the day tired and ready for happy hour and dinner.

Our host at Bears Den, Glen Breining , always makes us feel welcome, the Co-District Manager, Rob Lamar, always has interesting and challenging projects for us, and so many other volunteers behind the scenes contribute so much to make these trips successful. We love new volunteers. We train and mentor all ages. If this sounds like a good time to you, send a note to ccrewpatc@gmail.com .

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Meet the 2026 Ridgerunners

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:56:06 GMT

Meet the 2026 Ridgerunners

By Abbie Fine

Every summer, PATC deploys a team of Ridgerunners to patrol our 240-mile section of the Appalachian Trail — from Shenandoah National Park through Maryland to Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Pennsylvania. These passionate, experienced trail ambassadors educate hikers, protect fragile resources, and serve as the human face of stewardship on the trail. We're thrilled to introduce this season's team.

Becky ("Time Crunch") — Michaux, Regular Season A 2022 AT thru-hiker who has also paddled the full length of the Mississippi River, Becky looks forward to meeting hikers along the trail and sharing her love of conservation with the community.

Josh ("Soulslosher") — Maryland, Early Season (Returning) A 2011 AT thru-hiker with over 8,000 miles of long trails under his belt, Josh returns to Maryland bringing his trademark passion, deep trail knowledge, and collaborative spirit.

Sam ("Lucky") — Northern Virginia, Regular Season A 2024 AT thru-hiker who has led wilderness camps serving at-risk youth and adults, Sam brings formal training and a deep enjoyment of working with people to the trail community this season.

Marissa ("Mosey") — Shenandoah National Park, Early Season (Returning) Returning for another season in SNP, Marissa looks forward to encouraging and educating people on the trail — and to the onion rings at SNP's Waysides.

Karen ("Half Pint") — Shenandoah National Park, Late Season An AT and PCT thru-hiker who has led on-the-ground disaster relief efforts following hurricanes, wildfires, and the war in Ukraine, Karen sees Ridgerunning in Shenandoah as her dream job.

Want to get to know the Ridgerunners better?

This season, PATC is launching a new program called Friends of the Ridgerunners — an opportunity to personally support the people who make this work possible. Friends receive field updates from the trail, an invitation to the Ridgerunner Welcome Lunch, and the chance to connect directly with the Ridgerunners they sponsor. It's trail stewardship made personal.

Learn more and become a Friend of the Ridgerunners

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Hike Leaders: Prepare for the 2026 Hiking Season

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:56:02 GMT

Hike Leaders: Prepare for the 2026 Hiking Season

By Timothy Muzzio

As temperatures climb and days grow longer, the anticipation for hiking season fills the air. Boots emerge from closets, hikers begin checking the PATC website and Meetup for upcoming adventures, and hike leaders get ready to guide their groups onto the trails. For PATC hike leaders, this time of year brings excitement and responsibility. Thoughtful preparation ensures each hike is enjoyable, safe, and memorable for participants.

This article offers reminders to set you up for success in the months ahead.

Pre-Hiking: Assessing Trail Conditions

This past winter was particularly harsh, leaving many trails altered and potentially hazardous. Even familiar routes may have changed: downed trees, eroded paths, or water-damaged bridges can challenge even seasoned hikers. Before posting a hike, pre-hike it if you have not been on it recently. If the trail is maintained by PATC, inform us of any obstacles, reroutes, or maintenance needs (email Trails@patc.net ). If the route has issues but is safe, let participants know ahead of time and, if necessary, adjust the planned route to prioritize safety and enjoyment. Proactive trail assessment demonstrates leadership and fosters trust with your hikers.

First Aid Preparedness: Stocking and Organizing Your Kit

A well-prepared hike leader is always equipped for unexpected incidents. Begin your season by thoroughly checking your first aid kits. Remove expired supplies and replenish essential items. Your “boo-boo bag” (a bag that’s easily accessible with the supplies you are most likely to use) should contain the basics: assorted bandages, steri-strips, latex gloves, alcohol or cleansing pads, an irrigation syringe for wound flushing, tweezers or tick removers, and anything else commonly needed. While many first aid professionals no longer recommend carrying antibiotic ointment, it’s wise to have a small tube available, as some hikers may insist on it. Store specialized and less frequently used supplies deeper in your pack, but verify that everything is current, organized, and ready for use. A well-stocked kit gives you—and your group—peace of mind.

Energy and Hydration: Supporting Hikers on the Move

Long hikes, strenuous climbs, or unexpected weather can quickly sap energy. Even a modest hike can drain the energy of a new hiker. It’s not unusual to have a participant feel unable to continue. When this happens, pause to complete your assessment for dehydration, injury, or illness. Often, simple low energy is the culprit. Carry a few energy bars and single-serving electrolyte powders and provide one to the affected hiker. You can usually get the group going again in a few minutes. Encourage hikers to bring their own nutrition, but be prepared for surprises—your foresight may save the day.

Tick Awareness and Safety Education

Ticks are a year-round concern, but become particularly active as spring progresses. Include a “tick talk” (get it, TikTok?) during your pre-hike briefings. Remind hikers to wear long sleeves and full-length trousers, use insect repellent, and conduct thorough tick checks after each hike. Share proper removal techniques and stress the importance of seeking medical attention if a telltale “bullseye” rash develops, as this may signal Lyme disease. Providing clear guidance on tick prevention and response not only protects participants, but also reinforces your role as a knowledgeable and conscientious leader.

Administrative Readiness: Sign-In Sheets and Reports

Efficient record-keeping is essential for every hike leader. Well before the hike, download and print sign-in sheets. Collecting sign-ins at the trailhead enhances safety and supports club record-keeping. After each outing, promptly submit your completed sign-in sheets and hike reports to the PATC volunteer reporting system. Remaining up-to-date with these administrative tasks is a requirement for all official hike leaders and supports the broader PATC community in monitoring participation, safety, and trail usage.

Extra Credit

Embrace the role of a hike leader as “docent,” adding a rich dimension to every trail experience. Invest time in researching the history, geology, and local legends of the area you’re exploring. Share these stories and fascinating facts with your group—hikers genuinely appreciate learning about the landscapes they traverse. In my experience, some hikers return to the same route and demand to hear a favorite story again at a familiar stop. Not only does this deepen their connection to the trail, but it also makes leading hikes more engaging and rewarding as you continue discovering new insights about each location.

Pro Tip

Our hikes often have wait lists, and no shows take away valuable slots for those on them. It is unfair. Send firm but friendly reminder messages to all registered hikers a few days before your event, and again the day prior. I use the Meetup comments feature as it is very easy to do. Tell anyone who cannot attend to sign out as soon as possible, which allows wait-listed members to join the hike. After the event, be sure to report any no-shows on the Meetup site. My personal practice is to issue a warning after two no-shows; after three, they will be excluded from my future hikes. These practices have noticeably improved overall attendance rates – my no-show rate is under 10 percent and 100 percent attendance is not unusual. Please note, enforcement of these guidelines may vary depending on the hike leader’s discretion. Some leaders are stricter, some much less so.

With careful planning and attention to detail, you set the tone for a thriving 2026 hiking season. Your leadership ensures participants feel welcome, prepared, and safe—whether they are joining for the first time or are lifelong PATC members. By pre-hiking trails, updating first aid kits, bringing energy-boosting snacks, educating about ticks, and staying on top of paperwork, you exemplify the best of PATC values. Here’s to a season filled with adventure, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments on the trail!

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Old Line Trail Crew’s Historic Trails in the Monocacy River Natural Resources Management Area (MNRMA)

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:55:58 GMT

Old Line Trail Crew’s Historic Trails in the Monocacy River Natural Resources Management Area (MNRMA)

Article by Jane Thompson, Photos by Eve Proper

Having grown up wandering this beautiful, historic area with my horse and dog, it was nice to find out PATC now maintains the trail in the Monocacy River Natural Resources Management Area (MNRMA). At that time, I did not know that the quartz for the Monocacy Aqueduct came from here, nor did I know that there was an iron furnace. Working on the trails while learning the history of the area has been very enjoyable.

In Frederick County, Md., west of Sugarloaf Mountain along the Monocacy River, the Thomas Johnson family operated a lime kiln and iron furnace in the 1700s until the 1830s. The furnace was near the Monocacy River where the finished iron was boated to the Urbana area and taken to Baltimore. After the Revolutionary War, roads were constructed to Urbana. Remnants of the furnace are visible along the Furnace Branch Trail by the bridge over Furnace Branch. About one mile away, the lime kiln still stands beside the Dr. Belt Trail. Both trails were roads at that time.

When the C&O Canal was built in the early 1830s, quartz was needed for the Monocacy aqueduct. The builders developed a quarry up the hill from the lime kiln. The quarries are still visible as well as some of the drill marks. The stone was cut, put onto one of the first railroads in the United States, taken down to the Dr. Belt Trail, then hauled to what is now Maryland Route 28, and taken to the aqueduct.

The area was flooded by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Many places along the Monocacy River were condemned, including Edie’s Bar which sat where the current MNRMA parking lot resides on Maryland Route 28. In the 1970s, after the Monocacy River was designated a Scenic and Wild River, Maryland State Parks started managing and protecting the 1,800 acres. For many years horses have been ridden along the old roads. As well, hunters found game in the renewing forest.

In 2020, the State and PATC came to an agreement for PATC to maintain the trails. With the roads, most trails were easily defined – though rutted and washed out in many places. New trails have been built, and more are planned, providing about 7 miles of trails.

One of the Old Line Trail Crew’s tasks has been relocating trails from their old, muddy, roadbeds. Portions of the Furnace Branch Trail, which went from the lime kiln to the furnace, are marked to be relocated. For now, a French drain was put in by Don Habib, Tori Wenig, Jeffrey Clyman, Eve Proper, Seth Miller, Jane Thompson, and Jim Tomlin. This included digging a ditch, which was not an easy task because there were so many loose rocks, likely put in over the years to maintain the road.

The group then lined the ditch with geotextile fabric, filled it with rocks, and covered it with more geotextile and the soil that had been dug out. The French drain is currently working fine.

In another project, the crew relocated the south end of Dr. Belt Trail, which had become sunken and muddy. This fall the trail was relocated, raked, trimmed, and blazed, and the old section of trail was closed off. The new trail is being well used. This was accomplished by Tori Wenig, Jeffrey Clyman, Eve Proper, Don Habib, Michael Bucci , Ileana Hancu (non-Member), Jane Thompson, and Jim Tomlin.

New trail maintainers are always welcome. If you are looking for an interesting place to work on trails, not far from the DC area, come join us! You can contact Jim Tomlin, jftomlin@gmail.com . With Sugarloaf Mountain closed more often and less parking available, this is a beautiful place to hike. Here is a link to the trail map: https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/Documents/MonocacyNRMA-trailmap.pdf .

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Volunteers Requested: Konnarock Trail Crew

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:55:54 GMT

Volunteers Requested: Konnarock Trail Crew

Article and Photo by Matt Waurio

Looking to do some trail work and meet people outside of the PATC region? Take a volunteer vacation with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s flagship trail crew: The Konnarock Trail Crew! Most of their trips are 4 to 8 days working on critical Appalachian Trail projects from Georgia up to Waynesboro, Virginia. Meals, training, and gear are provided. Fun guaranteed and no experience needed! Learn more here .

https://appalachiantrail.org/get-involved/volunteer/trail-crews/konnarock-trail-crew/

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"What on Earth?"

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:55:50 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Article and Photos by Ray Barbehenn

If you love the taste of mushrooms but have never tried morels, you might be in for a treat. It is legal to collect mushrooms along the AT corridor if you stay over 200 feet away from the trail. Up to a pound of mushrooms may be collected per day per person for personal consumption. (You should be so lucky!) Of course, you have to love bushwacking to find them. However, morels come up before the leaves are out, which makes the search easier.

Two kinds of morels found in our area are the American Yellow Morel (left photo) and the Half-free Morel (right photo). Both were found in Duke Hollow (near the AT in northern Virginia) on April 22, 2025. This is prime time for morel foraging. The American Yellow Morel was about three inches tall, but they range from about two to eight inches tall. By comparison, Half-free Morels are often small and thin; the one pictured above was about the size of your little finger. Notice the gap between the base of the cap and the stem. Beneath this skirt-like edge of the cap, it is attached half way up the stem. By comparison, the base of the cap of the American Yellow Morel is attached at the stem.

Are all morels edible?

A. Yes, but only after cooking.

B. No – one species is not.

C. Usually, but it depends on the person eating them.

The answer is at the bottom of the article!

Fun Facts and Musings

Why do morels look so strange compared to other mushrooms? Morels and gilled mushrooms are in different groups of fungi that are extremely distantly related; they may have split apart from their shared ancestors between 400-500 million years ago! The way that the mushrooms in these two groups of fungi make their spores is fundamentally different. Morels make their spores all over the surfaces of the cup-shaped pits in their caps. Their spores are lined up in microscopic tubes like peas in a pod, and they shoot out their spores like little pea shooters when the wind (or your breath!) passes over them. By comparison, the gills of gilled mushrooms are covered with what look like microscopic clubs, each of which has four spores arranged like a crown on its tip. Comparing such different fungi is like comparing fishes to lizards, which also split apart from their shared ancestors around 400 million years ago.

In our area, there are at least four species that you might find: the American Yellow Morel ( Morchella americana ), the Tulip Morel ( Morchella diminutiva ), the Half-free Morel ( Morchella punctipes ), and the Black Morel ( Morchella angusticeps ). The so-called "Gray Morel" is not recognized as a species; these are probably young American Yellow Morels. Adding to this confusion, the Black Morel is not necessarily black; the cap can range from shades of brown to black.

The tremendous variation in color, shape, and size within morel species continues to be a challenge for taxonomists and morel hunters alike. Some of the newly discovered species can only be identified from their DNA; they can look identical to other species.

False morels ( Gyromitra species) are the most dangerous of the morel look-alikes; like true morels, they have twisted, misshapen caps but, unlike true morels, their stems are not hollow. To my eyes, their caps look like crumpled balls of paper. Would-be morel hunters should look up images of false morels to learn to avoid them. Unlike true morels, false morels are not made safe by cooking. The toxins in small amounts of false morels can produce serious gastrointestinal symptoms, but may cause dizziness, liver failure, and even death if larger amounts are eaten.

A competent morel hunter should also know the "Early Morel" or "Thimble-cap" ( Verpa bohemica ). This is not a true morel but it looks very similar to the Half-free Morel. However, when sliced in half, you can see that its cap is attached at the very top of the stem like a "normal" mushroom, and it has a cottony substance inside its stem. Descriptions of its edibility are mixed, ranging from "edible with caution" to "causes severe gastrointestinal upset and cerebellar syndrome in susceptible individuals."

A good morel key with photos is found at https://www.mushroomexpert.com/morchellaceae.html . The beautiful diversity of morels around the world can be seen at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?subview=map&taxon_id=56831&view=species . At this site, you can also see photos of the tremendous variation in the size and color of various morel species.

Morels, like many species of mushrooms, often form symbiotic associations with the roots of certain species of trees. This makes it advantageous to forage in areas where these trees are prominent. One of the sad impacts of losing our White Ashes to Emerald Ash Borers and many elms to Dutch Elm Disease is that these were some of the morels' favorite partners. There are still dying elms around, and these are good places to hunt morels. Other partner trees for certain morel species include Tulip Trees and hickories, both of which are still common.

Won't picking morels hurt their populations? Harvesting some of the morels each year should be relatively harmless to these fungi. The mushroom is just a short-lived spore-producing structure. The bulk of the fungus lives protected underground as a network of fine rootlike structures. And, a single unpicked mushroom may let loose a billion spores. They are so hard to find in the deep woods that the great majority are unharvested. (I am frustrated every year to find morels that are too old to eat.) Commercial harvesting is another story, and this is illegal on National Park Service land. If you are lucky enough to find morels, cut or break off the stem near the ground to avoid getting any soil on them. Nothing ruins a meal like grinding bits of grit between your teeth.

Mushrooms are often said to be "full of protein" and are touted as alternatives to meat. Thick slices of grilled portabella mushrooms do make tasty sandwiches, but how much protein is really in them? Not much. A variety of mushrooms, including portabellas and morels, contain only about 3% protein (on a fresh weight basis). Instead, they contain over 90% water. For you to get about 50 grams of protein (roughly the amount recommended per day) you would need to eat 25 cups of mushrooms (equal to about 175 buttons).

By comparison, this much protein can be had from a block of extra firm tofu, or seven eggs, or six cups of milk, or a full chicken breast. This is not to disrespect mushrooms; food is much more than macro-nutrients, and the flavors provided by mushrooms are every bit as wonderful as the herbs and spices that have been prized by cooks for millennia. I recommend morels in a buttery cream sauce, scented with fresh tarragon, and served over roast chicken or pasta. :)

Answer: C!

Some people have become seriously ill from eating large amounts of morels, including species that are considered "choice" edibles. Some people have also experienced gastrointestinal upset when eating morels with alcoholic beverages. Although these reactions to morels are uncommon, it is always a good idea to start with a small portion of any wild mushroom species that is eaten for the first time. Always remember that true morels have these key features: (1) a sponge-like cap, (2) a hollow stem and cap, and (3) a cap that is attached to the stem at the base of the cap (or midway down in a Half-free Morel). Slice them in half for examination and make sure they are thoroughly cooked.

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu. Do you have a photo of a Blue Jay, Crow, or Raven?

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What’s that Flower?

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:55:47 GMT

What’s that Flower? Buzzard Rock to Veach Gap in Summer

Article and Photos by Richard Stromberg

This article shows you some of the flowers to look for in Summer on the Buzzard Rock to Veach Gap hike described in the February 2026 issue of the Potomac Appalachian.

Spreading Dogbane ( Apocynum androsaemifolium ) is a bushy perennial with paired, oval leaves. The flowers are quarter-inch, bell-shaped with flaring lobes. They are white with pink stripes or splotches. It blooms in summer.

Whorled Loosestrife ( Lysimachia quadrifolia ) grows up to three feet tall with a series of whorled leaves spaced up the stem. The whorls usually contain four leaves. The leaves have no stem or a very short one. The solitary, star-shaped flowers grow on one-to-two-inch stems from the axils of the upper leaf whorls. The petals are yellow with red at the base.

Toothed White-topped Aster ( Sericocarpus asteroides ) has daisy-like flowers except the white rays are sparse, as few as four, and the central disks are white or pinkish rather than yellow. The flowers grow in flat-topped clusters. It. has egg-shaped, slightly toothed leaves.

Nodding Wild Onion ( Allium cernuum) has a nodding cluster of many pink/purplish, bell-shaped flowers on top of a slender stem. It may grow over two feet tall. The skinny leaves may be lost among other vegetation.

Lobelia flowers have an upper lip with two, erect lobes and a lower lip with three, spreading lobes. Two Lobelia species can be seen on this hike. The flowers of both are only about a quarter inch and are light blue to white. Pale-spike Lobelia ( Lobelia spicata ) has one or a few spikes of flowers. The structure behind the petals is only slightly inflated. It blooms from late May until August. Indian Tobacco ( L. inflata ) branches freely. The structure behind the petals is strongly inflated. It blooms from July until November.

Pokeweed ( Phytolacca americana ) is a succulent, branching plant over three feet high with racemes of ¼ inch white flowers with five, petal-like sepals. The fruits are deep purple berries.

Fleabane (genus Erigeron ) flowers look like daisies, but the rays are very thin, and there may be up to 400 of them. The central disk is yellow, and the rays are white or tinged pink. Annual Fleabane ( Erigeron annuus ) has many stem leaves, and they are toothed. Daisy Fleabane ( Erigeron strigosus ) stem leaves are sparse and have smooth edges.

Horseweed ( Erigeron canadensis ) has many flower clusters at the top of the plant, each flower is a tube, less than five millimeters long. If you look closely, you will see the top of each flower is a tiny daisy with white rays 0.5 to 2 millimeters long. The seeds form small Dandelion-like fluff balls to blow in the wind.

A Pasture Rose ( Rosa carolina ) flower has five large, round, pink petals, completely separated from each other. A narrow claw that attaches each petal to the center of the flower underneath the stamens and styles. Numerous stamens fill the center of the flower. Fruits are bright red balls that hang on through winter.

The Yellow Wild Indigo ( Baptisia tinctoria ) plant is a shrubby perennial up to three feet tall. It grabs your attention by sticking branches out into the trail with racemes of half-inch, bright yellow flowers. The flowers have the typical pea flower form with an upright banner petal, two fused petals forming a keel underneath, and two wing petals at the sides. The leaves consist of three leaflets and have no stems.

St. Andrew’s Cross ( Hypericum hypericoides ) is a low-lying plant. The flower stems are short, so the flowers seem to rest on the leaves. It is called St. Andrew’s Cross because the pairs of yellow petals are not at right angles to each other but angled like the cross of St. Andrew on the British flag.

Starry campion ( S. stellata ) blooms in late summer. Its five petals are fringed (eight to 12 lobes). It is also called widow frills. Its leaves are in whorls of four except, possibly, for a top pair.

Hoary Mountain-mint ( Pycnanthemum incanum ) can grow to over six feet tall. Its light purple flowers sprout irregularly from a circle at the top of the plant and around the stem in the leave axils. The leaves are egg-shaped with the wide part towards the stem. The term “hoary” is applied because the leaves seem to be sprinkled with a white or grayish powder.

Striped Wintergreen ( Chimaphila maculata ) is only a few inches tall. The leaves are long and toothed with pale yellow along the veins. The flower stalk above the leaves has a few white flowers on top. The flowers hang down from their individual stalks and start out as round balls. Five petals open to about a half inch across and face downward. If you lift one up, you will see a large round stigma in the middle surrounded by ten, two-part stamens. Brown fruit develop and turn upward.

Dwarf Spiraea ( Spiraea corymbosa ) is a shrub up to one meter tall. Leaves are ovate with toothed edges. The white or pinkish, tightly packed, quarter-inch, five-petal flowers grow in a flat or slightly rounded form called a corymb.

The upper stems of Bristly Sarsaparilla ( Aralia hispida ) can be smooth and only the lower stems, bristly. It is a northern plant categorized as rare in the PATC area. Its tiny white flowers are in a rounded umbel. It grows in rocky places like The Point Overlook that looks down on several bends of the South Fork of the Shenandoah.

Also growing around the rocky Point Overlook are Quaking Aspen ( Populus tremuloides ) trees, another plant that is rare in our area. Its leaves are up to four inches long and three inches wide. They have fine, regularly spaced teeth on the edges, 15 to 70 per side.

Bigtooth Aspen ( P. grandidentata ) also grows here. It is more common in our area than Quaking Aspen. Its leaves are up to six inches long and four inches wide. They have five to 15 unequal, triangular teeth per side.

Purple-flowering Raspberry ( Rubus odorata ) has a simple leaf (not compound) looking like a maple leaf over a foot wide, and the flower is spectacular: rose-purple and over an inch in diameter, reminiscent of a rose. The ripe fruit is a red raspberry.

Downy Rattlesnake Plantain ( Goodyera pubescens ) is most noticeable for its evergreen, dark green leaves with a network of white veins at the base of the plant. The flower raceme is about a foot tall. The flowers look like little (¼”), white balls, densely packed on the stalk and never open very much.

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New PATC Online Store Launches just in time for spring!

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:55:42 GMT

New PATC Online Store Launches just in time for spring!

We’re excited to share that the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is launching a brand-new online store in the last part of April—and it’s better than ever.

The new PATC store has been completely reimagined with you, our members, in mind. It’s easier to navigate, faster to shop, and more user-friendly across all devices, whether you’re browsing from home or on the trail.

You’ll also find brand-new merchandise alongside your favorite classics—perfect for showing your PATC community spirit, gearing up for your next adventure, or finding a gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life.

Be on the lookout for news on the grand reopening! We are keeping the current store page updated with the latest information.

Thank you for being part of the PATC community—we can’t wait for you to see what’s new!

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Leading the Way: How to Become a PATC Hike Leader

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:10:23 GMT

Leading the Way: How to Become a PATC Hike Leader

Michael DeMarco and Sue Collins

This article looks at learning to become a PATC hike leader from two perspectives: the trainee and the mentor. Below, the article’s authors give their thoughts on leading hikes and why they hike. Hopefully that insight will encourage others to pursue leading hikes for PATC.

The Trainee

My name is Michael DeMarco. I am continuing my training to be a hike leader. I have leadership experience in many forms but have mostly led hikes with my family and friends. I led three backpacking trips on the AT across Georgia, North Carolina, and Maryland. Maryland was a group of five and a dog (he did well). I had first aid and CPR training at my last job and some when I was a scout leader. In addition, I was a leader for a youth group with many outdoor events.

I want to lead day hikes and backpacking trips in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. I am still working so, weekends and extended weekends are mostly what I am interested in, but I have done 9-10-day backpacking trips. I can do anything from easy to difficult.

I first attended the PATC hike leader training webinar to start learning what it takes to become a hike leader. Then I expressed my interest in completing the requirements. Susan Collins and David Manning were provided as my hike leader mentors. I created Meetup events for the required two hikes, co-led the hikes with David and Susan and completed a PATC hikes report on each. Additionally, I will lead an independent hike as well as complete training for Red Cross First aid (Wilderness First Aid is both acceptable and encouraged). Finally, I studied the PATC Hike Leaders Handbook which covers logistics, emergency planning and the “10 Essentials.” I’m near the finish line!

I have a deep-rooted connection to the land. Whether you are a trail maintainer clearing blowdowns on the Tuscarora Trail or a weekend explorer on the AT, you understand the vital work required to keep the 1,100-mile network open and accessible.

While maintenance crews ensure the trails are physically sound, hike leaders are the bridge that connects the public to these spaces. Leading a hike is a unique way to give back, share your expertise—whether in botany, history, or photography—and advocate for the trails you help preserve. I personally have an interest in photography and sharing the natural beauty I capture at a local gallery in the town where I live.

What motivates someone to become a hike leader?

People become hike leaders for a mix of rewards: a deep love for nature and sharing it, the satisfaction of helping others grow and experience the outdoors safely, building personal leadership skills, community involvement, all while enjoying personal benefits like stress relief and connecting with like-minded individuals.

The Mentor

My name is Sue Collins. I have been a PATC Hike Leader for two years. The training to become a PATC Hike Leader includes planning and leading two mentored hikes. Michael, the mentee, has a mission to complete the AT in sections. To capture his enthusiasm and work on my 2026 PATCH hiking goal, we planned a leisurely-paced hike that included a section of the AT at Sky Meadows State Park. My 2026 PATC hiking goal is to offer leisurely-paced and family-friendly hikes.

Why choose a state park for a family-friendly hike?

Restrooms, accessible parking, park rangers, and in an emergency, you can call the park emergency office. In the winter, state parks tend to plow their roads and parking lots.

How did we plan this hike?

We used AllTrails and the Sky Meadows State Park trail map to plan our route. We included the AT, elevation at the front end of the hike, a few beautiful overlooks, and a smooth finish (not rocky). When planning a hike, we also consider the weather. This hike has an open meadow, with no shade, and I prefer to hike this trail in the winter, spring, and late fall. When we mapped the trail using AllTrails, it was 4.7 miles, and after the pre-hike, it was 5.2 miles.

Sky Meadows State Park is near Paris, VA, an hour west of the beltway. The park offers 22 miles of hiking trails, nine miles of biking trails, and 10.5 miles of bridle trails. The park also has a Children’s Discovery Area, an open and safe space for children and families to enjoy the park.

Conclusion

Are you interested in becoming a hike leader? If so, contact PATC at Hikes@PATC.net for more information.

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President's Logbook

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:10:18 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

Fundraising is the bedrock that supports every nonprofit mission. For PATC, it’s the second largest source of revenue after cabin rentals. Membership dues are third. Imagine how expensive cabin rental rates or dues would be without fundraising.

One of the reasons I originally ran for president was to establish fundraising and embed it as a robust aspect of PATC’s culture. Much easier said than done. After several fits and starts dating back to initiatives during Joe Lombardo’s presidency, we are consistently achieving our goals and growing our donor base. Thank you to the more than 1,200 of you who donated in the past year!

These results are due in large part to the efforts of Evan Hoffmann, our staff director. He is not only a professional nonprofit manager, he’s also a skilled fundraiser. Evan led us to Abbie Fine, who we hired on contract as a part time fundraiser.Together, they have strengthened PATC’s fundraising foundation and positioned us on a clear upward trajectory.

Our initiatives have included the ability to make monthly donations via the website using a debit or credit card. Recurring donations are more affordable for many, including myself. They often produce donation amounts larger than it would be possible or practical to make in a single gift.

Planned giving is now possible through our new initiative called the Overlook Circle .We are surprised several times a year to learn that the club is receiving a donation from someone’s estate. Sometimes the money is unrestricted and can be used to support general operations. Other times, it is restricted to specific purposes such as trails, lands, cabins, or the quasi-endowment.

Overlook Circle participation allows club members or other donors to share their intention to include PATC in their estate plans. It does not create a permanent obligation. Circumstances change. But by documenting their plans, donors allow PATC to recognize their foresight and commitment to sustaining our mission. Most nonprofit leaders appreciate unrestricted donations most. They allow flexibility in their use and can be deployed for the greatest good of the club. As the leader most responsible for the future, and in the context of our soon-to-begin second century of service, for me, the one exception to the bias toward unrestricted donations is the quasi-endowment.

A quasi endowment is a fund established for a specific purpose. The principal is protected while earnings can be spent as specified in its charter. The PATC quasi-endowment was established in 2011 to provide financial support for the club in perpetuity. It provides a predictable level of funding for capital improvements, operating expenses, and sufficient cash to meet financial obligations.

The quasi-endowment charter allows five percent of the fund’s value to be spent on capital programs annually and two percent for operating expenses. The fund grew by 16 percent last year. Learn more about it here .

Having an endowment in any form is rare in the nonprofit world. In that sense, the PATC of today is the beneficiary of far-sighted leadership. In practical terms, the quasi endowment provides money that we are expected to use to supplement operational budgets, cover major expenses, and buy cabins and lands.

Planned giving to the quasi-endowment through the Overlook Circle has many benefits. Chief among them is that the donation will grow and work for PATC as long as the club exists. Moreover, the quasi-endowment offers incredible flexibility to purchase lands or cabins or fund initiatives that may add value to our mission.

For example, the club does not insure all of its cabins. It is beneficial to insure the most expensive ones, but the club self-insures the smaller primitive cabins. If one of them were to be destroyed, the replacement cost could be covered by the quasi-endowment.

The quasi-endowment is managed by a committee composed of the president, treasurer, and three club members who are accomplished financial professionals. Brown Advisory manages the account and also offers market insight. The chair is Jay Jupiter.

The PATC quasi-endowment’s current value is approximately $6.2 million. Last year, it was capable of providing $120,000 that the club could use for current operations. As a back of the envelope calculation, if the fund were to double in value, it could provide $240,000. That is a solid hedge against financial emergencies and future cabin rental and dues increases.

As we look toward PATC’s second century, we need to think about both what the club requires today and what may be needed tomorrow. Unrestricted gifts give us flexibility to handle the work in front of us — training volunteers, maintaining trails and cabins, and responding when storms or unexpected expenses arise.

The quasi-endowment also contributes to current operations. However, continuing to grow the fund strengthens the club’s long-term position. Both forms of support matter. Together, they help ensure PATC remains steady, adaptable, and prepared for whatever the next hundred years may bring.

In my judgement, donating to the endowment leaves a lasting legacy and is a solid investment in PATC’s long-term future. As a geezer waiting for my turn to push up daisies, the quasi-endowment is included in my estate planning and hope you will consider doing so as well.

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Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery: Two Visions Making One Trail

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:10:14 GMT

Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery: Two Visions Making One Trail

Matt Waurio, PATC Communications Supervisor

Caught up in the demands of the present, it’s easy to forget the century-long path that led to the trails and cabins we steward today. The labor of thousands of PATC members before us created the conditions in which we now work - for better or for worse. Our stewardship is inherited, but it’s also ongoing.

Along these lines, the Appalachian Trail didn’t emerge from a single vision or personality. Instead, the trail and the systems that support it were shaped by a productive tension between two very different frames of thought: dreamers and doers. Dreamers imagine possible futures; doers work within existing realities to bring projects to completion. These contrasting approaches are embodied by two historically central figures in AT history: Benton MacKaye and Myron Avery. Their differing philosophies forged the trail as we know it today: MacKaye rooted in imagination, regional planning, and social renewal; Avery grounded in execution, policy, and discipline. For the PATC, their contrasting perspectives offers a framework for how the Club continues to balance ideals with action, vision with stewardship, and tradition with adaptation.

As we plan for PATC’s centennial in 2027, we call on both dreamers and doers to help imagine the future of our club for the next 100 years. Benton MacKaye is often credited as the intellectual father of the AT and conceived the project in 1921 as much more than a recreational footpath. His ideas were shaped by the pressures of the early twentieth century: industrialization, urban crowding, and social fragmentation. MacKaye envisioned the trail as a form of regional planning, a spine of wild lands and intentional communities that could counterbalance development trends. In his mind, the trail was a social experiment in human renewal and ecological balance. Hiking was secondary.

Myron Avery, a central figure in PATC’s own legacy, was a pragmatist. A lawyer with seemingly inexhaustible energy and legendary organizational skills, Avery cared little for philosophical abstraction and a great deal for practical outcomes. He focused on where trails existed, where they could be routed, and whether they met clear, enforceable standards. Setting aside many of MacKaye’s broader ambitions, Avery believed the Appalachian Trail should be continuous, clearly marked, and rigorously documented. Where MacKaye saw possibility, Avery saw ambiguity and he worked relentlessly to eliminate it. Under Avery’s leadership, the trail became real: miles were surveyed, blazes painted, maps corrected, and gaps closed.

The tension between these two men was real and, at times, deeply personal. MacKaye worried that Avery’s emphasis on uniformity stripped the trail of its broader social purpose. Avery saw MacKaye’s expansive ideas as impractical and potentially destabilizing. Yet history suggests the AT required both. Without MacKaye, there may have been no unifying vision to inspire a movement. Without Avery, that vision might never have left the page.

PATC emerged and has endured largely by leaning toward Avery’s model. The club embodies his insistence on stewardship, standards, and accountability. Trail sections aren't merely admired; they're maintained. Cabins aren't romantic relics; they're managed assets. Volunteers aren't loosely affiliated enthusiasts; we're trained, organized, and supported. This operational discipline combined with grassroots commitment has allowed PATC to steward a thousand miles of trail and infrastructure for a century. But as we approach our centennial (and perhaps catch our breaths in the tail end of winter months), we might also allow ourselves to be a little more like MacKaye.

The trail network that gives PATC its purpose now faces pressures neither MacKaye nor Avery could have fully anticipated: unprecedented visitation, climate-driven erosion, and shifting patterns of recreation. Addressing these challenges could benefit from more Avery-like rigor - with data-informed decisions, consistent standards, and sustainable maintenance models. But it also demands MacKaye-like imagination: rethinking how people engage with trails, how volunteers are recruited and retained, and how stewardship values are communicated to new generations - what it means, in practice, to belong to PATC.

If you’re interested in sharing your PATC centennial ideas, contact our VP of Volunteerism, Jayne Mayne at jmayne@patc.net . For our hundred-year celebration, no dream is too grand.

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Flying McLeods to Fly Again

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:10:11 GMT

Flying McLeods to Fly Again

By Ruth Stornetta

Something is stirring in the South District of SNP. It’s not just the bears coming out of hibernation this spring, but the Flying McLeods, a trail crew dormant for years, is coming back into action. Kevin Cwalina and Pam Heinrich took the initiative to revive this group, launched the first get-together, and discussed ideas to get the Flying McLeods organized. The meeting was held at Crozet Pizza with Michael and Kim Durland, Kevin Cwalina, Joel Brown, Chuck Troutman, Roger Friend, Ruth Stornetta, Roger Smith, Pam Heinrich, and Mark Perschel attending.

The plan is for workdays every fourth Saturday from April through October. The Flying McLeods are inspired by the successful model of the Hoodlums and Cadillac Crew and will initially focus their efforts on the AT in the Southern District.

To suggest a project for the Flying McLeods, get information, or to join the mailing list, contact Kevin Cwalina (trails@kevinmadeit.com).

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Hiking with a Focus

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:10:07 GMT

Hiking with a Focus

Article and Photos by Lisa Peterson

By hiking with a focus individuals become more conscious of their surroundings, experience physical and mental growth, and learn about and delight in the beauty of the natural world. A hiking focus could be sensory-based or target a specific goal or theme. The possibilities are many.

Engaging one or more of the senses with intention while immersed in a woodland setting, sometimes known as forest bathing, gives hikers a strong present-moment experience that reduces stress and increases relaxation, and brings about feelings of wellbeing. Setting and reaching a specific fitness goal, such as improving hiking pace or difficulty, boosts hiker confidence and fosters a real sense of accomplishment, in addition to building mental toughness and physical strength.

A series of hikes planned around a featured theme, such as, waterfalls or overlooks, old growth forest, streams and rivers, offers much enjoyment. Hikes to swimming holes are invigorating in the heat of summer. In late fall through early spring when leaves are off the trees, ridge hikes often inspire awe with 270-degree mountaintop views.

Ramblers express creativity through photography, or develop drawing, painting and writing skills through a nature journal, capturing observations of the outdoor world with increased skill, deeply absorbing the journey.

Explorers center hikes on learning and discovery. Hike leader Susan Collins has a goal to study moss this year. On a recent Shenandoah River State Park hike, her group made close observation of moss on the side of the trail before beginning to hike. Hikers used the Seek app to make identification. A few minutes of careful study piqued interest and attention, so that hikers noticed more moss and other interesting plants along the route than they might have otherwise.

Another hiker aims to learn at least two or three native wildflower species yearly, using the wildlife calendar published by SNP as an aspirational checklist. This slow and steady approach encourages lifelong learning, improves memory, and makes the process manageable and rewarding.

To this end, hike leader Lisa Peterson is offering a series of spring wildflower hikes. These are not expert-guided nature walks, but exciting hikes in known wildflower areas to enable observation and deepen appreciation of the glorious bloomers.

Join fellow wildflower enthusiasts on one of these upcoming hikes:

April - Trillium & Wildflowers 5.5 Miles, 1000 feet, Moderate Hike

Walk among the largest stand of Large-flowered Trillium ( Trillium grandiflorum ) in Virginia at G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area north of Linden. These iconic woodland wildflowers are identified by three large petals, which are white or various shades of rose. A great many other wildflowers growing in this area promise to delight both expert and beginning naturalists.

May - SNP Sugarloaf Blooms 5 Miles, 1120, feet, Moderate Hike

This hike offers a great view and spring flowering bushes in the north district SNP. Floral highlights include Wild Azalea aka Pinxter Flower ( Rhododendron periclymenoides ), the incredibly fragrant Wild Azalea ( R. prinophyllum ) and, blooming a bit later, the pale pink to white flowers of Mountain Laurel ( Kalmia latifolia ).

For more information and to register for these wildflower focused hikes please visit the PATC Hikes & Events Meetup page . Registration will open a few weeks prior to each hike.

Resources mentioned in this article:

The Seek/iNaturalist app https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app uses image recognition technology to identify plants and animals using a smartphone camera. Free.

SNP Wildflower Calendar https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/nature/upload/WildflowerCalendar_Web.pdf names the most frequently seen or asked about flowering plants in the park by the month in which they bloom, April through October.

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A Cadillac Crew Recalibration - January means Skill-Building

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:10:03 GMT

A Cadillac Crew Recalibration - January means Skill-Building

By Molly McKinley, Ellen and Dan Feer

Lacerations, abrasions, falls, climate threats and medical emergencies, oh my! Safe trail work is much more than schlepping and shoveling.

No surprise, but January work trips do not always go as planned. That doesn’t mean they can’t be planned. With the depth of talent and generosity of the Cadillac Crew and the AT community in general, amazing events can happen. The plans for our January 2026 trip began in January 2025 when Scott and Lisa Jenkins agreed to again host the Cadillac Crew at their home, the beautiful Mountain Home Bed and Breakfast outside of Front Royal. The AT runs practically across their front porch in the Mosby District. There is always work to be done in Jon and Katherine Rindt ’s District so planning the trail work is just picking a priority. A creek crossing near Whisky Hollow shelter was the winning priority for our January 2026 trip. As it was going to be January, we also started thinking about contingency plans for bad weather. What kind of event could we plan that would be fun and a good use of everyone’s time? The top priority is always trail work, but wielding a mattock isn’t the only skill we need. A first aid refresher sounded like a great plan B.

Most of the crew has had first aid training but rarely uses the skills. Moreover, formal first aid classes are often just an introduction with little time spent mastering the skills. There are also considerations unique to trail work that we need to address directly. Several crew members helped design a day of first aid featuring big- and small-group working sessions focused on first aid kits, CPR, critical decision making, and teamwork. Crew members Molly McKinley , Brian Napier , Robert Fina , and Crew Leaders Ellen and Dan Feer made sure it would be ready if inclement weather made outside work impossible or inadvisable.

As the January trip got closer it became clear it would be too cold to work outside. You can’t sidehill when the ground is frozen solid. Sharp tools and slick footing are a bad combination. Rather, we left our tools stashed for warmer days and instead started off with everyone pulling out a different set of tools, their first aid kits.

Brian and Molly led a group discussion about first aid kit components and how to organize them for different outings. A trauma kit might not be necessary on a day hike but it’s a necessity when the crew hits the trail. Everyone made lists of missing items and threw away old medications (which many of us were guilty of harboring among aging bandages). Afterware, breakout sessions included CPR led by Ellen and Dan and bandaging and splinting led by Molly and Brian. Later we regrouped for Robert to facilitate litter fabrication using backpacks and other creative materials. Most importantly, we workshopped as a group how we navigate wilderness decisions such as letting first responders come to us or bringing an injured crew member to the trailhead.

We wrapped up with a mouth-watering pasta bar dinner courtesy of hosts Scott and Lisa. We all left with plenty of time to get home before “Snowcrete” hit, poetically reminding us that nature remains a force deserving our respect on and off the trail.

The Cadillac Crew works from Charlottesville, VA to Mercersburg, PA and from Turkey Run in Virginia to Sleepy Creek in West Virginia. We welcome members of all ages. Contact us at ccrewpatc@gmail.com if you’d like an invitation to our trips.

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"What on Earth?"

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:09:58 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Ray Barbehenn

Caterpillars, like most insects, have tiny hairs on their bodies to provide them with a sense of touch. Otherwise, their exoskeletons are about as sensitive as a piece of plastic. However, caterpillars that are covered with long hairs, spines, or bristles are likely using them for self-defense. Sometimes these defenses can make them harmful to touch.

The Woolly Bear caterpillar in the left photo taken by Ray Barbehenn (about two inches long) was galloping across the ground in Duke Hollow (northern Virginia near the AT) on October 26, 2025. This is the time of year when they need to find a safe place to hibernate. Note its bands of stiff black and red-brown bristles. Its head is tucked underneath at the left, partially covered with bristles.

The Saddleback caterpillar in the right photo (about three-fourths of an inch long) was found by David Cox in the foothills of the Blue Ridge (Washington, VA) on August 24, 2024. Its head was tucked under the clusters of spines on the right. Notice the bright white and red-brown eyespot in the "saddle" on its back. It has a low, flattened shape compared to the barrel-like shape of a Woolly Bear.

Which species is dangerous to handle?

A. The Woolly Bear.

B. The Saddleback.

C. Both.

D. Neither.

The answer is near the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

The annual running of the Woolly Bears in the fall, as they search for a place to overwinter, has attracted a lot of attention. And, it has led to one obvious question: "How do they survive through the winter?" Most adult insects freeze to death in the winter. The insects that make it through the winter are usually at the stage of an egg or a pupa (a bullet-shaped structure with a hard, protective shell). Woolly Bears are able to overwinter as caterpillars because they make glycerol, a chemical that is similar to the antifreeze in cars and trucks! They make this glycerol by breaking down some of their stored fat. Antifreeze chemicals keep large ice crystals from forming and rupturing the animal's cells. Thus, they are able to thaw out again in the spring without damage from being nearly solid.

Woolly Bears are fully grown when they hibernate in the fall, and they turn into pupae and then moths soon after they emerge in the spring. However, a relative of the Woolly Bear, the Arctic Woolly Bear, needs to keep growing after it emerges from hibernation. A wonderful video of this caterpillar can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHzEOrtKA1Q . It shows how they withstand seven years of arctic winters before they can finally grow large enough to complete their development into moths.

Forecasting winter weather from the appearance of Woolly Bears is on par with forecasting spring weather by looking at a groundhog's shadow. Supposedly, a wider brown band predicts milder weather, but there has been no scientific research to support this idea. The width of the brown band can vary greatly between the Woolly Bears in one area. Though the internet is full of speculations about what causes the variability in Woolly Bear band width, the cause is not the upcoming winter weather.

Woolly Bears and Saddlebacks have warning coloration – bold colors that are meant to get the attention of would-be predators. It is the opposite of camouflage. Naive predators quickly learn to avoid these caterpillars if they get a mouth full of spines or a painful jolt of poison. Sometimes humans are the naive ones; some toddlers who have tried to swallow Woolly Bears have ended up in the Emergency Room with badly irritated throats! Thus, although Woolly Bears do not sting, their bristles do come off if they are handled roughly. It is not yet known whether Woolly Bears are also defended by toxins that they absorb from some of their food plants. Some of their close relatives (also called "Woolly Bears") do contain toxins from their food plants, and it seems likely that Woolly Bear caterpillars would have toxic defenses to back up their colorful warnings.

A covering of hairs or spines around a caterpillar can be a good defense against predatory or parasitic insects, such as wasps. Yellowjackets and hornets need to be able to get at the surface of a caterpillar to kill it, and parasitic wasps need to land on a caterpillar to lay their eggs inside it. A caterpillar's hairs or bristles can serve as an early warning system: If a wasp touches them, it alarms the caterpillar, causing it to either curl up in a defensive ball or wriggle away violently and escape. Interestingly, though the spines of Saddlebacks are venomous, they do not defend against parasitic wasps as well as a full coat of bristles. Small female parasitic wasps are able to land on the exposed backs of Saddlebacks to inject their eggs. The parasitized Saddlebacks are eaten from the inside by the wasp larvae.

The unpleasant way to find a Saddleback caterpillar is to brush up against one on a leaf. I would compare its sting to that of a wasp, but it will vary with the amount of contact that you have with the caterpillar (the venom dose). Like wasp and bee venom, Saddleback venom evolved to cause pain. (More pain means better survival.) Similarly, your response to the sting can vary from rash-like bumps at the point of contact, to more severe reactions for sensitive or allergic individuals. Some of the more severe symptoms include weakness, nausea and dizziness.

Both Woolly Bear and Saddleback caterpillars can eat a huge range of plant species, including both trees and non-woody plants. Woolly Bear caterpillars prefer to stay on the ground, eating virtually any kind of plant that they run into. Caterpillars usually stay put on one plant for days, if not for their entire lives as caterpillars. The way Woolly Bears move around and graze like little goats is truly remarkable. Saddleback caterpillars prefer to stay in trees and shrubs and are relatively sedentary (normal).

Saddlebacks are also known as "slug" caterpillars. Their flattened bodies and short legs give them an unusually low position. They appear to glide along a leaf surface like a slug. However, they do not secrete mucus and move like a real slug, as is sometimes stated. Instead, Saddlebacks move with a wave-like series of contractions of their body segments from back to front, just like most other caterpillars. See a great video of Saddlebacks crawling at https://www.facebook.com/TheCaterpillarLab/videos/saddleback-caterpillars/1210924645614151/ . Also, notice how they continuously lay down a strand of silk as they move their heads from side to side. This is also normal caterpillar behavior. If they were blown off a leaf, they could hang from this thread.

Answer: B!

Take another look at the spines on the Saddleback. They taper down to sharp black points. In the insect world, structures that are black have typically been hardened. These are not like Woolly Bear bristles; they are meant to penetrate and inflict serious pain. Indeed, the tips of their spines have a weak spot so that they snap off easily, releasing greater amounts of venom and pain in their would-be predators.

Most hairy or bristly caterpillars are safe to handle gently; there are very few species that I would not allow to crawl on my hands. The hairs and bristles of caterpillars do not normally come off and impale your skin if they are just crawling around. If they did, they would get worn off during their daily lives, and they could not grow new ones. However, I have been stung by Saddlebacks, and suggest that any contact with them should be avoided.

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu. Does anyone have a good photo of a Blue Jay, a Crow or a Raven?

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What's that Flower?—Buzzard Rock to Veach Gap in Late Spring

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:09:56 GMT

What's that Flower—Buzzard Rock to Veach Gap in Late Spring

Article and Photos by Richard Stromberg

This article shows you some of the flowers to look for in late spring (mid-April through May) on the Buzzard Rock to Veach Gap hike described in the February 2026 issue of the Potomac Appalachian.

Plantain-leaved Pussytoes ( Antennaria plantaginifolia ) have fluffy, white flower heads atop straight stems up to a foot tall. It is dioecious, which means each plant has unisexual flowers with staminate (male) and pistillate (female) flowers on separate plants. The sexes tend to grow in separate clumps. The male flower head can be up to an inch across and consists of many, tiny, tubular, white flowers with yellow/brown, clumped stamens protruding from the middle of each flower. The female flower head is much narrower and most of what you see are hairs that will eventually help the seeds disperse in the wind. Plantain-leaved Pussytoes has wide basal leaves (greater than 1.5 centimeters) with multiple veins. These big leaves often lie on the ground. The whole plant is wooly, making the green of the leaves look very pale.

Huckleberries are the genus Gaylussacia and Blueberries are Vaccinium . Huckleberry twigs are generally brown, while Blueberries twigs are green. Huckleberry seeds have a hard covering, so, when you eat a Huckleberry, you detect the seeds like little bits of grit. You do not notice the seeds in a Blueberry. Both genera are shrubs. The petals of most of the species are joined and contracted near the mouth where five points flare out. The flowers vary from red to pink to white. Deerberry ( Vaccinium stamineum ) is an exception. Its white flowers dangle like other species but are wide open with protruding stamens. Deerberries fruits are larger than the non-cultivated Blueberries and stay green and are not edible. Black Huckleberry ( Gaylussacia baccata ) is the only common Huckleberry in our area.

Northern Lowbush Blueberry ( V. angustifolium ) and Early Lowbush Blueberry ( V. pallidum ) are the common Blueberry species.

Maleberry ( Lyonia ligustrina ) bushes also look like Blueberry bushes. The white flowers are similar too, though they are more globe-like. The fruit is hard and brown.

Rock Cresses ( Boechera genus) have small, four-petal, white flowers (less than quarter inch). They are tubular, flaring at the tips. Smooth Rock Cress ( Boechera laevigata ) has a smooth stem with entire or slightly toothed leaves that clasp the stem. The long, narrow fruits are flattened and tend to point upward. Sicklepod ( B. canadensis ) may be smooth or hairy at the base. The stem leaves narrow at both ends and may be slightly toothed. The long, flattened fruits curve down like a sickle.

Rattlesnake Weed ( Hieracium venosum ) has green leaves with a pattern of large, dark red veins that you will notice even when there are no flowers. The flower head looks like a small Dandelion hoisted up in the air by a stem up to a meter tall.

Solomon’s Seal ( Polygonatum biflorum ) plants have a single erect or arching stem with several ovate leaves alternating along the stem. The leaves have no stem and have distinct, parallel veins. Flower clusters hang down from the leaf axils, so you must look under the plant to see them. They are shaped like elongated bells with six pointed lobes at the tip. They are greenish white or tinged yellow.

False Solomon’s Seal aka Solomon’s Plume ( Maianthemum racemosum ) plants are like Solomon;s Seal, but the flower clusters grow at the end of the stem. The flower cluster is branched and pyramidal. The individual flowers have six tepals but are only about an eighth of an inch across. (When petals and sepals look alike, they are called tepals.)

A Dwarf Dandelion ( Krigia virginica ) may be taller than a Dandelion, but the flower heads and leaves are smaller and the stems are spindly. Each Dwarf Dandelion plant has many stems, so it looks like a forest compared to the separate or single stems of Dandelion. Each leafless stem has only one flower head. Like a dandelion the flower head has only ray flowers and is yellow.

Black Cherry ( Prunus. serotina ) and Choke Cherry ( P. virginiana ) have long racemes of 20 flowers or more. Each flower is ½-inch or less with numerous stamens filling the center of the flower and five round petals completely separated from each other and narrowing to a claw that attaches to the center of the flower underneath the stamens. Black Cherry is a tree up to 100 feet tall. Its leaves are shiny and the teeth on the edges of the leaves are curved. The bark on larger trunks is broken up into scaly platelets. Choke Cherry is a shrub up to twenty feet tall. Its leaves are dull and wider than black cherry and the teeth point straight out from the leaf.

Venus’ Looking-glass ( Triodanis perfoliata ), has starry purple/blue flowers. Its leaves are small and round and clasp the stem, forming a little cup, and the flowers sprout out of axils of these leaves. The plant is usually about 12 inches tall.

New Jersey Tea ( Ceanothus americanus ) is a small (up to 42 inches) shrub. It has alternate, simple, toothed leaves. Cylindrical clusters of tiny white flowers grow from axils at the top of the shrub. Pollinated flowers develop into small black fruits.

Goat’s Rue ( Tephrosia virginiana ) have typical pea flowers. The upright banner of the one-half to three-quarter-inch flower is white to light yellow, forming a background to the bright pink joined petals called a keel. One or more flowers appear among the leaves at the end of branches. The leaves are pinnate (resembling a feather with leaflets on opposite sides of an elongated axis).

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Keep Calm and Read On: An AT Birthday Gift

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:09:52 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: An AT Birthday Gift

By Wayne Limberg

Thanks to Dan Hippe, SNP North District Hoodlum and Ridgerunner coordinator, for recommending Mills Kelly's new "A Hikers History of the Appalachian Trail.” Kelly is professor emeritus of history at George Mason University and no stranger to PATC. Along with serving as the club's volunteer archivist, he maintains the Manassas Gap shelter on the AT and is on the board of the AT Museum. His 50-episode podcast on the AT, "The Green Tunnel," helped many a homebound hiker maintain their sanity during the pandemic. It is still available online.

"A Hikers History of the Appalachian Trail" comes as the AT turn 100 and follows closely on the heels of Kelly’s "Virginia's Lost Appalachian Trail," which appeared in 2023 and deals with the trail’s relocation in southern Virginia in 1952. Kelly began writing "A Hikers History of the Appalachian Trail" in 2016. For some time, he had believed that most books on the AT with their focus on the trail's founders and builders, while valuable, neglected an important AT population--hikers. He was especially interested in non-thru hikers whose books abound. While he includes an entire chapter on thru-hikers, his main goal in writing "A Hikers History of the Appalachian Trail," was to tell the story of the AT from the bottom up and focus on the hikers that Benton MacKaye had in mind when he proposed the trail’s creation and actually are the majority of hikers on the AT: urban dwellers looking for a few hours or days in nature as an escape from the hurly burly of daily life.

Kelly himself grew up in the suburbs of Northern Virginia. His first AT experience was in the summer of 1971 with the Boy Scouts. It was a disaster on many levels. But he loved it. A year later, Ed Garvey, author of "Appalachian Hiker: Adventure of a Lifetime," spoke to his Boy Scout troop, and Kelly was hooked.

The main sources for "A Hikers History of the Appalachian Trail" were AT shelter logs, contemporary newspaper accounts and ads, and interviews. The book has a short but useful bibliography in the form of a future reading list. Kelly also references sources in the text. Readers are spared footnotes, and Kelly's style is conversational. His chapter on forest bathing and the appeal of nature borders on the lyrical. He includes a raft of contemporary photos, drawings, and advertisements dating back to the AT's creation in the 1920s.

Throughout the book, Kelly tries to strike a balance between readers new to the AT and those with a range of experience on the trail. Thus, despite his promise to look at the trail from the bottom up, he opens with a short chapter on the history of hiking in the US, the birth of the AT, and the trail's construction and use in its early pre-WWII days. Much of this will be familiar to those who have read works like Philip D'Anieri's "The Appalachian Trail: A Biography,” which Kelly includes in his suggested reading list. The chapters are a good introduction to both the trail and book, especially if paired with D'Anieri's. The cast of characters in these chapters includes Emerson, Thoreau and of course MacKaye and Myron Avery as well as organizations like the Appalachian Mountain Club, Sierra Club, and AT Conservancy. Kelly notes that current day hikers would hardly recognize the AT in its early years. A good deal of the trail was a patchwork of old farm and logging roads and footpaths. It was also not as generally wild as the current trail. Outside of New England, shelters or huts were rare. Hikers often hiked from one village to another and depended on the generosity of the locals for food and lodging and other early manifestations of trail magic. Organized group hikes tended to be the rule. For those who ventured out alone, hours even days could pass without seeing others. Thru hikers had yet to appear.

More experienced hikers will find later chapters to be trips down memory lane. In the one on gear, Kelly traces the evolution of packs from Trapper Nelsons to Kelty, Jansport and ultra-lite and the introduction of Vibram soled boots. The chapter on food is particularly fun because of its inclusion of grub lists from the 1920s and 1950 and ads for delicacies like Knorr’s Erbswurst and Dri-Lite.

Some may quibble with Kelly’s choices. When discussing outfitters, he includes LL Bean and even Duluth Trading Co. but makes no mention of REI, nor is there mention of Colin Fletcher’s classic “The Complete Walker.” Some of these omissions may be the result of Kelly’s reliance on the hiker entries in the shelter log books. In any case, he deserves high marks for a chapter on the AT’s history as a “bastion of whiteness.” Kelly also includes a chapter on shelters complete with a copy of the original 1938 plans for one but provides few details on trail maintenance beyond noting that it has fallen mainly to the various regional clubs that make up the ATC. This could be a good sign. We might get another book. We can always hope.

Have you come across a good read? If so, send it along to wplimberg@aol.com . Meanwhile, keep reading and hiking. See you on the trail.

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Practicing Mindfulness on the Trail

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:09:46 GMT

Practicing Mindfulness on the Trail

By Meg Drennan

Step by step, often through snow and frigid temperatures, a band of Buddhist monks recently completed their ‘ Walk for Peace ’ from Fort Worth, TX to Washington, D.C. On the final day of their 2,300 mile journey, they held ceremonies at the Lincoln Memorial and the National Cathedral, where the Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra spoke about mindfulness as the ‘key to peace.’

“All you need to do is just practice mindfulness to unlock that box where you have kept peace and happiness inside … Now it's your job. It's your duty, to find it, and unlock it. You're the only one who can do this,” he said. But how do we start?

First, by unpacking the concept of mindfulness. “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us,” explains Barry Boyce, founding editor of Mindful Magazine .

The concept also refers to cultivating the ability or skills to be mindful, such as through meditation or mindful movement. If this appeals to you, then here are a few tips to get started when you hit the trail this spring.

Tune into your breath: Pausing to pay close attention to your breathing will help orient your mind and thinking to the present moment and your current surroundings. In their book Hiking Zen: Train Your Mind in Nature Pháp Lưu and Phap Xa describe the ancient practice of walking meditation, which is part of daily life at Plum Village , the Buddhist monastery and mindfulness practice center founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in France.

“As monks, we take mindful steps. We go slowly. We keep our mind 100% on breath and steps. We let go of past worries, future worries. We keep in the present. It brings healing. If our mind races, we can calmly bring it back.”

They recount leading seven-week backpacking retreats, starting from the Blue Cliff Monastery in the Catskills and wending their way south through the PATC region. Every moment on the trail, they believe, is an opportunity to practice mindfulness. “Stand on the earth, feel the ground under your feet. Put your hands on the belly, feel it rising and falling. Walk slowly to start. Take one breath with each step. Breathe in, step with your left foot. Breathe out, step with your right foot.”

As you progress, you can add steps as you inhale and exhale. Find a pace, rhythm that helps you to link your breath and steps together. Rather than counting, you might say a simple mantra. Think about what would motivate you or calm your mind. Thich Nhat Hanh suggested, “As we walk, we can say: Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I bring peace into my body.”

Let go of the destination: For many of us, walking is a means to an end - to do errands, to get to our cars. But, the Zen monks observe, “If we only focus on destination, then we miss wonders around us. Walk without somewhere to go.”

Give it a shot. Try not to have a fixed goal in mind when you set out. Rather, reconsider why you’re on the trail. Is it just to complete a five-mile hike or summit a particular mountain? Letting go of a fixed destination will allow you the freedom to experience walking in a different, more mindful way. You may still reach that physical goal, but the experience of getting there will be different. As Ralph Waldo Emerson counseled, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

Boost your senses : To fully engage with your surroundings, try activating all five senses using the simple 5-4-3-2-1 technique. It’s a fun way to engage young hikers as well. Here’s how it works. Stop your hike, look around, and answer these five questions out loud. What are: Five things you see? Four things you hear? Three things you smell? Two things you feel? One thing you taste?

Activating all your senses collectively and intentionally will ground you in the moment and heighten your awareness and appreciation of your immediate environment. It’s also an easy, quick way to stimulate your brain and create new memories.

Re-think your phone: Before hitting the trail, reflect on how the phone fits into your hike. Do you really need to bring it along? If so, then consider these options. Put the phone in airplane mode to minimize distractions and use a paper map to navigate.

Finally, Thich Nhat Hanh advises, “Don’t forget to practice smiling. Your half-smile will bring calm and delight to your steps and your breath and help sustain your attention.”

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President's Logbook

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:38:13 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

I heard someone joke the other day that if his belly was a tree stump, it would have too many tree rings to count. It’s doubtful that he was a PATC member.

It’s winter and we are busier than ever. Our Meetup calendar is full of hikes, the cabin desk is busy, and lots of groups are out working on trails, especially crosscut saw blowdown removal. We’re building muscle, burning calories, and making memories. In a nutshell, that’s why we’re here.

While the Cadillac Crew and the North Chapter and some others never sleep, continuing to work at full scale through the winter, the Hoodlums suspend regular work trips during the winter months, relying instead on smaller subgroups to keep their trails open.

Yesterday (mid-January) for example, the Eager Beavers Hoodlums crew had 14 sawyers on the ground. Two of them were a chainsaw team working the ridgeline while 12 on two crosscut crews were clearing North District blue blaze wilderness area trails in Shenandoah National Park.. We worked until darkness slid down the mountains and filled the valleys.

For those who don’t know, only muscle-powered tools can be used in a federally designated wilderness area. Using a swing blade to weed in mid-summer on steep slopes can be challenging. Otherwise, the crosscut and axe work can be fantastic exercise.

Now for some more good news, our year-end fundraiser exceeded its goal, raising $120,000. That is a fantastic response that is well ahead of previous campaigns. Here’s a heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated to support the club.

It’s also worth noting that we will have elections in November. The club has 12 elected officers who, together, compose the Executive Committee (ExCom). There’s more on club officers here .

We will be appointing two committees to run the election. The first is the nominating committee. Its job is to find and encourage candidates to run for office. The elections committee actually administers the election itself. Our elections are online, so administering the election process, a candidate forum if needed, and other functions is straight forward.

If you are interested in serving as an elected officer or on either committee, please contact Evan Hoffmann, staff director, at: ehoffmann@patc.net or John Hedrick, outgoing nominations committee chair at: jhedrick@erols.com .

Dan Hippe, ridgerunner coordinator, is hiring ridgerunners for this season. Ridgerunners are seasonal employees who spend the summer hiking the AT helping hikers and serving as the eyes and ears for the club, ATC and the park service. They report needed trail maintenance, render first aid, coach Leave No Trace, and scoop up trash as needed. They must be expert backpackers with diplomatic personalities. Contact: Dan Hippe at: dhippe@patc.net .

Earlier in January, club leaders with responsibilities in Shenandoah National Park had their annual meeting with park leaders at PATC headquarters in Vienna. The park faces challenges along with the other parks in the system. The club pledged to step up to support the park in appropriate areas.

Shenandoah was PATC’s first national park and our largest partner. In total, we have around 400 volunteers in the park during any given year.

Stay busy and don’t let your belly grow any extra tree rings!

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Buzzard Rock to Veach Gap Trail

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:38:11 GMT

Buzzard Rock to Veach Gap Trail

By Josh Silverman

Photos: Views Along Buzzard Rock by Annetta DePompa and Tim Muzzio

Here is a challenging, 10.5 miles hike, with 2400’ elevation gain with spectacular views.

The hike includes several views of the Passage Creek Gorge in Fort Valley to the west and Page Valley and the Blue Ridge to the east. This is a one-way hike, so cars will be needed both at the beginning and the end of the hike. Start the hike early as both parking areas tend to fill up quickly in fair weather, and the parking area for the Veach Gap trail is not very large. Coordinates for the Buzzard Rock parking area on VA-619, Mountain Road, are 38.93775,-78.28861 and the Veach Gap parking area on Rte. 774, Veach Gap Road, 38.87613,-78.37785.

Begin the hike from the Buzzard Rock parking area. From the Buzzard Rock trailhead, follow the white-blazed trail for 1.5 miles as it ascends to the saw-toothed, east ridge of Massanutten Mountain. The slope is gentle at first but becomes steeper as it bends to the left and approaches the ridge. At the north end of the ridge is a view of the ponds of the Fish Cultural Station and the northern Shenandoah Valley. Along the ridge itself the trail becomes narrow and requires stepping up and down on rocks and squeezing between them, with narrow footing on very steep slopes.

Proceed along the ridge for 0.5 miles to a viewpoint along the sharply tilted rocks to the right, looking 700 feet down into Passage Creek Gorge. Across the gorge is the Buzzard Rock Overlook on the Massanutten Trail. Continue along various peaks and sags (ascents and descents are steep and rocky here). The trail becomes broader and less rocky as it approaches the Front Royal Overlook to the left in 0.8 miles. After an additional 0.6 miles, the Buzzard Rock Trail reaches its highest point and then descends gently for 0.6 miles. It ends at the junction of the orange-blazed Massanutten Trail, the blue-blazed Tuscarora Trail, and the yellow-blazed Shawl Gap Trail. The total distance on the Buzzard Rock Trail is just under four miles. Take the second left to go south on the Massanutten Trail/Tuscarora Trail.

The trail soon begins a steep ascent up a sidehill with stone steps and a steep drop-off with a very rocky tread. After 0.4 miles it reaches the ridge again and continues with various peaks and sags, for 1.75 miles to Sherman Gap.

The pink-blazed Sherman Gap Trail makes a T-intersection with the Massanutten Trail coming in from the right and then resumes its divergent path to the left in another 0.15 miles.

After the Sherman Gap diverges from the Massanutten/Tuscarora Trail, continue ascending for 0.2 miles and follow the trail over the twisting ridge where the Massanutten and Little Crease Mountains join. After an additional 0.7 miles the trail comes to The Point Overlook, with a magnificent view of Page Valley and the Blue Ridge. Several bends of the oxbows of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River can be seen. Depending on the starting time of the hike, this viewpoint is a good place to have lunch.

After leaving the overlook, in 0.2 miles the trail descends nearly 1000 feet on switchbacks to the drainage area between the Massanutten and Little Crease Mountains. Use caution, for portions of this descent are extremely rocky. Continue for 0.4 miles to a left turn at the head of Mill Run.

At this point the trail becomes significantly flatter and less rocky. Continue for 1.8 miles to the intersection with the Veach Gap Trail coming in from the right. The total distance on the Massanutten/Tuscarora Trail is slightly over 5.5 miles.

Turn right onto the yellow-blazed Veach Gap Trail. This delightful trail crosses Mill Run in about 0.2 miles (use caution—the rocks can get slippery here) and passes through the beautiful Veach Gap, a water gap in Little Crease Mountain. Go past a turnoff to the right 0.2 miles past the stream crossing and a second turnoff after 0.1 mile; both of these lead to private property. Continue on the trail to the Veach Gap parking area. The total distance on Veach Gap Trail is slightly under 1.2 miles.

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What’s that Flower?

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 23:37:54 GMT

What’s that Flower?

Article and Photos by Richard Stromberg

This article shows you some of the flowers to look for in early spring (March to mid-April) on the Buzzard Rock to Veach Gap hike described in this issue of The Potomac Appalachian.

Trailing arbutus ( Epigaea repens ) plants run along the ground, never more than an inch or two high. It produces clusters of pink to white flowers as early as February. It has shiny, evergreen leaves.

The Spring Beauty ( Claytonia virginica ) plant is only a few inches high. The flower has five white petals with pink-purple veins and pink anthers. It has strap-like leaves.

Dwarf Cinquefoil ( Potentilla canadensis ) half-inch, yellow flowers with five petals. Its leaves have five leaflets with teeth on the edges but not all the way to the stem of the leaflet.

Common Bluets ( Houstonia caerulea ) are half-inch blue flowers with a yellow center, less than eight inches tall. Each flower is on a single stem. Four petals flare out from a narrow tube presenting a flat top to the eye. The rosette of tiny leaves at the base and even smaller leaves on the stems are hardly noticeable. The blue varies from dark to almost white.

Golden-alexanders ( Zizia aurea ) have a flat-topped inflorescence with the flower stems arising from a common point like the struts of an umbrella. The tiny flowers are yellow. The leaves are two or three times divided. The leaflets are toothed.

Three Violet species may be seen on this hike. Violet flowers have five petals with the lower petal larger or different-shaped than the side and upper pairs of petals. The plants are usually only a few inches tall with basal leaves. Common Blue Violet ( Viola sororia ) has 1-inch, blue/violet flowers and heart-shaped, pointed leaves. Wood Violet ( Viola palmata ) has 1-inch, blue/violet flowers and leaves with many small lobes. Birdfoot Violet ( Viola palmata ) has flowers that are larger than one inch and have pale purple petals, sometimes with dark violet upper petals, with orange stamens in the middle. The leaves are deeply divided into narrow lobes, like a bird’s foot.

Moss Phlox ( Phlox subulata ) is low-growing, forming mats. Purple flowers are up to an inch across. Petals flare out from narrow tubes and are notched at the tip. The leaves are entire (no lobes or teeth) and are in pairs, opposite each other.

Early Saxifrage ( Micranthes virginiensis ) erect, branched stems rise above basal leaves. The up-to-three-inch long leaves are egg-shaped, tapering to the stem and toothed at the tips. The 1/4-inch flowers are white spreading from a stem about a foot tall.

Eastern Redbud ( Cercis Canadensis ) is small tree or shrub with bright magenta flowers that fill the branches before the leaves appear. The flowers have the typical pea-family form: the large upper, notched petal called the banner; two smaller, wing petals; and two petals at the bottom that are fused and look like the bottom of a boat or canoe and are called the keel. The flowers grow in tightly bunched clusters of three to nine flowers on old growth even on the main trunk.

Two species of Serviceberry are commonly seen along PATC area trails. They both grow as shrubs or trees up to 20 meters tall. Downy Serviceberry ( Amelanchier arborea ) leaves are small and folded when the flowers open and are wooly underneath. Smooth Serviceberry ( A. laevis ) leaves are half grown when the flowers open and are smooth underneath. Serviceberry flowers have many stamens in the middle and five petals. The petals are white and longer and narrower than other spring flowering Rose family fruit trees and are often irregularly arranged.

Wild Pink ( Silene carolinana ) is only a few inches tall. It has inch-wide, pink or white flowers with well-separated petals that are pinked (scalloped) at the tip.

Squawroot aka Bear Corn ( Conopholis americana ) is parasitic on Oaks. It has no stem or leaves. A fat flower stalk that looks like a pinecone arises from the ground with many cream-colored flowers, each protected by a brown scale.

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A First Day Tradition

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:38:07 GMT

A First Day Tradition

By James Fye

Lynn and Malcolm Cameron are dedicated to the trails of the Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter and the North River District. They have led a First Day hike since 1988, and this year was no exception. Nineteen hikers braved low temperatures and high winds to climb from Braley Pond Day Use Area to the overlook on Bald Ridge. This seven mile out-and-back hike has been the go-to hike for a decade. The news of the event went out over email, Facebook, and Meetup so hikers even came from east of the Blue Ridge. Jim Fye assisted as co-leader since the group was so large. Larry Ragland and Craig Sease are co-maintainers on the Bald Ridge Trail, and both were along on the hike. Craig stated that he liked the fellowship of the day and the “invigorating” weather. And we all appreciated the great shape the trails are in.

Karen and Mike Waterman also helped with the festivities by offering an easier hike along Madison Run Fire Road. Thirteen hikers met in Grottoes to hike in/out for a total of about four miles. Both hikes helped continue the First Day Tradition of starting the New Year off on the trail.

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Learning the Avenza Maps App in the Classroom and on the Trail

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:38:04 GMT

Learning the Avenza Maps App in the Classroom and on the Trail

Article by Jeff Monroe, photos by Marit Anderson

With the recent introduction of PATC’s Shenandoah map updates on the Avenza app, a number of members in the Charlottesville and Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapters requested a class covering Avenza use on the trail. January is a good time to do this, so 16 PATC members met at the Crozet (Virginia) Library on Saturday, January 10 to learn more about how to use Avenza and how it differs from other mapping apps used by hikers.

The library session also compared Avenza to the hiking app Gaia GPS and why the class leader insists that Gaia is superior to the widely used AllTrails app. Hosting and teaching the class was Jeff Monroe , Hikes Committee member and co-chair of the PATC’s GIS Committee responsible for updating PATC trail maps and preparing them for uploading to the Avenza store.

After the library portion, many of the attendees reconvened at a nearby county park and field tested their knowledge of Avenza’s capabilities, using a free map of the park downloaded to participants’ smartphones from the Avenza map store.

Avenza now publishes electronic versions of all three of PATC’s Shenandoah National Park (SNP) trail maps, allowing users who have purchased those maps to determine their exact location while on the trail in an area covered by those maps. Monroe recounted how he uses these maps extensively on Avenza while volunteering for PATC’s Trail Patrol within the SNP boundaries. Screenshots document the location of trail issues that merit further action by other PATC volunteers.

Of particular interest to the attendees:

The Avenza app comes in both a free and a paid version, but almost everyone can use the free version without restrictions. The paid version is most important to the small percentage of users who upload a lot of their own maps to the app.

Like other hiking/mapping apps, Avenza can be used on phones even when there is no cell service. The GPS functionality of current cellphones does not require connectivity to work and inform the user of current location. Simply download the required map in advance.

Avenza’s store is much broader than just hiking maps. Monroe recounted his use of both Avenza and Gaia GPS when touring Florence and Rome last year because the Avenza library included great free tourist maps of each city that could be uploaded in advance.

One of the disappointing aspects of Avenza is the occasional difficulty in locating maps available in a predetermined area. Searching for “Shenandoah National Park,” for example, should give priority to maps of the national park, but in practice, maps outside of the park were the first ones that came up during a recent search. Maps should be listed in order of distance from the search term.

Avenza does allow users in the Avenza Store to search by the age of the map, allowing everyone to realize just how old the National Geographic maps are compared with PATC maps–just one of many superior aspects of PATC maps!

Avenza maps can be updated in between print runs. Recent trail construction in the PATC’s Entry Run district adjoining the SNP Central District (not found on any print maps) can be added to the Avenza version of Map 10 even though that map will not be reprinted for several years. Users are notified of map updates, which are included in the purchase price.

Avenza and Gaia GPS have different strengths and can be used in conjunction with each other. Monroe recounted his personal experience in Florence, Italy switching between each app. Avenza’s store included a free tourist map that was downloaded in advance and used often, while Gaia GPS allows for adding different types of waypoints in advance to its map, so the tourist can map their own critical locations before traveling, such as the train station, hotel, recommended restaurants, museums, historic sites, and even–in Florence–the famous “Wine Windows” where tourists can purchase a glass of wine to go!

He also discussed his use of Gaia GPS while on Spain’s Camino Primitivo in 2024. Downloading previous pilgrims’ public tracks to Gaia meant that he was never lost and always had other users’ routes to review along the way, limiting the stress of an insufficient command of the Spanish language.

AllTrails routes are not nearly as reliable as other sources because AllTrails attracts newer hikers and the data uploaded is often of questionable quality. The discussion included this quote found online, “More than once, using both apps, I’ve found Gaia was on track while AllTrails wanted us to be 100 yards away in the middle of underbrush.”

Monroe added that his premium Gaia subscription allows access to a layer indicating private property ownership, which is essential for off-trail explorations in the national forest.

Following 90 minutes of class time, many of the participants headed out to a nearby park for hands-on experience. Because of rain, the class convened under a covered picnic pavilion to practice creating waypoints and adding information and photos to the waypoints. When the rain temporarily subsided, the class practiced tracking their route. A trip to Crozet Pizza (once named “Best in the World” by National Geographic) completed the day, where the group discussed the possibility of a follow-up class in the future covering how to upload waypoint details to Gaia similar to the Monroe’s Camino experience.

Editor’s Note about GPS Map Apps

My friends and I have had good success with AllTrails. David Caviness said, “A few years ago I used Gaia and I found it more difficult to draw my own routes and there was no reviews or comments on a particular trail or route. AllTrails has that and drawing was much easier so I went back to AllTrails.” Routes on Gaia or AllTrails can be off, but you don’t follow the route into the brush. You stay on the trail. Of course, routes derived from actual tracks are most accurate. — RS

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PATC Joins Paris Mountain Alliance to Oppose Commercial Development Near AT

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:38:02 GMT

PATC Joins Paris Mountain Alliance to Oppose Commercial Development Near AT

By Lowell Smith with Laura Greenleaf

More than a century ago, Benton MacKaye envisioned what would become the Appalachian Trail: not just a 2,000-mile hiking path along the Appalachian Mountain range, but a place belonging to all. A place apart from the rapidly industrializing urban centers along the Eastern Seaboard where the work-weary could find respite, solitude, and reconnection with the natural world.

Eleven miles of MacKaye’s vision—the infamous “roller coaster”— lie between Ashby Gap and Snickers Gap on Paris Mountain. The Appalachian Trail is one feature of an area defined by conservation—across Route 50, the trail runs through the 1,900-acre Sky Meadows State Park, which exists because of the conservation legacy of philanthropist Paul Mellon. Much of the land in the national and state listed Crooked Run Valley Rural Historic District is under conservation easement to preserve in perpetuity the valley’s rural character and agricultural, natural, and scenic resources. But a commercial development proposal threatens this tradition of conservation and the treasured landscape that has endured because of it.

Fairfax-based Mountain Resort LLC and NY-based Eastwind Hotels have submitted a pre-application to Loudoun County to develop 150 acres on the southeastern slope of Paris Mountain into Eastwind Blue Ridge, an exclusive hotel, restaurant, spa, and event facility. The 17-partner Paris Mountain Alliance has mobilized to oppose the development which would include two hotel buildings for a total of 40 rooms running $400 to $600 a night, an 88-seat restaurant, and a spa/wellness center plus wells, septic, and parking lots. The property encompasses Clarke, Fauquier, and Loudoun counties, but the developers are planning to construct Phase 1 entirely in Loudoun County where zoning is less protective and intentions for Phases 2 and 3 are uncertain. The developers plan to route traffic from the narrow Mount Weather Road access spur from westbound Route 50 and onto Blue Ridge Mountain Road along a hairpin turn just south of the Appalachian Trail parking area.

The resources at risk cannot be overstated. According to state agencies, they include:

forest value categorized as “outstanding” and habitat within the Crooked Run-Goose Creek watershed associated with 28 Species of Greatest Conservation Need
steep slopes identified by Loudoun County as “very sensitive”, “sensitive” and “somewhat sensitive”
shrinking reserves of groundwater documented in a recent Loudoun County study that sounds the alarm on chronic drought conditions and over-development
surface waters that are a critical habitat component and support the mountain ecosystem, and
the beauty of an intact mountainside not scarred by roads, buildings, parking areas, and lighting.

Unfortunately, the developers’ logging operations, which did not comply with regulations, have already fragmented the forest and created vectors for the spread of invasive plants, increasing the reservoir of invasive species reaching the Appalachian Trail.

This new threat of commercial development on Paris Mountain calls us to heed Benton MacKaye’s principled recognition that “. . . a realm and not merely a trail marks the full aim of our efforts.” Stewardship of the Appalachian Trail encompasses the sweeping landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains as an integral whole—rural character, ecosystem health, wildlife habitat and migration corridors, climate resiliency, scenic viewsheds, and tranquility. As the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) notes in its focus on landscape scale conservation, “Experts agree that the Appalachian Trail Landscape must be conserved and connected to maintain its resilience and biodiversity while protecting species’ current and future opportunities to move across eastern North America.” (For more on the ATC’s conservation mission, read “C is for Conservation” in the Fall 2025 centennial issue of Journeys.)

This same ethic guides PATC as it joins its fellow mountain defenders in the Paris Mountain Alliance. Mountain Resort LLC and Eastwind Hotels have not yet submitted their formal application. The outlook for decisions by appointed and elected officials requiring public hearings is unclear, but the odds are that the fate of Paris Mountain is in the hands of Loudoun County leaders. The Paris Mountain Alliance will provide updated information as it becomes available. To get involved, please contact PATC’s Lowell Smith at patcconserve@gmail.com.

