New PATC Hike Leaders
By Gregory Roscetti and Nancy Seidel
PATC adds two new hike leaders to its team -- Gregory Roscetti and Nancy Seidel. Below, you will find statements from each of them. We invite everyone to join us in giving them a warm welcome.
Gregory Roscetti
I am originally from central Illinois. Growing up I used to hike frequently with my brothers and with my father. There aren’t a lot of parks and woods in central Illinois, so we hiked more in the winter when local lakes and rivers froze, providing us additional miles to hike. The lake shores were mostly private property, but the frozen lakes were open to us. Perhaps this is why I still prefer hiking in cold weather. Or maybe it is because poison ivy is less of an issue in the winter, especially when you are out on the ice.
After college I went into the Army, and in that capacity, I had the opportunity to live (and hike) in different parts of the US and in Germany. I lived in Germany for 25 years and hiked a great deal. I migrated to trail running as a time saving measure and more recently back to hiking after my knees decided that they didn’t like so much running.
I’ve lived in northern Virginia for 13 years now. For most of that time, I hiked with and led hikes for a now defunct hiking group. People often ask me what my favorite hikes are, and I usually respond by asking for some context. Some of my favorite hikes are in the southern section of SNP, but I rarely do these hikes due to the length of the drive. If you ask me what my favorite hikes are within an hour’s drive, that is a question I can answer – Riverbend, Seneca Regional Park, Sky Meadows, and Manassas Battlefield, to name a few.
Since I can no longer comfortably run, hiking is my primary form of exercise. This is why I prefer hikes with some hills to go up in order to get a cardiovascular workout. You can expect me to mostly lead hikes with at least 1000’ of elevation gain/loss and a distance of 10 miles, plus or minus. Given that I am still working, I try to do one of these hikes every Saturday. I also hike on Sundays, but then I take my camera and go looking for interesting plants and animals.
Nancy Seidel
I have always enjoyed nature and sharing it with others. I can be easily distracted by a pretty wildflower, an interesting tree, or any kind of wildlife. I have enjoyed many hikes lead by others so now I hope to return the favor.
I come from a multigenerational family of outdoor enthusiasts and was hiking and camping before I could walk. I have walked many miles in the Adirondacks and the White Mountains. I grew up near Bear Mountain State Park in New York, which has the honor of being the lowest point along the AT (Woohoo!). The AT has always had a place in my heart, and I have set foot on parts of the trail in every state except Georgia. I try to hike wherever I go and discover new places that only my feet can take me. I generally prefer hiking in smaller groups with distances of 4-6 miles, but sometimes I enjoy longer trails.
I have recently taken up backpacking and hope to do more. Favorite trails in Shenandoah include Rose River loop in most seasons and weather and Rapidan camp via Mill Prong in spring when the wildflowers bloom. Favorites closer to my home include almost anything along the Potomac RIver including Great Falls (both sides), Riverbend Park, and Weverton Cliffs Overlook.
Hope to see you on the trail!