Potomac Appalachian January 2015
Transcription
Potomac Appalachian January 2015
The Newsletter of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club January 2015 ‑ Volume 44, Number 1 Hawksbill Award winners gather. Photo by Stanley Turk Record Attendance at the 87th Annual PATC Meeting and Awards Banquet Volunteer of the Month 9 A record 169 members met at the Meadowlark Gardens Atrium in Vienna, Va., for the 87th Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet on Nov. 18. In addition to recognizing the successful efforts of our volunteers, 12 officers were elected to lead the club for the next two years. The evening was packed with a full agenda. This year’s “Wall of Acclaim,” photos depicting volunteers at work on the trails during 2014, was projected on a screen while members socialized and remembered the hard work combined with comradery in service to the PATC mission. John Hedrick opened the meeting by welcoming members and guests; he then introduced Joe Lombardo, treasurer, who reported that PATC’s finances were in good standing. Hike of the Month 17 YOUTH SECTION 23 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA 22180‑4609 www.patc.net ISSN 098‑8l54 PATC Vice President- Volunteerism, Dick Hostelley, introduced the staff, including Anne Corwith who assumed the role of Cabins Coordinator after the retirement of Pat Fankhauser in June, and Mona Filchock, former Sales Coordinator who was promoted to Finance Coordinator earlier this month. Dick also introduced and thanked staff and volunteers responsible for organizing the meeting and awards banquet. Lee Sheaffer, PATC vice president-operations, expressed the need for volunteer help at the ATC Biennial Conference, “Hiking through History” in July 2015. PATC is hosting the event for ATC along with the Mountain Club of Maryland and is expecting a large number of attendees. This year’s guest speaker was Eric Campbell, chief interpreter at Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park. Eric made a riveting presentation on the Shenandoah Valley’s involvement during the Civil War, keeping the audience in awe of his knowledge as well as his ability to cover four years of history in thirty minutes! Dick Hostelley returned to the podium to present well deserved awards to a number of volunteers. A list of Service Award recipients appears on page 7. Other awards presented at the awards banquet were: The Hawksbill Award, named for the highest elevation in PATC territory, was conceived by Jim Tomlin in 2011. This award allows each chapter, crew, section, committee, district and formally recognized PATC group to honor one of its members who has made a (continued on p.2) PATC Meeting and Awards Banquet (continued from P.1) significant contribution above and beyond the Service Award. A list of Hawksbill awardees appears on page 6. The Myron Avery Award is presented to one club member who has provided great service to PATC within the last year. The Myron Avery Award, the highest honor PATC bestows, was presented by President John Hedrick to Pete Brown for 2014. An Honorary Five Year Membership Award was presented to Kendall Whyte. Appreciation Awards were presented to: K e y no t e Spe aker Eric and Bell e Grove Na Cambpell of Ced ar Creek tional His discusse s the Civil torical P ark War in th e Shenan doah Val ley. • Tom Barber for his work at John’s Rest and Old Rag Cabins • Jim Corwith, editor of the PATC Online Calendar • Michael Dennis, GPS Ranger equipment consultant • Paul Alderman, Wade Aylor, Ken Frohnert, and Det Wilkins, for their work with the Wilderness Work Force in the wilderness area of Spotsylvania • Bill Schumacker and Zoe Sollenberger for use of their mules to transport materials up the mountain during the Kennedy Peak Tower construction project • Stoneybrook Farms for their outstanding support of the hikers and crew members at Blackburn Trail Center gue c ol l e a i l d e r o Hon Tra achian E xecutive Appal y rvanc ip ton. C on s e T o r R on Direct Details on these awardees appear on p. 3. In addition, 50 year member acknowledgements went to William H. Oscanyan, III; Allan B. Tanner; Barry and Zenia Bielsker; Peter P. Lord; Laurence and Ruth Liston; and John Shores. Finally, Dan Dueweke, chair of the Elections Committee announced the 2014 Election results: • President: Dick Hostelley • Vice President-Volunteerism: Steve O’Connor • Vice President-Operations: John Hedrick • Treasurer: Joe Lombardo • Secretary: Tom Avey • Supervisor of Marketing: Emeline Otey • Supervisor of Membership: Rick Canter • Supervisor of Communications: Alan Day • Supervisor of Trails: Wayne Limberg • Supervisor of Lands: Bill Downes • Supervisor of Activities: Rush Williamson • Supervisor of Facilities: Mel Merritt Outgoing PATC President John Hedrick was awarded a plaque of appreciation for his four years of service as president. All Annual Meeting photos by Stanley Turk 2 —Edna Baden Elec ti Due w ons Cha ir elec eke anno Dan t i on r e s u u nc e s t h lts. e Dick — rship dent-elect k. e d a e i c h of l , Pres ohn Hedri e torc t to right J h t t n g e f d n Passi ically— le oing Presi ol tg symb ey and ou l l e Host January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian PATC Honors Our Best, Brightest and Most Dedicated PATC recognizes outstanding achievement made on behalf of the club by both members and non-members. In addition to the Hawksbill and Service awards, which are presented by committees, crews, chapters or sections, the following awards were presented by club officers during the Nov. 18 annual meeting. Note: Nomination write-ups may have been edited for grammar, style and in some cases brevity. –Editor Appreciation Awards Primarily for non-members, this award is given to individuals or groups who have made some special contribution to the club and our objectives. Recipients could include government officials (federal, state, local) who have assisted the club in our activities; individuals who have donated land or facilities; retired PATC employees; or anyone else who has helped the club in a significant way. The individual or group is nominated by a PATC member or employee and approved by PATC council. Awardees receive a plaque recognizing the award with the name of the person or group and the name of the award. Tom Barber Nomination by John Corwith (previously awarded) Tom Barber, Steve Barber's son, has a terminal brain tumor and I'd like to recognize his contributions to the club before it is too late. Tom has helped Steve on numerous occasions doing maintenance on John's Rest. On one occasion, he helped remove a difficult dead tree that was in a position to Dick Hostelly presents Zoe Sollenberger with an Appreciation Award for leading a team of mules on the Kennedy Peak restoration. do damage to John's Rest if it fell the wrong way. For Old Rag Cabin, he helped cut and haul donated logs from his property that we used to replace rotten logs at the cabin. He has been on several ORC work trips and most recently ran the trencher for the power line. Jim Corwith Nomination by John Corwith My father, Jim Corwith has been editor of the PATC online calendar for over two years. He took on this role with only a little arm twisting even though he lives a day's drive away and has never participated in any other PATC events/activities. He is dedicated to the task and works hard to update the calendar on a daily basis and even does so while traveling/on vacation. He raised three Eagle Scouts and had we grown up in the area, I'm sure we would all have been members of PATC. Michael Dennis Nomination by Jim Tomlin A professional land surveyor working pro bono for PATC, Michael has been instrumental in the selection of surveying equipment and the establishment of surveying procedures for the PATC GPS Rangers. Michael worked closely with PATC volunteers and surveying equipment companies to identify the “Map N Angels:” Jennifer Azzariti, Todd Kutyla and their two most appropriate children were largely responsible for the update of PATC Map N. January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian surveying equipment for the club at the lowest possible cost. He then worked closely over a significant period of time with PATC volunteers to help establish surveying protocols and procedures for a variety of tasks. Without his efforts, the GPS Rangers would have had a much more difficult launch and would not have been able to get up to speed as quickly. Michael continues as an adviser to the group and quickly and fully answers all land surveying-related questions we pose to him. The GPS Rangers volunteers would like to show their appreciation of all of his expert, valuable, and freely-donated help. Paul Alderman, Wade Aylor, Ken Frohnert and Det Wilkins Nomination by Frank Haas Several non-PATC members work with the Wilderness Work Force. They contribute their efforts in the wilderness area of Spotsylvania County, Va. They have been working with regular members for eight or ten years or so. The shelter at the Gordon Flank Attach was repainted. The road to the work barn was confronted with much erosion; water bars were installed to direct water to the east and down to VA 20. The fitness trail at Germanna College was restored for use. At the same location, the remnants of Governor Spotswood house and castle were cleared of debris. This is part of what they have been doing these past few years. Bill Schumacker and Zoe Sollenberger Nomination by Alan Day PATC appreciates the support that Bill and Zoe provided to the Kennedy Peak Tower reconstruction project by using their mules to transport equipment needed to complete this difficult effort. It would have been 3 available to provide shelter overseers with “how-to” advice to repair shelters and had replaced numerous shelter roofs throughout our region. PATC President Dick Hostelly (right) recognizes 50-year member Allan Tanner. impossible to restore the tower for safe use by hikers without this equipment. Stoneybrook Farm Nominated by Chris Brunton Stoneybrook Farm has been a great supporter of the Blackburn Trail Center this season. On numerous occasions they drove to Blackburn to bring hikers food and give hikers shuttles at no charge. They cook meals for the Blackburn crews using their home grown produce. In early spring they cut a hazardous tree at a very reduced price and last month several of their members spend a very long day helping to install the new Hiker Cabin roof. Honorary Life Membership Awards Nominees are typically long-time members who have contributed to many areas of the club and shown outstanding performance over a long period of time. Honorary Life Members are treated as Life Members of the club; no further dues payment is required of that individual. Awardees also receive a plaque identifying the award and an appropriate memento emblazoned with their name and the name of the award. Nominees are nominated by a member of the club and awards are approved by the PATC council. Henry Horn Nomination by John Hedrick Henry has been a member of PATC for 14 years and is presently the Shelter Construction lead, a position he has held 4 for 11 years. This is a very important position and Henry is responsible for planning and supervising all shelter construction and arranging for significant maintenance work trips. He works closely with the supervisor of facilities to plan for new shelters and prepares and submits the shelter budget. He approves all shelter expense vouchers. During his tenure, he has personally constructed, with his shelter crew, some seven shelters throughout PATC and has