You can read the Paris Mountain Alliance’s recent press release and see a full list of members here .

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Park Service Issues RFP for Redevelopment of Rock Creek Tennis Center

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:37:59 GMT

Park Service Issues RFP for Redevelopment of Rock Creek Tennis Center

By Alan Kahan

The National Park Service recently issued a request for proposals for redevelopment of the Rock Creek Tennis Center (16th and Kennedy Streets, NW). This project is being fast-tracked and apparently bypasses regular National Park Service procedures for such leases. The Request for Proposals deadline was January 20, 2026.

Included in the RFP is a draft lease agreement with a proposed site map that closely resembles a redevelopment concept circulated earlier this year by Mark Ein, the Washington-area businessman who runs the DC Open professional tennis tournament, and first reported on in June by WAMU. That concept can be seen as part of a change.org petition that displays before and after map renderings that show the extent of the redevelopment. There is also a recent article in The Washington Post (dated 1/9/2026) about the tennis center renovation.

Of particular concern to some PATC members is the paving over of the picnic area for parking on the south side of the tract and the building out of the playground space on the west side. This will create more impermeable surfaces that have the potential to increase water runoff down to Rock Creek and negatively affect adjacent forest habitat and the Valley Trail down the hill from the tennis center.

PATC members may want to strongly recommend that, as part of the process, community input should be sought and an environmental impact assessment should be carried out. If you are concerned about or opposed to this potential redevelopment plan, please contact:

Brian Joyner
Rock Creek Park Superintendent
3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW, Washington, DC 20008
202/895-6000

Jessica Bowron
Acting Chief of NPS
1849 C St NW, Washington, DC 20240
202/208-6843

To send an email, you will have to use the National Park Service website at https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/contactus.htm

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"What on Earth?"

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:37:56 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Article and Photo by Raymond Barbehenn

The howls of coyotes along the AT can make you want to stay inside your tent at night. If it seems like there are a lot more of them howling now than in the past, you are right. Coyotes only began making their way into our area in the late 1980s. They are now the dominant predators in most of the eastern United States and Canada, and they are here to stay. However, the more you learn about them, the less concerned you may become. They are most active after dark, but flexible about hunting during the day if they need to. The coyote in the above photo was hunting near the AT in Duke Hollow (northern Virginia) on October 3, 2025. It was probably a young adult hunting solo. Notice its dark-tipped bushy tail, tall, pointed ears, and narrow snout.

Why do coyotes howl?

A. They are calling other pack members to come together.

B. They are warning other coyotes to stay out of their territory.

C. They are frightening prey animals into the open.

D. A and B

The answer is at the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

Coyotes are primarily carnivores, feeding on a wide range of prey: insects, mice, rabbits, and even an occasional deer. Although they are considered pack animals, they typically hunt alone or with one or a few family members. Their social groups are families—usually a mother and father with their offspring. These families establish stable territories that vary in size from 5-25 square miles depending on the amount of food available in an area. The two parents remain together for life. Each year, mother coyotes have a two-month pregnancy during the winter and give birth in the spring. The father brings food to the mother and pups in their den, which is typically underground, in a rocky outcrop, or in a hollow tree. Young coyotes (commonly six pups per litter) grow to full size in about nine months. Both parents feed their offspring until they are able to hunt for themselves. They leave the breeding den permanently in the early summer (June to July). Grown offspring often roam away from their families later in the summer (August).

The successful expansion of coyotes into eastern North America had two main causes: coyotes are unusually resourceful animals and we created a landscape that favors them. The wide range of prey that they hunt is essential, but they are also good scavengers of animal carcasses. In addition, they have a taste for fruit, such as berries. Their success in urban and suburban areas comes from their ability to get part of their nutrition from our garbage. Coyotes are normally most active in the hours after sunset and before dawn. However, to avoid people, they push off their hunting deep into the night when we are asleep.

The great forests that once covered the eastern United States did not suit coyotes; they were animals of the plains and prairies. As European settlers moved westward in the 1800s, they cleared these forests for agriculture and largely eliminated the coyote's competitors (gray wolves and cougars). As a result, two waves of coyotes began to move eastward. One wave of coyotes moved to the northeast around the Great Lakes through Canada toward New England. A second wave of coyotes moved eastward along a front that extended from the Great Lakes south to the Gulf of Mexico.

Coyotes ( Canis latrans ) look similar to dogs ( Canis familiaris ) and gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) because they are closely related and capable of interbreeding. The coyotes in the northeastern U.S. are larger (weighing 30-40 pounds) than those in our area (weighing 20-30 pounds) because of interbreeding between the northeastern coyotes and Canadian gray wolves (weighing 60-145 pounds). Interestingly, the larger northeastern coyotes have been moving south, and are expected to converge with the smaller coyotes in our area. However, recent (2017) testing of over 100 coyotes in Virginia and West Virginia found that roughly 90% of them were still genetically similar to western coyotes. Of course, further mixing of traits from northeastern coyotes and even dogs is to be expected in the future.

The topic of coyotes is fraught with emotion: "They're eating our pets!" "They're hunting our deer!" "They kill people!" Cats and small dogs wandering outdoors in the darkness are easy prey for coyotes. Although there is little information on the numbers of pets and strays that are taken by coyotes in the U.S., even a single lost pet is sure to stir anger towards coyotes.

Hunters often take pride in shooting coyotes, believing that they are killing pests that are hurting the deer population. However, this popular opinion is not supported by the research of wildlife biologists. The roughly 400,000 coyotes shot by hunters each year are quickly replaced by new coyotes moving into the vacated territories, as well as by more baby coyotes. Importantly, coyotes in our area do not usually hunt adult deer or kill enough fawns to make an impact on the deer population. The sick and weak deer that coyotes do kill would likely have died anyway, meaning that the coyotes are not adding substantially to the total number of deer dying each year. This finding led wildlife biologists in Pennsylvania to conclude that coyotes have a negligible impact on the deer population. Even the adult deer eaten by the larger northeastern coyotes in New York were found to be primarily road kills (92% road kills vs. 8% prey).

Finally, are coyotes really a danger to people? No. There have been only two people killed by coyotes in the U.S. in the past 300 years. By comparison, 468 people were killed by dogs in the U.S in just 10 years (2011-2021)!

None of the above argues against the potential local problems or ecological changes that coyotes can cause. The question here is what is the overall impact of this species in the eastern U.S. Certainly, the red foxes wish that coyotes were not here; they get chased around and marginalized where the two species now coexist.

Answer: D!

Coyote calls are remarkably diverse—not just howls, but also barks, yips and other sounds. These vocalizations are their language. They howl to call distant family members together. And, they howl to ward off outside coyotes from their territories. Much like dogs, their barks and yips and growls are used to communicate about danger or for play or aggression. Barking coyotes sound so similar to dogs that you could easily mistake the two, as I have. A video of coyote calls can be seen at https://youtu.be/l-0aK59t42g . (Some of the scenes are from Canada, showing larger coyotes and even a tussle with a lynx!).

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu.

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Keep Calm and Read On: The Last Ranger

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 23:37:50 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: The Last Ranger

By Wayne Limberg

A shout out to David Cox for recommending this month's book selection, Peter Heller's "The Last Ranger." Heller is a bestselling author of eight novels, including "The Guide" and "The Painter," which was a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize and won the Reading the West Book Award. In addition, he has written for Outside magazine, National Geographic, and NPR. He is squarely in the Western school of American writers with the likes of Ivan Doig and even Wallace Stegner.

"The Last Ranger" has a lot in common with Callan Wink's "Beartooth," which was reviewed in the November 2025 issue of the PA . Both books are set in current day Yellowstone National Park and the hardscrabble communities bordering it. Both deal with poaching. Both are good reads, whose authors have a real talent for describing the natural world and whose protagonists are trying to come to terms with earlier life tragedies. Both authors are grads of the Iowa Writers Workshop.

"The Last Ranger," however, takes a decidedly different turn. Where Wink's protagonist is living more or less outside the law, Heller's is a law enforcement ranger named Ren who is doing his best to protect the park and its human and animal inhabitants. In the process, Heller provides a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement in a big national park, complete with locals, tourists, moose, wolves, and bears and how they do or don't get along. A bonus comes in the way of the book's second main character, Hilly, who is Ren's neighbor in the cabin area reserved for park staff and a wildlife biologist researching Yellowstone's wolf population. In the course of the book, she schools Ren—and readers—in wolves and their behavior.

Heller’s publisher Alfred A. Knopf markets "The Last Ranger" as a mystery/thriller, but that may be a stretch. While there are some exciting moments, they do not drive the narrative. "The Last Ranger" is a page turner for other reasons. Nor is “The Last Ranger” a classic whodunnit. Rather, it is more of a why-dunnit. Early on, Ren confronts the book's main antagonist, Les, a suspected poacher. Ren is convinced that Les is harvesting pelts illegally and sets a leg trap near Hilly's wolf observation post that nearly kills her. After consulting with the local sheriff, who shares his suspicions, Ren realizes he cannot press charges because of lack of evidence. From that point on, tensions build as Ren seeks more evidence and Hilly makes it clear that she is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect her beloved wolves. The narrative shifts from plot to character development as Hilly's and Ren's relationship deepens and as Ren searches for why Les is breaking the law.

Along the way, Heller introduces additional—and familiar—characters, including a grizzled old park maintenance man and his sassy wife who runs the local bar, the sheriff who has seen it all, and a Native American and his daughter who remove animals killed in the park. At the same time, he introduces some subplots that may or may not be connected to the larger story. In one case, Ren discovers a rash of vandalism and at first suspects Les, but soon uncovers a group of well-heeled—and armed—locals who would love to see the park disappear. To that end they are recruiting gullible young white men to wreak havoc in the park. Trope? Stereotypes? Red herrings? Maybe, but they keep readers guessing and the narrative moving.

In interviews, Heller has explained his approach to writing. Since his earliest days, he has been fascinated with poetry, his main course of study in the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Along the way, he, like many others, learned that journalism and novel writing were more dependable sources of income. He continues, however, to be a poet at heart in that he has to have an opening line that sings before he can get down to writing a book. He does not start with an organized plot and character sketches. Rather, he lets the story and characters take him where they want to. Some might find this a bit quirky, yet his eight novels and loyal readership seem to testify that it works. In "The Last Ranger" this is best seen in the development of Les' character and backstory. He does not come across as your typical one-dimensional villain despite his rough exterior. Heller's use of language and images at times can be lyrical if not downright poetic whether he is describing a trout rising to a fly or the howls of lonely wolves. More than one reviewer has compared his writing to that of William Kent Kruger's in such books as "The Tender Land" and “Ordinary Grace.

Given his approach to his writing, it should come as no surprise that Heller does not necessarily tie up every storyline at the end of the book. Still, "The Last Ranger” literally ends with a satisfying bang—or two—leaving readers asking for more. The good news is that his twelfth book, "The Burn," came out last year to good reviews.

Do you have a good read? If so, send it along to wplimberg@aol.com . Meanwhile, keep reading and stay safe. See you on the trail.

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President's Logbook

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:50 GMT

President's Logbook

Jim Fetig

This past spring, a red fox gave birth to four kits underneath our sunroom which sits on a foundation of eight pillars about 14 inches above the ground. The space is safe for a new fox family. It can be defended against coyotes or other predators.

The kits reminded us of puppies. They chewed everything including our screens and the wind curtain for our gazebo. We found “trophies” in the yard, including a toddler’s shoe, dog toys and plastic trash.

The presence of the fox family and watching them play and grow was the highlight of our year.

As 2025 draws to a close, PATC and our independent special interest sections have come to the amicable decision to separate. As both Ski Touring and Mountaineering have long been a part of PATC’s DNA, we wish them the best of luck as the transition to their new independent organizations: Potomac Nordic Ski Club and the Potomac Mountain Club. We look forward to our future collaborations with both organizations.

I would sincerely like to thank the team that worked with both sections throughout this process and acknowledge the contributions of Vice President of Volunteerism Jayne Mayne , General Counsel Lindsey Scannell and Staff Director Evan Hoffmann .

As PATC looks forward to 2026 and adopting more best practices for a non-profit of its size, our new General Counsel has been conducting a risk assessment. Based on this assessment, some new policies will be rolling out during 2026 after approval from the Executive Committee and Council. We hope that these policies will strengthen our organization for years to come.

In other news, District Manager for Tuscarora South, Bob Gaylord , was elected Supervisor of Membership by the Executive Committee following Anne Brown ’s resignation. In addition, Juliana Nicolini was elected Secretary. The previous secretary resigned several months ago. Please welcome them aboard.

There is a lot to look forward to in 2026. We will have elections for new officers in the fall. The centennial celebrations will kick off then as well, running through our 100th birthday in November 2027. Rush Williamson , Supervisor of Trails, is working with the USFS and ATC to expand our ability to train and certify sawyers. Meanwhile, enjoy the winter months on the trails. Some say it’s the best time to hike and camp, as the crowds have vanished, and the tracks in the snow spell out stories that go unseen in the greener months.

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Hoodlums Overcome Government Shutdown Uncertainty to Work A.T. Sections

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:47 GMT

Hoodlums Overcome Government Shutdown Uncertainty to Work A.T. Sections

By Tom Moran

A dark cloud hung over planning for the November Hoodlums outing in Shenandoah National Park. While the club had been given permission to perform maintenance activities on the Appalachian Trail within the park, they were not permitted to work on other trails maintained by the club. As the November 15 ^th Hoodlums outing date approached, the Hoodlums’ leadership had a dilemma – over 30 people had registered to work but most of the intended work areas were on blue blazed trails – off limits under the terms of the shutdown. So the group was scaled back to better fit the available projects on the A.T. As it turned out, the shutdown was ended just 2 days before the Hoodlums outing but the die was cast – a smaller group would work the planned A.T. projects.

Marie Seymour led a crew up the A.T. on the south side of Pass Mountain from Thornton Gap to address water bar and check dam issues previously reported. Michael Gergely, George Jones, and Chris Viggiano rounded out the crew, which cleared the trail structures as they proceeded uphill. They built 2 new rock check dams, as well as added 2 log ones. Not satisfied, they also cleared 2 7” blowdowns and another multi-limb crown from the trail before hiking out.

A crew including Connor Moynihan, Jamie Benson, Kyle Brost, and leader Tom Moran parked at Beahms Gap and hiked south, up and over Pass Mountain on the A.T. A scouting trip the previous weekend indicated eight blowdowns on the section, which the crew cleared as well as additional loose limb and trunk chunks. The crew carried a vintage Jemco 42” saw checked out from the PATC HQ tool cache, freshly sharpened and ready to cut. At each blowdown they walked through the OHBEC framework to analyze and execute each cut. This framework for bucking downed trees is substantially the same for chainsaw versus crosscut sawyers. All crew members were encouraged to voice their opinions on each step as the crew addressed each blowdown. At a high level the OHBEC framework steps are:

O=Objective; H=Hazards B=Binds; E=Escape Routes; C=Cuts

In addition to the blowdowns, several “spring poles” were present, providing the crew an opportunity to execute steps to mitigate the special risks these hazards present to maintainers.

Wayne Limberg, Richard Lee and Randy Butler plus new Hoodlum recruit Kevin Furey returned to the AT south of Compton Gap to finish up some rehab work they started during the Hoodlums' October work trip. They were later joined by club President Jim Fetig and his chainsaw. Fewer hikers and Jim's saw meant more completed work. The crew rehabbed seven checkdams and put in a new waterbar along with cleaning waterbars and checkdams they did not get to in October. The section is ready for winter.

Rosemary Seymour, Greg Foster, Jim Fetig and crew lead Justin Corddry drove to Compton Gap and hiked down Justin’s A.T. section hunting a blowdown. Once vanquished by Jim’s commercial grade Stihl, Jim departed to join Wayne’s crew and was replaced by Terry Shaw. The crew then tackled the cleaning out of a 200’ lateral drain. These structures abound in SNP and are anything but “sustainable”, in that they require frequent maintenance to remain effective. Still, they perform a critical function in keeping trails passable so the crew did its work without hesitation.

Due to the early sunset and colder temperatures, no pot-luck is typically held in November so all the crews headed out upon completion of their work for the day.

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Rehab in Sky Meadows State Park

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:44 GMT

Rehab in Sky Meadows State Park

By Daniel and Ellen Feer

Sky Meadows is a beautiful park. If you haven’t visited, you should add it to your list. The AT runs through it along the ridge, but there are miles of other trails that lead to interesting places. The Ambassador Whitehouse is one of those trails. In 2016 the crew built a set of stairs using 7 rather large stones and it has been a favorite of the crew ever since. Now almost 10 years later, our crew member, Steve Phillips maintains this trail and he asked us to stop by to look at a section of the trail just down the hill from those stairs.

The mineral soil on this section of trail is pretty close to the surface but when water runs straight down it erosion still happens. Rolling grade dips and a relocation were needed. Kathryn Roddy , the Trails Coordinator at the park, walked the trail with us ( Steve and Barbara Phillips , Ellen and Dan Feer, Robert Fina , Jon and Katherine Rindt and Tysha Robinson ) and made sure our plan was approved before we started work.

Several design points need to be kept in mind when relocating a trail like the slope of the hill, where the new section starts and ends, and is there a pretty anchor at the switchback. Ambassador Whitehouse delivered. We relocated the trail so the switchback was right at a large pile of rocks. Hikers have probably been curious about them for years but never had a way to get there.

The weekend of the work trip gave us great weather and Steve and Barb hosted at their lovely home. Saturday morning we had breakfast and hit the trail. We walked down the stairs previously built and got started. Leading up to the relocation we cut several grade dips to manage the water, but on the new section of trail we were able to lay it out with grade reversals (a subtler version of a grade dip) to keep the water moving across the trail, not down it.

By late Sunday morning, it was clear we would finish the relocation, so we started doing our favorite thing, rubbling in the old trail. Leaves go down first to break the speed of rain drops and help prevent the spread of invasive plants, then rocks and logs. In the end, hikers just started walking down the new trail before it was open, and I’m sure some of them didn’t even notice.

A couple days later, Kathryn Roddy sent us a note with this lovely quote: “I hiked up to check out the reroute on the Ambassador Whitehouse Trail this morning. It is B-E-A-utiful! Thank you for contributing to the safety, enjoyment, and sustainability of the trails at Sky Meadows — I am both personally and professionally grateful.” You're welcome!

This month, the Cadillac crew was Janet Arici , Martha Becton , Edlyn Becton , Nina Blagrove , Karen Brown , Alice DeCarlo , Maria De La Torra , Kirsten Elowsky , Dan and Ellen Feer, Robert Fina , Chris and Erica Glembocki, Bill Greenan, Peter Haupt, Marty Martin, Steve Phillips , Jon and Katherine Rindt, Tysha Robinson , Ellen Shaw and Patrick Tyler. We love new members. We train and we are very safety aware. If you always wanted to learn how to swing a sledge hammer or if you already know all you want to about rehabilitating a trail but would like to do it with us, please drop us a note at ccrewpatc@gmail.com .

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Generous Donation enables Reconstruction of the Deck at Merritt’s Mutton Top Cabin

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:40 GMT

Generous Donation enables Reconstruction of the Deck at Merritt’s Mutton Top Cabin

Article by Mel Merritt, Photos by Mary Jorgensen

Thanks to a generous donation by Valerie Aschenbach in memory of her husband Ed Hoke and outstanding work trip organization by Thomas and M ary Jorgensen , the 35 year old deck at Mutton Top was reconstructed over a nine day period in early November.

Led by former Mutton Top Maintainer Mel Merritt , who retired after 25 years as Cabins Operations Chair last year, the group of a dozen Cabin Maintainers rebuilt the aging structure over about nine days.

The crew stayed at Vining Cabin, enjoying hot showers, delicious meals and warm fellowship from November 4th through 13th. Thomas and Mary helped solicit volunteers to plan and donate three meals a day for everyone who helped.

Tom Johns , Tulip Tree Maintainer, brought his trailer so we could bring materials up the four-wheel drive road from the Vining Tract Parking area and remove the old materials to the local landfill.

Three renters who were staying at Morris Cabin came up and helped out for several days during their stay.

The weather was very accommodating, but we did have snow squalls one afternoon as a cold front came through. The view of the squalls out over the Piedmont was amazing as the clouds and snow were lit up in the rose autumn light from the setting sun.

After a few finishing touches to the outdoor cooking area, the renovation will be completed next spring with a coat of deck stain. The new deck should now be good for at least another 30 years.

Other participants on the project included John Hedrick , Kent Query , Isaac Merritt , Lee Howard , Rob Gilchrist , Ed Karpie , Carol Tolbert , Nancy Merritt , and David Schneider .

The Aschenbach donation also supported painting the metal roof on Butternut Cabin.

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Black Friday at Ivy Creek Hut

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:38 GMT

Black Friday at Ivy Creek Hut

By Pam Heinrich

The South District of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Shenandoah National Park contains four trail huts or shelters for use by hikers: Calf Mountain, Blackrock, Pinefield and Hightop. Ivy Creek Hut is a Maintenance Hut, one that has been set aside for the exclusive use by PATC trail maintainers when working on their trail sections.

Chuck Troutman is the caretaker for Ivy Creek Hut and he planned an open house for Black Friday, November 28. Assuming most trail maintainers are not big shoppers, Chuck was at the hut from 10:30- 3:30. He brought his flat top grill and offered hot dogs, chili and cider.

To encourage others to attend, I offered a hike in the area. Even with temperatures near freezing, ten hikers joined me as we gathered at Loft Mountain Wayside to begin our adventure. We took the paved path to Loft Mountain campground and officially began our hike on the AT after we took the spur trail that leads from the amphitheater.

In the south district, the AT is divided into 27 sections for volunteers to maintain. Our hike covered approximately 4.5 miles and three of these sections. We discussed some trail maintenance practices and made sure to mention the members that are in charge of each area. We ended our hike by leaving the AT on a blue-blazed trail that led us to Ivy Creek Hut.

Ten other AT maintainers met us at the hut for a great time of food and fellowship. Everyone was excited by the thoughts of a bowl full of Chuck’s hot chili and cup of cider. We also appreciated a nice fire to keep us warm inside the shelter.

Not only did we have a great hike, but the added social time at the hut made this outing extra special. Ivy Creek Hut is in great shape and we could all see why Chuck was selected as the recipient of the Hawksbill Award for the SNP District Cabins and Crapper Crew. He has been hard at work!! My goal was two-fold: have a fun hike and teach others about trail maintenance. I hope some of my hikers were encouraged to get more involved.

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Member Profile: Sabra Staley

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:35 GMT

Member Profile: Sabra Staley

By Lee Howard

Sabra “Piper” Staley was an outdoor enthusiast of the first order– a conservationist, Girl Scout leader, and PATC member from 1975 until she passed away in 2022. She felt passionate about getting outside, and inspired others to do the same, starting a backpacking group with her former Senior Girl Scouts. They hiked club-maintained sections of the Appalachian Trail every spring and fall from 1960 to 1982. After twenty-two years of pitching tents and staying in shelters, she changed the format and began inviting the “Lite-Packers” to PATC cabins to ring in each new year.

The New Year’s tradition lasted for 15 years until Staley hired her son Stuart Miller to build a cabin for her in Madison County, VA. Cabin logbook entries from 1981 through 1996 chronicle the Lite-Packers’ adventures at the Hermitage, Little Orleans, and most significantly, Meadows. According to the club’s archives, she and her merry band of First Night revelers stayed at Meadows more than any other cabin, so it may be no coincidence that her cabin and Meadows are in close proximity. Both are located on the eastern front of Shenandoah National Park where the mountains flow into the piedmont.

Staley shared her love of the mountains with her family, too, and many of her grandchildren accompanied the Lite-Packers on their annual outings. In 1997 her cabin was finished by Miller and his construction crew, ushering in a new tradition. She continued to invite friends and family to the woods, but from then on she hosted them at the “Yowell Come” cabin. The namesake demonstrates her sense of humor, and is rooted in local geography as Staley’s five-acre wedge and cabin rest at the foot of Adam Yowell Mountain.

Another holiday tradition was to publish the Staley Standard , an annual newsletter she wrote and distributed around Christmas. A few editions in the mid- to late-90s captured developments at Yowell Come woods as her vision for the cabin began to take shape and the structure was built. The Standard also included feature articles from the Itty Bitty Kitty and Henry the black rat snake. Although Kitty had been on a number of trips to PATC cabins, at one point she unapologetically confessed, “I don’t do mouse work.” Henry’s dispatches suggested that he and Staley may have had a contentious relationship, especially when their timeshare occupancies overlapped.

Staley’s penchant for pastoral settings and open sky was rooted in her childhood, as her father was a professor of geography at the University of Maryland, College Park. Adventure and exploration were common threads in the fabric of her life from a childhood spent frolicking in rural Prince Georges County, and wasn’t limited to the land. As an adolescent she became an aviation buff, earning her private pilot’s license during a gap year after high school in the late 1940s. While an undergraduate at Cornell University, she was likely the only female licensed pilot in the Cornell Pilots Club, and her love of its Piper J-4 Cub Coupe airplane led to her nickname.

While Piper’s pioneering spirit supported pie-in-the-sky endeavors, her feet were planted firmly on the ground and she was very civically involved in her community. In the early 1970s she was appointed to the advisory board of the Gulf Branch Nature Center, which is Arlington County’s first facility dedicated to the study and conservation of nature. During this time she also fought to conserve natural areas in Arlington, and sat on the Save Open Spaces Committee. Civic engagement, conservation, and youth development were defining elements of her professional career and volunteerism, and in 1997 she retired from the Close Up Foundation, a nonprofit organization that partners with schools to deliver experiential programs that teach civics to young people.

Retirement allowed Staley to spend more time at Yowell Come. While new to her, the cabin was re-constructed of V-notched, American Chestnut logs from a cabin originally built in a nearby county dating back to the 1830s. Miller had bartered a roofing job in exchange for the logs, which he stored in his barn for ten years before negotiating to sell them to his mother in 1994. Though Miller led the construction team, Staley financed the entire build and was very involved in the effort. The 1994 edition of the Standard reported that she attended a 2-day chainsaw workshop presented by the National Park Service, purchased a Stihl 023, and led a work party of 10 family and friends in July that year to clear space.

Piper hosted her kith and kin at the cabin for 25 years, and willed it to her son upon her passing. Unfortunately, Stuart Miller died less than a year after his mother. After the property was transferred to his widow Vera, she generously donated the land and cabin to PATC. As of May this year we are all beneficiaries of Sabra Staley’s legacy after the renamed Stoner Cabin entered the club’s inventory as a members-only rental. A dedication ceremony was held in late October, and an article about the event can be found in the December edition of the PA .

If you stay at Stoner, you may notice reminders of Staley, such as the airplane-like weathervane soaring above the “toolshed” and Piper Aircraft Co. memorabilia hanging on a wall. There is also a booklet and plaque inside the cabin to acknowledge Miller and his crew for part in making Staley’s dreams come true. In her own words, this primitive cabin has “no water, no electricity . . . but the essentials are there . . . [and] as the coffee cup level goes down, the cup of contentment and dreams-fulfilled overflows.” For more information and to book, check out our website .

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PATC Welcomes New Communications Supervisor, Matt Waurio

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:32 GMT

PATC Welcomes New Communications Supervisor, Matt Waurio

PATC is excited to welcome Matt Waurio to the Executive Board as our new Communications Supervisor. A two-time Appalachian Trail thru-hiker ('13 SOBO, '20 NOBO), he brings a deep love for the outdoors and a strong personal connection to the trail systems our club protects.

Matt is a U.S. military veteran and former diplomat who is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Policy at Georgetown University. His career has centered on clear communication, cross-cultural collaboration, and translating complex information into accessible, useful messages for government agencies - all strengths he brings to PATC’s communications work. Most recently, he has supported federal agencies in the DMV area as a data consultant.

Beyond his professional background, he’s an avid reader, lifelong learner, and frequent presence in D.C.’s parks - usually hiking, relaxing with friends, or flying one of his many kites. PATC is thrilled to have his energy, experience, and passion for storytelling supporting our members, volunteers, and mission.

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What on Earth?

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:29 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Article by Ray Barbehenn. Photos by David Cox and Ray Barbehenn

Just about everyone is familiar with grasshoppers, but fewer have seen katydids (left photo), and far fewer know of the Carolina Leaf-roller Cricket (right photo). All of these insects are related, and usually have long hind legs and long, straight wings. Katydids and crickets also have long, hair-like antennae, while grasshoppers have short, stout antennae.

The Greater Angle-wing Katydid in the left photo was almost two inches long from head to tail. It was found by David Cox in SNP on September 11, 2022. Their long wings are held in a tent-like position, forming "angles." Note how the stiff blood veins in its wings add to its impressive leaf-like camouflage. Also notice the dark spot on its front leg, looking almost like the scab on a wounded elbow. This is no wound; it is one of its ears! These are essential for communicating with sound.

The adorable Carolina Leaf-roller Cricket in the right photo was about three-fourths of an inch long. She climbed out of the leaf litter in Duke Hollow (northern Virginia near the AT) on September 28. Unlike the great majority of related species, she is wingless! The sword-like rear end of her body is an "ovipositor" for laying eggs in the ground. This species does not communicate with sound, but both sexes make a "raspy" noise if they are threatened.

How do male katydids make their calls?

A. They rub their hind legs together

B. They vocalize with their mouths.

C. They vibrate their bodies.

D. They rub their front wings together

The answer is near the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

Summer nights out in the woods and fields are filled with the sounds of insects – chirping and whirring and clicking. Each species has its own call, just as distinctive as the songs of different species of birds. For example, Common Katydids are named for their calls: "Katy-did, Katy-did," while Greater Angle-wing Katydids make a monotonous series of ticks. Each species makes a unique call simply by varying its pitch, loudness, and repetition rate. A wonderful website to hear the calls of a large variety of insects is: https://songsofinsects.com/katydids/greater-anglewing .

Katydids hear each other with some of the tiniest ears on Earth! Despite their small size, the ears on their front legs function much like our own, with tiny eardrums that vibrate when hit by sound waves. Their ears are sensitive to a broad range of high pitches, usually in the range of 2-150 kHz. (kHz, short for kilohertz, is the measure of sound frequency or pitch.) We can only hear in the range of about 0.02-20 kHz.

Katydids and crickets make their calls by rubbing their front wings together with a scissors-like motion. Specifically, the "file" on one wing is rubbed with the "scraper" on the other wing. The file is named for its appearance – a series of parallel grooves that look like a tiny metal file. The scraper is the stiff edge of a wing or a series of stiff pegs. Think of the file as a plastic hair comb, with sound produced by rubbing your thumb (like a scraper) down the length of its teeth. You can imagine the different calls that could be made by having a hair comb with stiff teeth or thinner, flexible teeth. Similarly, files can have stiff or flexible ridges that make different pitches when rubbed against a scraper. Now, imagine all the variations of calls that an insect could make by brushing its wings together at different speeds, and with different lengths of pauses between strokes, and with different intensities. Some species brush their wings back and forth 100 times a second, while others might rub theirs together only about once a second. By contrast, Carolina Leaf-roller Crickets do not make calls to communicate. They have no wings to brush together. They also have no ears!

Both the Greater Angle-wing Katydid and Carolina Leaf-roller Cricket feed at night. Katydids eat the leaves of a large variety of plants, including many trees. Those adorable little Leaf-Rollers will surprise you: They climb into shrubs and trees to hunt for soft-bodied insects, such as aphids and caterpillars. Whether they also eat leaves is unclear. (This is a little-studied insect.) While sleeping during the day, Katydids are well-camouflaged from predators. Leaf-roller Crickets sleep in small shelters that they usually make out of leaves. This unusual behavior is the reason for their name. However, their most unusual talent is making silk!

The ability to make silk is not found in any of the relatives of Leaf-roller Crickets – not in katydids, crickets, or grasshoppers. There are some other insects that make silk, such as caterpillars, but Leaf-roller Crickets have evolved silk-making on their own, rather than inheriting the ability from a silk-making ancestor that they have in common with the other silk-making insects. The silk in all insects is held in liquid form in their bodies, and only hardens into a strand when it is squeezed out and contacts air. They are tiny, living caulk guns!

Most silk-producing animals use it for a similar purpose: survival. They hide from predators in silk shelters or surround themselves with it while they change into adults. There is no substance like silk: It can be as strong as steel, but lightweight and stretchy. Thus, only a small amount of silk is needed by Leaf-roller Crickets to "roll" or tie together leaves to construct their little shelters.

The unusual features of the Carolina Leaf-rolling Cricket seem strange, in part, because it is the only one of its kind in North America. Sharing the name "cricket" does not mean that they are related to the House Cricket or camel crickets that you might see hopping in your garage or basement. Indeed, Leaf-roller Crickets and House Crickets split apart from a shared ancestor over 300 million years ago! This was long before there were birds – a time when the calls of katydids and true crickets were probably the only animal sounds that would have been heard on land.

Answer: D!

You may have learned that crickets chirp by rubbing their legs together. Not so. True crickets make their calls like katydids do by brushing their outer wings together. Grasshoppers do not rub their legs together either. Grasshoppers make their calls by lifting their legs up and down rapidly, brushing a row of tiny teeth on the inner surface of the hind leg against a hardened wing vein.

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu.

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What's that Ice?

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:25 GMT

What's that Ice?

Article and Photos by Richard Stromberg

Water in its solid forms shows up in many forms along PATC trails.

Snow is formed when moisture crystalizes around tiny dust or ice particles in the atmosphere if the air is cold enough. A snowflake is a single ice crystal that is large enough to fall through the Earth's atmosphere. Snow appears white in color despite being made of clear ice. This is because the many small crystal facets of the snowflakes scatter the sunlight between them.

Sleet (aka ice pellets) starts out as rain but freezes in the air before it hits the ground. Sleet lands as ice pellets, not as crystals like snow.

Graupel starts in the atmosphere as a snow crystal. If the snow crystal falls through a layer of very cold air with supercooled (below freezing but still unfrozen) water droplets, those droplets will condense and freeze on the snow crystal. What ends up on the ground is a snow crystal loosely covered in frost or rime ice. Graupel balls are lighter and less dense than sleet which tends to bounce when it hits hard surfaces.

Hail is distinct from sleet and graupel, though they are often confused. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is called a hailstone. Hail starts out when moisture in the lower atmosphere is pushed vertically higher (often by a large thunderstorm) until it reaches air cold enough to cause it to freeze. When it gets heavy enough, it falls back toward the earth, usually attracting more moisture which freezes and forms a larger hailstone. In severe storms, a descending hailstone can be pushed back up where it accumulates more ice, falls, and gets pushed back multiple times. The more times this happens, the larger the hailstone. Sleet generally falls in cold weather, while hail growth is greatly inhibited during low surface temperatures and is usually formed in warm weather.

Freezing rain starts out as rain and continues as such until it hits a cold surface and freezes. It freezes clear, and when this happens on a road it’s called black ice, which is an extremely dangerous condition for drivers. Less than a quarter inch of freezing rain on trees can bring limbs or entire trees crashing to the ground due to the weight of the accumulated ice. Beautiful to look at, but to be avoided at all costs.

Any of the above conditions can make walking/hiking treacherous. Fresh snow becomes slippery as it melts and refreezes or is packed down.

Needle ice is a needle-shaped column of ice formed by groundwater. Needle ice forms when the temperature of the soil is above freezing (0°C/32°F) and the surface temperature of the air is below freezing. Liquid water underground rises to the surface by capillary action and then freezes and contributes to a growing needle-like ice column. For more details see William Needhams “Hikers Notebook” article ( https://hikersnotebook.blog/needle-ice-update/ ).

An ice ribbon, frost flower, or ice flower is formed when thin layers of ice are extruded from long-stemmed plants. The thin layers of ice are often formed into exquisite patterns, curling into "petals" which can resemble flowers. The sap in the stem of the plants will expand (water expands when frozen), causing long, thin cracks to form along the length of the stem. Water is then drawn through these cracks via capillary action and freezes upon contact with the air. As more water is drawn through the cracks it pushes the thin ice layers further from the stem, causing a thin ribbon or petal to form.

Hoarfrost forms when water vapor in the air condenses on cold surfaces on clear, windless nights. The hoarfrost crystals freeze directly from the vapor state and do not turn into liquid water in the process. It forms delicate needle-like crystals. It requires a surface colder than the surrounding air, which is why we see it more typically on thin branches, leaves, and needles rather than on trunks or rocks that have large surface areas relative to their volumes so they cool quickly relative to the surrounding air. Hoarfrost does not form from fog or low clouds. Fog consists of liquid water droplets, not vapor.

Rime ice forms in foggy or cloudy conditions when the water droplets in the air freeze on cold surfaces. While in the right conditions its crystals can resemble hoarfrost, most occurrences of rime ice will be thicker and will coat the entire surface more evenly. Rime ice crystals tend to resemble feathery snow crystals rather than needles, and, unlike hoarfrost, can build up over time as long as the foggy and cold conditions persist. Hoarfrost doesn’t weigh down its host structure. Rime ice can build up enough to break tree limbs or down power lines.

An icicle is a tapering spike of ice formed when dripping water freezes as it falls creating a cone-like structure that grows longer and thicker with each layer of water. When temperatures fall near 0°F whole waterfalls can freeze.

Of course, the surface of any body of water can freeze when the temperature is low enough.

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Keep Calm and Read On: Take Two

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:23 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: Take Two

By Wayne Limberg

Netflix's film adaption of Denis Johnson's novella "Train Dreams" has garnered considerable critical acclaim and reignited the age-old movie vs book debate. Fortunately, we don't have to choose one over the other. The two versions complement each other. Paired, the two offer an excellent way to spend a cold winter weekend.

NPR rated “Train Dreams” as one of the top ten reads of 2010, and it is Denis Johnson's second book to find its way to the silver screen. The critics also hailed “Jesus' Son” in 1999, which was based on Johnson's collection of stories about lost souls struggling to find redemption in the netherworld of addiction and which has become a minor classic in 20th century American literature.

“Train Dreams” touches on another biblical source for inspiration, Job, as it chronicles of the life of Robert Grainger, a quiet, hard-working logger in northern Idaho. An orphan, he has vague memories of his mother but can't say exactly when he was born. He marries a local girl and builds a cabin in woods. They soon have a child whom he adores. He spends each spring and summer logging, returning home each fall with enough cash to last the winter. The narrator of the story in both the book and movie declares these years as Grainger's happiest. He is soon plunged into a world of grief and pain, the meaning of which Grainger struggles to grasp. Throughout, he fears that he is being punished for an earlier, original sin. Ultimately, “Train Dreams” becomes a story of coming to terms with the past and finding peace.

The director of the film, Clint Bentley, and his creative partner, Greg Kwedar, wrote the screenplay for “Train Dreams.” They previously earned Oscar nominations for the script of "Sing Sing." For the most part they followed the general arc of Johnson's original story. However, they took some liberties. Fortunately, none detract from the story line; some even add depth and texture. The movie's opening scene of a train coming out of a dark tunnel into the light of the forest visually captures the book's theme of struggle and redemption, and Grainger's inner struggles remain the central focus of the movie.

Bentley and Kwedar, however, give greater play to changes in the logging industry and natural environment and their impact on Grainger's life. In the book, Grainger changes jobs largely because of his age and declining physical condition; in the film, it is more a matter of industrial changes such as clear cutting and mechanization. The logging Grainger loved with its small, close-knit crews, and crosscut saws yields to the search for higher profits. Early in the film, the death of a logger sees the crew gathering around the campfire with a bottle of whisky to remember him. When three loggers are killed later in the movie, they are quickly buried; the only memorial is their boots nailed to surrounding trees as the men get back to work. In one of the most poignant scenes of the movie, Grainger tries but fails to start a new chainsaw and is sent back to his crosscut. In one of the film's bigger departures from the book, Bentley and Kwedar swap a tough widow Grainger is helping for a young USFS ranger on her way to a new job at a fire tower.

With one exception, the cast of the movie does not have any major stars. The exception is William H. Macy, who makes a cameo appearance as an old logger who spends most of this time avoiding work and telling stories. His turns of phrase are gems, and his character brings a touch of comic relief. The real star of the picture, however, is Joel Edgerton, an Australian actor whose previous films include "The Great Gatsby." As Grainger, he turns in a masterful performance, appearing in nearly every scene of the movie. His restraint and mastery of the unspoken word brings to mind the likes of Paul Newman or Gene Hackman. His casting as Grainger seems fated as he wanted to get the film rights to the book when it first came out. When “Train Dreams” debuted on Netflix, he immediately became an odds-on favorite for an Oscar nomination.

Another potential Oscar winner is cinematographer Adolpho Veloso. Veloso's filming of a wildfire is epic while the scenes of the land returning to normal visually underscores the book's and movie's underlying theme of redemption. Most of the movie was filmed outside in natural light, giving it a rich, haunting darkness and authenticity. The portrayal of life and work in the logging camps comes complete with widow makers, saws and axes, though some may question why Grainger abandons his double-bit Michigan axe for a pulaski or how in the aforementioned scene, he tried to start a chainsaw that in the late 1920s had yet to be invented. But these are rather small points that should not detract from what in the end is a great adaptation of a fine read.

A word of thanks to readers who have sent in recommendations for future reviews. If you have a good read, send it along to wplimberg@aol.co m . Meanwhile, keep reading—and watching. See you on the trail.

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SNP Trail ISO Co-Maintainer – Lower Pass Mountain

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:48:16 GMT

SNP Trail ISO Co-Maintainer – Lower Pass Mountain

By Tom Moran

The lower section of Shenandoah National Park’s Pass Mountain Trail needs a co-maintainer. This section is about 1.3 miles, and is easily accessed from a large parking area on the side of Rt. 211 where the segment begins. There are no stream crossings and the elevation change is a moderate 730 feet. Pass Mountain Trail is popular due to its accessibility and that it provides the best access to two rewarding areas to hike off-trail – Oventop Mountain ridge, which features exposed rock formations with views to either side of the ridge, and the Butterwood Branch area which was well populated in the era before the park was formed. The parking area is less than 5 miles from Sperryville and its helpful amenities.

While much of the trail is open and requires light maintenance, due to the demise of large shade trees the first 50 yards or so of the trail beginning at Rt. 211 becomes overgrown and requires several visits annually to clear the weeds. The first half of the trail section, including the beginning segment, is non-Wilderness and thus powered weeders can be used. At about the mid-point of the section, there is a stretch perhaps 100 yards long that is overgrown with vines that occasionally pull smaller trees down across the trail. A maintainer should be prepared with loppers and hand saws to deal with issues in the section. Larger blowdowns can be reported for follow up by crosscut crews. This area is Wilderness, so hand tools only are permitted to be used.

If you are interested in learning more about the opportunity available on the Pass Mountain Trail, contact District Manager Tom Moran at twmoran19@gmail.com.

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PATC Volunteer Awards 2025

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:43:16 GMT

PATC Volunteer Awards 2025

By Amber Jones

NEWS FLASH: “Body found on trail!”

Luckily, it wasn’t a human; only a squirrel. But PATC’s valiant volunteers snap to attention whenever an anomaly occurs, whether it’s a tree blocking the trail, an eroded bank, or a plugged-up privy. They assess, maintain, and clean things up, restoring the natural beauty (and aroma) of hundreds of hiking areas across the region.

They also lead the organization and maintain the infrastructure that brings the volunteers together and provides them with support and financing.

A bevy of those volunteers were honored with PATC awards at VolunteerFest October 11th —which in turn was planned and run by even more volunteers! Oh my, how smoothly this club, and most of the hiking infrastructure in the region, runs on the adrenaline of unpaid labor! Here are brief reports on the passionate, dedicated leaders recognized this year. We’ve expanded our Award website page to include who nominated these recipients and the nomination they submitted. Meet these people, get to know them, and draw inspiration from them.

The major awards are shown on the following pages:

Myron Avery Award

Honorary Life Member Awards

Lifetime AchievementAward

Honorary PATC Members

YouthAward

AppreciationAwards

PATC leaders awarded 37 Hawksbill Award certificates and recognized 575 people with ServiceAward certificates. Details are on the website.

Our last recognition is for some of our most enduring members—those who have been part of PATC for 50 years. This year, we honor the members who joined PATC in 1975 and have continued to renew their memberships ever since. Below are the names of our 50-Year Members which is an extraordinary milestone. It represents Decades of support for our trails, cabins, and programs; A long-standing commitment to the mission and community of PATC; and, in many cases, a lifetime of hikes, work trips, friendships, and stories woven through this club. To our following 50-Year Members:

Thank you for sticking with PATC through changing times, changing gear, changing trail conditions—and for continuing to believe in the work we do together. We are honoring you with a Life Membership: Jb R. Birch, Robert N Colombo, Carol & Paul Cunningham, Jean E Dwyer, Krista D Eaton, Karl F Edler, Jean C Golightly, Robert V Hancock, Robert Henig, John M Henika, Richard Heuwinkel, Donald F. Kocher, Paul & Rita Marth, Carol May, Cort W Oliphant, Olivia K Pickett, Ronald J. Tipton, and Margaret Wettling.

Myron Avery Award

The most prestigious honor, the Myron Avery Award , recognizes the highest level of passion and dedication for a single year—although recipients are frequently lifelong champions of the outdoors.

John Hedrick retired this year after more than a decade on the PATC Executive Committee – during which he also restored trails, improved cabins, edited trail guides, improved air quality (i.e., cleaned crappers), and managed dozens of other service projects. Yet when the Supervisor of Lands unexpectedly resigned, instead of slowing down, John raced to help.

“John stepped in as Acting Supervisor and immediately took on several complex land issues. He engaged the right volunteers, provided strong guidance, and delivered excellent results,” reported Rob Lamar, one of five members who nominated John. Efficient, adept at mustering teams, diplomatic, rational, selfless, gifted mentor—these are some of the descriptions of the qualities John brings to his selfless service and accomplished collaborations.

At the VolunteerFest ceremony, John received an original oil painting of Shenandoah National Park (SNP) Crescent Rock Overlook by PATC member Ariel Freeman.

Lifetime Achievement Award

David Trone was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for more than 25 years of dedication and leadership and for the enduring impact of his work on the Appalachian Trail and shelters in southern Pennsylvania. In nominating him, Curt and Tawnya Finney noted: “What truly stands out about Dave is his integrity, generosity, and the way he lifts others up.” David received a framed photo of SNP Pinnacles taken by PATC member Bill Bunting .

Honorary Life Member Award

Three long-time PATC members earned Honorary Life Member Awards , which recognize contributions over a significant period, involvement in multiple areas of the Club, and outstanding volunteer performance.

Since 2019, Dan and Ellen Feer have led and greatly expanded the Cadillac Crew, a team that devotes one weekend each month to overseeing, assessing, and restoring hundreds of miles of trails in and around Virginia. Leadership of this diverse crew requires extensive planning, preparation, organization, and supervision. The projects are often well beyond normal trail work; for example, requiring the transport of large rocks and shaping them into crib walls and steps. Dan is also a teacher and mentor of new trail constructers, maintainers, and sawyers.

Nominated by Rob Lamar, Dan and Ellen each received a lifetime membership and a framed photo of SNP’s North District taken by PATC member David Manning, Backpacking Committee Chair.

The third winner, Marit Anderson , was nominated by Mark Perschel and Iva Gillet. Marit received a lifetime membership and a framed photo of SNP’s Paine Run trail, taken by PATC member Bill Bunting.

Marit’s extensive work on behalf of PATC’s Charlottesville Chapter has run the gamut from leading hikes and maintaining trails to raising funds and organizing educational programs. For more than 20 years, she has also personally welcomed and assisted thru-hikers. In recent years she launched a partnership with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Charlottesville to provide outdoor opportunities to some of the city’s underserved populations.

Appreciation Award

Appreciation Awards were presented to:

Park Ranter Wade Bushong for responsiveness, expertise with equipment, and focus on safety.
Rachel Lettre for initiative and leadership as Appalachian Trail Conference Mid-Atlantic regional director.
The Piedmont Environmental Council for land preservation efforts.
Park Ranger Emily Bard, a state park ranger who worked closely with the Maryland AT Management Committee.
Kristin Cromie is a respected “trail angel” in Boonsboro and on their local Environmental Commission. She has been a great help to the trail community and to our Ridgerunners.
The Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards for providing crosscut saw training and certification.
Park Ranger Shaun Lehmann who collaborated with PATC to establish a trail maintenance plan in the Palisades District of C&O Canal National Historic Park.

Youth Award

Asa Williamson, 8, celebrated his first year as a volunteer with the Old Scouter Trail Crew, working on projects at the Annapolis Rocks and Catoctin Trail. His enthusiasm for learning skills, mastering tools, and patrolling trails earned him a Youth Award . He was nominated by Pete Minderman, Jr.

Honorary PATC Members

Two new Ridgerunners – AT patrols that are often described as “ambassadors” to the hiking community – were nominated by Ray Stinson to become PATC Honorary Members . Josh Sheets of Delaware worked the long season in Maryland, and Rich Jacobus patrolled the “roller coaster” section in northern Virginia.

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President's Logbook

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:43:13 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

Never thought I’d see this much of Shepherdstown, WV.

Jim LaTorre , Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) Board Chair and PATC District Manager, and I enjoyed a productive and delightful lunch with Cinda Waldbuesser, the in-coming president of the ATC. Cinda is a two-time national park superintendent who is well-acquainted with the Appalachian Trail (AT) and what we do.

It was an honor for Supervisor of Trails Rush Williamson , V.P. of Operations Lee Congdon , and myself to represent Marion Park at her induction into the AT Hall of Fame. Marion Park was one of several women who were essential to the founding of PATC, the ATC, and the creation of the Appalachian Trail. She was with Myron Avery when he planted the northern terminus sign atop Mt. Katahdin in Maine.

The role of women in the creation of the Appalachian Trail has been understated. Many photographs of early club work trips feature more women than men, showcasing hard work that often went without recognition. Marion Park’s induction in the AT Hall of Fame was a step in the right direction.

We bid farewell to past PATC president and ATC president Sandi Marra , as she stepped down from her ATC role. Sandi and her husband Chris “Trail Boss” Brunton have been stewards of the Blackburn Trail Center for decades. The Blackburn carriage house was named for them in honor of their service.

All of this happened in Shepherdstown. It’s the oldest town in West Virginia, charming as a leprechaun, and a delightful place.

Of note, we launched our annual fall fundraising appeal. Please donate if you can.

What’s ahead? The ExCom annual retreat will be in early January. There, we will discuss priorities for the upcoming year. Among them will be planning for our centennial year in 2027. If anyone wants to help plan the centennial, please contact me at president@patc.net . My February logbook will discuss the outcome of this meeting.

As the calendar page is about to turn on another year, my AT thru-hike comes to mind. It started in Georgia on Oct. 24. My plan was to hike 16 miles daily. On average, the shelters are about eight miles apart, meaning I would stop for the night at every other shelter.

At that time of year, light fades faster than a paycheck on Friday night. In no time, night hiking ruled the day. At first the night hiking was a quick half hour, a mere blink in a hiker’s day. In time, just before the solstice, my head lamp’s tiny beacon barely pierced the black wall of a well-digger’s darkness in front of me.

That time reminds me of why, that at this time of year, almost every culture and religious tradition around the globe features a festival of light. Light is hope. Light is joy. Light is peace. Light is survival.

In that spirit may this season of light be a gift to you and yours. May light surround you and guide you on your trail to your next shelter.

How ever you celebrate, may your holiday season be filled with light.

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Stoner Cabin Open House and Dedication

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:43:10 GMT

Stoner Cabin Open House and Dedication

By Lee Howard and Stephanie Richard

Saturday afternoon, October 25, Stoner Cabin was officially dedicated as the club’s most recent addition to its rental inventory. A group of family, friends, neighbors, and new acquaintances gathered under a canopy of autumnal colors to bask in the warmth of a crackling campfire, dappled sunlight, and a welcoming setting. Seasoned relationships were rekindled and new friendships sparked as the group celebrated the lives of kindred spirits whose legacy will benefit PATC members for generations to come.

Cabin Maintainers Lee Howard and Stephanie Richard worked closely with the cabin donor Vera Miller and club staff to ensure that the event went according to plan, and it was a tremendous success. The event kicked off with an open house, followed by a short ceremony with Lee as emcee. PATC Supervisor of Facilities Anstr Davidson delivered opening remarks to express the club’s gratitude for the generous gift.

While Stoner became available for rent in May, the dedication fulfilled three wishes Vera made when she donated the log cabin and five-acre wooded lot to the club in December 2023: she wanted to name the cabin, have a plaque installed to honor the folks who built it, and have a celebration onsite. Stoner is located along a country road at the base of Adam Yowell Mountain in Madison County, VA, a short drive from Old Rag and Whiteoak Canyon.

The cabin embodies the vision of a mother and son team: Sabra Staley and Stuart Miller. Sabra purchased the land in 1992 and christened it Yowell Come Woods. Stuart was a roofer, and he and his construction crew built the cabin from 1996 to 1997. American Chestnut logs salvaged from an antebellum structure originally built by the Matheny family define much of the cabin’s character. Additional wood was harvested on the property, during which a Civil War burial ground was discovered.

The family enjoyed sojourns to Yowell Come cabin for 25 years, until the passing of Sabra, and shortly thereafter, Stuart. Vera inherited the cabin and land and decided to pass along the symbol of the family’s love for the Blue Ridge Mountains and local hiking areas to PATC in late 2023 as her late husband’s legacy.

Staley/Miller family and friends attended the dedication, including members of the construction crew, traveling from as far away as Michigan. Louie Garcia and Jason Anderson rejoiced at seeing photographs of the construction work, and Doug Heffernan , who milled much of the lumber for the cabin, recounted compelling stories about the process. Their names are among those listed on the plaque now hanging in Stoner. Heather Miller , Sabra’s granddaughter and Stuart’s and Vera’s niece, shared many fond memories of staying in the cabin as a child.

The event drew other PATC volunteers, including Mark and Ruth Walkup , as well as friendly and curious neighbors. As members of “The Regulars”, the Walkups helped to renovate the cabin and prepare it for rental along with other volunteers such as Allison and Bruce Berberick . Bruce led the renovation effort and is the district supervisor for the Piedmont that includes Stoner and other cabins such as Fort Valley, Meadows, and Old Rag. The club’s resident artist Matt ‘Sharpie’ Gentry created two watercolor paintings of the cabin in advance of the event, one of which was presented to Vera’s daughter Virginia during the dedication. The second was given to Heather Miller after the event.

At the end of the ceremony, Heather shared a family tradition, explaining that, whenever she was at the cabin, her grandmother would play Taps in honor of the soldiers buried on the property. Then, with her own grandchild perched upon her shoulders, Heather played those solemn notes to the captive crowd. In conclusion, the Stoner Cabin Open House and Dedication highlighted the best of PATC culture - the joy of community, legacy of stewardship, and love of the outdoors - for what is common ground to both the deceased and the living.

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Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Pennsylvania’s First Lady

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:43:08 GMT

Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Pennsylvania’s First Lady

Tawnya Finney and David Trone

On October 22, members of the PATC’s North Chapter joined Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro for a hike on the AT from Old Forge Picnic Area to Caledonia State Park. The First Lady’s hiking group included Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, representatives from conservation, tourism, and local government offices, Assistant District Forester Michelle Blevins, staff members, security personnel, and North Chapter members Curt and Tawnya Finney , and North Chapter District Manager Dave Trone . Kathy Seiler , another North Chapter member, represented The Greater Waynesboro AT Community. Cindy Dunn, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, shared words about the region’s importance and gave a cheerful wave as the hiking group stepped off.

The group enjoyed the scenic stretch of trail while engaging in thoughtful conversations about volunteerism, stewardship, and the importance of protecting Pennsylvania’s natural resources. The hike provided time to showcase all the efforts of our dedicated volunteers with a well-maintained footpath, and trail volunteers shared their experiences maintaining and improving the AT, highlighting the essential role that dedicated citizens play in preserving these landscapes for future generations.

The day was a celebration of community, conservation, and the shared commitment to keeping the AT and surrounding trails beautiful and accessible for all who seek the peace and adventure they provide. Special thanks go out to the following North Chapter trail and shelter maintainers: Curtis Bailey , Bill Eberwein , Curt Finney, Tawnya Finney, Chris Firme , MJ Graham , Leo Hebert , Ken May , Peter Muschamp , Randy Sanders , Jeff Senft , Lance Sourbier , Jim Stauch , Henry Thiess , and Dee Utz .

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VolunteerFest Spurs on Hike Leaders

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:43:04 GMT

VolunteerFest Spurs on Hike Leaders

Iva Gillet and Tim Muzzio, PATC Hiking Committee Co-Chairs

Did you know that, as of November 12 this year, PATC hike leaders have led 155 hikes? They provided 1,925 volunteer hours to PATC, taking 1,600 hikers on those outings. The accompanying pictures are from some of the hikes.

The PATC Hiking Committee ( Josh Silverman , David Manning , Jayne Mayne , Jeff Monroe , Jean Stephens , Michael Martin , Bob Malkowski , Iva Gillet , and Tim Muzzio ) is busy trying to improve the hike leading experience by recruiting, retaining and supporting PATC hike leaders. A session at VounteerFest revealed much insight and the PATC Hiking Committee has begun tackling the revealed issues. Among the most interesting issues: providing hike leader feedback and recognition; the need for training and continuing education on matters such as Meetup, Alltrails and other navigation systems; how to be a more effective hike leader; clarification on first aid requirements; and requirements for maintaining active hike leader status. We thank all who provided valuable input.

In the few months since, the committee has been chipping away at these issues. Recently, for example, it began providing active hike leaders with PATC hats that distinguish them as hike leaders. The committee is examining hike reports to find meaningful ways to provide feedback to each hike leader. The Hike Leader manual was updated this Fall. First aid is a complicated issue spanning all facets of the club, and the committee is examining options that meet the specific needs of hike leaders that are consistent with other PATC chapters and committees. The committee intends to begin continuing education on various topics in 2026 and is exploring ways for hike leaders to share information on favorite hikes, hike leading tips, and encouraging competent hikers to consider being a leader.

Finally, it is trying to get our newly trained hike leaders off to a good start by reinvigorating our hike leader mentoring efforts. Stay tuned!

To make this work, we need more hike leaders! Consider joining our dedicated hike leaders and share the joy of hiking among the trees, rocks and trails we all enjoy. We will have Hike Leader classes beginning early in 2026. For more information, please visit: https://www.patc.net/hike .

Also, we need the support and engagement of all PATC hike leaders in the following ways:

• Submit hike reports for every hike you lead, including uploading the sign-in sheets. These are essential not only for accurate statistics but also for liability coverage.

• Consider becoming a Hike Leader Mentor to share your experience and skills with new trainees.

• Suggest topics you would like to see covered in training and continuing education sessions.

• Share your ideas on how we can further improve recruitment, retention, and support for our hike leaders.

Provide your thoughts to us at: hikes@PATC.net

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Hoodlums Battle October Traffic Jams and Crowds

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:43:02 GMT

Hoodlums Battle October Traffic Jams and Crowds

By Wayne Limberg

Saturday, October 18 had all the makings of a perfect day for trail work as the North District Hoodlums gathered at Piney River Ranger Station. The day brought bright skies, mild temps, and striking fall colors. Head Hoodlum Tom Troutman was out of town for the birth of his first grandchild, so AT District Manager Wayne Limberg gave the safety briefing and assigned the two dozen participants to crews. The government shutdown made it touch-and-go as to whether the Hoodlums would be working in SNP but earlier in the week the park superintendent, Tracy Stakely, gave them the go ahead to work on the AT in the park.

Never one to turn away free help, Wayne took Richard Lee , Randy Butler , Kevin Cwalina , and Erin Taylor to Compton Gap to work on his AT section and got the first shock of the day. The parking lot was full and the road shoulder was already lined with cars. Skyline Drive hosted a steady flow of cars, including a 20+ caravan of Tesla drivers. In 20+ years working his section, Wayne had never seen so many hikers. The flow was so constant that the crew had to stop working every five to ten minutes to let hikers pass. Many were curious about what the crew was doing, which Wayne shamelessly turned into a recruiting moment. Despite the interruptions, the crew managed to install three new waterbars, rehab half a dozen rolling grade dips and several stairs, and remove a blowdown.

Jim Fetig 's crew of Daniel Sieh , Leon Fernandes , Meghaen Anderson , Jay McCaffrey , and Nicole Bridgland encountered similar numbers of hikers on the other side of Compton. The crew replaced some old dysfunctional waterbars and grade dips at the top of Jim’s section with rolling grade dips that met PATC's Certified Trail Maintainer standards. In the process, Jim taught the first six modules of the CTM course and recruited a new Hoodlum and a new member for the Hoodlum's Eager Beaver crosscut saw team. No good deed goes unpunished - Both Jim's and Wayne's crews found themselves trapped in a traffic jam at Jenkins Gap on the way back to Piney River and the Hoodlum potluck.

Dave Nebhut , Rosemarie Seymour , and Edgar Howell sat in some of the same traffic when they wrapped up their work on the AT south of Jenkins Gap. The flow of hikers was lighter than on Compton, which allowed Dave's crew to replace one non-functioning waterbar with a rolling grade dip and another with a new waterbar. The crew also rehabbed three checkdams and side-hilled about 20 yards where the trail had slipped down hill and was on top of a crib wall.

Meanwhile, Mike Gergely led Chris and Michelle Viggiano , Cindy Ardecki , Jennifer Gergely , and Rosemary Seymour to fill, as Wayne put it, a "really big hole" on the AT on North Marshall. While not exactly a hole, the crew did find a long stretch of gullying caused by spring and summer rains. The crew went straight to work rehabbing or replacing 10 water control structures as well as side-hilling and repairing tread rehabilitation to fill in and shore up the gullied section of trail. Despite it being well into fall, the crew saw numerous signs of wildlife, including red-backed salamanders, a white-spotted slimy salamander, and a pristine eastern woodrat skull (leading to an explanation that "woodrat" isn't just another name for squirrels).

Last but by no means least, Justin Corddry , Roger Friend , and new ND maintainer Kyle Brost journeyed down to Elkwallow Wayside with a trusty crosscut saw to take out blowdowns on the AT north and south of the wayside, including an especially gnarly one that had been reported earlier by the ridgerunners.

In keeping with tradition, the Hoodlums gathered back at Piney River at the end of the day for a potluck dinner. It being October, the theme was German: brats and wurst. Anyone interested in joining the Hoodlums should contact Tom Troutman at Hoodlums@patc.net . All are welcome.

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Spooktober work trip

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:42:59 GMT

Spooktober work trip

By Dan Feer et al.

The Cadillac Crew’s October work trip of glorious weather and foliage color began with a bang, or a thud, as a 1.5-ft diameter tree fell across the access road to our weekend base at Blackburn Trail Center. Fortunately, before most of the crew had to wind their way up the hill, John Kittridge was able to tow the trunk to the edge of the road, where Chris Brunton made a few strategic chainsaw cuts, and Jonathan Robertson and caretaker Lauren Singer pried the sections into the woods.

…And the weekend only got better from there.

For our trips to Blackburn we always divide into two groups. The cabin team had a long list of must-dos including repairing the carriage house walls, string-trimming the front yard and splitting several cords of firewood. The trail team headed to the AT just north of Raven Rocks with a list of its own. This section of trail is a couple hundred yards of ankle busters that we needed to level, and Sunday both teams stayed at Blackburn to finish the cabin projects and fell and buck some hazard trees.

Steve Barber, Karen Brown, Chris B, Kirsten Elowsky, Neil Hopper, Michael Johnson, Jonathan R, Maryann Stetter, and Dan Wooley worked through the cabin punch list under the guidance of Barbara Cook and John K.

Returning veteran, Phil Abruzzese, Janet Arici, Edlyn Becton, Alice DeCarlo, Dan Feer, Ellen Feer, first-timer Stacy Furukawa, Chris Glembocki, Erica Glembocki, Bill Greenan, Peter Haupt, Dave Jordahl, Rob Lamar, Don Oellerich, Steve Phillips, Tysha Robinson, Lauren S., and Kate Walker literally hit the trail with sledge hammers and rock bars to rehabilitate dozens of yards of trail under the leadership of Robert Fina .

We love hard work and the results of all our projects this weekend were phenomenal, just take a look at the pictures, but this was our Halloween work trip. It’s always loads of fun. Sandi Marra makes amazing main courses for us, Chicken Marbella this month, and we carve pumpkins. Kirsten won this year’s contest. The vote was nearly unanimous.

The alchemy of fun, old and new friends, hard work and a mission greater than the moment draws us in and together. Month after month, we make time to rehabilitate trails for thousands of people we will never meet and for each other. If you’ve been looking for a challenge and dozens of new friends, send us a note at ccrewpatc@gmail.com . We train.

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Trail In Search of Co-Maintainer – Middle Jeremys Run

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:42:57 GMT

Trail In Search of Co-Maintainer – Middle Jeremys Run

This is a 2.7 mile section of trail with very modest elevation gain, but which features eight stream crossings. Typically, a hiker can make the crossings without getting feet wet by rock hopping but there are times of high water. Access is from the boundary on private property, which will be arranged by your co-maintainer. It’s about a half-mile hike to the start of the section.

Jeremys is part of several rugged loop hikes that are popular with experienced hikers, who utilized Jeremys in conjunction with either Knob Mountain or Neighbor Mountain trails. It is a well-known trout stream, and this section gets very little pressure due to lack of public access at the lower boundary. The clear running stream is stunning ,nestled in between the twin ridges above it. Camping spots abound.

The long-time current maintainer will remain, and welcomes help in keeping up with general maintenance activities, such as clearing light blowdowns, weeding and waterbar clearing. If you are interested in learning more, reach out to District Manager Tom Moran at twmoran19@gmail.com.

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"What on Earth?"

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:42:53 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Article and Photo by Ray Barbehenn

What on Earth?

Spring Peepers can sometimes be heard along the AT. Over time, they have made their way up into the hills along creeks – the lucky ones finding woodland ponds or marshy areas in which to breed. These frogs are only about an inch long, but they are loud. Even from 50 yards away, the combined racket of hundreds of calling males can warrant using ear plugs for those who camp nearby. However, try to sneak up for a peek at one, and they suddenly become silent and invisible; they watch closely for danger and are superbly camouflaged.

The Spring Peeper in the above photo was observed in the woods near the AT in Duke Hollow (northern Virginia) on September 24. Notice the bulbous tips of its toes. These are helpful for climbing and clinging to wet objects. Its excellent camouflage includes stripes on its legs, a distinctive brown stripe between its eyes, and an X-shaped pattern on its back. The X-shaped pattern inspired the Spring Peeper's Latin name, Pseudacris crucifer , referring to the shape as a cross (as in "crucifix").

During much of the summer and fall, Spring Peepers are widely scattered in the moist woods. Instead of calling loudly together at their breeding area, individual males make occasional, softer peeps in the fall. And, instead of calling in the evening and night, they call during the day. Based on these different behaviors, they are sometimes called Fall Peepers. Their calls in the fall are a unique sound. To my knowledge, the other species in our area – the Pickerel Frogs, Bullfrogs, Green Frogs, Gray Tree Frogs, and Wood Frogs – remain silent after they finish breeding.

Why do Spring Peepers peep in the woods in the fall?

A. They moved to the woods to hunt, and their peeps help startle prey.

B. They moved to the woods to hunt, and peep in preparation for breeding in the spring.

C. They call in the woods to defend their hunting territories.

D. Unknown.

The answer is at the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

Male Spring Peepers actually begin calling in the late winter, not long after the ice has melted from their breeding areas. Near the AT in Duke Hollow, this is during the first weeks in March. The males establish small territories of about a square yard at the edges of ponds or other wet areas, announcing their presence for one to three weeks before breeding begins. They mainly call at night, beginning in earnest just before sunset and often going until after midnight. However, each frog does not call for this entire time; though the racket may seem constant, each frog calls on and off for a total of about three hours. Calling at a rate of about one peep per second, each male makes over 10,000 loud peeps per night! These are tiny athletes. (Try yelling "peep!" once a second even for just one minute!) Not surprisingly, they have incredibly well-developed muscles for exhaling, known as the oblique or trunk muscles. Indeed, the energy expenditure of these little frog muscles is far higher than the muscles of any other "cold-blooded" vertebrate and is as high as that of highly active muscles in "warm-blooded" animals .

How do tiny Spring Peepers make such loud calls? They use not only their impressive trunk muscles to exhale forcefully, but also large "vocal sacs." When inflated, these balloon-like throat pouches may be almost as large as the frog's body! The vocal sacs help amplify their calls by resonating at the sound frequency of their peeps. The sacs also allow them to call more efficiently. As a Peeper peeps, some of its exhaled air inflates the sac further. As the sac relaxes, it forces air back into the lungs, quickly preparing the frog to make another call. You can see a Spring Peeper peeping in the following video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/H0NkA3xOOAk . Note how its trunk muscles and vocal sac work together, alternating their contractions.

Why do Peepers expend so much energy peeping? Like many displays of male prowess, peeping is mainly an effort to impress the females. Female Peepers choose which males are most attractive to them, and they appear to be more attracted to full-sized frogs that are able to keep up a higher calling rate and make louder calls. Males also peep to maintain a territory and will tussle with other males that get into their spaces.

The breeding period lasts about two months for Spring Peepers, after which they disperse into the forest for the rest of the year. Thus, they are really woodland frogs for most of their lives. And, even while they are breeding they venture back into the woods to hunt. After breeding, they move further away from water – often around 200 to 300 yards, and up to a maximum of about 1200 yards. In the woods, they presumably find a greater abundance of food, which includes a wide variety of insects and spiders.

As the weather grows cold, Spring Peepers seek shelter from freezing by digging themselves deeply into leaf litter or squeezing under rocks or logs. A few inches of good insulation makes a big difference in the underlying temperature. If you have ever scraped away the leaf litter or rolled over a log in the winter, you will probably have noticed moist soil, tender seedlings, or various unfrozen critters.

However, there are limits to how effective a hibernation spot is against freezing weather. Peepers must still be able to survive when their body temperatures go below 32 degrees. To do this, they make their own antifreeze! In a period of hours, they can boost the concentration of glucose (sugar) in their blood and organs by breaking down the stored glycogen in their livers. (We also store glycogen for energy in our livers.) As the concentration of glucose goes up by as much as 100-fold in their bodies, the water in their bodies does not freeze until it is well below 32 degrees. This is the same phenomenon that we make use of when salting icy roads or adding ethylene glycol to our car radiators.

So, why do some Spring Peepers begin to call again in the fall when they aren't breeding? It isn't clear (answer D). Some frog biologists have speculated that the males may be excited by a surge of hormones as they mature their sperm in the summer, presumably to be prepared for early spring breeding (answer B). They may also be excited by the weather and daylength in the fall, both of which can be similar to late winter when they breed. However, it is important to note that only a small number of Peepers call in the fall. If they are excited, then why is there is no noisy chorus in the fall as the males go through frog puberty? Perhaps Fall Peepers are young males learning to peep (answer B)? (They do make weak calls and only repeat them for a few minutes.) Or, perhaps males in the woods peep occasionally to defend their hunting territories (answer C). Thus, fall peeping remains a peculiar and poorly understood phenomenon. Fall Peepers are another example of the many, many aspects of nature that remain virtually unexplored.

Answer: D! (or B?)

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu. Wanted: Photos of opossums, foxes, coyotes, and anything else that you have a good picture of!

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What's that Flower?

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:42:50 GMT

What's that Flower?

By Richard Stromberg

The AT section east of Harpers Ferry (heading north on the AT) has unique vegetation for the AT because of its low elevation (220 feet above sea level) and because it is close to the Potomac River on one side and closer to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal on the other. To see some of the plants better, go into some of the openings towards the river. Here are some of the plants to look for.

Before you climb the stairs to get to take the AT on the bridge beside the railroad tracks, look at the cracks in the stone wall when you walk under the railroad tracks. One plant growing there is a small, native fern, Purple Cliffbrake ( Pellaea atropurpurea ). The main stem is purple. The pinnae (leaflets) are widespread and are not divided and do not have any lobes or teeth. Also growing in the cracks is Kenilworth Ivy ( Cymbalaria muralis ). It is not native, but is rare, so no danger of invasion. The light green leaves have three or five points. The flowers are about a quarter inch. They have five irregularly arranged blue or lilac petals with yellow in the middle.

Leaving the metal stairs down from the bridge over the Potomac, turn right to follow the AT along the Canal towpath. The towpath runs close to the canal. The river is several yards on the other side of the towpath, mostly obscured by vegetation, but several openings let you see the river and flowers close to the river. Look for the flowers listed below. All are native unless otherwise noted.

Bladdernut (Staphylea trifolia) is a small tree with three-part leaves, the stems of the two side leaflets are much shorter than the stem of the end leaflet. Panicles of one to two-inch, globose, papery capsules with three pointed lobes at the end hang at the end of brances. They contain bony seeds that rattle in the capsule.

Pawpaw ( Asimina triloba ) is small tree with large leaves, some over a foot long. They are entire (no teeth or lobes) tapering to the stem. They alternate along the stem but tend to cluster at the end of branches. Pawpaw fruits are green and cylindrical, up to six inches long and two inches diameter. They have sweet, custardy flesh surrounding several, black, half-to-one-inch seeds.

Late Thoroughwort or Boneset ( Eupatorium serotinum ) can be over six feet tall with branching clusters white flowers at the top. Individual flowers are small but are impressive because there are a lot of them.

Cardinal Flower ( Lobelia cardinalis ) flowers are bright red. The flowers have two lips spreading from a tube. The upper lip has two, erect lobes. The lower lip has three, spreading lobes.

Sneezeweed ( Helenium autumnale ) is an all-yellow daisy-type flower. Don’t worry. It won’t make you sneeze. The name derives from its dried leaves being used as snuff. Its flowers can be three inches in diameter. The flower head’s knob-shaped central disk is surrounded by drooping, wedge-shaped, three-toothed rays, broadest at the tip.

The Small-flowered Leafcup ( Polymnia canadensis ) few short, white, ray petals often are missing. The leaves are a foot long and deeply indented into three or five pointed lobes.

Large-flowered Leafcup ( Smallanthus uvedalius ) leaves are as large as Small-flowered Leafcup’s but are shaped like maple leaves. The flowers have yellow ray florets, so it is also known as Yellow-flowered Leafcup.

Halberd-leaf Rose Mallow ( Hibiscus laevis ) can grow over six feet tall. Single flowers grow from leaf axils near the top of the plant. The flowers are up to seven inches wide with pink petals that grow darker toward the center, surrounding a long column of pistils and stamens. The leaves are up to six inches long. They are arrow-shaped, but the lobes on either side of the base of the plant turn outward rather than down—halberd-shaped.

Mistflower ( Conoclinum coelestinum ) has branching clusters of fuzzy purple flowers growing at the top. It grows three feet tall.

Hollow Joe-Pye Weed also called Trumpetweed ( Eutrochium Fistulosum ) can grow ten feet tall. Its purple stem is hollow. Its many, small, purple/pink flowers form a dome at the top of the plant.

Seedbox ( Ludwigia alternifolia ) gets its name from its cube-shaped fruits that can last through winter. Its half-inch, yellow, four-petaled flowers grow in leaf axils.

Lance-leaf Frogfruit ( Phyla lanceolata —lance-shaped) is eight to thirty inches tall. The leaves are up to two-and-a-half inches long. The edge of the leaf has five to eleven teeth on each side from the tip of the leaf to below the middle and is smooth the rest of the way. Flower spikes grow from alternate leaf axils, rarely two from the same node. The inflorescences at the end of the spike stem are at first globose, then lengthen into a cylinder. The flowers are arranged in whorls around the spike. Each flower is about one-fifth inch across. The flower is white, light pink, or light purple, with a small patch of yellow or rosy-pink near the throat of the flower.

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Keep Calm and Read On

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:42:48 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: Love Letters

By Wayne Limberg

We take some services for granted, never giving them much thought until we need them. Mail carriers are one of them. In "Mailman," Stephen Grant aims to change that. During the covid pandemic Grant spent a year as a rural mail carrier in the Appalachian mountains surrounding Blacksburg, VA. "Mailman" is the at times inspiring, at time humorous, and always a thoughtful story of how that year changed his life and the important role the postal service continues to play in today’s America.

In March, 2020, Grant lost his consulting job with a New York based start-up. He had some savings but his home and way of life in Blackburg were suddenly threatened. On top of that he had just been diagnosed with early-stage prostrate cancer. No job, no insurance. Consultancy gigs were few and far between. One day he saw an ad for a job as a rural mail carrier in Blacksburg. Pay was a fraction of what he earned as a consultant but it offered medical insurance. More importantly, it seemed an adventure and a chance to reconnect with his youth. Grant's family dated back generations to southwestern Virginia. His father taught at Virginia Tech, and Grant had fond memories of camping, hiking, fishing and hunting in the surrounding mountains. So, despite his wife's misgivings, he applied.

Grant immediately had some awakenings, some rude, some not. At the end of his two-week training session, he took the oath of office every federal employee takes. It was a strange and unexpected experience for him. He realized he was part of something big. The USPS and US Army are the oldest services in the federal government. The first US postmaster was Ben Franklin who saw the creation of national postal service and post roads as guaranteeing the exchange of information and ideas and forging a sense of one united nation. While the USPS changed over the years, Grant argues that one thing stayed the same: all Americans will receive their mail regardless of who they are or where they live, and all are invited to be part of the nation's commercial, legal, scientific and artistic conversation.

On reporting to the central mail facility in Blacksburg, Grant found that many of his preconceived notions were wrong. While the postal service has made great technological strides toward sorting and handling mail, the last two steps in the process are still done mainly by hand. Each carrier has to hand sort the hundreds of items in their daily take, organize it in bins for efficient delivery, load it in their vehicle and hit the road. Once on the road, the mail carrier becomes a mix of athlete and contortionist. Some carriers use the familiar white USPS right hand drive jeeps but most use their own left hand drive vehicles. This means they sit on the passenger side and drive with their left hand on the wheel, one foot on gas and brake, while they stuff mailboxes with their right hand.

Grant came to realize he would never be a great mail carrier. This was humbling for someone used to being at the top of his game. Over time, however, he found it liberating. More than once Grant’s fellow carriers saved him from disaster and taught him that persistence trumped perfection. As long as you showed up every day, someone would have your back. This led Grant to do some serious soul-searching. In his former life, he had a reputation for being a demanding, even difficult boss and colleague.

These lessons informed his wider view of the world. Most of the people he delivered mail to hailed from families that had lived in the Appalachian Mountains for generations. They were an independent even contrary lot, suspicious of outsiders and change. However, Grant came to see their independence as a result of their need to be self-reliant. And while they could be a bit distant with strangers, they could also be generous and caring, offering coffee in the winter or a cold lemonade in the summer. They could also be a bit quirky, even eccentric. He never did find out why one farmer was carrying a skinned pig on the back of his tractor, and he still shakes his head over his USPS colleagues’ take on covid vaccinations. None of Grant’s Appalachian folk see themselves as victims. As such, "Mailman" is a good counterbalance to J. D. Vance's "Hillbilly Elegy."

Grant does not shy away from stating his opinions, and his language can be colorful, even blue. He has choice words for Amazon and UPS when the two failed to reach a new shipping deal and the USPS had to pick up the slack. He takes pride in how the USPS made sure mail-in ballots reached their proper destinations during the 2020 elections. His position on guns may raise some eyebrows, but it partly flows from his father being wounded in the 2007 shooting incident at Virginia Tech. Food for thought is revelation that an experienced mail carrier can provide a fairly detailed profile of someone on their route from the mail they receive.

Grant ultimately gets a new consultancy job but knows he will always carry a map of Rural Route 10 in his head and fond memories and deep regard for all those carriers who show up and deliver. Some may see mail delivery as dumb and anachronistic, but for Grant it is a vital act of normalcy and an essential glue that holds this nation together.

Thanks to all who have recommended good reads. If you have one, send it along to wplimberg@aol.com . Meanwhile, keep reading. See you on the trail.

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Remembering Tom Floyd

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:42:42 GMT

Remembering Tom Floyd

By C. David Floyd

Tom Floyd was born in Bergman, Arkansas in 1932 and grew up in the Midwest.

Tom began his long career as a civilian civil service employee of the US Government. His first job was in hospital management on Army bases in Texas. He transferred to Washington DC and began working for the Department of Interior in personnel management.

During his long career in Washington DC Tom was involved in trail building and trail easements for the Appalachian Trail and other trails in the Virginia area. He was a PATC volunteer and leader. He wrote two books published by PATC: “Lost Trails and Forgotten People: The Story of Jones Mountain” and “Diary of a Trail,” the story of the people who built the Tuscarora Trail. Tom Floyd Wayside is an AT shelter with many campsites just north of SNP.

His vacation time was spent in Arizona, where Tom developed a love and fascination of Grand Canyon. He did multiple back county backpacking expeditions of 9-to-20-days. In 1974 he became one of the first few to thru-hike the entire Grand Canyon National Park.

Early retirement found Tom living a few yards from the AT in Virginia in a cabin with an outdoor privy. Then he went to a resort in northeast Oklahoma and then to the old family house at Harmon, AR bought by his parents after World War II. As time passed, Tom spent less time in any house, as he traveled far and wide across North America. He lived in travel trailers, pick-up campers and finally in his trailerable houseboat that doubled as a camping trailer or lake cruiser. His buddies on his travels were his succession of beloved dogs: MD, King George, and Largo.

His final travels found him living proudly as a “full timer” with no house and no real address. In Arizona, the state of his youth, he would follow the seasons and weather camping in his SUV with Largo. Age and time brought Tom again to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be near relatives in an assisted living facility, his final camp. At age 93, Tom broke camp and moved on, continuing his travels. Undoubtedly, Tom is again somewhere in Grand Canyon hiking down the trail.

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Miles of Impact Campaign: A Strong Start Toward Our Year-End Goal

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 17:14:55 GMT

Miles of Impact Campaign: A Strong Start Toward Our Year-End Goal

By Abbie Fine

As we move into the final weeks of the year, we’re excited to share that PATC’s Miles of Impact Campaign is already more than halfway toward our goal of raising $100 for every one of the 1,100 miles of trails entrusted to PATC by December 31st! In this special year-end effort, each symbolic mile represents the tools, training, materials, coordination, and volunteer power required to ensure our trails, cabins, shelters, and wild lands remain open and welcoming for all who seek them.

This year’s campaign stories have brought that impact to life. We introduced supporters to Marissa , a Ridgerunner whose journey from feeling lost to finding purpose on the trail was made possible through PATC’s training and field support. We also celebrated the extraordinary accomplishments of our volunteers, who logged more than 73,000 hours this year—clearing blowdowns, repairing water crossings, clipping hundreds of miles of trail, and caring for the most heavily used sections across the region. And through Jim Fetig’s reflections , we shared how volunteers find pride, belonging, and joy in this physically demanding work—caring for trails not just for today’s hikers, but for future generations yet to discover them.

So, thank you! The campaign progress so far reflects the incredible generosity of the PATC family—members, volunteers, and supporters who understand just how much quiet, behind-the-scenes work happens on the trail each day. If you’d like to learn more about how the campaign works and the impact your contribution can have on the places you love, visit the Miles of Impact webpage !

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VolunteerFest 2025 - Celebrate, Cultivate, Connect!

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:18:27 GMT

VolunteerFest 2025 - Celebrate, Cultivate, Connect!

By Marian Styles and Amber Jones

It was a lot of work, and well worth it. The camaraderie among people knowledgeable about, and curious about, the outdoors at the 2025 PATC VolunteerFest led to valuable connections and heartfelt celebrations of each other’s work.

More than a dozen educational sessions held on Saturday covered wide-ranging aspects of trail work, hiking, and cabin maintenance. Session leaders shared their expertise on subjects as varied as trail treadwork, battery-powered tools, mapping, and hike-leader dilemmas. VolunteerFest attendees learned about backpacking, GPS, and invasive plants, among many other subjects.

PATC officers answered questions during a Saturday afternoon town hall, followed by a rousing happy hour and barbeque dinner. Special honors were awarded to PATC’s most dedicated volunteers, while additional volunteer hours were chalked up preparing for the weekend’s activities, performing administrative and logistical functions, and leading the educational sessions.

One of the greatest benefits of the gathering, besides sharing skills, was the opportunity for a diverse cadre of volunteers—of many ages and walks of life--to get re-acquainted or to meet for the first time.

The weekend offered recreation as well. Early risers on Saturday joined a sunrise hike around the Caroline Furnace property, which is surrounded by George Washington National Forest. Two longer hikes took place on Sunday, in light rain—at Seven Bends State Park and Buzzards Rock. Evening campfires also drew attendees together ( see next article ).

VolunteerFest 2025 was a resounding success. PATC volunteers learned new skills, met new outdoor enthusiasts, and reconnected with others. Many thanks are due to co-chairs Iva Gillet and Jayne Mayne and all their helpers for a year’s worth of effort that made it an exceptional event.

Add your pictures VolunteerFest for all to enjoy on our website.

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VolunteerFest 2025 – The Campfire Sessions

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:18:23 GMT

VolunteerFest 2025 – The Campfire Sessions

By Tom Moran

Perhaps nothing characterized the camaraderie present at VolunteerFest more than the gatherings around the campfire. On Friday, following a spirited game of Appalachian Trail Trivia, attendees drifted toward the Kumbaya Fire Circle. It was a crisp evening, and people drew close, many sipping beverages of choice. A small miracle happened that evening: several people experienced a phenomenon in which their cups seemingly never ran dry despite heroic effort. Alas, even the hardiest had to plan ahead for the next day, and the fire was doused by Chuck Troutman and Tom Moran at midnight.

After the barbeque on Saturday, people again drifted to the firepit, where a substantial crowd filled the benches. Many conversations were overheard, including interesting snippets such as: “A bear ransacked my privy” and “I’m going to hike every trail in Maryland State Parks by next week.”

Someone uttered the word “guitar,” and the next thing you knew a guitar appeared, whereupon the group began an enthusiastic, if lyrically challenged, run at some of Americana’s finest. Tom Moran started off on guitar, passing it along to Amber Jones. Sarah DeGennaro provided harmony – and knew more lyrics than most of us. The chorus reached another level when Chuck Troutman added his baritone to the mix, encouraging the entire crowd to join in. Not finding a good vocal space, Tom found a harmonica in the right key and the jam was on. When the group started to slow down, Charlie Gutberlet grabbed the guitar and tore into a cover of the traditional tune “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad,” proving that the entire neck of a guitar was meant to be used. Playing in the Grateful Dead style, Charlie lit it up while Tom did his best to bend the harp notes. Eventually, the fire was doused by the Toms – Troutman and Moran – at 1:16 a.m., bringing a satisfying conclusion to the evening.

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Ridgerunner Season in Review

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:18:19 GMT

Ridgerunner Season in Review

By Jess LaPolla

Each year, the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s (PATC) Ridgerunners patrol nearly 2,800 miles on the club’s 240-mile section of the Appalachian Trail (AT), spend nearly 200 nights at one of our 25 backcountry shelters, huts, and campgrounds, and encounter over 1,000 overnight campers.

The Ridgerunners work each summer with the public, trail community, and officials along the AT to enhance the public's enjoyment of the trail and to help protect it. PATC's section of the trail extends from the southern end of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, through Maryland, to Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Pennsylvania.

PATC strives to operate the best Ridgerunner Program on the AT. The club works closely with its partners to fund, hire, train, and support a total of six Ridgerunners assigned to one of four segments of our AT section.

Dan Hippe, PATC’s Ridgerunner Coordinator, oversees the hiring, training, and supervision of our Ridgerunners each year in conjunction with PATC’s Trail Patrol. “Ridgerunners are super interesting people,” said Dan at the beginning of the 2025 season. "This year's crew are all accomplished long trail hikers. They've also held lots of public facing jobs and showed through the interview process that they have the skills and passion for being ambassadors of our club on and off the trail, including a substantial number of planned public events with youth at summer camps and the general public at various events that we were plugged into in 2025."

Over the course of the 2025 season, PATC Ridgerunners patrolled a total of 2,767 miles and had 15,462 total encounters . Encounters include interactions with day hikers, backpackers, thru-hikers, trail runners, and campers. Ridgerunners are responsible for collecting data during their patrols, educating the public about Leave No Trace (LNT) principles and trail etiquette, cleaning up trash, blowdowns, and illegal campsites, and providing emergency assistance when required.

With thousands of people recreating along the length of the AT, Ridgerunners are an essential piece in keeping the trail clean, safe, and open. They work with park staff and other agencies, volunteers on the trail working on their own projects, and even those who come on trail to deliver trail magic. Even trail magic needs to be regulated, according to Hippe. “Unattended trail magic endangers wildlife and leaves litter and spoilage in huts and food storage boxes.”

This season, Dan Hippe, with the help of PATC staff and volunteers, implemented the Jr. Ridgerunner program, designed to reward members of the public, of any age, for (1) assisting a PATC Ridgerunner in their official duties, or (2) participating in a LNT game or discussion led by a PATC Ridgerunner.

Our Ridgerunners had several opportunities to engage groups in Leave No Trace (LNT) focused discussions and games toward earning a Jr. Ridgerunner Recognition and additional opportunities to talk about the AT hiking experience and what Ridgerunners do.

PATC is proud to have such dedicated and passionate Ridgerunners, all of whom have their own interesting history and who come onto the trail for different reasons.

“After finishing my thru-hike, I just really wanted to give back to trail because it had a huge impact on my life. I really wanted to stay connected with the community and continue to be a part of it.” Ridgerunner Marissa Fulton talks about her experience thru-hiking the AT and becoming a Ridgerunner on the Shenandoah section of the trail this year.

“Prior to hiking the AT, I had just kind of lost myself a little bit. Part of the reason I wanted to do the AT when I did was just to get some of my confidence back and prove to myself I can do what I set out to do.” Marissa’s time on the AT allowed her the space to grow and realize she could live a non-traditional life. This life consisted of being on trail 5 days a week, hiking shelter to shelter through SNP from end to end, which would typically take around 2-3 weeks depending on changing schedules.

Marissa had a standout first season. She completed her patrols with enthusiasm, participated in PATC outreach events, and even had to lend her skills to a medical emergency on trail when a hiker fell and dislocated their elbow near where Marissa was camping. Marissa stabilized the arm and helped law enforcement get the injured hiker to safety.

All of PATC’s Ridgerunners had a successful season, including Maryland Ridgerunner Josh Sheets.

Josh has thru-hiked a total of around 8,500 miles since his initial thru-hike on the AT back in 2011. Since then, he has completed the Colorado Trail, the Long Trail, the PCT, the Tahoe Rim Trail, the Arizona Trail, and the Benton MacKaye Trail.

After a career in healthcare that eventually led to burnout, Josh moved to the mountains of Virginia and began looking for outdoor opportunities. As a result of meeting Dan on a trail maintenance outing last winter, Josh found himself accepting the role of a Maryland Ridgerunner this season.

“Getting paid to be outside and hiking and watching the sunset at Annapolis Rock; it just never really felt like work.” For anyone who enjoys spending time in nature, this sounds like the dream.

Josh pointed out that along with getting to experience the peace and beauty of the trail, he also had thousands of positive interactions with the public. Most folks he encountered were friendly, curious, and cared about the trail.

In addition to patrolling on trail, there is a caretaking component on the Maryland section of the AT. One week Josh would patrol while the other Maryland Ridgerunner, Dillon Utter, would act as the caretaker at Annapolis Rock, rotating the following week.

From seeing PATC’s work and from his time spent as a Ridgerunner, Josh noted the sheer amount of work and coordination that goes into keeping these trails viable and open to the public. “Just being able to have a trail exist like this is pretty remarkable. All of the volunteer hours and coordination efforts between agencies, and the years of work to get pieces of the trail off a road or to gain land rights is incredible.”

I think many of us as hikers and backpackers can relate to this. We love to recreate in beautiful places but are often unaware of the work that goes into creating and maintaining the trails. Clearing blowdowns, building water bars, managing invasive plant species, creating more accessibility on trails, and keeping them safe and open for the public are all a part of being a volunteer for PATC and other organizations whose mission is to care for outdoor spaces.

The Ridgerunners are an essential piece of this mission. They are on the front lines, interacting with thousands of people on the trail, some of whom are brand new to hiking or recreating outdoors. The impressions they make are lasting and important.

We are beyond grateful for our incredible team of Ridgerunners. The 2025 season Ridgerunners include Marissa Fulton, Josh Sheets, Dillon Utter, Ellie Strait, Rich Jacobus, and Ray Stinson. To read more about them and to learn more about our Ridgerunner program, check out this article.

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Join us for our Annual Meeting

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:18:11 GMT

Join us for our Annual Meeting

PATC members, please join us for our annual meeting, to be held virtually on November 18 ^th at 7PM.

Volunteer Awards were announced at this year’s VolunteerFest, so we will enjoy a brief meeting together to recap a great year of volunteerism, community, and outdoor fun.

We also begin to look ahead to 2026 and what the next year will bring. Be sure to tune in for club highlights on cabins, trails, and all things PATC. The meeting will be held virtually over Zoom. Register for the event and we will send you a link to the meeting the week of.

For more info and to register for free, click here .

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SNP Hoodlums Host Successful Trail Maintainers Workshop

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:18:08 GMT

SNP Hoodlums Host Successful Trail Maintainers Workshop

By Tom Moran

The Shenandoah National Park North District Hoodlums were again pleased to host their annual trail maintainers workshop on the weekend of September 20. While the workshop is open to any club member, the 30 available slots fill up fast. The 2025 workshop was the second effort by the Hoodlums to teach standards and practices to trail maintainers in the form of PATC’s Trail Maintainer Certification program. In order to earn the certification, a set of modules must be completed in the field, as well as follow-up online and first aid courses. This workshop was designed to enable attendees to complete the field requirements with hands-on practice and presented a clear roadmap for attendees to complete the remaining requirements at their own pace. The four field modules are Trail Safety, Managing Impacts on Trails, Invasive Species, and Blazing.

Attendees arriving Friday were able to check in, pitch their tents, and socialize around the campfire during and after dinner. Having a chance to meet other PATC members from varied backgrounds and experience is all part of the fun of the weekend, and is what keeps some coming back annually. Saturday morning they convened for breakfast, a safety briefing, and divided into crews for the day’s workshop activities. Before heading out, two attendees were able to experience firsthand a park service Ranger’s abilities to extract keys from locked cars. The ranger displayed great skill and effectiveness!

Jim Fetig and Dave Nebhut led a basic level crew down a section of the Elkwallow Trail, where they covered the four field modules of the course. The crew did some mud wallowing of their own, enlarging a drain field, and building a rolling grade dip in a particularly wet area of trail that had been degraded due to extreme rain in 2025. Their crew included Mike Hritz, Edgar Howell, Anthony Senerchia, Gerard Weatherby , and Chris and Michelle Viggiano .

Wayne Limberg and Michael Gergely led another basic crew over to the Traces Trail adjacent to the campground where they were able to complete the four modules. They also practiced a skill increasing in usage and popularity in SNP: making cuts on a crosscut saw, a first time handling this effective tool for nearly all. Their crew included Julie and Tim Zimmerman, Ed Elam, Daniel Sieh, Ann Beale, and Julie Biegner .

Noel Freeman and Cindy Ardecki led a more experienced crew down the Overall Run Trail to a very steep section of trail with a long staircase, in which some steps had been spaced too far from the next step. A heavily used trail due to its proximity to Overall Run Falls, the stairs endure a heavy load and occasionally need repairs. These steps really test the trail builder’s/maintainer’s abilities to ensure adherence to Sustainable, Effective, Traversable (SET principles). It required significant effort finding available rocks large enough to withstand the traffic and make solid steps meant the crew had to move rock and fill significant distances. This crew included Cecil Dallas, Robert Kilby, Marie Seymour, Steve Woofter , Cindy Ardecki, Noel Freeman and Venus Foshay .

Justin Corddry and Tom Moran led a crew of six down Overall Run/Tuscarora Trail from its start at the AT, ending at the Traces Spur trail where they finished by hiking out to the group campsite at Mathews Arm. Along the way they scraped and painted several blazes, cleaned out water bars and check dams, and replaced rotting wood in several of each. Each had the opportunity to use a swing blade to clear vegetation, and invasive weeds were identified. The session was very hands-on as many trail structures were rehabilitated. They were joined by Rose Moss, Marty Martin, Mike Durland, Zach Bedore, Erin Restel, and Colin Wagner, a George Washington University graduate student working on his thesis.

After the physical effort Saturday, Sunday would bring a more relaxed pace of learning. Following coffee and a light breakfast, the group gathered under canopies for the first of two sessions. Clouds had settled in with a fine mist, yet did not delay the program. Noel Freeman, the tools manager for the SNP North District maintainers, directly addressed a recurrent issue. Maintainers had complained of not being able to start the club’s gas-powered trimmers, which are sorely needed due to the sharp increase in vegetation over the past several years. The trimmers are a mix of two-stroke and four-stroke, which adds a layer of complexity to fuel and starting requirements. Noel walked through the differences between the two before demonstrating startup technique.

Tom Moran led the second session. It was a discussion of how and why crosscut saws have become an increasingly important tool for keeping trails clear of fallen trees. Powered tools are prohibited from being used in wilderness areas, of which large portions of SNP are defined. But while non-powered (i.e. crosscut) saws are required in these areas, they may be preferable even in areas where they are not required. The group was then led through an overview of the five steps to analyzing and executing cuts, which for bucking (as opposed to felling) is the OHLEC framework— O bjective, H azards, L eans/binds, E scape paths, and C ut plan.

The group then walked a short distance to a clearing in the woods where four blowdowns were conveniently available for illustration of how OHBEC could be applied. The attendees enjoyed the interactive session, each having the opportunity to have input into the real-life scenarios. Experienced sawyer Jim Fetig provided vital additional insight into the analyses. Each then had an opportunity to make a cut with the club crosscut saw before the session concluded. By then, it was nearly time for the concluding brunch and the group returned to the dining area, having completed the workshop.

The weekend was a great success as a number of attendees completed their field requirements for being qualified for Certified Trail Maintainer recognition. All had the chance to practice new skills, as well as develop new relationships with fellow trail maintainers. Last but not least, their work had immediate positive impact – real improvements made to real trails, well beyond having just been a classroom exercise. Plans are already in the works for the 2026 workshop. Special thanks to Dave Nebhut, who planned and organized the weekend, and to Joe Wood , who prepared three great meals for what is a very large crew, all without the help of a formal kitchen or electric power.

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Toughest Ridge In PA

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:18:03 GMT

Toughest Ridge In PA

Article and photos by Rick Bascatow

Introduction

After retiring and completing the Appalachian Trail, I was struck by the excellent maintenance performed by the PATC. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought my dream of hiking the John Muir Trail to a halt, I began looking for ways to contribute to trail upkeep. Although I found no opportunities on the Appalachian Trail, Peter Brown , District Trail Manager, recommended the Tuscarora Trail. After some travel and exploration, I discovered available sections on the mountain ridge stretching from Alice Trail to the PA 456 parking area. This ridge, located in southern Pennsylvania, is a prominent feature visible to the north while driving on US-70 near Hancock, Md. These are Tuscarora Trail sections 513019/513020. Peter also mentioned that another individual was interested in trail maintenance and suggested I contact him.

Forming Our Team

I reached out to Jim Dwyer and we met for the first time in September 2020 at the Alice Trail parking lot. Together, we hiked the sections and agreed to sign up and work as a team to maintain both. We had heard of the challenges these sections presented: steep access trails, briars, rocks, and snakes. Our initial assessment revealed that the most pressing issue was the overgrowth of weeds and briars, which would require gas-powered cutters to keep the trail clear. We also encountered blowdowns, many of which we removed by hand or with a folding saw. However, some larger trees required a chainsaw for removal. That spring, we walked the trail equipped with weed cutters, fuel, and other tools. A month later, Jim modified an old pack frame to carry my chainsaw, while I carried fuel and other equipment. By the summer, our efforts had noticeably improved the trail’s condition.

Challenges and Teamwork

Climbing up to the trail is already challenging in cool weather and carrying a weed cutter with fuel for 14 miles makes it even more exhausting—especially on hot summer days. To help with the workload, Jim recruited his friend Steve Sharpe , who, like Jim, is a retired member of the US Coast Guard. Jim spends his summers hiking in Alaska and the Western United States, while Steve is an avid long-distance runner who recently completed the Boston Marathon with an impressive time. This sometimes leaves me as the one who needs assistance carrying tools or to take a break on the second day of our work trips.

Innovations and Efficiency

Jim has been instrumental in developing strategies to improve our efficiency. He created maps to monitor our progress and plan our work. Along with repurposing his old frame pack, he designed holsters for our folding saws.

Typically, we would maintain both sections over two days. We would spot two cars and hike up Alice Trail, maintain from Alice Trail to the top of the Yellow Trail, then cache our equipment there (to avoid carrying it up and down the hill unnecessarily). We would hike down to the road and drive to stay at either Reese Hollow Shelter or Little Cove Cabin for the night. On day two we would reposition cars, hike up Yellow Trail to our gear, and finish the rest of the trail to the south. They were two long days yet were made easier by eliminating some climbing with equipment.

Reflections and the Future

I have genuinely enjoyed this work, and together we have maintained these two sections since 2020. However, at age 76, it is becoming more difficult for me to keep up with the demands of trail maintenance. Jim and I agree that 2025 will be our final year. I encourage anyone who reads this, or knows someone who might be interested, to consider taking on the responsibility of maintaining these trail sections.

With his Coast Guard navigation knowledge Jim provided this map of our sections. He would always know how far we had to go (which was always way too far!)

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Vibrant Views at Vining Cabin

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:17:59 GMT

Vibrant Views at Vining Cabin

By Jess LaPolla

Nestled along PATC’s Vining Tract, the Vining Cabin offers a rustic feel with modern amenities. Located just outside of Stanardsville, Va., this is the perfect cabin for casual nature lovers and dedicated hikers alike.

Consisting of an original, 100-year-old chestnut structure and an attached stone addition, Vining Cabin offers two single beds and two fold-out double futons, providing sleeping arrangements for six. Access the cabin by a 0.3-mile hike-in from the parking area. This is the perfect mini adventure if you have young kids.

The whole family can also enjoy hiking around and exploring the Vining Tract , a trail owned and maintained by PATC.

For sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, hike to the top of Hilltop Peak . This short hike packs a punch, so be prepared for some quick elevation gain. The rocky summit is fun to scramble around on while looking out over the Shenandoah Valley.

For a scenic fall drive, pull off at Swift Run Overlook and Bacon Hollow . The view from Bacon Hollow Overlook stretches out over a broad hollow that descends to the Piedmont in the distance.

Piedmont is the central region of Virginia between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Coastal Plains. Literally meaning foothills, the Piedmont region is known for its rolling hills and rural character (NPS).

Visit the nearby Shenandoah National Park for more beautiful, wooded trails and epic views.

In the small town of Stanardsville you will find everything you need to make your stay even more comfortable, including grocery stores, cafes, shops, and restaurants.

For more info and to book your stay at Vining, click here .

*Please note that visitors are discouraged from visiting National Parks during the government shutdown. If you already have a trip planned, please make sure you practice Leave No Trace and are self-sufficient.

National parks remain as accessible as possible during the federal government shutdown. However, some services may be limited or unavailable. For more information, please visit: doi.gov/shutdown

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Nine New PATC Crosscut Sawyers Certified in September

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:17:57 GMT

Nine New PATC Crosscut Sawyers Certified in September

By Paul Boisen and Doug Dembling

“ PATC at its best. Passing on field knowledge to a new crew of sawyers and doing it in a way that builds camaraderie and team spirit !”

That’s how Martin Mühleisen described the crosscut saw and axe training and certification course held by the DC Rock Creek Park District September 20-21, 2025. This training was held to increase the skills and abilities of district trail maintainers. PATC maintainers routinely clear tree blowdown from the park’s 30+ miles of trails.

Martin was one of nine participants in the two-day training. The first day’s classroom session was held at the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church. The training used the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) “Developing Thinking Sawyers” curriculum for crosscut sawyer certification.

This was followed by a day of field testing and evaluation on the Glover Archbold Trail in Rock Creek Park. Past storms had felled numerous trees in the area providing ample opportunities for practicing sawing and axe skills and then having those skills evaluated.

Paul Boisen , PATC C Level Sawyer, assisted by Doug Dembling , PATC B Level Sawyer, trained and evaluated the participants. Prior to the training the participants reviewed four pre-work modules. The classroom session covered the mandatory modules on saw operations, crosscut basics, limbing/bucking, axe use and maintenance, and hung-up trees.

Participants were trained to “buck” fallen trees off of trails. The techniques taught in the course are motivated by safety and utilize the Objectives/Hazards/Leans & Binds/Escape paths/Cut plan (OHLEC) process:

Determining the objective(s) in bucking the downed tree;
Understanding the hazards that may be present in the work area (Look up, Look Down, Look All Around);
Detecting and understanding the leans and binds, the tension and compression in fallen trees;
Determining the best escape path(s) to use if the sawyer needs to move away quickly from the cutting area;
Determining the cut plan - figuring out the different angles and deciding the best sequences of cuts to clear the blowdown. This includes predicting where cut pieces will move upon separation, and maintaining clear communication between team members.

In addition to crosscut saw certification, sawyers can get USFS chainsaw certification. Each type of tool brings its own challenges.

Crosscut sawyers carry a lighter load of tools and have the advantage of hearing both their crewmates' voices and the creak of the wood as they work, but each cut takes more time than a chainsaw. Crosscut sawyers, therefore, tend to make fewer cuts and then have larger pieces of wood to move off the trail.

Chain sawyers can make multiple cuts quickly to reduce a fallen tree into small pieces, but they have to carry heavier equipment on the trail.

Levels of certification for both chainsaw and crosscut saw are A (apprentice, developing skills), B (crew leader, skilled with tools and communication), and C (coach, demonstrated ability to train and certify As and Bs).

The Rock Creek Park training has a back story with PATC's North River (NR) District.

The NR district contains the USFS Ramsey's Draft Wilderness, in which chainsaws may not be used. For this reason, NR has been holding training and certification events to support a local cadre of crosscut sawyers on the Shenandoah Mountain Crew. Initially this training depended on C sawyers from the Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS).

In order to strengthen PATC’s training program, NR Co-District Manager Lynn Cameron recruited Paul Boisen, one of the local C Level Sawyers, to certify PATC sawyers. Since then Paul has certified 31 sawyers at PATC, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Carolina Mountain Club, USFS and SAWS events in Virginia and North Carolina, before coming to the D.C. area to carry out the Rock Creek Park certification event.

Congratulations to the newly certified sawyers - six A-bucking sawyers and three B-bucking sawyers: Allison Kirsch, Darob Malek-Madani, Don Looney, Leo Juska, Lisa Frehill, Martin Mühleisen , Mitch Baer, Natalie Howe, and Josh Wolny!

As Darob remarked, “I had a great experience and learned a lot. I can't wait to get back on the trail and use some new skills and I now have some big new ideas for my tool list for Santa.”

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What's that Flower?

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:17:52 GMT

What's that Flower: AT on the C&O Canal Towpath near Harpers Ferry in Spring

Article and photos by Richard Stromberg

The main stem is purple. The pinnae (leaflets) are widespread and are not divided and do not have any lobes or teeth. Also growing in the cracks is Kenilworth Ivy ( Cymbalaria muralis ). It is not native, but is rare, so no danger of invasion. The light green leaves have three or five points. The flowers are about a quarter inch. They have five irregularly arranged blue or lilac petals with yellow in the middle.

Leaving the metal stairs down from the bridge over the Potomac, turn right to follow the AT along the Canal towpath.

The towpath runs close to the canal. The river is several yards on the other side of the towpath, mostly obscured by vegetation, but several openings let you see the river and flowers close to the river. Look for the flowers listed below. All are native unless otherwise noted.

Bladdernut ( Staphylea trifolia ) is a small tree with three-part leaves, the stem of the two side leaflets are much shorter than the stem of the end leaflet. Panicles of small white flowers droop in April.

Miami Mist ( Phacelia purshii ) grows up to 18 inches tall. It has half-inch flowers, cream-colored in the center surrounded by purple/blue. The “mist” refers to fringe on the petals.

Pawpaw ( Asimina triloba ) is a small tree with large leaves, some over a foot long. They are entire (no teeth or lobes) tapering to the stem. They alternate along the stem but tend to cluster at the end of branches. Flowers hang down from axils. They have three large outer petals and three smaller inner petals surrounding a mass of stigmas and the pistil in the center. They start out green and turn dark purple.

Starry False Solomon’s-seal ( Maianthemum stellata ) has a single erect or arching stem with several ovate leaves alternating along the stem. Its flower cluster at the end of the plant is unbranched, and the individual flowers a quarter of an inch across. The False Solomon’s-seal ( M. racemosum ) looks similar, but the flower cluster is branched and the individual flowers are smaller.

Hairy Beardtongue ( Penstemon hirsutus ) has white hair on the stems that can grow three feet tall. It has spikes of one-inch, tubular flowers atop the plant. The flower tube is narrow at the stem end and then abruptly widens, ending in two-part upper lips and three-part lower lips that flare from the tubes. The tubes are purplish, with no lines inside and the flaring lobes are white. It has four stamens under the upper lip. The fifth stamen is sterile and rests on the bottom of the tube and is hairy yellow.

Virginia Bluebells ( Mertensia virginica ) grow in masses on riversides like the Shenandoah River. The elliptical leaves can be eight inches long and two inches wide. The inch-long flowers are shaped like a funnel. They start out pink and turn blue as they open. Some may remain pink and some are white.

Jetbead ( Rhodotypos scandens ) is an invasive alien shrub. It has opposite leaves. The showy flowers grow at the end of branches. They are up to two inches in diameter and have four white petals.

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Keep Calm and Read On: The Other Yellowstone

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 01:17:47 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: The Other Yellowstone

By Wayne Limberg

Yellowstone has been front and center of late, be it the multi-season TV series that leans heavily on the likes of “Dallas” and “Dynasty” or its prequels “1883” and “1923” that, despite Sam Elliot's mustache and Harrison Ford's and Helen Mirren's best efforts, leave audiences yearning for an adaptation of Ivan Doig's masterful English Creek trilogy—actually, anything by Doig. The latest and best addition to the Yellowstone saga is “Beartooth” by Callan Wink, which takes a different tack, focusing on the marginal souls who struggle to survive outside the glitz and glamour.

Wink is a National Endowment of the Arts fellow and former Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University. His stories and essays have appeared in “The New Yorker,” “Playboy” and ”Men's Journal.” When it comes to Yellowstone and its environs and people, he knows of what he speaks: He lives in Livingston, Montana and divides his time between writing and working as a fly-fishing guide on the Yellowstone River.

"Beartooth" opens with two 20-something brothers—Thad and Hazen—harvesting organs off a bear they had just killed to sell on the illegal market. A year apart in age, the two could pass for twins but it soon becomes clear they are very different. Thad is quiet and earnest and always wondering if he is living up to the standards of his recently departed father. Hazen seems to be a throwback to the mountain men but it soon becomes clear he may be on the spectrum. The two live off the grid in a log cabin in sight of the Abasaroka-Beartooth Mountains on the edge of Yellowstone National Park. Wink uses the cabin as something of a metaphor. The brothers inherited it from their father who had meticulously cared for it but now its logs are peeling and its roof leaking. It stands in sharp contrast to the McMansions that millionaires are building on neighboring ranchettes.

Thad and Hazen get by on odd jobs, cutting and selling wood, illegal harvesting of animal organs and antlers and hunting. They managed until their father took ill; when he died, they faced a pile of medical bills. At least Thad did. Things got so bad that Thad cut down their mailbox, but that did not stop the county and bank putting liens on the cabin and land. Eviction and homelessness loomed. In the midst of this, their mother, who had abandoned them years earlier, reappears. Her father had named her Sacajawea after the young Shoshone woman who guided Lewis and Clark. She apparently had been traveling the country for years in her old van. Why she has decided to return is unclear. While Thad cannot forgive her for abandoning them and wants her to leave, the cabin was built by her father and she moves in. Hazen is intrigued.

As Sacajawea arrives, a local, a kilt-wearing Scot approaches Thad and Hazen with a business proposition that could solve their financial problems but also get them jailed: rustling antlers in Yellowstone NP for sale on the Asian market. The Scot has a dicey reputation, including accusations of murder. He is accompanied by a mute young woman who he claims is his daughter. Again, Hazen is intrigued, both by her and the proposed deal. Thad resists but finally agrees to the deal and "Beartooth" is off and running as a crime heist thriller complete with narrow escapes, police investigations and building tensions. It soon becomes clear, however, that "Beartooth" is more than that as the narrative shifts to much deeper themes. As the book progresses, there is a sense that Sacajawea may be guiding her two sons much as her namesake guided Lewis and Clark. At one point, Wink wonders if Sacajawea’s life would have been different if her parents had only named her Melanie as her mother wanted. In revealing Sacajawea’s backstory and why she left her family, Wink shines a light on the plight of Indian women trying to survive in a White male world.

Wink's writing is taut, bordering on minimalist. In some cases what is unsaid is as important as what is said. The Scot's relations with his daughter are a prime example of how he often lets readers fill in details and come to their own conclusions based on sparse dialogue and descriptions. Like the fly-fisherman he is, Wink doles out clues judiciously, leaving readers to bite on solutions only to find that their assumptions were wrong. Thad's money problems and the fate of the cabin are examples. Their resolution may not be what readers expected but it is satisfying and splendidly ironic given the start of the book and the caper in Yellowstone. A source of trouble can also be a source of salvation.

Even when reader assumptions are borne out, loose ends remain. And Wink does not tie them all up. Much is resolved one way or another but much is also left hanging. And that may be a good thing. “Beartooth” is Wink’s second book. With luck, he might tie some of them up in future works.

Do you have a good read? If so, share it at wplimberg@aol.com . The holidays are nearing. Meanwhile, keep reading. See you on the trail.

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President's Logbook

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 01:31:46 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

Everyone’s heard of Occam’s Razor: The simplest and most obvious answer is usually the correct one. Writer A. O. Scott coined a corollary he called Occam’s Chainsaw: Whoever makes the most noise and debris gets the attention. No matter why, we’ve been converting gasoline to noise and generating a lot of sawdust lately.

VolunteerFest, primarily organized and managed by Jayne Mayne and Iva Gillet, by all accounts, was enjoyed by those who participated. The event’s purpose was to celebrate our tradition of volunteer service and stewardship. It brought together people who normally don’t see one another no matter where they volunteer across our entire 45,000 square mile footprint.

The constitutionally required November annual meeting will take place virtually on November 18 ^th at 7pm EST. All members are welcome to join. Our annual awards ceremony was at VolunteerFest, so please join us for a short and sweet meeting highlighting PATC’s work from the last year, the president’s state of the club message, and the treasurer’s report. For more info and to register, click here .

Our club is strong and vibrant. However, we are living in “interesting” times with a range of questions that cannot be answered now. For example, how will changes to the federal workforce affect membership and cabin rentals? What will happen to public lands? Depending on what does or does not happen to public lands, how will PATC’s mission be affected? There are many more questions than these.

A member at the VolunteerFest town hall meeting asked for my vision for the club. If anyone expected me to say something like growing the membership by a large percentage or the number of cabins, they aren’t looking at the same data as me.

My vision is to strengthen the club to weather any storm that may come our way. To that end, we’ve continued to improve our business processes and we have added rigor to the budgeting process. In keeping with council’s directive, we have reduced the deficit well within the amount the quasi endowment is expected to cover.

In that same vein, the endowment committee has managed our invested funds conservatively and well. The quasi-endowment’s value has exceeded $6 million for the first time ever. It is a bulwark standing against unforeseen costs and provides money for land and cabin acquisition when appropriate. It is an asset that most nonprofits like ours do not have.

We are starting to see some trends. More newly retired civil servants are attending our monthly new member meetings. Most of them want to volunteer, suggesting that their public service ethos is alive and well. On the back side, we are losing about as many members as we attract. Most of the folks not renewing their memberships joined solely to rent a members-only cabin.

We are working hard to address our liability issues. I’ve used the metaphor about running the club out of a “cigar box” before. We have determined that we must increase our liability insurance coverage and take other steps to financially protect our leaders at all levels. We have grown beyond the ability of flying under the radar.

We also are planning some cost-effective brand projection in conjunction with two national park fee free days next year – Show Your Love Day and National Trails Day. The heart of the effort will be underwriting on WAMU radio and targeted ads on Instagram and Facebook. Success will be measured by new members gained and donations received.

The Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group has asked to sign a partnership MOU with the club establishing a nonlegal and nonfinancial relationship. Their legal and financial affiliation was dissolved several years ago due to liability insurance issues.

When the government shut down, although parks remained open, volunteering was initially not allowed. That changed quickly but with some limitations. Hats off to our dedicated volunteers who continue to help keep the parks and trails accessible. You are the heartbeat of this organization.

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From the Ground Up: The AT’s Overlooked History

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:49:00 GMT

From the Ground Up: The AT’s Overlooked History

By Meg Drennan

“I took my first hike in 1971 in Shenandoah as a Boy Scout. Our Scout Master had been a marine in WWII. He believed you developed self-reliance by getting out into the woods, backpacking, and walking on the trail,” recalls Mills Kelly.

Back then, they didn’t think much about the Appalachian Trail (AT). It was just the place where the troop hiked.

“Two years later, a neighbor came to our Scout meeting and gave a slide show of his thru-hike. I remember thinking, the trail is 2,000 miles long? It goes from Georgia to Maine? That’s how my fascination began at age 12.”

Since then, he’s hiked more than 800 miles of the AT over the years. As the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s (PATC) archivist, Kelly has explored many more miles by sifting through the written narratives, photos, recipes and other artifacts left behind by hikers of yore.

An emeritus professor of history at George Mason University, Kelly is fascinated by the accounts from casual day hikers. But their stories are largely tucked away, stored in ledgers, boxes and archives by various clubs up and down the AT.

By contrast, he says, thru-hikers are celebrities of sorts. “They’ve published books. They’ve got YouTube videos, social media posts. But they are only one half of one percent of all the people who get on the trail each year.”

What about everyone else? “I’ve tried to impress on my students to beware of the preponderance of evidence fallacy. There may be a ton of evidence about one part of story, but not much about the other. The AT is a case study in this. It was really bugging me.”

So, he decided to write a book. In A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail , Mills captures the experiences of those everyday AT hikers over the past century. To tell their stories, he dug through hundreds of trail shelter registers, hiker accounts, old photos and films, and newspaper and magazine articles.

“I was a Fulbright in Germany last year. When I wasn’t teaching, I spent my time reading those accounts. I have to give a big shoutout to the people at the AT museum in Pine Grove Furnace, PA. They’ve been scanning their ledgers and gave me a thumb drive filled with those scans.” As he read and absorbed those personal narratives, several themes emerged.

“In 1921, Benton MacKaye wanted people to go on the trail to get oxygen, peace, just after flu epidemic and the war. He thought the trail would be a place for people ‘to solve the problem of living.’ Turns out, he was right! People ventured onto the AT to touch the wild. They wanted to see a wild animal, sit by a stream and listen to the water rushing over stones, or see wildflowers. They wanted what the Japanese call komorebi, light filtering through the leaves.”

They still do. Every year, between 3 to 4 million people hit the trail.

“What doesn’t change over time is this desire to touch the wild. What does change is who you do it with. Until the early 1960s, you hiked in a group. You joined a club, scouts, a church group. There are lots of photos of 20, 30, even 40 people. At the end of hikes, they would square dance.”

Back then, socializing was a big part of hiking. “We assume from our lens of the 21 ^st century that women’s participation in hiking was not the norm. That’s wrong. Women have been doing long distance, rigorous hiking from the beginning. Some hiking clubs even had a 50/50 men and women limit because there were too many women. It was an important social outlet. A place where you might meet your life partner.”

Group hiking, however, started to decline in the 1960s when Americans shifted to individual activities, like jogging and aerobics. Today, he notes, backpackers increasingly hike by themselves.

“It has a big impact on what happens on the trail. Hikers used to create, support, and maintain the trail as a group. When they are solo, they become consumers of the trail. Thru hikers are consumers. Almost none of them volunteer.” Other changes have been more welcome.

“Onion sandwiches used to be very popular for decades. Also, big slabs of raw bacon,” he laughs. “I enjoyed researching the evolution of the gear we carry. World War II spurred tremendous innovation in camping and hiking gear. The hammock tents, popular today, came from the Pacific campaign. These innovations led to much lighter, more durable gear that made the backcountry accessible to many more people.”

Kelly’s new book will be available for purchase on October 7 ^th . Join Mills in person for a book launch at Blacksburg Books on October 9 ^th . For more information or to pre-order the book, visit millskelly.net . And be sure to check out his podcast, The Green Tunnel .

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President's Logbook

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:58 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Elizabeth Barrett Browning asks a profound question in Sonnet 43.

That question could mean, “What have you done for me lately?” or, it could mean, “Let me tell you what keeps me coming back.” Sometimes, it is a mixture of both. Regardless, her words painted a portrait of profound gratitude.

Versions of this question kept coming up at the recent Hoodlums trail maintainers training workshop. The number one answer was to give back.

We have been given a truly amazing legacy for which we should give thanks. The ability to disconnect from the stress and strain of everyday life and plug into nature in a wide variety of ways and to repay nature for that privilege is a priceless benefit of PATC membership. It is food for our souls.

The workshop was literally our future under construction. It was attended by all kinds of people, including grizzled veterans and shiny new veteran trail maintainers-to-be. It was heartwarming to see knowledge passing hands from one to another like a hot dog vendor forking over the goods at a baseball game. In one case, a slathering of syrupy black mud substituted for watery ballpark ketchup.

There is a lot of love in the air. Next year’s budget is close to being finished. We’re working with Shenandoah National Park on a new management agreement for their six cabins. As of now, we still don’t know if the stove and chimney repairs needed for three of the cabins will occur before cold weather sets in. We also have agreed to maintain trails for our 17th National Park Service unit, Monocacy Battlefield.

The line up for Volunteer Fest has been set. The seminars include hike leader training, trail maintenance, battery powered tools, women’s introduction to trail maintenance, trail patrol meeting, invasive plants, and more. The senior elected leadership will answer questions at a town hall style meeting on Saturday afternoon.

As I write this, it is the first day of autumn. What a time to reflect on the summer just past and the crisp colors, cooler air, and holidays ahead. When your knees, like mine, crackle like a noisy campfire, the opportunity to count the ways you love the outdoors and embrace nature is irreplaceable.

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The Summer Heat Breaks, Hoodlums Near Record Turnout

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:56 GMT

The Summer Heat Breaks, Hoodlums Near Record Turnout

B y Tom Moran, Michael Gergely, and Tom Troutman

After heat caused cancellation of the July Hoodlums work trip, August was much more pleasant and a large turnout of 35 provided plenty of resources to tackle a wide array of projects.

Tom Troutman led a small crew to target some of the many blowdowns in the North District. Sawyer Dan Hippe cleared two major blockers on the Pole Bridge Link Trail (a critical trail for the Sugarloaf Loop) and cleaned up two older ones that intruded onto the trail. Erin Taylor and Tom provided swamping services for Dan. Their next two stops were on the AT, the first providing navigation assistance to a family they had previously encountered on Pole Bridge Link Trail and that had been relying on park maps that didn’t provide sufficient details. They made one last stop, which was just north of Rattlesnake Overlook on the AT. It was a simple blowdown, but the hunt for another reported one was fruitless as the maintainer of the section had already cleared it. As the crew proceeded to the next section, the sky let loose with what someone called sun showers–more like downpours!

A large crew was sent south to assist Central District with some emergency trail repair at Thornton Gap. Heavy summer storms had caused runoff to cascade downhill where the AT crosses Route 211, scouring gravel from the trail and leaving a six to eight inch deep channel significant enough that even thru-hikers were noticing. Because the Hoodlums were already planning to be out, the National Park Service asked if they could step in to mitigate the situation until additional resources could be brought to bear on the trail section.

Led by Mike Gergely, the crew of Ben Morris, Greg Foster, Jamie Benson, Kyle Brost, Mark Wrobel, Mike Kennedy, Richard Lee, Tricia Neves, and David Pierce got to work. The Park Service left a few cut logs for emergency check dams, but the crew put Tricia's crosscut saw to use harvesting additional wood from the area for 11 new check dams. Putting skills learned from the PATC's Certified Trail Maintainer course to work, the crew installed a rolling grade dip at the top of the slope in order to divert the majority of the road runoff into a nearby drainage area before it hit the trail proper. In case the rolling grade dip wasn't enough, they also installed two more traditional "Harvey Bars" (combination water bar/check dam structures) further down the slope to divert any additional runoff. Finally, the crew recovered much of the gravel that washed downhill to refill the newly reinforced trail bed to eliminate the large, eroded channels.

Marie Seymour led a crew of four, including Gerard Weatherby, Rich Lordahl, and Andrew Warthen from Neighbor Mountain parking area to perform basic maintenance tasks on the area trails including weeding, clearing water bars, and sidehilling on a degraded section of trail. They also cleaned up litter around the parking area and trails. While Marie is a Certified Trail Maintainer and has extensive experience, this was the first time she was the sole leader of a crew, and she did very well.

The Hoodlums are a prime group for not just learning and developing trail maintaining skills, but also for leading crews and mentoring less experienced volunteers.

Jim Fetig led a crew onto the AT from Beahms Gap with a single objective–to rehabilitate a spring pipe at the adjacent spring. The pipe was a mere 1” in diameter and 12” in length, too small in diameter and too short to be properly secured. They dug out the catch basin and reinstalled the existing pipe as a temporary solution. They then cleared a tree crown across the trail before finishing up for the day. Jim’s crew included Robert Kilby, Rosemary Seymour, David Johnson, and Brian Blackman . Six days later, Jim and David returned and installed a 2” by 36” pipe, securely packed into a rock bed.

Tom Moran and Joe Phillips led two crews down Jeremys Run from the Elkwallow Picnic area, hunting for blowdowns. Joe’s crew included Chris Viggiano, Molly Bolan, and Roger Fast . Tom’s crew had first-timer Akash Ajmera, SNP Ridgerunner Ray Stinson, Bruno Carlot, and his daughter Maddy . While Chris, Molly, Roger and Akash had never used a crosscut saw before, Bruno, Joe, and Tom are all United States Forest Service certified crosscut sawyers, while Ray is a certified chain sawyer. The crews leapfrogged past each other as they worked downstream, clearing as they went. Twenty one blowdowns in all were removed from the trails before it was time to turn around, just shy of the sixth stream crossing.

Since 2024, the Hoodlums have been refurbishing two sheds designated by park leadership to be used to support SNP North District trail maintenance. While the bulk of the vermin eradication, construction and painting is completed, there remains a lot of effort still to furnish and fit out the insides with work platforms, storage units and other accessories to allow for a well-organized work and storage space. A crew led by Wayne Limberg and assisted by Noel Freeman, Dave Nebhut, and Cindy Ardecki , started this effort in earnest on the large shed. Cindy, determined to prevent a recurrence of rodent and wasp infestation, applied copious quantities of sealing caulk throughout the structure. Dave focused on refinishing a work bench, while Noel installed hooks and made other exterior improvements. Wayne was observed cutting wood but he was able to avoid more probing questions from reporters on the subject.

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Biby Trail - Path to the Tuscarora

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:53 GMT

Biby Trail - Path to the Tuscarora

By Dan and Ellen Feer

The Cadillac Crew spent the August work trip helping Tuscarora Central District Manager, Bill Greenan continue improving the Biby Trail. For some of the Cadillac Crew, this was their second2nd trip to this gem of a side trail to the Tuscarora, and for others, a new experience. The Biby trail is the only access to the Tuscarora for several miles. For those who were first timers to the trail and heard that it was only ¾ of a mile long, the hiker brain said, “oh, that’s not so bad.” It’s not long after the realization hits you that you have just entered a ¾ mile long scree slope. It was the Crew’s job to make the journey down a little bit easier 100 yards at a time.

The Devils Nose crew had done excellent work before us, so we started where they stopped by de-rocking and improving the tread to the next bend in the trail where the elevation dropped by six feet or more and continued across a boulder field.

The crew took a few moments to enjoy the trail, with its moss-covered rocks, dappled sun and dense canopy while project manager Robert Fina dropped a few dead trees in the work area. After the all-clear, groups split up to tackle different jobs. Tread improvements always seem to require lots of mineral soil only found in a dirt mine started a few feet off the trail. Rockbars, picks, and shovels began to remove toe catchers and smooth the tread, and rocks suitable for steps were scouted and transportation arranged.

The team switched tasks throughout the day, learning new skills like how to use a grip hoist to move 1,000 pound rocks or lending a hand fitting rocks together. By late afternoon, hikers noticed significant improvement. The tread was smoother, the transition from soil tread to the boulder field was a perfectly fit tiled tread that any kitchen designer would envy, and a nine-step stairway curved gracefully back toward the trailhead.

We stayed a bit longer than usual because the weather was cooler, and on Sunday we planned to do some work for our new host, the Camp Rock Enon Scout Reservation. We got back to the reservation, cleaned up ( Peter Haupt swam in the lake), laid out happy hour snacks, and prepared to be overwhelmed by a dinner of multiple entrees, sides, and several desserts.

The scout reservation has a trail that connects to the Tuscarora. We used string trimmers and loppers to clear the trail, a gas-powered hammer drill to set rocks up to be moved by the grip hoist into a stream bed to make a steppingstone crossing, and shovels and buckets to protect a bridge from the encroaching creek. In a half day of work, we opened the trail and made it passable by off-road vehicles for emergencies.

By Sunday afternoon, Janet Arici, Karen Brown, Kirsten Elowsky, Dan Feer, Ellen Feer, Robert Fina , Chris Glembocki, Erica Glembocki, Bill Greenan , Peter Haupt , Neil Hopper, Marty Martin, Don Oellerich, Steve Phillips, Ellen Shaw, Kate Walker, Dan Wooley, and Mark Wrobel had done a huge amount of work that will last for years.

Each month we choose to be with each other to do things that benefit so many. It is hard work, yet so rewarding. Next month, we’ll do it again. You’re welcome to join us. Send us a note to ccrewpatc@gmail.com if you’re interested. No experience needed, just sturdy shoes and curiosity.

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Ski Fair

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:51 GMT

Ski Fair

November 1, 2025 @ PATC Headquarters

How about some outdoor winter adventures this year? Early winter 2025 was cold and snowy in the DC metro region and it made for some of the best local skiing in several years.

The Ski Touring Section will kick off the cross-country ski season with the annual Ski Fair on November 1.

Learn about all aspects of cross-country skiing from gliding through snow covered forests on groomed trails to deep back country treks. Hear about upcoming trips for 2025-26, see presentations on past trips and talk to experienced skiers and trip leaders.

Close to the W&OD trail for easy bike access. Light refreshments will be served. Please join us!

Saturday November 1, 1-4 PM, PATC Headquarters .

More info: patcskitouring.us.

Think Snow!

Here is some of the fun from last winter -

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2025 AT Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:49 GMT

2025 Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

By Jim Foster

GARDNERS, PA. – The fifteenth class of Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame honorees has been announced by the Appalachian Trail Museum’s Hall of Fame selection committee.

The 2025 Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame class honorees are Richard B. Anderson of Camden, Maine; the late Walter Greene of New York City, New York, the late Marion Park of Washington, DC, and Ronald Tipton of Rockville, Maryland.

Most everyone knows that the Appalachian Trail ends in the north at Mount Katahdin in Maine. In 1993, Richard B. Anderson, a biologist and then Commissioner of the Maine Department of Conservation, envisioned an extension of the A.T. across the US-Canadian border, providing opportunities for hikers to walk the Appalachian Range from Georgia to Cap Gaspé, Québec, where the range tumbles into the sea. In the decades since, the trail has grown to include sections in over a dozen countries, routed along the geological remnants of the Central Pangean Mountains, including the Appalachians in North America, Europe’s Caledonian Mountains, and the Atlas Mountains in Africa. As of 2023, the IAT links 6,000 miles of trail ringing the Atlantic Ocean.

Dick was guided by the work of Benton MacKaye, Myron Avery, Dave Startzell, Dave Field and many others throughout the development of the IAT. Dick has built relationships to sustain the IAT that emulate the vision and practice of the A.T. community.

Walter Greene was a Broadway actor living in New York City in the late 1920s. But he had a vacation home in tiny Willimantic, Maine. He learned of Benton MacKaye’s dream of a trail along the Appalachians. More than anyone else, he was responsible for scouting and laying out the initial route of the A.T. from Katahdin south for 120 miles. After meeting Myron Avery by chance in 1930, he joined the famous Avery/Schairer/Philbrick/Jackson expedition in 1933 that blazed the Trail from Katahdin to the West Branch of the Pleasant River and then led the group from there to Blanchard. In 1935 Greene accomplished a great deal through interaction with the Civilian Conservation Corps crews who were building much of the new A.T. and also the critical cable bridge across the West Branch of the Penobscot River.

Greene is not well known today because he was hospitalized in 1936 with a serious illness. He never set foot on the A.T. again and passed away in 1941.

Picture a group of men in suits, just off work from their mostly government day jobs, sitting around a wood-paneled study, talking Trail. Sitting on the floor taking notes is Marion Park, who joined the Potomac A.T. Club in 1933 and helped edit its early newsletter and then in 1941 became Secretary of the Appalachian Trail Conference, serving in that position until 1955. In those days that meant keeping records of all the ATC (and cross-over PATC) meetings and often going out in the field with speed-hiker Myron Avery, taking notes as he measured and noted deficiencies at the same time. The accuracy of those notes endures and was essential to the organization’s governance, guidebooks, and maps in its first three decades.

Every organization needs a Marion Park at its center to keep it grounded, documenting decisions and plans. In addition to all this, Marion and Jean Stephenson maintained a side trail to the A.T. from the Meadow Spring and Buck Hollow trails in Shenandoah National Park, and Marion was Treasurer of the Maine Appalachian Trail Club from 1937 to 1957.

Ronald Tipton has been deeply involved with the Appalachian Trail for nearly 50 years. He joined the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club in 1974 and maintained a section of the A.T. for more than 20 years. In the mid-1970’s, as a staff member of the House Environment, Energy & Natural Resources Subcommittee, he worked with the House National Park Subcommittee to help draft and promote the 1978 amendments to the National Trails System Act. Soon afterward, during his A.T. thru-hike, Ron prepared a report highlighting high priority sections of the Trail corridor to be acquired and protected. He was then hired to be the National Parks Program Director for The Wilderness Society, working with closely with Dave Startzell and other Trail advocates to secure a significant increase in annual appropriations for the A.T. land acquisition program. In 1983 Ron was one of the founding members of the Appalachian Long Distance Hikers Association (ALDHA) and has been an active member ever since.

The capstone of Ron's professional career came in 2013 when he was recruited to become President & CEO of the ATC, and served in that capacity until he retired at the end of 2017. His accomplishments as the leader of ATC included creating a new initiative for preserving the larger landscape surrounding the Trail and significant increases in ATC's funding and staff.

The 2025 Hall of Fame Class will be honored at the Hall of Fame Banquet on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the Bavarian Inn Resort in Shepherdstown, WV . The Induction will be one of a full schedule of events during the Hall of Fame Weekend.

About the Appalachian Trail Museum

The Appalachian Trail Museum serves the A.T. community by telling the stories of the founding, construction, preservation, maintenance, protection, and enjoyment of the Trail since its creation a century ago. The Museum opened on June 5, 2010, as a tribute to the thousands of men, women and families who have hiked and maintained the approximately 2,190-mile-long hiking trail that passes through fourteen states from Maine to Georgia. Located right on the A.T. within Pine Grove Furnace State Park near Gardners, Pennsylvania, the museum is eight miles south of I-81 between Carlisle, Gettysburg and Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The Museum is a 501-C-3 not-for-profit organization. Additional information is available at www.appalachiantrail.museum .

CONTACT

Jim Foster

Appalachian Trail Museum

717-649-5505

atmbanquet@gmail.com

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Old Rag Cabin

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:46 GMT

Old Rag Cabin

By Jess LaPolla

In the words of the great American poet, Taylor Swift, there are currently “Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place/And I can picture it after all these days.”

If you can imagine this “All Too Well,” then Old Rag Cabin should definitely be on your list of places to stay this fall. Picture the most satisfying leaf-crunch underfoot while the trees turn gold and red and orange all around you and the steam from your morning coffee mingles with the cool mountain air.

Located in Madison County, Va., PATC volunteers were largely responsible for the construction of this iconic cabin.

This cabin is completely ADA compliant on the first floor, with a wheelchair-accessible bathroom and ramp leading up to the back door. There are two daybeds on the first floor, and an additional two double bunks on the second. The arrangement is perfect for small families or a group of your favorite hiking buddies.

Old Rag Cabin is a hiker’s dream. This modern log cabin provides unique access to the Old Rag trailhead, just a few hundred yards away, accessible by a private trail. If you’re a confident hiker, hiking Old Rag Mountain is a must if you’re staying here. This hike has a good bit of scrambling, so keep that in mind. Other fun and challenging hikes include Nicholson Hollow Trail , which will take you through the Shenandoah Wilderness to PATC’s beautiful rustic Corbin Cabin .

Cap off your stay with hiking to White Oak Falls (upper), a moderately challenging hike with great views of the fall foliage and cascading falls. White Oak Falls (lower) is a much easier version offering beautiful views of the lower falls, without taking you all the way to the top. The White Oak Trailhead can be accessed by taking a short walk down the Weakly Hollow Fire Road.

The Old Rag trailhead parking area is just a stone’s throw from the cabin, meaning there are multiple hiking opportunities within walking distance of the cabin. This also means that you may see a fair amount of traffic from other hikers. Consider booking this cabin during the week if you’re looking for a quieter stay.

Hikers who wish to summit Old Rag will need to obtain a day-use ticket in advance for visits March through November. Hikers must purchase tickets before arriving via www.recreation.gov because tickets will not be available at the Old Rag fee station.

* Please note that pets are prohibited and outdoor fires are expressly forbidden. Electronic code access enables members to make last minute reservations. Learn more and book your stay today.

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"What On Earth?"

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:43 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Article by Ray Barbehenn. Photos by Andy Wolfe, Ray Barbehenn, and David Cox.

Have you ever wondered what makes funnel-shaped pits in the soil, such as in the left photo? They look like tiny (two-inch-wide) bomb craters. They are typically in sandy or dusty soil, such as at the bases of rock outcrops or large trees, but they could be right next to your house. A group of these pits was found by Andy Wolfe in Michaux State Forest in southern Pennsylvania in May of 2021.

If you carefully excavate an inch below the bottom of a pit, what you find may surprise you! These pits were dug by antlion larvae. The antlion larva in the right photo (about a half inch long) was excavated from its pit by Ray in Duke Hollow (northern Virginia) on July 5. This is probably Myrmeleon immaculatus , a widespread species in the eastern U.S. Note the large jaws sticking out in front of its head and their sharp teeth. A tiny eye is at the base of each jaw. Its broad, flat head acts like a shovel to help dig out the pit. However, its legs are weak and only used to scoot backwards! (Its third pair of legs is tucked underneath its large abdomen.)

Why do antlion larvae make pits?

A. Digging into the ground keeps them safe from predators.

B. Their pits help them trap small insects.

C. The pits are daytime resting places, since they feed at night.

D. A and C.

The answer is near the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

The reason that antlion larvae end up in dry, dusty areas is Mom. Her preference for these sites ensures that her larvae have suitable soil in which to dig their pits. They need loose, often sandy, soil. When one of her eggs hatches, the little larva soon begins digging a little crater. It pushes backwards into the soil, plowing in a circle, and flipping soil particles outwards with its closed jaws and head. It continues inward in a spiral, getting a little deeper as it goes around and around. You can watch a video of this behavior here . If you look carefully at the soil texture in the pits in the left photo, you can see that the larvae have removed most of the larger sand grains. Medium-sized soil particles make the best pits-pits with steep walls that collapse easily.

Antlion larvae are ambush predators: They lie in wait for prey to step into their pits and slide down their little scree slopes! Antlions can feel the subtle vibrations in the soil made by their prey as they walk on or near their pits. Some antlion species are capable of sensing vibrations from as far away as two to four inches! The contrast between the normal, uneventful life of an antlion and the moment it springs into action could not be more dramatic. As you can see in the video, an excited antlion larva does not wait for the prey to slip to the bottom of the pit. Instead, it flings little scoops of soil all over the prey as it struggles to escape. This makes the pit wall collapse under the prey and decreases its ability to get any traction. (It is one step forward and two steps backward on this scree slope.)

All the work required to make and maintain a pit usually pays off. It allows antlion larvae to catch a wide variety of prey, including species that are fast-moving (on flat ground) and relatively large. Roughly 75% of their prey includes a variety of walking insects (not just ants), and the remainder includes spiders, millipedes, and even earthworms!

The jaws of antlion larvae are highly unusual, functioning not only to grasp prey but also to inject venom. Venom flows through a unique channel in the antlion's jaws. The venom paralyzes the prey, allowing the antlion to avoid a costly struggle. In addition, the venom also contains powerful digestive enzymes. The enzymes break down the contents of the prey's body into a thick liquid. The antlion then sucks out its predigested food through the channel in its jaws. Thus, antlions actually have a liquid diet!

Antlion larvae are "sit-and-wait" predators. Not surprisingly, if they sit and wait without capturing much food, they can take one to two years to develop! They need to reach a minimum body size before they metamorphose to a pupa. Presumably, it is better to wait and grow up than to rush to become an incompetent adult.

Adult antlions are even more difficult to find than their larvae. In contrast to their larvae, adults are mainly nocturnal. The bottom photo shows an adult Eastern Spotted-wing Antlion ( Dendroleon obsoletus ). It was found by David Cox near SNP on August 28, 2024. He attracted it to a light at night. It was among the MANY nocturnal insects that landed on a sheet that was hung under the light. This insect was about 1.5 inches long, with a two-inch wingspan.

Notice that its wings are nearly transparent and are spotted, camouflaging it during the day when it would be asleep. These insects resemble large, drab damselflies, but they hold their wings flat to their sides instead of vertically over their bodies. In addition, notice their long curved antennae. (The left one is broken.) By contrast, the antennae of damselflies are very short and hair-like.

Adult antlions mainly feed on pollen and nectar. Thus, they are nocturnal pollinators, just like most moths. And, like most moths, they live for about a month – not nearly as long as their larvae, but similar to most adult insects.

Answer: B!

It is highly unusual for an animal to construct a pit trap. Less than 1% of all animal species build traps, and most of these species, such as spiders, build their traps with silk. When antlion larvae are out of their pits, they are more vulnerable to predators, such as lizards and birds. However, the main purpose of their pits is to catch prey, rather than to avoid predators.

Antlion larvae are kept in elementary school classrooms by some science-minded teachers. However, you don't have to fret if your teachers never gave you the opportunity to observe these insects. Just put a small insect into the next antlion pit that you come across! Can't find a bug when you need one? A small twig and a delicate wiggle can be a ready substitute for a struggling ant.

Thanks to Andy Wolfe for suggesting this topic. Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu.

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What's that Flower?

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:42 GMT

What's that Flower?

By Richard Stromberg

The Old Rag loop hike is described on pages 54-57 of PATC’s “Circuit Hikes in Shenandoah National Park” and pages 252-255 of “Appalachian Trail Guide to Shenandoah National Park.” In addition to the challenging rock scrambles and spectacular views, Old Rag offers interesting flowers, some of them found only in rocky places like Old Rag.

This month shows notable plants to be seen in spring.

Rock Harlequin ( Corydalis sempervirens ) plants are up to 30 inches tall. The half-inch, tubular flowers are pink with a yellow tip. They are grouped into dangling clusters.

Mountain Sandwort ( Minuartia groenlandica ) is a northern species as its species name groenlandica (of Greenland) indicates. It is rare in the PATC area, found only on top of Old Rag Mountain where several clumps of it grow in crevices and sandy pavements. It forms mats of leaves that look like little clumps of grass, but, if you look closely, you will see that the individual leaves are fleshy. Flower stems with up to five flowers extend above the leaves. The half-inch flowers have five white petals.

Goatsbeard ( Aruncus dioicus ) has a large, branching pyramid of white flowers atop three-to-seven-foot plants. Individual flowers are very small, petals only one millimeter, but since there are so many flowers, the inflorescence is impressive. The fuzzy nature of the inflorescence gives the impression of a goat’s beard. The plant has only a few leaves. They are divided, often twice.

Whorled Loosestrife ( Lysimachia quadrifolia ) grows up to three feet tall with a series of whorled leaves spaced up the stem. The whorls usually contain four leaves (hence the species name). The leaves have no stem or a very short one. The solitary flowers grow on one-to-two-inch stems from the axils of the upper leaf whorls. They have five yellow petals with red spots at the bottom. Stamens and pistil protruding from the middle of the flower

Staghorn Sumac ( Rhus typhina ) is a small tree with compound leaves with 9 to 31 leaflets. It has velvety hairs on its branches. It has a pyramid of small green flowers at the top of the plant.

Tall Meadow-rue ( Thalictrum pubescens ) can reach eight feet tall. The leaves are divided into three leaflets and lower leaves may be divided twice into threes. The leaflets have lobes. Flowers are at the top of the plant. The flower head is a ball of white spikes. It grows in wet places.

Roundleaf Fameflower ( Phemeranthus teretifolius ) has a ring of leaves at the base of the plant. The leaves are about two inches long and round in cross section. A foot-long stem has two to four flowers forking from the top. Each half-inch flower has five pink petals.

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Keep Calm and Read

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:40 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: Think Small

By Wayne Limberg

Thor Hanson throws readers a curve at the start of "Close to Home" when he suggests they close the book and go sit under a tree. Hanson is an award-winning conservation biologist and Guggenheim fellow whose previous books include "Buzz," "Feathers," and "The Triumph of Seeds." All are serious but readable scientific studies. "Close to Home" takes a different tactic. It is at once a shout out to "citizen naturalists" and a call to action.

Hanson got the idea for "Close to Home" one morning as he walked from his house to his "office shack" on San Juan Island in Washington and heard a hermit thrush singing in the underbrush, the same bird that grabbed the attention of such poets as T.S. Eliot and Walt Whitman. His first reaction was to make a mental note to investigate the bird when he finished his work that day when it suddenly hit him that this was his work. He had traveled the world studying such creatures as Ugandan gorillas but had not really paid attention to the marvels at his doorstep. Over the next decade he worked to remedy that. The result was "Close to Home."

Hanson divides "Close to Home" into three major sections. The first is "Seeing." Hanson argues that the demands of modern civilization have forced humans to neglect many of the skills developed over millenia of evolution. When it comes to nature, most humans are rank amateurs when compared to the likes of the San hunters of Namibia and Botswana who can identify over 220 animals and 150 edible plants. Hanson holds that it is time to relearn old skills of observation. The good news is that the best classroom is just outside our back doors. Thoreau seldom ventured far from Walden Pond. After returning from his cruise on the "Beagle," Darwin continued his studies in his garden. The key is to "think small" and take the time to see, listen and smell. A good way to start is to crawl across your lawn. Or simply sit on the deck or patio and look and listen.

Hanson guarantees this will be transformative for individuals and society. When Covid forced people to stay at home, they began to seek relief in nature. The more they experienced the natural world, the more they wanted to learn—and share. The numbers of "backyard naturalists" grew. With that growth, came an unexpected expansion of a swath of research data bases as these new "citizen scientists" went online and reported their findings. The Great Sunflower Project, which tracks bees, for example, was deluged by reports. This has had a revolutionary impact on biological research. Scientists no longer have to necessarily spend time on the ground compiling data. It is available online. Researchers in many fields report a backlog of reports and data.

In "Exploring," the second section of "Close to Home," Hanson makes the case for applying the newly learned ability to "get small" to examining nature at all levels. Hanson notes that one of the most surprising aspects of "backyard biology" is not the number of small things living alongside us but the number that have gone unnoticed even by trained scientists. Compilation of community data collections based on reporting from “citizen scientists" has led to the recognition of thousands of new critters and what one of the scientists Hanson interviewed for the book called "the democratization of science." To sustain and expand this, we have to approach nature with an open mind in order to discover new species and their habits. He explains how this can be done in four chapters, which amount to a how-to guide as well as a survey of cutting edge academic work.

The final section of "Close to Home" deals with restoring the natural world at our doorsteps. How “backyard naturalist” might "lay out the welcome mat" to attract and maintain new species to their yards and parks, be it by planting milkweed to attract monarch butterflies, turning off deck lights, or building birdhouses. In this section, Hanson’s refreshing optimism comes into full play. In this section he underscores his belief in Nature's resilience. The book hit the shelves in early 2025. It would be good to know if that optimism has diminished as research budgets and other nature-oriented programs have been cut.

"Close to Home" could easily be read over a weekend but that would defeat Hanson's intentions. He wrote the book as a companion, not to be read and shelved. Hanson writing has a conversational style infused with a self-deprecating sense of humor. He clearly enjoyed writing the book, packing it with quotes from sources ranging from Cervantes to Nietzsche. He cleverly intertwines serious interviews with world-class scientists and homespun observations.

Hanson includes 20 pages of endnotes, which are not only a sign of serious research but a good read in themselves. He also includes a 20-page bibliography and a useful appendix on citizen science resources available online. Early in the book, Hanson recommends an additional resource for exploring the natural: children. They are curious and untainted by conventional wisdom--and closer to the ground. If you don't have one, borrow one.

As the holidays near, do you have a good suggestion for a gift book? Kids’ and young adult books are especially welcome. If so, send them along to wplimberg@aol.com . See you on the trail.

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Hikes in the Washington Region

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 20:48:35 GMT

Hikes in the Washington Region Part B: Northern Virginia

Sixth Edition, 2025

By Alan Kahan

Just Published!

Written and edited by Larry Broadwell and William Needham

This new edition provides twenty-six samples of the rich byways for walkers in northern Virginia, all within easy driving distance of Washington, DC. It is part of a trilogy on DC area hiking. Part A covers counties in Maryland that lie northwest of the capital. Part C covers the capital itself, as well as Maryland counties on and near the western shore of Chesapeake Bay. Like its companion guides, Part B offers a variety of hiking experiences. Some are short, pleasant walks. Others are longer, entail strenuous climbs, and/or cross rough terrain.

All three DC area guidebooks are meant to be taken on hikes. Despite their pocket size, maps clearly show streams, elevations, key landmarks, and trail configurations. Turn-by-turn directions in the text make it easy to drive to the trailhead and to follow the route highlighted on the map.

In all three guidebooks, most routes are grouped by their stream valleys or physiographic zones, as defined by their geology and topography. Each hike description starts with key data: name of the park, its contact information, map reference, hike distance, total ascent, and trailhead coordinates. An overview of the route, travel directions, and a detailed description of the hike follow. Individual hike descriptions include notes on landmarks and cumulative mileage distances from the starting point to notable points along the trail.

Last published in 2015, most of the routes in this edition are different in material aspects from those in the previous fifth edition. Some hikes are entirely new. The guidebook also offers hikers opportunities for longer treks to explore beyond the routes it describes. Experienced hikers will want this edition in order to experience some new hikes in northern Virginia as well as to have the latest updates for old favorites. And for those hikers new to our area, this guidebook and its two companions are a great introduction to many wonderful ways to enjoy the outdoors not too far from home.

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VolunteerFest Registration Closes September 27th

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:07:03 GMT

VolunteerFest Registration Closes September 27th

By Iva Gillet

VolunteerFest is the perfect opportunity for PATC members and volunteers to celebrate their achievements, cultivate skills in volunteer areas, and connect with others.

This event is open to all PATC members and is scheduled for  Saturday, October 11th,  beginning at 7 A.M. and ending with an evening Volunteer Award Ceremony and BBQ, followed by a bonfire. And don’t forget about Happy Hour at 4 P.M.

Numerous interactive learning activities in a variety of PATC skill areas will be offered in the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains at Caroline Furnace Camp in Fort Valley, Virginia. Check   here  for our evolving activity list. Activities do not require advance sign up.

Advance registration is $25 and includes Friday and Saturday night onsite lodging plus Saturday night BBQ. Attendees may arrive after 3 P.M. Friday and enjoy group bonfires both Friday and Saturday nights. Sunday includes one or more nearby group hikes as you leave campus.

Be sure to register for PATC’s VolunteerFest by September 27

Learn more and register today.

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Volunteer Award Nominations

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:07:02 GMT

Volunteer Award Nominations

By Jayne Mayne

We are accepting online award nominations until September 15. This is your opportunity to let our top volunteers know that they are appreciated.

Our in person Volunteer Award Ceremony will be at VolunteerFest October 11. Award recipients in attendance will be honored.

There are six top awards. There is no limit to the number of nominations you may submit.
Club Leaders may nominate one top volunteer for the Hawksbill Award and unlimited for the volunteer Service Awards.

Detailed descriptions and the link to submit online nominations are at https://www.patc.net/volunteer-awards .

Email VPVolunteerism@patc.net with questions.

Click here to learn more about our volunteer awards.

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Remembering Marion Park

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:07:00 GMT

Remembering Marion Park

By Rush Williamson

“Marion Park was one of those behind-the-scenes characters who was essential to the success of the Appalachian Trail project.” -Mills Kelly

Looking back to the birth of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in the 1930s, we can attribute its creation and success to some key individuals. One of those people was Marion Park .

Marion Park joined the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) in 1933. She was one of Myron Avery's closest associates within PATC and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). Marion started off by helping edit the club newsletter and subsequently becoming Club Secretary.

She was a close collaborator of Jean Stephenson on several trail-related projects. Marion and Jean maintained a side trail to the AT from the Meadow Spring and Buck Hollow trails in Shenandoah National Park. Marion and Jean functioned as Myron's essential office staff, typing as many as 20 letters a day for Avery.

In 1941 she replaced the secretary of ATC, Harlean James, who she had assisted since 1937. Marion excelled as a devoted secretary for both organizations and served in those positions until 1955.

Marion kept records of all the ATC and cross-over PATC meetings, often going out in the field with Myron, and taking notes as he measured and noted deficiencies. The accuracy of those notes endures and was essential to the organization’s governance, guidebooks, and maps in its first three decades.

Marion was also very active out in the field and was one of the core people that went with Myron to scout out and plan the AT's route and develop various trail maintaining clubs.

Marion formed the Maine Appalachian Trail Club and served as treasurer from 1937-1957. She was a member of the group that accompanied Myron when he wheeled the trail up Katahdin and placed the sign on it.

Every organization needs a Marion Park at its quiet center to keep it grounded, organized, and forward moving. Though you might not find Marion’s name in many headlines, we remember her as a vibrant and driven PATC and ATC member and an essential stakeholder in the creation of one beloved trail.

Members, we invite you to join us at the Appalachian Trail Museum’s Hall of Fame Banquet to honor Marion and other legends of the AT. The event will be held at the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, WV, on Saturday, November 23, from 11 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Details and tickets are available on the Museum’s website .

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Konnarock Crew Works Possums Rest

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:06:59 GMT

Konnarock Crew Works Possums Rest

Jon Rindt

Possums Rest is a view point on the AT just outside the SNP northern boundary. Continuing north on the AT from the view point rockface, AT hikers are challenged by a series of irregular, rocky switchbacks. A project to make the descent/ascent of the rocky switchbacks safer and more negotiable was approved and funded by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC).

The ATC Konnarock Trail Crew was chosen to execute this project based on their trail construction and rock work experience. The Crew is managed by Jerry Kyle, ATC High Country Regional Manager for Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee. Jerry, Crew leaders Ruth Mosholder and Becky Richardson, surveyed the project in April and decided on June 22-29 as the Crew work week.

As it turned out, that period happened to be the hottest week of the year at that time. An early start, lots of water, and cool down breaks were the order of the day. The only real break came on Friday when the Crew enjoyed a work site covered by a cloud the whole work day.

Even though the work site is basically a rock field, finding the proper rock to fit a specific need became a real challenge. And since the rock locations varied, setting up a high line to move the rocks was impracticable, so rocks had to be moved by a multiple person web basket one step at a time. The Crew was able to shape some of the rocks using pre-drilled holes and feathers and wedges to split the rock. A steep area was blocked by a large boulder that couldn’t be moved so a series of steps needed to be drilled and shaped. This process took a lot of time due to hardness of the boulder.

A time-consuming chore involved making gravel to secure and stabilize each rock step after placement. Constant hammering/busting of rocks to create the gravel became the lead sound during the work day.

After six full work days, the project resulted in a significant improvement with many new rock steps and smoother/safer tread. A special thanks to the Konnarock Crew’s effort on a hot and challenging week in PATC territory. It was the Crew’s first work trip on PATC AT trails and we welcome them back in the future.

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Meet the Elderberries

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:06:56 GMT

Meet the Elderberries

By Eileen Bakke

Author Bio : Eileen Bakke is an avid outdoorswoman, long-time PATC member, and PATC donor. She lives in Arlington, VA with her husband and enjoys exploring cabins and trails throughout the region.

I was introduced to PATC in 2011 by our youngest son Peter, an outdoor educator who was studying for his Masters at the University of Virginia. Through UVA’s outdoor program, he learned about PATC’s cabin rentals. He rented the Johnson Cabin, a primitive cabin near Charlottesville, and invited my husband and me to camp and hike with him for the weekend to celebrate my husband’s birthday. He planned all the meals, hiking itineraries, and other activities.

After a gorgeous fall weekend of hiking, I was hooked on cabin camping and wanted to learn more about PATC. For Christmas I gave Peter and myself PATC memberships. Over the next six years, we rented numerous cabins and invited others to join us to celebrate Mother’s Day, family birthdays, and summer solstices.

Fast forward to 2021. I had become a PATC lifetime member, captivated by the organization’s mission to protect the AT, making the outdoors welcoming and accessible for everyone, as well as PATC’s strong volunteer and community culture.

During those years, Peter moved to Seattle, and my husband could no longer hike due to poor health. During the COVID lockdown, I longed for the respite and refreshment offered by the PATC cabins and surrounding hikes. In 2022 I rented the Glass House Cabin and invited several friends from church who I knew shared my love of hiking and “roughing it.” We spent a delightful weekend exploring the area and getting to know one another better.

We named ourselves the Elderberries, as we are mostly 70-something grandmothers who refuse to grow old. We plan a fall and spring “glamping” and hiking weekend each year and eagerly anticipate our time together. We have rented seven modern cabins in Virginia, and this fall we hope to broaden our horizons to a cabin in Maryland. While we are devoted to husbands, adult children, and grandchildren, there is something delicious about getting away with girlfriends to hike, tell stories, laugh, roast s’mores, and relax in God’s beautiful creation.

We look forward to exploring new cabins and new hiking venues. Each cabin is well appointed and meticulously cared for. We enjoy reading about the history of each cabin, poring over hiking maps, learning about the local flora and fauna, and adding our reflections in the logbooks. We marvel that every need is anticipated and provided for, and we celebrate the many PATC volunteers who make our stays so carefree and enjoyable.

I want to encourage anyone who thinks their hiking and camping days are behind them to join PATC and experience the beauty and respite of their nearly 50 cabins in four states. There are cabins for almost every group’s ability and size, from primitive to quite modern. There are cabins you can hike to and plenty more where you can drive right up to the front door.

You are never too old to have a new adventure! In the spirit of the Elderberries, keep moving, learning, and growing. We have “graduated” from tent camping and sleeping on the ground, but because of the great mission and work of PATC, we can still get out our hiking boots and backpacks, build an outdoor fire, and glory in the woods and trails so close to home and yet blissfully far from the traffic and noise of the District of Columbia area.

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:06:53 GMT

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel!

By Chris Irick

PATC has recently launched its very own YouTube channel ! With the help of a few volunteers and staff, we’ve started to shoot and upload videos. Our goal is to build an online community by hosting member stories and their activities, showcasing club cabins, highlighting volunteer experiences and opportunities, interviewing hikers along the trails, and so much more.

We want our community to have a place to view experiences and passions in a video format that will inspire current and potential members to get more involved in PATC.

CHANNEL: Visit our PATC channel , SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and LIKE a video or two. Our goal is to build an online community of over 1,000 subscribers by the end of 2025!
INFORMATION: If you have an idea for a video or would like more information, please reach out to Marketing@patc.net
VIDEO SHORTS: If you would like to share a club experience at a PATC volunteer event, send in a succinct (less than 60 seconds) video from your phone to Marketing@patc.net
CONTENT VIDEOS: If you are interested in helping us create video content and have any of the skills listed in the PATC YouTube Channel / Content Creators / Help Wanted section (bottom of the page), reach out to Marketing@patc.net .

We plan for regular uploads of videos in the weeks to come!

Check out some of our vidoes below.

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President's Logbook

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:06:51 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

It’s almost crunch time.

The time when crispy leaves litter the trails and crunchy steps mark the change in seasons. Think of breakfast hikes. Each footfall stirs the dry leaves in the same way a spoon searches a cereal bowl full of Rice Krispies. The familiar snap, crackle, and pop mark time and the passing miles. It’s a glorious symphony of sound and color.

Always mind the dry leaves. I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve stuck a hard landing after my sliding feet have launched me airborne. It’s slick out there.

It’s also crunch time for the club budget cycle. Now is when we are planning next year’s budget.

First, the good news. Council directed that the club reduce its budget deficit. As of this writing, we are on track to meet expectations. Furthermore, the finance committee, led by treasurer Allison Kirsch, has added rigor to the budget development process.

The bad news is that financial modeling suggests a large deficit for next year. We will have to make the proverbial “hard choices” to bring it down to earth.

We have applied to the National Parks Foundation for a significant grant to support our centennial celebration. In so doing, we plan to feature our National Park Service partners, recruit and recognize volunteers, and use selected paid media to tell our story more broadly than ever. We really don’t want to be the best kept secret in the National Capitol Region any longer.

Of note, we’ve received several donations from non-members who appreciate our trail stewardship. There is a certain amount of self-satisfaction in volunteer work, but it is especially nice to know that members of the hiking public acknowledge our efforts.