coordinated the construction on many others. These shelters are sometimes in remote areas and Henry must compile the bill of materials, arrange for the delivery of construction material, perform the site preparation and then obtain the necessary approval documentation. This coordination involves significant personal time and travel, which Henry has always been willing to accomplish. Constructing a shelter for our hikers is a technical challenge and requires skills not normally available in our volunteer base. Henry excels in designing and completing these shelters, which sometimes takes two to four months. He always emphasizes safety on the job and despite the heavy construction material, there have been no major accidents on his work trips. He has constructed 10 privies (some composting) at many locations and has worked with the Deaf School to construct other privies. He recently replaced a number of rotted logs at the Hightop and Old Rag shelter huts, thereby saving Shenandoah National Park considerable dollars. He is always Henry is currently assisting with inside repairs at the Appalachian Trail Museum and works closely with Boy Scout troops to provide volunteer projects. He has been active in assisting numerous scouts to achieve Eagle Scout status by providing appropriate projects. In his spare time he is the project lead for constructing a new shelter at Dicks Dome in Northern Virginia. The Ed Garvey shelter in Maryland was constructed under Henry’s supervision and he remains the shelter overseer. The fact that our shelters are recognized by hikers as some of the best maintained shelters along the AT and on other trails is a positive testimony to Henry’s professional expertise, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Each year he dedicates hundreds of hours working with crews and shelter overseers to insure our shelters are maintained to the highest possible standards. Henry is clearly deserving of the Life Membership award. John Shannon Nomination by Iva Gillet, Dan Ralston, and Andy Willgruber John Shannon has worked tirelessly on PATC trails for 28 years, clearing fallen trees, removing encroaching brush, cleaning and building waterbars, regrading trails, and removing invasive plants. An original member of the Charlottesville Chapter, formed in 1986, John regularly heads up trail work along the club’s section of the Appalachian Trail between Rockfish and McCormick Gaps, and he is likewise available to help others with their trails. He is an active member of the Flying McLeods, formed by Mark Gatewood in 2007 to control trail erosion in the South District of Shenandoah National Park. John previously served as overseer of the Furnace Mountain Trail for some 14 years. He served as president of the Charlottesville Chapter for a dozen years, followed by several years as newsletter editor. As for paperwork, John has spent countless hours over the years keeping chapter records. January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian John has participated in many special PATC projects, including the Dunlodge Cabin and property restoration, the AT trail relocation near Calf Mountain, ice-storm cleanup in 2006 and 1998, and Hurricane Isabel cleanup in 2003. More recently, he has devoted many hours to removing invasive plants. John will undoubtedly continue to direct time and energy toward keeping the AT and surrounding trails in top shape for the many people who use and enjoy them. Honorary Membership Awards Presented to a non-member for a fixed amount of time, up to a life membership, for a significant contribution to the club. The awardee will have full membership privileges for that amount of time designated in the award. The awardee will receive a plaque with their name and the name of the award. Nominees are nominated by a PATC member or employee and approved by PATC council. Kendall Whyte Nomination by Jim Peterson Kendall Whyte, a licensed electrician in Martinsburg W.V., is nominated for an honorary five-year membership for his continuous volunteer service to PATC for the past five years in the restoration and reconstruction of the Little Cove cabin. During that period Kendall has made 12-15 trips to the cabin and has worked an estimated 100 hours on site. In addition, he probably spent another 50 hours planning and researching solutions, acquiring materials and traveling to the site. Using a conservative hourly rate, the value of this service is estimated to exceed $10,000. But the value of Kendall’s work goes far beyond its monetary value. including a new pole, underground cable, and replacement of an aging and corroding panel box. He also arranged for the code inspection. This project required four site visits, and many hours of planning and negotiating on PATC’s behalf. Other projects Kendall has carried out include moving heaters and light switches and rewiring to allow for the new double French doors in the living room and dining room, installing three new exterior porch lights and a floodlight, installing a new circuit and four outside outlets, and installing additional kitchen circuits and outlets, including a microwave outlet over the kitchen range. As this nomination is being written Kendall is finishing the installation of a new heater and thermostat for the kitchen, and reconfiguring the other heat circuits so renters cannot run up the club’s electric bill. A bonus has been Kendall’s promptness in responding to our needs, patience with our changing requirements, and the overall quality and neatness of his work. Myron Avery Award The highest honor presented by the club, it is awarded to a single individual for outstanding volunteer activity over the past year. The activity can be in any area and must be of a clearly extraordinary nature. The nominee must be a PATC member and nominated by a PATC member. The Executive Committee will choose the candidate from the nominees and the nominee cannot be a current member of the PATC executive committee. The awardee will have their name engraved on a bronze nameplate with the year of the award and the nameplate will be attached to a plaque located at PATC headquarters. The recipient will also receive an appropriate memento with their name and the name of the award emblazoned on the item. The award can only be awarded to an individual once. Pete Brown Nomination by Mary and Dewey Clark Pete Brown is district manager for the North Chapter and has long been looked up to as the leader of this group of trail volunteers. He has created a culture of collaboration and camaraderie that enables this small group to accomplish an extraordinary amount of work. In the last year, this has included four major “construction” projects: remodeling Little Cove cabin, building the Charlie Irvin shelter, replacing the Silberman bridge, and developing a state-of-the-art North Chapter website. Under Pete’s leadership, the North Chapter Yankee Clippers worked on these projects simultaneously! Last August, PATC leaders, forest service staff and other guests joined the Yankee Clippers to celebrate the official dedication of Little Cove cabin. While work on Little Cove began several years ago, this past year Pete organized 10 weekend work trips to complete major renovations to this once decrepit hunting lodge. This beautifully rebuilt On his first visit Kendall corrected many unsafe situations, some of which were code violations, and he did the rewiring necessary for the installation of a new cabin roof. The construction of the new porch required the relocation of the electrical service entry. Kendall negotiated a solution with an uncooperative electric utility, obtained assurances that the solution would pass electrical code inspection, obtained materials, and planned or carried out all installation, January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian Can you hear me now? John Hedrick presents Pete Brown (on the phone) with his Myron Avery Volunteer of the Year award. Robert Wise stood in to pick up the award. 5 2014 Hawksbill Award Winners This award is presented by each crew, district, committee, chapter, section, Trail Patrol, and SMRG to a PATC member who has shown outstanding volunteer performance over the last year. The award, named for the highest vertical elevation (4,050 ft.) in PATC’s territory, was developed to fill the niche between the PATC Service Award (which many of our worthy volunteers receive on a regular basis) and the Myron Avery Award, our highest honor, presented to one volunteer annually. (Left to right) Dick Hostelley, Barry Bielsker, Edna Baden, Zenia Bielsker. The Bielskers are 50-year members. cabin features a three-sided wraparound porch, gourmet kitchen, custom stone work, finely crafted interior wood work, and many other features. Pete carefully coordinated this complex cabin reconstruction, all of which (except for some electrical work) was performed by Yankee Clippers primarily using materials found on the 160-acre Little Cove property. Thanks to Pete’s leadership and coordination, working with construction guru Al Black and cabin overseer Gene Leese, the Yankee Clippers transformed this property into one of the most sought-after cabins in the PATC rental system. Work on constructing the Charlie Irvin shelter also occurred during this past year. The major challenge was transporting two tons of materials across a newly created half-mile stretch of decomposing granite ridge trail atop the Tuscarora. When hopes of a National Guard helicopter drop vanished, Pete led the effort to carry to the shelter site 65 6”x12’ logs, 20 80-pound bags of concrete, 900 feet of framing lumber, 32 pieces of standing seam metal roofing, floor boards, posts, roof decking, and other materials and tools, as well as the generator. On the day the crew gathered at the material staging area, amid the expected grousing, Pete simply picked up a load and everyone else followed. Actual construction of the shelter then began in earnest, with the metal roofing slated for carry-in and installation in late September. The third project involved rebuilding the access bridge to Silberman cabin. Not merely a pedestrian bridge, the Silberman bridge had to be engineered to handle vehicle traffic, including the 40-ton dump trucks that carry stone for the cabin access road. Amidst the other construction work trips, Pete coordinated multiple Saturday work events where the Yankee Clippers stained the timbers, removed the existing deck, and installed the new timbers along with side rails on the 45-foot bridge spanning Aughwick Creek. Another major “construction” project on Pete’s schedule was redesigning the North Chapter website, which is now informative, creative, and should prove to be an effective recruiting tool. Pete identified a retired IT professional to volunteer to build this state-of-the-art website. Pete then encouraged contributions to the website and along with the web PATC leadership recognized that many individuals go above and beyond to help their PATC group. We have given each PATC group the ability to acknowledge this high level of service by one special individual for the year. AwardeeNominated By Gregory J. Bayens Potomac Heritage Trail Glen BreiningBears Den Gary P. Bruner Yankee Clippers Beverley Carver AT SNP South Margaret Chapman Hikes Dorsey Counts Spotsylvania Anstruther Davidson Cabins Reservations Carey Dueweke Potomac Appalachian Joanne Fenninger Greater Manassas Doug FordMutton Hollow Marit Anderson Gay Charlottesville Chapter Roger B. Hanson GPS Rangers Charles HillonManassas National Battlefield Park David A. House AT Maryland John Huennekens Acme Treadway David Randy Jackson Cabins Maintenance Richard J. Kafka Activities Cindy L. Kelly Trail Patrol Mike Leo Flying MacLeods Christopher E. LooneyBlackburn Trail Center Jayne Mayne 2015 Biennial Jeff MonroeMaps Committee Michael J. Moran Wolf Trap Jessica Murphy Communications Russell MuterManassas National Battlefield Park David Nebhut SNP North James H. PetersonLands Rick PurvisManassas Bullrunners Richard Rooney Staff Director Selection George M. Ruben Headquarters Kathleen E Seiler North Chapter John Stacy Spooky Beavers Pete Taylor Tuscarora South Jeffrey L. Testerman Facilities James ThompsonMaryland Metro Richard Weyrick AT Mosby District Patrick A. Wilson SNP Central Michael D. Wingeart President's Selection David Ziobro Pennsylvania (continued on p. 22) 6 January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian Service Awards T These awards are presented to members who have outstanding volunteer service over the current year. Nominees are selected by the crew leader, district manager, committee chairman or president of the chapter/section. Awardees receive a certificate with their name and the award title and at their option a rocker bar with the name of the award. Peter Aagaard Bruce Agnew John Allen Mark Allen Michael Allen Terry Allen Mark Anderson Ken Andrews Luke Arbogast William Archer Cynthia Ardecki Janet Arici Bob Athey Todd Athey Jonathan Atkins Esther Aulthouse Tom Avey Jennifer Azzariti Edna Baden Steve Bair Christy Barber Stephen Barber Dick Batiste Gregory Bayens Alvin Black Paul Blackman Gordon Bradford John Bridges Ed Brimberg Bob Brown Karen Brown Lindsay Brown Peter Brown Kathleen Brumberger Gary Bruner Chris Brunton Casey Buboltz Ron Bungay Frank Burke Heather Callahan Lynn Cameron Malcolm Cameron Laura Campbell Richard Canter Beverley Carver Scott Cates Margaret Chapman Dewey Clark Mary Clark Robert Clark James Clary Mike Cohn Nick Colombo Trish Colombo Doug Connell John Conover Larry Corcoran Anne Corwith Jim Corwith John Corwith Kevin Costello Dorsey Counts Steph Danahy Steve Dannenfeldt Anstr Davidson Don Davis Howard Davis Alan Day Saleena DeVore Bill Downes Daniel Dueweke Richard Dugan Marilyn Duncan Scott Duncan Michael Dyas Bette Dzamba Dick Eagan Brandon Easley Larry Eavey Mark Ellis Melvin Ellis Kirsten Elowsky Robert England Eliza Beth Engle David Erdman Audrey Ewin David Fellers Joanne Fenninger Victor Fickes Michael Filchock Peter Fink Curtis Finney George Finney Tawnya Finney Jim Finucane Christopher Firme Ben FitzGerald Randall Flynn William Ford Noel Freeman Robert Freeman Ralph Frink Lynn Gallagher Ray Galles David Garman Betty Gatewood Mark Gatewood Peter Gatje Marit Gay Alan Gerber Patricia Getty Iva Gillet Ellen Glynn Jean Golightly January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian Fritz Gottschalk Maston Gray Charlie Gutberlet Charlie Gutridge Frank Haas Hal Hallett Ceresa Haney Roger Hanson Georgia Harris Peter Harris Michael Heckman Peter Hedrich John Hedrick Adam Henderson Tex Herbel Clyde Hicks Harry Hicock Ellen Hill Charles Hillon John Hobler John Holman Mark Holsteen Dick Hostelley Greg Houchens John Huennekens Charles Hughes Douglas Humphrey Timothy Hupp Tom Hutchings Jim Hutzler Dan Innamorato Robert Jennings Mike Johnson Robert Johnson Thomas Johnson Dave Jordahl Thomas Jorgensen Lou Juliana Jay Jupiter Richard Kafka Leonard Keifer Cynthia Kelly Mills Kelly Eric Keltz J. J. King Susan King Gregg Kneipp Robert Lake Alexandra Lampros Jeffrey Landis Joann Langston Robin Laskowski Rob Lauchner Robert Laughlin Joseph Laws Michael Leahy Peter LeComte H A Gene Leese Richard Leslie Rachel Levin Denny Libby Wayne Limberg Lawrence Linebrink Charles Little James Little Robert Livezey Eugene Locke Robert Look Don Looney John Lord Jack Luksik Dennis Lykins Kathy Lykins Ian MacKay Charlie Macleod Doug Madej Justin Maimone Chris Mangold Lee Manning Rick Marsalek David Martin Kenneth May John McCrea Bob Mccullough Elizabeth McGowan Tom McIntosh Matthew Mcleod Jeanne McSorley George Meek Ann Melle Scott Miller Peter Minderman Charlie Miracle Jeff Monroe Francis Moran Chip Morgan Stef Morris Randy Motz Edwin Murawski Matthew Murray Peter Muschamp Russell Muter Jerry Naeve Barbara Nash David Nebhut Mark Nelson Robert Nelson Heather Niemela Kate Nolan Lynn Olson Rhett Orndorff Kelly O'Rourke Stephen Osbrach Emeline Otey N K Y Jeff Paccione Wendy Pacek Glenn Palatini Sean Palmer Dick Peacock Melanie Perl James Peterson Robert Pickett Catherine Pipan Laurie Potteiger Richard Potteiger David Proffitt Andrew Protigal Dan Pulskamp Rick Purvis Ted Rabkin Dan Ralston Ash Rao Joseph Raynor Michael Reese Marie Restrepo Richard Rhoades James Rice Russell Riggs Jon Rindt Katherine Rindt Richard Rooney Thomas Rostek George Ruben Thomas Ryan David Saah Keith Salley Alex Sanders Randy Sanders Catherine Savel John Schell Bob Scott Eric Seaborg Jeffrey Seal Kathleen Seiler David Sellers Michael Seth Philip Shanholtzer John Shannon Lee Sheaffer Kit Sheffield Karen Shull Rima Silenas Zoe Sollenberger Thomas Sowers James Speicher John Spies John Stacy Patrick Stark James Stauch George Stepanovich Richard Stickley O U Joseph Stielper Janis Stone Russ Strosnider James Surdukowski Leigh Surdukowski David Sylvester Jim Tabor Hardcharger Taylor Harry Thie Kathleen Thie Pat Thomas James Thompson Carole Tomhave Roger Tomhave Keith Tondrick Robert Torla David Trone Glen Tsaparas J Tucker Jen Tullman Stanley Turk Dee Utz Dan Varela Mike Wagner Diana Wahl George Walters Heather Warren John Watson-Jones George Weissbach Dale Welter William Wentz Allen Wheeler Gene Whitaker Bea White Bruce White Donald White Ken White David Wilcox Karl Wilkerson Andrew Willgruber Ken Williams Pam Williams Rush Williamson Melanie Wilson Patrick Wilson Robert Wise Douglas Wolf Jackie Wolf Tom Wolf Joe Wood Constance Wright David Wurst John Zampino David Ziobro 7 Dick’s Musings For the past two years I have been PATC’s vice president—volunteerism, during which time I have had an opportunity to see the many facets of this club. I have been very impressed with the work done by our many volunteers and their dedication in maintaining trails, huts, shelters and cabins. I am excited about this opportunity to be a voice for PATC as your president. My predecessor John Hedrick has laid a strong foundation for the new EXCOM to build upon. The club is in a strong financial position for growth and sustainability due to his leadership. Thank you, John! The first challenge facing EXCOM will be to develop a strategic plan that outlines a disciplined approach to producing fundamental decisions and actions that shape and guide what PATC is, what it does, and why it does it, with a focus on the future. PATC is financially strong. Now let us work on being strong with diversity in membership. The club must recruit, engage and retain a younger and more diverse demographic. I encourage EXCOM, when developing the PATC strategic plan, to follow the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), which addressed diversity in its strategic Plan as “Broader Relevancy,” which states, in part: “Engage with and connect…to a younger and a more diverse audience…” PATC President Dick Hostelley met this fellow in Fort William, Scotland. “I introduced myself, but he held his lips as tight as a steel trap, and said not a thing,” Hostelley says Photo courtesy of Dick Hostelley things planned and in order. The big hiccup at present is software. Computers are wonderful, except when they do not do what you want them to do. I look forward to serving you, PATC’s membership, as president, and I pledge that I will perform my duties as your president in a professional, ethical, and thoughtful manner. The presidents who have served before have laid a 8 Like to comment? Send your thoughts to: drdick@embarqmail.com. -DICK The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.—Vince Lombardi Volunteer of the Month Rob Lauchner Rob has been working on trails for many years. Back in the 1990s, he was a PATC overseer in Shenandoah National Park, working alongside the likes of Phil Fosterman and Anneliese Ring, who was supervisor of trails at the time. Rob, Phil and Anneliese were regulars of the Blue and White Crew in SNP. Another area EXCOM will be looking to address is how the present website reflects PATC’s character and personality. We will encourage those who have left our membership to come back into the fold. Additionally, the club must look at ways to garner funding through donations, grants, planned giving, monthly giving and other means to ensure long-term financial success. As well, we must update our outdated Land Management Plan. In the new year, PATC’s primary challenge is the 2015 Biennial Conference, for which Lee Shaeffer, Rush Williamson and their steering committee are hard at work getting foundation on which the club will continue to grow and sustain itself. Rob moved to Colorado—home of the Rocky Mountains—in 1999 and became a volunteer maintainer of the Colorado Trail. His section in the Collegiate Range of Chaffee County was a long drive from home and very difficult to hike to. Volunteer of the Month Rob Lauchner. Photo by Sharon Lauchner Rob returned from Colorado to Maryland in 2011, and decided to get back to PATC trail stewardship. He met up with the South Mountaineers and has become the overseer of the Thurston Griggs Trail and nearby January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian sections of the Appalachian Trail either side of Pogo Campsite. He officially became the overseer in the summer of 2013. The tread repairs on the Griggs Trail are his handiwork. Rob has also helped by weeding trails on crew workdays, starting at 6 or 7 a.m., in the muggy air of summertime. Along with his wife Sharon, he mows the Appalachian Trail's open areas in Weverton, Fox Gap and Turners Gap. Rob's professional expertise is in GIS, and he has the maps on the walls of his home to prove it. Not just any old maps, but a rather unique and eclectic assortment. Rob is currently between jobs; he has spent that free time working for PATC and getting his fixer-upper house in great shape. Rob is an avid hiker; he has thruhiked the Pacific Crest Trail and section-hiked most of the AT. He also enjoys biking rail-trails and canoeing. Sharon and Rob live near the Appalachian Trail in Maryland. PATC thanks Rob Lauchner for all of his dedication and good deeds he performs for the club. —Sharon Lauchner and Rick Canter Know a PATC volunteer who goes “above and beyond”? Nominate him or her for Volunteer of the Month! Send nominations to Rick Canter at patcmd@yahoo.com. John Hedrick and Antietam Superintendent Susan Trail. Photo by Jane Custer/NPS PATC Adds New Maryland National Battlefield Parks Trail District Let the cannons virtually roar again! On Nov. 3, 2014, PATC President John Hedrick and Antietam National Battlefield Park Superintendent Susan Trail signed a Memorandum of Understanding for trail maintenance at the park. Also in attendance were PATC’s Supervisor of Trails Jon Rindt; Jane Custer, chief of the Resource Management Division at Antietam; and PATC District Manager Jim Tomlin. PATC has now officially added its 25th trail district and 13th formal collaboration with a national park. Located in Sharpsburg, Md., Antietam National Battlefield was the scene of the highest number of casualties (23,000) in one day of battle in all of U.S. history, on Sept. 17, 1862. Through this agreement, PATC will maintain a majestically scenic and historically fascinating trail network at Antietam, comprising 12 trails and 13.4 miles, as