As we slide into fall, several events are noteworthy. The Hoodlums will be doing trail maintenance demos at Dickey Ridge for Wilderness Day on September 6 and National Public Lands Day on September 27. In addition, the Hoodlums annual training workshop on September 20 – 21 is fully subscribed.

Volunteer service is the heart of PATC’s ethos and culture. More than a thousand of us regularly commit time and effort. We want to honor our volunteers’ efforts and offer an opportunity to network, meet the club’s leadership, and ask questions. Please join the celebration of our volunteers at VolunteerFest on October 11 at the Caroline Furnace retreat center.

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What's that Flower?

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:06:49 GMT

What's that Flower?

By Richard Stromberg

This month shows notable plants to be seen in fall, mostly Asters and Goldenrod flowers and a variety of berries.

Goldenrods ( Solidago ) are known for their sprays of multiple, small, flowers. Seven Goldenrod species grow on Old Rag.

Early Goldenrod ( S. juncea ) and Sharp-leaved Goldenrod ( S. arguta ) have multiple, curved clusters of flowers branching at the top of the main stem with flowers only on one side of each stem. If you see such a Goldenrod in July or August, it is likely the Early Goldenrod, as its name implies. Its basal leaves taper gradually to the stem and the edges have sharp teeth. Sharp-leaved Goldenrod basal leaves are egg-shaped, narrowing to a slender stem and the edges of the bottom leaves are sharply, double-toothed.

Two species have flower clusters growing from the leaf axils. S. flexicaulis is called Zigzag or Broad-leaved Goldenrod . The stem bends or zigzags from axil to axil, though what clearly distinguishes this species are the sharply-toothed, egg-shaped leaves—the only species where the leaves are wide up the stem. Blue-stemmed or Wreath Goldenrod ( S. caesia ) supposedly has a blue stem, but I find that unreliable. Long, narrow leaves separate the flower clusters growing from the axils. Instead of standing upright, it often leans over forming an arch.

Three species have straight clusters of flowers at the top of the plant with flowers all around the stem. Erect Goldenrod ( S. erecta ) and Silverrod ( S. bicolor ) leaves are sessile (attach directly to the stem without a supporting stalk. Erect Goldenrod flowers are yellow; Silverrod, white with a yellow center. Rand’s Goldenrod ( S. randii ) is uncommon. It only grows in crevices on open rock ledges like Old Rag. Its lower leaves have stems or taper to the stalk. The leaves become smaller up the stem.

White Wood Aster ( Eurybia divaricatus ) is topped by a flattish cluster of white flowers. The lower leaves are elongated heart shaped with coarse teeth. Up the stem, the leaves are smaller and the heart-shaped indentation at the petiole may not be there

The common and scientific names of Heart-leaved Aster ( Symphyotrichum cordifolium ) derive from the shape of the leaves. The heart-shape is often elongated, and the indentation at the stalk may be flattened, especially upward on the stem. The leaves are less than three inches wide and are toothed. The ray florets are blue or light violet. It is also known as Blue Wood Aster .

Calico Aster ( \S. lateriflorum ) has lots of small (less than ½ inch) flowers and small, narrow leaves. The bracts under the flowers are narrow and neither stiff nor spreading differentiating it from other Asters with small flowers. Flowers are white or purple-tinged, often with a purple disk in the center.

The common and scientific names of Wavy-leaved Aster ( S. undulatum ) derive from the wavy margins of the leaves. From the widest point of the leaf, the two sides of the leaf pinch in and then widen. They may narrow partway or all the way to the center rib of the leaf, but then widen again to clasp the plant stem. The leaves have few or no teeth. It has light blue-violet rays.

The last flower to bloom in our area is Witch Hazel ( Hamamelis virginiana ). Witch Hazel often grows as a thick, shrubby clump, though sometimes as a small tree. Witch Hazel’s oval leaves have wavy, rounded teeth. The flowers appear as the leaves turn yellow and fall, so the flowers stand out on leafless branches. The flowers have four long, thin, yellow petals and often grow in bunches, so you see yellow streamers in the wind. The fruit is a fuzzy, one-centimeter capsule with remnants of the four sepals remaining. It takes over a year to mature, so it remains on the bush with the new flowers. The capsule explodes to propel the seed away from the parent plant.

Here are some berries to look for on Old Rag:

Indian Cucumber-root ( Medeola virginiana ) has berries standing up on top of the plant. In late summer the berries turn black and the center of the upper whorl of leaves below them turns red.

Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ) is a small shrub growing on the rock outcrops with clusters of dangling black fruit.

Mountain Holly ( Ilex montana ) is deciduous (losing leaves in winter), unlike the evergreen English and American Holly species famous as Christmas decorations, so its small clusters of red fruits are distinctive.

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A Delightful Stay at Dunlodge Cabin

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:06:47 GMT

A Delightful Stay at Dunlodge Cabin

By Jess LaPolla

Built by the Dunn brothers in 1940, Dunlodge is a gem in the PATC cabins system. Located within Charlottesville city limits, near the University of Virginia (UVA), this modern home is ideal for sports fans, American History enthusiasts, and those looking to experience the Charlottesville area. The university football stadium and John Paul Jones Arena are both within walking distance.

Surrounding the cabin are landscaped gardens, a large outdoor patio with a rock fireplace to enjoy on crisp evenings, a horse barn, and a series of walking trails, including a short connector trail linking the cabin to the UVA Observatory Hill Trail.

Located on a secluded wooded property, the cabin offers a quiet and remote experience despite its front country location.

The house is uniquely constructed, showcasing log siding, sloped roofs, step down rooms, rose bud flooring, indoor fireplaces, wood beam ceilings, a large sunroom, and a formal dining room. It brings a sense of enchantment and whimsy for anyone who stays here. Complete with four bedrooms, 2.5 baths, an all-season sunroom, central heat and air, and a variety of other amenities, Dunlodge has all the comforts of home.

Dunlodge is also conveniently located near wineries, breweries, restaurants, and many historic sites. Visit Monticello , Thomas Jefferson’s home, which, along with UVA, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Kluge Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum is the only museum in the country dedicated to Indigenous Australian art.

Dine in and enjoy creating a meal in the full kitchen, or dine out at one of the many restaurants in town. Start your morning with a cup of joe from Shenandoah Joe Coffee Roasters , or enjoy a delicious meal at El Tio .

This cabin is available to PATC members only. If you are interested in becoming a member to access our dozens of incredible cabins, click here.

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"What On Earth?"

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:06:45 GMT

"What on Earth?"
Article and photos by Ray Barbehenn

Orchids are renowned around the world for their beautiful flowers. There are over 25,000 species of them, mainly in tropical areas, but over 60 species grow in our area. However, many of our species are hard to find, and you might not realize that some of them are orchids! It also takes some luck to find them while they are in bloom.

A Showy Orchid (left photo) had a gorgeous nine-inch-tall flower spike on April 30. It was blooming in Duke Hollow (northern Virginia along the AT). If you were scouring the woods for morels, there was a good chance you would see this species. The Spotted Coralroot Orchid (right photo) was also blooming in the same area at this time. However, this was only the second one that I have ever seen. It had no leaves – just foot-tall flower stalks! The lower flowers on their stalks were oldest (blooming first), while the top flower buds were just starting to open. Note the white lower petals that popped open on the flowers of both species. These petals are spotted on the Spotted Coralroot. The upper two petals and three sepals (the outer covers of the flower buds) form a hood-like structure in both species. Orchids have very complicated flowers, and some of the oddities of these plants are described below.

How do Coralroot Orchids grow flower stalks without having green leaves?

A. They use stored energy (starch) from their roots.

B. They parasitize fungi to get the needed nutrition.

C. They parasitize tree roots to get the needed nutrition.

D. They had leaves but they died back.

The answer is at the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

Let's get past gawking at the beauty of the orchids' flowers, even if only briefly. Orchids are remarkably different from most other plants in several major ways, including the way their flowers work, the tiny size of their seeds, and their early growth.

The complexity of orchid flowers makes one wonder how they ever manage to get pollinated. They are unlike the flowers of most plants, which produce an abundance of powdery pollen. The pollen of most flowers gets dusted on the insects or birds that visit them, and is then brushed onto other flowers when the pollinators visit them. So, where is the powdery pollen in orchids? There is none. Instead, orchid flowers put all of their pollen into a small number of tiny balloon-shaped packets. And, these packets are hidden under a covering that a pollinator must bump open to expose them. If all goes well for the orchid, a pollinator will get some of the sticky pollen packets glued to it before it leaves to visit another orchid flower. Successful pollination only occurs if a pollen packet gets pulled off the pollinator by the even stickier surface on the female part of another orchid flower. The whole process seems as unlikely to work as an odd Rube Goldberg contraption. Orchid flowers may need to wait for weeks or months for pollination to occur, which probably explains why home-grown orchids often hold their blooms for so long.

Pollinated orchid flowers produce seed pods that contain the tiniest seeds of any plant – "dust seeds." In different orchid species, these can range anywhere from microscopic (0.05 mm) to the size of a pinhead (1.5 mm). A pod with microscopic dust seeds could easily release a million seeds! However, they are only able to form such an impressive number of lightweight seeds by leaving out any nutritional reserves for the baby plants! There is no mass of starch (the stored energy that we appreciate for our own nutrition from seeds like corn and rice).

Orchid dust seeds are blown far and wide by the wind, but they have a very small chance of survival. A one-in-a-million chance might not be far from the correct odds. Because an orchid seed contains no nutrition for it to grow, it must land where certain fungi are present that can rescue it. In other words, orchids produce seeds that are helpless to germinate and grow on their own; they need fungal rootlets ("mycelia") to share some of their sugar and other nutrients with them. Why would a fungus want to do that?

Such a cozy interaction may seem strange, but it is abundantly common in nature for fungi to associate with plants in this way; about 80 percent of plant species are engaged in these interactions! What is strange is that the orchid does not readily return the favor, as plants usually do. For two to four years, the orchid grows underground as a parasite of the fungus. The orchid spends this time accumulating starch in its root (similar to a ginger root). At this point, most soil-living orchids send up their first leaves and photosynthesize at least part of their own sugars. They can eventually become self-sufficient, and finally share some of their sugars with the fungi. Perhaps 99% of orchid species grow up this way, though they might still get nutritional help from fungi, especially if they live in a shady area. The Coralroot Orchid is example of the 1% of orchid species that remain parasitic their entire lives. Their reddish stems and flowers may help attract pollinators, but this color also indicates that they lack chlorophyll (green pigments) for photosynthesis.

It is not surprising that many of our orchid species are rare and endangered. They have complex life cycles, difficulties getting pollinated, and more difficulties getting their seedlings established. Those that are doing relatively well, such as the Showy Orchid, are worth a walk in the woods.

Answer: A, B, or C! Here's why: Coralroot Orchids grow a stalk of flowers using the starch stored in their thick coral-colored root (Answer A). But, Coralroot Orchids have no leaves (ever), meaning that the starch in their root was made from the sugars that they absorbed from a fungus's rootlets (Answer B). However, the fungus got this sugar from a tree's roots. Therefore, the orchid's early nutrition ultimately came from parasitizing a tree's roots (Answer C). Yes – orchids are very beautiful, and very odd.

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu.

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Keep Calm and Read On

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:06:43 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On

By Wayne Limberg

At first glance, "Follow the White Blazes,” this month's book selection seemed to be yet another personal account of someone’s completion of the Appalachian Trail (AT). But on opening the book, I realized that this was something different, even special. Yes, it was the story of one man's hike—PATC member Eagle Trail Dancer—of the AT. In this case it was a section hike. But it ran from 1988 to 2023, making it one of the longest on record. Following the white blazes, however, was a metaphor for an even more impressive journey: the author's battle with alcoholism. While the white blazes kept Eagle Trail Dancer on the AT, Alcoholic Anonymous' 12 steps were keeping him sober.

A bit of background: Eagle Trail Dancer is the author’s trail name. He uses it as pen name in keeping with AA's public relations policy, which requires members to maintain their anonymity when it comes to the media. Eagle Trail Dancer does not claim to represent or speak for AA. Nor does he claim to be a therapist or doctor. "Follow the White Blazes" is a personal story. He had two reasons for writing it: give hope to anyone struggling with alcoholism, and shed light on the joys and challenges of backpacking and how it helped him maintain four decades of sobriety.

Eagle Trail Dancer's alcoholism seemed pre-destined. His father returned from WWII with what is now diagnosed at PTSD and turned to alcohol. When he was sober, he was kind and generous. When he drank, he was cruel and abusive to his family. Eventually, Eagle Trail Dancer’s mother also turned to drink. Both parents died as a result of alcoholism.

Eagle Trail Dancer spent most of his childhood trying to avoid his father's wrath and in turn developed PTSD himself. He began drinking in his teens, beginning a downward spiral. By his early 20s, he was an alcoholic, experiencing blackouts, trouble with the law, and serious depression. One night in 1975, he hit bottom and went down on his knees and prayed—and then called AA, which put him in touch with two sponsors who started him on his road to recovery. He had a rocky start. He was not convinced he needed AA, believing that he could handle this drinking problems on his own. He failed and turned in earnest to AA.

The passages on alcoholism and AA are some of the best and most revealing in "Follow the White Blazes." Alcohol remains the most abused substance in America. Eagle Trail Dancer provides valuable insights into the disease and to AA’s approach to combatting it. While he points to genetic and environmental reasons for his drinking problems, at no time does he play the victim. With the help of AA and a belief in “a higher power,” he takes responsibility for his actions and his efforts to find a cure.

One of those cures was the AT. As a child Eagle Trail Dancer took refuge during the summers on this grandparents’ Pennsylvania farm. The first chapter in "Follow the White Blazes" is an account of those times titled "A Spark of Mountain Fever." That spark never died. October 1988 found Eagle Trail Dancer at the AT crossing of Route 522 outside Front Royal starting a hike in Shenandoah national Park (SNP). It would turn out to be a trial-and-error learning experience in terms of gear, weather, food, and water. In the beginning, he never intended to section hike the entire trail but after a few longer backpacking trips, he realized it was possible. His first excursions were in Virginia and Maryland.

He soon developed a routine where he hiked once or twice a year with some trips heading north and some south. He learned about shuttle services and found some hiking partners, but for the most part preferred being on the trail alone or "independently together” when walking with a friend. With 35 years on the trail, Eagle Trail Dancer saw a lot of changes. Never an ultra-lite hiker, his pack dropped a good 20 pounds over the years. Half his time on the trail was pre-cellphone. His advice on food, first aid, safety and training are on target as are as his notes on the history of the AT.

Eagle Trail Dancer discloses that he never liked writing in school because of his learning disabilities. Like his sobriety and completion of the AT, his book is striking testimony to his ability to overcome challenges. His writing style is straightforward and anecdotal. He also salts his prose with poems at times. Some maps, additional photos, and an index would have been useful additions. Gear, first aid, and food lists might have been included in appendices rather than in the text itself. Still, "Follow the White Blazes" is a good introduction to anyone considering section hiking the AT. Eagle Trail Dancer gives shout outs to PATC and other trail clubs; it would have been good to hear more about his trail maintenance work with PATC though this may have presented problems in terms of anonymity.

Do you have a good read? If so, send it wplimberg@aol.com . In the meantime, keep reading. See you on the trail.

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The Indian Pass

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:06:39 GMT

The Indian Pass

Article by Dave Kirkwood, Photos courtesy of Jerry Gnann and Wanda Knapik

The Indian Pass, elevation of 2,874 feet, is a rocky gap in the mass of mountain peaks over 4,000 feet known as the High Peaks Wilderness in the northeastern portion of New York’s Adirondack Park. The pass was likely part of a series of trails used by indigenous people of various tribes, including the Iroquois and Algonquians. The name itself suggests its historical significance to native populations but it also provided important access for early European explorers.

I had read about the present trail: “The Indian Pass hike in the Adirondack Park is a challenging but rewarding trek, known for its historical significance and rugged terrain. The hike, near Lake Placid, involves navigating past historical sites, under the cliffs of Wallface Mountain, and through boulder fields.” I had hoped to experience the route myself, but over the last few years, every time friends came to visit Saranac Lake, which is a short drive from the High Peaks, the emphasis was always on paddling and biking, allowing no time to hike the pass.

Fortunately, in June, just a couple of days after arriving at our home in the Adirondacks for the summer, I saw Indian Pass listed in Adirondack Mountain Club’s (ADK, though the same acronym seems to apply to everything up here) offerings and immediately signed up to join the hike. It turned out to be one of the most arduous, yet extremely gratifying hikes I have done in quite some time.

The mid-June day was unseasonably warm and humid for the area, with highs in the nineties. The hike leader was Wanda Knapik with four other hikers; another Dave, Kari, and Jerry. The out and back hike totaled close to thirteen miles with 1,530 feet of elevation gain and took us ten hours…that’s right, ten hours! A "New York minute" is very short; an "Adirondack mile" is very long!) We began our trek at the parking area of Loj Lodge, an iconic jumping off point for High Peak baggers, operated by the ADK.

The hike started out innocently enough, with a stroll around peaceful Heart Lake. But soon after leaving civilization and entering the wilderness the trail turned into a muddy, sometimes stream-like, meander through dense forest. In a couple miles we began climbing while paralleling the beautifully cascading Indian Pass Brook, which the trail criss crossed several times on rather difficult stream crossings. Though marked sporadically with the standard Adirondack, metal disktrail blazes, the path was occasionally hard to follow, disappearing into brief, but tough, bushwhacks. As the angle of ascent increased, we entered a section of hand over foot boulder scrambling that seemed to go on for miles. It was great!

The heat and exertion of the difficult climbing was exhausting until we received a reprieve. The house-sized boulders we negotiated at the top of the pass concealed cave-like crevices containing ice and snow, a remnant left behind by the brutal northern winters. It turns out this is one of the only places in the park to harbor ice year-round. It was like walking into a refrigerator, and all of us tried to linger as long as possible to enjoy the cooling air currents. But we had yet to reach our turning point at Summit Rock. At an elevation of 2,880 feet it seemed misnamed. The notoriety of the “rock” became evident as we emerged from the trees to a magnificent view of High Peak’s Wallface Mountain’s namesake cliffs, towering 800 feet into the sky directly above us.

After a much-appreciated lunch break at this breathtaking spot we began retracing our steps back through the pass. We stopped, below the boulder field, at a place known as Scott’s Clearing, where a massive stone wall traverses Indian Pass Creek. The long-abandoned structure dates to the 19th century logging days when it acted as a dam to contain the waters of the creek, controlling the flow to facilitate floating the timber to market. We cooled off briefly in the creek before continuing the remaining four-mile descent.

The afternoon’s increasing heat was compounded by the deerflies that constantly buzzed around our heads, no doubt attracted by the ever-escalating flow of sweat. So, a side trip to Rocky Falls, an area of the creek with a lean-to overlooking beautiful cascades, was extremely welcome. We enjoyed a much needed, core temperature-lowering, extended swim in the extremely cold waters of the large pool at the bottom of the falls. After our refreshing dip the remaining two miles back to the parking lot were less arduous, though we were all still glad when we reached our cars.

We are privileged here in the North Country (Adirondacks) to have such a myriad of world-class hiking opportunities, virtually at our doorstep. Whether one is looking for a major trekking adventure or a simple stroll, the trails to dramatic scenery are abundant. If this sounds like the type of outdoor experience you would enjoy check, out the Adirondack Mountain Club for help planning a visit.

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Trail rehabilitation is hard!

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:41:54 GMT

Trail rehabilitation is hard!

Dan and Ellen Feer

When District Manager and Cadillac Crew member Bill Greenan asked us to work on Lutkins Passage of the Tuscarora Trail in West Virginia near Spruce Pine Hollow for one of his trips, we knew it was going to be a challenge. The tract of land owned by PATC slopes at more than 40 degrees, and there is no place to park at the trailhead. For the past couple years we have been relocating a segment of the Tuscarora Trail on this hill to a route that is more sustainable and safer to walk. This trip was planned to finish the relocation and finish a parking lot.

Saturday morning was hot, humid, and buggy so we loaded up on water, electrolytes, bug spray, and lunch and headed for the trail. Before we could work on the relocation several trees needed to be felled and bucked. Robert Fina , project manager and saw instructor, and Aidan Badhwar , recently carded B sawyer, headed up the trail with swampers Kirsten Elowsky and Don Oellerich . Crew leaders Dan and Ellen Feer cleared a leaning tree from the trailhead with just a few quick cuts.

Bill led the rest of the crew, Janet Arici, Alice DeCarlo, Jarrod Marie, Marty Martin, Yves Pinsonneault, Ellen Shaw, John Spies , and Keith Tondrick, and continued building the three-car parking lot for hikers that was started last season. When the sawing was done, half the crew headed up the hill to relocate the trail and the other half continued on and completed the parking lot that included a cribwall and a turn-around.

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President's Logbook

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:41:51 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

“You’re now free mama. Go build that fire so I can come find you in the night.”

This poignant prayer was offered by a former PATC ridgerunner as she posted her mother’s obituary on Facebook. Her mother was a former park ranger who instilled in her daughter a lifetime of love, respect, and stewardship for the outdoors and the Appalachian Trail.

My hope is that her mother’s spirit finds its way to every campfire, everywhere, and spreads peace, love and joy in the cast of its flickering glow; its sparks our forgiven sins sailing away into the velvet beyond.

Campfires have a mythical place in the American psyche. The romance of cowboys’ chuckwagon fire and the ambiance of an American Indian pow wow fire served as literary and cinematic window dressing for more than a generation. Norman Rockwell’s “The Scoutmaster” inspired more than one boomer to outdoor leadership.

More recently, campfires have been recognized as a form of therapy. According to Axios, “A growing number of therapists and nonprofits are tapping into the therapeutic powers for fire to help veterans, recovering addicts and at-risk teens.” Sitting fireside reportedly can lower blood pressure and boost relaxation.

Watching flames dance and sparks fly can be soothing and even mesmerizing as you let reality slip into cruise control and you tune into a better channel.

One of my “happy places,” as a PATC volunteer, is parking my butt in a chair near the fire place at the Indian Run maintenance hut or gathering around the fire at Hoodlum’s September trail maintenance workshop. I love being with like-minded people, imagining the workday’s caterpillar becoming the night’s butterfly. Somehow the stress diminishes as my breathing slows and my muscles slacken and the stories unfold.

Terry Tempest Williams described the magic of the outdoors, “Public lands are public commons, breathing spaces in a country that is increasingly holding its breath.” She added, “We stand before a giant sequoia and remember the size of our hearts instead of the weight of our egos.”

Please build that fire Mrs. Hobbs. May your spirit light the way for all of us.

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Hoodlums June Outing – Hot But Not TOO Hot

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:41:49 GMT

Hoodlums June Outing – Hot But Not TOO Hot

By Tom Moran and Wayne Limberg

Summertime temperatures can make trail work uncomfortable, or even downright dangerous, but the June 21 outing beat a heat wave that in a couple of days would see temperatures rise above 100 in the region. But a high in the mid-80s and moderate humidity passes for “excellent” in late June, and a solid turnout of 24 convened at breezy Piney River CCC camp for crew assignments and a safety briefing.

Trail maintainers vary widely in what aspects of the job are most appealing. Removing invasive plants, building or rehabbing water control structures, clearing blowdowns all have their fans. Few enthusiastically look forward to weeding, however. “Weeds” consist of all manner of unwanted vegetation that encroach on trail passages, including poison ivy, wood nettles, briers, and grapevines. The weeding process essentially chops the veg back to make the trail passable for hikers without requiring them to make contact. Besides the obvious benefits of avoiding contact with stickers, poison ivy, and stinging nettles, these plants are host to ticks that themselves represent a whole set of additional risks to hikers and maintainers. Although the task can be unsavory, reducing the risk of tick-borne illnesses as well as improving the hiking experience make the effort valuable. Several of the June crews had a heavy emphasis on weeding.

Jim Fetig led a crew down the Sugarloaf Trail from Skyline Drive. The regular maintainer for the trail had reported substantial weed growth blocking the section at the top but was not going to be able to address the issue for some months. Aside from the known weed issue, it was not known what else the crew might find. As they worked downhill, they cleared the dense vegetation with a power weeder, and hand trimmed overgrown mountain laurel. Additional challenges presented–the crew cleared five blowdowns with their hand saws and a power pole saw, but didn’t have the tools necessary to clear a 14” diameter blowdown before they had reached the end of their day. Jim’s crew included David Johnson, Rosemary Seymour , and Abbie Fine .

Like Jim’s crew, Tom Troutman ’s parked at Skyline Drive and hiked in to work a couple of sections of the AT adjacent to Beahms Gap that had known weed issues. They also addressed other typical maintainer duties, including fixing four water bars and clearing a blowdown with Marie Seymour ’s new hand saw. Bob Malkowski, Dan Hippe , and Steve Parsley rounded out the crew.

Certified crosscut sawyer Justin Corddry led a hardy crew up the AT from Thornton Gap, then down Pass Mountain trail all the way to its end at Route 211. If this is beginning to sound familiar, you would be correct! Just a month earlier, crews had covered the same trail end to end, clearing all but a single stubborn trunk. But in the month since the May trip, more storms had roared through and a number of additional trees had fallen, including yet another vine covered complete trail blocker and several other substantial trunks. Eager to try out Bruno Carlot ’s new crosscut saw, they found it a great tool for the job and finished the downhill run in time for the potluck dinner back at Piney River. Roger Fast and Greg Foster rounded out the crew.

Tom Moran ’s crew followed Justin’s partway up the AT from Thornton Gap, but stopped to address some trail bed issues that had arisen from extreme rain back in May. Significant erosion and spring seeps had made a short section of the AT muddy and rutted. The crew identified three waterbars that had been buried in encroaching vegetation and sediment and restored these to function. Several locust logs had been dropped off by park staff, and the crew stripped the bark off three, but only was able to install one new water bar with one of these. The other two were staged for follow-up work. They constructed a rolling grade dip in a place where they were able to take advantage of the existing contour of the ground. Then, they carried sediment from runoff back onto the trail and packed it into where erosion had cut deep ruts. There is more work to do but the completed structures were certain to mitigate ongoing erosion issues. Chris and Michelle Viggiano, Rich Weisman , Rich Lordahl , and PATC Shenandoah Ridgerunner Marissa Fulton provided the muscle for this project.

Noel Freeman, Cindy Ardecki, Dave Nebhut , and Wayne Limberg remained at Piney River to continue work on the big shed the park service had turned over to the Hoodlums last year. At the May Hoodlums trip Noel had discovered a serious rodent infestation. After emptying the shed, he and Cindy donned gloves, masks and Tyvek suits and went to work with sprayers and scrapers. Four hot hours and four gallons of bleach later, the mouse problem was solved. Meanwhile, Wayne worked on a new workbench for the shed.

After work the Hoodlums returned to Piney River for a Mediterranean themed potluck dinner, and were entertained with a reading by Marie Seymour of her latest poem – “Hoodlums Get It Done.” Indeed!

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North District Crew Week

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:41:46 GMT

North District Crew Week

By Tom Moran and Wayne Limberg

Crew weeks generally have two goals: first, tackle projects beyond the scope of individual maintainers and even weekend crews and second, give crew members the chance to work with park service crew and gain valuable on the job training. For a portion of the PATC crew these objectives were met fully.

To avoid the mid-summer heat, the 2025 Crew Week was moved to the week of June 23. But trying to guess the weather months ahead of time can be folly. While the Hoodlums June outing on the preceding Saturday had relatively mild conditions, the forecast for Monday–Friday was dire–code red on the first “good” days, then code magenta for the days following. While not air-conditioned, the Pinnacles Research Center, where the volunteer crew planned to stay, has ceiling fans in every room, and crew members brought other fans to help the air flow. Plus, Pinnacles sits at nearly 3,300 feet and generally gets an evening breeze. All these factors made the conditions tolerable, even cool on several evenings.

Still, the crew considered cancelling the work week. However, our NPS colleagues had a plan that had one PATC crew working in Jeremys Run for a couple of days, then another day in Buck Hollow Creek. Literally “in.” The cool waters of the mountain streams helped keep moderate temperatures and allow the joint crews to work. On Tuesday the 24th, for example, the temperature in nearby Luray was over 101, yet the temperature at the worksite in Jeremys Run stayed in the mid-80s.

The dire forecasts reduced the PATC crew turnout, but Dan Hippe, Tom Troutman, and Tom Moran decided to join a robust NPS crew on Monday at Jeremys Run to use boulders to build a stream crossing. The boulders were massive, but could be moved by leveraging grip hoists attached to adjacent trees. Once an appropriate site for steps was found, appropriate nearby boulders were identified and attached to the hoist cable and maneuvered into position in the stream. The boulder was then tested for stability and shimmed into place. Then, additional smaller rocks (20-50 lbs ea) were placed upstream to break the current and reduce the risk of flood damage. The first stream crossing took more than a day to settle six boulders into place.

The work area had been severely eroded by 2025 floods; much of the trail bed had disappeared in places. While a portion of the crew worked on the crossing, others built a raised footpath along the stream edge to redefine the trail and provide reasonable footing. To make a more permanent bed, a 20’ section was filled with rocks which were then crushed by hand using sledgehammers, a physically challenging task that should result in a more durable tread.

After two full days in Jeremys, the crew moved on to Buck Hollow, where storm flow had created risky stream crossings in two places. The crew successfully created safer crossings before calling it quits for the day. Heat and time considerations forced cancellation of plans to return to Jeremy’s Run so the joint crew effort was ended for the week.

Unsure of what the week would bring beyond sweltering temperatures, Noel Freeman and Wayne Limberg continued to work on the big shed at Piney River. With the mouse infestation under control, they removed old shelving and began painting the interior of the shed and filling holes and gaps in the siding, tasks which pretty much took the remainder of the week. Greg Foster joined them on Wednesday to help get them over the hump. Even with a canopy and fans it was hot work.

Each day also saw them driving down to Luray for building supplies and food for the crew. By Wednesday afternoon they had completed painting and Wayne had finished a workbench.

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"What on Earth?"

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:41:43 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Article by Ray Barbehenn. Photos by David Cox, Richard Stromberg and Ray Barbehenn

Vultures live quiet, conservative lives, rarely uttering a sound and soaring as much as possible without flapping their wings. They are like living kites. But, compared with the majestic eagles, hawks, and owls, they seem to get little respect. Their association with death and their naked heads are unattractive to us.

There are two vulture species in the eastern United States: the Turkey Vulture and the Black Vulture. In our area, Turkey Vultures are more commonly seen, though usually at great distances. The left photo shows a close observation made by David Cox on August 16, 2017 in the foothills of SNP. It shows the red, featherless skin on its head and neck for which it is named. From a distance, you can identify them by the upward, V-shape in which they hold their wings. The Black Vulture in the right photo was seen by Richard Stromberg in Catoctin Mountain Park on October 11, 2023. It has a black bare head, black feathers, and a shorter, broader tail compared to that of the Turkey Vulture. Like hawks, Black Vultures hold their wings flat while they soar. Both vultures pictured here were sunning themselves at their roosts. As the air warms in the morning, they ride updrafts ("thermals"), gaining elevation effortlessly to search the countryside for a carcass.

How can vultures eat dead animals without getting sick?

A. "Good" gut bacteria.

B. An active immune system.

C. Strong stomach acid.

D. All of the above.

E. Unknown.

The answer is at the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

A variety of toxic bacteria grow in carrion, including those that cause botulism (food poisoning) and gas gangrene. These bacteria probably produce their poisons to compete with each other and to try to ward off hungry animals, since their stomachs are harsh environments. As they feast, bacteria also produce the odors of death–the odors that attract vultures.

Although vultures are attracted to these odors, they actually prefer to eat recently dead animals. Thus, there seems to be a Goldilocks state for carrion: too fresh, and vultures cannot smell it, but too rotten, and even vultures will pass it by. They like their meat quite rare, and with just a hint of odor, please.

We mainly notice vultures when they are feeding at road kills, but Turkey Vultures also eat a variety of small dead animals, such as rodents and snakes. On rare occasions, Black Vultures will prey on live animals. This has given them a bad reputation in farming areas, where the loss of a young farm animal is not readily overlooked. By comparison, Turkey Vultures appear to only eat dead animals.

Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures have surprisingly different abilities to find their food. Turkey Vultures have an outstanding ability to smell carcasses, while Black Vultures rely mainly on their vision. The superior sense of smell of Turkey Vultures gives them the ability to detect food that is hidden from view beneath the canopies of leaves in forests.

This powerful sense of smell in Turkey Vultures can be seen in the structure of their skulls: they have huge, oval-shaped nostrils just behind the tips of their beaks! You can see this in the bottom photo, which compares a a Turkey Vulture's skull (front) with that of a visual hunter, the Red-tailed Hawk (back). Not surprisingly, the skulls of Black Vultures have much smaller nostrils than those of Turkey Vultures.

The air taken in through their nostrils passes back into their large nasal passageways, which are packed with huge numbers of odor receptors (these are specialized nerve endings that fire signals to the brain when certain odor molecules strike them). Thus, Turkey Vultures are the bird equivalents of dogs and bears, whose elongated snouts also contain huge numbers of odor receptors.

The final component of the Turkey Vulture odor detection system is in their brains: An extremely large portion of their brains is devoted to processing the information about smells. Indeed, Turkey Vultures have the largest fraction of their brains devoted to smell of any bird! Even compared to Black Vultures the "olfactory bulbs" in the brains of Turkey Vultures are four times larger.

Given their superior sense of smell, as well as their good vision, Turkey Vultures are usually the first to find a carcass. By contrast, Black Vultures have been observed following Turkey Vultures to share their food. It is often repeated that Black Vultures are aggressive towards Turkey Vultures at carcasses. However, recent research using game cameras placed at carcasses showed that Black Vultures are actually much more aggressive towards each other than they are towards Turkey Vultures. Black Vultures are gaining in numbers in our area, and large numbers of them sometimes do overwhelm the Turkey Vultures at a carcass. You can imagine the strong competition for a meal at a carcass when a flock of vultures has landed!

So, how do vultures resist getting sick from their food? The three major possibilities ("good" bacteria in their guts, active immune systems, and highly acidic stomachs) are probably all important. Hundreds of species of harmful and potentially beneficial bacteria have been identified in the stomachs of vultures (and these are just a fraction of the ingested species that are able to tolerate the harsh conditions in a vulture's stomach). However, it is not yet known whether the "good" bacteria actually protect the health of vultures.

Likewise, there are hints that vulture immune systems are important for their protection from infection, but the research has just begun. Finally, it is commonly believed that vultures have unusually acidic stomachs. No doubt, their acidic stomachs play an essential role in killing most of the bacteria in the food that they eat. Just as in humans, this is their first line of defense against becoming sick from contaminated food. But is the stomach acid of a vulture far stronger than ours? Apparently not. Recent research showed that the stomach contents in actively feeding Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures has a similar range of acidity (pH) as ours, with the lower range of about pH 2 (pH 2 is equivalent to the acidity of vinegar).

Thus, vultures appear to "pickle" their food in a similar fashion as most other vertebrate animals. It is frustrating to find that most of what you can read about these topics is based on just a handful of recent scientific studies and centuries of anecdotes and speculation.

While vultures are high in the sky, it is difficult for us to recognize their social interactions. Male and female Turkey Vultures (and probably Black Vultures) bond for life. So, the next time you see a couple of soaring vultures, you can imagine that they are probably husband and wife, sharing a life-long devotion to each other to raise their young and, yes, dine together on stinky food.

Answer: D is a very good guess, but right now it's E! More research is needed on vultures.

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu (I am looking for anything "normal" that you think is interesting and have a good photo of).

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Conley Cabin

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:41:40 GMT

Conley Cabin

Article and photos by Ben Danforth

When you book a stay at Conley, or any of the club’s 26 primitive cabins, you are leaving the modern world for the duration of your stay. Except, you do get about two bars with Verizon at Conley. But other than that, get ready to kick it like it’s 1899.

A perfect trip to Conley starts with your expectations and preparation. There are so many things to consider, from the food and gear you pack, to the weather, and the drive up Goose Pond Rd. A well-prepared cabin renter is sure to have a great time.

For those who have ever visited one of the six primitive cabins on the 675-acre Vining Tract, you know Goose Pond Rd. could be the setting for any sport utility vehicle commercial. The winding mountain road is state maintained, but dead ends into PATC’s private parking for the cabins, so the dirt road has no through traffic and can become treacherous in bad weather. High clearance vehicles are recommended, but that hasn’t stopped my own Ford Fusion sedan from conquering the journey a handful of times. Keep your tires on the high spots, and it can be done. If you really know how to party like it’s 1899 then you might even have a hand saw with you in case any limbs or blowdowns complicate your journey. Once parked at the top of the road you have a relaxing 5–10-minute hike-in on a gated service road to reach Conley cabin.

That’s where proper packing comes in handy because you don’t want to take several trips back and forth to the car and everything you pack in must be packed out.

For food, I recommend resealable containers. This helps reduce odors that can attract pests, and conveniently keeps your gear clean when packing out any leftovers or scraps. For example, if I know I want to cook a meal with diced onions or fresh peppers I like to pre-slice those ingredients ahead of time and zip-lock bag them. That means no onion peels or pepper seeds need to be discarded or packed out. Any meat cooked on the wonderful stone grated grill should be boneless so you don’t need to pack out the bones. This reduces your waste and helps cabin renters follow the principles of Leave No Trace. I always try to consider what trash the food I pack will create. If the trash does not all fit in a gallon zip-lock then I don’t pack it.

The next important step in planning is to make sure you have the correct bedding for your stay. All PATC cabins have mattresses, so you just need to pack the linens. In a backpacker’s effort to reduce weight and space I have found that a simple sheet makes a great mattress cover and in the summer months a lightweight down quilt is all I need for a comfortable sleep. In the winter a 20 degree down bag is my go to sleep system. Instead of hiking in your MyPillow, consider using your clothes bag as your pillow to save some more pack space.

The last necessity to make sure you have packed is your lighting. Primitive cabins have no lights so a headlamp is useful for getting around the property at night. Once your gear and food are in order, you hopefully have room for a beverage or two in your pack. Keep in mind the cabin has no refrigeration so something consumable at room temperature is probably best if you don’t want to hike in a cooler. For larger groups, a backpack cooler is a great option. Someone in the group can carry in the backpack cooler as long as their linens and necessities fit in someone else’s pack.

With logistics planned and packs packed, you are ready to immerse yourself in a past world and enjoy the charming cabin. Conley cabin features a spacious covered porch with built-in benches, a hanging swing, and Adirondack chairs to soak in the east facing views of Virginia’s Piedmont. The spacious yard features a picnic table, and a covered primitive outdoor kitchen.

The cabin interior features single bunks to sleep eight. For cooking, there is a primitive kitchen including a wood burning cook stove with a drain basin for cleaning dishes, counters for food prep, and cabinets well stocked with cooking utensils. A large table occupies the center of the cabin for a comfortable dining option especially in bad weather. The cabin is one large room but is partitioned by a built-in storage cabinet separating the sleeping quarters from the kitchen area. In addition to the bunks the sleeping area features a cast iron wood stove to warm the cabin on cold days or chilly nights.

Once you are relaxed, refreshed, and acquainted with your surroundings you’ll want to take inventory of what you’ll need to enjoy your stay. In colder months the wood stove can be used to heat the cabin, but that means you’ll need some wood to burn. Each cabin includes cutting tools so you can forage for downed trees and limbs. Conley has a convenient saw buck on the south side of the cabin just steps off the covered porch. Cut wood has a place to be stacked on the porch to keep it dry in rainy weather.

In addition to wood, you might need to gather some water for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. Like a true homestead, water can be gathered at the creek just about 200 yards down the trail towards Wineberry Cabin. This creek is as pure as the alps but in the event of animal waste or decay upstream, it is always best to treat your water by boiling or filtering it before drinking.

With water collected, and wood cut and stacked, you are truly ready to immerse in all this beautiful cabin has to offer. There are miles of private hiking trails connecting several historic man-made vestiges and breathtaking natural features and views scattered throughout the property for you to explore. When you’re not hiking, relish the old-world pace of preparing a primitive meal on the stone grated grill and as the long shadows of the evening succumb to the bright stars and moonlit nights, recap the day around the warming glow of the covered stone fire grill. Enjoy!

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Trail Maintenance Workshop SNP North District

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:41:37 GMT

Trail Maintenance Workshop

Saturday and Sunday, September 20 & 21, 2025

Shenandoah National Park - North District

For more than 35 years, the PATC’s Hoodlums Trail Crew and Shenandoah National Park staff have conducted a Trail Maintenance Workshop in the North District of the Park. The objective is to teach basic skills to new and prospective trail maintainers and to provide experienced trail maintainers advanced training in trail design, construction, and maintenance. SNP trail professionals and experienced PATC crew leaders provide instruction that will help novice and veteran trail maintainers alike. Workshop participants typically camp for the weekend at the Mathews Arm Campground in the North District of the Park. Participants will have free entry to the Park and Campground.

The Workshop will begin Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. and end Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Participants are encouraged to arrive Friday afternoon/evening and camp at Mathews Arm, socialize with other participants, and thereby avoid an early-morning drive. The fee for the workshop, which includes dinner Saturday and breakfast and lunch Sunday is $40.

The workshop is limited to 30 participants, which we typically reach by early-August. The registration deadline is Friday, September 5th. When we reach capacity, we will maintain a waiting list. For more information contact David Nebhut via e-mail: david.nebhut@gmail.com or by phone: 571-465-1041.

*Registration is almost full!

If you are ready to register click here : Hoodlums 2025 Trail Maintenance Workshop

Participation in the Workshop is available only to PATC members age 18 and above, and registration in advance is required.

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What's that Flower?

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:41:36 GMT

What's that Flower?

Article and photos by Richard Stromberg

This month shows notable plants to be seen in late summer.

You may see several species along the wooded trail before you come to the rock scramble.

Woodland Sunflower ( Helianthus divaricatus ) leaves have no stalks. Thin-leaved Sunflower ( H. decapetalus ) leaf stalks are at least a quarter of an inch long and the leaves are smooth, green underneath, and sharply toothed.

Sweet-scented Joe-Pye Weed ( Eutrochium purpureum ) is the species of Joe-Pye Weed you will find in dry woods. It has whorls of pointed leaves and the joint where they leave the main stem is purple. Many, small, purple/pink flowers form a dome at the top of the six-foot plant.

Entire-leaved False Foxglove ( Aureolaria laevigata ) flowers are eye-catching: leafy racemes of 1-2 inch yellow tubes with five, flaring lobes at the end. It has a smooth, green stem and most leaves are entire, though lower leaves may be toothed.

Hog-Peanut ( Amphiocarpaea bracteata ) is a twining vine. It stays low and often just lays across other plants rather than wrapping around them. The leaves alternate along the stem and have three leaflets. The leaflets can be almost three inches. They have a round base from which each side extends straight for two-thirds of the leaflet to a point. They have been teasing us all summer and only put out flowers at the last moment before cooler weather. The half-inch purple-pink flowers are arranged in a raceme. They hardly seem to open, the banner petal peeling back from the other four petals, and the wing petals barely unwrapping from the two petals that are fused into a keel.

Three species of Tick-trefoil may be seen on Old Rag. Individual flowers are less than a half inch, but each inflorescence has several of them. The flowers have the typical pea structure: the upright banner is pink-violet with dark splotches at the bottom middle of the base and white spaces underneath the splotches; two wing petals are the same pink-violet; the keel is elongated the wing petals may hide it.

Naked-Flowered Tick-trefoil ( Hylodesmum nudiflorum ) flower stems have no leaves. The stem may reach over three feet, often leaning into the trail, with a panicle of flowers at the end which later become pods, ready to grab you. The stem comes straight out of the ground. The leaves arise from ground completely divorced from the flower stem above ground.

Dillenius’ Tick Trefoil ( Desmodium glabellum ) flower stems and leaves have with very short hairs that have a hook at the tip. Leaves have three leaflets also have a fringe of hairs along the edges. The leaflets are one to two inches and one-and-a-half to three times longer than wide. It has a lot of flower stems with many flowers on each stem. Narrow-leaf Tick Trefoil ( D. paniculatum ) is similar but has narrow leaflets, four times longer than wide.

Starry campion ( Silene stellata ) blooms in late summer. Its flower petals are fringed (eight to 12 lobes). It is also called widow frills. Its leaves are in whorls of four except, possibly, for a top pair.

On the rocky top you may see some of the plants described last month:

American Chestnut ( Castanea dentata ) trees will now have fruit, a spiky, two-inch ball, starting out green and turning brown when ripe and falling to the ground.

Michaux's Saxifrage ( Hydatica petiolaris ) leaves are all at the base of the plant. Each leaf is thick and shiny, up to six inches long, and has five to eight teeth on each side. The inflorescence is wide and spreading. Each flower has five, long, separated, white petals. Two smaller petals point one way and three larger ones point the other way. The larger petals have two yellow dots at the base. Slender stamen filaments spread brown anthers above the petals.

Mountain Sandwort ( Minuartia groenlandica ) is a northern species as its species name groenlandica (of Greenland) indicates. It is rare in the PATC area, only found on top of Old Rag Mountain where several clumps of it grow in crevices and sandy pavements. It forms mats of leaves that look like little clumps of grass, but, if you look closely, you will see that the individual leaves are fleshy. Flower stems with up to five flowers extend above the leaves. The half-inch flowers have five white petals.

Other plants you may see in rock crevices include: Orange Grass or Pineweed ( Hypericum gentianoides ) with wiry stems with scale-like leaves topped by quarter-inch, five-petal, yellow flowers; Allegheny Stonecrop ( Hylotelephium telephiodes ) with upright, green or purple stems, with wide, flat leaves, entire or lightly toothed and star-shaped flowers with five, pointed, greenish-white to pink petals with puffs of stamens protruding; and Southern Harebell ( Campanula divaricata ) has wide spreading branches with quarter-inch, blue-purple, bell-shaped flowers with a protruding style.

On your way back on the fire road, in wet places look for two spectacular Lobelias. Lobelia flowers have two lips spreading from a tube. The upper lip has two, erect lobes. The lower lip has three, spreading lobes. Cardinal Flower ( Lobelia cardinalis ) flowers are bright red. Great Blue Lobelia ( L. siphilitica ) flowers are blue.

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Keep Calm and Read On: Saints & Sinners

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:41:31 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: Saints & Sinners

By Wayne Limberg

Following the death of his mother, Timothy Egan decided to take a long walk. His choice was the 1300 mile Via Francigena (VF), which runs from Canterbury to Rome. The result was his 2019 book “Pilgrimage to Eternity.” As a self-described “lapsed but listening” Catholic, he felt the need for “a stiff shot of no-bullshit spirituality.” He was not alone. An estimated 200 million people a year embark on some type of spiritual journey, be it the AT or the centuries old Camino de Santiago. Forty thousand walk all or part of the VF annually, seeking “to learn how to waste time” and in Egan’s case, find answers to questions that have haunted mankind since at least the time of Job. Getting away from it all is a major draw. Indeed, McKaye saw it as the major goal of the AT. This retreat from civilization can bring psychological and some would say even spiritual returns.

Egan’s name may be a familiar ring. He is a former NYTimes op-ed columnist and award-winning author of ten books. His previously reviewed “The Big Burn” dealt with the Great Fire of 1910 in Montana and Idaho that gave a boost to the new US Forest Service and, alas, its policy of fire suppression.

The first VF pilgrimage is traditionally credited to Archbishop Siguric, who made the trek around 990 AD to receive official papal recognition of his new position as archbishop of Canterbury. He kept a journal of his return journey, which averaged 12 miles a day. Unfortunately, it is little more than a logbook with few details. Records of a “Lombard Way” or “Frankish Route” from northern Europe to Rome predate Siguric’s, but he added Canterbury. Later pilgrims continued their travels from Rome to Appulia in Italy’s boot heel to book passage to the Holy Land. The VF was never a single, defined road; it used several routes, depending on the seasons and political situations in the various regions it crossed. At its peak in the Middle Ages, the VF saw upwards of 2 million pilgrims make the trek.

Egan’s decision to walk the VF was only partly in response to the death of his mother, a devout progressive Catholic, who was shaken by the sex scandals that rocked the Catholic Church and had even touched the Egan family. In addition, Egan’s sister-in-law was undergoing treatment for cancer. At the same time, he felt that secularization and declining congregants along with the sex scandals posed an existential challenge to the Church and Christianity in general that threatened to reduce the shrines and chapels that dotted the VF to quaint curiosities akin to Stonehenge. Like Siguric, Egan started in Canterbury, picking up his official VF passport that he dutifully had stamped at shrines along the Via to earn his pilgrim’s certificate in Rome. As it turned out, he did not walk the entire Via. Weather and injuries forced him to take trains, bum rides and rent a Fiat for a number of miles. He justified this by musing that Siguric surely did not pass up an offered ride.

Egan clearly read deeply and widely in preparation for his trip. “A Pilgrimage to Eternity” is packed with relevant quotes from Augustine to Pope Francis and a cast of characters that include Thomas Becket, Assisi, Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, and Diderot. Assisi and Erasmus are clear favorites. Luther gets a passing grade despite his antisemitism but there is no saving Calvin. As he recounts his various stops on the Via he offers thoughtful insights into local culture as well church and European history in general.

“A Pilgrimage to Eternity,” however, is no pedantic slog. Egan’s enthusiasm for his topic is catching in no small part because of his sense of irony and humor—often in combination. When he is hiking through the WWI Somme battlefield, he observes that over one million soldiers died fighting for purportedly Christian nations. On the lighter side, Egan tells of meeting a woman in Italy who says she no longer considers herself a practicing Catholic. When she learns Egan hopes to see the pope in Rome, however, she asks Egan to ask the Holy Father to pray for her. He also has a chuckle when he discovers at the very beginning of his pilgrimage that Canterbury Cathedral does not sell copies of Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales.” Too racy.

Throughout “A Pilgrimage to Eternity” Egan manages to bring a human dimension to the various places, events and characters—living and dead—he encounters. A prime example is when he visits the stops at the Moet & Chandon tasting rooms in Epernay and finds swarms of tourists. Pilgrims in the Middle Ages visited the church in Epernay because it once held the remains of Helena, the mother of Constantine, but now they come to see the final resting place for Dom Perignon, “the father of champagne.” Like Egan, Dom Perignon was educated by Jesuits but became a Benedictine monk at 18 and spent the next half century perfecting “methode champenoise.” Like the monks who created illuminated manuscripts, Egan sees Dom Perignon’s “doing something good and well and dutifully until it was close to perfect” as a form of prayer.

In the end, Egan makes it to Rome. Many of his questions go unanswered but like many an AT hiker he concludes that each must hike his or her own hike, or as St. Labre, the patron saint of the homeless, once said, “There is no way. The way is the way.”

Do you have a favorite read? Send it along to wplimberg@aol.com . Meanwhile, keep reading. See you on the trail.

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Letter to the Editor

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 19:57:47 GMT

Letter to the Editor

By Lois Dunlop

I've been a member since my mid-twenties and am now 79, happily a Life Member.

Back when I first joined PATC, I was privileged to know Egbert and Dorothy Walker . Egbert was the head of (and mostly the only person) the maps committee. He was the one who really set the standard for PATC's maps, spending hours at the N Street headquarters location working on the maps.

One of Egbert's strict requirements was that all trails be measured using the trusty bicycle wheel distance counter. I'm sure it had a formal name but I don't recall what that was. I only remember it was sturdy and accurate, depending of course on the skill of the user. I think he would be pleased to know his high standards are still in effect. Any articles about PATC maps should include a kudo in Egbert's direction.

Dorothy was also a force to be reckoned with. She came out on more club hikes than her husband. Carried her gear in a vintage (even then) L.L.Bean backpack basket. A small built woman with her gray hair neatly in a bun and a very sweet smile, Dorothy could really put in the mileage. Hard for a 20-something-year-old to keep up with.

I joined the club at a very fortuitous time in my life and in the life of the club. I also knew Ruth and Fred Blackburn, Paula Strain, Ray Fadner, Robert Humphrey and many others who truly helped PATC become the strong, active organization that it is today.

Happy Trails everyone.

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VolunteerFest Registration Opens this Week!

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:29:10 GMT

VolunteerFest Registration Open this Week

By Iva Gillet

You should have received an email describing our exciting event October 11th beginning at 7am and ending with Happy Hour and a BBQ Volunteer Award Ceremony followed by a bonfire. The minimal $25 registration fee will give you access to our Saturday events, BBQ dinner, and onsite lodging options Friday and Saturday. Registration will be open later this week. Check our website for more information here .

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Hoodlums May Outing – Bees, Rodents, Snakes, and Poison Ivy - Another Beautiful Day in the Park

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:52:53 GMT

Hoodlums May Outing: Bees, Rodents, Snakes, and Poison Ivy--Another Beautiful Day in the Park

By Tom Moran

Just shy of 30 volunteers met at Shenandoah National Park’s Piney River CCC Camp for the May 17 Hoodlums outing. Head Hoodlum Tom Troutman was on a vacation, so Noel Freeman and Wayne Limberg co-led the affair. By the end of the day they were overhead negotiating with Tom to expedite his return a.s.a.p. Still, after introductions and the safety briefing, crews were organized and dispatched to their assigned tasks for the day.

Beahms Gap Crew - Steve Parsley and Wayne Limberg led a crew that included Richard Lee, Greg Foster, Andy Warthen, Dave Nebhut, Bob Kilby, and Don Ball to work on the AT between Beahms Gap and Neighbor Mountain. Steve took half the crew and started at Beahms Gap and worked north, mainly weeding and repairing tread. Wayne took the other half to Neighbor Mountain and headed south clearing blowdowns including a large four-prong one reported by the Ridgerunner.

The two crews met at the large blowdown and then proceeded back down to Beahms Gap. On the way they installed a temporary stream crossing near the spring about half a mile from Beahms Gap parking lot and removed a blowdown blocking access to the spring. Recent rain meant heavy water flow, flooding the trail above the spring. The rain also meant weeds were already high but the good news was that the section has recovered from the fire last year with native plants returning, including some chestnut sprouts. Hoodlums will be returning to work on the spring and improve the stream crossing.

AT Crew - Jim Fetig led a crew to a section of the Appalachian Trail near Jenkins Gap for a collection of water control updates and improvements. Jim’s crew included Nicole Bridgland, Jay McCaffrey, John Young, Julie Bauer, and Roger Fast.

The crew installed eight check dams forming steps in two sections to mitigate erosion issues in areas with 36-inch rise over four linear feet. In other words, a very steep grade! They also built one rolling grade dip, which is a time consuming effort but results an a more sustainable, durable solution than the original water bar, which they retired.

Pass Mountain Crew 1 - Led by Justin Corddry, Roger Friend, Michael Gergely, Venus Foshay , and Rich Lordahl met at the parking area on Route 211 by the Pass Mountain Trailhead, and hiked up clearing blowdowns as they went. They stopped at the Pass Mountain Shelter for lunch, and met up with the second crew. While dining, they hastened the departure of a northern ring-necked snake that had taken up residence in the fire pit.

Pass Mountain Crew 2 - Led by J oe Phillips , this crew, including Tom Moran, Marie Seymour, Rosemary Seymour , and Kyle Brost , parked at Panorama and after crossing 211 hiked up the A.T., clearing a number of blowdowns on the way up to the Pass Mountain Hut, where they joined up with Justin’s crew. En-route a juvenile black rat snake made a brief appearance before making a hasty retreat.

After lunch a special situation awaited them – a multi-trunk blowdown fully engulfed in a poison ivy crown that had come down with the trees. One trunk of the ivy was over 4” in diameter, and the leafy fines smothered the trail and trunks such that you couldn’t see through the mass. The trail was completely blocked, the inevitable social trail had evolved but the blockage was unacceptable.

There was only room for 3-4 people to work in the vine choked corridor. Each member was able to decide if they wanted to risk the poison ivy or defer. The task first required clipping / lopping the many vines and removing them from the trail work area. Only then could the trunks be approached. In the end the poison ivy was fully cleared, and one of the two trunks before time was up. The trail was now passable, and the second trunk will be addressed in the near future. As a postscript, some minor rash was experienced by several of the crew but the mitigations employed were largely effective.

Shed Crew - Chris and Michelle Viggiano , and Cindy Ardecki joined crew lead Noel Freeman to work on one of the sheds the Hoodlums are renovating to support their North District trail maintenance activities. The work was not without its hazards – Chris, who was staining the exterior, was constantly harassed by carpenter bees upset at the intrusion on their airspace. And the inside crew discovered a substantial rodent incursion that caused them to adjust the scope of work for the day, pending a solution to the issue.

After work, in an All-American twist on the more typical potluck after-work gathering, Joe Woods grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, vegan burgers, and brats which were complemented by fixings and sides contributed by attendees.

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What on Earth?

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:40:54 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Articles and Photos by Ray Barbehenn

Sparkling green sweat bees, such as in the left photo, are beautiful when admired up close. However, a more common response from people tends to be, "Why are these little bees landing on my skin?! Shoo! Shoo!" sweat bees are practically harmless, but they are persistent. This one was about a centimeter long and was observed on May 8 in Duke Hollow (northern Virginia near the AT). Its stout tongue was extended, looking like a bent leg below its head, and was lapping the surface of my hand.

Swallowtail butterflies are another example of insects that are attracted to certain places for the same reasons as the sweat bees. They present a similar mystery: "Why are all of these butterflies licking the ground? Why aren't they on flowers?" The swallowtails are attracted to deposits of urine and other animal products. They are also attracted to the moist edges around puddles, and, hence, the term "puddling." The Tiger Swallowtails and dark Spicebush Swallowtail in the right photo were seen on June 5, 2017 in Duke Hollow. (In this case they were attracted to a man-made "puddle.") Surprisingly, these butterflies are probably all males! (Read on to find out why that makes sense.)

Why do some insects feed on body fluids (sweat, urine, etc.)?

A. They need the water.

B. They sense the small amounts of sugar in them.

C. They are attracted to their fragrances.

D. They need to obtain salt.

E. Unknown.

The answer is at the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

First and foremost, for those of us who are frightened by bees, it is great to know that sweat bees are not a threat. The sting of the female is little more than a pin prick, and a pin prick that is not easily provoked.

Sweat bees may be small but they represent the second largest family of bees, with over 4500 species worldwide, including 500 species in the United States. For those who know what the mineral halite is, the family name of sweat bees (Halictidae) provides a strong clue to their attraction to sweaty skin: "hal-" refers to salt! It is not known why sweat bees have a particular need for salt, though this is also seen in bees from other families, including honey bees. Between hikers, sweat bees spend their time foraging for pollen and nectar in flowers – food sources that are particularly low in salt. Thus, sweat (or other body fluids) appears to be a minor, but important, supplemental food source.

Far more research has been done on the puddling behaviors of butterflies and moths than bees. Indeed, butterfly puddling was a cover story in the highly prestigious research journal "Science" back in 1974. It was established that swallowtails are attracted to salt (specifically sodium) and not simply drinking water from puddles. In the following 50 years, there have been several hypotheses to explain this behavior further, but one fact demanded attention: Almost all of these butterflies are males. There has been some support for the idea that the extra boost of sodium allows male butterflies to court females more successfully. Perhaps they fly better and become more attractive to females?

Another hypothesis is that the extra sodium obtained by males helps the females to have more successful offspring. Strange as it may seem, this idea has the most support. It turns out that much of the extra sodium obtained by the male butterflies is concentrated in their tiny sperm packets ("spermatophores"). A spermatophore can contain over half of the sodium content in a male's body! When a spermatophore is transferred to a female during mating, she absorbs its sodium. Not only that, but much of the sodium is then incorporated into her eggs. Since the leaves on which caterpillars feed have little sodium, the salt from puddles ends up providing a precious nutrient for the young caterpillars! Of course, many questions remain unanswered. For example, why don't the female butterflies just puddle with the males?

Insects and other animals are salty creatures – their proverbial blood, sweat, tears, and other body fluids are all salty. Maintaining the right salt balance is essential for a multitude of purposes, including the functions of muscles and nerves. (Thankfully, it is beyond the scope of this article to explain these processes in further detail.) Suffice it to say, we hear a lot about replacing and maintaining our "electrolytes." Sodium is the major electrolyte that is so often referred to, but potassium and several other minor electrolytes are also required. Many athletes and hikers have experienced muscle (or "heat") cramps. These can be caused by muscle fatigue, but the loss of sweat and its salts are also causes in warm weather.

Sodium and other electrolytes are also lost in urine, the result of the filtering of the blood by the kidneys. Insects do not sweat, but they do have tiny versions of kidneys (the "Malpighian tubules") and a need to maintain their electrolyte balances, just like other animals. Given the need of animals to maintain their electrolyte supplies, it is not so odd that even grazing animals, such as cows and deer, are attracted to salt licks; their food, like that of caterpillars, is particularly low in sodium (salt). The tongues of many animals, including ourselves, have a special taste for salt – a testament to our need for it. (As an aside, it is now known that the various tastes are sensed all over the tongue, not just in specific regions, as most of us were taught in school!) However, we do not have a good sense of when more is not better. Our average salt consumption is 3.5 grams a day, which is literally 10-times more than we need. It is no surprise that swallowtail butterflies are attracted to our puddles.

Answer: D!

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu.

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President's Logbook

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:40:51 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

The Crapper Crew is the elite PATC group that shovels compost out of the nearly 100 privies that the club maintains. Its membership is diverse, but at the core are current and former senior leaders, yours truly included. Saying that we are willing to get our hands dirty is an understatement. That’s a leadership trait.

Before we mention leadership, here’s some insight into the Crapper Crew.

Like ancient alchemists, the Crapper Crew always hopes that the dross that went in transforms into gold ready to come out. Yet, each time the moldering bin is opened, there’s always a shadow of a doubt. Did it work this time?

Composting is like magic. Maybe the original material didn’t get the message? Were the conditions right? Is it done yet?

With the utmost of hope we bury the shovel in the brown pile of whatever it is. When the scoop reveals potting soil, like miners striking gold, we shout “Eureka!” and dig to bare earth. Then, the outhouse scoots over and the alchemy begins anew.

Each crew member plays a role. First, there’s the digger who shovels the compost out of the bin. Toward the end, they get into the bin to reach the last bits at the bottom.

After the digger enters the picker and the bagger. The picker plucks out the wipes, food containers, underwear, and other stuff that folks are supposed to know doesn’t go into the privy. The picker deposits these items into a trash bag.

Last come the spreaders. The digger fills 5-gallon buckets with clean compost that the spreaders carry off to dump in the woods. They operate like a conveyer belt until there is no more.

Not all leaders need to be on the Crapper Crew and not all crew members are leaders. The club needs all kinds of enthusiastic volunteers, especially leaders willing to donate their time and talent to a good cause.

Many people I encounter in PATC want to contribute, but they are either done with the frustrations of work or they are frustrated with work and ready to be done. Most everyone just wants to have fun like the Hoodlums crew that spent the hottest week of the year splashing in Jeremeys Run while dragging steppingstones in place for stream crossings.

Yet, someone planned and organized the Hoodlums’ water adventure, just as other volunteers manage our cabins, lands, training, financial investments, communications, marketing, legal representation, and all the rest.

If you can contribute, contact Jayne Mayne , VP Volunteerism (jmayne@patc.net) and we will find the right fit for you. Generations are changing, and we want YOU!

In other news, we have new boots to welcome.

Nora Wittmann joins us from the Kennedy Center as our new accounting coordinator replacing Jenny Keehan who did yeoman service at a critical time. Welcome Nora.

Abbie Fine is joining as our fundraiser. Fundraising is the one critical area where we could not find expertise internal to the club. Abbie is a fractional fundraiser with an outstanding track record. We have contracted for a portion of her time to help build our capacity. We put Abbie to work on our crew clearing blowdowns and pruning mountain laurel on the Hoodlums June work trip. She needs to understand what she’s selling.

Most of us are here to preserve and protect our public lands. As of this writing, the sale of millions of acres of public land has been removed from the large spending bill moving through congress. If the protection of those lands holds up, for one, I am thankful.

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VolunteerFest 2025

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:40:48 GMT

VolunteerFest 2025

By Iva Gillett

Have you heard about VolunteerFest? This new event will celebrate, cultivate, and connect volunteers.

Inspired by last year’s successful TrailFest, this year’s VolunteerFest promises to be an equally wonderful way to spend a weekend outdoors. It is open to all PATC member volunteers with the main events scheduled for Saturday, October 11 .

Numerous interactive learning activities in a variety of PATC skill areas will be offered in the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains; networking will be interspersed with relaxing (Did I mention a Happy Hour Saturday at 4P.M.?) plus the opportunity for leaders to find volunteers to mentor and volunteers to find leaders to help them join those ranks.

We will again be staying at Caroline Furnace Campus surrounded by the George Washington National Forest. Included in the $25 registration is on campus lodging (cabin bed or space for your tent/camper) both Friday and Saturday nights along with our BBQ awards celebration Saturday night.

Check back occasionally for more information about activites or email the co-chairs Iva Gillett Igillet@patc.net and Jayne Mayne Jmayne@patc.net .

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SNP Maps Now Offered in Digital Format

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:40:46 GMT

SNP Maps Now Offered in Digital Format

By Jeff Monroe, Jess LaPolla, and Nancy Doyle

The newest editions of PATC’s renowned trio of Shenandoah National Park (SNP) maps are now available for use on your smartphone! The digital version of these maps will be available for purchase and download exclusively through Avenza for use on your phone while hiking. Avenza is a free app for your mobile device for downloading maps from the  PATC Avenza map store . Paper maps will still be available for purchase, but the newest editions of maps 9 and 11 are currently available exclusively through Avenza.

Fully updated using input from PATC volunteers including the GIS Committee, PATC GPS Rangers, PATC Trail Patrol, and trail maintainers, these full color maps encompass many of your favorite places to hike, camp, and backpack in and around SNP. The latest editions of the North, Central, and South Park districts (Maps 9, 10, and 11) offer the most accurate trail locations and information available including updated trail access points, side trail closures and reroutes, stream and river variations, current parking areas, and many others. PATC maps are universally regarded as the best trail maps for Shenandoah National Park, and are the maps used by the SNP Rangers!

Each revised map features PATC’s newly designed cover by Alan Kahan with a color photograph from the North, Central, and South districts of SNP. All three maps include AT shelters and PATC cabins for planning overnight trips.

The SNP North District, PATC Map 9 Edition 20 (2025), covers 28 miles of the Appalachian Trail and all side trails totaling 144 miles of hiking trails. Included in Map 9 are popular hikes including Dickey Ridge, Fox Hollow, Sugarloaf, Compton Peak, and many others.

The SNP Central District, PATC Map 10 Edition 23 (2023), covers 36 miles of the Appalachian Trail and all side trails totaling 219 miles of hiking trails. Featuring a photograph of the Old Rag rocky pinnacle on the cover, Map 10 covers the most hiked part of the park. It includes significant GPS updates to Skyland-Big Meadows horse trails, as well as Old Rag Mountain, White Oak Canyon, Hawksbill, and other popular trails and destinations.

The SNP South District, PATC Map 11 Edition 18 (2025), covers the longest section of the AT within the park, 45 miles of the AT, and all side trails totaling 148 miles of hiking trails. It also includes an elevation profile of the AT from Swift Run Gap to Rockfish Gap. Hiking trails include Blackrock, Hightop Mountain, Rockfish Gap, Doyles River, and others.

In addition to the superior data collected by the Rangers, the all-volunteer, map-making GIS Committee imported authoritative data from GIS software company Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) including a base map of LIDAR data sets used for measuring elevation to create contour lines. The committee imported data from VDOT to determine boundaries, structures, and features to include on the map. Other data layers include state of Virginia administrative boundaries for counties and towns, the Virginia road centerline map data, Rapidan Wildlife Management boundaries, river and trailhead locations, mile markers, and infrastructures.

Why is a PATC map the best trail map available to hikers? The methods used to collect our data come from boots on the ground. Unlike competitors’ map makers who rely solely upon satellite and second party data, PATC itself is the primary source of trail data. Volunteers measure every trail in the park according to strict internal standards and continually feed updates to the GIS Committee.

Using advanced equipment, the GPS Rangers collect point and line data to create the trail line by hiking each trail. This pinpoint data affords detailed accuracy that a satellite cannot provide. Waypoints, such as springs, shelters, benches, cabins, signage, overlooks, and walls are fully notated and photographed. Much of this precise data is included in a PATC map The Shenandoah National Park Rangers use and depend upon PATC maps to do their work for the national park. Is it any surprise that PATC maps are the industry standard that no other maps can equal? Purchase and download PATC maps here.

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What Makes a Cadillac Crew Trail Work Trip Memorable on a Memorial Day Weekend?

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:40:43 GMT

What Makes a Cadillac Crew Trail Work Trip Memorable on a Memorial Day Weekend?

Kirsten Elowsky and Barbara Cook

Let me count the immeasurable ways. Is it the work? The Cadillac Crew’s Blackburn Trail Center long weekend work trip was split between trail center and trail tasks.

Heading up the trail center work, Barbara Cook and John Kittridge managed a list of continuing maintenance with Cat Randall and Janet Arici giving the new front entrance stairs two coats of paint blending them in beautifully with the dark brown of the porch. Janet and Cat, along with Ellen Shaw and Erica Glembocki , scraped and touched up some of the weathered paint on the carriage house siding. Jonathan Robertson , Steve Barber , and John installed trim casing on a new window on the ridge runner apartment. Steve, John and Jonathan also installed a new hiker cell phone charging station on the porch, including a new set of electrical outlets and a shelf for the phones (since most hikers approaching the trail center ask first for water and then for a place to charge their devices!). They also addressed modifying non-closing porch and privy doors.

JT Tucker took on the replacement of a set of deteriorating log steps behind the carriage house, using repurposed lumber that John Corwith had rescued from a neighborhood playground rebuild. Assisted by Marty Martin (an experienced Hoodlum who was joining us for the first time), John, Barbara, and others, JT installed the new steps and enhanced the surface drainage to provide erosion protection.

Yard mission members (JT, Barbara, Dan Feer , Aidan Badwhar , Sandi Marra , Chris Brunton, Lynn Olsen , and Chris Glembocki ) tackled raking accumulated leaves off the roof, removing vines from porch screens, trimming low-hanging tree branches, hedge-trimming of overgrown shrubs, dead-heading of blooming bushes, removing leaves packed against the hiker cabin foundation, clearing of leaves and debris from a road culvert to help control erosion of the road, and excavation and partial reconstruction of a collapsed low rock retaining wall along the driveway.

Ellen S. and Erica spent an entire morning manually regrading some of the erosion damage on the access road. Marty prepared the lawn furniture by scrubbing all of the chairs/ bench/lounge and arranging them on the lawn, and Janet did touch-up painting on the memorial bench. Aidan and Dan split and stacked wood in the woodshed to replenish the supply depleted by winter renters. Lastly, the crew cleaned the trail center, which is always beneficial after the winter rental season. Huge thanks to Chris B., Sandi, and Blackburn caretaker Lauren for hosting the crew.

Is it the people that make the work trip memorable? Tackling the trail tasks (installing rolling grade dips) this weekend was: (new) Marty Martin, (returning) Kirsten Elowsky , Alice DeCarlo , Steve Phillips , Bill Greenan , Maria de la Torre , Dan Feer, Ellen Feer, Robert Fina , Ellen Shaw , Martha Becton , Karen Brown , Cat Randall, Chris Glembocki, Aidan Badhwar, Don Oellerich , Chris Brunton (Co-District Manager), Rob Lamar (Co-district manager) and Dave Jordahl .

Starting with the safety round robin orchestrated by crew co-leader Dan Feer (ensuring we stayed safe), and the distribution of tools by Robert Fina (counting the correct amount), the crew tackled 13 rolling grade dips over the two workdays. Having Chris B. and Rob L. (co-district managers) with the crew helped us know that our most difficult aspect for the weekend would be finding mineral soil for the berms as the area was very rocky and the few blowdown root balls had little to no mineral soil attached. Their keen local knowledge was invaluable. So, to our great fortune, the crew discovered mineral dirt just below the duff in the path of the dip’s ditches. As each team cleared the outflowing trench, a hole was dug only a few feet from the final destination of the berm, saving time and less forest floor disruption.

These ingenious and sustainable water diversion trail features take time to construct and fine tune. Each one, in Kirsten’s opinion, is a masterful work of trail construction. “I appreciated Martha working on my team, at one point, because she has the eye to ensure the “dip” part of the rolling grade dip has the gradual slope and curve needed for optimal water diversion. I am still learning how to master this technique,” she admitted.

Is it the weekend’s great selection of food that keeps us coming back? Our longer work trips require potluck meals and happy hour snacks. Starting with Saturday’s dinner main entrée of Porchetta cooked by Sandi Marra (the ATC president) which fed not only the crew but several fortunate thru hikers and continuing with the Sunday’s main dinner vegetarian entrée of Butternut Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole cooked by Ellen Shaw (and assisted by her returning college student son, Aidan), the crew members highlighted their culinary skills in the well-appointed Blackburn kitchen.

Even Karen treated us to her grilling expertise to provide the group grilled sausages. Cat keeps track of the member’s monthly birthdays and treats us to our favorite dessert in celebration of this milestone. It also didn’t hurt that we were treated to spectacular views at Raven Rocks for Sunday lunch.

So if this article piques your interest and if you would like to join the crew, please contact the Cadillac Crew leaders at ccrewpatc@gmail.com for the next fourth weekend of each month’s work trip. I promise it will be memorable.

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Camping, Kayaking, and Camaraderie in the Forest

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:40:39 GMT

Camping, Kayaking, and Camaraderie in the Forest

Marian Styles

What could be better on a holiday weekend in the spring than a camping trip in a beautiful locale with fellow outdoor enthusiasts? Iva Gillet , PATC Committee Chair for Hikes as well as past president of the Charlottesville Chapter, spearheaded just such an outing last Memorial Day weekend. Held at the Caroline Furnace Camp & Retreat Center in Fort Valley, Virginia, this Charlottesville and Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapters’ long-weekend event featured hiking, kayaking, and even learning about history.

Some folks arrived Thursday afternoon to set up camp and enjoy a campfire before Friday’s Indian Grave Ridge loop hike in the Massanutten range. The next morning, walking through a woodland forest on a sunny day when the mountain laurels were in peak bloom was quite a treat. Before long, hike leader Howard Davis briefly stepped off the trail to show us the rock piles that are rumored to be Indian graves.

Most of us considered this hike quite a challenge because of the nearly 9-mile length and a steep 1,300-foot climb to the overlook. The effort was worth it, though; our lunchtime vantage point afforded a fantastic view of the Shenandoah River.

On Saturday, about a dozen people gathered to tackle an out-and-back hike at Veach Gap in George Washington National Forest. Led by Brian Denny , this 7-mile hike, with about 1,100 feet of elevation gain, proved a bit easier than Friday’s excursion.

However, early in the hike we found that debris had obstructed the flow of Mill Run, which had consequently diverted from the streambed onto the trail. Three intrepid hikers— Mark Perschel , current president of the Charlottesville Chapter; his son Mark; and John Shannon —could not pass up an opportunity to do some trail work. They removed branches and relocated rocks so that the stream would once again flow down its original streambed. When we approached this area on the return leg of our hike, the stream was flowing where it should have been, and the trail was reclaimed.

Saturday had turned out to be another beautiful, sunny day, and most of us enjoyed a gorgeous view of the south fork of the Shenandoah River during our lunchtime break at a rocky overlook. The trail reclamation crew had taken a different route and rejoined us later.

Kennedy Peak was our last group hike of the weekend, and this popular route attracted five non-campers who joined us for the day. The highlight of this hike is the 360-degree view from the Kennedy Peak fire tower. The Luray Valley, south fork of the Shenandoah River, and the Massanutten Range were visible from our sunny perch atop the tower. After lunch, Dave Abdallah led those who wanted to complete a 9.5-mile loop on the Stephens Trail, while Howard led a smaller out-and-back group for a 7-mile hike. During their hike back, the 7-milers paused to listen for bird songs, identify plants, and admire the prodigious mountain laurel displays.

Also on Sunday, three campers skipped Kennedy Peak to go kayaking. Iva, Jeanne Siler , and Jodi Frederiksen were treated at the outset to a bald-eagle sighting. Putting in at Bixlers Ferry, the group floated 8 miles downstream on a day with perfect weather, sighting turtles and a wide variety of waterfowl, including blue herons, geese, merganser ducks, and double-crested cormorants. Many families were grilling riverside and playing soccer, and many folks were fishing.

As you would expect, all this physical exertion sparked our appetites. Mark’s famous spaghetti with meatballs or vegetarian sauce sated our hunger on Friday night, and Iva’s tacos did the same on Saturday night. Everyone pitched in with side dishes and desserts. Marit Anderson’s brownies were a particular hit.

Lest you think that the weekend was devoid of scholarly endeavors, Jodi presented a talk about the history of Caroline Furnace. The furnace produced three tons of pig iron daily during the Civil War. The slag from iron production is still scattered on the ground.

Of course, a camping trip is not complete without campfires. Jodi and Dave proved to be master campfire builders, and we gathered around their handiwork each night to eat and socialize.

Approximately 20 people participated in all or part of the weekend, some traveling from Maryland. Some stayed through Monday morning, whereas others came and went as their schedules allowed. Participants could set up tents or campers. Cabins were also available, as were hot showers, restrooms, refrigerated storage, and all the firewood we needed.

This Memorial Day weekend was all we could have hoped for: sunny days in the high 60s, beautiful countryside, a quiet campsite, and camaraderie.

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Prince William Forest Park: An Urban Oasis Where Nature and History Meet

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:40:36 GMT

Prince William Forest Park: An Urban Oasis Where Nature and History Meet

By Tracey Heibel and Patricia Westenbroek

Nestled between I-95 and the Quantico Marine Base, sits Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia. This natural retreat from urban life played several unique roles in American history, from mining to training spies during World War II and continues to fascinate visitors near and far.

The park was home to a profitable pyrite mine in the 1880s. At the time, iron pyrite was used in many important products of the day, including gunpowder, dyes, glass, and soap. The mine closed in 1920.

During the 1930s -40s, the Civilian Conservation Corps developed this outdoor area for recreational use by the public. The property then served as a Recreational Demonstration Area during the Great Depression providing children living in impoverished urban conditions with an opportunity to escape the city and enjoy outdoor recreation.

From 1942-1945, the Park served as a training ground for the Office of Strategic Servicers (OSS), the precursor of the Central Intelligence Agency. The U.S. spies who trained here were dropped behind enemy lines during WWII to gather intelligence to support the war effort.

In 1945, the Park was returned to the public for outdoor recreational use. Since then, the Park of 15,000 acres boasts 37 miles of hiking and multi-use trails, four cabin camps, and four campgrounds for an urban oasis, 20 miles south of Washington DC. The National Park Service’s Prince William Forest Park Visitors Center continues to welcome guests to explore the Park then and now with a museum exhibit. Unable to visit in person? A few clicks aways, the Virtual Museum Exhibit brings this unique history to life: https://nps.gov/museum/exhibits/prwi . For additional information, follow the Park on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/p/C4n7KEvLbIh/ .

Fun Fact: The Spooky Beaver crew takes its name from the history of the park. “Spooky” is a play on words taken from the OSS training days when spies were called “Spooks." “Beavers” is a salute to the successful beaver repopulation effort that took place on the property in the 1950s when the beaver population was nearly extinct in the state of Virginia. The Park is maintained by the PATC’s own Spooky Beaver Crew in close collaboration with the National Park Service.

The Spooky Beaver Crew loves all volunteers no matter what their experience level! The crew enjoys sharing their knowledge and supporting volunteers to learn more about trail maintaining. Come join us and help keep the Prince William Forest National Park trails beautiful. Check us out at www.spookybeavers.net/ or sign up on Meetup via PATC Volunteers group.

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Getting Starry-Eyed at Glass House

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:40:34 GMT

Getting Starry-Eyed at Glass House

By Jess LaPolla

Located in the north end of Fort Valley, Glass House is the perfect getaway for friends, couples, and small families. Geology buffs will appreciate the history behind the house and location as well.

Tucked deep within the rugged landscape of Virginia’s Massanutten Mountains, Fort Valley is a hidden geological marvel. Described as a valley within a valley, it was forged by tectonic forces and sculpted over millions of years. Fort Valley is a uniquely enclosed basin, essentially making it a geologic fortress sealed by stone.

Willed to PATC by Geologist Jewell Glass, the stone cabin’s screened in porch offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, while the large deck is perfect for lounging or star gazing.

This modern cabin is equipped with a charming kitchen and dining area and can sleep up to four people. Imagine walking out onto the deck in the early morning, seeing the sun rise over hills of green and gold while the steam rises from your mug of coffee or tea. We don’t know about you, but that feels like peak living to us.

If you’re an avid hiker, climber, or enjoyer of nature, this location will leave you breathless. The area boasts endless opportunities for day hiking and backpacking, including sections of the Tuscarora Trail and the Appalachian Trail. From easy hikes such as the Woodstock Tower Trail , to challenging adventures like Signal Knob and Kennedy Peak , there is something for almost everyone. Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area is home to beautiful hiking, picnic sites, and rock climbing.