part of the new PATC Maryland National Battlefield Parks District. From the grassy paths around the Cornfield and the memorials along Bloody Lane to a quiet streamside walk along Antietam Creek, Antietam battlefield has many delightful trails in store for any hiker, especially history buffs. See http://www.nps. gov/anti/planyourvisit/upload/Hiking-2011.pdf for more information about the trails. PATC is proud to assist Antietam National Battlefield Park staff with the upkeep and improvement of these trails. Many thanks to all of the PATC volunteers who have stepped forward to volunteer to oversee a section of trail at Antietam. This duty is quite an honor for PATC. Keep an eye out on the “Help Wanted” section of the PA for available opportunities to oversee a trail or be part of an ad hoc trail crew at Antietam. For more information, contact D_MD_NBP@patc.net. —Submitted by Perry O. Bear January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian 9 Forecast CHAPTERS Charlottesville Chapter The Charlottesville Chapter hikes every Saturday; summer, winter and in between. Hikes are usually 8 to 10 miles with some shorter hikes. We usually maintain trails on the last Saturday of the month. Meet at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville at 9 a.m. with food and water for the day. The majority of hikes are in the South and Central Districts of SNP, with some in the North District and in George Washington National Forest. Chapter hikes are posted at www.patc‑charlottesville.blogspot.com/ (select Hike Schedule from the menu) INFO: Iva Gillet (ivakayak@gmail.com) or Dan Ralston (ipdan10@hotmail.com) North Chapter The North Chapter conducts monthly trail work trips on the Maryland and Pennsylvania sections of the AT and Tuscarora Trail. We also lead hikes on these and other trails. Maryland AT work trips are generally held on the first and third Saturdays; contact Leonard Keifer (mdtrail@yahoo.com). Pennsylvania work trips are generally held on the AT on the first Saturday and on the Tuscarora on the third Saturday; contact Pete Brown (yankeeclippers@patc.net) 410/343‑1140. Pennsylvania AT work trips also include an optional Saturday dinner at the Gypsy Spring Cabin. For information on upcoming hikes, contact Chris Firme at 717/794‑2855 or bncfirme@innernet.net. Chapter home page is www.north.patc.net. Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter The NSVC Chapter is now in the process of reorganizing to build a chapter that has a focus in line with that of the club and provides each member the opportunity to help build and direct the club in its activities. For more information on becoming a member of the Chapter or how to get involved in the reorganization process contact the interim Chapter President Brian Heflin at pres.nsvc@patc.net. Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter For descriptions of hikes and work trips, go to www.ssvc.org or www.patc.net. We usually hike in the southern and central districts of the SNP and in the GWNF. Contact the listed hike leader for information about a specific event, or contact Malcolm Cameron, malcolmcameron@gmail.com or 750/234-6273. West Chapter The West Chapter is meant to serve those residents who live in the area bounded by Frederick, Md., to Leesburg, Va., west to Hancock, Md. and to Berkeley Springs, 10 W. Va. However, anyone, regardless of where they reside, may request to join the chapter’s Yahoo group (www. groups. yahoo.com/group/ PATCWest). The group is open to anyone interested in chapter events but only current PATC members may post messages to the group. Hikes, trail work trips and other activities are generally scheduled from March through December. INFO: Dave Jordahl westpatc@hotmail.com. SPECIAL INTEREST SECTIONS Ski Touring Section (STS) Since 1974, the STS has served to provide cross‑country skiing experiences for beginner through expert. The section sponsors winter weekend ski trips to the mountains in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania; there are also more extensive trips that travel west, north and across the ocean. Social events are scheduled throughout the year. If you share a respect for nature and enjoy outdoor exercise, peaceful scenic trails, and cheerful, goodhearted companions, join STS. INFO: Rob Swennes robertswennes@hotmail.com. Mountaineering Section We’re a diverse group of local D.C.‑area climbers who share a common interest in promoting safe climbing, conserving the outdoors, developing new climbers’ skills, representing the Washington‑area climbing community and having fun! We provide instruction for those wanting to learn the basics—we are not a school, but we can get you started. Our climbs are local or further afield, nearly every weekend. In the winter, we organize trips for beginning and advanced ice climbers. Please visit our website at www.potomacmountainclub.org/. INFO: Andrew Weinmann at 540/550-6522 or rocclim78@gmail.com. PATC Hikes PATC offers diverse organized hikes. On weekends and weekdays, there are family hikes tailored to kids; natural history hikes stalking the fascinating but often elusive flora and fauna of the region; hikes featuring varying levels of difficulty with the Easy Hikers, Midweek Hikers, and Vigorous Hikers; birding hikes with experts to help sight and identify our avian neighbors; historical hikes tracking little known structures in SNP; series hikes on a long trail or in a specific area; backpacking trips; geology hikes focused on the unique stratigraphy of our area; waterfall hikes to beat the summer heat; and, outreach hikes to get together with the members of area groups. Check out the Forecast calendar on the PATC website www.patc.net for information. Trail Patrol Trail Patrol volunteers are PATC’s goodwill ambassadors to the hiking public. They provide a visible, reassuring presence on the trails, and strive to educate the public on good hiking practices, minimum impact hiking and camping ethics. Patrol members are trained in land navigation, emergency procedures and personal equipment. INFO: Murry Moskowitz (trailpatrol@patc. net) or www.patc.net/trailpatrol. Other Clubs’ Hikes We include these hikes to give members more chances to hike. Please note that there is no charge to go on a PATC hike, unless specifically stated. For many of these clubs there is a charge if you are not a member of their organization. Capital Hiking Club (www.capitalhikingclub.org) and Wanderbirds (www.wanderbirds.org) hike on Saturdays and Sundays, traveling by bus and leaving from downtown, with suburban stops as well. Center Hiking Club (www.centerhikingclub.org) and Sierra Club (www.dc.sierraclub.org) hike on Saturdays and Sundays using carpools. Schedules are available at PATC Headquarters. Northern Virginia Hiking Club (www.nvhc.com/) offers an amazing number and variety of outdoor activities. West Virginia Highland Conservancy (www.wvhighlands.org) Outings are mostly in W. Va. MEETINGS New Members Third Wednesday of each Month (verify in the Forecast). Curious about the club? Current, new and non‑members are welcome to come and learn about PATC. INFO: Supervisor of Membership, membershipsup@patc.net Mountaineering ‑ Second Wednesday 7:30 p.m. except for August, or unless noted in the Forecast. INFO: Andrew Weinmann (540/550-6522 or rocclim78@gmail.com) Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group (SMRG) ‑ Tuesday Group Business Meeting, 7:30 p.m. INFO and next meeting date: join@smrg.org or www.smrg.org January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian PATC Council—Second Tuesday The council meets at 7 p.m. sharp, except January and July, to conduct business of the club. In November, we have a dinner meeting. All members are welcome. Come see how we make decisions about your club. INFO: Edna Baden at 703/242‑0693 x105 or EBaden@patc.net. Trail Patrol—First Tuesday 7:30 p.m. except January. INFO: Murry Moskowitz (trailpatrol@patc.net) or www.patc.net/trailpatrol. January 3 (Saturday) TRAIL WORK—Yankee Clippers: AT in Pennsylvania, 8:45 a.m. We’ll meet at Caledonia State Park and get together for supper at Gypsy Spring Cottage for those who volunteer by Dec. 31. INFO: Dewey Clark (yankeeclippers@patc.net) 4 (Sunday) HIKE—Wanderbirds: Signal Knob, Massanutten Mountain, Va., 8 a.m. All hikers ascend the Signal Knob Trail from the parking area. At the intersection with Meneka Peak Trail moderate hikers turn left on Meneka Peak Trail and traverse the ridge to the intersection with Tuscarora Trail. There they turn left again and descend Green Mountain to the Tuscarora Spur Trail, where they bear left to the Signal Knob parking area and the bus. Long hikers continue on Signal Knob Trail to Signal Knob with excellent views. They then descend to the intersection with Tuscarora Trail and follow the path of the moderate hikers to the bus. Est. miles: 10.5 (strenuous) and 8.5 (intermediate). PATC Map G. Bus fare: $20/25. Departs from 17th and K Streets and the Vienna Metro. INFO: Josh Silverman 703/591-2822 (betula54@msn.com) or Laura Heaton 571/212-2592 (lauraheaton41@gmail.com) 6 (Tuesday) HIKE—Vigorous Hikers: Great Falls, Va., 8 a.m. We’ll hike about 15-16 miles, exploring most of the Great Falls trails, up Difficult January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian Run a bit and then over to Riverbend Park. Rocks, cliffs, streams, the Potomac and some short bushwhacks. INFO: Duncan Thompson 703/527-2349 (duncanjt@verizon.net) 7 (Wednesday) HIKE—Easy Hikers: Seneca, Md., 10:15 a.m. An out-and-back hike on a section of trail in Montgomery County completed last summer. It features three beautiful, small bridges and a Potomac River destination. The trail follows Seneca Creek a short distance to the west. There are porta-johns at the Potomac. Dogs on leash are welcome. Bring water. We will hike 2.5 miles and then return on the same route. Hikers are encouraged to purchase lunch at the Woodside Deli in Germantown at the completion of the hike. Meet at the Montevideo parking lot, which is on the right, 0.8 miles from River Road. From the Capital Beltway, take exit 39 and go west on River Road/Rte. 190. In about 13 miles, turn right on Montevideo and go 0.8 miles to the parking lot. As you are driving west on River Road., at 11.9 miles Seneca Road/Rte. 112 comes in on the right. You turn left to stay on River Road. At 12.5 miles you pass the road to Riley's Lock on the left and immediately cross Seneca Creek. Hike is canceled if Montgomery County Public Schools are closed or open late due to inclement weather. Lunch directions: Woodside Deli is located at 13048 Middlebrook Road, Germantown, MD, 301/972-6812. From the parking lot, turn right on Montevideo, right on Sugarland, right on Rte. 107, right on Rte. 28 for about 2.75 miles, left on Rte. 118 for about 6 miles, left on Middlebrook to the top of the rise, left into the mini-mall and look for Woodside Deli next to the Giant at the far end of the mall. INFO: Jim Russ 301/208-0373 10 (Saturday) HIKE—Butterwood Natural History Hike, SNP, 8 a.m. Join Bob Pickett for an unusual trail/ bushwhacking adventure to former home sites in SNP. We'll hike about 6 miles, including about 3 miles bushwhacking from site to site. Consider this a moderately difficult hike. If we're lucky, a little snow will offer animal tracks. As always, we'll talk about what we see and what's happening in the natural world at this time of the year. We'll meet at the north side of the Vienna Metro station and carpool from there. Dinner at the Corner Cafe in Washington, Va., for those interested. If you want to meet