Other recreation options around Fort Valley include horseback riding and fly fishing or boating in the enchanting Passage Creek. A spring-fed stream flowing over quartzite and ancient limestone, this crystal-clear creek supports a native brook trout population and is home to many other species of wildlife.

Check out Fort Valley Ranch and book a guided trail ride, or check out Murray’s Fly Shop for fishing info, classes, and guided trips.

Fort Valley is nestled in the heart of Shenandoah County, surrounded by not only beautiful landscape but a number of quaint towns as well. Many breweries, wineries, cafes, and restaurants are but a short drive away.

Glass House is a gateway to some of the best outdoor recreation in Virginia, while offering cozy and modern lodging. Don’t take our word for it though, stay a while and find out for yourself. For more information and to book, check out our website .

*Access the cabin is available from the adjacent parking area. Due to water quality concerns, renters are encouraged to bring their own water.

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What's that Flower?

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:40:29 GMT

What's that Flower?

By Richard Stromberg

This month shows notable plants to be seen in the summer.

Black Cohosh ( Actaea racemosa ) is a perennial that can grow over eight feet tall with flower spikes that can be up to three feet long. They are also called Fairy Candles.

Dwarf Spiraea ( Spiraea corymbosa ) is a shrub up to one meter tall. Leaves are ovate with toothed edges. The white or pinkish, tightly-packed, quarter-inch flowers grow in a flat or slightly rounded form called a corymb.

Rock Harlequin ( Corydalis sempervirens ) plants are up to 30 inches tall. The half-inch, tubular flowers are pink with a yellow tip. They are grouped into dangling clusters.

Climbing Fumitory ( Adlumia fungosa ) is a climbing vine with very slender stems. White or pinkish flowers grow in large, drooping clusters.

Some American Chestnut ( Castanea dentata ) trees on Old Rag are old and strong enough to bear fruit. The flowers are small and cluster on catkins at the end of branches. Long catkins, up to five inches, have only male flowers. Shorter catkins have male flowers at the end and a few, inconspicuous female flowers toward the base. The fruit is a spiky, two-inch ball, starting out green and turning brown when ripe and falling to the ground.

Northern Bush Honeysuckle ( Diervilla lonicera ) is a shrub. The tubes of its yellow flowers are shorter than other honeysuckles. Five pointed, unequal lobes flare from the tubes.

Whorled Loosestrife ( Lysimachia quadrifolia ) grows up to three feet tall with a series of whorled leaves spaced up the stem giving. The whorls usually contain four leaves (hence the species name) but sometimes less or more. The leaves have no stem or a very short one. The solitary flowers grow on one-to-two-inch stems from the axils of the upper leaf whorls. The edges of the petals are smooth.

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PATC Ridgerunners for 2025

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:55 GMT

PATC Ridgerunners for 2025

By Jess LaPolla

Ridgerunners work each summer with the public, trail community, and officials along the Appalachian Trail to enhance the public's enjoyment of the trail and to help protect it. The PATC's section of the trail extends from the southern end of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, through Maryland, to Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Pennsylvania. The Ridgerunners who patrol the section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) maintained by PATC are hired, trained, and supervised by PATC's Trail Patrol.

PATC strives to operate the best Ridgerunner Program on the AT. Our club works closely with our partners to fund, hire, train and support a total of 6 Ridgerunners assigned to one of four segments of our 240 mile AT section.

This year we have an incredible group of Ridgerunners that we are excited to work with.

Ellie Strait “MacGyver” – Michaux Regular Season Ridgerunner. Ellie is from Pennsylvania, near the Michaux State Forest. She completed a NOBO thru-hike of the AT in 2024. Ellie holds a BA in Environmental Studies and worked as an Outdoor Educator at the Pali Institute. Ellie is excited to bring together her experiences for a great Ridgerunner season and is looking forward to keeping the trail a safe and fun place for hikers to make lasting memories.

Josh Sheets “Soulslosher” @soulslosher is a Maryland Long Season Ridgerunner. Josh is from Delaware, now living in Virginia. He completed a NOBO AT thru-hike in 2011. He revisits the AT regularly and has otherwise completed 16 different long trails! He has recently pivoted from a career in social work and has enjoyed working at youth camps. He has also served as a product ambassador for FarOut, Hyperlite, and Jolly Gear. Josh is looking forward to encouraging environmental stewardship and LNT principles to all trail visitors!

Rich Jacobus “Lightfoot” is a Northern VA Regular Season Ridgerunner. From Virginia, Rich completed a NOBO thru-hike of the AT in 2022 and more recently the Taho Rim Trail. Rich enjoys working on teams and in public facing jobs. He loves boutique backpacking gear, reconditioning gear, and hiking in Shenandoah National Park. Rich identifies strongly with the trail ambassador aspects of being a Ridgerunner, teaching Leave No Trace policies and promoting the preservation of the trail and trailside resources.

Dillon Utter “Dreamsicle “ is a Maryland Regular Season Ridgerunner originally from Upstate New York. Dillon completed a NOBO AT thru-hike in 2023 and enjoyed learning the history and conservation of the trail. Dillon works with a guide service in the Catskills, volunteers doing trail and boundary work for the NY/NJ Trail Conference, the DEC, and the Finger Lakes Trail. We interviewed Dillon from his art studio, where he does freelance work when he isn’t outdoors. His goal for the season is to have meaningful interactions with trail users, inspiring them to also help educated and protect the land we love!

Marissa Fulton “Mosey” is a Shenandoah National Park (SNP) Early Season Ridgerunner. From Georgia, Marissa completed a flip-flop thru-hike in 2024, taking her time to enjoy nature and people while testing her determination. During her hike she traversed snowy peaks, dealt with floods in the 100-mile wilderness, and enjoyed blackberry milkshakes in SNP. Marissa enjoys working with the public and was working at a New Hampshire Ski Resort this past winter. She looks forward to encouraging and educating people on the trail.

Ray Stinson “Bones” is an SNP Late Season Ridgerunner from Maryland. Ray enjoys everything about the outdoors, trails ,and public lands. He has worked in state parks and conservation corps crews, and worked as a PATC Ridgerunner in 2023 in Maryland and 2024 in Michaux State Forest. Ray has hiked the Tuscarora Trail, logged around 1000 miles Ridgerunning for the club, and knocked out a SOBO AT hike from Katahdin to Harpers Ferry at the conclusion of his 2024 season. Ray is reported to be a legend at Camp Penn in his helping with Leave No Trace and Appalachian Trail Experience Hikes in our inaugural year at Camp Penn.

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Volunteer Profile: Dan Hippe, PATC Ridgerunner Coordinator

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:53 GMT

Volunteer Profile: Dan Hippe, PATC Ridgerunner Coordinator

By Meg Drennan

“Ridgerunners are super interesting people,” says Dan Hippe, PATC’s Ridgerunner Coordinator. “This year’s group are all thru-hikers. Many of them have done both the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The quality of this group is first-rate.”

PATC’s six new Ridgerunners are based in Shenandoah National Park, one in Northern Virginia, two in Maryland, and another in Pennsylvania’s Michaux State Forest. Part trail ambassador, part educator, this dedicated crew logs long miles and untold hours interacting with the public.

“Overall, they try to wear the hat of someone going through the trail for the first time,” explains Hippe. In 2024, his team racked up impressive numbers:

2,828 miles patrolled
903 gallons of trash collected
2,706 thru-hiker encounters
12,845 day hiker encounters
910 dogs (131 off leash)
665 blowdowns

So, what’s in store for this year? Hippe recently shared his perspectives on PATC and his hopes for this season.

What are you excited about? First, we’re starting something new, the Junior Ridgerunner program. It recognizes youth of all ages who learn something about Leave No Trace from a Ridgerunner or help them in their duties, like pulling a log off a trail. All Ridgerunners will be helping pilot the program. We have buttons for the youth.

Second, we had challenges with the loss of the Michaux quarters a few years ago. For a while, we had to fill the job with no quarters. Last year, we reached an agreement with Camp Penn, a youth camp immediately adjacent to the AT. The camp had never built hiking or the AT into their program. They now provide housing, and we provide a primer on outdoor ethics and take campers and staff on hikes. It was a beautiful, natural fit.

What are your responsibilities? The season started in January with nailing down partner funding and commitments, posting the job opportunities, pulling together a hiring team to do interviews, making offers, and then onboarding. Very quickly, we try to get them on the trail. We provide in-depth training, including Wilderness First Aid Certification, Leave No Trace Trainer Certification, Outdoor Ethics, conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques, and trail and shelter maintenance basics.

At the beginning, I go on training patrols. I teach them about developing their rapport with the public. Getting their Ridgerunner voice, how to introduce themselves, initiate conversations. I work with them on how to engage the hiking community in a more relaxed way. Talking about cool things to see, places to get water, or hop off the trail. I also teach them about how trails work from a maintenance point of view. I emphasize picking up litter, checking trail conditions, identifying damage.

What do you look for in a Ridgerunner? They need to be really experienced solo backpackers that have worked through all the issues, like being dirty and run down. They must be physically fit. Typical Ridgerunners patrol for 500-700 miles per summer. They must be good at taking care of themselves, and dealing with things like heat, foot issues, and ticks.

The Ridgerunners also need to represent the club well. I consider their ability to interact with people under stressful conditions. A lot of the interview questions are about different scenarios and how to handle them – dogs off leash, challenging encounters with folks on the trail, and breaking up illegal campsites.

What are the biggest changes you’ve seen? The graffiti by the thru-hiking community is increasing. There is a subset that feels like they have to tag everything. Once it starts, it takes off. It’s the broken window effect. If you don’t fix it, they all get broken. We document the cases and other criminal activities for law enforcement and the ATC Conservancy. The other uptick is unattended trail magic – food left in bear boxes and in shelters. It spoils and attracts wildlife.

What was your first experience on the AT? I’ve always been into hiking for its pure enjoyment and to seek solace from various things. I grew up in Minnesota and moved to Virginia in 2000, where I worked at the US Geological Survey. I am fairly new to the AT. I learned about it in 2020 when I joined the Hoodlums, one of PATC’s trail crews. Then I got a section of the AT to maintain and got to know Jim Fetig. I shadowed Jim in 2022 and now it’s kind of a full-time job.

Best experience? By far the best has been getting the group together for an evening, sharing a really robust meal of fresh food and listening to their stories. I just sit back and smile. It’s a real hoot. My mantra to my team is to have fun. It’s got to be a fun job and provide value to the hikers, land managers, and the club.

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50 Years of PATC Cabins

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:50 GMT

50 Years of PATC Cabins

By Jess LaPolla

In January of 1975, Jim Haskell, Larry Davis, Steve Taylor, and Jim Brittingham decided to embark on a backpacking trip to Ramsey's Draft Wilderness. It was the dead of winter and had been sleeting and snowing just the day before. After hiking for a while, the group became cold, wet, and tired, and the prospect of tent camping in freezing temps was becoming less appealing (and less safe) by the minute.

“The sun goes down about 4 o'clock in the winter. It just gets cold when you're huddled up in a big tent, you know? But we had great visions of being manly men, I guess,” Jim Haskell recounted realizing that they didn’t really know what they were doing at the time.

Jim and his friends, along with a stray hiker they picked up along the way, eventually came across Sexton shelter, a rustic cabin that had been built in 1930 and was owned and operated by PATC. The group decided to break into the cabin to shelter there for the night. Jim noted that “It's the only time I've ever seen this on a cabin; the nuts that held the lock in place were on the outside of the building. We had a little rock there, and we just tapped on the square nuts, undid the lock, and got inside.” Together they started a fire and avoided getting frostbite that evening.

That was how Jim Haskell and his friends first learned about PATC’s cabins.

Visiting cabins became an annual tradition for the group, and they looked forward to having a guys trip every year. Their group grew to include Doug Campbell and Rick Dugger, who have been joining for the last 25-30 years. “One of the guys moved to Tennessee, one of them moved to North Carolina, and we all had jobs and families. But it was sort of our thing to always get back together. We weren’t going to miss a cabin trip.”

Jim recounted stories of visiting cabins every winter, sometimes hiking through waist deep snow to get there, sometimes finding themselves locked out of the park due to inclement weather. “Looking back to when we were younger, we'd go skiing and then hang out in the bar. And then at midnight we’d work our way over to our cabin. We'd start to hike a mile and a half down into the woods, over icy rocks. But we had fun. Nobody ever got hurt.”

As the guys got older, they started booking cabins they could drive up to, and cabins with more modern comforts. When asked about his favorite cabin, Jim said, “It's sort of hard to have a favorite cabin. It's like having a favorite kid, you know. They're all so different. They've all been wonderful, they really have.”

The group of friends spent their 50th cabin anniversary at Huntley Cabin. “It gets to mean more every year. The best part is just getting together and guys being guys, you know, and it's just a wonderful thing. We all value it more than we can put in words.”

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Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival Celebrates the Trail’s 100th Year

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:47 GMT

Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival Celebrates the Trail’s 100th Year

Jody Brady, Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival Director

Tens of thousands of thru-hikers and day-hikers trek the 35 miles of the Appalachian Trail (AT) that traverses Western Loudoun every year. This is the sixth year that Loudoun County toasts the Trail in a free, daylong festival—and it’s the sixth year that PATC will take part in the event with a display and speakers.

This year’s festival, on June 7, puts the spotlight on the 100th anniversary of the AT, with Appalachian Trail Conservancy President Sandi Marra opening the festival with a short talk at 11:30 A.M. Loudoun’s three official AT Communities (an ATC designation) - Round Hill, Hillsboro and Bluemont - will mark the monumental milestone in Hillsboro.

Caroline Murray, executive director of the Loudoun Appalachian Trail Association and an AT thru-hiker, said, “We are proud to be part of the celebrations happening along the Trail this year to mark its first century. This festival brings together the beauty of the Trail, our local AT communities, and outdoor enthusiasts from across the region to learn about and celebrate what makes the AT so special.”

The free, family-friendly event starts at 11 A.M. at Hillsboro’s Old Stone School featuring live music, outdoor activities, a nature-inspired art show, hiking talks, trail and information, a rock-climbing wall, food, local wines and beers, and more. In addition to PATC, local hiking/environmental groups participating include the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Blue Ridge PRISM, Sierra Club, Sweet Run and Sky Meadows state parks, Potomac Heritage Trail Association, VA Master Naturalists, and more.

PATC President Jim Fetig will join a thru-hikers’ panel led by PATC member Charlie Billingsley at 12:30 P.M.. Other talks include Mills Kelly’s “Hikers’ History of the AT” (1:30 P.M.) and a day hike panel at 2:45 P.M..

Event Details
When : June 7, 2025, from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Where : Old Stone School, 37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, VA
Cost : Free, family-friendly event
What to expect : Live music, hiking talks, nature crafts, outdoor activities, art displays, kids’ activities, food vendors, ice cream, local beers and wines, and much more.

For more information about the Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival, visit LoudounAT.org .

--Loudoun Appalachian Trail Association

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Another Candid Camera Project Will Capture Mammals In SNP

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:45 GMT

Another Candid Camera Project Will Capture Mammals In SNP

By Larry Broadwell

Some years ago, PATC members volunteered to place and service "critter cameras" over a long stretch of the AT corridor. It captured wildlife along much of the trail in SNP and ranged north from there into Maryland. For months, they worked under the Smithsonian Institution's Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) to gather photos of mammals on the "AT Transect" project. In concert with the US Forest Service and other government agencies, the Smithsonian produced a report on the various mammal species likely to be found along different parts of the trail.

As might have been expected, the project noted the presence of bears, weasels, foxes, and other predators in SNP, along with plenty of deer. Close to developed areas such as Harpers Ferry, squirrels and stray dogs tended to appear more often.

The Front Royal-based SCBI is doing it again between June and November this year, but the approach, and likely the results, will be different. As before, volunteer teams will be trained to set and service camera traps, and they will upload photos to SCBI for processing. (In one memorable sequence captured during the Transect, a black bear used a camera to scratch his rump). Within their assigned sectors, teams will lock cameras onto trees near the AT, collect images, and move the cameras to different locations every two or three weeks.

This time, though, SCBI has both narrowed the territory under study and changed the tools volunteers will use. For the AT Transect, powerful scents were placed before the cameras. They were further equipped with a flash to capture anything moving and warm enough to trigger the camera's detector, day or night. The new project will use neither bait nor flash. Instead of reaching out to PATC and other organizations, SCBI advertised for volunteers only among existing volunteers at the National Zoo.

Through a family connection, at least two PATC members learned of the project and qualified at the eleventh hour. Along with other volunteers, they were scheduled for training in May. They will make initial camera placements in June and continue work into November.

SCBI's project coordinator noted that while recruitment for this year has closed, SCBI plans to run it again next year. As with all federally funded projects, plans are subject to last-minute review.

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President's Logbook

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:43 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

PATC is famously anachronistic and proud of it. Gol darn it, we do things the old-fashioned way with muscles, sweat, sharpened steel, and pencil lead. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and apps could never replace anything we do, or so you thought.

Guess what? We’re already using AI to take meeting minutes and notes. It works. The first AI draft is pretty close and the clean-up is easy. It’s a time saver, accurate as the set of a freshly sharpened crosscut saw. Who woulda thunk it.

Does the AI camel have its nose in our tent? Yes and no. Like my chainsaw deciding if it wants to start on a frosty morning, we’re thinking about it. AI apps can help us manage records, maintenance schedules, and other simple repetitive tasks. It’s here, for real, and knocking on our door.

Speaking of advancement, PATC’s strategic planning group, led by Lee Congdon , VP of Operations, which consists of Nicole Bridgeland , Molly Bolan , and Evan Hoffmann , has been developing a strategic plan in concert with various members of ExCom and Council. ExCom is discussing their draft in preparation for presentation to Council for consideration and ultimately approval.

This isn’t your standard five-year plan. It takes a hard look around the corner at potential adaptations that may be needed for PATC to adjust to whatever comes next.

It’s trite to invoke the Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. Well, we are, like it or not. The current federal administration has proposed profound changes that would deeply affect the Appalachian Trail (AT), the parks and forests, and the governmental agencies we serve. If we’re going to be required to turn summersaults in response, it might be prudent to be sure we are adaptable and prepared.

For decades, we were able to operate the club out of a metaphorical cigar box. The big stuff generally got done; some of the small stuff didn’t, and it didn’t matter that much. Now, we’d be thinking out of an empty hat not to imagine operating in a new landscape.

More broadly, the current strategic plan draft looks at mission, membership, funding, governance, organizational structure, public engagement, lands, staffing, the store, business processes, branding, publications, maps, trails, and partnerships. In some of these areas, adaptation is well underway. In others, not so much.

We’re looking at a council vote in the third quarter of this year. Between now and then, we can examine, debate and amend what we hope is a living document.

In addition to adaptive change, we have opportunities to consider. There is demand for a broad range of recreational activities including hikes and camping outings, especially for families and children. REI has exited that business. Others, namely the DC Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) chapter and the Sierra Club, market activities mostly aimed at targeted demographics.

One question is whether PATC should enter that space. It’s not simple. What would be the menu of activities on offer? Where would we find and train the leaders? Would we hire outdoor leaders to ensure quality? Who takes care of the logistics? AMC has and REI had Sprinter vans to transport their participants. What’s the cost of insurance? There is even more to it than that.

In the context of these interesting times, the fact is that only about a thousand PATC club members are highly involved, nearly all of them as trail and cabin volunteers. Those who vote in our elections are a much smaller subset. In the past it’s been difficult to gauge what the membership wants and cares about. We are currently prioritizing how to best serve our members. On that note, I'd love to hear from you. Contact me at: president@patc.net .

In other news, please donate to our annual spring fundraising campaign if you can. Just as I write this, several unexpected items have popped up. That’s how the cookie crumbles.

We have a lot going on for National Trails Day on June 7th.

On that day, we will have trail maintenance demos and ridgerunners at Dickey Ridge and Big Meadows and will also be hosting hikes, all in Shenandoah National Park. Additionally, PATC will be at the Virginia Black Bear Festival in Stanardsville. I will be speaking at the Loudon AT Festival in Hillsboro.

We are looking for a new Accounting and Administrative Coordinator. Jenny Keehan is returning to retirement after stepping up to fill a critical void we experienced a couple of years ago. My personal thanks to Jenny for her dedication, excellent work and good humor.

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Cadillac Crew: A beautiful Sunday at Prince William Forest Park

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:40 GMT

Cadillac Crew: A beautiful Sunday at Prince William Forest Park

Dan and Ellen Feer

We start watching the weather at least 10 days before Cadillac Crew trips begin. Our long history with Northern Virginia weather guides us to wait until the day before the trip starts before making final decisions, but we always give everyone a heads up if the weather looks questionable for the weekend. The Thursday before we were supposed to head for Prince William Forest Park to stay in Cabin Camp 3 (Camp Orenda) and work on the High Meadow Trail, we took a final look at the weather and decided we needed to make this a Sunday-only trip to avoid possible thunderstorms. A few people were planning to work Saturday only and had to cancel. Saturday afternoon, after the storms had passed, the crew began to arrive. We had a nice dinner with good friends and went to bed. Sunday would be a full day.

Breakfast was at 7:45. Kirsten Elowsky had the kitchen set up, the coffee was fresh, and the oven was hot. Sausage, eggs, bagels, fruit, and yogurt were prepared by Dan Feer , Kirsten, Don Oellerich , and Ellen Shaw . A bucket of high-energy candy was passed around by Tysha Robinson . We were ready for the safety and project briefing at 8:30. Spooky Beavers crew members Dennis Calhoun and Bruno Carlot joined us. By about 8:45, 13 of us carpooled over to the trailhead ( Nina Blagrove , also a Spooky Beaver, met us on the trail).

The projects from Mike Custodio (National Park Service Ranger and crew member) were replacing 14 old, ineffective waterbars with rolling grade dips. These water management devices take more practice and patience to build, but they are easier to maintain and are more hiker friendly. We divided into five teams and started working on the first five grade dips. As a team finished, it leapfrogged onto the next waterbar. One waterbar was so deteriorated that it was not noticed until several teams had walked right over it. Project manager Robert Fina was called on to give feedback on layout and final geometry, but the crew has gotten pretty good at this.

As the day wound down, the teams consolidated. In the end, all 14 of us, Nina, Dennis Calhoun, Bruno Carlot, Mike, Kirsten, Dan Feer, Ellen Feer , Robert Fina, Erica Glembocki , Chris Glembocki , Don Oellerich, Steve Phillips , Tysha Robinson, and Ellen Shaw were working on the same waterbar or moving tools back to the trailhead for cleaning.

Thanks so much to Dennis and the other Beavers, Mike and Prince William Forest Park for the project and the accommodations, and the members of the Cadillac Crew who are always so flexible and joyous when hauling bucket after bucket of the beautiful Virginia red clay. Let us know if you’re interested in joining. We would love to have you. Just send a note to ccrewpatc@gmail.com .

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April Hoodlums – Excellent Weather Spurs Record Turnout

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:38 GMT

April Hoodlums – Excellent Weather Spurs Record Turnout

By Tom Moran

Great weather led to the largest turnout in recent memory for the Hoodlums’ second outing of the season. Nearly 40 Hoodlums met at the site of the old Piney River CCC camp in the North District of SNP to meet their fellow maintainers, divide into crews, hear their assignments for the day, and get tools. Head Hoodlum Tom Troutman led the proceedings, including a round of introductions and the all-important safety briefing. The crews then headed off to tackle their assignments.

Mike Gergely led a crew from Piney Branch Ranger Station to deal with some needed work on his own trail section, Pole Bridge Link Trail. The crew, composed of Doug Gritzinger , Jay McCaffrey , Mark Wrobel , Marty Martin , and Robert Kilby , put in or replaced 10 check dams on the descent from Sugarloaf Trail to the Piney Branch intersection. A borrowed crosscut saw was handy for cutting made-to-size check dams from oak and locust logs. Despite a minor spill when crossing the top of Piney Branch, the team was in good spirits.

A truncated Shed Head crew - District Manager Wayne Limberg , Noel Freeman , and Richard Lee - stayed on at Piney River to continue work on the big shed started last year. At day's end, they had most of the staining done and the interior cleaned and better organized.

Head Hoodlum Tom Troutman led a crew up the Pass Mountain Fire Road to the Pass Mountain Shelter. The crew, Erin Taylor , Kevin Cwalina , and new Hoodlum Brian Blackman, cleared multiple blowdowns on the Pass Mountain trail, the AT to Pass Mountain Shelter Trail, and the AT. They used a combination of chainsaw (sawyer Tom Troutman) and pole saw. Each crew member got an opportunity to use the battery powered pole saw.

Dave Nebhut led a crew of veteran and first-time Hoodlums to rehabilitate trail structures on the AT north of Mount Marshall. The crew replaced 12 failing check dams and constructed three rock check dams. Dave’s crew included Cindy Ardecki , Chris and Michelle Viggiano , Greg Pearson , Jeff Prater , Michael Durland , and Kim Chau , Justin Corddry and Tom Moran co-led a team of eight on a crosscut expedition down Piney Branch Trail all the way to the park boundary, where they had staged vehicles for the return trip back up to the Piney River CCC camp where the day started. This hike totaled around seven miles and included multiple stream crossings. They fully cleared the upper section, cleared most of the middle section but, after 35 blowdowns, finally had to stop work and hike out as time ran out on the day. More downed trees were left for another day.

The crew members were experienced with the physical nature of the crosscut process and had previously demonstrated their ability to handle substantial effort. The rest of the team included Kent and Julie Bauer , Roger Friend , Bruno Carlot , Rich Lordahl , and Middle Piney Branch maintainer Nicole Bridgland .

Jim Fetig led an experienced crew to the section of the AT near the Elkwallow Wayside and picnic areas. They found clogged water bars, check dams, and blowdowns,which gave the crew plenty to work on. Jim brought his Stihl pole saw and showed how potent a tool it is for smaller trunks and limbs. Marie and Rosemary Seymour , Mike Kennedy , Terry Shaw , Tina Rafalovich , Molly Bolan , and section trail maintainer Elizabeth Moser rounded out the crew.

Continuing an old tradition, most Hoodlums convened after work to share a potluck Southwestern Tex/Mex meal. Instead of meeting at the Elkwallow Picnic area, however, these are now held back at the Piney River CCC camp as they now have sheds available to store tables, grills, etc.

Several Hoodlums spent Friday and Saturday night camping at Indian Run Hut where they enjoyed the summer-like warmth and spotted a few shooting stars through the clouds.

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What's that Flower?

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:35 GMT

What's that Flower?

By Richard Stromberg

Continued from last month.

The Riprap Hollow loop hike is described on pages 108-111 of PATC’s “Circuit Hikes in Shenandoah National Park.” The hike starts at mile marker 90 of Skyline Drive. The circuit uses Riprap Hollow, Wildcat Ridge, and the AT. The circuit puts on a fantastic floral show in late spring.

This month shows notable plants to be seen on the way up Wildcat Ridge and on the AT.

The first set of plants bloom in spring.

Wild Geranium ( Geranium maculatum ) rose-purple flowers are up to one and a half inch wide and stand above the leaves. The leaves, up to four inches long and six inches wide, are deeply and irregularly cleft and the segments are again cleft or toothed at the tips.

Wild Pink ( Silene carolinana ) is only a few inches tall, but its inch-wide, pink or white flowers are a pleasant surprise on the trail. The petals are well-separated and notched at the tip.

Two Violet species are found here: Arrow-leaved Violet ( Viola sagittata ) and Wood Violet ( Viola palmata ). They have typical Violet flowers: five petals with the lower petal larger or different-shaped than the side and upper pairs of petals. The plants are usually only a few inches tall and the flowers are about one inch long. Unlike the heart-shaped leaves of Common Blue Violet, Arrow-leaved Violet leaves are oblong. Wood Violet leaves have three or more lobes.

Dwarf Cinquefoil ( Potentilla canadensis ) half-inch, yellow flowers with five petals. Its leaves have five leaflets with teeth on the edges but not all the way to the stem of the leaflet.

The stem of young Indian Cucumber-root ( Medeola virginiana ) plants is topped by whorl of five to eleven four-to-five-inch egg-shaped leaves about a foot above the ground. When the plant has built up enough energy in its rootstock, it grows the stem another foot above the whorl of leaves and develops another whorl of two or three smaller leaves from which an umbel of three to ten flowers grows. The flowers hang downward beneath the top whorl of leaves. Each flower has six greenish-yellow tepals about a quarter inch long and curving back, but they are dominated by three threadlike styles that are longer than the tepals and hover above them. After pollination, berries form and their stems straighten up so they are positioned on top of the plant. In late summer the berries turn black and the center of the upper whorl of leaves turns red.

Partridge-berry ( Mitchella repens ) is an evergreen plant with opposite, oval leaves that are up to an inch long. It creeps along the ground. White flowers grow in pairs from leaf axils. Each flower is a tube up to a half-inch long with four, pointed lobes at the tip. The fruit is bright scarlet. It is oval rather than round because the two flowers have produced a joint fruit. You can see the remnants of the sepals of the two flowers at the end of the fruit.

Large Whorled Pogonia ( Isotria verticillata ) is an orchid. It has a whorl five leaves atop the foot tall stem. It has a single flower on a two-inch stem atop the leaf whorl. The lower petal or lip is white and crested in the middle, but is not very long. The other two petals are greenish and hover over the lip like a hood. The sepals are very long and thin. They are green blending into dark purple-brown at the pointed tips. One sepal points up, the other two point down.

Wild Yam ( Dioscorea villosa ) is a vine up to five meters long, twining around other plants. It has shiny, six-inch, heart-shaped leaves that have prominent veins that circle from the stem to rejoin at the pointed tip. The leaves grow in whorls around the stem. In early spring, first whorl of leaves is an eye-catching, shiny light green. The plants are dioecious (male and female flowers grow on separate plants). The tiny, six-tepal flowers grow on long, branching strands. The female flowers are on top of quarter-inch long ovaries. Fruits are in three sections and hang on the dead vines through the winter.

Bastard Toadflax ( Comandra umbellata ) is a small perennial, less than a foot tall. It has alternate, entire leaves. The inflorescence grows at the top of the plant, starting out as a cluster of white balls. Each ball opens into a quarter-inch flower with five, pointed, white petals. Five yellowish anthers show inside. As the plant ages, the flower clusters may branch and spread.

The following set of plants bloom in summer.

Longleaf Bluets ( Houstonia longifolia ) flowers are a tube with four pointed lobes curling out. They grow in a cluster atop the stem. They are pale blue to white. The leaves are up to 1.5 inches long and 1.5 to 6 millimeters wide.

Hairy Vetch ( Vicia villosa ) is covered with one-to-two-millimeter hairs. It is a climbing vine with tendrils at the end of branches. Racemes can have up to 40 violet and white flowers, all on one side of the stem. Each flower has the typical pea family shape: two petals at the bottom joined to form a keel, an upright banner petal at the top and two almost unnoticeable wing petals.

The following plants are found on the AT between the Wildcat Ridge and Riprap trailheads.

The Yellow Wild Indigo ( Baptisia tinctoria ) plant is a shrubby perennial up to three feet tall. It grabs your attention by sticking branches out into the trail with racemes of half-inch, bright yellow flowers. The flowers have the typical pea flower form with the banner, keel, and wings. The leaves consist of three leaflets and have no stems.

Whorled Coreopsis ( Coreopsis verticillata ) has yellow, daisy-type flower heads up to two and a half inches across. It has divided leaves made up of long, very narrow segments that seem to form a mesh below the flower.

A Pasture Rose ( Rosa carolina ) flower has five, large, round, pink petals, completely separated from each other. A narrow claw that attaches each petal to the center of the flower underneath the stamens and styles. Numerous stamens fill the center of the flower. Fruits are bright red balls that hang on through winter.

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Keep Calm and Read On

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:33 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: Lost and Found

By Wayne Limberg

When it comes to thrillers, a place can often be a character all itself, be it the Orient Express or Hill House. In Amity Gaige's "Heartwood," that place is the Appalachian Trail in Maine. Maine has always held a special place in AT history. Myron Avery hailed from Maine and spent as much time there as any other section of the AT. It took the longest to build. At one point, Avery even considered abandoning the effort and ending the AT at Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. It is a place where even experienced hikers get lost if they are foolish enough to leave the trail.

Gaige teaches creative writing at Yale and in 2018 won a Guggenheim Fellowship in Fiction. Her four previous books have been NYTimes and Washington Post Notable Books of year and finalists in the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award. "Heartwood" is a compelling page-turner loosely based on the disappearance of AT thru-hiker Geraldine Largay in northwest Maine in 2013. The Maine Warden Service launched a multi-week search, which grabbed headlines but failed to find Largay. Her remains ultimately surfaced in 2015. She apparently had survived for a month before dying of exposure.

On one level, "Heartwood" is a cautionary tale of how not to get lost and what to do if you do. As the back stories of the book's three main characters emerge, however, it becomes clear that Gaige is really telling the story of three mothers and daughters.

"Heartland" opens with a passage from thru-hiker Valerie Gillis' journal. It is a note to her mother recalling her childhood and their close bond. Perhaps too close. It quickly becomes clear that Valerie is lost. She had already logged over 900 miles on the AT as part of a flip-flop thru-hike that started in Virginia. In her journal, she claims that no one hikes the AT because they are happy. Valerie is seeking to escape four grueling years as a nurse during the covid pandemic. By the time she reaches Maine, she has come to realize that her marriage is not working and she tells her husband, who has been supporting her hike, that she wants out. When she fails to rendezvous with him at the end of the 100 Mile Wilderness, he reports her missing.

The Maine Warden Service immediately launches a search headed by Lt. Bev. Lt. Bev was the second woman to become a warden and has scores of successful missing-persons searches to her credit. False leads and bad weather frustrate her and her crews' efforts, and she begins to doubt they will find Valerie. She refuses to give up, however, even when she learns her mother is dying. Bev’s father had died when she was a teenager and her mother took to pills, leaving Bev in charge of two younger sisters. A tall and socially awkward girl, she often felt as an outsider. After college she applied to the warden service much to her mother's dismay. As a woman and a non-Mainer, she once again felt like an outsider but her brains, leadership abilities and hard work won her respect and promotions. Her mother's approaching end of life and Bev’s nearing retirement have opened old wounds. The last thing she needs is a failed search and rescue.

The search for Valerie becomes a media circus and soon catches the attention of Lena, a retired scientist living in a retirement community. Lena fears that the missing hiker might be her estranged daughter, Christine, whom she raised alone after her husband left. She always saw the girl as something of an experiment. At 18 Christine became pregnant and married a man whom Lena thought beneath her. The marriage lasted longer than Lena predicted but eventually her daughter was left to raise a son whom Lena has never seen. Lena soon learns that Christine is not the missing hiker but begins discussing the search with a man she has met online. The man's paranoia and belief in deep state conspiracies takes Lena down paths as dark as any Valerie is experiencing in the Maine woods.

Gaige’s deftly builds suspense, alternating between the three women. Key is her use of various voices, ranging from Valerie’s increasingly desperate first-person accounts of her physical and mental decline to at times humorous transcripts of interviews with her trail partner Santo. The descriptions of Lena’s retirement home are refreshing departures from the all-too-common waiting-to-die warehouses or sexual playgrounds for the elderly. Valerie’s naivete can at times be irritating but certainly explains her actions. Some further character development, especially in the case of Valerie’s husband would have been welcome. Most readers will probably anticipate how the search for Valerie ends, but that is not the end of the story as “Heartwood” is a tale of three women dealing with devils past and present.

Do you have a good read? If so, send it to wplimberg@aol.com. Meanwhile, keep reading. See you on the trails.

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I Write What I Know: Trail Songs

Thu, 29 May 2025 17:47:30 GMT

I Write What I Know: Trail Songs

By Marie Seymour

While I realize that outdoor adventurers and travelers have recorded and shared their experiences via song for centuries, I believe my perspective and work also deserves an audience. Lately, a few trail friends have also encouraged me to share, so here we are!

I grew up camping with my family, in a tent (once!), then in a series of travel trailers. As a young adult, I day hiked and dabbled in guitar playing, and wrote poetry and songs. In my 40’s I discovered geocaching, which led me to the amazing community of the AT. After being laid off in 2016, I started section hiking on the ‘15 year plan’ as I called it, and am still going strong, while once again working full time.

The challenge of section hiking far from home while employed is that often weather or other circumstances result in running out of time to complete the planned hike and travel.

In 2021, after a few days in Hot Springs sharing torrential rain and music with other hikers, my new buddy and I gave it one more try but soon got off trail. My account of my time in town, the people I met, and how the hike ended prompted a friend to say it all sounded like a country song. This started my autobiographical trail lyric career, with Lightning, Bears and Pee, to the tune of Me and Bobby McGee by Kris Kristofferson. Most of my lyrics are to tunes written by others, as song parodies are. Lyrics I have written include Snakes and Rocks and Game Lands Rules, Paint It Green, The Hiker, SOBO Smokies, AT Shelter, and On Top of Bald Mountain.

I would like to share the full lyrics of what I consider my two greatest hits; the first, about hiking North Carolina/Tennesee to the tune of 16 Tons by Tennessee Ernie Ford, the second an original waltz inspired by recently working ‘my’ trail in SNP.

16 Miles

Some people say a hiker’s made outta meat

Ramen spam jerky tortillas of wheat

Tortillas of wheat

All you can eat

A wallet that's weak

And a body that's strong

You hike 16 miles

Whatta you get

Another day older and

deeper in debt

Mount Katahdin don't you call me cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the REI store

I started hiking one morning when the sun didn't shine

I picked up my pack and I walked the state line

I did 16 miles of PUDs

My buddy said Man, my poor aching knees!

You hike 16 miles

Whatta you get

Another day older and deeper in debt

Mount Khatadin don't you call me cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the REI store

I started hiking one morning in the drizzling rain

Trench foot and blisters are my middle name

I was raised on a mountain

Born in a cave

Total exhaustion is the feeling I crave

You hike 16 miles

Whatta you get

Another day older

And deeper in debt

Mount Khatadin don't you call me cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the REI store

Now you see me shopping you best step aside

A lotta men didn't and a lotta men died

One cart of oatmeal

Another of socks

All of it's going

In my resupply box

You hike 16 miles

Whatta you get

Another day older

And deeper in debt

Mount Khatadin don't you call me cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the REI store

Up On Pass Mountain

My name is Marie and from yonder I hail

I'm not very young but I'm not very frail

I went up Pass Mountain to clear me a trail

But the trees were the coffin

And the ivy the nail

Pass Mountain Pass Mountain

I can't hug your trees

Cause the rash that they gave me

Brought me to my knees

I went up Pass Mountain with a smile and a saw

But my cheerful demeanor

Was my fatal flaw

When I saw all the blowdowns

I threw down my pack

Now I'm up on Pass Mountain

And I'm not coming back

Pass Mountain Pass Mountain you brought me to tears

I cannot maintain you

There aren't enough years

If you go up Pass Mountain

You might see my gear

And if you hear me cussing

You'll know that I'm near

Now I cleared all those blowdowns

I don't mean to boast

But now up on Pass Mountain

I'm merely a ghost

Pass Mountain Pass Mountain

Please bury me there

Cause I'm done with Pass Mountain

And I don't have a care

Yes I'm done with Pass Mountain

And I don't

Have

A care

Thanks for listening!

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"What on Earth?"

Wed, 28 May 2025 17:59:17 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Article by Ray Barbehenn. Photos by Photos by David Cox

Mushrooms are often likened to the fruit of fungi and called "fruiting bodies." They are reproductive structures whose purpose is to release billions of spores into the air. Aside from this function, it is difficult to generalize about them. Some last for only a few days; some last for years. Some are edible; some are poisonous. Some have gills; some have pores; some even have "teeth"! The first photo above shows a side view of a species that is covered with little tooth-like structures: the Lion's Mane mushroom. It was found by David Cox growing at the base of a dead branch on a live Beech tree in SNP on August 25, 2024. These fist-sized mushrooms are delicacies, and can occasionally be found in grocery stores. In the wild, they are seldom found, and are prized by mushroom hunters. This one has attracted a party of 2-mm-long beetles. They, in addition to fly maggots, are a major reason why most kinds of mushrooms do not usually last long in the woods.

The second photo is a top view of a Ganoderma shelf mushroom (probably Ganoderma sessile ). They grow directly out of the sides of trees without being attached by stalks. This specimen was about 8-9 inches wide, and was found growing on a live Sycamore tree by David Cox in SNP on August 25, 2024. Their top surfaces develop a shiny, varnished look, while their white undersurfaces are covered by a layer of tiny pores. They grow in concentric rings, all in the same season. You won't find this species in the grocery store, but you might see one on a hike. Unlike the great majority of mushrooms, they can grow and release spores for several months.

How does the Ganoderma shelf mushroom last so long?

A. It is poisonous.

B. It is tough or woody.

C. Both.

The answer is at the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

Fungi may seem more like plants than animals, but really, they are somewhere between these other two kingdoms. Fungi are best known as decomposers of plants and animals. No sunlight is needed for them to grow, but sunlight powers the growth of most of the food that they devour. In that way, they are more like us animals!

If you want to understand how shelf mushrooms last for so long, then you need to know about the different types of hyphae ("high-fee") that form them! What are hyphae? These are their long, fluid-filled cells – microscopic rootlets. The hyphae of fungi that decompose things release digestive enzymes onto their food and then absorb the nutrients. In time, they grow into a large web-like structure, typically hidden from view inside a tree or in the leaf litter.

Different species of mushrooms are made with either one, two, or three types of hyphae, which appear to correspond to short-, intermediate-, or long-lasting mushrooms. Most gilled mushrooms, such as our store-bought button mushrooms, are composed of only one type of hypha. These short-lived mushrooms are brittle and easily broken. Mushrooms that are composed of two of the three types of hyphae often feel rubbery when flexed. These species, such as the Lion's Mane, can remain active for a period of weeks. Shelf mushrooms, such as Ganoderma, become tough or woody because of an additional, third type of hypha – the "binding" hypha. As this name suggests, this third type of hypha binds together the other two types of hyphae. With binding hyphae, a mushroom can become a long-lasting, rigid structure.

Is there a benefit for some species of mushrooms to be woody – to be made with three kinds of hyphae? This is probably a strategy to maximize their spore output. Thus, if a tree-feeding fungus succeeds in getting into a living tree, it might benefit the fungus to maintain its "fruiting bodies" for a long time. Indeed, some species of Ganoderma shelf mushrooms can continue to grow larger and shed billions of spores for years! By comparison, the species of fungi made with one type of hypha often produce their mushrooms quickly in response to wet weather. They can be numerous across the forest floor, but are often gone in a week.

The reproductive strategies of plants and animals show this same kind of pattern – species that live a long time and produce few offspring, in contrast to species that have short lives and produce large numbers of offspring. The plant kingdom has its trees and its weeds, the animal kingdom its whales and its insects. Both are good strategies in their own ways.

For those readers who want to know one more interesting fact about hyphae, it is their production of chitin ("KIE-tin"). Besides fungi, there are few types of organisms on Earth that can produce this tough, plastic-like substance. Insects, crabs, and other invertebrates use chitin to rigidify their shells. However, the great majority of other animals are unable to make chitin. And, no plant makes chitin. Chitin fibers act like strands of fiberglass, helping fungi strengthen their cell walls.

In the photo of the Ganoderma mushroom above, you can see a white outer ring where the mushroom was growing and still soft. Presumably, this ring is toughened after it is fully expanded by the binding hyphae. This sequence of mature rings and a growing ring also seems like a good way to keep the mushroom from sagging under its own weight on a tree trunk. The function of the waxy "varnish" on top of the mature rings is not known. These mushrooms are not poisonous, but neither are they considered edible. They are eaten by some people who use them as an herbal medicine.

Lion's Mane mushrooms can be found growing on either living or dead hardwood trees. They prefer older trees and non-living parts, such as the heartwood. Once they get inside a tree through a wound or a dead branch, Lion's Mane hyphae can eventually rot the heartwood, creating a hollow tree. The Ganoderma fungus can also grow on living or dead trees, but it is best known as a pathogen of living trees. It is especially adept at getting into wounds in the lower trunk and roots, where it kills portions of a tree. Fortunately for the trees, these mushrooms are relatively uncommon.

Should you try to help trees by breaking off shelf mushrooms that are on them? Don't bother. Remember that these are just the reproductive structures of the fungi, and masses of hyphae remain feeding inside the trees. In addition, even if Ganoderma mushrooms are on a tree, it is not a death knell for the tree; infected trees can last for many years as they slowly lose portions of themselves to the fungi.

Finally, about those tiny beetles having a party on the Lion's Mane – they are probably Shining Fungus Beetles. And, there is probably no other place where you will ever notice these little creatures. As is the case with many animals, they gather together to breed at a particularly attractive spot. This gathering is where the beetles all feed, where the males compete for the attention of females, and where the females lay their eggs. They have to hurry because once the fungus-feeding flies and other insects arrive, the party will soon run out of food.

Answer: B!

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu.

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Trail Maintenance Workshop SNP North District

Tue, 27 May 2025 18:04:48 GMT

Trail Maintenance Workshop

Saturday and Sunday, September 20 & 21, 2025

Shenandoah National Park - North District

*Registration is almost full!

If you are ready to register click here : Hoodlums 2025 Trail Maintenance Workshop

Participation in the Workshop is available only to PATC members age 18 and above, and registration in advance is required.

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Presidents Logbook

Thu, 01 May 2025 18:27:02 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

A recent column by Roger Rosenblatt in the New York Times offered 10 tips for being 85. Rosenblatt has long been a favorite writer. He used to appear regularly on PBS where his thoughtful essays warmed like a Jack Benny monologue. You usually smiled afterward.

Most of his advice applies to nearly anyone at any age. One tip was to “join a gang.” By that he meant find a group of friends. Where better than here?

The last Boomer turned 60 last year. So much for not trusting anyone over 30. If you’re from a younger generation, you’ll have to look that one up. It’s part of the Boomer secret code.

Most newly retired folks quickly learn that they have to find a focus that fills the void when daily career commitments stop. For me the absent roar of the METRO was deafening – no alarm clock, no routine, no deadlines, no required place to be. That was a fancy-wrapped gift in an empty box.

No one is suggesting anyone should continue the craziness that surrounds a busy career. After retirement, softer focus and a gentler rhythm to life is welcome. If this is you, consider PATC’s most common group activities such as joining one of our gangs - a trail crew, a hiking group or rounding up friends to test a new cabin. The Stoner Cabin is our newest. Check it out at https://www.patc.net/stoner-cabin .

In other news, the biennial recertification of committees and special interest sections is nearly complete. We’re proposing some consolidation and better compliance with nonprofit accounting principles.

The budget situation is improving. This is due, in part, to belt tightening, fundraising and more rigorous analysis. Thanks to our staff director, Evan Hoffmann ; treasurer, Allison Kirsch ; members of ExCom. Thanks to those who have so generously donated.

A bunch of us participated in ATC’s Flip Flop Festival in Harpers Ferry at the end of April. Dan Hippe and the ridgerunners offered pack shakedowns, and Jayne Mayne set up a booth. My talk was about hiker hygiene. Its purpose is to bridge the hiker’s fear of norovirus and their distaste of soap.

I was surprised to be one of many speakers recommending against campfires. Fires tend to offer culturally derived ambiance, but offer little practical advantage other than swirls of cheap embers that perforate expensive clothing.

The recent wildfires in New Jersey and Pennsylvania’s Michaux State Forest served to underscore this thought. Fortunately, none of our cabins or shelters were threatened or damaged. Please be careful when you build a fire in the backcountry and research fire danger levels in advance.

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The Cadillac Crew smooths the ride on the roller-coaster

Thu, 01 May 2025 18:02:03 GMT

The Cadillac Crew Smooths the Ride on the Rollercoaster

George Jones et al.

On the weekend of March 21, the Cadillac Crew gathered at Bear’s Den to continue work on the "Roller Coaster" section of the AT that leads to Raven Rocks. Saturday was a beautiful spring day, and the constant stream of hikers made it clear why this popular section needed to be improved: heavy traffic has taken its toll over the years, exposing rock and roots. The trail keeps shifting downhill off its original course because hikers invariably walk downhill in search of easier walking. This widens the trail and grows the area of disturbance around it.

Friday night, we arrived at Bear’s Den, where host Glen and his dogs welcomed the crew with fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.

Following a hearty potluck breakfast, Saturday began with a short drive to get us closer to the worksite. District managers Chris Bruton and Rob Lamar received permission from a friendly land owner to let us park and walk to the AT from their land. This really helped us by making it faster and easier to get tools to the trail.

Project manager Robert Fina arrived with his truck-o-tools and we gathered for a "safety circle" talk, where everyone contributed, and we grabbed tools and headed into the woods.

The worksite was about 0.9 miles north of Snickers Gap. Our project was removing rocks, moving the trail back uphill, and improving the tread. Everyone helped remove rocks, including a team that used a gas-powered drill and a grip hoist to move the largest ones. Another team found two rich sources of mineral soil under blowdowns to help fill the holes made by the first team. Two other teams repaired and widened the tread by sidehilling, scraping away the organic soil and properly contouring the trail.

Robert described the process for removing big rocks: “Getting a chain around a buried rock can be challenging. First, we use a gas-powered rock drill to make a hole in the rock on the opposite side from the grip hoist. Then a steel rod is inserted, and the grip hoist cable is attached to the rod. Gradually cranking the grip hoist pulls the rock free. Once slightly lifted, crew members crib it up with smaller rocks beneath. We can then loop a chain around the rock to pull it out the rest of the way and off the trail if we need to.”

As the work progressed, we observed visible improvements. Near the end of the project, it was rewarding to see hikers following the new, smoother path we had created. Dozens of hikers walked past during the project. Many asked questions and a few wanted to join.

First-timer Greg Wilson had this to say of the experience: “I didn't really know what to expect when I volunteered to help with trail maintenance. All I was told was to wear clothing that I didn't mind getting dirty. (This advice was given, for the record, by a crew member who worked in a nice Patagonia sweater.) I spent much of the day "mining" next to the base of a fallen tree as I quickly learned that buckets of non-organic dirt are a critical component in trail maintenance. I kept saying that "mining" is a fancy word for "digging a hole" but it did allow me to dream of mining for gold. Although no gold was discovered, the many nice comments from passing hikers did make the whole experience worthwhile. It is an amazing and dedicated crew and I look forward to joining future outings.”

Back at Bear’s Den, we cleaned up and transitioned to a "happy hour" and a fine potluck dinner. Songs were sung. Card games were played ("Up And Down The River" is a Cadillac Crew favorite). After a long day of hard work, aggressive relaxation ensued!

Sunday’s project was at Bears Den Rocks. We began moving the trail to a more sustainable area, trimmed back some brush to improve the view, and then cleaned out some rolling grade dips to keep them in shape to move water off the trail. We’ll be back before too long to improve the view more and finish the trail.

These improvements will help PATC in achieving its mission of "Connecting people to the outdoors" with trails that will last for years.

A fun time was had by all, after a little ibuprofen and a hot shower! Many thanks to all the crew members who dedicate so much time to this unusual passion! This time we had: Edlyn Becton, Becky Berman, Karen Brown, Dan Feer, Ellen Feer, Kirsten Elowsky , Robert Fina, Bill Greenan, Neil Hopper, George Jones, Rob Lamar, Molly McKinley, Veronica McMahon, Brian Napier, Lynn Olson, Ian Page (Patagonia sweater), Steven Phillips, Tysha Robinson, Ellen Shaw, Kate Walker , Greg Wilson, and Dan Wooley . We’d love for you to join us next month! Just drop a note to ccrewpatc@gmail.com to learn how you can participate.

A Limerick: So many, Never Enough

Mattocks and pulaskis, shovels and picks,

For tools we tend to not use sticks.

We carry the pile

In a line, single file

And inevitably we need more tools for the trail fix.

-Molly McKinley

*note: this article was written with the help of ChatGPT

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Huntley Cabin is a Hiker's Dream

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:50:35 GMT

Huntley Cabin is a Hiker's Dream

By Jess LaPolla

Does your perfect weekend consist of long days out on the trail, bagging summits and soaking in the views, followed by a night in a cozy cabin with all the modern amenities you need to be comfortable? Then consider Huntley Cabin for your next outdoorsy getaway.

A mountain oasis, this modern cabin is located in Luray, Va, just outside of Shenandoah National Park (SNP). With a large kitchen, two double beds and a double deck bunk, make it a friends weekend or bring the whole family. Enjoy your coffee on one of the two covered porches, listening to songbirds in the spring, or tuck in next to the fireplace if there’s still a chill in the air.

Being so close to SNP affords endless opportunities to get outside. Cruise down Skyline Drive, stopping at any of the swoon-worthy lookouts, or choose from a selection of great hikes in the area.

For a quick hike with great views, check out Stony Man via the Appalachian Trail . For something more challenging, hike up to Rose River Falls . This trail is especially beautiful in late spring and summer when the wild Rhododendrons are in full bloom and the spring rains make for a full-bodied cascade. For gorgeous sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, hike up to Mary’s Rock .

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even set off on one of these hikes or several other hikes directly from the cabin. Follow the Crusher Ridge trail about 2.4 miles up to the AT. Do your research in advance though, because this adds quite a bit of distance and difficulty to most of the hikes.

Looking for a map or guidebook for SNP? Check out PATC’s online store .

If you need a rest day, there are plenty of other fun things to do in Luray. Visit the Luray Caverns and experience the otherworldly cave system filled with towering rock formations and turquoise waters. Also worth checking out is Hawksbill Brewery . With several beers on a regular rotation, this brewery uses locally grown and sourced ingredients in their brews.

After a fun filled day of exploring, gather around the fire ring with friends and take in the star-studded views above. Huntley is set well back from the road, so it will truly feel like you are in the backcountry. Enjoy the peace and solitude before heading back to reality.

For more information on Huntley and to make a reservation, visit our website .

*The last mile to cabin parking along Morning Star Road can become heavily eroded and even impassable in the event of inclement weather. High clearance vehicles are recommended. No alternative access is available. See "Accessing Cabins" in Cabin FAQs for further information.

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SNP North District Hoodlums Cut Their Way Into 2025

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:47:00 GMT

SNP North District Hoodlums Cut Their Way Into 2025

Tom Moran, Tom Troutman, and Wayne Limberg

After a 1-week postponement due to government funding uncertainty, SNP’s North District Hoodlums finally made their much-anticipated spring debut Saturday March 22. We had a robust turnout of 28, including a number making their first Hoodlums outing. Brisk, windy conditions, to be expected for March, met the crews as they came together at 9 A.M. for introductions and a safety briefing.

The crew assignments reflected the most critical needs in the district – a heavy weighting towards clearing trails of winter blowdowns was indicated. Despite vigorous winter clearing activities, recent wind and rain had once again made certain trails in the district less than hospitable to trail users.

Beahms Gap South AT Crew – Newly minted crew chief Marie Seymour took a crew back to the AT on Pass Mountain to finish rehab work started at the end of last year. Head Hoodlum Tom Troutman and DM Wayne Limberg had worked with a crew of JMU students on that section earlier in March. Marie's crew was a mix of new recruits and old hands and included Jason Gresh, Roger Friend, Richard Lordahl, Rosemary Seymour, Wayne Limberg, and first timer Robert Martin . Using Coronas and clippers, they removed 10 blowdowns ranging from vine and branch tangles to 12-inch logs reported by GPS Rangers. The crew also put in six new waterbars and rolling dips and repaired an existing dozen.

Thornton River Crews – The scouting reports were on the mark – the Thornton River Trail, which is about six miles in length from Skyline Drive to the park boundary near Sperryville, was a blowdown mess, not passable without making detours around the fallen trees. Nearly all of this trail is Wilderness, meaning power tools are not an option. In order to have a shot at clearing the trail, the crews needed to make most effective use of their time and resources. This meant pre-staging two vehicles at the very limited boundary parking area before the morning briefings.

Equipping two crews of five persons, each with a crosscut saw, smaller hand saws, wedges etc, meant either crew could leapfrog ahead while keeping the saws working. The six mile distance was not a problem, but the 28 blowdowns posed challenges throughout the day for the nearly all-veteran crews. First-timer Greg Pearson must have been wondering what he had gotten himself into. How many stream crossings?! The crews, led by Justin Corddry and Tom Moran , worked quickly (but safely!) to grind through the blockages and ultimately finished the task in time for the pot-luck back at the Piney River CCC camp. Other crew members were Greg Foster, Joe Phillips, Kent and Julie Bauer, Mark Wrobel, Ron Perlik, and Tony Hedlesky .

Beahms Gap North AT Crew – Jim Fetig ’s chainsaw crew also started at Beahms Gap, but hiked north clearing the distance to the Thornton River Trail intersection. They removed 11 blowdowns in all, though backed off from tackling a dangerous leaner out of safety concerns. Plugged in the center of the trail, a large trunk standing nearly straight up, this was one to give a wide berth. Ken Ferrebee, David Johnson, and newcomer Jay McCaffrey rounded out Jim’s crew. Perhaps to make up for the one they passed on, the crew drove to the lower Pass Mountain Trail head on Rt. 211 and cleared one more before calling it a day.

Indian Run Hut Crew – Each SNP District has a dedicated place where trail maintenance crews can sleep-over after or before a day of work. In the North District, this place is the Indian Run Hut. Having such a refuge comes at a cost however – the road passes through a dying, vine-choked forest, necessitating frequent blowdown removal and weeding to keep egress open. The hut itself, the clearing around it, and the privy also require steady effort to keep the encroaching vegetation at bay.

Dave Nebhut, Cindy Ardecki, and Noel Freeman worked their way down to the hut, clearing the access road as they went. Once there, they rebuilt a wooden deck that provides the essential role of covering up the old privy pit.

AT North Sections – Tom Troutman’s crew was a mix of very experienced trail maintainers and one new person. They cleared multiple blowdowns on two different sections of the AT, including one that could have been a lesson for a chainsaw class. It had spring poles and every type of bind you can get. The tree had lost its footing among boulders and crashed across the trail onto another large tree that caused the falling one to split and set two major branches on either side of the large standing tree. This caused side bind in two different directions. Once it was freed from the standing tree, the trunk was at a strong enough angle to cause a lot of end bind. The crew spent almost two hours clearing that blowdown and it took 13 carefully planned cuts. Other blowdowns were cleared without difficulty.

After work was complete the crews gathered again at the site of the old Piney River CCC camp where the potluck dinner theme was traditional Irish fare in recognition of the recent St. Patrick’s Day observation. Dropping temperatures and a stout breeze kept the celebrants from lingering too long!

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"What on Earth?"

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:36:13 GMT

"What on Earth?"

By Ray Barbehenn

Raccoons are among a handful of mammals that remain common, even as houses are built in their habitats. Raccoons are common, but they are not often seen. They venture through "our" land mainly at night, as do white-tailed deer, opossums, deer mice, black bears, and skunks. The success of raccoons is also due to the wide range of food that they eat – even including our garbage.

Suzy Oliver was lucky to see the raccoon in the above photo while it was still foraging at about 9:00 in the morning. It was wading in a marshy area in Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas on Sept. 2, 2023. It could have been hunting for any number of things, including frogs, aquatic insects, fish, and crayfish. More often, raccoons are spotted at night in our headlights or with a flashlight. Their eyes appear to be glowing brightly back at us. This same phenomenon can be seen in cats, deer, and other animals that are partly or entirely nocturnal.

Why do the eyes of Raccoons appear to glow at night when light shines on them?

A. They have a mirror-like backing in their eyes.

B. They are releasing excess heat as infra-red light.

C. They have enlarged eyes for night vision, which reflect a large amount of light from their surfaces.

D. All of the above.

The answer is at the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

Raccoons look a bit like little bears. And, they do have some strong anatomical resemblances to bears, especially in their skulls: similar skull shapes and a set of all-purpose teeth. Even the "Father of Taxonomy," Carl Linnaeus, categorized raccoons and bears together in the mid-1700s. However, taxonomists now place Raccoons and bears in separate family groups based on differences in their DNA. The only close relatives of Raccoons are in Central and South America, including Coatis, Kinkajous, and Ringtails.

Raccoons live from Central America through the entire U.S. and into southern Canada. They do well in a wide range of habitats – from mountains to marshes to urban landscapes. Therefore, what Raccoons eat varies greatly with their geographical area, habitat, and the season. If given a choice, they prefer sweet fruits, such as persimmons. In our area, the rapid spread of pawpaws is also aided by their sweet tooths. Of course, persimmons and pawpaws are only on a short, seasonal menu, and raccoons usually end up picking from a wide variety of other items. In addition to the aquatic species mentioned above, they seek out berries, insects, acorns, worms, bird eggs, snails, and even small vertebrates, such as mice, salamanders, and snakes.

Raccoons are famous for their amusing behavior of "washing" their food. Rather than cleaning their food, they are believed to be improving their abilities to feel and manipulate it with their paws. Since they do not have opposable thumbs for grasping food with one paw, they have to hold their food with pressure between both of their front feet. Perhaps wetting their feet makes their tough pads softer and more sensitive.

The eyes of raccoons, and many other animals that are partly or entirely nocturnal, are adapted to increase their sensitivity in the dark. Two key structures in their eyes that enhance their light-gathering efficiency are the retina and tapetum. The retina is near the top of my list of "Most Amazing Biological Structures." This is the thin (0.5 mm) layer of cells that sits like a tiny radar dish at the back of the eyes of vertebrate animals. What is most amazing about the retina is its layer of specialized cells ("rods" and "cones") that transform photons of light into electrical signals. This transformation is the key step for being able to see, since only electrical impulses can travel through nerves to the brain. The retinas of nocturnal animals contain a large fraction of the highly sensitive rod cells. While these cells are more sensitive to light than the cone cells, they do not allow for color vision, as the cone cells do. You will know when you are seeing mainly with your rods when it gets dark out and you are no longer able to see colors!

Good night vision depends not only on having an abundance of rods in the retina, but also a reflective tapetum. This is a thin layer just behind the retina that acts like a mirror. The tapetum reflects light that has passed through the retina back to the retina again, boosting the amount of light that is available for night vision!

How can the tapetum, a biological structure, act like a mirror? Different animals use different chemicals to make the tapetum reflective, including crystals of zinc and/or vitamin B2. There may be up to 20 sheets of cells in a tapetum, each enriched with these reflective crystals.

Why don't we have a tapetum? Wouldn't it be great to see well at night? As usual, the answer is, "It's a trade-off." The features that enhance night vision detract from daylight vision. For example, if we had more rods for night vision we would have less room for cones in our retinas, producing worse daytime acuity and worse color vision. It might also be uncomfortably bright in the daytime – like walking outside after an eye exam!

Of course, humans have created technologies that allow us to see at night: infra-red imaging and light intensification. These technologies are based on detecting heat (infra-red light) or amplifying low levels of light, respectively. Interestingly, these technologies were not inspired by the mechanisms in the eyes of nocturnal animals; animals cannot see infra-red light, and night-vision cameras do not have a structure like a tapetum behind the imaging screen.

Two diseases carried by raccoons should be of some concern to hikers (though nothing like the concerns about Lyme disease): Raccoon rabies and raccoon roundworm. Rabies is a virus that can be transmitted in the saliva of raccoons if they bite a person or another animal. Rabies has become common in raccoons, accounting for over 60% of animals that test positive for rabies in the eastern United States. This is a serious disease, and people who are bitten need prompt medical attention before symptoms develop. 60,000 people in the U.S. receive treatment each year after being bitten by an animal (often a raccoon). Because of this cautious approach, fewer than 10 people die from the disease each year.

Raccoon roundworm is a nematode that is present in Raccoon droppings and the surrounding soil. Significant contamination of the soil is likely around raccoon "latrines" (spots where Raccoons mark their territories). The ingestion of the tiny nematodes or their eggs can lead to life-altering symptoms and fatalities. Although this remains a rare disease, certain behaviors can greatly increase the likelihood of contracting it, such as the habit of some small children of putting soil in their mouths. And, if you are one of those unusual people who have accidentally eaten ripe persimmons off the ground near a raccoon latrine, it may not be such a rare disease for you! (Talking about myself here. I am also reconsidering eating pawpaws off the ground without a thorough washing.)

Answer: A!

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu. Thanks to Lisa Frehill, who sent amusing photos of Racoons searching a garbage can.

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Trail Maintenance Workshop SNP North District

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:21:23 GMT

Trail Maintenance Workshop

Saturday and Sunday, September 20 & 21, 2025

Shenandoah National Park - North District

The workshop is limited to 30 participants, which we typically reach by early-August. The registration deadline is Friday, September 5. When we reach capacity, we will maintain a waiting list. For more information contact David Nebhut via e-mail: david.nebhut@gmail.com or by phone: 571-465-1041.

If you are ready to register click here : Hoodlums 2025 Trail Maintenance Workshop

Participation in the Workshop is available only to PATC members age 18 and above, and registration in advance is required.

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Keep Calm and Read On: In the Beginning

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:17:25 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: In the Beginning

By Wayne Limberg

Many thanks to PATC member Barry Chafin for recommending Colin Fletcher's "The Complete Walker." Three more editions followed in 1974, 1984, and 2002. All were bestsellers. I had considered reviewing the book for some time but had hesitated, fearing that even the totally revamped 2002 edition would seem outdated. Barry's email led me to take another look. Like him, I was surprised by how well the book holds up. As Barry said in his email, “The value of the book is there for anyone to see. This is more than ‘a how-to’ book. It is literature." Amen.

Colin Fletcher was born in Cardiff, Wales and educated in England. He served in the Royal Marine Commandos during and after World War II. After the war he spent a decade farming in Kenya and prospecting in Canada, before moving to the U.S. in 1956. In 1958, he walked the entire eastern edge of California, 35 years before the completion of the PCT, a journey he recounted in his first book, "The Thousand-Mile Summer,” published in 1964. Four years later saw the release of the first edition of "The Complete Walker" and "The Man Who Walked Through Time," an account of his continuous hike through Grand Canyon National Park, a first. In the decade before his death in 2007, Fletcher focused on environmental issues. In all, he wrote 10 books, including “River: One Man's Journey Down the Colorado . ” As with most of his books it was a metaphor , comparing the journey of the river to the sea to life itself. Fletcher once described himself as someone "who valued solitude and silence and square, smoothed-off granite boulders."

"The Complete Walker" was Fletcher's most popular book and established his reputation as the "spiritual godfather" of modern wilderness backpacking and even has been credited as an impetus for the modern backpacking industry. When the book appeared in 1968, backpacking was relatively young and mostly done as part of a hunting or fishing trip or a Scout outing, not as a pursuit in itself. Much of the equipment was military surplus or homemade. Ed Shaffer used his old army rucksack and pith helmet on his first AT thru-hike. Grandma Gatewood hiked in Converse high-tops and a London Fog raincoat. REI had one store. Backpacker magazine and Patagonia were only a year old. Vibram-soled waffle stompers and Kelty external pack frames were cutting edge. I had hair.

The ”Complete Walker” was not the first book about hiking and backpacking. Few if any, however, were comprehensive how-to books on the scale of "The Complete Walker." In the book, Fletcher builds "a house on your back" to address what any backpacker required. Each chapter of the book dealt in detail with a room in that house. "Foundations," for example, looked at footwear, “Walls" at packs, whereas “Kitchens” covered stoves and cookware. Included were detailed pen and ink drawings of chosen gear. Unlike more recent reviews, cost was a consideration; simplest and cheapest often came out on top.

Each chapter ended with advice on how to best use the gear with examples from Fletcher’s own experiences. These passages often revealed his sense of humor and eccentricities. Although he gave a nod to ultra-lite gear in the final edition of "The Complete Walker," he was not inclined to sacrifice comfort for a few saved ounces. His personal choice in pants remained wide-wale corduroy shorts. Weather permitting, he preferred to sleep under the stars, and as he bedded down, he arranged his gear so he could have breakfast without getting out of his sleeping bag. He usually had his main meal midday—with tea, not coffee. Though he never directly addresses it, he probably had little patience for record setting. The book is titled "The Complete Walker," not "Racer." His favorite paces were "slow and slower."

Although each edition of "The Complete Walker" changed to keep up with technology, core ideas remained. This was no accident. Fletcher's choice of the title "The Complete Walker" was a nod to Izaak Walton's 17th century classic "The Compleat Angler." Both books deal with themes that have stood the test of time. Both read fresh despite changes in gear and culture—and Walton's somewhat archaic prose. Both have what can only be called a spiritual quality. Small wonder that "The Complete Walker" helped more than one Vietnam vet in the 1970s find peace and can rightfully claim a place next to the works of Thoreau, Muir, and Leopold.

At the end of "The Complete Walker" are several useful, if somewhat dated appendices. One is a basic checklist of equipment, another provides more focused lists on what to bring on different types of hike—a one day in-and-out, a quick overnighter, and a five-or-more day. Yet another is basically a reading list in the form of a bibliography. The last—and best—is a collection of quotes on walking ranging from Emerson to Frank Herbert. At first glance it is simply a compilation of quotes, but a closer read reveals it is a sly and often humorous debate. To that end, it is probably best to end as “The Complete Walker" does:

"And so you find that you can take up once more the struggle we all have to make in our own several and quirky ways if we are to succeed in living lives that are truly human—the struggle to discern some glimmering of sense in the extraordinary phenomenon that is man. And that, I guess, is quite a lot to get out of such a simple thing as walking.”

Have a good read? Send it along to wplimberg@aol.com . See you on the trail.

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"What's that Flower?"

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:14:01 GMT

"What's that Flower?"

By Richard Stromberg

The Riprap Hollow hike is described on pages 108-111 of PATC’s “Circuit Hikes in Shenandoah National Park.” The hike starts at mile marker 90 of Skyline Drive. The circuit uses Riprap Hollow, Wildcat Ridge, and the AT. The circuit puts on a fantastic floral show in late spring.

This month shows notable plants to look for on the way down Riprap Hollow Trail.

Wood Betony /Lousewort ( Pedicularis canadensis ). The leaves look like ferns. It has a short, dense spike of yellow or dark reddish flowers growing in a ring. The upper lip of each flower arches over the 3-lobed lower lip. They bloom in late spring.

Wild Sarsaparilla ( Aralia nudicaulus ) leaves are divided into three parts and each part has three or five, oval leaflets with toothed edges. Under the leaves, a ball of flowers arises from the ground with no leaves on the flower stem. They bloom in late spring.

Several species of Serviceberry ( Amalanchier ) trees bloom early in spring with many stamens in the middle and five petals. The petals are white and longer and narrower than other spring flowering Rose family fruit trees, and are often irregularly arranged. Serviceberry fruits ripen in June. They range from red to dark purple when ripe. They are about the size of blueberries.

Dwarf Iris (Iris verna) is less than six inches tall with three blue-violet, erect petals above three spreading sepals of the same color with a yellow band at the base. They bloom in early spring. The sword-like leaves persist long after the flower has disappeared.

Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ) grows around the rocks of Calvary and Chimney Rocks. It is a small shrub, rarely over six feet, with flat or convex clusters of half-inch, white flowers with five petals. They bloom in late spring. Black fruits ripen in fall.

Starflower ( Trientalis borealis-- northern) also grows around the Calvary Rocks. One or more flowers grow on one-to-two-inch stems above a whorl of five-to-ten leaves. The one-inch flowers are white and star-shaped with five to nine (usually seven) petals. They bloom in late spring.

Two orchids show up beyond the Rocks. The Pink Lady’s Slipper ( Cypripedium acaule ) flower is dominated by its pink pouch. The two sides of the pouch fold into each other. The side petals/sepals droop around the pouch. They bloom in late spring. It has only basal leaves. They are wide and shiny green. Downy Rattlesnake Plantain ( Goodyera pubescens ) is most noticeable for its evergreen, dark green leaves with a network of white veins. They bloom in July and August. The raceme is about a foot tall. The flowers look like little (¼”), white balls, densely packed on the stalk and never open very much. Last year’s stalk and seed pods may remain for many months.

Two Bellworts species bloom in late spring. One-inch flowers dangle individually from the stem like a bell. Each flower has six yellow petals. The 3-inch leaves alternate up the stem. Perfoliate Bellwort ( Uvularia perfoliata ) leaves are perfoliate, which means the leaf margins surround the stem so the stem appears to pass through the leaf. Mountain Bellwort ( Uvularia puberula ) leaves have no stalk, attaching directly to the plant stem.

Yellow Stargrass (Hypoxis hirsuta) has bright yellow flowers with six tepals in late spring. The flowers may be almost an inch across and are in clusters of one to nine atop a thin, leafless stem close to the ground, never more than a foot tall. The plant’s narrow leaves are taller than the flower stem and come from the ground.

The Turkeybeard (Xerophyllum asphodeloides) flower raceme at the top of the plant has many, white flowers with six tepals. The flowers open from the bottom to the top. It can grow five feet tall. It has many thin leaves at the base of the plant and narrow leaves on the flower stem. Without flowers, the plant looks like a clump of grass.

Heartleaf Golden-alexanders ( Zizia aptera ) have a flat-topped inflorescence with the flower stems arising from a common point like the struts of an umbrella. The tiny flowers are yellow and open in late spring. The leaves at the base of the plant are not divided and are heart-shaped. Stem leaves have three or five leaflets. Upper stem leaves are sessile, i.e., attached directly to the main plant stem with no stalk. The leaves/leaflets have fine teeth.

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Membership Dues Increase

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:11:13 GMT

Membership Dues Increase

By Jim Fetig

At its scheduled meeting on Tuesday February 11, PATC’s Council voted to increase club annual membership dues and streamline membership categories. The work supporting this project began three years ago as part of leadership discussions on addressing the inflation-driven club budget deficits.

The approved dues increase is $10 per year in each annual dues category across the board. It is effective starting May 1st and will apply as annual memberships are renewed. Council is sensitive to the ongoing economic struggle for many folks, specifically for those who are now facing uncertainty in their jobs and careers. We know that every dollar you spend is important, and we want to thank you for choosing to support our organization and mission.

Jayne Mayne, then supervisor of membership, and those helping her, put a great deal of thought and analysis into their work. This is the first dues increase in nine years (2016). The senior category, created in 2008, has never been raised.

The budget deficit is being addressed on four fronts. The annual budget development process will be more rigorous and frugal, rental fees for popular cabins have gone up, our efforts to fundraise will be more sophisticated, and a reasonable membership dues increase is also part of the effort.

These four areas address the cost of providing opportunities to volunteer which are suffering the effects of inflation. Insurance, tools, repairs, materials, and staff support are more expensive than they were prior to the COVID pandemic.

As then supervisor of membership, Jayne Mayne also led the effort to streamline membership categories. Youth, Group and two Business categories have been eliminated. The eliminated categories had low participation rates in comparison to the administrative effort required to maintain them. Youth had ten members, Group 17 and Business one. The members of the eliminated categories will be accommodated within those remaining.

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School is out at Trout Run

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:08:18 GMT

School is Out at Trout Run

By Jess LaPolla

Trout Run School is a two-room schoolhouse that was built in 1921 and operated as such until it closed in 1952. This historic building, now operating as a PATC cabin, might just be the location of your next getaway.

Located south of Wardensville, WV, the schoolhouse was acquired by Paul and Rita Marth in 1976. In 2021, the Marths made an incredibly generous deal and sold the schoolhouse to PATC.

This modern cabin has all the amenities you need for a fun and comfortable vacation, including electricity, a full kitchen, a cozy wood-burning stove, and lodging for up to eight people.

Located four miles from the Wolf Gap Recreation Area , this cabin is a gateway to outdoor activities in the Central Appalachian Mountains. Both Wolf Gap and George Washington National Forest provide ample opportunities to hike and explore.

Also worth checking out is Trout Pond Recreation Area . This area is home to two scenic lakes: Rock Cliff Lake and Trout Pond. Work on your tan on a sandy beach or fish for stocked trout while the kids splash in the cool lake waters. Trout Pond, home to native Brook trout, is the only natural lake in West Virginia. There are also a number of easy lakeside trails to enjoy.

If you want to further immerse yourself in nature and enjoy the beautiful riparian ecosystems in West Virginia, consider paddling down the Cacapon River Water Trail . Stretching about 65 miles, you will see tons of native flora and fauna, and landscapes varying from bucolic farmland to rocky outcroppings and lush forests.

Just looking for a quiet getaway? The cabin itself is the perfect hideaway. Curl up next to the fire and crush that stack of books on your TBR list or take in the calming sounds of nature around you.

Be sure to stop at the Bits-N-Pieces Farmers Market if visiting between March-October and stock up on fresh produce, eggs, and more. Check out Lost River Trading Post for a delicious coffee, snack, and maybe find a unique treasure to bring home with you.

Trout Run is a members-only cabin, so be sure to purchase or renew your membership here .

Click here for more information and to book.

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Hoodlums Winter Crosscut Work

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:08:16 GMT

Hoodlums Winter Crosscut Work

By Tom Moran

The SNP North District Hoodlums conduct monthly trail maintenance trips from March through November, but winter weather doesn’t lend itself to large group activities. Still, periods of warmer weather (think 40’s or higher) happen and there is a crew ready to seize these opportunities and get out in the park. A small group of Hoodlums – Justin Corddry, Dan Hippe and Tom Moran – couldn’t bear the idleness of winter and late in 2023 started heading out on good days to target more remote and problematic trail sections. This effort attracted like-minded individuals and now an active group of over 15 can be tapped on short notice, for often challenging outings. Dubbed the “Eager Beavers” by Wayne Limberg, the expanding crew is forging its own identity as a winter group of Hoodlums that keep the saws moving.

Fitness is a must. Winter work is all about clearing blowdowns from trails, often far from Skyline Drive. Because many of these more remote, rugged trails are in Wilderness areas of the park, powered tools are not used – the crews almost exclusively utilize crosscut saws as the big weapons of choice, complemented by the usual trail maintainers kit of loppers and smaller hand saws. Six-to-eight-mile hikes with steep elevation gains are the norm, not the exception. Unlike on regular Hoodlums outings, the Eager Beavers don’t engage in step-building, rolling grade dip construction, side-hilling or other trail repair – this is 100% about clearing trails for hikers.

A number of these trails feature multiple stream crossings – Jeremys Run, Piney Branch, Thornton River, even Little Devils Stairs can’t be accessed without stream crossings that often are too deep for hiking boots to ford. The crews employ knee boots and hiking poles for crossing, and are careful to avoid stepping on ice-covered boulders. A slip in the wrong place can wreck an outing.

Initially the Eager Beavers primarily used a 42” club saw as their primary tool. Dickey Ridge maintainer Joe Phillips joined the group and brought his own crosscut saw. Dave Nebhut has his own. Bruno Carlot tried the club saw, loved working with it and bought his own. Justin Corddry couldn’t be left out, he just received a new (old) one and is eager to give it a go. The growing popularity of the crosscut within the Eager Beavers is no fluke. They can be used anywhere in the park, while chainsaws can’t be used in any of the Wilderness areas. They require less safety kit (e.g. helmets, chaps, ear protection etc) and don’t require certification so any and all crew members participate fully in the cutting process. They are lighter, quieter, keep everyone engaged and are effective.

While Shenandoah doesn’t require crosscut certification for use in the park, safety is still critically important, and the crew doesn’t rush into cutting before conducting a full assessment of the area, potential safety hazards, and expected impact of gravity and bind on a given cut. While SNP doesn’t require certification, other public lands do, such as National Forest administered properties through which the AT passes in southwest Virginia and North Carolina. Hurricane Helene did significant damage to hiking trails in those areas and, while volunteers are needed to help re-open the trails, the lack of crosscut certification is an impediment. Five of the Eager Beavers – Justin Corddry, Joe Phillips, Bruno Carlot, Dan Hippe and Tom Moran have enrolled in crosscut certification classes administered by the Appalachian Trail Conference, with the goal not just to improve their skill levels but also to open up the opportunity to volunteer outside of SNP.

With improved weather late in February the pace of outings has increased sharply, as the Eager Beavers focus on remaining multiple-blowdown hot spots before the spring hiking season picks up and regular Hoodlums outings begin. With the expanded team and increased deployment of crosscut saw capability, the group is making strides in keeping its trails in good hiking condition.

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"What on Earth?"

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:08:14 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Article by Ray Barbehenn. Photos by Ray Barbehenn and David Cox.

The top predators in the insect world often go unnoticed. Those that are ambush predators are commonly camouflaged and sit still, waiting for an insect to come within their striking range. Many of these species have "raptorial" (grasping) front legs. These legs have become modified in very similar ways in unrelated species. The three largest front leg segments of the two species in the upper photos are held in a similar position: down from the body, then forward, and down again. These segments are named the coxa (C), the femur (F), and the tibia (Ti). The femur has been enlarged the most in both species. The tarsus (Ta) is a group of dainty leg segments that end with a tiny claw for gripping surfaces.

A couple of Chinese Praying Mantises (between 3-5 inches long) in the upper photo were found by Ray in a goldenrod field in Duke Hollow (northern Virginia near the AT) on September 10, 2023. The smaller brown male was clasped onto the green female, guarding her from other males. Notice not only the huge size of some of their front leg segments but also the rows of spines on their edges. The lower photo shows a rare Say's Mantidfly (about one inch long including the wings). It was found by David Cox on July 4, 2023 in SNP. It may look like a praying mantis but they are completely unrelated. The Mantidfly belongs to a group of insects that all have clear, net-like wings. However, like a praying mantis, it has two back pairs of skinny walking legs and a front pair of raptorial legs.

Why are the femurs of raptorial legs especially large?

A. Big femurs support big spines.

B. Big femurs contain big muscles to hold prey tightly.

C. Big femurs strengthen their legs for territorial fighting.

D. B and C.

The answer is at the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

All insects have six legs, each of which is composed of segments that are connected at joints. The six legs usually look similar to each other and are usually all used for walking. However, the front legs of insects that are ambush predators are often highly modified for hunting. These raptorial legs can have greatly elongated segments to give them a greater reach, and they may also have enlarged segments that provide room for big muscles. But, why are the particular muscles of the femur so large?

Some brief background is helpful to think about the construction of insect legs. Like the muscles that we use for movement, an insect's muscles are arranged in opposing pairs; when one muscle in a pair contracts, it pulls back on the next segment out. When the second muscle of the pair contracts (and the first relaxes), it extends this leg segment forward. Similarly, when our bicep muscle contracts, it pulls our forearm back, and when our triceps muscle contracts, it straightens out our arm.

In a raptorial insect leg, when the large muscles in the femur (F) contract, they pull shut the sickle-shaped tibia (Ti). Snap! The increased power from having big femur muscles holds the prey tightly, preventing its escape. The large muscles in the coxa (C) also help a raptorial insect to punch forward quickly: A praying mantis can grab its prey in about a tenth of a second! A good video of a praying mantis in action can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th15ia-Up_s. The strike has the same basic sequence across many raptorial species: (1) punching forward, (2) clamping down on the prey, and (3) pulling the captured prey back towards the predator's mouth.

The "business end" of the front legs of praying mantises and mantidflies is not actually at the end of their legs! Instead, the enlarged spine at the end of the tibia functions as a strong hook when they are striking an insect. (You can see a good view of the end of a praying mantis's front legs on the brown male in the upper photo.) The end-most leg segments (Ta) are still useful for walking, but they are flung aside when prey is captured.

Another major innovation in the raptorial legs of mantises and mantidflies is the length of the coxa – it is extremely stretched out! The coxa is normally a very short segment next to the body that gives the leg a wider range of motion for walking. Super-long coxas provide many raptorial insects with a greatly lengthened striking range.

Finally, to grip prey, the spines protrude from the edges of some of the leg segments of mantises and mantidflies. Spines are important because both the predator and prey have slippery, plastic-like body walls.

You are more familiar with the muscles in insect legs than you may realize. Do you enjoy eating crab legs? How about lobster claws? The large claw muscles in crustaceans have the same basic structure and function as the femur muscles in raptorial insect legs. The large piece of meat (muscle) in the claw pulls the claw shut. Another smaller muscle pulls the claw open while the larger (opposing) muscle relaxes. (I cannot tell you how praying mantis meat tastes, but would you be surprised if it tastes like chicken?)

The fact that raptorial legs arose independently so many times among unrelated insects provides one of the best examples of "convergent evolution." These specialized legs are found not only on praying mantises and mantidflies, but even on some predaceous beetles, flies, and "True Bugs"! This convergence most likely means that raptorial legs are the best way for these insects to ambush their prey. After all, better ambush predators get better nutrition. Better nutrition means better survival and reproduction. And, better survival and reproduction is the name of the game in the evolutionary history of every species on Earth! It is true that praying mantises can get into fights with each other over territory, but this is not what biologists believe drove the many modifications of their front legs.

Answer: B!

Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu. Challenge: I want a photo of an antlion larva, and raccoons that aren't in garbage cans.

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Cadillac Crew Fixes Up A Rough Stretch of the AT Near Bear’s Den

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:08:11 GMT

Cadillac Crew Fixes Up A Rough Stretch of the AT Near Bear’s Den

By Karen Brown, et. al.

About an hour outside of DC is a favorite section of the AT near Bluemont, Virginia. Hikers can start North from Rt. 7 at Snickers Gap and take a pleasant five mile out-and-back hike highlighted by wonderful views at Raven Rocks. Add to this, ATC’s beautiful Bears Den Hostel and the Bear Chase Brewery just a 15-minute Southbound walk from the trailhead and you can understand why this section of trail gets plenty of use.

That’s where the Cadillac Crew comes in!

District Managers Rob Lamar and Chris Brunton (Trail Boss) let our Crew Leaders Dan and Ellen Feer know their priorities: all along this section of the trail, the tread is beaten down exposing rocks which make hiking more and more difficult. Hikers walk off the trail to avoid the rocks shifting the trail downhill, and causing even more problems. The Crew has been giving this part of the trail lots of attention, and it’s definitely a work in progress.

After settling in at Bears Den, managed by Glen Breining, on Friday night we were ready to deal with those rocks and the widened trail the next morning. Saturday’s weather was comparatively balmy, moving toward the high 30s with sunshine, as Chris Glembocki led us to a section about a mile from Snickers Gap. To get at the rocks we used our pick mattocks and rockbars, but it was a battle to pry them from the still-frozen ground. If they wouldn’t budge, sledge hammers broke them apart (we only broke one sledge hammer this trip). The holes left by removing the rocks needed to be filled in and the organic duff needed to be scraped off the tread to make a lasting trail, so some of the crew made gravel to fill in the holes, and a fallen tree with its root ball exposed marked a likely spot to find the mineral earth we needed to make the surface smooth. Cat Randall filled many buckets and almost everyone took a turn carrying dirt. It was good to take a lunch break and enjoy Kirsten Elowsky’s hot chocolate. Slowly the rocks and roots were removed and the trail moved back to its original location. Bucket after bucket of long-lasting mineral earth filled the gaps and gouges we’d made. In areas where the rocks were too large, we built up the trail with rocks and gravel, and blanketed it with mineral earth.

Passing hikers have remarked at such a difficult way to spend the day. But working outdoors alongside old and new friends on a lovely day is fun! We always take plenty of breaks and go at our own pace. And after leafing in the sides of the new tread we feel real satisfaction with the transformation in just a few hours, and it’s a real treat to see the reactions of the hikers who went past us in the morning when they walk over the new trail in the afternoon. Some even volunteer to help on a future trip.

Back to the hospitality of Bears Den: a crackling fireplace, hot showers, guitar and vocals from Alice DeCarlo and Ian Page, Happy Hour treats, Steve Phillips’s free-for-all crossword puzzle, a dizzying number of potluck dinner offerings, and the usual uproarious card games. Some of us, like the furry residents Mata Hari and Chiang Kai-shek, curled up in our beds and snoozed to be ready to hit the trail again on Sunday for another few hours of work.

So thanks to Karen Brown, Maria de la Torre, Alice DeCarlo, Kirsten Elowsky, Dan Feer, Chris Glembocki, Bill Greenan, Neil Hopper, Jonathan Kauffman, James Martin, Don Oellerich, Ian Page, Cat Randall, Tysha Robinson, Steve Phillips, Steve Taylor, and Kate Walker for being the solution this weekend. We love to mentor new trail maintainers, we love to meet new people. If this sounds like something you're interested in, reach out to Dan and Ellen at ccrewpatc@gmail.com . We’ll send you an invitation for our next trip.

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Keep Calm and Read On: Deer in the Spotlight

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:08:05 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: Deer in the Spotlight

By Wayne Limberg

America has long had its quirky corners, places where eccentricity is regarded as a virtue if not an art. New England and the Deep South come to mind. The author of "The Hidden Life of Deer: Lessons from the Natural World," Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, is a case in point.

In a career spanning eight decades, Thomas produced over a dozen books on anthropology and animal behavior, including her NYTimes bestsellers "The Hidden Life of Dogs" and never fails to bring a special contrarianism to bear. "The Hidden Life of Deer" is no exception. At the outset, Thomas confesses that while studying the deer on her New Hampshire farm, she broke one of the state's fish and game department's cardinal rules: Don't feed wild animals. The winter of 2007 saw a scarcity of acorns, an important source of food for whitetail deer. Thomas decided to put out corn, arguing that by deer rules, she did the right thing. In her defense she notes that langur monkeys in India drop leaves for the chital deer below them.

New Hampshire fish and game is not Thomas’ only target. She also takes aim at editors whose misplaced political correctness leads them to replace "his" and "her" with "its" when talking of animals. Nor does she spare her colleagues in the scientific community, arguing that much of the conventional wisdom on deer is the result of academics reading each other's works rather than conducting their own research.

When it comes to other naturalists, Thomas credits Olaus Murie, a founder and director of the Wilderness Society, as a fundamental influence. Murie’s groundbreaking field work in Canada, Alaska and Wyoming lay the foundations of modern wildlife management. While with the U.S. Biological Survey, he was among the first to argue that a healthy predator presence was key to balancing predator and prey populations. Later, he successfully campaigned to enlarge Olympic National Park, and to create the Jackson Hole National Monument and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Murie, for Thomas, is the prime example of what a naturalist should be largely because of his belief in the value of observational-based science. He also respected what Thomas calls "the old way," an approach to the natural world that she first encountered in her early study of the Bushmen of the Kalahari and described in detail in her book, "The Old Way." Thomas argues that all creatures share the same evolutionary history and exist in a web of interdependence. The history of mankind that most of us know pales in comparison to the thousands of centuries human ancestors moved from the savannahs of Africa, adapting to changing environments and living much like their animal ancestors. The knowledge acquired and internalized--the Old Way--endures and continues to link humans to animals and the natural world.

Thomas decided to study deer because with over forty species, the deer family is one of the largest and most diverse on earth. Most humans live within a mile of two or deer, but most books on deer deal with them as hunting targets or nuisances. Thomas wanted to put aside any preconceived notions and watch and learn.

Her first challenge was identifying and keeping individual deer straight while not interfering with their routines. She found this was impossible and decided to track families of deer, not individuals. This led to some profound results, namely, whitetail deer are social animals and the doe-dominated family unit is key to their deer social structure and for that matter survival. Within these societies there are strict hierarchies and rules. In the case of the three deer families Thomas identified on her farm, one, the Deltas, were the clear aristocrats. They were physically better fit and dominated the other two families. They were the first to feed on Thomas' corn while the other families waited their turn. All looked to the ever-vigilant doe leading the Deltas for signs of danger and signals of when to seek cover, and she strictly enforced the social pecking order and rules, sometimes physically.

An older doe led each family supported by her daughters. Male offspring stayed with their mothers for about a year but were then banned to "bachelor" groups or, as they reached full maturity, lived alone. Their primary role was fathering fawns; they would compete for does during the rutting season in the fall and then depart. Parenting was left to the does who worked as a family unit to ensure the fawns' survival. Each family had a specific territory that it protected. Once again there was a clear hierarchy; the Deltas had the best spot.

While these rules and structures--the Old Way--are a result of evolution and adaption to changing environments, each generation had to learn them. Thomas notes, for example, that the deer on her farm were aware of hunters and thus wary of humans while the deer she encountered in the Blue Ridge, where hunting was not permitted, had no fear of humans. The deer on her farm also learned from other creatures, carefully watching the wild turkeys, who also fed on the corn, for signs of danger.

At the close of “The Hidden Life of Deer” in some of the book’s most elegant passages, Thomas is grateful for what the deer taught her. She also admits that the fish and game folks may have a point. Feeding deer may teach them the wrong lesson while simultaneously giving those who feed them a sense that they own these wild creatures. Human meddling has destroyed the “Old Way” and must make amends. She will continue to put out corn in the winter, not own but protect the deer and, like the langur monkeys, share the land.

Spring has arrived and the trails beckon. But there is still time for a good read. If you have one, send it along to wplimberg@aol.com .

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President's Log Book

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:07:59 GMT

President's Log Book

By Jim Fetig

Here’s the good news. Without doubt, spring has found us. Our planet’s orbit has come full circle. In spite of everything else, astrophysics doesn’t change.

For one, I was glad to get back out in the woods again. The brisk air and exercise were rejuvenating after weather and other commitments kept me mostly behind my desk this winter.

Trudging along my AT section recently, I noticed that the frosty ground sparkled in the sunlight in a way that reminded me of diamond encrusted crown jewels. The early spring flowers were jamming their heads through the diamond dust like they owned the joint.

“Hey! Wake up! We have arrived!” The early flowers don’t care if some toddler is about to dump an oatmeal bowl full of snow on their heads. “Bring it Momma Nature!”, they howl into the wind. What a gritty example to emulate in real life.

Speaking of real life, it has been a stormy winter in these parts. Beyond the governmental turmoil, the southern clubs report that trees in the hurricane Helene impact area continue to be knocked down by high winds. Now that the larger trees aren’t there to protect them, some of the smaller ones are biting the dust. In many places, root balls continue to crater the tread. It’s looking like a lot of type II fun for the thru-hikers.

The ATC Virginia Regional Office informs us that the best way to help with Helene clean up and tread rehab is to volunteer with the Konnarock Trail Crew. Food and necessary equipment is provided, along with campsites. Volunteer information can be found on the ATC website .

The picture for our federal partners is a bit clearer, but not much. What is obvious is that the American public supports our national parks, forests, and their rangers. PATC joined with our sister clubs and signed on to an ATC letter to Congress urging support for our public lands.

Per the club’s articles of incorporation and IRS rules, we, as a nonprofit, are limited in the nature of our response to what is happening. However, you and I, as individual citizens, can express our personal views, whatever they may be, to our elected representatives. It is our privilege.

If you are so inclined to express your views, you may find out how to reach members of the House of Representatives here and members of the Senate here . It is your choice to emulate the spring flowers, or not.

On another note of great news, please welcome Lindsey Scannell as our new General Counsel. The GC is the club’s volunteer in-house legal advisor. In that capacity, the legal advisor assists our leadership with legal affairs and is ex officio member of both ExCom and Council.

Lindsey is a Senior Counsel with the Commercial Law Development Program in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce. She earned her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. She regularly volunteers with PATC in Rock Creek Park.

These are stressful times for many of our members and partners. Getting outdoors and away from it all can be therapeutic. A good walk in the woods or pounding the ground with a pick can reduce your stress level. Maybe the diamond dust will be inspirational. Above all, take care of yourself and those close to you.

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PATC Spring Sale 50% Off

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:08:18 GMT

PATC Member 50% Off Sale!

Add an additional 30% off to your already 20% membership discount. (Must be logged in )

PATC Logo with Short Sleeve Kelly Green

Maps 1

PATC Logo with Short Sleeve Raspberry

Maps 2-3

PATC Logo with Short Sleeve Blue

Map 12

PATC Logo with Short Sleeve Gray

Map 13

PC118 Great Eastern Trail

Map G

PC320 Lewis Mountain Man

Map H

PC115 Hikes in Western MD

Map J

PC230 Lost Trails

PC340 Civil War Trails Guide

PATC Logo Long Sleeve Triblend Tee- Maroon (XXL only)

PATC Logo Long Sleeve Triblend Tee - Navy (XXL only)

PATC Logo Long Sleeve Triblend Tee - Green (XXL only)

Contact sales@patc.net with any questions.

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Choose one of the blanket colors below!

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Membership Dues Increase

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 23:02:43 GMT

Membership Dues Increase

By Jim Fetig

As then supervisor of membership, Jayne Mayne also led the effort to streamline membership categories. Youth, Group and two Business categories have been eliminated. The eliminated categories had low participation rates in comparison to the administrative effort required to maintain them. Youth had ten members, Group 17 and Business one. The members of the eliminated categories will be accommodated within those remaining.

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PATC to Install a New Access Control System at Headquarters this Spring!

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 19:03:00 GMT

PATC to Install a New Access Control System at Headquarters this Spring!

By Evan Hoffmann

We are pleased to announce that this Spring, PATC will be installing a brand-new, electronic access control system in our headquarters building, in an effort to significantly increase safety and security for the club’s property, volunteers, and staff.

PATC Headquarters have been located at 118 Park Street, SE in Vienna, Va for nearly 40 years. The building serves as the primary administrative offices for our staff; houses the PATC store, cabin reservations desk, library, and our primary maintainer’s tool cache; and contains large and small conference rooms, which are regularly used for various meetings and training/educational events throughout the year.

Given the wide-ranging activities and events of the club, overseen by a large and dedicated assortment of volunteers and paid employees, between 60 to 80 individuals have copies of keys to the exterior doors of the building at any given time. It will therefore likely come as no surprise to most to hear that keeping tabs on who has access to the building can be quite a challenge!

To address this challenge, PATC is working with Baldino’s Lock & Key, a family-owned and DMV-based locksmith company, who have been a long-trusted vendor for PATC’s various cabin lock needs. Later this spring, Baldino’s will be replacing the locks on all exterior HQ doors and installing electronic access control readers on the three primary entrances for the building.

With this new technology in place, authorized staff and volunteers will no longer have need to carry a physical key, but rather be able to use their smart phone to gain entrance; visitors will be able to contact authorized individuals inside the building to request they be granted access remotely; and staff/leadership will be able to monitor a digital record of all individuals who enter headquarters. All in all, this will be a huge step forward in how we care for and protect the club’s people and things!

The installation of the new system is scheduled to occur sometime in May or June. Over the coming weeks, members of the PATC staff will be reaching out to all individuals currently in possession of physical building keys to assess their current needs and provide instructions on how to download and use the smartphone application needed for access credentials in the future.

Any club members or partners who believe that they require access to the building are encouraged to contact PATC’s Staff Director, Evan Hoffmann , at staffdirector@patc.net to learn more or make an access request.

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March Help Wanted (Current Volunteer Opportunities)

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:52:52 GMT

Help Wanted:

Trail Positions

Corridor Monitors

Tom Lupp 301/663-6644, tlupp@verizon.net

Fox Gap ~ MD [PATC Map 5-6]

Duke Hollow ~ VA North Trail District [PATC map 8]

Ashby Gap North, VA South Trail District [PATC map 8]

Hightop Mtn., SNP South Trail District [PATC map 11]

Shelter Volunteer

Henry Horn ~ 301/498-8254, shelters@patc.net

Rocky Run Shelter [Original] ~ PATC Map 5-5

Spruce Pine Campground ~ PATC map L

Paul Gerhard Shelter ~ PATC map F `

Trail Maintainers Needed

Ashby/Rte.50 to SNP Boundary AT & Blue blazed ~ Map 8, 9

Jon Rindt ~ H 540/635-6351, jkrindt@comcast.net

Maston Gray ~ 703-408-8020, graymn9@gmail.com

Tom Floyd Wayside & Spring ~ AT to Tom Floyd Wayside, tent sites, & Ginger Spring (.45mi)

SNP North District Blue blazed ~ Map 9

Tom Moran, (703) 715-0050, twmoran19@gmail.com

Jeremys Run Trail (upper) ~ AT to 8th Ford of Jeremys Run (2.7mi)

Jeremys Run Trail (middle) ~Co~ 8th Ford of Jeremys Run to junction Knob Mt. & Neighbor Mt. Trail (2.7mi)

Piney Branch Trail (upper) ~Co~ AT to Power line (2.2mi) (bottom needs help)
Piney Branch Trail (middle) ~ Power line to Hull School Trail (2.2mi)

Fork Mountain Trail ~Co~Piney Ridge Trail to Hull School Trail (1.1 mi)

SNP South District Blue blazed ~ Map 11

James Surdukoski ~ 434-459-1122, buslsurdukowski@gmail.com

Brown Mountain - Brown Mountain Summit to Big Run Portal Trail (3.5 mi)

Gap Run Trail - Junction of Rocky Mount Summit Trail to bottom of Gap Run (1.50mi)

One Mile Run Trail - Two Mile Run Overlook to 7th stream crossing (1.80 mi)

Doyles River Trail - Doyles River Trail Parking to Jones Run Junction (2.20 mi)

SNP Central District Appalachian Trail ~ Map 10
Mike Hiller 202-253-6417, rphnrc@gmail.com

Scott Christensen (904) 771-6867, Scminnesota@aol.com

AT ~ Passamasquoddy Trail to Skyland Stables (1.7mi)

AT ~ Spitler Knoll Overlook to Fishers Gap (1.3mi)

AT ~ Bearfence Rock Scramble to Slaughter Horse Trail (1.1mi)

Pennsylvania Tuscarora ~ Maps J & K
Chris Firme ~ 717-794-2855, bncfirme@innernet.net

Dave Trone ~ 717-778-1308, traildavidt@gmail.com

Pete Brown 410-207-2921, trailpete@gmail.com

PA Tuscarora [J] ~ Fowler Hollow shelter to Hemlock Rd (2.2mi)

PA Tuscarora [J] ~ Mountain Rd. to Jct. PA 641 (6.2mi)

Tuscarora Central ~ Map L

Bill Greenan ~ wpgreenan@yahoo.com

Tuscarora Trail ~ Burnt Mill Bridge to Lutkins Passage (3.2mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Lutkins Passage to Meadow Branch (1.7mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Meadow Branch to Eagles Nest Parking (2.2mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Eagles Nest Mt. Parking Lot to Meadow Branch Trail (3mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Larrick Overlook to Lucas Woods Trail (2mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Sleepy Creek Registration to Hampshire Grade

Road (5.6mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Hampshire Grade Road to High Rock (2.7mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Co ~ Lucus Woods Trail to Powerline (3.5mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Co ~ Powerline to Dry Gap (3.5mi)

Devils Nose Connector Trail ~ Devils Nose Parking Area to Tuscarora Trail (.5mi)

Spruce Pine Hollow Shelter Trail ~ T-trail to T-trail (0.2mi)

Spruce Pine Hollow Trail ~ Tuscarora Trail to Spruce Pine Hollow Park Trailhead (.10mi)

Tuscarora South ~ Map F, G, 9

Tuscarora Trail ~ Ridgecrest to Fetzer Gap (3.1mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Massanutten Trail to Sidewinder Trail (2.6mi)

Massanutten North - Map G

Anstr Davidson ~ (703) 402-6711, anstrdavidson@gmail.com

Massanutten Trail ~ VA 678 to Ft. Valley Overlook (2.2mi)

Massanutten Trail ~ 7-Bar-None Trail to Bear Trap Trail (2.7mi)

Massanutten Trail ~ Bear Trap Trail to Rte. 675 (2.2mi)

Massanutten South ~ Map H

Paul Boisen, (540) 246-5662, paulboisen@hotmail.com

Masanutten South Trail ~ Pitt Spring to Morgan Run Trail (1.4 m FR 65) (3.3mi)

Massanutten South Trail ~ Morgan Run Trail to Fridley Gap Trail (2.3mi)

Roaring Run Trail ~ Catherine Furnace to TV Tower Road (3.8mi)

Pitt Spring Lookout Trail ~ Massanutten South Trail to lookout point (.27mi)

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Volunteer with PATC

G reat North Mountain ~ Map F

Mike Allen ~ 540-333-3994, michael.allen@mallenpe.com

North Mt. Trail ~ Stack Rock Trail to VA 720 (4.3mi)

Stack Rock Trail ~ Forest Rd 252 to North Mt. Trail (1.5mi)

Long Mountain Trail ~ Trout Pond Trail to FR 1621 (4.4mi)

Big Schloss Trail ~ 2.3 Mile Marker of Mill Mt. Trail to Big Schloss View (.3mi)

Mill Mt. Trail ~ Wolf Gap to Big Schloss Cutoff Trail (2.8mi)

Gerhard Shelter Trail ~ Tuscarora Trail to Vances Cove (1.5mi)

North River Map-National Geographic Trails Illustrated #791

Lynn & Malcolm Cameron, (540) 234-6273, slynncameron@gmail.com

Trimble Mountain Trail ~ Co ~ FR 95 to FR 95 (4 mi)

Bear Draft ~ FR 535 to Wild Oak Trail sec C (#716)(1.5mi)

MD C&O Canal Palisades ~ Map D

Jim LaTorre, (703) 819-0947, jimlatorre58@gmail.com

Billy Goat C Trail (Carderock) ~Towpath (S of mile marker 11) to Towpath (S of mile marker 10)(1.6mi)

Other Positions (contact staffdirector@patc.net if interested)

Event Planners - PATC will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2027 and we need to start planning the festivities now! We need motivated individuals to help us dream up and plan a year’s worth of public and private events, educational and outreach initiatives, and the greatest 100th birthday party of all time! Much of this work can be done remotely and in collaboration with other like-minded volunteers.

Financial Advisors - Current and retired investment professionals are needed to serve on PATC’s Endowment committees. Knowledgeable individuals who can help PATC build on our long tradition of sound and sustainable financial management and growth. Meetings are held in-person or virtually every one to three months.

Librarian/Library Aides - Did you know that PATC has its very own library at our headquarters in Vienna? We are looking for booklovers to help us re-organize and determine if and how we can make these resources more available and useful to our members.

Space Organizers/Interior Designers - Did you know that PATC’s headquarters has over 7,000sf of office space?! The headquarters building is currently used for staff offices, houses the PATC store and cabin reservations desk, the archive, and provides meeting space for various internal and partner organization meetings throughout the year. However, our home away from the trails is starting to show its age and (like so many office buildings) has been somewhat underutilized since the pandemic. We could use new eyes (and ideas) to help us figure out how to revitalize the space and make better use of this important resource.

Clerical/Admin Support- Do you want to support the work and mission of PATC, but prefer your volunteer work to include the comforts of central air and a cozy desk chair? The PATC staff are frequently in need of volunteers to assist with all kinds of administrative tasks and projects; such as sorting and updating files, helping with mail/packages in the store or cabin reservation desk, contacting new and lapsed members, and much more. Various opportunities can be completed either at headquarters, working alongside our dedicated staff, or even done from the comfort of your own home.

Fundraisers/Friendraisers - Many of our members don’t realize that as a 501c3 non-profit organization, between 20-25% of PATC’s annual budget is covered by contributions from our generous donors and through corporate and government grants. We are always looking for volunteers who have the experience or even just the drive to help us develop and maintain the strategies and relationships needed to support our fundraising efforts. (These funds are a large part of what allow PATC to continue serving our mission and keep our membership and program dues as low as possible.)

Ambassadors/Spokespeople - Are you an extrovert who just enjoys talking with new people? Our newly elected Supervisor of Outreach is excited to begin rebuilding PATC’s long tradition of Trailtalkers. Trailtalkers are PATC’s official ambassadors. These outgoing and charismatic folks attend public festivals, expos, and other events throughout our service area (both in the DC area and beyond) to help spread the word about our mission and share all of the amazing things that PATC has to offer to prospective members and the community at large.

Writers/Editors/Photographers/Videographers - With the recent transition of the Potomac Appalachian (PA) newsletter from a print to digital format, the sky is now the limit for the kind and amount of new and exciting content that we can share with our readers. Whether you would be interested in doing interviews with fascinating hikers and volunteers, creating feature articles or photo/video profiles on the best trails, landmarks, or cabins within the PATC territory, or have another exciting new idea or story that you want to share, we would love to have you join the team of passionate volunteers who help gather, write, and publish the content for our monthly PA.

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Marvelous Views at Mutton Top Cabin

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:29:01 GMT

Marvelous Views at Mutton Top Cabin

By Jess LaPolla

Spring is just around the corner and if you’re anything like me, you’ve already begun researching and booking your outdoor adventures for the season. If you’re craving some time away from the real world, one of PATC’s primitive cabins might be exactly where you need to travel to next. A place where you can let the sounds of the forest drown out the noisy chatter in your head. Where the fresh mountain air fills your lungs and loosens the tension you so often carry in your chest.

Mutton Top Cabin is the perfect escape for anyone wishing to relax for a weekend away from the city, or perhaps someone looking to freshen up on their camping or backpacking skills. This primitive members-only cabin sits next to Shenandoah National Park (SNP), just outside of Stanardsville, VA. The cabin sits at about 3,000 feet atop High top mountain (elevation 3500 ft) with a view to the south east of Virginia's Piedmont Region.

The cabin can be accessed by a .05-mile hike in from a shared parking area. The last .08 miles to the parking area can become heavily eroded, so a high clearance vehicle is recommended.

Mutton Top spaciously accommodates up to nine guests, with five bunks and a double-width, double deck bunk. Bring your friends, family, or fur babies and make the short trek in to the cabin. Primitive cabins do not have electricity, but Mutton Top is equipped with a wood-burning stove to keep you toasty on chilly nights. You will also find kitchen items like pots and pans in the cabin, though you will need to pack in (and pack out) all of your own food, water, fuel, toiletries, and bedding. You can find more information on what to pack here .

In addition to the cozy interior, the cabin boasts a large wraparound porch which offers spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. So pack in some coffee or tea and enjoy a steaming mug while gazing out over tree-blanketed hilltops, or gaze up at the night sky to ponder the cosmos. On a clear night, you can see the glow of Charlottesville.

If you’re keen to explore, embark on a hike from the cabin or venture into SNP. There are several scenic trails and overlooks nearby, including Hightop Summit and Swift Run Overlook .

After a weekend of hiking, roasting s’mores, and stargazing, make sure you pack out all of your trash and supplies. On the way back through Stanardsville, consider eating your bodyweight in authentic Salvadorian food at Pupuseria Los Robles or grabbing a coffee and a little sweet treat from Maybelle’s on Main

For more info on Mutton Top and to make a reservation, please click here.

Happy Trails!

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President's Logbook

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:28:59 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

This column has been a struggle. The elephants in the room cannot be ignored. I would be a coward to hide from the reality that threatens our national parks and forests. So, I’m diving into the shallow end, headfirst.

As the story unfolds, our agency partners and friends are being sliced and diced with the precision of a cheap chainsaw. Dedicated employees are tossed aside like used tissue. News reports indicate some of the seasonal employees may, after all, be hired. We will see what happens when the page turns. Meanwhile we plan for the worst-case scenario and hope for the best.

Without the people to care for them, the parks and lands we are dedicated to preserving and protecting are at risk. To appreciate the potential consequences, we only need remember how they were trashed during past government shutdowns. The heaps of trash, overflowing toilets, graffiti, and all the rest were not pretty.

The club has told our partners that our volunteers will take up as much slack as is appropriate and possible. For the parks, forests, and lands PATC serves, we are akin to a small army. We offer significant numbers of trained and equipped volunteers with the expertise and muscle power to help maintain the quality of the visitor experience and contribute to the protection of these entrusted resources.

However, only a small number of parks and forests enjoy significant volunteer forces. Most are located far from population centers and simply cannot generate the volunteer numbers needed to make a material difference. For example, Bozeman, Mt., the closest population center to Yellowstone National Park, has a population of less than 60 thousand. In contrast, the greater PATC footprint has a population of around 20 million.

As of this writing, our partners are still figuring things out. We’re also told there will be multiple rounds of cuts. When the dust settles, we will work with our partners to be as helpful as possible. Complaining, while cathartic, doesn’t maintain trails and all the rest.

Meanwhile, folks who want to get away from it all and make a difference can sign up to volunteer here . We accept everyone and are proud of all the communities represented within our membership ranks. You will be welcomed with open arms.

I’d like to close with a bittersweet moment. We recently dedicated the staff director’s office to the memory of Rob Aldrich. Rob was our staff director from 2020 to 2024. He sadly succumbed to brain cancer last spring. Rob was an extraordinary human being, a superlative colleague and a friend to all.

As one example of Rob’s ingenuity, he constructed a folding sawbuck we use for crosscut demos that travel to our events in the back of any normal vehicle. Naming the staff director’s office for him was a fitting way to memorialize Rob’s legacy and positive impact on our club. Rob’s wife Lisa Palmer and brother Ed were able to be with us. His contributions and memory will be carried on in the work that we do to protect our lands and trails, every day.

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What's that Flower: Riprap Hollow

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:28:58 GMT

What's that Flower: Riprap Hollow

By Richard Stromberg

The entire circuit is over Quartzite/Sandstone rocks, making the soil acidic and low in nutrients. So, the understory is dominated by Heath Family plants, notably Rhododendrons/Azaleas, Mountain Laurel, and Blueberries/Huckleberries. Look for them throughout your hike.

Two Azalea species grow all along these trails: Early/ Mountain Azalea ( Rhododendron prinophyllum ) and Wild Azalea /Pinxterflower ( R. periclemenoides ). The flowers of the two species are very similar: pink to white, flaring petals opening from a reddish tube, with long stamens protruding and curling upward. Botanists distinguish the two by the hair on the back of the leaves. Mountain Azalea is hairy all over, while Wild Azalea has hairs only on the main vein and along the edges. The main difference is odor. You can smell the perfume of Mountain Azalea before seeing it; while Wild Azalea has little odor.

Look for Catawba Rhododendron /Mountain Rosebay ( R. catawbiense ) at the bottom of the circuit around the junction of Wildcat Ridge and Riprap Hollow Trails. It has clusters of five-petaled, pink-to-purple, two-inch flowers on two-foot-tall bushes. The inside of the top petal is speckled with green spots.

Mountain Laurel ( Kalmia latifolia ) bushes are up to 10 feet tall with evergreen leaves thinner and smaller than Rhododendrons, no more than four inches long. The petals are fused and open like a saucer, usually white, but sometimes pink inside. From inside a red ring in the middle of the saucer, the pistil points straight out while 10 white stamens bend their anthers into red-spotted pockets inside the petals. When a pollinator lands in the Mountain Laurel flower, the anthers spring from their pockets to shower it with pollen. The pointed flower buds have ridges radiating from the tip back to each anther pocket.

Huckleberries are the genus Gaylussacia and Blueberries are Vaccinium . Huckleberry twigs are generally brown, while Blueberriy twigs are green. Huckleberry seeds have a hard covering, so when you eat a Huckleberry, you detect the seeds like little bits of grit. You do not notice the seeds in a Blueberry. Both genera are shrubs. The petals of most of the species are joined and contracted near the mouth where five points flare out. The flowers vary from red to pink to white. Deerberry ( Vaccinium stamineum ) is an exception. Its white flowers dangle like other species, but are wide open with protruding stamens. Deerberries fruits are larger than the non-cultivated Blueberries, stay green, and are not edible. Black Huckleberry ( Gaylussacia baccata ) is the only common Huckleberry in our area. Northern Lowbush Blueberry ( V. angustifolium ) and Early Lowbush Blueberry ( V. pallidum ) are the common Blueberry species.

Minniebush ( Menziesia Pilosa ) plants and flowers look like Blueberries. The dangling flowers are white with red/brown at the tips. The fruit are hard and brown. The tiny tip at the end of each leaf is white.

Maleberry ( Lyonia ligustrina ) bushes also look like Blueberry bushes. The white flowers are similar, too, though they are more globe-like. The fruit is hard and brown.

Teaberry /Wintergreen ( Gaultheria procumbens ) is never more than a few inches tall. A plant has a few pendulous, white flowers. Like Blueberries, the petals are joined and contracted near the mouth where five points flare out. A berry turns red in late fall.

To be continued next month

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Keep Calm and Read On: The Good Fisherman

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:28:55 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: The Good Fisherman

By Wayne Limberg

President Jimmy Carter reportedly once said that he was almost happy that he lost his bid for re-election in 1980 because it freed him to do other things. One of those things was writing "An Outdoor Journal," a very personal memoir of his life in the outdoors. Of his 35 books, Carter called it his "labor of love." When released in 1988, the New York Times called it "the stuff of heroes." It is still in print and available online.

As Jason Carter noted at his grandfather's funeral, no president since Teddy Roosevelt did more to protect the environment than Jimmy Carter. Even before becoming president, Carter played a major role as governor of Georgia in saving the Cumberland National Seashore and launching programs to restore Georgia's wildlife populations. As president he put further protections in place for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and upgraded Biscayne National Monument to national park status. These measures paled, however, next to his 1980 decision to designate 56 million acres of Alaskan wilderness as national monuments. Ultimately, he put over 80 million acres under federal protection, leading to the creation or expansion of 13 national parks, 15 wildlife refuges, two national forests, two national monuments, and 26 wild and scenic rivers.

Carter always found what Izaak Walton called "contentedness" in the outdoors. As a boy he hunted, fished, and tramped the woods around Plains. His father was an avid fisherman and quail hunter and often delivered Jimmy to school late with feathers still sticking to his clothes. Carter’s mother, the famous Miss Lillian, loved fishing and liked to remind her son he still had a lot to learn about the sport, especially when he was president.

Most of Carter’s boyhood companions were Black. Early on, he learned that the best hunters and fishermen were not necessarily the pillars of society or even men, but were good sources of advice. He also learned that while good advice helped, in the end you were responsible for your successes and failures. These lessons stuck.

As governor and president, he would slip away to fish or hunt. At Camp David he often ducked the press and went with Rosalynn to nearby Hunting Creek or flew to a favorite spot in Pennsylvania. While governor of Georgia he tried his hand at flyfishing and was hooked. He was soon compiling a library, testing gear, and tying flies.

"An Outdoor Journal" also reveals some of the personal traits that complicated Carter's years in the White House. The confidence that was founded in his outdoor experiences could at times border on arrogance. Whether in the wild or Washington, humility was all too often saved for his relations with the Almighty. He seldom if ever reached out to members of Congress, Democrat or Republican, who shared his love of the outdoors. Throughout, he remained the outsider, seeking others’ advice, but keeping his own counsel. At the end of a trek in Nepal, he pressed ahead to climb one more peak even though he lacked necessary gear and even though Rosalynn had already retreated rather than risk potentially fatal altitude sickness. Looking back, he called it one of his worst decisions.

"An Outdoor Journal" has its lighter moments. At a fishing camp in the Okefenokee Swamp a young Jimmy overheard a woman imploring the camp’s owner to guarantee her son would not fall out of a boat and drown. The owner assured her that her son’s drowning was unlikely as the gators would likely get him first. Some of the humor is at Carter’s expense. As the Alaska lands legislation wound its way through Congress and the Iran hostage crisis raged on, the Alaska Junior Chamber of Commerce, which opposed the deal, organized a booth at the state fair where people threw bottles at pictures of Ayatollah Khomeini and Carter. Carter reports that the pile of broken bottles under his picture was a "little larger."

The book is best when Carter deals with his youth in Plains and the wonders of the natural world. His passages on fish and game are detailed and on a par with Thoreau, while those on the thrill of landing a big trout or stalking a wild turkey border on the lyrical, rivalling those of Leopold. One reviewer compared his prose to Muir's, which is ironic as Carter in one passage calls Muir's writing "flowery." At times, however, he can get into the weeds, leaving the reader with the feeling that he must have a record of just what fly he used on every trout he ever caught.

Carter ends the book with a quote from the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes and the hope that if we teach our children to honor nature's gifts, the joys and beauties of the outdoors will last forever. A day after his funeral, The Washington Post ran a cartoon of Carter and Jesus walking side by side in heaven with the caption, "Welcome home from one carpenter to another." Maybe. But a more fitting cartoon may have been Carter talking to St. Peter, another fisherman, about which flies to use on a steelhead.

Do you have a good read? If so, send it along to wplimberg@aol.com. Meanwhile, keep reading and stay safe. See you on the trail.

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Celebrating our Volunteers

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:28:53 GMT

Celebrating Our Volunteers

By Jess LaPolla

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is at its core a volunteer service organization. We would not exist without the contributions of volunteers who are willing to get their hands dirty, put in long days on the trail, and who truly love the work.

Since 1927, PATC’s mission has been to protect the lands encompassing the Appalachian Trail and the surrounding Mid-Atlantic region. Through conservation and land management, education and outreach programs, and volunteer efforts, we strive to maintain the integrity of outdoor spaces for future generations to enjoy.

Every year we recognize our dedicated volunteers through our Volunteer Awards which are presented in the fall. In 2025 awards will be presented during VolunteerFest’s evening banquet, October 11th at Caroline Furnace Camp.

PATC members are eligible to nominate someone for several of our awards. We invite you to look at our various awards here .

You may see who has received these prestigious awards over the years here .

Email VPVolunteerism@patc.net with your questions.

If you’re interested in volunteering with PATC, we have tons of opportunities for you to get involved. Whether you’d like to be working on a trail section in your area or doing remote work from the comfort of your home, we have opportunities for a variety of positions that may match your skill set. Check out volunteer openings here .

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"What on Earth?"

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:28:47 GMT

"What on Earth?"

By Ray Barbehenn

Photos by Ray Barbehenn, David Cox, and Suzy Oliver.”

Not all birds make their own nests and raise their own young. Instead, some birds sneak their eggs into the nests of other birds. They are nest (or "brood") parasites. The Brown-headed Cowbird is a relatively common nest parasite in our area. The left photo shows a pair of shiny, black males. They were photographed by Suzy Oliver in Winchester, Virginia in May of 2022. In the spring and summer, you may see them in flocks, with the males displaying and uttering squeaky calls.

The females are a more camouflaged grey-brown color from head to tail. Along the AT, Cowbirds can be seen in open areas, such as forest edges and fields. However, their females evidently search through the woods for nests away from these openings. For example, the right photo shows an inside view of an Ovenbird nest in the woods, and it had a Cowbird egg in it! The nest was found about 20 yards from an old logging road in Duke Hollow (northern Virginia near the AT) by Ray Barbehenn on June 4, 2024. Ovenbirds nest on the ground by making a little dome (the "oven") under fallen leaves. The three hungry Ovenbird chicks inside were going to be joined by a much larger nestmate. This scene is also a good example of the wide variety of nest types that Cowbirds parasitize.

How do female Cowbirds trick other birds into hatching their eggs?

A. Cowbirds lay eggs that match the coloration of the host bird's eggs.

B. Most birds do not recognize that a Cowbird egg in their nest came from another bird.

C. Cowbirds usually remove all the original eggs from a nest and replace them with their own.

The answer is at the bottom of the page!

Fun Facts and Musings

Female Brown-headed Cowbirds lay an average of about 15 eggs in a breeding season, meaning that each Cowbird impacts the reproduction of a large number of other birds. In addition, Cowbirds can successfully parasitize the nests of over 140 bird species across North America. They are able to trick all of these birds into hatching their eggs, in part, because most birds do not distinguish between their own eggs and those of another bird. This weakness in the hosts' defenses means that female Cowbirds just need to sneak into their nests for several seconds to lay one of their eggs. The success of this strategy depends on careful observation; female Cowbirds explore their areas every day and watch for birds building their nests. When these birds start to lay eggs, Cowbirds wait for a moment when the host birds are not at home. Cowbirds are stealthy intruders.

Cowbirds sometimes remove an egg from a host's nest before laying one of their own. However, they do not usually remove all the eggs from a nest, nor do they lay entire clutches of their own eggs in other birds' nests. One exception to this occurs when a Cowbird wants to get the host to restart her nest. Thus, if a host bird finds her nest empty, she will often lay a new clutch of eggs – one egg per day. This gives the Cowbird time to come back to lay her egg among the host's fresh eggs.

The destructive behaviors of Cowbirds may become extreme if a host bird removes a Cowbird egg from her nest. How would a Cowbird know this? Cowbirds continue to monitor the fate of their eggs in parasitized nests. And, if a Cowbird finds that her egg is missing, she may toss out everything from the nest – eggs and chirping chicks alike! This "Mafia behavior" is believed to be another reason why most species of birds do not fight back against Cowbirds. In other words, the ability of host birds to raise some of their own chicks can be greater when there is an extra Cowbird to feed than when the Cowbird's egg is tossed out and the host bird ends up starting over.

Not all bird species tolerate a Cowbird egg in their nest. Some birds, especially larger species, recognize a foreign egg and remove it successfully. Some recognize it and build a nest layer over it so that it never hatches. Some abandon their nests altogether and start a new nest elsewhere.

Cowbird chicks compete with their nestmates by being aggressive, noisy, and fast growing. The baby Cowbird can also imitate the calls of the host chicks, but more loudly and persistently. However, the host chicks can hear the louder Cowbird chick and have been known to turn up their own volume and repetition frequency! The nest is a very competitive place.

How do Cowbird chicks avoid learning the wrong song from their host species? Most songbirds learn to sing while they are growing up. Starting in the nest, they listen to their parents and other adults of their species. Thus, they usually become competent to sing by the start of their first breeding season. By contrast, Cowbirds forego learning to sing in the nest and wait an extra season before breeding! During their first year, young Cowbirds flock together with older Cowbirds. This is when they listen to the songs of the older Cowbirds and learn to sing. By their second spring, the males are able to effectively court females. (Females make a chattering call to communicate.)

The other birds in our area that can be nest parasites are the Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the photo below was seen by David Cox along a canal in Fredericksburg, Virginia on July 8, 2017. Note its long, spotted tail, yellow lower beak, white front, and gray-brown back. They are secretive birds.

The reputations of our cuckoos seem to have been tarnished by the publicity surrounding the Common Cuckoo's "bad" behavior. The Common Cuckoo, which is native to Africa and Eurasia, has aggressive chicks that are often shown pushing the eggs and chicks of their hosts out of their nests. It is hard to generalize about the behaviors of all the birds in an entire species, but I am unaware of any research showing that Yellow-billed Cuckoo chicks clear out the nests of their hosts. In fact, only about half of all cuckoo species around the world are nest parasites. The other cuckoo species, including the two in our area, usually lay their eggs in their own nests. Yellow-billed Cuckoos will lay their "extra" eggs in the nests of other birds when food is abundant. But, they prefer to lay these eggs in the nests of other Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Black-billed Cuckoos!

The Common Cuckoos are also the ones that are famous for imitating the egg colors of their preferred host species. Different Common Cuckoos have different preferred hosts, which has led to a wide variety of different egg colors. By contrast, Yellow-billed Cuckoos lay only blue or blue-green eggs. Similarly, Cowbirds just lay white eggs with speckles.

Nest parasites are rare, accounting for only about one percent of all bird species. However, they get a lot of attention, sometimes because of our moralizing ("How rude!") and sometimes from their threats to endangered bird species. For example, the endangered Kirtland's Warblers have an unusually small breeding range in the Jack Pines of northern Michigan. And, the warblers were becoming even more endangered, in part from Cowbirds parasitizing their nests. To help protect the warblers, a long-term campaign was established to trap and remove female Cowbirds from the warblers' breeding areas.

The scale of the effort needed to significantly decrease Cowbird parasitism has been impressive, with roughly 4000 female Cowbirds trapped and removed from the warblers' area per year. So, should concerned citizens remove Cowbirds and their eggs whenever they are found? The experts say no. If we were to remove a few Cowbirds or their eggs it would not have any significant impact on an ecological scale. It would also be against federal laws, which require a permit. Just as importantly, our "help" at parasitized nests could have the unintended consequence of triggering a mother Cowbird's Mafia behavior!

Answer: B!

Thanks to Jeff Stone, who also sent me photos of Cowbirds! Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu.

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New Strategic Planning Effort for PATC

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:28:46 GMT

New Strategic Planning Effort for PATC

By Lee Congdon

PATC is excited to announce the launch of a comprehensive strategic planning initiative to guide the organization into a bright and sustainable future. This effort will set a clear and unified vision, addressing key aspects of our operations and priorities to ensure we continue to fulfill our mission and expand our impact.

Strategic Focus Areas

The strategic plan will encompass the following critical areas:

Mission: Refining our mission to reflect the evolving needs of our community and the broader outdoor recreation landscape.
Membership: Enhancing member engagement, retention, and growth to build a stronger, more connected community.
Organizational Structure: Evaluating and optimizing our governance and operational framework to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Funding: Developing innovative strategies to diversify and grow revenue streams, ensuring long-term financial stability.
Engagement: Expanding volunteerism and fostering deeper connections with stakeholders, members, and partners.
Cabins: Preserving, maintaining, and improving our iconic cabin network to enhance user experiences.
Lands: Strengthening land stewardship practices and prioritizing conservation initiatives.
Staffing: Ensuring we have the right team in place to achieve our goals, supported by professional development opportunities.
Technology and Business Processes: Modernizing our technology infrastructure and streamlining business processes to improve operations and member services.
Store: Revitalizing the PATC Store to better serve our members and the public.
Branding: Enhancing our identity and visibility to foster recognition and pride in the PATC brand.
Publications: Improving the quality and reach of our publications to better inform and inspire our community.
Partnerships: Building and strengthening collaborations with like-minded organizations and stakeholders.
New Initiatives: Identifying and pursuing innovative projects to address emerging opportunities and challenges.

Strategic Planning Team Members

This strategic planning effort is being led by a dedicated team of PATC members and volunteers:

Nicolle Bridgland
Lee Congdon
Evan Hoffmann
Molly Bolan
Jim Tomlin

How You Can Get Involved

We invite all members and stakeholders to participate in this strategic planning effort. Opportunities to engage may include surveys, focus groups, and forums. Your input is vital to shaping the future of PATC and ensuring this plan reflects the values and priorities of our community, especially if you have insight and passion regarding one or more strategic focus areas.

Contact Lee Congdon , lcongdon@patc.net or Evan Hoffmann , ehoffmann@patc.net , with your questions and comments. Stay tuned for updates and announcements as we move forward with this exciting initiative. Together, we will chart a path that honors our legacy while embracing the opportunities of tomorrow.

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A cold and icy start to the Cadillac Crew’s season

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 21:28:43 GMT

A cold and icy start to the Cadillac Crew’s season

By Karen Brown, Eddie Becton, Martha Becton et. al.

What does a trail crew do when the thermometer dips below freezing and the ground is covered with ice and snow? They build trails!

Though morning temps hovered around 10 degrees, the Cadillac Crew started its January weekend snug in the lovingly-restored Mountain Home Bed & Breakfast of Front Royal, lucky guests of owners Lisa and Scott.

Mountain Home’s listings on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places made the Crew’s weekend an exceptional treat with its mid-1800s architecture and Greek Revival details. While the front part of the Main House was built in 1847, part of the foundation dates to the 1780s. Mountain Home’s rich history can be explored as a guest or through the B&B’s website.

After a hearty breakfast we were off to Tuckers Lane parking lot and AT trailhead to work on a beautiful section recommended by District Managers Jon Rindt and Maston Gray . Jon and section maintainer George Jones joined us for the day as welcomed additions. The trail had been scouted by George and crew leader Dan Feer and Tysha Robinson . They spotted decaying steps and lots of washed-out tread—our specialty!

Equipped with hand warmers and microspikes to combat the cold and icy trail, crew members Dan Feer, George Jones, Eddie Becton , Martha Becton , Karen Brown , Maria de la Torre , Alice DeCarlo , Kirsten Elowsky , Ellen Feer , Robert Fina , Jonathan Kauffman , James Martin , Don Oellerich , Cat Randall , Jon Rindt , Tysha Robinson , Alisa Schaefer , Ellen Shaw , Dan Wooley , and Mark Wrobel broke into small groups. Some worked on rolling grade dips to improve tread drainage and trail maintainability. To boost hiker safety, others replaced log stairs and the rest on a very short section of new trail around dangerous log stairs.

The first task for all of us was simply getting to the ground below the ice and snow. Ellen Feer spent hours at the trailhead clearing the hazardous ice covering the bridge and stone steps while the rest of us got to work digging through the ice and snow on the trail. Even this much exertion could not keep our toes from getting cold, so imagine how we welcomed the hot chocolate and marshmallows Kirsten provided at lunchtime!

The low afternoon sun cast long shadows on freshly-finished rolling grade dips, scattered saw dust from removed dead trees and cut logs, newly-built wooden steps, and finishing touches on the bypass. Gratefully we carpooled back to hot baths, happy hour, a delicious dinner, and toasty beds.

Sunday was a little warmer, so we tackled a few more erosion issues. More rolling grade dips coming up! A steep section needed steps, but appropriate rocks were not to be found. Robert, sawyer, and Karen, swamper, selected a standing dead locust tree along the trail with good wood for steps. Before felling it, Robert squared the sides, cut notches for pegs, and cut it to length. Once down, pegs were cut from the stump to secure the step. The Crew installed the stairs with amazing results.

It was a wonderful winter weekend to welcome new member Maria, appreciate second-timers James and Jonathan and reconnect with old friends. Join us next month. Send a note to ccrewpatc@gmail.com to find out how.

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INTRODUCING the Sixteenth Edition of APPALACHIAN TRAIL GUIDE TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK WITH SIDE TRAILS

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 20:25:34 GMT

Introducing the 16th Edition of the Appalachian Trail Guide to Shenandoah National Park with Side Trails

By Emeline Otey

This hiking guide is one of PATC’s most important trail guides. It is necessary reading for long-distance hikers trekking through SNP and equally informative for hikers out for a day on an interesting or challenging trail. In addition to turn-by-turn descriptions of the trails, the book also contains extensive information about the flora, fauna, and geology of the area as well as trail safety and health information.

John Hedrick , the editor, has drawn upon his extensive knowledge and experience to update this hiking guide to the Appalachian Trail as it traverses the 105 miles of Shenandoah National Park. John plays several volunteer roles in PATC including District Manager of the blue-blazed side trails in the Central section of the SNP, which gives him an in-depth knowledge base of the area.

The sixteenth edition features a new cover and introduction from the new superintendent of SNP, J. Tracy Stakely, with his vision for the park. The cover is a photo of the large geologic formation of columnar basalt found on the south side trail off Compton Peak. This type of formation is found in other places in the park but this is by far the most stunning example. Compton Peak is located on the AT between the parking areas for Compton Gap and Jenkins Gap.

There have been a few notable changes to trails within the park since the prior edition. Some of the ones that have occurred include the elimination of the connector trail between Whiteoak Canyon Trail and Cedar Run, a few minor changes to Jeremys Run and Riprap Trails, changes associated with the Old Rag parking area and trail access, and updates on boundary closures. Numerous administrative changes in how to obtain permits for backcountry camping and backcountry regulations are included. Finally, additional cabins located in and around SNP, with brief descriptions, are now listed. The guide is 336 pages, which includes 35 photographs, elevation profile diagrams for each of the nine sections of the AT in the park, and overview maps for each of the three park districts (north, central, and south) for the AT and the 146 side trails.

The price for the new edition is unchanged from the prior one: retail price is $18 plus shipping and handling; member discount price is $14.40 plus shipping and handling.

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PATC Winter Sale 50% Off

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 19:18:19 GMT

PATC Member 50% Off Sale!

Add an additional 30% off to your already 20% membership discount. (Must be logged in )

PATC Logo with Short Sleeve Kelly Green

Maps 1

PATC Logo with Short Sleeve Raspberry

Maps 2-3

PATC Logo with Short Sleeve Blue

Map 12

PATC Logo with Short Sleeve Gray

Map 13

PC118 Great Eastern Trail

Map G

PC320 Lewis Mountain Man

Map H

PC115 Hikes in Western MD

Map J

PC230 Lost Trails

PC340 Civil War Trails Guide

PATC Logo Long Sleeve Triblend Tee- Maroon (XXL only)

PATC Logo Long Sleeve Triblend Tee - Navy (XXL only)

PATC Logo Long Sleeve Triblend Tee - Green (XXL only)

Contact sales@patc.net with any questions.

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Choose one of the blanket colors below!

PATC Maintenance Hacks

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 18:53:39 GMT

PATC Maintenance Hacks

By Jim Dwyer

I’d like to share a couple hacks that I learned during my first few years maintaining a rocky section of ridge on the Tuscarora Trail. The first deals with the Echo Weed Trimmer, which I purchased for the trail. It comes with an ingenious line feeder, i.e. “Speed Feed 400 Head.” It works great, but it has two operational flaws. I’ll explain my hacks for each.

1. To dispense more weed-whacking line, one has to tap the head on the ground. This works great on a lawn; however, the thick plastic head will eventually be worn down along a rocky trail. This is mitigated by installing a fender washer (or large round metal plate) on the head as shown on the left and center photos above.

2. The cap can accidently come off the head at the most inopportune time, such as when attacking a large briar or blackberry patch. This seldom happens, but it is a show-stopper if it (or the spring) can’t be found. The black cap seems to disappear in the underbrush and if the spring becomes dislodged, then you are out of luck if you didn’t bring a spare even if the cap is found. This problem is mitigated somewhat by spray painting the inside of the cap white so it’ll be more obvious and melting a small hole to attach a wire to the spring, as shown in the above right photo.

My trail maintenance partners, Rick Bacastow and Steve Sharpe , and I replaced bow saws with aggressively-toothed folding saws. These saws are lighter, easy to carry and are nearly as effective as the larger bow saws. We made holsters to make the folding saws even more convenient. It may seem like a small thing to have to remove your pack to get your saw out, but our saws are often used and quick access is truly wonderful.

The holster is made from a 10” roll of vinyl flashing (10”x50’ for $30 at Lowes), duct tape, staples, and a large wire tie for a belt loop. Very few tools are needed for this DIY project. I can supply the vinyl and a wire tie to those that request them while supplies last. My email is: jimdwyer74@gmail.com.

See photos below for examples of one of these holsters

Bonus : We need hikers that want a full day ridge hike to consider the Tuscarora Trail from PA Route 16 (just west of Cove Gap, PA, 39.893193, -77.966803) south to the State Game Lands parking lot on Fort Davis Road (39.747655, -78.045515). The additional boots will help create a better treadway on our section of trail. Two cars are needed, and it’s about 14 miles. (This route is not recommended if icy or snowy due to the rocky ridge.) Two miles can be cut off by starting at the Alice Trail (north end of Little Cove Road 39.866904, -77.966080). However, this shortcut requires about 600’ of additional elevation gain.

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Cadillac Crew supports the Shenandoah Valley Chapter and gives the AT some love

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 22:16:46 GMT

Cadillac Crew supports the Shenandoah Valley Chapter and gives the AT some love

By Karen Brown, Bev Carver, et. al.

A perk of being a roving trail crew is enjoying the variety of landscapes here in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Cadillac Crew travels the length and breadth of PATC’s trails, helping trail maintainers wherever their path is damaged by overuse or natural forces. Many enthusiastic stewards have little to no trail maintenance training, so the crew looks to District Managers and Chapter Heads to steer us toward volunteers struggling to meet their goals. We engage with them on their projects, sharing what we’ve learned from our years working the trails and in turn learning from the stewards about their experiences.

An email was sent from the Cadillac Crew to Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter (SSVC) President Pam Heinrich that they were looking for a December project in the southern section of SNP. Pam, who is the ultimate communicator and networker, immediately forwarded the outreach request to Dave Bowen , South District AT Manager, and Mark Perschel , President of the PATC Charlottesville Chapter, and also included trail maintainer Bev Carver because she was aware that Dave and Bev were concerned about deteriorating waterbars on her section of AT at Loft Mountain.

On December 1, Pam and Bev, along with Cadillac Crew heads Dan and Ellen Feer, scouted Bev’s section, a popular piece of the AT in the SNP near Loft Mountain Campground. It starts at the camp store and runs 1.1 miles north to the intersection with the Discovery Trail. Bev, who's been working her Loft Mountain section for 20 years, was spending much of her time keeping the heavily-vegetated path clear, removing smaller blowdowns that could be handled with a hand saw, and sweeping leaves out of waterbars, but the problems of the uneven, disappearing trail itself and dilapidated waterbars were a constant and just getting worse. Dan and Ellen Feer noticed many areas where the trail was washed out and the tread covered with hazardous protruding rocks and roots. They could see that the dilapidated waterbars–what Dan calls dragons’ teeth–needed to be replaced and multiplied by long-lasting, easy-to-maintain rolling grade dips. Obstructing rocks, roots, and fallen trees would be removed.

Since the SNP Loft Mountain Campground was gated and closed for the season, Pam and Bev coordinated with Corrina Wendel, SNP Volunteer and Youth Program Manager, and Ranger Eric Yount, NPS to get Agreements and 301b forms completed so that the large group could stage at the Loft Mountain Camp Store parking lot. On a frosty December 14 Saturday morning 18 crew members ( Amanda Alleyne, Janet Arici, Eddie Becton, Martha Becton, Karen Brown, Alice DeCarlo, Kirsten Elowsky , Ellen Feer, Dan Feer, Robert Fina, Chris Glembocki, Bill Greenan, Molly McKInley, Don Oellerich, Steve Phillips, Cat Randall, Tysha Robinson, and Ellen Shaw ) joined Bev and fellow SSVC trail maintainers Kevin Cwalina and Michael Seth at the camp store parking lot. Where was the work trip “linchpin” Pam? She had been detained–her grandbaby had decided to come into the world that very day! Armed with a truckload of macleods, shovels, pick mattocks, digging bars and other tools, we divided up with Bill Greenan’s group starting at the top, Kirsten Elowsky’s below him, Dan’s working a steep uphill grade, and Molly McKInley working with the SSVC folks above them. Walking the section with Bev, famed Cadillac Crew trail boss Robert Fina flagged areas needing water control and showed how to construct the rolling grade dips, then spent the day shuttling between groups, encouraging and joining in to help each work their sections with success.

By the end of the day the trail was really transformed. Tread had been cleared, downed trees sawed and removed, and 15 new rolling grade dips built. After leafing in, the trail didn’t look new, just much more inviting. All the improvements would make it far easier to hike as well as maintain! Working together, the SSVC team had learned some important maintenance techniques and the Cadillac Crew had honed their skills on Bev’s beautiful section.

Back at the parking lot we cleaned and packed up our tools and headed for the home of the Barbers, long-time PATC and beloved Cadillac Crew members. There we celebrated the end of our trail year with a holiday feast, complete with a visit from a Special Guest who brought presents for all–cool high-vis green shirts emblazoned with the Cadillac Crew and PATC insignias.

Finally, no matter how big or small the trail you maintain, if those pesky trail demons of rocks and washouts are getting you down, contact your area District Manager or Chapter President and let’s get together to make your section the best it can be. And if this is your kind of weekend, reach out to the Feers at ccrewpatc@gmail.com and join the crew.

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Tree Work at Johns Rest Cabin

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 22:16:29 GMT

Tree Work at Johns Rest Cabin

By Robert Fina

A tree fell on the roof of Johns Rest Cabin, located on the Entry Run Tract near Stanardsville, Va. Tract manager Mark Walkup visited the cabin and shared photos with me.

Shown was a 13” diameter black walnut which had uprooted and fallen onto the cabin roof. The fork of the falling tree caught in a standing tulip poplar adjacent to the cabin, which reduced the impact to the roof, but this also partially uprooted the poplar so that it was now leaning over the cabin (photo 1).

One fork of the walnut broke off on impact and rolled off the roof, causing minor damage to the metal roofing, and breaking several porch roof rafters. The other fork, remaining attached to the main trunk, extended across the entire roof and beyond the far side (photo 2).

PATC Tree crew members, Robert Fina, Justin Loyd, Steve Phillips , and Russ Strosnider were joined by Ruth and Mark Walkup . We met at the site the Sunday morning of the big snow storm. Thanks to the timely intervention of the cabin coordinator Ben Danforth , the renters had been safely redirected to another cabin.

Having assessed the situation, unpacked a truck load of rigging and saw gear, and having completed a safety review, we got started on setting up the gear (photo 3).

One rigging line, connected to a grip hoist, went over a block set high in an adjacent tree. This was our crane to lift the tree up off the roof (photo 4).

Once the tree was slightly lifted off the roof, Russ cut the tree free from the stump. To get the stump out of the work area, a second grip hoist was connected by chain to the stump (photo 5). Steve, barely breaking a sweat, ripped the stump from the ground, and it was subsequently rolled out of the way.

The second hoist was then attached to the butt of the log to pull the fork of the tree off the poplar, and off the cabin roof (photo 6).

The curvature of the branch over the roof, as it was lifted, caused it to roll and threatened the roof ridge cap, so Ruth and Mark connected a Maasdam rope puller to the upper part of the log to counter this sideways swing (photo 7).

As we continued to lift, we discovered the tree wanted to slide towards the butt rather than lift straight up, a defect caused by the lack of a spar tree directly above the lift point.

The remedy was to add an additional rigging line to anchor the butt of the log. The line was attached to a friction bollard, so the line could be paid out in a safe, controlled manner to allow the butt to slide, when pulled by the second grip hoist, away from the cabin (photo 8).

Lifting continued with the log clearing the peak of the roof. Mark slowly paid out the Maasdam line, allowing the log to gently swing over the roof peak and chimney. Unfortunately, the log also rolled a bit during this operation, creating an abrasion situation between the butt anchor line and the tree (photo 9).

Good coordination among the crew here was crucial as three different hoists and the friction bollard were all in action at once.

Once the log was fully clear of the cabin, it was lowered to the ground and bucked up (photo 10).

Phase two of the operation was to take down the tulip poplar leaning over the cabin.

Setting a pulling line halfway up the poplar, the lifting line from phase one was used as a pulling line for phase two, to pull the poplar back into an upright position so it was no longer leaning over the cabin (photo 11).

Justin, Russ, Steve, and Mark relocated the other grip hoist and a redirect block up the hill away from the cabin to which was connected a second pulling line. The goal being to make sure the falling tree fell away from the cabin, into the only open area available. To keep the butt from kicking off the stump and into the cabin a few feet away, the Maasdam was set up and attached to the butt to create a restraint.

With Mark keeping the Maasdam line taught, and Justin, Steve, and Russ operating both of the grip hoists providing gentle tension, Robert executed an open face felling cut, and the tree dropped neatly into its lay (photo 12).

Robert and Russ bucked up the fallen trees while Mark, Ruth, Justin, and Steve broke down and packed up the gear (photo 13).

And we all, with the exception of Russ, who drove straight into it, made it home before the snowstorm hit.

Many thanks to the tree crew, Ruth and Mark Walkup, and cabin coordinator Ben Danforth. And thanks also to Henry Horn , who over the years has budgeted for most of our rigging gear, of which we used every piece on this project.

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President's Logbook

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 21:58:21 GMT

President's Logbook

By Jim Fetig

Don’t let the winter blues get you down. It’s not too early to think about hiking and cabin rental seasons. There is plenty of volunteer work to do. A cabin stay in the snow can be magical as is winter hiking in soft snow when the ethereal silence soaks up the noise and stress of everyday life.

Unfortunately, this is also the time when thru-hikers and others are torn between their fear of Norovirus and their distaste of soap. Believe it or not, what should be obvious, for some is a hard choice.

The fact is that most gastroenteritis is not Norovirus. There are plenty of other nasty bugs that generate gastro-intestinal pyrotechnics that simulate a Noro infection . The key to avoid being double parked in a literal sh*t storm is cleanliness. All of this applies to day hiking and cabin rentals too. You’ve been told.

That was the exciting part of this column. The rest of this stuff is what engaged members may want to, but don’t need to know. It’s like eating your vegetables or taking your ßvitamins.

Each year in January, the elected officers have a retreat to discuss various subjects on the horizon. We met at Bears Den on January 4. This year we talked about retaining and growing membership, promoting volunteerism, strategic planning, fundraising, and preparing for the club’s centennial in 2027.

As this is written, major initiatives are underway led by various club officers. They include the usual suspects including a strategic planning effort, strengthening our financial position, required review and validation of our committees, chapters and special interest sections, finalization of a long-discussed dues increase, updating our administrative procedures, and emphasis on information security.

I told you it was about eating your vegetables.

This is also the time of year when we begin meeting with our agency partners to plan and discuss the year ahead. These partnerships are key to our continuing success, and we pay a lot of attention to maintaining strong relationships.

We have some opportunities for qualified volunteers.

In the tick-free environment category, the investment committee is looking for one or two members. This committee manages our $5 million plus quasi endowment fund. If you are an experienced investment counselor/advisor or manage institutional investments, and/or have deep understanding of financial markets, please contact Charlie Balch , committee chair, at cabalch@aol.com .

We also are in need of a volunteer general counsel. The GC is the club’s legal advisor. As such, they are an ex-officio member of ExCom and Council. We have both a legal budget and a pro bono law firm, Baker Botts, to assist. Most legal questions involve real estate. However, as with any organization of our size, a range of questions may arise.

In addition, if you are interested in any of our committees or areas of responsibility, your help will be welcome. Contact the person responsible for the area in which you are interested.

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Help Wanted (Current Volunteer Opportunities)

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:29:16 GMT

Help Wanted:

Trail Positions

Corridor Monitors

Tom Lupp 301/663-6644, tlupp@verizon.net

Fox Gap ~ MD [PATC Map 5-6]

Duke Hollow ~ VA North Trail District [PATC map 8]

Ashby Gap North, VA South Trail District [PATC map 8]

Hightop Mtn., SNP South Trail District [PATC map 11]

Shelter Volunteer

Henry Horn ~ 301/498-8254, shelters@patc.net

Rocky Run Shelter [Original] ~ PATC Map 5-5

Spruce Pine Campground ~ PATC map L

Paul Gerhard Shelter ~ PATC map F `

Trail Maintainers Needed

Ashby/Rte.50 to SNP Boundary AT & Blue blazed ~ Map 8, 9

Jon Rindt ~ H 540/635-6351, jkrindt@comcast.net

Maston Gray ~ 703-408-8020, graymn9@gmail.com

Tom Floyd Wayside & Spring ~ AT to Tom Floyd Wayside, tent sites, & Ginger Spring (.45mi)

SNP North District Blue blazed ~ Map 9

Tom Moran, (703) 715-0050, twmoran19@gmail.com

Jeremys Run Trail (upper) ~ AT to 8th Ford of Jeremys Run (2.7mi)

Jeremys Run Trail (middle) ~Co~ 8th Ford of Jeremys Run to junction Knob Mt. & Neighbor Mt. Trail (2.7mi)

Piney Branch Trail (upper) ~Co~ AT to Power line (2.2mi) (bottom needs help)
Piney Branch Trail (middle) ~ Power line to Hull School Trail (2.2mi)

Fork Mountain Trail ~Co~Piney Ridge Trail to Hull School Trail (1.1 mi)

SNP Central District Blue blazed [south] ~ Map 10
John Hedrick ~ 540/987-8659, jhedrick@erols.com

Matt Murray ~ (434) 981-3225, mattmurray1910@gmail.com

Powell Mountain Trail (Lower) ~ Summit to SR 759 (1.6mi)

Pennsylvania Tuscarora ~ Maps J & K
Chris Firme ~ 717-794-2855, bncfirme@innernet.net

Dave Trone ~ 717-778-1308, traildavidt@gmail.com

Pete Brown 410-207-2921, trailpete@gmail.com

PA Tuscarora [J] ~ Fowler Hollow shelter to Hemlock Rd (2.2mi)

PA Tuscarora [J] ~ Mountain Rd. to Jct. PA 641 (6.2mi)

Tuscarora Central ~ Map L

Bill Greenan ~ wpgreenan@yahoo.com

Tuscarora Trail ~ Burnt Mill Bridge to Lutkins Passage (3.2mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Lutkins Passage to Meadow Branch (1.7mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Meadow Branch to Eagles Nest Parking (2.2mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Eagles Nest Mt. Parking Lot to Meadow Branch Trail (3mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Larrick Overlook to Lucas Woods Trail (2mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Sleepy Creek Registration to Hampshire Grade

Road (5.6mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Hampshire Grade Road to High Rock (2.7mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Co ~ Lucus Woods Trail to Powerline (3.5mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Co ~ Powerline to Dry Gap (3.5mi)

Devils Nose Connector Trail ~ Devils Nose Parking Area to Tuscarora Trail (.5mi)

Spruce Pine Hollow Shelter Trail ~ T-trail to T-trail (0.2mi)

Spruce Pine Hollow Trail ~ Tuscarora Trail to Spruce Pine Hollow Park Trailhead (.10mi)

Tuscarora South ~ Map F, G, 9

Tuscarora Trail ~ Ridgecrest to Fetzer Gap (3.1mi)

Tuscarora Trail ~ Massanutten Trail to Sidewinder Trail (2.6mi)

Massanutten North - Map G

Anstr Davidson ~ (703) 402-6711, anstrdavidson@gmail.com

Massanutten Trail ~ VA 678 to Ft. Valley Overlook (2.2mi)

Massanutten Trail ~ 7-Bar-None Trail to Bear Trap Trail (2.7mi)

Massanutten Trail ~ Bear Trap Trail to Rte. 675 (2.2mi)

Massanutten South ~ Map H

Paul Boisen, (540) 246-5662, paulboisen@hotmail.com

Masanutten South Trail ~ Pitt Spring to Morgan Run Trail (1.4 m FR 65) (3.3mi)

Massanutten South Trail ~ Morgan Run Trail to Fridley Gap Trail (2.3mi)

Roaring Run Trail ~ Catherine Furnace to TV Tower Road (3.8mi)

Pitt Spring Lookout Trail ~ Massanutten South Trail to lookout point (.27mi)

Great North Mountain ~ Map F

Mike Allen ~ 540-333-3994, michael.allen@mallenpe.com

North Mt. Trail ~ Stack Rock Trail to VA 720 (4.3mi)

Stack Rock Trail ~ Forest Rd 252 to North Mt. Trail (1.5mi)

Long Mountain Trail ~ Trout Pond Trail to FR 1621 (4.4mi)

Big Schloss Trail ~ 2.3 Mile Marker of Mill Mt. Trail to Big Schloss View (.3mi)

Mill Mt. Trail ~ Wolf Gap to Big Schloss Cutoff Trail (2.8mi)

Gerhard Shelter Trail ~ Tuscarora Trail to Vances Cove (1.5mi)

North River Map-National Geographic Trails Illustrated #791

Lynn & Malcolm Cameron, (540) 234-6273, slynncameron@gmail.com

Trimble Mountain Trail ~ Co ~ FR 95 to FR 95 (4 mi)

Bear Draft ~ FR 535 to Wild Oak Trail sec C (#716)(1.5mi)

MD C&O Canal Palisades ~ Map D

Jim LaTorre, (703) 819-0947, jimlatorre58@gmail.com

Billy Goat C Trail (Carderock) ~Towpath (S of mile marker 11) to Towpath (S of mile marker 10)(1.6mi)

B ack to Home

Volunteer with PATC

Other Positions (contact staffdirector@patc.net if interested)

General Council (Legal) - We need current or retired legal professionals who can help provide sound legal guidance and insight to Executive Committee (ExCom) and Council related to various club issues; such as contracts and agreements, proposed or potential litigation issues, and other matters of significance. Most of this work can be done remotely. PATC’s appointed, volunteer General Council serves as an ex officio member of ExCom and regularly interfaces with the President, ExCom, Staff Director, and Council members.

Financial Advisors - Current and retired financial professionals are needed to serve on PATC’s Finance and/or Endowment committees. Knowledgeable individuals who can help PATC build on our long tradition of sound and sustainable financial management and growth. Meetings are held in-person or virtually every one to three months.

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PATC Council Report December 2024 Meeting

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:08:31 GMT

PATC Council Report

December 2024 Meeting

By Anstr Davidson, Secretary

Council met on December 10. Its significant action was to approve a budget for 2025. The budget is prepared by the Finance Committee under the direction of the Treasurer. The proposed budget is reviewed by ExCom and then goes to Council for approval.

This budget is important because it predicts a deficit for the coming year. The budget motion has an extensive discussion of the issues and supporting financial data. Members are encouraged to consult this information on the PATC website at www.patc.net/council-reports .

Officer and committee reports as well as agenda are also available to members on the web page above. The minutes from a meeting are, under current practice, available only after they are approved at the next Council meeting.

The next Council meeting is scheduled for February 11. (Council does not meet in January.)

Members may attend Council meetings. Council meetings are virtual, so you don’t have to drive to Vienna to view one. To observe a meeting, contact the staff director ( staffdirector@patc.net ) for the login credentials.

Parting comment: The December meeting was my last as secretary. The secretary’s work is understandably not interesting. Few members read Council minutes and related documents. The council-reports web page has few visitors. It is rare that a member joins a virtual Council meeting. This report is probably no one’s first read. There are, however, important issues on the horizon including the club’s finances, its management, and even its mission. Also, we will need new officers in two short years.

Hopefully, you are interested in club management. If you don’t want to read these exciting documents, talk to a Council member. You can find a list of Council members on the website at www.patc.net/patc-directory Reach out. You will likely get an earful.

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Keep Calm and Read On: A Yen for Zen

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:08:27 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: A Yen for Zen

By Wayne Limberg

Reading Karen Armstrong's "Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World" brings to mind the old joke of "how many Zen masters does it take to move a rock." Answer: "Ask the rock, Grasshopper." Armstrong is a best-selling author of over a dozen books, including "A History of God” and "The Bible: A Biography."

Drawing on four decades of research, Armstrong in "Sacred Nature" explores the role nature has played in the world's great religions in an attempt to find answers to today's environmental challenges. The primary question she addresses is why in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence and growing urgency do we seem unable to effectively address the climate crisis. Armstrong argues that the reason for this resides in our basic approach to nature. While Armstrong recognizes the need to heed the warnings of scientists, she believes we also must re-establish a belief in the sanctity of nature that for millennia was shared by the world's great religions.

Armstrong believes that for most of human history there were two complimentary ways of knowing the world, "logos" and "mythos." "Logos" deals with objective fact; it is pragmatic and rational and forms the basis of science and our ability to control the natural world. It cannot, however, explain the meaning of life, and Armstrong firmly believes humans are "meaning-seeking creatures." Enter "mythos" and the stories and rituals that from earliest times gave humans hope and a reason to believe life had meaning despite evidence to the contrary. It was not accessed by reason and logic but by poetry, metaphor, and ritual. Reverence for the natural world of which humankind was a part was a given.

For centuries, logos and mythos existed as equals–yin and yang. Logos explained the what and how, mythos the why. Armstrong argues, however, that as early as the 16th century, European culture began to emphasize the rational and scientific–logos–and over the next three centuries dismiss mythos as superstition or at best, quaint. The Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam with their belief in monotheism and a supreme deity that had created the world and given man dominion over it only reinforced this. This was in sharp contrast to Eastern religions. In China and India, what Armstrong calls the sacrality of nature remained a key element; humans were seen not as stewards but as an integral and equal part of the natural world. When Jesuit missionaries first visited China in the 16th century, Confucian scholars were intrigued by their scientific knowledge but chuckled at the Jesuits' apparent belief that their "Lord of Creation" would be content to live in a distant corner of the cosmos.

Armstrong notes that this East-West division was not always the case. Exceptions included the book of Job in the Hebrew Bible and Thomas Aquinas who in the 13th century argued that God was "everywhere in everything," echoing the Daoists in China. Islam continued to believe that nature was one with the divine. Even after the Enlightenment, Romantic poets like Wordsworth revered nature and the natural world, which according to Armstrong, reflected a sense of loss, alienation and denial in our modern age.

Armstrong’s antidote is a re-examination of humankind's place in nature. This means looking East, where, unlike the optimistic creation stories of Genesis in which God declared everything good, creation myths had the world flawed and broken from the start with humans playing a role in setting things right. This mirrors Armstrong's own spiritual journey from Catholic nun to self-described Confucianist.

In any case, inaction is not an option. Each chapter of "Sacred Nature" examines a key theme common to the great religions to determine how it might apply today and help recover our bond with the natural world. In doing so, she offers new takes on old texts. Her interpretation of Coleridge’s “The Ancient Mariner” alone is a reason to read the book. In the chapter on gratitude she quotes verses of the Quran that remind followers that in nature they will find a revelation of divine power and wisdom. In gratitude, they should build just and compassionate societies that enable the world to function harmoniously. In the chapter on the Golden Rule, Armstrong turns to the Confucians, who taught that "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" must be applied to everyone without exception and put into practice daily. Over time, they would extend this to the natural world and cosmos.

Armstong ends each chapter with a way forward. In one, she suggests simply to "marvel anew at the intricate rhythms of nature on which our daily lives depend." In another, she suggests putting the camera away and simply looking at nature for what it is rather than something to own. Armstong has been criticized for the seeming simplicity, even naivete of these passages and she has admitted they are insufficient in and of themselves, but she insists they are a start. And the longest journeys begin with the first step, grasshopper.

Did you receive a good read over the holidays? If so, send it along to wplimberg@aol.com. Meanwhile, keep reading and stay safe. See you on the trail.

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What’s that Flower: Snead Farm Loop Part 6

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:08:25 GMT

What’s that Flower: Snead Farm Loop Part 6

By Richard Stromberg

[continued from last month]

This is a description of some of the plants to look for as you hike the Snead Farm loop in the North Section of SNP. Starting from the Dickey Ridge Picnic Area in SNP, this is a three-mile hike with 500 feet elevation gain.

At the junction of Dickey Ridge and Snead Farm Trail, turn left onto Snead Farm Trail. Elongated yellow Perfoliate Bellwort ( Uvularia perfoliata ) flowers seem to hang from the middle of leaves in spring. You may see Pawpaw flowers on small trees ( Asimima triloba ), fruits to follow in the fall. Under the doubly-divided leaves of Wild Sarsaparilla ( Aralia nudicaulus ), each plant has a ball of flowers arising from the ground with no leaves on the flower stem. Just before the trail emerges from the woods at the white Snead Farm barn are Red Currant ( Ribes rubrum ) bushes left from the old farmstead. Strings of small, yellow, five-petaled flowers become strings of green berries that ripen red. The Currants are being overgrown by invasive Multiflora Rose ( Rosa multiflora ).

Following Snead Farm Road back to Skyline Drive, you will see the buildings of Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute across the valley. Many invasives thrive along this road, but look for Miami Mist ( Phacelia purshii ). It is common in southwest Virginia but known north of Rockbridge County only in Arlington and this population.

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"What on Earth?"

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:08:23 GMT

"What on Earth?"