at the trailhead, call or email Bob Pickett. INFO: Bob Pickett 240/457-0352 (pickett@us.net) 11 (Sunday) HIKE—Wanderbirds: Patapsco State Park, Md., 8 a.m. This trail takes us down the Patapsco River, with its many pools and cascades, and through mature beech-oak forest. The hike starts and ends at the Orange Grove area of Patapsco State Park on River Road near Elkridge, Md. Moderate hikers make a counter-clockwise loop by taking the Cascade Falls, Morning Choice, Rockburn, Valley View and Ridge trails. Long hikers start at the same place, but cross the Patapsco at the Swinging Bridge into the Hilton Area, which has a 4.5-mile loop that uses a variety of trails and passes by the historic Bloede’s Dam. Long hikers then re-cross the Swinging Bridge and follow the moderate loop through the Orange Grove and Avalon areas. Est. miles: 11 (intermediate) and 6.5 (intermediate). Patapsco State Park Map. Bus fare: $20/25. Departs from 17th and K Streets and the Grosvenor Metro. INFO: Long leader Lindsay Dudbridge 703/731-2070 (lindsay.dudbridge@ gmail.com); moderate leader Jaime Iranzo (Jamieiranzo@gmail.com) 13 (Tuesday) HIKE—Vigorous Hikers: Thompson Hollow to Elkwallow loop, Northern District SNP, 8:30 a.m. We will climb Overall Run Trail and take the AT to Elkwallow Gap, then return by connecting to the Beecher Ridge Trail. Approximately 18 miles with 4,000 feet of ascent. PATC Map 9. INFO: Steve Brown (swbmit77@verizon.net) 14 (Wednesday) HIKE—Easy Hikers: Greenbelt Park, Md., 10:15 a.m. A hike of 4-5 miles in Greenbelt Park, 6565 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt. Meet at the Dogwood Trail parking lot. Bring water. Lunch will be at a restaurant after the hike. 11 Forecast Directions: Leave the Beltway at exit 23 for Rte. 201 South/Kenilworth Ave., then exit almost immediately for Rte. 193 East/ Greenbelt Road. After turning left onto Rte. 193, follow it 0.3 miles, then turn right at a traffic signal into Greenbelt Park. Follow the curving entrance road 0.1 miles to a stop sign. Turn right and go 0.5 miles to parking area on right. There are no restrooms at the trailhead. Stop at Sweetgum picnic area on the way to trailhead if necessary. Hike is canceled if Montgomery or Prince George’s County Public Schools are closed or open late due to inclement weather. INFO: Jennifer Newton 202/543-3039 (JenniferNewton700@gmail.com) 17-18 (Saturday-Sunday) CLASS—Basic Wilderness First Aid, Vienna, Va., 9 a.m. Day one of this two-day class, sponsored by the Trail Patrol, covers Adult CPR and AED and American Heart Association First Aid. You will receive a textbook and a certification card good for two years. Day two is American Safety and Health Institute Basic Wilderness First Aid. You will learn how to control bleeding, splinting and other basic first aid skills in the wilderness setting, and there will be hands-on time. Paramedics with years of backcountry experience will teach the classes, which run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at PATC headquarters. The cost is $130. Preregistration is required no later than the Friday one week prior to the class. For more information or to download the registration form, or contact Saleena DeVore at saleena@onthetrailfirstaid.com. INFO: Saleena DeVore 410/456-6861 (saleena@onthetrailfirstaid.com) 18 (Sunday) HIKE—Wanderbirds: Browns Hollow and Massanutten Mountain, Va., 8 a.m. Starting at Rte. 211, long hikers explore the southern Massanutten Mountains by taking the Massanutten South Trail to its intersection with Browns Hollow Trail. Heading south, they’ll complete a clockwise loop by following Roaring Run, Massanutten Road and Bird Knob before returning to the Massanutten Trail and the visitor center. Moderate hikers will do a circuit starting at the visitor center. They head south on the Massanutten Trail and 12 follow the path of the long hikers from Bird Knob back to the visitor center. Dramatic overlook on the way back. Est. miles: 11 (strenuous) and 8 (intermediate). PATC Map H. Bus fare: $20/25. Departs from 17th and K Streets and the Vienna Metro. INFO: Long leader Annetta DePompa 410/535-5171 (hikerfool@yahoo. com); moderate leader Marsha Johnston 619/855-0669 (marsha. johnston@wanderbirds.org) 20 (Tuesday) HIKE—Vigorous Hikers: Little Devils Stairs Loop, Northern District SNP, 8:30 a.m. Parking at the base of Little Devils Stairs Trail (near the end of SR614), we’ll climb Little Devils Stairs Trail to the AT via the Pole Bridge and Sugarloaf trails. We’ll then head south on the AT to the Neighbor Mountain Trail and back to the start via Byrds Nest 4, the Hull School Trail and the Keyser Run Fire Road for a total of about 18 miles, with 4,200 ft. of ascent. PATC Map 9. INFO: Tom Kloster (twk07@comcast.net) 21 (Wednesday) HIKE—Easy Hikers: Anacostia, DC, 10:15 a.m. Meet at the top of the escalator at the M and Half Street SE exit from the Navy Yard-Ballpark Metro station (Green Line). We’ll walk along the Anacostia River to the 11th Street Bridge, cross the bridge into Anacostia, walk up hill to the Frederick Douglass home and then to the Smithsonian's Anacostia Museum. We’ll return the same way. The round trip is about 5 miles. Bring a snack and water. It is possible to have lunch at the waterfront at the end before returning to the Metro. Hike is canceled if DC Public Schools are closed or open late due to inclement weather. INFO: Kathryn Powers 202/544-7777 25 (Sunday) HIKE—Wanderbirds: AT, Linden, Va., 8 a.m. This hike, with vistas of the Virginia Piedmont, incorporates woods and scenic meadows and skirts High Knob Mountain and the National Zoo’s Conservation and Research Center. Moderate hikers start at the AT junction with Rte. 55 and hike south 8 miles to VA 522 (Chester Gap). Long hikers start at the Ted Lake parking lot on Rte. 688, ascend the Ted Lewis Trail to the AT and follow the AT south to Rte. 522. Est. miles: 12.5 (strenuous) and 8 (intermediate). PATC Map 8. Bus fare: $20/25. Departs from 17th and K Streets and the Vienna Metro. INFO: Long leader Austin Doyle 301/793-4936 (doyle.austin@gmail.com); moderate leader Beatriz Prieto-Oramas 646/436-5701 (bprietooramas@hotmail.com) 27 (Tuesday) HIKE—Vigorous Hikers: Dickey Ridge and AT to Compton Peak and Chester Gap, Northern District SNP, 8:30 a.m. Beginning in Front Royal, we'll take the Dickey Ridge Trail and AT to both Compton Peak spurs, then return on the AT to US 522. Requires a short car shuttle. About 17 miles and 3,400 feet of ascent. PATC Map 9. INFO: Bob Livezey (bobbilbo@msn.com) 27 (Tuesday) MEETING—PATC Executive Committee, Vienna, Va., 7 p.m. Monthly meeting of the PATC Executive Committee. To participate by phone (by invitation only), dial 1-877/746-4263 and when prompted enter participant code 0203572# INFO: Edna Baden 703/242-0315 x105 (ebaden@patc.net) 30-1 (Friday-Sunday) CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRIP— CrossCountry Skiing, Laurel Highlands, Pa., 2 p.m. Join fellow cross-country skiers at usual favorites in the Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania (e.g., Laurel Mountain, Laurel Ridge, Roaring Run, North Woods) with more trails than you’ll ever ski in a weekend, plus options of Friday night skiing near our lodge and telemarking at a defunct alpine slope at Laurel Mountain. Lodging at Econolodge in Somerset. Cost of $75 includes double-occupancy lodging only. Trip cancels if snow is likely to be unskiable. For details and application, contact Greg. INFO: Greg Westernik 703/7633633 (gmwester@gmail.com) February 1 (Sunday) HIKE—Wanderbirds: Sky Meadows State Park, Va., 8 a.m. Long hikers will hike up the North Ridge trail January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian to the AT, where they will do an out-andback to Dicks Dome. They will then hike the old AT, new AT, Ambassador Whitehouse, North Ridge, South Ridge and back to the bus. Moderate hikers will hike up the North Ridge trail to the AT, turning north on the AT. They will then hike the old AT, new AT, Ambassador Whitehouse, North Ridge, South Ridge and back to the bus. Est. miles: 13 (strenuous) and 8.2 (intermediate). PATC Map 8. Bus fare: $20/25. Departs from 17th and K Streets and the Vienna Metro. INFO: Long leader Bob Malkowski 703/731-9983 (bmalkowski@cox.net); moderate leader Jeannie Fauntleroy 703/851-6592 (jeannie.fauntleroy@cox.net) 3 (Tuesday) HIKE—Vigorous Hikers: Knob/Neighbor Mountains, Northern District SNP, 8:45 a.m. Starting at Jeremys Run, hikers will do a clockwise circuit of Knob, the AT and Neighbor Mountain trails. Approximately 18 miles with 4,500 feet of ascent. PATC Map 9. INFO: David Saah (davidm.saah@gmail.com) 4 (Wednesday) HIKE—Easy Hikers: Shady Grove wanderings, 10:15 a.m. A 5-mile one-way walk from the Shady Grove Metro station to the Rockville Metro station via King Farm, Montgomery College, the Rockville Aquatic Center and the Rockville Memorial Library. The outing includes a restaurant lunch stop in Rockville town center before we board the Metro at the Rockville station. Bring water, money for lunch and your Metro farecard. If Metro ceases above-ground operations, the hike is canceled. Directions: Use Metro red line all the way to Shady Grove. Turn right after you go through the exit turnstiles in the Shady Grove station. We'll huddle in a quiet spot in the tunnel. INFO: Margaret Chapman 301/977-8988 (MargtChapm@aol.com) 7 (Saturday) TRAIL WORK—Yankee Clippers: AT in Pennsylvania, 8:30 a.m. We’ll meet at Caledonia State Park and leave by 9 a.m. Dinner will be at Gypsy Spring Cabin for those who respond via email. INFO: Dewey Clark (yankeeclippers@patc.net) January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian 8 (Sunday) HIKE—Wanderbirds: Torrey Brown Trail (NCR Trail), Md., 8 a.m. This hiker-biker trail along the old North Central Railroad was established in 1984. We’ll hike from Cockeysville, Md., to New Freedom, Pa. (the ultimate destination for hundreds of escaping slaves using the Underground Railroad). Long hikers start their hike northwards at Monkton while moderate hikers start at White Hall Road. Est. miles: 13 (intermediate) and 10 (intermediate) with opportunities to hike more. Map: MD DNR’s Torrey C. Brown Trail Guide. Bus fare: $20/25. Departs from 17th and K Streets and the Grosvenor Metro. INFO: Long leader Chris Bublitz 240/687-3390 (cbublitz4@comcast. net); moderate leader George Saxton 703/243-8284 (george@saxfam.net) 10 (Tuesday) HIKE—Vigorous Hikers: Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, Va., and Harpers Ferry, 8:30 a.m. Beginning at the Blue Ridge Center (www.blueridgecenter.org), we’ll explore this nonprofit’s western trails that are to become part of a new state park and then connect with the AT to Harpers Ferry. On the way back, we’ll explore the center’s eastern trails. Up to 18 miles with 3,000 feet of ascent. INFO: Dave Green 703/536-5189 (dkgreenva@hotmail.com) 10 (Tuesday) MEETING—PATC Council Meeting, Vienna, Va., 7 p.m. The PATC Council meets every month except for January, July and November to conduct the business of the club. All members are welcome. Come see how we make decisions about your club. Meetings generally end around 9 p.m. To participate by phone, dial 1-877/746-4263, and when prompted enter participant code 0247170# INFO: Edna Baden 703/242-0315 x105 (ebaden@patc.net) 13-16 (Friday-Monday) CROSS COUNTRY SKI TRIP—Ski-Dance Weekend, Laurel Highlands, Pa., 5 p.m. Cross-country ski during the day and contra dance to live music at night, at a new location at the foot of Laurel Mountain State Park at Camp Sequanota. There are both motel-style rooms