Article by Ray Barbehenn. Photos by Ray Barbehenn and Richard Stromberg

Seeds are made to be spread around. Their parents need them to be dispersed, both to avoid competing with each other for resources and to have a chance at colonizing new places. They move in many different ways. Some seeds are blown by the wind. Some are hidden inside sweet fruit and are spread in animal droppings. Some are carried off and buried in the ground by animals such as squirrels. Others attach themselves to passing animals, as hikers know well.

The left photo shows the seeds of Canadian Black Snakeroot (hereafter just "Snakeroot"). I removed these from my pants in late October in Duke Hollow (northern Virginia near the AT). They were about a quarter-inch long, including the bristles. Each Snakeroot flower produces two seeds; you can see their flat, inner sides where two in the photo have split apart. Also notice the hooks on the bristle tips. The right photo shows a pair of the half-inch-long seeds of Aniseroot. These banana-shaped seeds were still delicately attached to a stem that was picked in mid-October in Duke Hollow. They also formed in a single flower and then split apart as the seeds matured. This was their final resting position, where they waited for the right force to disperse them.

How are the seeds of Snakeroot and Aniseroot spread?

A. Snakeroot seeds are attached to animals and Aniseroot seeds are blown by the wind.

B. Snakeroot seeds are blown by the wind and Aniseroot seeds are attached to animals.

C. The seeds of both species are attached to animals.

D. The seeds of both species are blown by the wind.

The answer is at the bottom.

Fun Facts and Musings

The seeds of Snakeroot and Aniseroot make their intentions clear when they get stuck on our clothes or in our dog's fur. A look at the details of their structures shows how they have become good at being dispersed by animals. The seeds of Snakeroot are little balls, mostly surrounded by hooked spines. This is a common burr shape. Each little hook is part of a team effort to resist being pulled back out after the burr becomes entangled in fur. By comparison, the elongated, pointed shape of Aniseroot seeds lets them penetrate more deeply into fur (or socks). Instead of clinging with numerous hooks, they resist being pulled back out with many tiny barbs. (See top photos.) They are little harpoons! Presumably, their delicate attachment to the stem makes it easy for them to be released into the fur of passing animals.

If you look through the huge gallery of seeds from around the world at https://seedidguide.idseed.org/gallery/ , you can see that dispersal on animal fur is not a common strategy for seed movement. Indeed, less than 5% of seed-bearing plants produce burrs (Those species that do make burrs make a big impression on us!).

It is much more common for "weedy" plants, such as Dandelions, to make seeds that are blown by the wind, rather than sticking to animals. Perhaps this is because the wind is a more consistent force than collisions with animals. Animals also can have a tendency to concentrate burrs along paths, producing a narrower distribution than the wind. On the positive side, animals tend to carry seeds greater distances than the wind.

Different environmental conditions can also favor the success of burrs. For example, burrs may be dispersed better than wind-blown seeds in the woods, where the wind is relatively weak. In open fields, one might expect the opposite – that plants with wind-blown seeds do better than those with burrs.

What features make a really good burr? First, there is the way a burr interacts with its animal carrier. A good burr needs to have the right balance of being clingy, but also being readily removed. A good burr must not be too tightly attached, such as in the matted fur of an ungroomed dog, or it might never come back off! Instead, a good burr might allow an animal's contact with woodland vegetation to brush it off. (The scattered distribution of Aniseroot plants throughout the woods suggests that their seeds do fall back off of fur easily.) It would probably benefit a plant if its burrs were annoying enough that the carriers eventually notice them and groom them off. On the other hand, if a plant's burrs were too annoying, they would be removed quickly and not dispersed at all. For example, burrs with long needle-like spines might become anchored well on an animal, but if they were painful they might be groomed off immediately. A good burr needs to be a little stealthy.

Thus, the success of a burr depends on its size, weight, and, importantly, the number, length, and shape of its hooks or barbs. These are the little details that determine how readily burrs get stuck to, and unstuck from, animal fur. Even the position of burrs on a plant affects their likelihood of getting picked up by a passing animal. A good burr is tick-like – sitting at a height on a plant that an animal is most likely to brush against. Mid-calf is a very popular height for both.

Snakeroot and Aniseroot are in the carrot family. Not surprisingly, Wild Carrot (or Queen Anne's Lace) also has seeds that can act like burrs. But, Wild Carrot seeds are not fully committed to clinging to animals; some are blown away by the wind! The details of this mixed strategy are unusual. During damp weather, mature Wild Carrot seed heads close up like fists, with all the seeds held tightly inside. However, when the seed heads are dry, they spread open, exposing the seeds. Dry, low humidity conditions are common in the winter, when some of the spiny seeds are blown free by the wind and roll across crusty snow fields like tiny tumbleweeds.

Common Burdock (bottom photo) is an example of a member of the aster family with animal-dispersed seeds. Numerous hooked spines on the tips of the "bracts" completely surround the bases of the flowers. This plant was found by Richard Stromberg at Two-owl Farm (in the foothills east of the Blue Ridge in northern Virginia) on August 5, 2023. After the seeds have matured, each ball-shaped structure turns brown and is easily detached from the plant onto fur or clothing. The seeds themselves don't have hooks. They rely on the whole seed head getting carried away by an animal.

Velcro was inspired by a relative of Burdock: Cocklebur. Velcro's name is a combination of two French words: velours (velvet) and crochet (hook), representing the two sides of Velcro. Inventing Velcro may have been inspired by a burr, but it took Velcro's inventor nearly ten years of trial and error to arrive at a functional product. After all, Cocklebur burrs do not have to be repeatedly ripped off a fabric and remain functional for years! Perhaps someone could make a different fastening mechanism by copying Aniseroot seeds?

“What on Earth?” Answer: C!

Thanks to Richard Stromberg for identifying the seeds of the Canadian Black Snakeroot! Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu.

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Romantic Retreat at Cliff’s House Cabin

commscoordinator@patc.net (Jess LaPolla) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:08:17 GMT

Romantic Retreat at Cliff’s House Cabin

By Jess LaPolla

Are you looking to plan the perfect romantic weekend getaway for you and your significant other? Do you both love mountain views, being surrounded by nature, and cozy cabin vibes? Consider staying at Cliff’s House Cabin in Elkton, VA.

This uniquely-designed cabin sits west of Shenandoah National Park . Built in 1978 by long-time PATC member Cliff Firestone, the two-story home has all the modern amenities you need, including electricity, running water, and a fully functional kitchen. There is baseboard heating in the bathroom, plus a wood-burning stove for extra warmth during those chilly winter months.

Curl up next to the fire your first night here and spend the next day hiking or exploring. There are several trails accessible on the property; simply step outside where nature awaits. If you’re looking for more of an adventure, the cabin is just a short drive to Shenandoah National Park, where you will find hiking trails for all skill levels. If your partner isn’t into cardio, settle for a drive on the scenic Skyline Drive and take in the sights from the comfort of your car.

Also nearby are the Grand Caverns , where you can embark on a walking or spelunking tour or hike.

Enjoy your meals on the expansive second floor deck of the cabin while breathing in the forest around you. If you’re feeling cooped up, head into town for a cozy Italian diner at Ciro’s Italian Eatery or grab a pint at Elkton Brewing Co. Whatever you and your boo decide to do, we’re sure you’ll have a great time. For more information on Cliff’s House and to book your stay, visit our website .

Though Cliff’s House is pretty darn cute by itself, here are a few tips to make your weekend more romantic:

· Don’t skimp on bringing comfortable pillows, sheets, and blankets.

· Bring your partner’s favorite wine or beverage and enjoy a glass while stargazing.

· Bring a Bluetooth speaker for music.

· Download movies on your laptop to have a cozy movie night together (don’t forget the snacks).

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Introducing the Eleventh Edition of CIRCUIT HIKES IN VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, AND PENNSYLVANIA

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 19:31:08 GMT

Introducing the Eleventh Edition of

Circuit Hikes in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania

By Larry Broadwell and William Needham, with Emeline Otey

At the request of the publications chair, Larry Broadwell and William Needham , writers of the eleventh edition of Circuit Hikes in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania , have provided a description of this latest of their team efforts. Larry and William have now worked together on a half-dozen editions of different guides, in every case with PATC’s longtime cartographer Dave Pierce . Both recalled their experience with other publications, such as the Civil War guidebook, and their work as volunteer trail maintainers as elements that helped them establish a routine for their latest work. "Yet every entry in every guide is different," one said. "It's like exploring a new trail. There's something new around every bend and over every hill."

As Larry and William note, only an exceptional publication will come out in more than ten editions. For this reason among others, the newly released guide is a milestone in a record that dates back decades. It is also a testament to the hiking community's drive to explore the region's wildlands with longer and more challenging hikes. Asked why they want the latest edition, some buyers have said that they simply wore out their copy of the previous edition. Others say that they have practiced their skills and gained endurance by doing many of the shorter hikes in PATC's books in the "Hikes in the Washington Region" series, and they feel ready for greater challenges. Others want them as inexpensive gifts to coworkers, up-and-coming young hikers, and friends.

Still others are aware of reroutes, changes in landmarks, and new connections between trails, and they want the most recent and accurate information to plan their outings.

PATC's publication team has worked long and hard to ensure that the eleventh edition lives up to the club's reputation as the go-to authority on regional trails. As Larry and William describe the process, it begins with interviews with park staff, on-line research, and discussions with PATC's own trail construction and maintenance crews. And that’s just the beginning. Once they select their route, the writers walk it, or several variations of it, with GPS, measuring wheel, camera, and notebook. They identify landmarks to be pointed out in the text, with accurate distances between points along the route. Notes and park maps are passed along to the team’s map maker, Dave Pierce, who accesses an immense store of on-line aerial and satellite photos to be sure of the map for each entry. Using his decades of experience with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, he produces maps that are both full of useful information and uncluttered.

Among the changes in the eleventh edition of this guide are updates to several hikes including those to Sugarloaf Mountain and Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area. Just as the tenth edition was the first PATC guidebook to have colored photographs throughout, the eleventh edition has added colored maps throughout. The guide is 128 pages, covering 25 hikes each with its own topographic map, and 28 photographs.

The prices for the new edition are unchanged from the prior one: retail price is $16.00 plus shipping and handling; member discounted price is $12.80 plus shipping and handling. Copies may be ordered online from www.patc.net/shop .

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What on Earth?

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 21:25:03 GMT

What on Earth?

By Ray Barbehenn

Photos by David Cox and Karen Hendershot.

Placed high overhead and built by wasps, one of childhood's great mysteries often remains unexplored: "What is inside those Mud Dauber nests?" Even parents wouldn't know. A long broom handle and a determination to investigate would produce an indelible image: Spiders of all sorts spill out of those shattered clay tubes! Mud Dauber Wasp nests are most often seen in places that we build to protect ourselves from the weather, such as our porches and AT shelters. The wasps locate their nests in these places with the same need for protection. In the wild, their nests are tucked under overhanging rock ledges, in tree holes, and under loose tree bark. The left photo shows the nests of the Organ Pipe Mud Dauber under the eaves of a house in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This pair of "organ pipes" was about six inches long and was found by David Cox on September 10. The open ends of the "pipes" face down. Notice the series of ridges of mud that make up each tube. There are other kinds of wasps that also use mud to construct their nests. In the right photo is a Potter Wasp nest. This small, half-inch diameter nest was photographed by Karen Hendershot on a goldenrod stem on August 12 in Front Royal, Virginia. The open mouth of the "pot" faces to the left.

Why are spiders inside the nests of Mud Daubers?

A. Spiders seek shelter inside the nests during the cold months.

B. Spiders are placed inside the nests by the wasps for their larvae to eat.

C. Spiders are killed by the wasps in order to protect the wasp larvae.

Answer is at the bottom of the page!

Mother Mud Daubers fill each of the chambers in their nests with a variety of paralyzed spiders for their larvae to eat. After packing in a group of spiders, the mother Dauber lays a single egg in the chamber and seals it with a layer of mud. This is repeated for each of the three or four chambers in each of their pipe-shaped nests.

Potter Wasp nests are different than those of Mud Daubers in some basic ways. Each small Potter nest is built for only a single wasp larva, and they stock their nests with a diversity of prey: caterpillars, beetle grubs, and spiders.

Fun Facts and Musings

Spiders must be amazingly nutritious because the wasp larvae grow incredibly fast; a Mud Dauber larva can completely eat all the spiders in its tiny mud chamber and become a pupa in less than a week! (Different Mud Dauber species and different temperatures produce a wide range of growth rates, varying from less than one week to three weeks.) The mother Mud Dauber stuffs an average of eight spiders into each of the three or four chambers along each pipe. However, she might need up to 25 spiders if they are small.

Mud Daubers favor the large, ornate orb-weaving spiders that often sit at the centers of their webs. They are relatively easy to spot – perfect prey for insects that have strong flying abilities, strong grasping legs, and quick stingers. While the spiders lay in wait for insects to blunder into their silk webs, the Mud Daubers turn the tables on them, making prey of the spiders. Still, it takes roughly an hour of hunting for every spider brought back to the nest. By paralyzing the spiders, they remain fresh during the time it takes a wasp larva to develop.

"Solitary" wasps (species that make their nests alone, such as Mud Daubers and Potter Wasps) mainly use their stings to paralyze prey. They inject venom in or near the prey's nerve center that controls movement, knocking out its ability to fight or flee. By comparison, "social" wasps and bees (species that build their nests with a group effort) mainly use their stingers to defend their hives. They need to inflict pain to drive away intruders. The pain and swelling that we feel from the stings of social wasps are caused by a cocktail of chemicals in their venom. The venom produces an allergic reaction when our own defenses release "histamines." Hence, antihistamines are helpful to control the swelling from wasp or bee stings. When social wasps hunt for caterpillars, they often bite them, rather than paralyze them with venom.

The name "Mud Dauber" suggests that people compared the wasps' behavior to our application of plaster to a wall. However, if you watch a video of their construction technique (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/N3IFO3p1bvM), you will see that they actually craft their mud tubes from a series of carefully made arches. They also search out mud with certain properties that they favor for nest construction. When she has located a nearby mud site, a female Mud Dauber uses her large mandibles to scoop the mud and create a small ball. One of these mud balls is used to form each side of an arch in the nest. The wasp pushes the mud ball against the partially hardened edge of the tube to attach it, and then uses her mandibles to squeeze and stretch the ball to form a complete arch. In addition to having impressive skills at molding the mud balls into arched shapes, the wasps also compact the mud as it is applied by rapidly tapping it with their front legs and mandibles. This compaction strengthens the nest as it is being constructed. A female Mud Dauber can complete a six-inch nest tube in less than a day, and sometimes in as little as three hours. If you see a series of tubes, made side-by-side, it could be the work of just one female! The spider hunt begins as soon as she is done building each tube.

Father Mud Daubers play their main role in the family during nest construction: They guard the nest from parasitic flies and wasps, as well as other Mud Daubers that might try to take over the nest while the mother is away hunting.

Potter Wasps and Mud Daubers are not closely related but they do share some striking similarities. For example, they both make their nests by bringing balls of moist soil to the construction site and patching them together. However, the female Potter Wasp makes her own mud by spitting out water that she drank to mix with dry soil. She makes more than 20 trips to build a nest, which might take several hours. When she has filled the "pot" with paralyzed prey and laid a single egg, she seals the opening with mud. A mother Potter Wasp might make about 25 nests in her life – a lot of work for each offspring! You can probably learn as much as you want to know about Potter Wasp nest building by watching one of the wonderful short videos available, such as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sjx5gh8cgE.

Both Potter Wasp and Mud Dauber adults feed mainly on nectar from flowers. For example, a Fraternal Potter Wasp was photographed feeding in SNP in the adjoining picture (photographed by David Cox on September 2). Note its "wasp waist," which allows it to move its stinger quickly in any direction. They often thrust their stingers forward between their legs. However, like Mud Daubers, these wasps are quite docile, and unlikely to ever sting us. And, like the Mud Daubers, their venom is for paralyzing prey, rather than sending a painful message to intruders!

"What on Earth?" Answer

Answer: B!

Thanks to Dr. Lynn Kimsey (University of California, Davis) for identifying the Potter Wasp nest and Karen Hendershot for inspiring this article! Send your photos and ideas for topics to Ray at rvb@umich.edu.

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President's Log: January 2025

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 16:00:12 GMT

President's Log: January 2025

By Jim Fetig

We have good news. Spurred on by our year-end campaign honoring John Hedrick’s decades of selfless service and the convenience of our new online membership portal (Neon), PATC beat our goal and raised over $100 thousand in the final three months of 2024! That compares to approximately $35 thousand during the same period last year. Happy New Year, indeed!

Thank you to everyone in the PATC community who was able to donate. Rumor has it that John’s agent may ask for an NIL deal.* Next thing you know, the Cadillac Crew and Hoodlums will be endorsing chainsaws, hard hats and trail tools.

Over the course of the holidays, I read a lot about how society is losing the sense of community. It begins with “Bowling Alone,” Robert Putnam’s 2000 book about how people are disengaging from social involvement. At the time, the Sony Walkman was scapegoated because people were plugging in and tuning out, hence the metaphoric book title.

Since then, technology has only accelerated the process. iPhones, the internet, Zoom, podcasts, and media fragmentation among other developments have played a role in our social breakdown. One member in Charlottesville posited that we are in a moment of profound change as profound as when Guttenberg invented the printing press. He may be right.

In our own case, since we started hosting ExCom and Council meetings over Zoom, the amount of social interaction and sense of community among members has been inversely proportional to the amount of convenience we’ve gained. In a volunteer led and managed organization, social relationships and trust among leaders is a necessary condition of success.

This will be a topic of the annual ExCom retreat on Jan. 4. That reminds me to welcome the new ExCom members. You can read more about them here . It is a talented group. Thanks for stepping up.

Change also breeds opportunity. PATC connects people to the outdoors in ways that foster community whether it’s the social aspects of when friends rent cabins, volunteer service, join hikes, come climbing with us, or try ski-touring. Getting outside may be the antidote for our times. People may want to join us to get some exercise, find friendship, and be off the grid for a while.

Earlier in December, five of us volunteered through the ATC to help clear blowdowns in the Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area. The Mt. Rogers club was overwhelmed, as was the Forest Service. Volunteers from nearly every Virginia club showed up on two separate occasions to pitch in. As one local club member noted, when the sister clubs showed up, it seemed as if the cavalry had arrived.

To be sure, the devastation, the size and location of the downed trees, required contract crews to do the heavy lifting. Regardless, the volunteers were welcome as part of the trail community. Working together, we made a difference.

With at least 20 landslides and multiple washouts reported, Rush Williamson, Supervisor of Trails, will be working with club trail leaders to determine how we may be able to support tread restoration over the summer. There is a lot of dirt to move and relocations in the works.

If you’re a cyclist, the Virginia Creeper Trail east of Damascus was washed away entirely including the tread and most of the old railroad bridges. Hydraulic power is fearsome. Congress appropriated recovery money for public lands, but it will be a while before repairs can be done.

One last note. As the PA transitions to an electronic format, it’s worth noting that the paper quarterly edition is on hold until we can be assured there is an audience for it.

*(NIL is name, image and likeness. It’s the way NCAA athletes can make money, primarily through endorsements.

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What's That Flower? Snead Farm Loop 5

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:00:35 GMT

What's That Flower? Snead Farm Loop 5

By Richard Stromberg

[continued from last month]

Continue on the trail back into the woods from the hang-glider launch opening. In spring, umbels of white flowers on shrubs are Black Haw ( Virburnum prunifolium ) while elongated white flower spikes are Chokecherry ( Prunus virginiana ). Low-growing white-to-pink, five-petal flowers are Wild Pink ( Silene caroliniana ).

As you approach the junction of Dickey Ridge and Snead Farm Trails, Yellow Lady’s-slipper orchids ( Cypripedium parviflorum ) are scattered in the woods in May. In summer, Pointed-leaf Tick-trefoil ( Hylodesmum glutinosum ) blooms here.

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Keep Calm and Read on: Just Kidding

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:43:50 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: Just Kidding

By Wayne Limberg

Kudos to Kirsten Elowsky for inspiring this month's book selections. Kristen and I were on EXCOM in 2015, and at Trailfest in November, she said she would like to see more reviews of children's books. I took a look at past reviews and realized it had been awhile since I had devoted one to the younger set. All of these books are kid tested and available online; some can be found at the National Park Service or Shenandoah Trust online stores, which benefit the NPS and Trust.

Heading the list is "Summer of the Tree Army: A Civil Conservation Corps Story" by Gloria Whelan. Whelan has written a raft of books for young readers and won several prizes, including a National Book Award. She lives in Michigan, where "Summer of the Tree Army" is set. "Summer of the Tree Army" is part of a Sleeping Bear Press's Tales of Young Americans series. It opens in the early 1930s with nine-year old Charlie discovering a cluster of new buildings in the woods near his northern Michigan home. When he asks his father about them, he learns they are part of a recently established CCC camp. His father clearly has doubts about the value of the CCC, questioning whether the program is a good use of taxpayer dollars. Charlie, while fishing, soon bumps into Luke, one of boys working in the camp, who is clearly new to the woods. The two become friends, with Charlie spending Sunday afternoons at the camp and Luke having dinner at Charlie's house. Charlie's father continues to question the value of the CCC but a fire soon changes everything as the CCC boys man the shovels and hoses.

There are few surprises in "Summer of the Tree Army." Its plot is fairly predictable, but Kirbi Fagan's colorful illustrations are sure to hold younger readers' interest. And, the book invites questions and discussion, which Whelan clearly anticipated as she includes a good short end note explaining the origins and history of the CCC. The book is recommended for first to fourth graders, which seems about right.

Tweeners may find P. O'Connell Pearson's "Fighting for the Forest: How FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps Helped Save America" a better fit. A work of non-fiction, "Fighting for the Forest” focuses on Shenandoah National Park, the first CCC project, and uses personal stories to describe the work and impact of FDR's favorite program. Though aimed at readers 10 years of age and older, adult readers have liked it in part because of its use of sidebars to put the CCC in historical context. "Fighting for the Forest" might have given FDR's Secretary of Labor Francis Perkins' role in the creation of the CCC more space. She was the first woman cabinet member and her family homestead became a national monument this year.

"Do Bears Poop in the Woods" by author Huw Lewis Jones and illustrator Sam Caldwell addresses one of life's major questions. But it's about more than poop. Jones is the former Curator of Art at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, and an accomplished naturalist, historian and author of over 50 books. Caldwell is a Texas artist and illustrator based in Houston. Together, they examine eight species of bear from the Arctic to USA and their evolution, differing habits, habitats, diets and, yes, poop. Along the way readers get a look at how naturalists work. More importantly, they come to see how endangered bears worldwide are threatened by climate change and humans. In addition, "Do Bears Poop in the Woods" provides some valuable lessons on how to safely deal with bears in the wild. Despite it's serious messages, "Do Bears Poop in the Woods" is fun and sure to hold the attention of readers younger and older than the book's 7 to 10 year old target audience.

It is only a short step from poop to our next book, "Butt or Face" by Kari Lavelle, though some may be reluctant to take it. This book is actually a guessing game. Readers are presented inspired photos of animal tops and bottoms and asked to guess which end is which; answers along with short, clear explanations of the pictured animal's habits and habitat are on a subsequent page. One reviewer, an elementary school teacher, said some of the photos made her clutch her pearls but her students loved them, and she happily soldiered on. Gross? Crude? For anyone over 12, probably, but "Butt or Face" is pitched at 5 to 8 year olds. For the adults in the room, there is plenty of tongue in cheek humor and groan-producing puns. One caveat: "Butt or Face" was so popular, Lavelle wrote a sequel, "Butt or Face? Volume 2: Revenge of the Butts" which presents another set of cheeky challenges and accompanying explanation of how critters use camouflage and other tricks to survive.

Have you come across any good reads? If so, send them along to wplimberg@aol.com. Children and young adult books especially welcome. Meanwhile, stay safe and warm. See you on the trail.

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Last Call: Hoodlums Close Out 2024

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:39:44 GMT

Last Call: Hoodlums Close Out 2024

By Tom Moran, Michael Gergely, Jim Fetig & Wayne Limberg

SNP’s North District Hoodlums made their final group outing of the season Saturday November 16, though smaller, targeted efforts will continue throughout the winter as weather permits. Four of the five crews met at Piney River CCC camp, but not before facing a substantial obstacle – a large, impassable blowdown blocking Skyline Drive. Temptation was great for the well-equipped crews to jump out and remediate the problem, but fortunately park staff arrived quickly and cleared the tree. The morning was cold and wind was stout, but as the crews moved into the protected woods the warm sun and protective trees made the working conditions ideal for the season.

AT South Marshall

Hoodlum veterans Cindy Ardecki, sporting her new Certified Trail Maintainer hard hat, and Dave Nebhut led a crew on the AT north from Gravel Springs to South Marshall. The crew included Roger Friend, Chris Viggiano, Ethan Glicke, and Mark Wrobel. They rebuilt three rock waterbars that were no longer moving water off the trail and focused the bulk of their efforts on clearing and extending the outlets of the many water-diversion structures on that heavily used stretch of the AT. Their reward for climbing up South Marshall was a beautiful late autumn view.

Pass Mountain Trail

Trail Co-maintainer Marie Seymour recently discovered several substantial blowdowns downhill from the Pass Mountain Shelter, but was it enough to warrant a Hoodlums crew effort? The question was resolved when a hiker posted pictures and locations of a number of new ones, raising the priority from “maybe” to “must address.” Marie and crew leader Tom Moran took a crew including David Pierce, Gerard Weatherby, John Bichell, Marie’s mom Rosemary Seymour, and Steven Parsley on a trek that started at the Panorama parking area and finished at the Route 211 trail terminus. Utilizing a 42” crosscut saw and other hand tools, the crew found and cleared 27 blowdowns over the 4+ mile trip.

Piney Ridge Trail

Tom Troutman led a small but veteran crew down Piney Ridge trail focused on preparing the trail for winter - trimming vegetation, cleaning waterbars and check dams, clearing small and medium blowdowns. All clearing was done with hand tools. Elizabeth Moser, Tina Rafalovich and Jim Fetig rounded out the crew.

AT Pass Mountain

Mike Gergely led a crew of five to the AT on Pass Mountain to continue rehab work started last month. While the primary goal was to put in new steps and waterbars, the crew ended up spending the majority of the time dealing with several blowdowns from the recent windstorms. Fortunately, Michael Durland brought along his brand new folding Silky saw which saw plenty of use cutting through the fallen logs and branches. Keith Bullock, Molly Bolan and Roger Fast rounded out the crew.

Piney River CCC Shed

The Shed Heads--Wayne Limberg, Justin Corddry, Richard Lee, Terry Shaw and Tony Hedlesky--wrapped up work on the 1934 CCC shed at Piney River that they had been working on since last spring. Now it's on to finishing the job of the larger shed.

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Meet Your New Elected Officals

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:21 GMT

Meet Your New Elected Officials

By Jess LaPolla

We are excited to introduce our new Executive Committee members, to serve for the next two years as leaders and ambassadors for the club. With diverse backgrounds and a wealth of experience and knowledge between them, we are confident that each of these individuals will contribute greatly to PATC and help us continue to reach our goals.

Secretary, Lynn Murphy

Lynn has been a member of PATC for many years and has a great appreciation for the club. She is looking forward to contributing to PATC's mission and to give some of her time in return for the many hours she has enjoyed on the trail. Lynn spent twenty years as Director of Finance for several non-profit organizations where she prepared board reports as well as attended board meetings, including strategic and financial planning. She was on the finance committee for PATC and understands the unique structure of the Executive Committee. Her professional background will offer a well-rounded perspective on the operations of the club.

VP of Volunteerism, Jayne Mayne

We welcome Jayne Mayne as our new VP of Volunteerism. In her former role as the Supervisor of Membership, Jayne coordinated monthly new member meetings, and took the lead on organizing and executing PATC’s first ever Fall TrailFest. As someone who has been involved with PATC for 15 years, Jayne brings a wealth of experience and insight to her new position. Her goals include building on improvements the former VP of Volunteerism implemented, creating better ways to communicate with each other, and encouraging more members to become involved in volunteer efforts.

Supervisor of Marketing, Chris Irick

Chris Irick is passionate about PATC’s focus of connecting people to the outdoors, and is ready to support PATC’s goals of growth and preparation for the next 100 years of service to the outdoor community. He has supervised and guided teams on various marketing campaigns and has many years of experience in marketing and management. His professional and personal experiences will be a great asset the club.

Supervisor of Communications, Kyle Schut

Kyle brings over seven years’ worth of experience in communications, including establishing a new website for a publication, forming and implementing communications strategy, supporting and leading all stages of content creation, and team management. One of Kyle’s goals is to help PATC pivot toward a younger and more diverse membership base. Understanding the mental and physical benefits of the outdoors, Kyle hopes to increase accessibility in outdoor spaces, so that more people can enjoy them.

Supervisor of Facilities, Anstr Davidson

For Anstr, this position is a culmination of his years working with the PATC cabin reservation system. Cabins and shelters are two of the bright spots of the club's activities. Skilled, hard-working volunteers with good leadership care for these treasurers, and Anstr would like to support and improve our facilities and reservation processes. His many years of dedicated volunteering and involvement with PATC, along with his time working for the federal government, has more than equipped Anstr to excel at this role.

Supervisor of Trails, Rush Williamson

Rush will continue his work as Supervisor of Trails, with the goal of supporting the trail maintainers, improving and protecting the 1200 miles of trails that PATC maintains, and strengthening our relationships with our Land Partners. reengineering effort, and implementing those policies and processes to make these things become a reality. Rush has been a member of PATC and a volunteer for 20+ years, with 15 years being a part of Council and EXCOM. He has served for over 30 years in a number of leadership positions for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Project Management Institute, and the Boy Scouts. Rush also received the prestigious Myron Avery award in 2012.

Supervisor of Outreach, Christopher Ede-Calton

Christopher is eager to bring his expertise in artificial intelligence ethics, climate policy, and strategic communications to support PATC in navigating today's complex global challenges. He is experienced in politics and is committed to advancing pragmatic solutions that can appeal across the political spectrum and drive meaningful change in areas such as climate resilience, outdoor education, and conservation. Christopher’s goal is to expand the outreach program, build more community partnerships, and keep PATC moving toward a better future.

Treasurer, Allison Kirsch

Allison is a PATC member and an avid hiker and backpacker, with 700 miles on the AT as a section hiker. She appreciates the work of PATC and other clubs along the trail for helping to make the experience more memorable, safe, and comfortable, and is excited to offer her experience to help give back to the community. Allision has a deep background in business operations after working for a number of years in various executive roles, including as Chief Operating Officer of a boutique management consulting firm, and Chief Business Officer of a mid-sized membership-based organization. She also has hands-on experience in various business functions, including finance and reporting, budgeting and planning, accounting and audits, cash and investment management, purchasing, capital projects and facilities management, Human Resources, IT, Marketing, and Sales.

Supervisor of Membership, Anne Brown

Service to and for the community has always been a passion of Anne’s. Helping others, answering questions, and finding solutions is what brings her joy, and she is looking forward to supporting PATC and the individuals that are seeking a path that connects them with the outdoors and nature. Anne has been with the Delaware Department of Transportation for 15 years, currently serving as the Director of Maintenance and Operations. She has also held positions at DelDOT, including Assistant Director of Finance, Chief of Administration, and Fiscal Management Analyst.

Supervisor of Lands, Russel Riggs

As the current Supervisor of Lands, Russel has learned so much about the critical role that lands play in protecting and maintaining the trails, huts, cabins and ecosystems overseen by the PATC, however, notes that there is still much to do. One of his focus areas of the last two years has been to better quantify the amount, location, and condition of the land that PATC owns and manages and maintains. He plans on continuing this work, and will also continue to explore opportunities to purchase and protect strategically located parcels of land that help protect, ecosystems, and access to huts, cabins, and trails. In addition to his previous term as Supervisor of Lands, Russel also has experience as a trail maintainer and is an avid hiker and outdoorsperson.

Vice President of Operations, Lee Congdon

As an avid hiker who frequently explores the trails maintained by PATC, particularly in Shenandoah National Park, Lee has developed a deep appreciation for the club's work and its impact on our natural spaces. His involvement in the reengineering effort has given him a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of the club, which he is eager to leverage in this new role. Lee is committed to actively engaging with both the membership and leadership to better understand our opportunities and requirements, ensuring that the club continues to thrive and grow. Lee has experience as Chair of the IT Steering Committee for PATC, and prior to his involvement with the club, had a distinguished career in the technology sector, serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Ellucian. Before that, he was Chief Information Officer at Red Hat. Lee won the Myron Avery Award in 2024.

President, Jim Fetig

Jim is inspired by what he’s learned about the club and its members over the past 18 months, and is excited to continue the work he has been doing across the board to strengthen the club and its operations. His goals are to continue building the PATC brand, programming, and communications efforts to attract members and leaders from all generations and backgrounds. He is also focused on adding rigor to our management processes and budgeting process. Jim has already served one term as club President, and prior to that, spent more than a decade as an activity leader, AT thru hiker, trail maintainer, ridgerunner and ridgerunner coordinator, service on various ATC and club committees, chainsaw and trail maintenance instructor. He also received the Myron Avery award in 2019.

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Get Cozy at Catoctin Hollow Lodge

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:33:19 GMT

Get Cozy at Catoctin Hollow Lodge

By Jess LaPolla

Picture yourself strolling through a charming historic town, sipping coffee at the local cafe, and then browsing the quaint shops on Main Street. After that, you embark on an afternoon hike to the tallest waterfall in Maryland, before returning to your cozy log cabin to warm yourself by the stone fireplace.

If this sounds like an idyllic getaway, you may want to check out Catoctin Hollow Lodge , located in Cunningham Falls State Park, near Thurmont, MD.

The spacious cabin boasts lofted ceilings, skylights, a wraparound porch, sunroom, and lodging for 8 people. The best part is that it is a fully equipped modern cabin, with electricity, running water, and all the amenities you need to enjoy your stay. Sitting in the sunroom gives you a beautiful view of the surrounding wilderness, and the cabin’s location will make you feel totally disconnected from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Getting to the cabin requires a .7-mile hike in over some easy but rocky terrain, so make sure to bring good hiking shoes. Once you reach the cabin, you may never want to leave, but in case you do, there are countless activities to embark on nearby. Explore Thurmont or the nearby town of Frederick, enjoying good food and checking out the local haunts. Stop by Fortitude Coffee in Thurmont for your caffeine fix, and if you’re looking for a good book to read next to the fire, head over to the Curious Iguana in Frederick. For a leisurely afternoon, visit the nearby Links Bridge Vineyards for a wine tasting.

Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin Mountain Park offer countless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, any hike you embark on is sure to offer a beautiful experience. Cunningham Falls State Park is home to the largest waterfall in the state of Maryland, measuring in at about 78 feet high. There are also beaches and picnic areas in the park for the whole family to enjoy.

Both parks also have excellent bouldering, and Cunningham has some stellar Trad and Top Rope (TR) routes as well, so don’t forget your rack and rope if you’re looking for vertical fun.

Whatever you choose to do while staying at Catoctin Hollow, whether you stay in and play boardgames by the fire, or spend all day soaking in the great outdoors, you are sure to have a memorable stay. To book your stay and learn more, visit patc.net/catoctinhollow .

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Cadillac Crew: PATC TrailFest and the Chapel Hill Trail

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 16:40:04 GMT

Cadillac Crew: PATC TrailFest and the Chapel Hill Trail

By Dan and Ellen Feer

The November Cadillac Crew trip was to Caroline Furnace and PATC TrailFest! What a great event! Friday night the Hoodlums and the Cadillac Crew shared a warm evening around the fire in the Moyer building in Cabin Village sharing thoughts about the coming weekend.

Saturday morning, Cadillac Crew’s Kirsten Elowsky and Bob Aldridge’s field kitchens produced an excellent breakfast to get us ready for our contribution to TrailFest, the rehabilitation of the Cabin Village side of the Chapel Trail.

Since the trailhead was right next our cabins, there was no delay getting to work after our safety briefing. The trail had to be relocated and the old trail needed to be obscured. We also replaced a 25-foot long bridge, created four new rolling grade dips, cleared a few blowdowns and cleared the trail of leaves and debris all the way to the Chapel on the Hill.

Trail foreman, Robert Fina laid out the relocation and Bob, Janet Arici, Peg Barry, Jeff Clyman, Alice Decarlo, Kirsten, Dan Feer, Erica Glembocki, Bill Greenan, Neil Hopper, George Jones, Molly Mckinley, Brian Napier, Cat Randall, Ellen Shaw, Deb Strosnider, Russ Strosnider, Bonnie Themer , and Steve Themer got started clearing duff, shrubs and small trees, then sidehilling, derocking and using picks to chip through some pretty tough shale.

Ellen Feer and Tysha Robinson started off clearing leaves and duff and carried right on clearing for the next half mile up to the Chapel on the Hill, and then cleared the chapel itself! Kate Walker, a B-carded sawyer, with Steve Phillips , and Chris Glembocki as swampers cleared the blowdowns and started milling cedar tree trunks delivered by the Caroline Furnace Operations team into bridge beams and bridge abutments. Robert Fina oversaw the beam and abutment placement and deck boards were nailed on by Bob, Alice, and Robert. Dan Feer led Jeff Clyman, Ellen Shaw and Erica Glembocki in removing old water bars and replacing them with grade dips along the path to the Chapel on the Hill.

In just 6 hours, the whole section of trail was transformed. It’s more sustainable, easier to walk and even prettier than before. Campers next year will be very pleased. We all got ready for the awards, recognitions and dinner.

Sunday, the crew led and participated in several events including rigging, hiking and archery. We’d love to do it all again next year!

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Remembering Ryan Jones

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 14:41:14 GMT

Ryan Jones was, on all accounts, the type of person that lit up a room. He had a bright, easygoing energy that made people gravitate towards him. According to his dad, Chris, he was “happy, mellow, knowledgeable and easy going. His favorite stories to share were often about trail work trips and overnighters in PATC cabins.” His friends would describe him as loyal and caring, deeply devoted to his friends, his family, and his faith. An accomplished sommelier, Ryan was just as at home in the backcountry as he was in an upscale restaurant.

Always an adventurous spirit, Ryan fell in love with the outdoors as an infant. According to Chris, Ryan’s mom Toni took Ryan to many of the Fairfax city and county parks. “From rides on the Burke Lake Kiddie train, to the hay rides at Cox’s Farm, Ryan was always outside. It is at these parks that he got his first lessons in wildlife and love for the outdoors.” As he got older, Ryan pursued his love for the outdoors by hiking, camping, skiing, fishing, traveling, playing rugby, and volunteering with PATC.

Ryan grew up in PATC, helping his dad maintain the Jones Mountain Trail as a teenager, going on work trips with friends, and spending countless nights in PATC cabins. Ryan and his family volunteered with PATC for over 30 years. They stayed in countless huts and cabins operated by PATC while performing trail maintenance at Jones Mountain, the Laurels, on the Appalachian Trail, and many other trails in the region.

In addition, they often cooked for cabin crews, volunteered for cleanup after ice storms, and stepped in when certain trail sections were short on volunteers. PATC volunteers are some of the most dedicated you’ll find anywhere, and Ryan and his family were the embodiment of that notion.

Ryan’s entire family loved outdoor recreation and being in the mountains. After meeting the love of his life, their trips grew to include Kitty, Ryan’s wife, their dogs, and his sister Erin’s husband and kids. They created many memories together over the years, and staying at PATC cabins was one of their favorite things to do together.

As Ryan battled with neuroendocrine carcinoma, it became more and more difficult for him to travel, but he was able to go on one last adventure before he passed. He visited Vining cabin with his family, taking in the beauty of nature one last time.

Next time you’re having a glass of wine, pour one out for Ryan, who will be very missed by his friends, family, and the many people in his life who he impacted.

Hurricane Helene Cleanup Efforts

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 19:43:04 GMT

Hurricane Helene Cleanup Efforts

By Jim Fetig

Several club members have asked if they could volunteer to help the trail clubs in the areas clobbered by Hurricane Helene.

Over the weekend, I was in contact with ATC and club leaders. Before anyone jumps in to repair or clear the AT, a comprehensive condition assessment will be required. That will take time. After that, the local clubs will have to determine if they need help, and if so, how to accept and organize it. In any case, ATC will have the lead in the solicitation and coordination of outside assistance.

The keys to a successful effort will be ATC coordination with local clubs (they fiercely guard their prerogatives, as does PATC), the USFS, and APPA - there's a lot of paperwork to cover workman's comp etc.

Then there are logistics. Road access may be limited for a long time. Local support services may not be available in a lot of places. Do we stage in campgrounds/functional hostels/motels or do we camp along the trail? Can some of the costs be covered? There are plenty of questions.

The final part is organization. There has to be a plan with priorities and people in charge. Everybody can't just show up.

My guess is that, if help is needed in the Southern Region, it will be late winter before we know for sure and plans can be developed.

One note of optimism.

Trails are designed to be amazingly robust. In 2018, Shenandoah got nearly twice its annual rainfall - almost 100 inches. The trails held up very well, so the issues related to Helene may skew more toward blow-downs and less to tread work. Only a comprehensive assessment will tell.

To those interested in volunteering, please stand by. We will keep you informed.

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Together on the Trail: Mary and Thomas Jorgensen

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 14:39:34 GMT

“We started going to the cabins together, and the rest is history.” - Mary Jorgensen

Thomas and Mary Jorgensen have been together for 25 years and have been PATC members for just as long, and in Thomas’s case, even longer.

About 30 years ago, Thomas was a single parent and regularly hiked and camped on the Appalachian Trail with his son, who was a boy scout. They began making use of some of the cabins along the trail. “We went to Sugar Knob, and the front door was off, the window was busted out and it was snowing. We did the best we could to repair it.” After making those repairs Thomas was “shuffled” into PATC, being handed a set of keys to another cabin that needed repairing shortly after.

When Mary met Thomas through mutual friends, she became a PATC member and began volunteering with him. They spent their free time hiking around and maintaining the cabins in their region. Thomas is now the Volunteer District Supervisor of the Shenandoah Valley, and both he and Mary are Tract Managers for Mutton Hollow, the largest tract in PATC. The work they do as volunteers includes overseeing and assisting with the maintenance of seven cabins in the Shenandoah Valley, along with various other projects.

According to Thomas, they maintain “everything from electric cabins all the way down to, well you would debate whether it was a cabin or a wooden tent.” As Tract Managers, Mary and Thomas have also recently been working on clearing invasive plants from a meadow and installing the largest Native Flower Garden that PATC has seen.

“We tend to chip in anywhere we’re needed”, said Mary after they continued to list off a number of projects they were working on, including the renovation of the Trout Run School House, which has been well known as a gateway to outdoor activities in the Central Appalachian Mountains. Thomas and Mary spent about six months working on the cabin during the height of the pandemic, doing most of the work themselves. These renovations included everything from cleaning and painting to installing a heat and AC system.

Mary and Thomas have rightfully been bestowed the title of Honorary Lifetime Members, and they plan on continuing their work with PATC as they enjoy their semi-retirement. They currently spend about eight days a month volunteering, either up in the mountains on the trail or working on a cabin. When asked about their favorite part of volunteering, they both mentioned the camaraderie between other volunteers, PATC members, and their cabin neighbors. Thomas and Mary also enjoy spending time together in nature and making those memories together.

“We’re more than just husband and wife, we’re companions.”

Looking toward the future, Mary and Thomas are looking forward to taking more vacations, along with exploring more of PATC’s cabins and lands. Mary noted that they love to travel, and they end up doing “mostly outdoorsy things. We love to find waterfalls and explore the area that we’re going to.”

Thomas noted, “It’ll be nice as we get [our cabins] up to being the best in the system, and then we’ll be able to spread out a little bit. We’ll be able to go back to other cabins that we’ve worked on in the past or go to some that we’ve never stayed at.”

PATC is lucky to have dedicated volunteers like Thomas and Mary, whose love for nature and for each other is inspiring to see. Be sure to say hi if you see them out on the trail!

Everything You Need to Know About Sleeping Pad R-values

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:32:34 GMT

There are a ton of different sleeping pads on the market for campers, hikers, and backpackers. They are diverse in their materials, intended use, and r-value. As an avid backpacker and hiker, I’ve always aimed to find a balance between warmth and weight in my gear, specifically in my sleeping pad. When I first started backpacking, terms like r-value and paragraphs about thermal resistance made my eyes glaze over. Not to fear though, I’m going to take you through everything you need to know about R-values and how to optimize your sleep system, and hopefully keep you awake in the process.

What is R-value?

Let’s start with the basics-what exactly is R-value and what does it have to do with sleeping pads? In simple terms, R-value is a measure of thermal resistance. Thermal resistance determines the heat insulation property in textile materials, like the materials used to make sleeping pads. The higher the thermal resistance, the less heat is lost. Meaning, the higher the R-value of your sleeping pad, the better it will insulate you and the warmer it will be. R-value is a tested measurement that depends on the type of fabrics or materials used, the thickness of the materials, and other qualities.

How is R-Value Measured?

Most sleeping pad manufacturers use a thermally sealed container to test and measure the R-value of their sleeping pads. The pad is placed between two metal plates, one which uses sensors and is kept at a steady temperature using an electrical current. A pad with higher insulation or a higher r-value will keep the plate with the sensors warm, causing the sensors to use less energy. A pad with a lower r-value and less insulation will cause the sensors to use more energy to maintain the same temperature.

How Does This Affect Your Camping Experience?

Have you ever rolled off of your sleeping pad in the middle of the night and woken up from being too cold? This is due to a process known as conductive heat loss. Basically, the heat from your body is being transferred to the cold ground. If you’re having a hard time picturing this, think about a time you sat down on a cold metal chair. After a few minutes, the chair would feel warmer, because of conduction.

Creating an insulating barrier with a sleeping pad and sleeping bag when camping can prevent heat loss and keep you warm throughout the night. With the right materials, a sleep system can keep you warm in sub-zero temperatures.

How to Factor in R-value When Choosing a Sleeping Pad

Though higher R-values can provide more warmth in a sleeping pad, there may be circumstances when you want to choose a pad with a lower R-value. Typically you will see sleeping pads with an R-value between 1-7, with 7 being the warmest. Sleeping pads with an R-value of 1-2 are good options if you plan on doing summer camping or backpacking. This is what you’ll see in most inflatable pads and air pads. R-values of 3-4 are great for three-season use. If you plan on camping through shoulder seasons or in winter, you will need a pad with a higher R-value, usually made of thicker foam materials.

Your sleeping bag temperature rating will also factor into what kind of sleeping pad you need to bring with you. For instance, if you have a bag rated to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and you are planning on camping in 40 degree temperatures, you have some wiggle room when it comes to choosing a sleeping pad. Vice versa, if you have a sleeping pad with an R value of 6.5, you may not need to bring that heavy 0 degree bag and could get by with a lighter one.

Generally, you will want to err on the side of caution and pack on the warmer side, especially if you are expecting chilly conditions. You can always adjust your gear on future hiking trips based on how you slept. This is especially important for cold sleepers. It is much easier to cool down in the night by unzipping your bag or taking off a layer than it is to warm up because you didn’t pack the right gear.

Sleeping Pad Recommendations

From ultralight backpacking to winter car camping, these are some of my favorite sleeping pads. These comfortable pads will keep you warm and cozy in the backcountry, with something for every season.

Sea to Summit Ultralight Sleeping Pad

At 13.9 ounces, this ultralight sleeping pad weighs less than a roll of paper towels, and packs down smaller than one as well. It has an R-value of .7, making it ideal for summer/warm weather backpacking. Despite the minimalist design, this pad uses an integrated inflating device to give you four inches of cushioning and protection from the cold ground. Ripstop nylon increases durability and prevents leaks and punctures but does come with a repair kit in the event of a tear. If you want to increase your warmth with this pad, pair it with a light closed-cell foam pad or use a warmer sleeping bag.

Therm-A-Rest Basecamp Sleeping Pad

This self-inflating open cell foam pad with an R-value of 6 will keep you warm and comfortable during cold weather camping. At 2.8 pounds, this pad is best used for car camping or base camping but could be used for winter backpacking as well. The valve system allows for easy inflation and easy deflation, saving you time at camp.

Nemo Tensor Alpine Sleeping Pad

The Nemo Tensor insulated sleeping mat balances warmth, weight, and comfort impressively and effectively. Weighing 1 pound 4 ounces, this lightweight pad has an R-value of 4.8 and a temperature rating of -20 degrees Fahrenheit, making it perfect for winter backpacking or mountaineering. It is also comfortable enough for car camping. The stuff-sack doubles as a pump, making it super easy to inflate.

There are many variables that contribute to the warmth and efficiency of your sleep system, and R-Value is one that is often overlooked despite its importance. Some trial and error may be necessary when selecting a sleep system that works for you, but hopefully, this article has highlighted a few key points to consider when shopping. If you have questions about R-values, sleeping pads, or need help choosing a new sleeping pad that is right for you, reach out to an expert here at Curated. We will help you choose the best sleeping pad and create the perfect sleep system based on your needs.

How to Choose a Backpacking Stove

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 14:46:17 GMT

Let’s face it, there is nothing better than sitting down at the end of a long day of hiking and being able to enjoy a warm meal, or waking up to watch the sunrise with a steaming cup of coffee in your hand. That is why selecting a backpacking stove is essential for any multi-day excursion. There are a handful of different options on the market, and which type of stove you decide to purchase depends on a few different factors:

- How long is your trip?

Some stove and fuel options are heavier than others, making them less desirable for longer treks.

- What is the anticipated weather/climate?

Wind and rain can be a deterrent for certain types of stoves.

- Where is your trip? (the United States or abroad?)

Some types of fuel are difficult to find outside of the United States.

- Are there restrictions or regulations regarding fires or kindling collection in your destination?

National Parks and Forests may restrict or forbid certain practices.

- Are you cooking for yourself or multiple people?

If cooking for a group of people, you may want to go with a stove that can accommodate that.

The answers to these questions will help you decide which type of stove is appropriate for your needs. Now, let’s go over the different types of stoves.

Canister Stove:

Canister stoves are user-friendly stoves that require very little maintenance and are known for their durability and easy upkeep. These stoves can weigh as little as a few ounces (oz) and some fold up small enough to fit in your pocket, making them a desirable choice for backpackers and thru-hikers. They screw onto the top of self-sealing fuel canisters containing isobutane and propane, which are typically sold separately. No priming is required, and some even have a piezo ignitor (all you have to do is turn the valve to open and press the ignitor button) below the burner. Others require you to light them with a match or a lighter after opening the fuel valve. The flame control is quite good and is generally easy to adjust on canister stoves, making them ideal for both cooking food and boiling water. Some canister stoves even have a built-in pressure regulator, which can improve performance at high elevations and in colder temperatures.

A couple of downsides to canister stoves: They can be difficult to balance on uneven surfaces and are typically too small to hold larger pots and pans, making them preferable for solo-hikers. Though the stoves themselves are lightweight, fuel can be heavy depending on how much you have to carry, and it is difficult to tell how much fuel you have left at any given time. The fuel is also more expensive than other types and can be difficult to find outside of the U.S. They should not be used with a windscreen, as it can lead to the fuel exploding. This may make canister stoves difficult to use in windy conditions.

Integrated Canister Stove:

Similar to the regular folding canister stove, these stove systems screw onto a separate fuel bottle or canister. They are taller, featuring an integrated cooking pot and lid with a built-in windscreen. They offer more stability than a folding canister stove though they are not as compact. They have a fast boil time and though some models are not ideal for cooking, many designs offer more versatility. These stoves are a great choice but do tend to be a bit heavier than their folding stove counterpart.

Remote Canister Stove:

This type of canister stove sits on its own base, which might make it more stable than other models. It also has a fuel hose that attaches to the canister. This stove packs down easily but weighs slightly more than a folding canister stove. However, some are designed to be used in cold weather and high altitudes and can support larger pots.

Liquid Fuel Stove:

Liquid fuel stoves run on white gas, which is preferable to other types of gas for several reasons. The efficient fuel burns very hot, performing well in alpine conditions, and is much less expensive compared to the fuel you would use for a canister stove. Some can even be used with multiple fuel types, such as kerosene, diesel, or in desperate circumstances, unleaded gasoline, making them an excellent choice for international trips, when you are unsure of what will be available. These stoves tend to do well on uneven surfaces and are overall easy to use. They tend to be heavier than canister stoves and do require periodic maintenance, due to the stove having many different little pieces. Most liquid fuel stoves also require priming, by igniting a few drops of fuel to preheat the fuel line. They can also run on the expensive side.

Wood Burning Stove:

Wood-burning stoves are pretty self-explanatory. They function by burning sticks and leaves that you gather in the backcountry. This makes them a nice option for longer trips because you don’t have to carry extra fuel and don’t have to worry about running out of fuel (depending on your location). There are a variety of models, including lightweight titanium and easily packable stoves. Other models boast the ability to generate enough electricity to charge your phone, making it multi-functional. The downsides to this type of stove are fairly obvious. If you are in a wet or rainy climate, it may be difficult to find dry fuel. If you are hiking in alpine environments, you may not have access to fuel. Some protected areas also prohibit the use of wood-burning or solid fuel stoves or the collection of wood/fuel.

Alcohol Stove and Tablet Stove:

Alcohol stoves and tablet stoves are very popular stoves amongst ultralight backpackers, only weighing an ounce or two. They are ideal for any length trip because you only have to carry the amount of alcohol or the number of tablets needed. These stoves also burn super quietly. Denatured alcohol is easy to find in the United States but can be difficult to find abroad and you almost always have to use a windscreen, as alcohol does not burn as hot as other types of fuel. This also means it may take longer to boil water and cook food. Some tablets may produce an odor as well. These stoves are inexpensive, and some can even be constructed at home using materials you already have.

Stove Safety Tips : No matter which type of stove you end up purchasing, there are a few things to consider when you are in the backcountry and decide to break out your stove.

-Never use your stove inside your tent or an enclosed space, as there is a risk of fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide poisoning.

-Try to find a flat surface to cook on, as you don’t want your boiling water or food spilling over.

-If your stove has a fuel line or hose, check for leaks and perform required maintenance as needed.

-If your stove has a piezo igniter or automatic ignitor, bring matches or a lighter in case it fails.

-If you’re not sure how much fuel you will need, try experimenting at home first. This will ensure you carry enough fuel with you, while not carrying unnecessary weight.

There are plenty of great options out there when it comes to choosing a backpacking or camp stove. Make sure to research the areas you’ll be hiking and traveling in before deciding on which stove is right for you and always do a test run before hitting the trail with a new piece of gear. You may find that you need more than one type of stove, depending on your goals. If you need help deciding, reach out to one of our experts here at Curated! We will happily guide you through the process of selecting the best backpacking stove for you, along with any other gear you may need.

Happy hiking!

Making Appalachian Trail Highway Crossings Safer

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 22:10:30 GMT

Senator Tim Kaine joined a group of Appalachian Trail (AT) advocates at Bluemont’s Bears Den Trail Center on July 13 ^th to talk about the perilous state of AT road crossings in Northern Virginia.

AT hikers must routinely run across lanes of speeding traffic on Routes 50, 7 and 9 (Ashby, Snickers and Keys gaps) to continue on the trail. Though yellow crossing signs were installed recently, serious concern about the safety of pedestrians remains.

Senator Kaine met with Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) President Jim Fetig, PATC District Manager Chris Brunton, Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) President Sandi Marra, Clarke County Administrator Chris Boies, Clarke Board of Supervisors Vice-Chair Terri Catlett, Commonwealth Transportation Board Member Scott Kasprowicz and AT Community ambassadors from Round Hill, Hillsboro and Bluemont.

Following a roundtable discussion of the issues hikers face at each of the crossings, the group gathered at the site of the Route 7/Harry Byrd Highway crossing to look at the hazards faced by hikers trying to safely cross there. Clarke County supervisors have worked with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to approve tentative designs for a pedestrian bridge over the highway.

The AT stakeholders meeting with Senator Kaine agreed that the Route 7 pedestrian bridge should be the first priority, and Kaine offered advice for securing federal funding for the proposed triple-span, steel bridge. The project would require a modest realignment of the AT, and both ATC and the PATC support this.

Scott Kasprowicz made suggestions about safety improvements that could be made at Rte. 50 and Rte. 9, including solar-powered, motion-sensitive warning lights and clearly defined crosswalks.

Kaine, who documented his 544-mile completion of Virginia’s section of the Appalachian Trail in his recent book, Walk Ride Paddle: A Life Outside, expressed a commitment to stay involved with work to improve AT safety in Northern Virginia.

Fall TrailFest Announces a Jam-Packed Schedule

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 15:10:41 GMT

Event to feature a dozen hikes plus campfires, hands-on workshops, and live music

Want to be a part of an autumn hike in the Massanutten mountains? Want to cabin hop from primitive to modern PATC cabins, see a private collection that chronicles the 1914 Wanderluster hikes and its impact on land conservation, take part in a hike leader education class, or walk with a Virginia Master Naturalist on the Caroline Furnace trails highlighting ecosystems common to the Shenandoah Region? Whatever your style of outdoor adventuring is, PATC’s Fall TrailFest has you covered.

In a newly released schedule, PATC has announced its lineup of activities for this November’s Fall TrailFest weekend. The jam-packed agenda includes a dozen hikes and nature walks, ranging from excursions around the property to more challenging treks over rock scrambles and streams. The schedule also includes a variety of learning and educational opportunities, including a course on how to build a campfire, a two-handed saw demonstration, trail maintenance, and a talk on GPS and navigation basics.

Then there’s the fun and socializing. At Fall TrailFest’s Saturday night Bonfire Party, expect a live band, a barbecue, and games.

That’s only scratching the surface. All told, PATC’s Fall TrailFest will host about 60 activities at the Caroline Furnace Camp and Retreat Center in Fort Valley, Virginia. For a full weekend schedule and to learn more about each of the activities we have planned, visit www.PATC.net/TrailFest .

If you want to be a part of this November’s historic PATC Fall TrailFest weekend, be sure to register. Early Bird registration is set to open within the next thirty days, with tickets for the weekend-long event beginning at just $30 per person.

On September 20, the registration fee will increase to $40, and on October 4 it increases to $50 for late registration. Food can be purchased in advance, and multiple dietary options are available.

For lodging, Fall TrailFest will feature a range of accommodations. Attendees can book a site for their tent, car camping, or campers (no hookups). Fees for accommodations are $30 per campsite for one, two or three nights. If you’re in the mood for something less rustic, several towns are located 10 to 20 miles from the retreat center.

While the upcoming Fall TrailFest event will feature a true cornucopia of activities for PATC members, the most important piece of the weekend will be your presence. This autumn’s event is designed to bring together PATC members from across the organization in a celebration of our club that will create new memories and lasting friendships. In this sense, it will be a true annual meeting of the club’s membership. We hope you can join us.

To learn more, visit www.PATC.net/TrailFest or email Jayne Mayne at MembershipSup@PATC.net with your questions.

PATC @ the Virginia Black Bear Festival

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:27:19 GMT

PATC Collaborates with the Virginia Black Bear Festival (VBBF)

On Saturday June 1, the town of Stanardsville, Virginia hosted the first Virginia Black Bear Festival (VBBF), “a one-day event designed as "a celebration of nature and mountain exploration in Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail”.

PATC was asked by the Greene County Department of Economic Development and Tourism to partner with them at the Festival. 12 members of the PATC Southern Shenandoah Valley and Charlottesville chapters volunteered at the large and very busy booth right in the center of Festival activities. Several more PATC members stopped by to give their support. Volunteers led two afternoon hikes for Festival attendees on nearby Greene County trails that are maintained by the PATC.

Through talking with people who stopped by the booth and by directing them to key websites, volunteers helped:

· showcase the Club’s work – including land conservation, trail maintenance, led hikes, cabin offerings

· generate greater interest in PATC

· get new hikers onto local trails

· sign up new members

· enlist new volunteers for upcoming projects

Various organizations that honor nature, promote outside activities and adventures, and celebrate the emergence of black bears were on hand to celebrate the Shenandoah National Park, the Appalachian Trail, and Virginia’s wild spaces. All things BEARS were going on – from led-hikes and professional storytellers, to bear- and honey-themed food at area food trucks, appearances by Sasquatch and Smokey the Bear, BEARd and porridge-eating competition, live music, and demonstrations (a master falconer and a pro-bird watcher were present, as well a live bee display, for example).

Next year’s Virginia Black Bear Festival will be celebrated on National Black Bear and National Trails Day – the first Saturday in June 7 ^th 2025.

Navigating my fear of heights on the mountains

Mon, 20 May 2024 13:29:59 GMT

Navigating my fear of heights on the mountains

By Umar Farooq

You might think that having a crippling fear of heights is an obstacle to hiking high up in the mountains.

While there may be some truth to that, I have learned that you can also grow to respect and embrace your fear of heights while continuing to enjoy the beauty of nature up close.

I learned this the hard way when I hiked the famous, for me infamous, Old Rag trail for the first time in my life. The trip began on a Saturday morning in late autumn. I was on my way to Shenandoah National Park to complete this hike I had always wanted to do since I was about 11 or 12 years old.

I arrived at the trailhead a few minutes before 7 am and grabbed my backpack in which I packed everything I could need, except for bear spray, which I later learned is a helpful accessory for a solo hiker.

The trail started off simply enough, but I quickly realized why people from all over the country travel to hike this trail.

After a lengthy uphill walk, the traversable path seemed to disappear, and I came face to face with a fat slab of rock. I stared at the slab curiously, wondering where the trail went. Then, a man came up from behind and stopped a few feet behind me. He was from Michigan and had traveled all the way to visit Shenandoah and hike this trail. It wasn’t his first time.

He told me this was the trail, and that I’d need to scale the rock formation in order to continue. He also told me if I was afraid of this, there were far greater things to be afraid of ahead of me.

After the brief rock climbing stint, more trail continued before I found myself perched up on an open-faced ledge, staring out into an abyss.

The weather was overcast that day, and that high up on the mountain I was walking in and among the clouds themselves. It also meant that while on this ledge, I could not see how high up I was. The unknown height was even scarier to me, and I stayed squatted down with my back leaned against the mountain for a good 15 minutes.

My heart rate increased by probably an additional 20 beats a minute, and my body seemed unable to move from its position no matter how much I tried. Passersby came and went, asking if I needed any help. I told them I was fine, and just needed a moment to get my bearings straight.

On top of my fears, I was incredibly frustrated, even angry at myself. Part of the reason I chose to do this hike was that I wanted to vanquish my fear of heights once and for all. It was a fear that only I seemed to have in my social circles, and it’s something my wife playfully teases me about. I envied those who could just walk up to the edge of a ledge and stare down at what was below them.

But as I sat there motionless and unable to continue the trek, a realization struck. What I thought was a “crippling” fear that hindered me was actually an important and potentially life-saving instinct. After all, I was doing this hike by myself, and there were no harnesses or ropes that would keep me from falling off this mountain if I wasn’t careful.

With that realization, I slowly got up, hugged the side of the mountain, and carefully finished the hike. I then reached the summit, where I saw many people perched up on the ledges enjoying their time. I sat myself down far from them, next to a large rock that I could lean back on. I sat there for a while, eating my lunch and observing those around me. A different version of me would have seen me as lesser-than, but I completed the same hike as them. And it was my fears that helped me to do so.

All in all, I was able to complete it in about eight hours. And as I headed back to the parking lot, I walked away from my sojourn on Old Rag with a newfound respect for my fear of heights, and a recognition that that fear is not my adversary, but an ominous guide just trying to help.

Are you ready to be a PATC Volunteer Leader?

mbrown571@me.com (Michael Brown) — Fri, 10 May 2024 14:23:48 GMT

Dear PATC Members,

Would you like to give back to the community, connect people to the outdoors, and help preserve and protect your favorite trails?

The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is looking now for dynamic and motivated leaders to fill our upcoming election in November 2024 for club officers. All 12 club-wide officer positions (see below) are up for election every two years and the club needs officers to provide the critical leadership for our important work in maintaining our facilities, lands, and trails in our region.

PATC is a non-profit organization with over 8,000 members, of which about 1,000 are also dedicated volunteers. PATC volunteers help maintain and preserve over 1200 miles of trails, 50 cabins, and 39 shelters. We are a complex organization with a lot of moving parts, always trying to improve efficiency and continue growing to better serve the public.

Positions we are looking for to lead our Executive Committee:

· President: Club leader

· VP of Operations: Coordinate trails, facilities, and lands

· VP of Volunteerism: Supports 1000 volunteers and attracts new volunteers

· Supervisor of Trails: Manages 1200 miles of trails over 40 districts

· Supervisor of Facilities: Manages cabins, shelters and campgrounds

· Supervisor of Lands: Manages 100+ parcels of PATC properties, right of ways and easements

· Treasurer: Oversees budget and accounting

· Secretary: Manages club records

· Supervisor of Membership: Supports 8000+ members and recruits new members

· Supervisor of Communications: Manages media and messaging

· Supervisor of Outreach: Manages education and outreach events

· Supervisor of Marketing: Manages sales and marketing of the PATC online store

If you are interested in a leadership position, like to develop organizations, and you have about 10 hours a week to volunteer, we’d like to know more about you. To apply or to recommend a candidate, you can email nominations@patc.net or fill out and online application , which can be found at www.patc.net/volunteer.

We will contact you to learn more about your interests and provide additional information.

If you cannot help now but know of potential candidates, please tell us, and we’ll contact them.

Sincerely,

The PATC Nominating Committee

Plan your next PATC Cabin Getaway

Fri, 03 May 2024 11:40:07 GMT

Want to get away?

Looking for a last-minute getaway to the Appalachian Mountains? PATC cabins have had you covered since 1937, However the process just got a little bit easier. For decades a last minute rental at one of our illustrious cabins included the logistics limbo of getting a key to you by mail or requiring pickup. We now have lockboxes at 9 cabins allowing all your rental necessities to arrive by email. The lockboxes are unique --since we do not always have electricity and never WiFi at these locations. Instead they have preset one time use codes that last only the duration of your stay. These devices are installed at Cliff’s House, Dunlodge, Glass House, Little Cove, Morris, Old Rag, Silberman Trail Center, and Vining Cabin. By the end of the year, 10 additional lockboxes will be installed growing your remote access to some of the best hiking properties in the region.

Cliff’s House is a lofted cabin with eye catching architecture. It is one of our modern-cabins, with all the comforts of home the second story main level is like a studio apartment among the trees with spacious railed decks on both sides. The cabin is located just west of Shenandoah National Park on the outskirts of Elkton.

Dunlodge is another modern beauty, and it’s located in Charlottesville, VA. The Cabin was originally constructed as a model home by a team of builders and therefore showcases many charming and unique building elements. The property is a short walk from UVA sports and performance venues and a short trek or quick drive into Charlottesville city center. The perfect cabin for urban explorers doesn’t feel so urban when you are there. The estate entrance is off of a small wooded dirt road tucked into a hill side. The fenced in property is wooded and far from any neighboring property. Outside the charm of the house itself is a comfortable porch, a beer garden style patio, and an outdoor fireplace.

Glass House is another cabin with the familiar comforts of indoor plumbing, electricity, and a full kitchen. Glass house is a popular pick among PATC faithful. The cabin is located in northern Fort Valley, VA, with easy access to the Massanutten Trail, Signal Knob, and the Tuscarora Trail. The cabin is perched steeply above a private winding driveway off Fort Valley Road with a beautiful view looking South over the valley. The beautiful scene is best observed from the cabins wonderful screened in porch. Hikers will be happy to know that trails abound near this cabin as well, thanks to the nearby Elizabeth Furnace trail system.

Little Cove is a modern cabin with 4 bedrooms making it a great option for 2-4 couples, or 2 families with kids. Located in the Tuscarora Mountain valley 10 minutes from the quaint colonial town of Mercersburg PA, the spacious main level connects to a grand, covered, wrap around porch for lounging and dining. Hikers can access the Tuscarora Trail via a short connector trail to the cabin.

Morris is one of our two primitive cabins on the list with a lock box. Morris is located just East of Swift Run Gap. The historic cabin gives a true sense of Appalachian living and has a nice view of Virginia’s Piedmont District. Hikers can enjoy the winding trails of the Vining Tract or easy access to Shenandoah National Park.

Old Rag is another modern cabin and includes a ramp and handicap accessible shower with first and second level sleeping accommodations. This cabin is just steps away from the Old Rag parking area with first class access to the famous Old Rag circuit hike. Enjoy your hard earned beverage and dinner on the screened in porch after a day well spent on one of Virginia’s favorite mountains.

Silberman Trail Center is a tidy 2 level cabin on a large private piece of land with drive in access. Our second primitive cabin on the list, near Cowan’s Gap State Park is a popular destination for hikers in PATC’s north district in Pennsylvania. The Tuscarora Trail, just 100 yards away gives hikers access to “Cowans” and Buchanan State Forest.

Vining Cabin, The final modern cabin on the list is a wonderful destination on PATC’s 600 acre Mutton Hollow tract. The long private drive traverses two creeks giving renters a true sense of wilderness and adventure. The picturesque chestnut wood and stone exterior give this cabin a handsome Shenandoah charm.

For last minute rentals call the Cabin’s desk at PATC Head Quarters. The desk is open for reservations MWF from 11:00-1:00 (703) 242-0315 Ext. 1 If you can’t pick up a key, these 9 cabins are your best bet for spur of the moment access!

Join PATC at the VA Black Bear Festival June 1st

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 18:57:53 GMT

Virginia Black Bear Festival Announcement

What: Virginia Black Bear Festival

When: June 1, 2024 from 10am – 4pm

Where: Downtown Stanardsville, VA

Cost: Free!

On June 1 ^st , Stanardsville will host the Virginia Black Bear Festival on National Black Bear Day. Various organizations that honor nature, promote outside activities and adventures, and celebrate the emergence of black bears will be on hand to celebrate the Shenandoah National Park, the Appalachian Trail, and Virginia’s wild spaces. All things BEARS will be going on, from led-hikes and professional storytellers, to bear- and honey-themed food from area food trucks, appearances by Sasquatch and Smokey the Bear, BEARd and porridge-eating competition, live music, and opportunities to watch demonstrations (a master falconer and a pro-bird watcher will be present, as will a live bee display) or learn a new skill (fly-fishing or archery, anyone?

And there’s so much more.

The PATC, a partner in the festival, will host an information table and will lead several local hikes. Members of the PATC Southern Shenandoah Valley and Charlottesville chapters will be present. Come join us!

The final schedule and a map will be published May first, but in the meantime, look to https://www.vablackbearfestival.com/

Keep Calm and Read on: A Life Outside

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 19:10:33 GMT

Keep Calm and Read On: A Life Outside

A his 60th birthday neared, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine decided it was time to make good on a promise he had made to himself years earlier: hike all 559 miles of the AT in VA, bike the Blue Ridge Parkway's 321 miles and paddle the James River's 348. From 2019 to 2021 he did just that, keeping a daily journal on each trip. The result is “Walk, Ride, Paddle: A Life Outside.”

Kaine's love for the outdoors dates to his days in Boy Scouts and family camping trips in Missouri, a passion that continued through his college years at University of Missouri and Harvard Law. Even after he moved to Richmond and began his political career, he found time for hiking, biking and paddling both at home and abroad. Trips with family and friends more often than not had an outdoor element. In deciding to embark on “Virginia Nature Triathlon,” he realized he was upping the ante. As he notes in the book, some of his congressional colleagues thought he had lost it. Undeterred, he set out, patching together days and weeks to fit his busy official schedule.

Walk, Ride, Paddle: A Life Outside is the work of a storyteller with a keen eye for nature and human foibles. A proud Virginian, he is quick to point out the Commonwealth's natural beauty and history. PATC members will recognize a good deal. One of Kaine’s favorite hikes is the AT south of Thornton Gap. He is also quick to credit those responsible for making his triathlon possible with shout outs to park rangers, PATC trail maintainers, and others he encountered. Along the way, readers find out the senator has a thing about spiders and a taste for bourbon.

One of the book's joys is the author's ever-present optimism and self-deprecating humor and humility; his trail name became Dogbowl. It's a long story. The Roller Coaster on the AT in Northern Virginia or a badly burned foot on the James did not stop him but they did make him think twice about the wisdom of his decision—and in the case of the Roller Coaster, come up with some songs to take his mind off the aching knees and record heat.

Another strength of the book is Kaine's readiness to share his inner thoughts, often through lines of poetry from the likes of Roethke and Whitman. Despite its subtitle, Walk, Ride, Paddle: A Life Outside is as much about a life inside as outside. A self-confessed introvert, Kaine values time alone. His triathlon became something of an extended meditation as he sought to recharge his batteries and re-examine his life and values, in the wake of the bruising 2016 presidential race. A practicing Catholic, he turned to his faith, most importantly the ethos of service, self-examination and discernment instilled by the Jesuits when he was in high school and when he took a year off from law school to work with Jesuit missionaries in Honduras. He also looked to other faith traditions. One of his favorite pieces of advice comes from George Fox, the founder of Quakerism, "Walk cheerfully over the earth, answering that of God in everyone.”

Early on, Kaine promises that Walk, Ride, Paddle: A Life Outside is not going to be about politics. That's a bit, however, like trying to write a book about the Titanic without mentioning ice. As he left Harpers Ferry, the impeachment process was starting. 2020 saw the global pandemic and Kaine's own COVID experiences. His paddle of the James came just months after January 6. Some will look at the calendar and argue that it was no coincidence that Walk, Ride, Paddle: A Life Outside appeared on the eve of Kaine's 2024 re-election bid but this is one of those times to heed Teddy Roosevelt’s advice that those not in the arena are best ignored.

Kaine does not dwell on politics but neither does he ignore them, offering insights into most of the salient events that coincided with his travels. He proudly identifies as a progressive Democrat, invoking the Old Testament prophet Micah's injunction to do kindness, seek justice and walk humbly. One of his heroes is his father-in-law, Linwood Holton, the first Republican governor of Virginia since the Civil War. Kaine credits his election as re-establishing a two-party system in Virginia and for his support for de-segregation even though he knew it could cost him his political career.

At end of the book, Kaine admits that over the intervening three years he has regained some of the 26 pounds he lost on the trail. Looking back, he sees his experiences as grounding, not humbling. To the degree that Walk, Ride, Paddle: A Life Outside was response to his turning 60, readers can only hope to get so lucky when he turns 70.

Do you have a good read you would like to recommend or review? Send it along to wplimberg@aol.com . Meanwhile, keep calm and read on. See you on the trail.

Breaking Barriers: Christine Reed on her Upcoming Book Blood Sweat Tears

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 21:10:55 GMT

In the world of outdoor sports and literature, the voices of women have often been sidelined or overlooked. However, Christine Reed emerges as a beacon of inspiration, challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers with her work.

Christine is a long-distance backpacker and the author of the highly acclaimed memoir, Alone in Wonderland . She offers a raw and unfiltered perspective on women's experiences in the wilderness. In a recent interview with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, she discussed the process of collecting stories and perspectives for her second upcoming book Blood Sweat Tears , alongside speaking about being a woman in the outdoors space.

Christine's journey in outdoor spaces as a woman with POTS has been one of resilience and self-discovery. Despite struggling with her body for years and feeling like she was always "out of shape," she persevered and pushed herself to the limits. However, it wasn't until her diagnosis with POTS/dysautonomia in 2020 that she realized her struggles were not her fault.

Instead of battling against her body, she learned to tune in and listen to its needs, leading to newfound limits and heights in her outdoor adventures. Instead of pushing through the pain Christine now focuses on asking “what does my body need?” This has allowed her to “find new limits, new distances, new heights—because the body is far more capable when it is cared for.”

The narratives in Blood Sweat Tears contribute significantly to the broader conversation about women's experiences in the outdoors, particularly addressing the taboo topic of menstruation. Christine noticed a lack of discussion around periods in outdoor adventure memoirs and sought to change that with her book. By sharing stories of managing the female body in outdoor spaces, she aims to normalize these conversations and empower women to embrace their truths fully.

One of the most resonant aspects of Blood Sweat Tears is its inclusivity and diversity of experiences. Christine curated a collection of stories that span a variety of female experiences, from motherhood and infertility to reproductive health challenges. She states that the “power of representation in storytelling cannot be overstated— when we see people we can relate to doing things we don’t think we can do, we start to see the possibility we once didn’t believe in.”

Through sharing these stories, Christine has created something truly special that all women can deeply connect with, highlighting the universal themes of resilience and strength.

For aspiring female writers who may feel intimidated by the traditionally male-dominated outdoor literary space, Christine offers valuable advice: your story matters. She encourages women to reach out to others for support and guidance, emphasizing the importance of representation in storytelling. Not only is she sharing her own story, but she's also creating a platform for others to do the same.

With Blood Sweat Tears , she is launching Rugged Outdoorswoman Publishing, which aims to amplify the narratives of women and gender expansive individuals in outdoor spaces. If you have a story to share, you can submit your manuscript and join the movement to elevate women's voices in the wilderness.

In terms of the outdoor community's evolution towards inclusivity and representation for women, Christine acknowledges progress but also recognizes the work that still needs to be done. She hopes to contribute to this movement through her book and future endeavors, striving for true equality and transparency.

Looking forward, Christine envisions a future where women's voices are elevated without shame or secrecy. She hopes to see more space made available for women's stories in outdoor sports and literature, fostering a culture of empowerment and solidarity.

As readers engage with the stories in Blood Sweat Tears , they are invited to connect with the universal theme of the relationship to their body. Christine reminds us that despite our differences, we share common thoughts and ideas about our bodies, making these stories deeply personal and relatable.

Christine Reed's journey and her upcoming book Blood Sweat Tears not only challenge societal norms but also pave the way for a more inclusive and empowering narrative surrounding women in the outdoors. Through her courage, resilience, and dedication, Christine inspires us to embrace our bodies and experiences fully, breaking barriers one story at a time.

Pre-order Blood Sweat Tears through Rugged Outdoorswoman (releasing May 1st) and check out Christine’s sneak peak preview on her blog.

Follow Christine and her adventures on Instagram , Facebook , and Linkedin .

The Importance of Trail Maintenance: Understanding Blowdowns in Hiking

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 17:04:18 GMT

Hiking is a great way to connect with nature, admire beautiful landscapes, and challenge ourselves physically and mentally. However, hikers often face obstacles that can make their journey difficult. One of the obstacles that can make hiking tricky is a blowdown. A blowdown is when a tree or a big branch falls across a trail. While a blowdown might not seem like a big deal, it's actually quite important for trail maintenance and your overall hiking experience.

What Is A Blowdown?

Blowdowns can occur due to various reasons, including strong winds, heavy snowfall, and natural decay. They can pose hazards to hikers, blocking paths and creating obstacles that require careful navigation. Blowdowns can disrupt ecosystems, affecting habitats and changing the landscape. Therefore, it's important for hikers to understand the significance of addressing blowdowns and contributing to trail care efforts.

Maintaining trails is essential for preserving hiking routes and ensuring the safety of outdoor enthusiasts. When blowdowns obstruct paths, hikers tend to walk around or leave the established trails. This disrupts the vegetation in the surrounding area, as people trample over flora and create more wear and tear on the environment. Fallen trees and branches can create tripping hazards, especially in areas with dense vegetation or uneven terrain, which can increase the risk of getting lost or injured. By clearing blowdowns and keeping trails clear, hikers can enhance their safety and enjoy a better outdoor experience.

Addressing blowdowns is also crucial for promoting environmental stewardship and preserving natural landscapes. Fallen trees can hinder the growth of vegetation, disrupt ecosystems, and affect the biodiversity of the area. Additionally, blowdowns can obstruct waterways and contribute to soil erosion, causing further ecological damage. By promptly addressing blowdowns and maintaining trails, hikers can minimize their environmental impact and contribute to the conservation of natural habitats.

Why We Should Care About Trail Maintenance

Trail care is a collective responsibility that involves hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and conservation organizations. Volunteer groups such as the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, play a crucial role in addressing blowdowns and ensuring the accessibility of hiking routes. PATC organizes regular clean-up events where volunteers work together to remove debris, clear trails, and mitigate environmental damage caused by blowdowns. By volunteering for PATC and involving themselves in trail maintenance activities, hikers can actively contribute to the preservation of wilderness areas and foster a sense of community among outdoor enthusiasts.

Hikers can also practice responsible outdoor ethics to minimize their impact on trails and natural environments. This includes staying on designated trails, avoiding cutting switchbacks, and respecting wildlife and vegetation. By following these principles, hikers can reduce the likelihood of blowdowns occurring and help maintain the integrity of hiking routes for future generations.

Encountering blowdowns during a hike can be a common hurdle, but it's something that we can all help with. These obstacles can have a significant impact on the environment and the trails we love to hike on. By taking part in trail maintenance and being mindful of the impact we have on the environment, we can help preserve the natural beauty of the landscapes we enjoy so much. Let's work together to ensure that hiking routes remain safe and accessible for all, while also protecting the wilderness for future generations to experience and cherish.

Want to help maintain our trails? Volunteer with PATC! Check out our Volunteer Page to learn more.