and cabins. Prices range from $95 to $239 depending on your accommodations and age. Trip begins on Friday evening with an informal potluck supper and dance, and it ends Monday with breakfast. Seven meals included. Camp Sequanota has more than 300 acres available for cross-country skiing, slopes for sledding and several types of habitat. Laurel Ridge, Laurel Mountain and Forbes State Forest areas are nearby. Check www.skidance.com for more information and registration form. INFO: Eliot Applestein (eliotapplestein@ verizon.net) or Bob Mathis (talibob@starpower.net) 15 (Sunday) HIKE—Wanderbirds: Gunpowder Falls State Park, Hereford, Md., 8 a.m. Enjoy the winter scenery along a picturesque stream. All hikers will start and finish at the parking lot on Bunker Hill Road. They will take the Gunpowder South Trail, ascend on Panther Branch Trail and descend back. Then they will cross the river via Big Falls Road bridge and follow Gunpowder North Trail, Gunpowder Fall South Trail and Highland Trail to the parking lot. Moderate hikers will follow the path of the long hikers, but will shortcut the hike by crossing the river on Masemore Road. Est. miles: 12.3 (intermediate) and 9.6 (intermediate). Shorter option available. Park map. Bus fare: $20/25. Departs from 17th and K Streets and the Grosvenor Metro. INFO: TBD 17 (Tuesday) HIKE—Vigorous Hikers: Doubletop, Camp Hoover, Big Meadows, Central District SNP, 8:30 a.m. Parking at the end of Rte. 645, we’ll take the Doubletop Mountain trail over Doubletop, visit Camp Hoover and Big Meadows, and return to the cars using Dark Hollow and other trails. About 17.5 miles and 4,200 feet of ascent. PATC Map 10. INFO: Gene Whitaker (genewhit@gmail.com) 21 (Saturday) HIKE—SNP Hazel Mountain Natural History hike, Central District SNP, 8 a.m. 13 Forecast Join Bob Pickett for a discovery hike. We’ll traverse along the Hazel Mountain and White Rocks trails for the first 3 miles, and then bushwhack down the original Hazel Mountain Road down to Rte. 211 near Sperryville for another 2 miles. We'll visit known ruins of former mountain residences along the way. This hike should be considered moderately difficult, especially if snow is on the ground, since substantial off-trail hiking will be involved. As always, we'll stop frequently to examine signs of winter life. Dinner is planned at the Corner Cafe in Washington, Va. We'll meet at the north side of the Vienna Metro station. For details or directions to the trailhead, contact Bob Pickett INFO: Bob Pickett 240/457-0352 (pickett@us.net) 22 (Sunday) HIKE—Wanderbirds: South Mountain/AT, Gathland, Md., 8 a.m. This hike passes several sites of Civil War skirmishes that led to the climatic Battle of Antietam. It also traverses Lamb’s Knoll, Maryland’s second highest mountain. Moderate hikers start at Gathland State Park and hike north on the AT to Turners Gap (Rte. 40). Long hikers start at Weverton Cliffs, follow the AT north past Gathland First of the Month to Turners Gap (Rte. 40). Est. miles: 14 (strenuous) and 7.5 (intermediate). PATC Map 5-6. Bus fare: $20/25. Departs from 17th and K Streets and the Grosvenor Metro. INFO: Long leader Robert Holley 703/239-0131 (reilex@yahoo.com); moderate leader Michael Roehm 301/223-7385 (miroehm@gmail.com) 24 (Tuesday) HIKE—Vigorous Hikers: George Washington National Forest, Va., 8:30 a.m. Fast-paced circuit hike of about 18 miles with approximately 3,000 feet of ascent in GWNF/Camp Roosevelt. INFO: Mina Goodrich 304/876-2159 (LarryMina@peoplepc.com) 24 (Tuesday) MEETING—PATC Executive Committee, Vienna, Va., 7 p.m. Monthly meeting of the PATC Executive Committee. To participate by phone (by invitation only), dial 1-877/746-4263 and when prompted enter participant code 0203572# INFO: Edna Baden 703/242-0315 x105 (ebaden@patc.net) This 20-hour class, sponsored by the Trail Patrol, will teach you how to get help, move and transport patients, conduct patient assessments, document incidents, handle medical and environmental emergencies, prevent and care for injuries and more. There will be hands-on practice as well as scenarios. The class will be conducted inside and outside on the trail. Each student will receive a certification card good for two years through ECSI and a waterproof field guide. The class meets BSA requirements. No experience required. Cost is $180. Registrations are taken on a first come-first served basis. Pre-registration required. Contact Saleena DeVore for more information or registration forms. INFO: Saleena DeVore 410/456-6861 (saleena@onthetrailfirstaid.com) 28-March 1 (Saturday-Sunday) CLASS—Wilderness First Aid, Frederick, Md., 8:30 a.m. DEADLINE FOR POTOMAC APPALACHIAN ARTICLES AND FORECAST Articles to be considered for publication in PA should be submitted to pa@patc.net. Digital photos are welcome if they meet the requirements for a print publication, good contrast and at least 5x7 inches assuming a print resolution of 300 dots per inch. Please supply information for photo caption and name of photographer. Photographs need not be connected with a story. Forecast items to be included should be posted to the PATC calendar at patc.net by the deadline. HOW TO CONTACT US Headquarters, Sales, Cabin Reservations, and Membership Information Address: 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, Va. 22180 Phone #: 703/242‑0315 Fax #: 703/242‑0968 Club E‑mail: INFO@PATC.net Internet: www.patc.net Club President (leave a message), Dick Hostelley: 703/242‑0315 Hours: Monday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Club Officers and Chairs Contact Info Contact list is online at www.patc.net/contacts Change of Address? Log on to www.patc.net and update your address online, or contact membership@patc.net 14 Staff, During regular business hours PositionStaffExtE‑mail Staff Director Edna Baden 105 Ebaden@patc.net Trails Management Coordinator Heidi Forrest 107 Hforrest@patc.net Sales Coordinator Mona Filchock 103 mfilchock@patc.net Cabin Coordinator Anne Corwith 108 cabincoordinator@patc.net IT Coordinator Kit Sheffield 109 Ksheffield@patc.net Potomac Appalachian Editor Rachel F. Levin PA@patc.net Co‑Editor Dan Pulskamp Forecast Editor Jack Bowie PA‑Forecast@patc.net Co-Forecast Editor Dan Varela Layout Designer Carey Dueweke Co-Layout Designer Tara Jones-Oxenrider January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian trailhead Boy Scout Eagle Project Improves Trail Early this summer, the Old Scouters Crew was contacted by Nipun Kottage, a Boy Scout seeking a possible Eagle project. Eagle projects are organized and managed by the scout, so this was an opportunity to get some needed trail work completed without doing everything ourselves. Dick Kafka met with Nipun and his parents to review a couple of sites on the Catoctin Trail that would provide the right level of effort to warrant an Eagle project. Nipun chose to install turnpike on a frequently inundated section of the trail north of Fishing Creek Road in Frederick County, Md. members showed up the following day, Nipun might not need his second planned weekend to complete his 50 feet. Another good sized crew showed up the second day, and by the end of the day (and with the prior day’s experience), Nipun had met his own goal of 60 feet of turnpike. The Old Scouters inspected the site after recent heavy rains and believe the trail has been so improved that we should see no more side trails being created to avoid wet, muddy areas. What a great way to build relationships and trails! The Old Scouters agreed to provide the logs and some tools, and Nipun said he would arrange crews and funding to construct at least 50 feet of turnpike. The Old Scouters had already built over 100 feet of turnpike here and had some experience to share as well. The appointed weekend arrived (July 12-13) and Dick met Nipun and his crew at the trailhead. Nipun handled all the logistics and crew management, and consulted with Dick on some technical issues. At the end of the first day, 29 feet of new turnpike were in place. Depending on how many crew Nipun’s selected section of the Catoctin Trail before work began. Photo by Dick Kafka Nipun (front left) and his happy crew. Photo by Dick Kafka January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian 15 Lime Kiln in Monocacy Natural Resources Area. Photo by Larry Broadwell Hikers Notebook Lime Kilns: In the Limelight The burgeoning commercial enterprise of colonial North America was enabled by the natural resources of its forests, iron ore, and limestone. Sawmills, iron furnaces and lime kilns were the transformational technologies that produced the timber, steel and cement with which our nation was built. Their vestiges remain along the forest trails; silent reminders of the past. quicklime to produce hydrated lime or calcium hydroxide (Ca (OH)2). temperature required to generate this amount of heat is about 1,700°F (900°C). The word lime is of antiquated provenance, surviving as lim in Old English from its original Proto IndoEuropean root slei, which meant sticky or slimy (slime was originally moist earth; its homonymous association with lime is not coincidental). The original meaning then, was something that had a sticky property—this suits one of lime’s primary applications as the glue that holds cement together. Calcium carbonate is one of the most abundant compounds on earth. It is the primary constituent of limestone—a portmanteau word that conveys the association of being a lime-bearing stone. While the sawmill and iron furnace are familiar to most, the lime kiln is something of an enigma. What it was for and how it worked are legitimate questions for a Hiker’s Notebook. It is also the reason for the use of the term birdlime for a very sticky substance made from a variety of constituents applied to tree branches in order to capture birds. Birdlime contains no lime; it means bird-stick according to the etymological root. “Lime” is a generic term that can colloquially refer to any of a variety of compounds that have calcium as their primary constituent. More properly, lime is calcium oxide (CaO), also known as quicklime, burnt lime, lump lime and unslaked lime. The latter term is to distinguish it from slaked lime—the addition of water to Lime kilns were (and still are) used to convert anything that contains calcium carbonate (CaCO3) into quicklime by adding energy in the form of heat to separate the carbon dioxide (CO2). The chemical equation is CaCO3 + heat -> CaO + CO2, where heat is on the order of 3 mega joules or about one kilowatt-hour for every kilogram of lime produced. The 16 Limestone is formed in ocean basins by the buildup of the calcareous remains of sea creatures, notably shellproducing mollusks, in the sediments. Over many millennia, the sedimentary layers form sedimentary rocks due to the compression of overlying deposits. Limestone constitutes between ten and twenty percent of the earth’s sedimentary rock; there are major deposits on every continent. The etiology of lime production using refractory materials is generally attributed to the Romans, whose monuments, buildings and roadways were the fons et origio for the magnificent constructions of Western Europe (the Egyptians, Greeks and Asians used stone). Stated simply, the Roman Empire was built with Roman cement, consisting of a mixture of hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) (continued on p. 22) January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian HIKE OF THE MONTH OUT OF TOWN EDITION 1,000 STEPS, PENNSYLVANIA Author’s Note: For the last five years, I have described hikes in the PATC area. This