Welcoming Women in the Woods: A History of Women in PATC

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 02:56:52 GMT

Photo of Jennifer Schmid

March is Women’s History Month. Women are often under and misrepresented in outdoor spaces. When I completed a section hike of the AT with my sister, I commemorated the trip by buying a poster from Shenandoah National Park. I loved this poster. It had all the hikes we did together as little girls. We intentionally completed our section hike to connect all these sites. However, I could not find the same poster with a woman on it.

I bought it anyways, took it home, and drew a ponytail on it.

In recognition of Women’s History Month, today’s blog post highlights women leaders who helped shape the Appalachian Trail and PATC into what they are today. Additionally, it serves to illuminate the work we have left to do to create a welcoming space for women.

Though the PATC was originally founded as a trail club open exclusively to men, there were many influential women along the way that helped mold the club into what it is today.

Although Myron Avery is often touted as the founder of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, he also had the support of Dr. Jean Stephenson. Dr. Stephenson was an active member in the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. She served on the executive committee of the Appalachian Trail Conference and edited the club's Trailways News for 30 years. Stephenson edited the first two generations of AT guidebooks.

Her skills went beyond writing and editing. She received a doctorate in law from National University and was Cornell University educated. I suspect her role in PATC was far greater than serving as Myron Avery’s secretary. In 2012, she was inducted into the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame.

Ruth Blackburn was the first female president of PATC. Blackburn is known for her work to secure a protected trail corridor, and she devoted years to researching private land ownership along the A.T. She was recognized as an expert in land ownership from Virginia to Pennsylvania. Blackburn went on to become chair of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy from 1980 to 1983, which was a crucial time for land acquisition because of federal mandates to complete a continuous trail.

The PATC Blackburn Trail Center is named after Ruth. In 1983, the first annual Pig Roast was held at the Blackburn Trail Center. A couple of years later, the summer B-B-Q was instituted. The annual Pig Roast and Summer B-B-Q events each attract 60 to 80 attendees annually and are important fundraisers for PATC. Ruth Blackburn died at the age of 96 in 2004.

Dr. Anna Michener was an early and influential leader in PATC. I found her name in the early 1936 and 1937 newsletters. In the 1936 newsletter, she notably maintained Pine Grove Furnace to Tumbling Run Road. Anna Michener received her Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University. A PATC cabin named after Anna Michener received a new roof in 2020. Members of the PATC can book the Michener cabin here .

Katheryn Fulkunson’s name also appeared in the early newsletters. She donated the Highacre cabin in 1962. She and her friend Marian Lapp purchased the house in 1939. They used the Victorian-style house as their summer home and for PATC gatherings. I can only imagine the hurdles two women faced purchasing a home together in the 1930s. Fulkunson’s diaries and logbooks are kept at the Special Collections Research Center at William and Mary. Some of her logbooks include information related to automobile travel associated with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Members of PATC can book the Highacre Cabin here .

I had fun learning about these women’s lives and understanding the importance of their contributions to PATC. It has also made me think about how women are treated and viewed in outdoor spaces today.

Though we have come a long way as a society and in the outdoor community, there is still much work to be done. I was struck by my experience at a workshop with PATC in the Fall. We went around in a circle introducing ourselves. One man introduced himself and his wife. The woman never spoke. This happened twice.

Later, during a seminar on invasive plant species, a woman raised her hand to ask the first question. A man in the group interrupted her, instructed her to wait until the end for questions, and then proceeded to ask his own question halfway through…to which, the presenter replied, “I was going to get to that.”

In yet another instance, during a workshop about saws, gendered comments were made about the way in which a man vs. a woman might handle a saw. “Did you know women are better at handling saws because they offer more finesse?” I can tell you in that moment, if given a saw, I would not have used it with such finesse.

There is a difference between being included in spaces and being welcomed in spaces. Thank you to those men who welcomed me to my first PATC workshop. Thank you for having open conversations about the gendered experience. Your curiosity and inquiry move PATC forward. Many of you contributed to a fantastic weekend. Thank you also to the women I found shared comradery with. I look forward to more opportunities to learn about trail maintenance.

We have come a long way in including women in outdoor spaces. Will you welcome us too?

Learn more about the history of women and the AT in Gwenyth Loose’s book “We Were There Too: Pioneering Appalachian Trail Women,” published in November 2020 by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC). Support the Appalachian Trail Museum by purchasing directly through their website here instead of buying the book on Amazon.

Your Guide to a Perfect Day Hike: Planning Tips and the 10 Hiking Essentials

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 02:45:44 GMT

Spring is almost here and if you’re anything like us, you’re itching to get outside. Have you thought about embarking on a day hike, but you’re not sure where to start? Day hiking is accessible, fun, and can be a rewarding experience, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature and revive your spirit.

Regardless of your skill level, planning is crucial to ensure a safe and enjoyable hike. In this guide, we'll provide you with some essential tips for planning your hike and discuss the ten hiking essentials that you should always have with you.

Planning Your Day Hike

1. Choose the Right Trail:

Choose a trail that matches your fitness level, abilities, and experience. You can consider factors such as distance, elevation gain, terrain, and difficulty rating. You can check out online resources and hiking guidebooks to help you make an informed decision. You can also use apps, such as AllTrails , to see hikes near you.

2. Check the Weather:

Weather can significantly affect your hike, so it's important to check the forecast for the trail area and plan accordingly. Be prepared for sudden changes in weather, especially in mountainous areas.

3. Notify Someone:

Before you head out, let a friend or family member know about your hiking plans, including your intended route and estimated return time. In case of emergencies, this information can be crucial for search and rescue efforts.

4. Pack Light, but be Prepared:

Carry essential items while keeping your backpack lightweight. Pack snacks, water, a first aid kit, navigation tools (map, compass, or GPS device), sun protection (sunscreen, hat, sunglasses), and extra clothing layers for changing weather conditions.

5. Wear Appropriate Clothing and Footwear:

Dress in layers suitable for the weather and wear sturdy hiking boots or trail shoes with good traction. Avoid cotton clothing, as it retains moisture and can lead to discomfort or hypothermia. Stick to wicking fabrics, such as wool or polyester.

6. Start Early:

Begin your hike early in the day to allow ample time for exploration and to avoid hiking in the hottest part of the day. Starting early also reduces the risk of getting caught in inclement weather or darkness.

7. Stay Hydrated and Energized:

Bring an adequate supply of water and high-energy snacks to fuel your body throughout the hike. Hydration packs or water bottles with built-in filters are convenient options for staying hydrated on the trail.

8. Pace Yourself:

Maintain a steady pace that suits your fitness level, and take breaks as needed to rest and refuel. Listen to your body and be mindful of signs of fatigue or dehydration.

9. Leave No Trace:

Respect nature and minimize your impact on the environment by practicing Leave No Trace principles . Pack out all trash, stay on designated trails, and avoid disturbing wildlife.

10. Enjoy the Journey:

Take time to appreciate the natural beauty around you and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the wilderness. Remember to capture memories responsibly by taking photos without disturbing the environment.

The 10 Hiking Essentials

Navigation: Carry a map and compass, or a GPS device, to help you find your way on the trail.
Sun Protection: Protect yourself from the sun's harmful rays with sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat.
Bug Spray: Don’t forget to bring bug spray! It protects you from insect bites, ensuring a more enjoyable and safer outdoor experience.
Insulation: Pack extra clothing layers to stay warm in cooler temperatures or during unexpected weather changes.
Illumination: Carry a headlamp or flashlight with extra batteries for visibility in low-light conditions or emergencies.
First Aid Kit: Be prepared for minor injuries with a basic first aid kit containing bandages, antiseptic wipes, pain relievers, and other essentials. Pro-tip: Bring a multi-tool to be extra prepared. It ensures you're equipped to handle various unexpected situations or emergencies with ease and versatility.
Nutrition: Bring high-energy snacks like trail mix, energy bars, or jerky to fuel your body during the hike.
Hydration: Carry an ample supply of water or a water filtration system to stay hydrated throughout the day.
Emergency bathroom bag: Carrying a pack out bag with toilet paper while hiking ensures you're prepared for any nature's call with comfort and hygiene. Check out this article about how to make packing out your TP less gross.

By following these planning tips and carrying the ten hiking essentials, you'll be well-prepared for a memorable and safe day hike. Remember to always prioritize safety, respect nature, and most importantly, enjoy the adventure!

Exploring the Connection Between Black History and Environmental Justice

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:13:32 GMT

"Indeed, a journey through this park and the Sierra Forest Reserve to the Mount Whitney country will convince even the least thoughtful man of the needfulness of preserving these mountains just as they are, with their clothing of trees, shrubs, rocks, and vines, and of their importance to the valleys below as reservoirs for storage of water for agricultural and domestic purposes. In this, lies the necessity of forest preservation."

-Captain Charles Young in Report of the Acting Superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant National Parks, California, October 15, 1903

As we dive into Black History Month, let's take a moment to explore a side of environmentalism that is often overlooked within the outdoor community: Black environmentalism.

Throughout history, Black communities have carried an incredible bond with the land. From ancient African cultures practicing sustainable agriculture to enslaved folks finding solace and strength in nature, there's a deep-rooted connection from which environmentalism and conservation found its legs.

In the United States, the emergence of Black environmentalism gained momentum during the Civil Rights era. Many individuals took a stand against environmental injustices in Black communities. Fannie Lou Hamer, Dr. Robert Bullard, and Colonel Charles Young are three notable conservationists and environmentalists. They worked towards providing Black communities access to clean air, water, and safe living conditions.

As Bullard points out in his book, Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality, Black communities and other marginalized communities have been “subjected to a disproportionately large amount of pollution and other environmental stressors in their neighborhoods as well as in their workplaces. However, these groups have only been marginally involved in the nation's environmental movement.”

Dr. Robert Bullard, also known as the "father of conservation," has focused on bringing attention to communities of color that have been impacted by environmental racism. Through his studies, he has shown that toxic facilities such as landfills, chemical plants, and incinerators are more likely to be placed in lower-income areas and areas based on race. At the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, he works to bring attention to these issues and provides resources that address environmental justice, environmental racism, sustainability, and how we can work towards changing these situations.

Environmental justice began with the Civil Rights Movement and in turn, the people who were at the forefront of that movement, including Fannie Lou Hamer.

Hamer was a pioneer of grassroots farming cooperatives that inspired current urban agriculture collectives. She believed in communal farming as a solution to economic justice and formed the Freedom Farm Cooperative (FFC) in 1969. This organization provided food for low-income families in the area and land that helped create jobs for those in need. Without any funding from the government, this project was supported by the co-op members and grew to support over 1,500 families.

As documented by the National Women’s History Museum, Hamer began “buying up land that Blacks could own and farm collectively. With the assistance of donors (including famed singer Harry Belafonte), she purchased 640 acres and launched a coop store, boutique, and sewing enterprise. She single-handedly ensured that 200 units of low-income housing were built—many still exist in Ruleville today.” Her dedication to social justice and the furthering of racial equality was an integral piece in the advancement of both civil rights and environmental justice.

Another important figure during the Civil Rights Movement was Charles Young. Colonel Charles Young, born in Kentucky in 1864, was the first African American military attaché and colonel, and the first African American national park Superintendent. He broke barriers throughout his career and played a vital role in shaping the National Parks Service along with his Buffalo Soldiers. Despite facing discrimination, his work ethic and commitment to duty propelled him to remarkable achievements, making him a trailblazer for Black environmentalists whose legacy endures.

Corinne Wetzel for Audubon Magazine detailed Young’s life as a young Superintendent, saying “His mission was simple: protect the parks and make them accessible to visitors. This meant keeping local livestock like sheep from grazing inside the parks’ boundaries, defending the trees from illegal loggers, and protecting wildlife from hunters.”

The legacies of Young and Hamer live on to this day through the continuing work of Bullard, and the work of organizations such as Outdoor Afro and Greening Youth Foundation, which strive to reconnect Black communities with nature. These organizations offer a range of programs, including education, advocacy, and outdoor activities to promote a love for the outdoors.

We are currently facing some major challenges as a planet, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. To effectively tackle these issues, we need to draw on all the knowledge and experiences available to us. By focusing on Black history in our discussions about conservation, we not only pay tribute to the past but also establish a foundation for a more comprehensive and successful approach to safeguarding our planet.

As we celebrate Black History Month, let’s take a moment to recognize the significant contributions of Black environmentalists, both past and present. They have made a significant impact through their activism, education, and passion for equality and justice. We must continue their work and fight to make a difference in the world by following their example. When we unite and learn from each other, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

Learn more about the history of Black environmentalism by clicking the links below.

Cited Sources

https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/black-history-month-how-fannie-lou-hamer-inspires-the-modern-climate-movement/

https://greenamerica.org/green-living/interview-father-environmental-justice-robert-bullard#:~:text=Robert%20Bullard%20is%20Ware%20professor,been%20victims%20of%20environmental%20racism .

https://dogwoodalliance.org/2022/02/10-black-environmentalists-to-know-about-in-2022/

https://www.bullardcenter.org/about/our-founder

https://outdoorafro.org/

https://gyfoundation.org/

https://www.audubon.org/news/meet-charles-young-first-black-national-park-superintendent

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/fannie-lou-hamer

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9780429495274/dumping-dixie-robert-bullard

https://home.nps.gov/seki/learn/historyculture/young.htm

The Origin of Skyline Drive

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:48:30 GMT

The Shenandoah National Park is one of the most beautiful parks in the world. While it was proposed as early as 1925, it was not officially dedicated until 1936. The Park area extends from the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains down the east and west slopes towards the foothills between Front Royal, Virginia and Waynesboro, Virginia. The one hundred and five mile long Skyline Drive extends along the upper reaches of the Blue Ridge through the park area between Front Royal and Waynesboro. A highway named the Blue Ridge Parkway connects the south entrance of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia with the north entrance of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee.

In January of 1931 I was one of the first party of men employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Public Roads to prepare surveys and design plans needed for construction of an access road from the village of Creiglersville, Virginia, up the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountain to President Hoover's Camp on the Rapidan River, which became the forerunner of the Skyline Drive. Our field office consisted of a canvas tent mounted on a wooden platform located on a vacant lot in the village. As it was bitterly cold, we had a small kerosene space heater on the floor and for light we had two gas fired table lanterns.

A few days after my arrival, we began the surveys and completed them to Hoover's Camp by early spring, 1931. About that time the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior, along with Governor Byrd of Virginia, convinced President Hoover and the U.S. Congress to build what was then being referred to as the "Skyline Drive" to be located in the Shenandoah National Park. Construction of the road from Creiglersville to Hoover's Camp was then canceled and we were directed to continue the necessary surveys from Hoover's Camp up the east side of the Blue Ridge to the top of the mountain at the Big Meadows area where it could connect with the Skyline Drive when built. That we did and the road from Creiglersville to Hoover's Camp was never built.

We completed our work to Big Meadows at the top of the mountain by late spring of 1931 and were then directed to continue northward from there via the Skyland Summer Resort and on to Panorama at the Lee Highway (a- distance of about twenty-five miles) which was the real beginning of the Skyline Drive.

There was a problem that had no direct connection with the building of the Skyline Drive, but it is most worthy of note. A killing blight of the chestnut tree forests dominated the upper reaches of a great portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains,especially in the Big Meadows and surrounding areas during the fall and winter months of 1931-32. Prior to that blight there were hordes of chestnut trees growing in numerous areas of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In fact there were so many chestnut trees growing in the wild that many of the people in those areas gathered chestnuts by the bushel basketfuls and carted them to Luray or other railroad sidings in the Valley where they could be loaded on railroad freight cars for shipment to markets when they were loaded.

However, all of that came to a sudden end when the chestnut tree blight of 1931-32 arrived. It just seemed that all of those trees died at the same time and no one knew how to prevent it. It was a sad sight to behold. Every tree was completely stripped of all it's foliage, including all the bark and leaves. The completely barren trunk and limbs of each and every one of those trees was left standing in it's barren state for a long period of time, which was a constant reminder of their demise throughout the entire area by any and all persons who observed them. To those of us working in the area the saddest part of all was our memory of the numerous times we paused to eat some of those delicious chestnuts during the preceding season.

The number of our design engineers and field survey crews increased as we approached the Skyland Summer Resort area in late fall of 1931 when it was considered necessary to move our office and living quarters closer to the work.

The Skyland Resort was located above the three thousand foot level near the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains just south of Stony Man Mountain and was owned and operated by Mr. George Freeman Pollock. The Resort provided the ideal location for our move but it had been designed and built for summer use only. It consisted of a number of wood, slab-faced cabins, each with a living room with fire place and from two to four bed rooms, a bathroom and electric lights. Water was piped above ground by gravity from a spring on Stony Man Mountain via an "above ground" reservoir and on to the individual cabins. Following careful study, it was agreed by all that certain reasonable operational changes would make the Resort acceptable for our use through the coming winter. When those changes were made we moved in.

Due to the extremely cold winter weather the water system and the cabin bathrooms were off limits during our stay. Instead, we had a large dining room and a large bathroom with showers, with each unit centrally but individually located in the camp area. Water for those two facilities was hauled in as needed. The only heat in the cabins was from the living room fire place, with fire permitted only when occupants were present, but completely extinguished before retiring. Also, no fire was permitted in the mornings before leaving for work. That meant dressing in the cold and walking outdoors from the cabins, to and from the dining and bath facilities. Of course the bedrooms were as cold as the outdoors but we had lots of blankets.

Most mornings we found the top edge of the blankets frozen solid where we had breathed on them during the night and it took a lot of willpower to get out of those beds.

Once settled in our new quarters we returned to our office design and field survey work from Skyland northward toward Panorama. Those of us working in the field then had to walk to and from work every day carrying all of our equipment and supplies, leaving home at daybreak and returning at dusk. We worked twelve to fifteen hours a day during that fall and winter. Most of the men selected for that work were between twenty and thirty years of age and most capable of accepting the hardships involved.

Prior to opening Skyland for the 1932 summer season we had extended our preliminary surveys northward about halfway from Skyland toward Panorama when we moved our office and living quarters to Luray, Virginia. Meanwhile the number of our design engineers and field survey crews continued to increase. Following our move to Luray we returned to our surveys from where we had left them when moving from Skyland. I believe the remaining five or six miles northward to Panorama were the most difficult of all of my five years experience on the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway.

On a typical day we travelled ten miles by truck before dawn from Luray to Panorama (Elevation: 2,300 feet), where we left the truck for our return in the evening. We then traveled on foot to the south over the Appalachian trail which took us over Mary's Rock at an elevation of 3,500 feet, in a horizontal distance of about one-half mile. That amounted to an average climb of about one foot for every two feet of horizontal distance between those two points. Also, the Appalachian Trail in that area was not a constant graded path. It was over boulders and other irregularities sometimes as much as four feet or so. We had to crawl in places and sometimes be assisted by others in the group. Usually we had to stop once or twice going up or down as our knees would get too weak to hold up the weight of our bodies. As usual we had to carry our equipment and supplies too. From Mary's Rock we continued over the Trail to the south as much as three to five miles till we neared the place of our new day's work assignment. We then walked down the side of the mountain to where our new day's work would begin.

At the close of work each day, we retraced our steps up the side of the mountain and over the trail via Mary's Rock to Panorama by dusk, for the ten mile truck ride to Luray.

It should be noted that field engineering work such as outlined above under a "typical day" had to be repeated numerous times as required prior to, during and after the various stages of design and construction.

We encountered a variety of wild life while working on the Skyline Drive and Parkway projects which included deer, snakes, and occasionally bob cats and black bear. The deer presented no problem and the bob cats were seldom bothersome if left undisturbed. If black bear happened to be nearby we kept a careful eye on them for safety sake as they could quickly cause serious problems, especially if there was a cub along. They could be very demanding and were nothing to play with. They seldom disturbed our lunches which we carried in metal lunch pails, but if we happened to have any left over food following lunch we soon learned to dispose of it, just in case.

The snakes were one of our biggest problems and a constant threat except during the late fall and winter months when they went underground until spring. They were mostly Copperheads and Rattlers, being as much as five to seven feet long with the main part of their bodies being almost the size of a man's forearm. As we approached a rattler it would usually warn us with it's rattles and maybe move away but the copperheads would lay quietly coiled and wait for someone to get within striking distance. We considered them much more dangerous. When we knew of a snake being nearby, we would always give it a chance to move away but some were quite stubborn and we killed one or more most every day during the summer season. For protection from snake bites we wore high top leather boots over extra socks. I don't recall any of the men being harmed by a snake biting through those boots but there were a couple of occasions when they attempted to and left their fangs caught in them which was just a little too close for comfort.

In late fall a few miles south of Panorama, a power shovel was operating in an area of the proposed roadway where there was hardly any soil but a lot of course rocks. Much to everyone's surprise the shovel came up with a scoopful of those rocks along with many snakes from beneath the surface where they had made a den for the winter. In his excitement, the operator stopped the shovel with the scoop in midair and snakes were dangling in all directions. I happened to witness the episode and I never before nor since have seen so many snakes in one batch. One snake traveled down the shovel boom onto the operator's platform. As I recall there were about eight or ten workers in the immediate area and I believe both men and snakes were about equally frightened trying to get out of harm's way. When the excitement was over no person was harmed and most of the snakes made to safety. However, the shovel operator scrambled off the rig, walked off the job and didn't return.

When establishing a center line control over top the mountain ridge under which the proposed roadway tunnel just south of Panorama was being planned we stopped for lunch directly on that ridge. After lunch our party chief decided to lay with his head on his folded jacket on a bed of leaves at the base of a large boulder for a short rest. He had just gotten comfortable when he heard a slight rustle in the leaves. Turning his head to look, he found himself staring into the face of a copperhead snake coming from under the boulder. Luckily, the chief came up from there in a flash unharmed and we killed the snake.

By the latter part of 1932 construction of the Skyline Drive between Big Meadows end panorama was well underway and the first official opening of the Drive was held at Panorama on October 22, 1932. It was opened for a distance for fifteen or twenty miles to the south, over an unpaved base course material.

I continued working in the Luray and Front Royal, Virginia areas for a year or so and then transferred to work at various locations in the Park area as far south as it's termination at Waynesboro, Virginia.

I was next assigned to a number of locations on the Blue Ridge Parkway south from Waynesboro, Virginia as far as Black Mountain, North Carolina, when I transferred to other U. S. Government civil engineering work in December, 1935.

William M. Austin was the Engineer in Charge of the engineering design and contract construction of the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway projects. He was a very capable engineer and knew the work well. He, along with one man assisting walked over the greatest part of the route for the drive through those mountains in Virginia, establishing the preliminary rough grade and alignment limitations that basically provided the most beautiful scenic route for the Skyline Drive. The field survey parties followed over the many miles of the selected route obtaining the necessary engineering data required for the preparation of the preliminary and final design and construction plans which when completed provided for the contract construction of that most beautiful scenic Drive.

I hope you enjoyed my preceding article relating to the origin of the Skyline Drive and to some of my experiences while helping to bring it into being during that five year period.

I spent the next five years working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on topographic and hydrographic engineering on the eastern shore of Maryland and Virginia, the latter part of which I spent on the construction of the National Airport adjacent to Washington, D.C.

The following twenty-five years I worked with the Navy's Facilities Engineering Command. There, for the most part I supervised the preparation and updating of civil engineering design criteria as used for design and construction of the Navy's Shore Establishment Projects throughout the U.S. and Foreign Port Areas. These criteria were also used by private contractors as well, when involved.

Upon completion of thirty-five years of U.S. Government service in Civil Engineering work, I retired from the U.S. Navy's Facilities Engineering Command on December 31, 1966.

We had Some Marvelous Times in the Old Days An "Interview" with J.F. Schairer, PATC Supervisor of Trails

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:35:55 GMT

"We had some marvelous times in the Trail Club in the old days. It's only when you have some trouble and difficulty in doing things, as you are having now, that you really appreciate them. When you get a trip down to the mountains now, you really do appreciate it. You no longer feel it's a place you can go just any week you please. Now you can go only occasionally, drive along at 30 miles per hour, but you enjoy the country on the way. I will never forget our first trip to the Blue Ridge.

"The way I got into the Trail Club was this. I joined the Wildflower Society through a friend in the Department of Agriculture and there I met Andy [H. C. Anderson] and Dr. P. L. Ricker and a whole bunch. We used to go on camping trips in the Catoctins and so on. They moved so slowly though, looking at flowers, that they didn't cover much territory. Ricker one day said to me, 'They are thinking of forming a trail club. Would you be interested?' I said I would. A few days later, November 22, 1927, we went down to Andy's office in the Metropolitan Bank Building for a meeting. Myron Avery was there, Dr. Schmeckebier and Myron's uncle, the late Judge Joseph Cox, P. L. Ricker and Homer Corson. We decided to form a trail club and discussed what to call it. I remember I held out for 'Blue Ridge Appalachian Trail Club.' We compromised on 'Potomac' as that name covered the area we expected to work in. Myron was to act as president, Dr. Ricker was vice-president, Andy was secretary, and Schairer was treasurer, and if there ever was a lousy treasurer it was one J. F. Schairer. The auditing committee two years later audited the books. They said, 'The treasurer's accounts are in order but he keeps no books.' So Myron got the brilliant idea that more orthodox accounting methods were needed and that Marian Lapp would be the girl for the job. He said to me, 'We will create a new office and you will be the Supervisor of Trails.' So that's how that happened.

"In any case, a week or two before this meeting to form the club, Andy called me and said there was a fellow named Avery aud Judge Cox and that the four of us would go to the mountains. We would take the Paris bus and Andy and I would go south and Myron and Judge Cox would go north. (This was in October 1928.) Then we would report on how the situation was-how hard it would be to cut a trail. None of us knew anything about it and we had a terrible time finding our way. Andy and I had a topographic map, a lot of ambition, and lunch. Anyway, when we got together again, Andy and I reported that it was going to be a tough job to cut a trail. Myron and Judge Cox said there would be nothing to it. They had old wood roads; we didn't. Incidentally, it took several months of week-ends to get even a narrow trail cut.

"Then the problem was that we had just that small group and nobody knew anything about The Appalachian Trail. The only people who had any interest in the Trail were people from New England. That is where Schmeckebier knew it and he had taken part away back in 1922 in meetings in Washington when Benton MacKaye as Field Manager was trying to get the A. T. going. Myron had just come down to Washington after a year and a half at Hartford, Connecticut, where he had been closely associated with Arthur Perkin. Judge Perkins was Chairman of the Trail Conference and was beginning to revive the project after two or three years of inactivity. Thus our interest in Washington fortunately coincided with the time when Judge Perkins was beginning to get things going again on the A.T. in other places. He soon came down to encourage us.

"So the nucleus we had to start with was from the Wildflower Society. Charlie Thomas used to lead wildflower trips. Actually, Myron, Andy, Charlie Thomas and I did a large part of the work. Ricker had wildflower things to do. Nobody had any cars, and try and persuade somebody to go to the mountains on the terrible Virginia roads! They thought we were crazy to go down and work all day for nothing and said nobody would ever use the trails we cut anyway.

"The thing which no one today can understand is how really difficult it was back in 1928 to get to the Blue Ridge and how much of an unknown land it was. Nobody knew anything about it except around Skyland.

"So that's what we were up against that first year. The only active hiking club in Washington was the Red Triangle Club, and they went in largely for Sunday afternoon hikes. Once a year they scheduled a hike from Bluemont to Harpers Ferry and always had a dance at the little hotel at Bluemont. There was no continuous trail on the mountain. We wanted to convince them that The Appalachian Trail was a going thing. Our objective was to get the Trail from Bluemont all the way to Harpers Ferry done in time to schedule a Red Triangle hike over it in the spring.

"On our first real work trip, Andy, Myron and I took a train to Harpers Ferry. There was a bridge across in those days. We had to learn from sad experience how canteens are needed in the Blue Ridge, and we didn't have the kind of tools used today---clippers and weeders. We learned our trail technique the hard way. We used, that day, mainly Boy Scout axes. We were all dying of thirst after getting to the top. It took us all day to get from south of Chimney Rock to a point about half mile beyond. Our axes got so dull we couldn't cut with them-we just had to saw off the twigs. When it came to Trail markers, we had a few copper ones that Major Welch had made at Bear Mountain and had given to us as his contribution to getting started. Ricker's idea was that we needed something to mark turns, so we bought those little wooden garden labels-little slats an inch wide and a foot and a half long or so. Ricker printed on them 'Appalachian Trail' or 'Spring' or 'Viewpoint.' They solved the problem of marking the turns. I guess there may be a relic or two left in the Club stuff as a reminder of the old days.

"So we started the work trips to Harpers Ferry, going by train and staying at a place called Himes Cottage. We would go on Saturday afternoon and would get up at five in the morning. The trouble was that we only had three or four workers and they were all inexperienced. After the first trip, we got to using pruning shears. Each fellow had to buy his tool. The Club hadn't any money to buy tools.

"Anyway, we kept pushing the Trail and we had to pick old wood roads and faint mountain paths. We couldn't pick the perfect route then because it was too tough. Remember, between Harpers Ferry and Bluemont there was at that time no decent road through Keys Gap-only a cart path. You could get up on the west side, but you had to have a high-hung car. Just to show how difficult it was: You had to go to Harpers Ferry, drive quite a distance on a dirt road to Millville, and get a mountaineer out of his cabin to take you across the river by a hand-operated ferry. Finally, you would get to the top of Keys Gap if your car was high hung. If it wasn't you never got there. You couldn't get up the east side; there was no road through to Charles Town. We worked from both ends-from Bluemont and from Harpers Ferry. I remember one trip in February westarted on Sunday morning and it was nearly twelve o'clock noon before we arrived at Keys Gap. We were working near the Deer Lick and the Trail was really bad. By the time we walked to the Deer Lick it was three-thirty or a quarter of four, and we figured we had only fifteen minutes to work before we had to start back. It started to sleet and the sole came off my shoe and there I was. We put in fifteen minutes of hard work and had to race to get back to Keys Gap before dark. The Trail was so bad and it took so much time to walk in that we were convinced we couldn't get much work done when we started from Washington on Sunday morning.

"Then I remember that finally somebody persuaded Harold Allen to take his car to the mountains-he was the first man to ever volunteer to do so. Harold, you know, was the first Editor of the Blue Ridge Guide. It was an open car and I remember riding in it in February, with the temperature about zero. We drove down to Snickers Gap. The road through the Gap was a winding dirt road. A car could seldom make it in low, but would have to be pushed. On such trips we never got home before midnight.

"The Red Triangle hike was scheduled for some time in March and we had several bad week-ends in February that had delayed us. It finally came to the time when the Red Triangle trip was the following Sunday. Andy and I were the trouble-shooters for the last sprint. Our assignment was to get the last two miles of Trail in shape. The Trail followed wood roads beyond Keys Gap and then swung down around the west side of the mountain. It was a faint path, solid with locust briars for two miles. We hedged a little. We got to Keys Gap and walked down to a log cabin and talked to some mountain people, finally persuading them to let a couple of their kids help us the next day. Well, the next day the two boys didn't show up. But they sent two others in their place and we worked as hard as any four people could. We had two throw out and two cut and then we alternated. We got the two miles done. We paid the fellows fifty cents for the day out of our own pockets. This was big pay for mountain boys-they beamed. The Trail was not beautiful but it was reasonably well marked. The Red Triangle had a trip over it and after that they were convinced that The Appalachian Trail was no myth. Bill Richardson of the Red Triangle joined the Trail Club and has always been a good worker and genial chap on a camping trip.

"When you take into consideration our transportation difficulties in those days, you will understand that it was a major accomplishment to have completed the Trail from Bluemont to Harpers Ferry in that period from November to March. As I said, it wasn't a beautiful Trail, but you could get through.

"Finally, Andy bought a Chevrolet. Then every week-end we had transportation. Those first two years I didn't spend a single week-end in Washington, except for one, when I was sick in bed with the 'flu' on Easter Sunday.

"We learned everything the hard way. We had at first never heard of painting blazes. We later found that it was better down here not to cut ax blazes in the wood, and the scraper system was gradually developed.

"To show you the development of the overseer system: We found out that the Trail always got bad again and so we started the general idea of the overseer system in the sense that the officers and the few members divided up the Trail among them. Walter Jex, a stalwart worker for P. E. P. Co., used to get out a lot and he could really put in a day's work. He had the section from Harpers Ferry to Bluemont; and when a man has 18 miles to take care of, you can figure that he must really work.

"The goal was to prove to people in Washington that this crest Trail could be followed without going off the mountain. The next objective (Myron always had 'objectives') was to try and get the Trail through to Linden by November-the end of the first year of the Club's existence. Well, it's a long way from Snickers Gap to Linden and we got busy. By then it wasn't quite so bad because we had proved that the Trail wasn't a foolish idea and we began to get new people interested. There were Charlie Thomas and Herman Nolte and so on. We had maybe 25 or 40 instead of 6 or 8, and that number really made an impression on the Trail. In those days members worked-either worked or didn't come out again.

"At the end of the first year we had completed 42 miles of Appalachian Trail from Harpers Ferry to Linden. So that, I think, covers the early story of the first year. This was in 1928 and 1929. From then on it was a case of pushing the project forward.

"Even today the easiest way to get to the Trail is to take a train to Harpers Ferry. We are now back in almost the same situation in which we found ourselves at the very beginning. Because Harpers Ferry is the most convenient point of contact with the Trail and because many people get their first impression of the Trail there, it is particularly important that it should be kept in good shape in that area.

"However, our situation today is in some respects a great deal better because we have decent roads. Let's just go over the road situation in the early days. I have already pointed out that you could get to Keys Gap from the West Virginia side, but it took most of the day, it was a terrible road that could only be negotiated in a high-hung car, and then there was the problem of the Millville ferry. The road on the Virginia, or east, side was impossible.

"Let's just follow down the Trail route. There was a road through Snickers Gap, but it was dirt and rough as the very devil. The road from Snickers Gap to Mount Weather was just about passable. The only good road (and we thought it was a wonderful road) was the one from Washington to Winchester, passing through Ashby Gap. Manassas Gap? It was worth your life to go through to Manassas Gap! In those days every stream had to be forded-even on the road to Winchester. The only way to get to Manassas Gap was to go through on what is now U. S. 50 to Boyce, then to White Post. Take a road from White Post to Front Royal, and then drive 8 miles from Front Royal to Linden. If you tried to come in to Linden from the east, you were sure to get stuck.

"There was a road through Chester Gap, a narrow, asphalt one, only wide enough for one car. We did go in that way, but it wasn't practical. We used to drive up from Flint Hill into Smoot's place, a mountaineer's cabin at the foot of Mount Marshall. In the early days we had a good many trips there. That is how the Applesauce House got its name. It was an abandoned mountaineer's cabin. We had a Trail Club camping trip there and Charlie Thomas was to bring the coffee. He brought everything but the coffee. He brought the cream, the sugar, and the pot to make it in, but no coffee. It was in the fall and there was a big apple orchard near the abandoned cabin, so everybody picked up apples. The girls peeled them and made applesauce with the sugar Charlie had brought. Everybody referred to the cabin after that as the 'Applesauce House.'

"One of the worst problems was cutting the Trail from the Applesauce House to the top of Mount Marshall. It was our first attempt at building brand new trail where there wasn't even a sign of a rabbit path. Didn't we sweat over that Mount Marshall! As we were cutting south, we used to drive in from Little Washington and camp at the head of Harris Hollow. There was a wood road leading 1.8 m. to Gravelly Spring. We either camped at the foot or came in at night and camped at Gravelly Spring. We would work both ways from Gravelly Spring.

"When we went to build the Trail further down, they were just laying the paved road from Sperryville to Luray over Panorama. The old road was full of rocks and boulders and so steep that we had to push on the steep grades. So it was a major problem to get to Panorama.

"Now Fishers Gap-we never got in from the east except one time and then we had to practically build the road. Fishers Gap was always called 'The Red Gate' because at the top of the mountain there was a pasture and a prominent red gate. You could always get to Fishers Gap from Stanley, near Luray, but we never got there from the east side except that one time as a stunt.

"The next place was at Swift Run Gap and that was a little, narrow, dirt road-very bumpy. It was a major undertaking to take a car there. And of course it took a long time to get down there. Unless you could go down for two or three days, it wasn't worth while to go.

"The trouble with that Southern Shenandoah country was that we couldn't get anybody to go down. I remember we had a three-day week-end down there one time to scout and mark a route. Myron and I left Washington and went down by train to Luray, where we hired Emerson, who was a taxi man in Luray, for the sum of five dollars to get us from Luray down through Stanley to the red gate at Fishers Gap. Myron and I started out from that point, zigzagging all over the mountain. Our knowledge of the country was drawn from some notes made in 1922 by Dr. H. S. Hedges of Charlottesville, when he was scouting for the A. T. in that region. They helped a lot. We camped that first night at the old Spanish oak, which is roughly half a mile southwest of the point where Pocosin Shelter now is. This was the locality of a gruesome mountain murder, but after carrying trail clearing tools and food and other necessities for three days we were not staying awake to see ghosts.

"The second night we arrived back from Swift Run Gap at dusk, with a thundershower coming up, at Jesse Lamb's cabin on the west slope of Bear Fence Mountain. We set up our tent in his yard. The next morning we started out in a light snow. There were bear tracks in the snow at the foot of Bear Fence Mountain and that impressed both of us because we thought the bear stories we had heard were fairy tales. Finally, the third day, we got back to The Red Gate, having scouted and marked The Appalachian Trail from Fishers Gap to Swift Run in those three days. We had found lots of wood roads. We had to walk to Stanley and call Luray to get Emerson to come and pick us up.

"We figured we walked 55 miles on that trip, and it was real work. I won't forget sliding down the mud road from Fishers Gap to Stanley in a heavy rainstorm. I wonder if any P. A. T. C. member has ever gone to the A. T. via Luray and Stanley on the railroad?

"To sum up the thing: The roads were bad in the old days. Nobody wanted to go because they thought the Trail Club people were a bunch of freaks. It was hard to get to the Trail; we often spent the whole day getting there, with only an hour or two to work. We are in almost the same situation today. The roads aren't so bad, but it is hard to get to the Trail. However, the same determination that saw the gang through in cutting the Trail in the early days will see The Appalachian Trail maintained today-perhaps in not quite the same high standard, but at least it will be well marked and reasonably cleared. It will be a path through the wilderness, possibly not quite as wide as it was at one time, but still a path through the wilderness. It is up to everybody nowadays to realize the situation, step right into things, and they will get as much pleasure out of trips to the mountains as we did in the early days. Things that are difficult to do are more desirable."

Early Hikers - Long Skirts, Courtly Ways

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:20:50 GMT

The memories of PATC’s longest-lived Honorary Life Member, preserved in a 1958 letter, offers our only window into the social environment in Washington, DC, that made PATC possible.

Edgar T. Gaddis (1866-1968), a member of the DC bar, joined PATC in 1931 but was given Honorary Life Membership only on his hundredth birthday. A white-haired man, Gaddis could not have been more than 5’6" tall and weighed a little more than 100 pounds in his last two decades.

His apparent frailty made him victim of more than one mugging as he walked about his Capitol Hill neighborhood in the relatively crime-free 1950s. Apparent frailty, yes, but enough strength and energy to walk six miles or more on the towpath in his ninety-fifth year.

In the decade before that, he frequently went on Sunday hikes, most often with the Wanderbirds. One of the other hikers always walked with him, both to listen to his interesting conversation and to warn him of holes and other obstacles his failing vision did not detect. At lunch, while the rest of us ate, he continued to talk: "You shouldn’t eat during a hike. It is bad for the digestion," he warned us.

A Piece Of History

In my first PATC job, as editor of the Bulletin in 1958, I wanted to include something about hiking history. Gaddis wrote to me about the early years: "The leaders in the early movement [walking for enjoyment of nature and adventure] were Gustave Gambs, John Boyle, Charlie Thomas, Walter Page, Harry Shannon. I have forgotten others." Gus Gambs later was responsible for the creation of the Mountaineering Section. Charlie Thomas became PATC’s first Honorary Life Member.

"Theodore Roosevelt had a Kitchen Cabinet, which included Dr. Wiley of pure food fame, the French and German Ambassadors and a coterie to the liking of Roosevelt," Gaddis wrote. "For sport they trudged the [C&O] Canal and the shores of the Potomac and, given publicity, it established a fashion."

Hikers Multiply

In 1907, Gaddis and Gus Gambs joined other men, many of them scientists or naturalists, who were interested in botanizing, rock collecting, and birding, to go out for walks. One of the group was Harry Shannon, a journalist who wrote under the pen name "Rambler" for the Sunday Star, Washington’s leading newspaper. His stories of their walks attracted interest. When the Star advertised a hike to which the public was invited, a large number of people turned out in Rock Creek Park, most of them unsuitably dressed--a number being ladies in their long skirts. That Palm Sunday hike in 1910 was led by John Boyle.

This event led to the formation of the Wanderlusters Hiking Club, which went on hikes regularly. "In the inception, there was no feminist contingent," Gaddis wrote, but women did join the Wanderlusters in increasing numbers. Gaddis did not "recollect the name of the woman enthusiast who headed out early, co-hiking with a nature flag or emblem--green as I recollect."

Gradually women hikers began to wear trousers under their skirts, sometimes leaving the skirts behind in the railroad station from which the hike began. This group held together until 1918 or 1920 when it fell apart because of marriages and people moving.

New Clubs Form

Gambs, Thomas, Page, Gaddis and others active in the Wanderlusters, or in working with the young people living in the YMCAs and YWCAs who had come to Washington to do war work, formed a Red Triangle Hiking Club. The club continued until the mid 1920s, when it too fell victim to marriages and moves. By this time women were wearing more practical clothing for hiking, and skirts were short.

Bill Richardson, who later was PATC’s best camp cook and a participant in the Justice Douglas hike, and Winona George, another PATCer, were also members of the Red Triangle Club. Bill and other members constructed a clubhouse on the Potomac, which washed away in one of the river’s larger floods.

A Wildflower Preservation Society, in which P.L. Ricker (PATC’s first vice president) was active, was formed in the 1920s but it faded out as well in the 1930s when Ricker moved to New York City.

In addition to these groups and their organized trips, Gambs and bachelor Edgar Gaddis continued their private walks, and many young ladies used to join them. Gaddis had the skill of flattery for ladies that only a true gentleman of the Old South had.

In 1927, the formation of PATC filled a void in Washington’s outdoor life.

Range View Cabin + The Mountaineers

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:17:44 GMT

In PATC’s early years, its members had many interesting experiences with the people who lived in the area that became Shenandoah National Park. The park was not completed and dedicated until 1936. Before then the land that it covered was still populated by families whose ancestors had settled there several generations ago in the late 1700s. Like everywhere, there was a wide variety in the residents’ personalities, attitudes, economic status, education and outlook on life. The creation of the park would forever change the life they knew on the Blue Ridge.

Cabin Construction Begins

In 1932 the construction of Range View Cabin had begun. Every weekend a group of club members went to the site to work. Leaders in this endeavor were Frank Schairer, Myron Avery, Al Jackman and Otis Gates, the last in charge of cabin and shelter construction and maintenance. Building a cabin was difficult enough, what with bringing in the materials by car and then on foot, as well as the labor of construction.

There was one additional difficulty. Many of the local people were opposed to the cabin being built. The coming of city people was an intrusion that would interfere with the lives of the residents. Opposition was more than simply a wariness of newcomers. The local farming, hunting, fishing, whiskey-making economy would be interrupted by the outsiders. When the cabin was completed, the presence of city hikers on weekends would pose problems.

The residents made their displeasure known. Club members were told to leave; they were cursed and hooted at. Materials and tools left on site were stolen during the week, and some destruction took place.

Law Turns Blind Eye

Otis Gates wrote to Sheriff Keyser of Rappahannock County and Sheriff Lucas of Page County several times, but nothing was done. After all, the Trail club members did not live, own property, pay taxes or vote in either county, while the vandals were residents or children of residents and therefore constituents of one or other of the sheriffs. When election time came, votes mattered, and complaints by nonvoters were ignored.

In spite of Gates’ letters about a gang of juveniles led by an adult named Jerry Sowers, coming and cursing, using insulting language and even throwing rocks at the workers, local law enforcement officers ignored them.

Some of the PATC leaders knew two brothers from farther south, near Skyland, Charlie and Perry Sisk. Perry Sisk was a good carpenter and a fair stonemason, while Charlie Sisk was skilled at stone work. Both were willing, dependable workers - if hired on their own terms - and would give good value for their pay. It was common knowledge that Charlie Sisk had once killed a man, one with whom he had had a number of disagreements, in a dispute that took place when both were drunk. At the trial the jury did not accept Sisk’s plea of self-defense, and he had to serve a term of one year.

The club already had reached an agreement with Sisk for some work at Range View, and its leaders had such faith in his work skills and honesty that they waited for him to finish serving his sentence.

When freed, Sisk came to work at Range View to do the stone work. He put up with the meanness of the gang of young hoodlums for a couple of days, then grew tired of being harassed. According to the story, recited over and over through the years, on his third day on the job, Sisk was again greeted by hoots and jeers, curses and insults, and a rock or two came close to him. Sisk and his helper put their tools down, opened up the burlap sack they had brought with them and took out two shotguns. They loaded the weapons and laid them down within easy reach. Silence fell quickly on the group of youngsters; rocks in hand were dropped. The group drifted away and never returned.

Though Skyland was 30 miles from the vicinity of Elk Wallow Gap and Hogback Mountain, Charlie Sisk’s reputation as a "bad man" was known, and he was feared. Work on the cabin went forward without interruption, and weekend workers were no longer bothered.

Local Business

Sisk’s fee was $400, which was considered cheap even in those times. The club thought it had gotten a real bargain, and Sisk bragged that he had made $400 "pure profit." Some considered him a not very sophisticated accountant, but $400 was a very large sum in the spare mountain economy.

All concerned seemed to be happy, but perhaps the local citizens were not. In the advent of the AT, some residents had to move their stills and change their hunting territory and perhaps not let their stock graze as freely as before.

The citizens had failed to keep the city hikers out. Perhaps they were happy when Charlie Sisk went back south upon completion of his work. One rumor had it that they feared he would set up a still nearby and cut in on their liquor business. With his mason’s skills, Sisk had enough going for him that he didn’t need to cut into local still business. It was said that he made corn liquor for himself, friends and family, but was not a real moonshiner. He had had enough of prison life and didn’t want to worry about revenue agents. But Sisk was not a man to cross in any way.

The Brother’s Contribution

Charlie Sisk’s brother Perry used his skills with saw, hammer, nails and lumber many times for the club. According to Grant Conway, who wrote much about the early history of PATC when he was a member in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, Perry Sisk had fathered 25 children, all by the same wife! This would make Sisk and his wife a truly remarkable couple.

With a family of that size, he needed to work at something, because even in a self-sufficient society such as the mountain people had, some cash was needed. Both Perry and Charlie Sisk were skilled, honest, dependable workmen and never had trouble finding employment when they sought it. As they were always amiable with PATC members, they were a great deal of help to the club during its formative years.

PATC had a lot of contact with the mountaineers of the SNP in its early years. There were problems with the residents at times, and situations arose in which the mountaineers definitely were hostile. But Frank Schairer, Charlie Williams, Joe Winn, Al Jackman and others had good relations with them.

Cultures Crossing

When the locals saw that the hikers from the city were tolerant, friendly, honest, helpful at times, respectful of local customs most of the time and also offered employment now and then, relations between the two groups improved as time went by.

When Skyline Drive was built, the lives of these people were disrupted forever, and the Trail club members lost contact with them as they were forced to move out. Frank Schairer and several others would take or mail clothing and food to the mountaineers in their new homes at Christmas time for a year or two, but life moved on for all, and that practice was discontinued.

These years were a colorful and interesting period in the club’s history. It was good that, in most cases, relations between the club and the mountain residents ended on good terms. When club project directors and former residents met again, as they occasionally did in Sperryville or on the streets of Luray, it was like a reunion of old friends. In a way, contacts with these people helped make PATC what it is today. Though the march of progress into the wilderness areas was inevitable, a meaner, more self-centered group of outdoor enthusiasts would have had a more difficult time and left ill-feeling behind that would have tainted PATC’s reputation. But instead, PATC gained stature as word spread about how it dealt with other people.

History of Blackburn Trail Center

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:25:45 GMT

History of the Blackburn Trail Center

In 1913 a prominent Washington DC doctor, Doctor William Fowler purchased 10 acres of mountain property and had a "Mountain Cottage" built as a summer place where he could send his family to escape from the city during the hot summer months of July, August and September. On Friday afternoons the doctor would take the W & OD Railroad, get off at the Round Hill train station and be driven up the mountain in a carriage. On Monday mornings he would be picked up and returned to the train for the trip back to DC where he would spend the week at the hospital where he practiced. The original buildings consisted of the main house of log construction where the family lived, a small two-room cabin used by the family's staff and a separate garage building known as the "Carriage House. Doctor Fowler eventually sold his property to an adjoining landowner who later sold the complete tract consisting of the buildings and about 250 acres to two Northern Virginia families, The Chanel's and the Cobb's, who used it as summer home and a hunting lodge. In the 1960's Mavis Cobb bought out the Chanel family and continued to use it for herself and her friends. In 1978 Mavis sold all of the upper part of her property to the National Park Service for protection of the Appalachian Trail, which runs along the top of the ridge, and retained the house and 80 acres. By this time Mavis was quite advanced in years and was having difficulty keeping up the property and in 1979 she decided to put it on the market.

About a mile south of the Mavis Cobb's property there was an old stone shelter, the Wilson Gap Shelter, built by PATC in 1940 right on the Appalachian Trail. This shelter was built at the end of a gravel road close to several mountain homes and in the 1970's it started to be used as a party place becoming a big problem for both the Club and the local landowners. In 1978 PATC made a deal with a local landowner whereby the Club removed the shelter and in return received a right of way over the west side of the mountain where the relocated trail would be well away from the road. This left a missing shelter link and so the Club began a search for a new site. In 1979 Ruth Blackburn along with other club members came across a "For Sale" sign and followed the road up to the property. Ruth reported that a tree limb had fallen through the roof; the front lawn was up to the height of the screen porch, the buildings had been broken into and that the road leading up the mountain was in very poor condition but that this would be a perfect replacement for the Wilson Gap Shelter. Mavis was approached and after some negotiations PATC purchased the buildings and 20 acres with Mavis retaining 60 acres and financing the purchase for the Club over 7 years. The property was dedicated to Fred and Ruth Blackburn for their many years of dedicated service to PATC and to the Appalachian Trail.

Because of the extent of the work required to renovate and manage this new property and because the Club was just beginning work on the Vining Tract project the Cabins Committee declined to take on this cabin so it was decided it would be managed by the Supervisor of Trails. It was also decided that this would be a multi-use property to be used not only for hikers but also as a Trail Center where the Club could put up trail crews, hold training seminars and meetings. When not being used by the Club the Center could be rented to PATC members. In 1980 several different work crews began the work of renovating the facilities but they lacked coordination and a master plan. Also the buildings were constantly being broken into so in 1981 Jim Douglas, then the Supervisor of Trails, asked Lynn Olson to form a Management Committee to coordinate the project. A seasonal caretaker was hired to live in the building to meet and greet hikers and day visitors and to generally keep an eye on the property. Under Lynn's direction work proceeded over the next several years. The kitchen was renovated, the small cabin was rebuilt and turned into the "Hikers Hostel" and the porch flooring replaced. In 1983 the first annual Pig Roast was held at Blackburn and a couple of years later the summer B-B-Q was instituted. In 1986 Lynn moved to Florida and Sandi Marra became Manager of the committee. In 1987 Sandi ran a very successful fundraiser enabling us to drill a new well replacing the old hand dug well that ran dry each summer. During the winter months Harry Thompson would bring his Shelter Crew up so work continued right through the year. In 1989 Mavis Cobb sold her remaining 60 acres to the Club enlarging the property to 80 acres of wooded land. In 1996 Sandi took on the responsibility of President of PATC and Chris Brunton took over as Manager of the Blackburn Committee.

For some time club member Bruce Clendaniel had been working on a major renovation plan designed to turn the property into a true Trail Center capable of handling large groups. Council approved this project in January 1996 with the first work trip being held in March of that year. The project included modernizing and doubling the size of the kitchen, shoring up the basement, adding a bunkroom above the new kitchen, installing a new standing seam metal roof, expanding the wrap around screen porch and raising and replacing the Carriage House roof. Most importantly the Council approved money to improve the mountain road and trailhead parking area thus really opening up the Center to many more club members, day hikers and locals. Renovations continued from 1996 through 2001 with Bruce overseeing most of the work. Today the major part of the renovation work has been finished thanks to the dedication of many club members and friends. In 2000 the Club purchased an adjoining 16.5 acre tract and in 2001 a 50 acre tract bringing the total number of wooded acres to almost 150 all of which help to protect both the Trail Center and the Appalachian Trail.

Other important projects completed during these past years include the construction, over two seasons, of stone steps on a very steep section of one of the blue blaze trails leading up to the AT. This work was performed by PATC's Cadillac Crew and led by Jon Rindt. 6 tent pads were built close to the house and a picnic pavilion was built just below the Hikers Hostel. This pavilion was funded by ALDHA, built by two Eagle Scouts and dedicated to the late Ed Garvey, long time hiker and big supporter of the Blackburn Trail Center. Improvements were also made to the group campground just above the Trail Center.

Today Blackburn sees literally hundreds of visitors each year. The Center is listed in all the trail guide books, in the Hikers Companion and is shown on PATC's map 7. This has made Blackburn a very popular stop over for both north and south bound hikers and for section hikers. It is popular also with day hikers and local visitors looking for a short hike on the mountain. Most warm weather weekends will find a group in the campground. The main facility is heavily used by the PATC for meetings and training seminars and is now a popular rental place for larger groups something the Blackburn Committee encourages as a way to help offset the cost of operations. The annual Pig Roast and Summer B-B-Q events each attract 60 to 80 attendees and are now big family events. Proceeds from both of these events go to the Club's Lands Fund.

As with most PATC cabins there are always several projects waiting to be worked on. With help from PATC volunteers we hope to be able to finish some of these in the coming years.

-Chris Brunton

Myron Avery: Portrait of a President

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:19:59 GMT

Myron Avery, Portrait of a President

While Benton MacKaye, an American philosopher, had a dream of a footpath for hikers on the ridge of the mountains running from Maine to Georgia, Myron Avery was the man who was mainly responsible for the dream come true. He pursued MacKaye's dream with vigor and tenacity and made it a reality. Both MacKaye, the dreamer and idealist, and Avery, the organizer and worker, were essential to the making of the Appalachian Trail.

Benton MacKaye became founder of the Appalachian Mountain Club. At PATC's first meeting on Nov. 22, 1927, Myron H. Avery was elected president. He held the post until the end of 1940 with no real rivals to oppose him.

Avery was a hands-on president the entire time he held office. He was the official leader of a great many hikes and work trips; on countless others he was the behind-the-scenes organizer. He carried on a tremendous amount of correspondence with individuals and organizations.

Council meetings were called when Avery deemed them necessary, often more than once a month, and he made all the arrangements for them. Avery often called committee chairmen, both to check on the progress of their projects and to hustle them along on important work if they seemed slack. He personally tested lots of camping equipment and trail-work tools.

Avery was a one-man public relations department for PATC. He wrote, called, visited and invited on club trips many officials in both the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service. He wrote articles on both the PATC and the AT for all five newspapers in the D.C. area in the 1930s.

Avery was out on the Trail about 50 weekends a year. He drove himself, and drove others hard, to fulfill the goal of building a permanent Appalachian Trail. And he wanted to establish PATC, known at that time as simply an outdoor club, as a club with integrity and a valid purpose.

A Tough Taskmaster

Most of the time Avery was considerate, helpful and understanding. With newcomers who were sincerely interested in the club and who were willing to work, he could be a companion and coach. But if he felt he had been crossed or unnecessarily opposed, he could be cold, arbitrary and abrasive. He had little time for those who would not help, who may have been along for a good time only.

If ever proven wrong, Avery would admit it, but this seldom happened as he usually knew exactly what he was doing. Demanding but fair, Avery would not ask others to do what he would not do himself.

Avery often would dictate 20 or more letters in an evening at club headquarters, then ask the secretaries, usually Jean Stephenson or Marion Park, to type them and mail them in a day or so. This was done after everyone had worked a full day. After two or three sessions like this, working 'til midnight, Avery would take the typists out to a sumptuous dinner at a quality restaurant. The meals were paid for out of his own pocket.

Living A Full Life

Myron Avery was completely dedicated to the Appalachian Trail. Aside from his family and work, he had no time for anything else. While he was president of PATC, he also was chairman of the Appalachian Trail Conference from 1931 to 1952. A native of Maine, Avery also helped organize the Maine Appalachian Trail Club and was its supervisor of trails from 1935 to 1949 and its president from 1949 to 1952.

Avery was an expert of maritime and admiralty law and held a responsible post in the U.S. Maritime Commission during these years. He served as a naval officer during World War II as he had in World War I, but was posted to New York City during the years of the second conflict.

Avery was married and the father of two sons. It was said that he averaged five hours sleep a night for many, many years. PATC President (1949-50) Victor Howard, who worked closely with Avery and knew him well, once assessed him as a genius.

It is true that PATC was smaller in those years - 351 members in 1936, for instance - and that there were fewer trips and activities. However, many of them were of the pioneer, groundbreaking variety.

Avery's motto was that failure never should be repeated. A mistake made twice was time wasted and if publicly known would diminish the image of PATC.

Frank Schairer was entrusted with the job of trail clearing and of dealing with landowners. After a difference of opinion, Avery also came to trust Alvin 'Pete" Peterson and gave him carte blanche to build the chain of lean-tos. There were a few others in those early years who took some of the self-imposed load from Avery's shoulders. Still, he insisted on handling much of the whole business of running the club himself. The still-to-be-inspired word "workaholic' would have fitted Avery perfectly.

Clubs Take Opposite Sides

When the federal government began to build Skyline Drive, Benton MacKaye and the Appalachian Mountain Club fought the government to keep the drive off of the crest of the Blue Ridge and lost. But Avery decided to work with the government instead. Consequently, Avery and PATC had influence and were respected for doing a worthwhile job in building the Trail in that area, even though they had no real power. Avery felt that although he might have to compromise in some instances, by working with the government he could be allowed to keep the AT within the boundaries of Shenandoah National Park. His efforts were successful, and he even managed to finagle some help from the Civilian Conservation Corps in building a cabin or two.

The cost was a terrible quarrel with the Appalachian Mountain Club and a personal break with MacKaye, one that never healed.

Avery was so dedicated to Trail activities that when his job took him to New York City in early 1940 he still tried to run PATC in the same hands-on manner as before. He took train and motor trips to go on hikes and work trips and wrote voluminously to committee chairmen and key club members about details that needed taking care of.

This couldn't possibly work for long. Frustrated and feeling he couldn't control events from that distance, Avery resigned on June 11, 1940. The council and many prominent members, some of whom had disagreed with him on several issues and perhaps had felt stunted by his tight control, rose up and begged him to stay on. He agreed to finish his term and retained control of some key club activities.

Avery did not stand for reelection and was succeeded by the club's long-time vice president, Dr. L.F. Schmeckebier, on Jan. 28, 1941.

The Trail Ends

Myron Avery was an inspired, dedicated leader, compulsive about opening the Appalachian Trail and about PATC's part in it. He put his stamp on the club, along with other leaders. PATC still reflects his attitudes and philosophy. Though the word 'elite' is in disrepute these days, this club is elite because of its quality members, high standards and distinguished accomplishments. PATC is respected by all who know about its work.

Scott Johnson, a former PATC president, once told me that this job could take up to 24 hours a day if one let it. No one can meet that standard, but Myron Avery came as close to it as anyone could. It was not, and is not, a wise way to live from a personal standpoint. Avery was dead of a heart attack in 1952 at age 53. Many thought he truly was "burned out" from his complete devotion to his self-appointed task. He paid the price for his work ethic.

Many older members, and other older hikers, think that PATC exists mostly because of Myron Avery. He was a "doer" who put Benton MacKaye's dream into existence. We should be proud he was in our midst in those early years. We are what we are, a responsible and working Trail club respected by the hiking community, because of Myron Haliburton Avery and his dedication, ability and hard work.

Dave Bates

President's Column: January 2024

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 23:30:30 GMT

Disclaimer: These columns are written about three weeks in advance of publication. Sometimes it is difficult to anticipate the unforeseen.

We have some unfortunate news. Rob Aldrich , our staff director, has been diagnosed with brain cancer. As of this writing, Rob is recovering well from surgery done in early January and appears to have suffered no neurological effects from the procedure. Testing of the tissue samples is not finished, so we won’t have a final diagnosis or prognosis for a few more days.

We will keep you informed of Rob’s progress. If you are so inclined, please send your get well wishes to PATC headquarters in Vienna. We will ensure that Rob receives them.

Michael Brown , VP of Volunteerism, has stepped in to be the acting staff director until Rob is able to return.

Looking out my window, winter is here. This is the season when nothing is crowded and nature can be observed in solitude. There’s nothing like the silence induced by a soft blanket of snow nestled on the forest floor with the animal tracks and the stories they tell, visible unlike in other seasons. It’s my favorite time to hike and camp or ski to a favorite cabin.

Winter is the time to check out the PATC ski touring section. They offer organized trips to the best snow in the region and beyond. Their friendly outings can accommodate cross country skiers of all abilities.

As always, the winter weather is knocking down blowdowns on the trails we maintain. Our intrepid volunteers have been out clearing the way in the spirit of the U.S. Postal Service motto.

Please keep Rob in your thoughts as he hikes his road to recovery.

Steve Jarvis: Chair of the Ski Touring Section of PATC

commscoordinator@patc.net (Jess LaPolla) — Wed, 24 Jan 2024 23:25:19 GMT

Steve Jarvis , Chair of the Ski Touring Section (STS) of PATC, is an all-around snow expert and enthusiast. He has done everything from winter camping, snowshoeing, downhill skiing, and Nordic skiing. Steve grew up downhill skiing, but it was winter hiking that peaked his interest in ski touring. He remembers snowshoeing in the Dolly Sods one year, saying, “It was really cold, but it was like a winter wonderland out there, a whole different world.”

While most of us enjoy hiking in warmer weather and using the winter months as a good excuse to curl up under a blanket and watch Netflix, Steve prefers to make the most of the beauty that can be found in nature during the off-season. Ski touring, or Nordic skiing, allows one to cover ground more quickly and efficiently compared to snowshoeing or hiking, providing a sense of adventure and the opportunity to see and experience more. After a friend introduced Steve to the Ski Touring Section of PATC, he became hooked, and the rest is history.

The most rewarding part of Nordic skiing for Steve is the connection he gets to make with others in the sport. “The biggest thing is learning the sport, having fun, enjoying the outdoors, and then meeting people and making friends and having that camaraderie.” Along with the community, the incredible places that can be explored through ski touring are endless.

Steve has gone on many personal ski trips and also leads trips through STS, taking the club to snowy destinations both locally and globally. STS takes frequent trips to Laurel Highlands in Pennsylvania, Blackwater Falls in West Virginia, the White Mountains in New Hampshire, and many more areas within driving distance of the DC area. They have also made trips to Colorado, Quebec, Estonia, and other dream locations around the world.

Upcoming trips include Bend, Oregon, Carrabassett Valley in Maine, the Adirondacks in New York, and more.

STS is always welcoming new folks into the club and strives to provide a supportive, welcoming, and educational environment.

“We always welcome new people with different levels of experience and everybody takes care of each other.” Whether you are an experienced Nordic skier or are just dipping your toes into the water, or snow rather, STS is a great place to enjoy the sport and make new connections.

For more information on how to join STS and to learn about upcoming trips, visit https://patcskitouring.us/ .

The Work Trip to End All (2023) Worktrips

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 23:23:21 GMT

The Cadillac Crew December trip has come to be known as The Holiday Party, and we’re certainly a crew who works hard and plays hard. This December, after trail work at Entry Run Tract, the Crew headed back to the wonderfully welcoming house of Hope and Steve Barber , our gracious and generous Holiday Party hosts of several years. There we enjoyed a weekend of celebration and community while welcoming first-timers, second-timers, and many-timers alike.

The Crew awoke Saturday to a crisp, clear winter morning. We enjoyed a delicious potluck breakfast, celebrated the arrival of more Crew volunteers, including Alisa Schaefer returning for her second Crew trip with Sam Rulli in tow for his first, gave lots of pets to the newest Crew dog, Fred, and gathered for a group safety briefing.

We worked hard at Entry Run Tract building stone steps, relocating a section of trail, improving the trail tread, and placing large stepping stones at a creek crossing to reduce hiker impact. However, soon after lunch the temperature dropped and clouds moved in. When the drizzle set in, we wrapped up our work for the day. Moving heavy rocks on steep hillsides is only safely done in dry weather, and The Holiday Party awaited us.

The festivities blossomed as The Crew returned to the Barber’s house and the rain fell harder. The Holiday Party brings joy of old traditions, creation of new traditions, and celebrating a year well done with a fantastic crew of people.

The beautifully decked-out Grand Banquet Hall (also known as the garage) brimmed with potluck dinner boasting homemade main courses, bountiful side dishes, and decadent desserts. The Crew welcomed the return of Tom Hutchins , a long-time Crew regular back from years of world travels, and relished time with other veteran members who had spent time away but were back with the Crew this year. Stories of Crew trips past warmed the Grand Banquet Hall and stoked hearty laughs, looking back decades while enjoying how far we’ve come.

The annual Cadillac Crew holiday work trip brings appreciation and cheer beyond sharing meals and stories together. Crew leaders Dan and Ellen Feer gave their year-end address expressing their gratitude to our dedicated Crew members and thanking the crew leadership: Robert Fina , project manager and equipment wrangler; Kirsten Elowsky , stash manager and kitchen organizer; Janet Arici , attendance and trip reporter; Steve Phillips , Outreach manager; Ian Paige , website manager and 2023 Hawksbill recipient; Barbara Cook , safety coordinator; and every other crew member who this year stepped up to lead a task team, or contributed their expertise to the success of our year. As has become tradition, S. Claus ( Bill Greenan ) and Ms. Claus ( Tysha Robinson ) gave out the annual holiday Crew safety swag in recognition of our outstanding volunteers.

Keeping up our tradition of festive games and caroling, Tysha Robinson brought a new popular reindeer antler toss game. We hope this surprise game-of-skill makes a return appearance next year.

In typical Crew collaborative fashion, we worked out all the lyrics (in order!) of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to great success. Impressively, we managed a spontaneous yet respectable a capella version of “Carol of the Bells.”

The tuckered-out Fred Dog slept through two simultaneous and raucous card games of Up and Down the River.

An impromptu karaoke carol concert took place in the Barber’s living room starring Keith Tondrick singing “Little Drummer Boy” complete with wooden spoon and drum

After a long and playfully festive evening, we headed to bed, hearts full of joy, stomachs full of delicious food, and ears full of the sound of rain on the windowsills.

The rain persisted through the night with no relief Sunday morning. The plan to continue our work at Entry Run was a wash. With work canceled, we ate our final potluck breakfast of 2023 at a relaxed pace, thanked our gracious hosts as we all cleaned up, hugged our good friends and set home after a weekend of joy, love, and gratitude for the here and now.

If this sounds like your idea of fun, or if you would like to be a member of the crew, please email Ellen and Dan at ccrewpatc@gmail.com.

SNP North District Hoodlums Host Trail Maintenance Workshop by Tom Moran

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 16:55:19 GMT

PATC’s Shenandoah National Park North District “Hoodlums” are not an exclusive insiders club. No secret handshakes, no bizarre hazing rituals. Any PATC member able and willing to roll up their sleeves and work on trails can show up at our monthly work outings, get on the mailing list and be considered a “member.” Once a year, however, the Hoodlums put on an event that reaches beyond its member list and is explicitly open to PATC members outside the group. As in recent years, Dave Nebhut organized the North District Trail Maintainers Workshop, which spans portions of three days and is based out of the Mathews Arm group camping area. Working with Dave to lead the workshop activities was Head Hoodlum Tom Troutman .

The purpose of the workshop is to offer trail maintainers at any level, from beginner to highly experienced, the opportunity to improve their skills as well as meet peers from around PATC’s domains. This year’s event drew trail maintainers who work in such diverse areas as the South and Central districts of SNP, the Tuscarora Trail, Prince William Forest Park, and South Mountain and the Appalachian Trail in Maryland. There were also a handful of volunteers who had scant experience but were eager to learn and experience more, and perhaps find their own niche within PATC. Of course, there are also more experienced maintainers looking to sharpen a skill or just enjoy a fine outdoor weekend in the collegial atmosphere!

Check-in for the workshop was the afternoon of Sept. 15, as attendees were able to pitch their tents, enjoy a campfire and mingle with fellow volunteers. Saturday morning, following breakfast, Tom Troutman brought folks together for introductions, a safety discussion and crew assignments. Saturday was to be a working day – hands-on skills learned by conducting real maintenance activities on trails adjacent to the group campground at Mathews Arm.

The Trail Work Basics Crew, which included sisters Tracey Heibel and Lisa Rader , Michele and Carter Morrow , Kai and Kris Caraher, Chris Berkley, and Jennifer Schmid , worked on the Elkwallow Trail, just a short walk from the campground. There, experienced Hoodlums Cindy Ardecki and Dave Nebhut showed them the myriad routine tasks of maintaining a trail. The TWB crew cleaned and refurbished two lateral drains at the north end of the trail, installed a check dam, cleaned and improved a grade dip and a water bar, and rehabbed several steps on the staircase that was installed at the 2011 North District Workshop.

The Novice crew was led by Head Hoodlum Tom Troutman and Mike Gergely , and included nine eager participants -- Julie Bauer, Molly Bolan, Paul Boynton, Tony Hedlesky, Garrett Herrman, David Seiler , and Heidi and Chris Hook . This crew focused on covering all aspects of trail maintenance. They headed down the Overall Run trail, where they went over the tools used, safety protocols and the work that needs to be done to the trails before applying the skills to a needy section of the trail.

The Advanced crew headed down the Overall Run trail to a very steep section of trail with a long staircase, but in which the steps had been spaced so far apart that they were, in some cases, dangerously high from one to the next. This is a VERY heavily used trail, as the Overall Run Falls is just a bit farther downhill and the proximity of the campground makes for a lot of hiker traffic. Wayne Limberg is highly experienced at trail building and was an easy choice to lead a crew building additional stairs into the hillside. This was applied effort – finding available rocks large enough to withstand the traffic and make solid steps meant the crew members had to travel farther and farther away from the trail to find the “right” rock, then carry or drag it back to the trailbed. While Wayne doesn’t shy away from doing work, his real value here was as the puzzle master – advising his pupils on how to fit the pieces together and firm them up as quality stairs. By the end of the working day, we had added 14 new stairs, but left with the realization that more were needed. They would have to wait for another day.

This crew included Kent Bauer, Bruno Carlot, Dallas Cecil, Noel Freeman, Roger Friend, Dave Jordahl, Tom Moran, Elizabeth Moser, Marie Seymour , and Jim Fetig.

The workday ended around 3:30 for all the crew, and we hiked back up to the campground for a chance to sit down in a comfortable chair with a refreshing beverage and begin anticipating the dinner already being prepared. While most Hoodlums outings are pot luck, this was a special event so the Hoodlums’ chef, Joe Wood , assisted by Cindy Ardecki, was creating a banquet for the full group. He had a tired but hungry set of mouths to feed and the grilled Greek chicken, grilled veggies, Tuscan white bean chili, pasta and other sides really hit the spot! Following dinner, we adjourned to the campfire for a while before turning in for the night.

Sunday morning brought light rain, but most of it fell overnight and the drizzle left was no real bother. Joe and Cindy prepared coffee and a light continental breakfast, and we began the day’s program. Two workshop sessions were presented Sunday morning. Shenandoah National Park biologist Jake Hughes discussed invasive species of plants in the park, passing around samples he had collected that morning around the campground, and offered strategies on how they might be controlled or limited. While most of us are familiar with some of these, most were not aware of all the species he had to show us and the potential to disrupt native flora. Wayne Limberg then led a discussion about hand saws, their use and value relative to alternatives, and a bit of a dive into blade types and techniques for maximizing their cutting ability. Some of the terms he employed made it clear most of us didn’t really know that much about saw blades!

Following these sessions we concluded with a large brunch, again prepared by Joe with Cindy’s help. Scrambled eggs, sausage, potatoes, and amazing ham and cheese sliders on caramelized buns that were an overwhelming hit! This concluded the event, folks headed off well fed and with that satisfied sort of tired feeling.

Caroline Mosher: Climber, Nurse Anesthetist, and Chair of the Potomac Mountain Club (What Can’t She Do?)

commscoordinator@patc.net (Jess LaPolla) — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 17:03:28 GMT

“It’s super rewarding to be able to introduce people to something that I love so much and watch them fall in love with it too.”

Caroline Mosher, now the Chair of the Mountaineering Section of PATC, started climbing in the gym when she was in college. She didn’t pursue it seriously at the time, but after going back to school for Nurse Anesthesia training, Caroline needed an outlet, noting that the training was consuming her life. “I wanted to do something different that I would enjoy. I used to climb when I was in college, so I took a climbing class through REI.”

Her climbing instructor pointed her in the direction of the PATC. “I went on a few climbing trips with the Mountaineering Section, and after a couple years I decided to run for chair, and the rest is history.” With her return to climbing, Caroline began climbing outdoors, getting into sport climbing and trad climbing.

For those who aren’t familiar with the variations of climbing, sport climbing involves climbing on a rope and clipping the rope into bolts until you reach the top of a route. While there is always danger involved in rock climbing, sport climbing is pretty safe if you know what you’re doing. Trad climbing involves a higher level of risk, as there are generally no bolts or pre-placed points of protection on the routes. You must carry your own gear, placing pieces of protection as you climb. This requires one to not just be a physically strong and competent climber, but a mentally strong one as well.

“I want to lead a climb called Ecstasy at Seneca Rocks. When I first started climbing, I was climbing with a partner that was much better than me and he took me up this climb. That was the climb that made me say, “This is spectacular, I have to keep doing this.” I was totally sold on that climb and on trad climbing. It’s taken me about three years to go from following somebody on it to leading it, hopefully.”

Caroline describes Ecstasy with the excitement and passion that most climbers exhibit when talking about a project. There’s no better feeling than working a climb for months, or even years, and finally sending it. But sending her projects isn’t the only thing that Caroline gets out of climbing.

“The biggest reward is when I see somebody who hasn’t really climbed before and they’re just trying it out. Then they sign up for every single trip, and soon you see them signing up for the sport climbing trips and then the trad climbing trips and, in a year or two, you see them go from zero to hero.”

Connecting experienced members of the club with the next generation of climbers is a large part of Caroline and the Mountaineering Sections’ mission. They host climbing trips throughout the DC, VA, WV, MD, and PA regions, as well as gym meetups, climbing clinics, and mentorship programs.

The PATC Mountaineering Sections’ mission is also to preserve the places they love to climb. While they currently do crag cleanups and other volunteer work, Caroline hopes to continue increasing the Club’s conservation efforts at Great Falls, Carderock, Sugarloaf Mountain, and other local climbing areas, to address issues such as erosion, graffiti, and general maintenance. If you’d like to get involved with the Mountaineering Section of PATC,, visit their website for more info on climbing trips, volunteering, and more.

Cabin Column: September 2023

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 17:00:26 GMT

“It’s hard to go wrong on a porch worth writing about.”

People rarely have a bad time on a porch. I know I never have. Even the most redundantly crammed balcony on a decaying urban block is better than no porch at all! No matter the circumstance, a porch is a setting for fun, relaxation, reflection and fresh air.

PATC has an amazing and unique collection of some of the best patios and porches in the Central Atlantic United States.

Being in nature with the simple comforts of a sturdy chair and a solid floor is inspiring. Relaxing in the remote elements that come with a secluded mountain cabin is a luxury. For a true lover of nature, a secluded porch may be tame, perhaps the perimeter of the scale measuring your connection to the wild. But tame is good. Especially as the sun sets on a magnificent view in the cheerful company of good friends or rejuvenating seclusion of a solo retreat.

Below are some of PATC’s best cabin porches. You might just see your favorite cabin porch listed here, but you might not. This list is not a ranking, and the wonderment and beauty of your club’s collection of quality porches goes far beyond this list.

Stay tuned for a monthly update on some of our Cabin’s most exciting features. The next Cabin columns will highlight our cabins, their history, their charm and their main attractions. Your only job will be to decide which one to visit next.

Horwitz Cabin

Horwitz is a magnificently secluded cabin with a private winding driveway and all the amenities and comforts of home tidily and proportionally shrunken to backwoods simplicity. Two large glass sliding doors separate the covered, screened-in porch from the interior of the cabin. In comfortable conditions the doors can remain open to give the entire pad an open-air extension. A beautiful southeast view of Virginia’s Piedmont presents itself when you step onto the porch and among the trees. The porch comes equipped with a table and chairs suitable for an intimate dinner or a lively discussion over morning coffee. In early spring vibrant Redbud trees sprinkle the property making the place easy to love and hard to leave.

Vining Cabin

Welcome to the stately farm home of Rutledge Vining and the Vining family. The 660+ acre estate is a textbook example of 19th century Appalachian lifestyle with a taste of sophisticated charm. The handsome cabin with stone and log features sits perched among massive oaks on beautiful landscape. Sprawling views of the property’s meadow give the setting endless depth. The porch hugs the home from front to back with two large covered sections protecting the chairs and tables, cleverly arranged to accommodate your friends. The feel of Vining Cabin is a touch of old-world class you just don’t get at your local Walmart!

Mutton Top

Despite the incredible view atop grassy bald, just high enough to see over the tree line to the east, Mutton Top’s porch is so carefully and uniquely crafted that the view is really just a cherry on top. The sprawling porch has several built-in features that ease you out of the surrounding nature and into some creature comforts. The large raised stone grille is a centerpiece to the outdoor covered kitchen with a built-in wood countertop for preparing and serving a meal. For after dinner there is a wide uncovered section of the porch outfitted with Adirondack chairs not only angled for proper stargazing but complete with flat armrests to balance your beverage.

Doyles River

A trip to Doyles River starts with a scenic approach on Skyline drive. The short hike to the cabin along the Doyles River Trail brings you to an intersection with the cabin’s own footpath where the primitive home rests nearby quietly out of sight. The simple cabin offers bunks and a wood stove kitchen. The stone floor porch serves as the main hub for cabin relaxation. In addition to a sizable picnic table to organize your gear or prep your meals, the porch’s top attraction, a covered outdoor fireplace to light the night and warm your soul. Views fill the backdrop as you reflect on a refreshing day of mountain recreation.

Argow

The wonderful view from Argow Cabin looks northwest towards the farms, villages and towns of the Shenandoah Valley with peaks rising left, right and straight ahead. The large covered porch flanks both sides of the front door and connects to the cold, north wind protected south corner of the cabin. The cleverly planned side porch captivates all who enjoy it. Large tables, hand crafted rocking chairs and natural wood railings are your setting to sprawl out and enjoy your meals, sip your coffee, read your book, socialize with your adventure companions and even dance into the night, all in a day’s work. Simply stated, Argow has a porch you don’t want to miss.

Spotted Lantern Fly Advisory

commscoordinator@patc.net (Jess LaPolla) — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 16:24:04 GMT

The spotted lanternfly, an invasive insect native to China, was first discovered in the United States in Berks County, PA in 2014. Since that time, the lanternfly has spread rapidly and is currently found in 14 states and throughout much of the PATC’s territory. For current distribution of this insect, visit this link .

The lanternfly’s piercing/sucking mouthparts allows it to feed on the sugar-rich sap of its host. As it feeds this invasive insect also secretes a sugary substance known as honeydew which can accumulate on the plant and promote a sooty mold growth further damaging the host. The results can seriously damage the host and, combined with other stresses, lead to the plant’s death. Although one of the lanternfly’s primary hosts is the invasive Tree of Heaven, it has been known to feed on over 100 different trees and vines, including a range of fruit, ornamental, and native tree and vine species. In Pennsylvania alone, it is estimated that the lanternfly can potentially cause some $324 million in economic losses to the state’s agricultural and forestry industries.

The lanternfly is NOT a great flier. Classified as a planthopper (and when you try to swash them you can see why), the lanternfly often relies on hitching rides with unsuspecting “guests”. Vehicles and equipment left at trailheads are fertile spots for the lanternfly to lay their eggs, which upon a quick glance look like splotches of mud. In addition, adult lanternflies have been observed clinging to vehicles traveling over 60 mph down interstates.

As good stewards to our lands, it is important that we do not contribute to the spread of this serious and destructive invasive. With the lanternfly’s rapidly spreading range it is safe to say that one could find it along any of the trails maintained by the PATC. Make it a habit to check your equipment and vehicles for lanternflies and their egg masses before leaving from your hike. Remove any suspected egg masses and smash or squash those adults.

For more information about the spotted lanternfly in specific PATC states and lists of counties under lanternfly quarantine, please visit the following:
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Virginia
West Virginia

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