year, with a few exceptions, I will describe hikes outside the PATC maintenance area. Most hikes will be within a day’s drive, but some are further and require either an overnight stay or a backpacking trip. I will try to mention interesting places to stay and eat when I am aware of these places. If something significant changes with a hike in the PATC area, such as a major trail reroute, I will try to describe the new hike. Otherwise, enjoy some of the outstanding hikes further away from our home base. Imagine that a substance critical to a product you are making exists on top of a mountain. You would have to go up and get it. Pennsylvania acquired the tract and created a great hiking opportunity. The trailhead for the 1,000 steps trail is located in Jack’s Narrows, on busy Highway 22 between Mount Union and Mapleton, Pa. The parking lot is little more than a large pull-off on the highway and traffic is heavy and fast. Since you need to walk a short distance on the side of the highway, take caution with children and pets. A blue-blazed trail begins just past a guard rail with a sign saying 1,000 Steps. This trail very quickly becomes steep and turns from a footpath into a steep series of natural stone steps. After a short steep climb, you reach a railroad grade with a large kiosk describing the hike and the history of the mountain. This point is actually the beginning of the 1,000 steps as the steep climb looms in front of you. On an industrial scale, this would mean a railroad and a long switchback route for the trains to make it to the top. You would also need men to get to the top of the mountain to mine the material you needed; they could follow the long trail route or make a more direct way. The steps are made of the same stone that is everywhere along the steep side of the mountain. This makes the steps uneven and all different sizes, with heights varying from very small to what would be considered a large step. Carefully begin to climb the steps, noting the variation in the size and distance. This is what happened with Jack’s Mountain in central Pennsylvania. The stone at the very top of the mountain was critical for the sand needed to make heat resistant silica bricks for stoves, hearths and heat sources. From 1900 to 1950, the Harbison Walker Company quarried this stone from Jack’s Mountain. Luckily, the steps do not climb the mountain in one continuous climb, but go from railroad grade to railroad grade, giving you a landing and a place to rest. At the top of each tier, the trail follows the flat railroad grade a short distance, letting you stretch your muscles before the next climb. In 1936, after a major flood took out a bridge to a factory in Mount Union, Pa., idled factory workers were put to work making a more direct way for miners to get to Harbison Walker’s mountaintop quarries. They did this by using abundant rocks in the scree piles to make steps to the top of the mountain. Notice two things as you climb. One is that many of the rocks are textured with what look like veins. These are trace fossils from many millennia ago when this mountain was the sea bed. The other thing to notice is that someone has numbered the steps. Every hundred steps have that number on it. At step 200, this is an annoyance; at step 800 it is an encouragement. After this was completed, someone had the idea to count all the steps and found there were more than 1,000 steps from top to bottom. Every work day workers would ascend the 1,000 steps to the top of the mountain and then descend the steps after the work day was over. After the mining was complete, the steps and mines were abandoned and left to decay. In 1997, the state of January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian Finally, you reach step 1,000 with “nice job” written below the number. Unfortunately, this is not the last step. There are actually more than 1,000 steps, so your climb continues, though only for about 50 more steps. The steps end at another railroad grade and the trail follows this grade in both The steps The Dinkey House All photos by Lee Sheaffer directions. To the right of the steps is a short (3/10 mile) trail to a mostly continuous view as the valley opens up in both directions. To the west is Mapleton, seen through Jack’s Narrows. Around a short bend, at the end of the hike, is an outstanding view to the east and the town of Mount Union. Returning to the top of the steps, continue on what is known as the Standing Stone Trail. The Standing Stone Trail was originally the Link Trail, named because it linked the 17 View from Mill Creek Quarry Tuscarora Trail to the Mid-State Trail. These three trails are now part of the Great Eastern Trail. switchbacks. The trail then continues on the railroad grade, finally coming to an opening at Mill Creek Quarry. Follow the railroad grade slightly uphill to the ruins of the Dinkey House, a maintenance shed for the smaller of the two locomotives in the mining operation. A larger locomotive climbed the mountain bringing material up and ore down, while a smaller locomotive ran along the top of the mountain collecting ore to transport down the mountain. This is the best view of all, as you are high enough to look over all the other ridges to the west. The Juniata River aggressively slices through ridge after ridge as the river descends from its headwaters. The line of ridges continues as far as the eye can see with only the river, road and railroad interrupting the mountain chains. Many towns cling to the narrow flat lands created by the river. After exploring the Dinkey House, climb yet another set of steep natural steps. This adds about 200 more steps to your climb, which will seem trivial after the big climb you just completed. These steps also end at an old railroad grade; the hike then continues around the quarried shoulder of Jack’s Mountain. After a small climb, you come to an open area with a view to the west. While the view is narrow because of vegetation, you do get a nice glimpse of Mapleton, the Juniata River and the train tracks that negotiate Jack’s Narrows alongside the river. After taking in this view, continue along the railroad grade, using the switchbacks that allowed the trains to ascend the mountain. At one point, the trail leaves the railroad grade and steeply climbs up the side of the mountain, avoiding several long 18 After taking in the view, return the way you came. This is a pretty routine return until you get to the steps and realize that you must now descend. While ascending the steps is a fight against gravity, descending the steps is a fight with gravity. Descending the steps also reinforces just how uneven the steps actually are. Some steps are wide and your whole foot and more will fit comfortably on them. Other steps are so narrow that only a small portion of your foot will fit. There is no pattern to step width, as steps were made from what was available, be it wide or narrow. There are also no numbers to tell you how close to the bottom you are unless you turn around and happen to see one of the numbers visible going up. Luckily, on the descent you will find the same railroad landings to give you spots to rest. Finally, you see the final set of steps and the railroad grade and the kiosk below you. Just one very steep set of steps to the bottom. As much relief as you might feel, don’t forget that you still have the short approach trail with its own small set of steep steps down to the road and the trailhead. Like today, industries at the beginning of the twentieth century would go to great lengths to obtain the material needed to build their products. Even if the material was on top of a mountain, they would find a way to get there. At Jack’s Mountain, this meant building a railroad and a stone path made of steps to the top. After the quarry was no longer in use, this path still exists as part of major trail from Florida to New York and one of the most unique and beautiful hikes anywhere. —Lee Sheaffer THE FACTS: MAP: A free map is available from the Standing Stone Trail website: www.hike-sst.org LENGTH: The hike as described is 6.6 miles ALTITUDE GAIN: 1,695 feet DIFFICULTY FACTOR: 149.6 NEARBY LODGING AND FOOD: This hike is about 30 miles from the PATC Silberman Trail Center. Food and drink options are in Mount Union. January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian What is that Flower Ex-Figwort Families Lopseed’s flowers stick out at 90 degrees from the stem and the fruit folds down to ripen. Photo by Richard Stromberg This is the fourth and last month of my discussion of the Figwort (Scrophulariaceae) and related families. Genetic studies have caused taxonomists to move several genera from the Figwort family to other families. This month covers the Lopseed (Phrymaceae), Verbena (Verbenaceae) and Princess Tree (Paulowniaceae) families. For a long time, lopseed (Phryma leptostachya—slender spiked) was the only member of Phrymaceae. The source of the name Phryma is unknown. For a while, lopseed was put in the Verbena family, but taxonomists have reinstated the lopseed family. Lopseed’s stemless, white/pink flowers are less than a centimeter long and spread along narrow spikes atop the plant, sticking out at 90 degrees from the spike. After pollination, the flowers drop off and the green fruit folds down to ripen in rows along both sides of the stem. Genetic studies have caused monkeyflower (Mimulus) to be moved from the Figwort family to the Lopseed family. Though the flowers of some species resemble a monkey face, the scientific name means clown, probably because the flowers seem to be grinning. The flowers are about an inch across and colorful. Two erect upper lobes and three cleft lower lobes flare from the ends of tubes. They grow from axils. We have two species of monkeyflower in our area. The flowers range from pink to purple to blue with a yellow spot in the middle. Winged monkeyflower (M. alatus— winged) stems have slight wings. The flowers have no stalk, but the leaves do. January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian Allegheny monkeyflower (M. ringens— gaping) stems have no wings. The flowers are on inch-long stalks, but the leaves clasp the plant stem. Both like wet places. Allegheny monkeyflower is more common and blooms in the summer. I have seen it in Wilson Cove in Great North Mountain, in the swampy entrance to Buck Hollow Trail off of U.S. 211 and by the creek in Weakly Hollow on the way to Old Rag/Robertson Mountain. “Finding Wildflowers in the WashingtonBaltimore Area,” by Cristol Fleming, Marion Blois Lobstein and Barbara Tufty, suggests you’ll find Allegheny monkeyflower on the Billy Goat trail and Rock Creek Regional Park in Maryland and Great Falls Park in Virginia. I have seen winged monkeyflower, which bloom all summer, into late fall, at the seep at the lowest point of the Old AT in Sky Meadows State Park and near the Potomac along the AT near Harpers Ferry. “Finding Wildflowers in the Washington-Baltimore Area” suggests looking along the banks of the Potomac in Turkey Run Park. Princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa) has belonged to the Figwort family, but now is in its own family, Paulowniaceae. All members of this family are native to China. Named for Anna Paulowna, daughter of Tsar Paul I and queen consort of the Netherlands, princess tree was brought to the United States as an ornamental because of its decorative spike of purple flowers in the spring. It has escaped and is an invasive species in the southeastern states. are lined with many one-eighth inch white flowers. It grows everywhere. Blue vervain (V. hastata—halberd shaped leaves, having lobes at the base) grows to five feet and has branching spikes lined with quarter-inch, blue flowers. It grows only in very wet places; I have seen it along the Potomac near the AT near Harpers Ferry. Narrow-leaved vervain (V. simplex— simple) has long, narrow leaves and can grow to six feet. It has fewer flower spikes than the other two vervain species, and its purple flowers are a little larger. I have seen narrow-leaved vervain— which likes dry places—on Overall Run Trail below Thompson Hollow. The other Verbena family species in our area is fogfruit (Phyla lanceolata— lance-shaped leaves). Phyla is Greek for tribe, referring to the compound flower heads, which are round and purple and are ringed by small, white or pinkish, irregular flowers. I cannot find a derivation for the common name. Fogfruit, which bloom all summer and into fall, grow in very wet places. I have seen it by the Potomac along the AT near Harpers Ferry. “Finding Wildflowers in the Washington-Baltimore Area” suggests you might see it along the C&O Canal near Violette’s Lock and the banks of the Potomac in Turkey Run Park. —Richard Stromberg Tomentosa refers to matted, wooly hairs on the underside of princess tree’s leaves, which are heart shaped and up to a foot long at maturity, but on young trees the be 2½ feet long. The Verbena genus is the namesake of its family, Verbenaceae. Verbena is the Latin name for a sacred herb. The common name is Vervain. Vervain bloom all summer and into fall. The most common is white vervain (V. urticifolia—leaves shaped like nettle leaves), a gangly plant that grows up to eight feet tall. Extending from the top and axils, slender flower spikes White vervain has tiny flowers atop 8-foot plants Photo by Richard Stromberg 19 Awards Ceremony (continued from p. 6) designer, prompted crew members to submit articles and photos documenting the many North Chapter activities. More important than these projects— and difficult to quantify—is the culture Pete Brown has built among the Yankee Clippers. The norms Pete has established promote a true appreciation of the vast diversity represented by the volunteers he oversees. Members see clearly past the opinions and values that can be divisive, and respect and care for each other. The work gets done because no one wants to let the “other guy” down. Under Pete’s leadership, the North Chapter is clearly creating impacts for PATC far out of proportion to its size. In addition to the projects mentioned above, Pete started the chapter’s interest in working with land unit managers to tackle invasive plants by bringing Marian Orlousky to the spring trail overseers’ meeting. He actively encouraged the expansion of this interest to the point that it is now becoming a focus of the entire club. And of course this is in addition to Pete’s “regular” duties as district manager, including two work trips per month to perform trail maintenance on the numerous AT, TT, and side trails Emergency Response Training and Trail Patrol Presents: Basic Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Aid Upcoming classes 20 Basic Wilderness First Aid, Vienna Wilderness First Aid, Fredrick April 11-12 July 25-26 Oct. 17-18 Feb. 28-March 1 March 28-29 May 2-3 Sept. 26-27 Nov. 7-8 Outgoing President John Hedrick receives special recognition from Jim Tomlin, chair of the GPS Rangers. the North Chapter maintains. These trails include some of the roughest terrain in all of PATC’s territory. Pete accomplished all of this while maintaining his own trail sections, attending meetings, and going out during the week to check and perform maintenance on other trails. The guidelines for nominations for this award indicate that the activities of the nominee be completed in one year. But this year’s accomplishments could not have been achieved by acts in this year alone. They are the result of Pete’s outstanding leadership and efforts during his 20 years of service to PATC. This nomination is supported by all the members of the Yankee Clippers Trail Crew. Basic Wilderness First Aid (BWFA) Day one of this two-day class covers Adult CPR and AED and American Heart Association First Aid. You will receive a textbook and a certification card good for two years. Day two is American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) Basic Wilderness First Aid. You will learn how to do bleeding control, splinting and other basic first aid skills in the wilderness setting. There is plenty of hands-on time, and paramedics with years of backcountry experience teach the classes. Cost of the class is $130, and it is held at the PATC headquarters. Pre-registration is required no later than the Friday one week prior to the class. For more information or to download the registration form, go to http://patc.us/volunteer/trailpatrol/Forms/1stAidRegForm.pdf or contact Saleena DeVore at info@onthetrailfirstaid.com, or 410/456-6861. Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Join us for a 20-hour Wilderness First Aid Class! In this class, you will learn how to get help, move and transport patients, conduct patient assessments, documentation, how to handle medical and environmental emergencies, injury prevention and care, and much more. There is plenty of hands-on practice time as well as scenarios. This class is conducted inside and outside on the trail. Each student will receive a certification card good for two years through ECSI and a waterproof field guide. Cost of this class is $180, and pre-registration is required. This class is held in Frederick, Md. Please contact Saleena DeVore (see above) for more information or the registration forms. No experience is required. January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian Help Wanted Trail District Managers Needed SNP Central District Blue blazed [south end]–Map 10 Contact–Heidi Forrest—703/242‑0315 x 107, or trails@patc.net Corridor Monitors Tom Lupp–301/663‑6644, tlupp@verizon.net •Whiskey Hollow ~ Northern VA, Map 8 [south of Rte.50] Shelter Construction Crew ~ Henry Horn ~ 301/498-8254, patcshelter@comcast.net Weekday crew members needed to rebuild Dicks Dome Shelter. Call or email for details. Shelters Gravel Spring Hut – SNP North – map 9 •Wayne Limberg ~ H 703/5338639, wplimberg@aol.com Trails Pennsylvania AT, Blue blazed and Tuscarora~ Maps [2‑3, 4, J and K] Pete Brown~ 410/343‑1140, trailpete@gmail.com •PA Tuscarora Trail [J] ~ Long Gap to PA Rte. 74 •PA Tuscarora Trail [J] ~ PA Rte. 74 to McClure’s Gap (3.3 mi) •PA Tuscarora Trail [J] ~ McClure’s Gap to Warner Trail (3.7 mi) •PA Tuscarora Trail [J] ~ PA 233 to Bill Miller Trail (3.9 mi) •PA Tuscarora Trail [J] ~ Bill Miller Trail to Cowpens Road (4.7 mi) •PA Tuscarora Trail [J] ~ Hemlock Road to Mountain Road (4.9 mi) •PA Tuscarora Trail [J] ~ Mountain Road to PA Rte. 641 (6.2 mi) •PA Tuscarora [K] ~ co-overseer ~ Alice Trail to Yellow Blazed Trail (4.2 mi) •Alice Trail [K] ~ co-overseer ~ Tuscarora Trail to PA 456 (1.4 mi) •Hell`s Hill Trail [K] ~ co-overseer ~ Tuscarora Trail to PA 456 (1. mi) •Yellow Trail [K] ~ co-overseer ~ Tuscarora Trail to PA 456 (1. mi) •Blue Trail [K] ~ Yellow Trail to PA 456 (1. mi) •Hunter Trail ~ Tuscarora Trail to PA 16 (.8 mi) January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian SNP North District Blue blazed ~ Map 9 Noel Freeman ~ 540/850-1397, noel. freeman1@gmail.com •Jeremys Run Trail (upper) ~ co-overseer ~ AT to 8th Ford of Jeremys Run (2.7mi) •Little Devils Stairs Trail ~ co-overseer ~ Keyser Run Fire Road to East Park Boundary (VA 614) (2mi) SNP Central District Appalachian Trail ~ Map 10 - Dan Dueweke ~ 703/266-3248, danjan3@cox.net •[Orphaned trail sections in Central District in need of a good home] •AT ~ Stony Man Overlook to Passamaquoddy Trail (.7mi) •AT ~ Dean Mt. Road to South River Fire Road (.9mi) SNP Central District Blue blazed [north] ~ Map 10 - Melvin Ellis ~ H 703/860-1253 or 540/987-9797, freestatehollow@ hotmail.com •Leading Ridge Trail ~ Skyline Drive to West Park Boundary (1.3 mi) SNP Central District Blue blazed [south] ~ Map 10 - Sean Dunn ~ 540/478-7953, sean@greenvalleyauctions.com •Cedar Run/White Oak Link ~ White Oak Canyon Trail to Cedar Run Trail (.8 mi) •Laurel Prong Trail ~ AT to Fork Mountain Trail (2.8 mi) •Saddleback Mountain Trail [loop] ~ AT to AT (1.4 mi) •White Oak Canyon Trail ~ Skyline Drive to Waterfall viewpoint (2.3 mi) Tuscarora Central ~ Map L John Spies ~ jspieslp@gmail.com •Tuscarora Trail ~ Northern Rockfield to Southern Rockfield (1.5 mi) •Tuscarora Trail ~ Larrick Overlook to Lucas Woods (2.3 mi) •Tuscarora Trail ~ Lucas Woods to Loman Branch (1.9 mi) •Tuscarora Trail ~ Loman Branch to Yellow Spring Road (3.7 mi) •Tuscarora Trail ~ Farmer-Lockhart to Capon Springs (6 mi) •Frye Path Trail ~ Tuscarora Trail to Laurel Run Trail (.4 mi) •Laurel Run Trail ~ Tuscarora Trail to Frye Path Trail (.5 mi) •Rock Cave & Overlook Trail ~ Pinnacle Overlook to Pinnacle Campground (.1 mi) •Devils Nose Connector ~ Devils Nose Parking Area to Tuscarora Trail (.5 mi) Tuscarora South ~ Map F, G, 9 Rick Rhoades ~ 540/477-3247, Rrhoades@shentel.net •Tuscarora Trail ~ US 340 to SNP Boundary (1.1 mi) Massanutten North ~ Map G Ed Brimberg ~ 703/430-6481, ed.brimberg@hikerman.net •Massanutten Trail ~ Camp Roosevelt to Gap Creek Trail (3 mi) •Massanutten Trail ~ Gap Creek Trail to Scothorn Gap Trail (2.4 mi) Great North Mountain ~ Map F Lee Manning ~ acting district manager 703/560-0960, lee.manning@cox.net •Tibbet Knob ~ Wolf Gap Recreation Area to VA 691 (2.1 mi) DC Metro District ~ Map N Alex Sanders ~ c 703/465-8140, wdctrails@yahoo.com •Wesley Heights Trail Glover Archbold Trail to Battery Kemble Park (0.8 mi) •Melvin Hazen Trail co-overseer- Rock Creek to Connecticut Ave (0.5 mi) •Whitehaven Trail co-overseer- Glover Archbold Trail to Wisconsin Ave (1.1 mi) •Glover Archbold Trail ~ co-overseer ~ C&O Canal to Van Ness Street (3 mi) Maryland National Battlefield Parks Jim Tomlin ~ jftomlin@gmail.com, 301/774-1228 •Mumma-Roulette Trail ~ Roulette Farm to Roulette Farm (.61 mi) Maryland Metro ~ Map D Lynn Gallagher ~ 301/320-4862, or lynngallagher@peoplepc.com Zoe Sollenberger ~ 703/447-8636, or zoe4dogs@shentel.net •Cabin John Trail ~ Bradley Boulevard to Democracy Boulevard (2. mi) •Overlook Spur Trail ~ co-overseer ~ Berma Road (S of Stop Gate) to Overlook Trail (.1 mi) Potomac Heritage & Great Falls Trail ~ Map D - Toby Torla ~ 703/241-8792, torlasibold@erols.com •Potomac Heritage Trail ~ Gulf Branch to Pimmit Run (1 mi) Prince William Forest Park Mark Ellis ~ 703/376-4150, Mark. ellis21@comcast.net •Mary Bird Branch ~ Scenic Drive to Old Black Top Road (.5 mi) •Chopawamsic Trail ~ entrance to entrance (2.2 mi) Mutton Hollow ~ Map 11 - Bill Holman ~ john_w_holman@yahoo.com Boundary Trail East ~ CCC Road [inside gate] to Mutton Top Trail (.5 mi) 21 Hiker's Notebook (Continued from P. 16) and volcanic ash readily available on the tectonically active Italian peninsula. Lime kilns used to convert limestone to quicklime were located according to necessary proximity to the raw materials of calcium carbonate limestone and wood or coal for the generation of heat. The discovery that heated limestone produced quicklime was certainly accidental, the likely result of a very hot campfire on a bed of limestone to which water was added as an extinguishment—to form cement. The simplest type of lime kiln, known as a clamp kiln, emulates this arrangement. It consists of a pile of limestone interlaminated with layers of either wood or coal and covered with clay earth to encourage a slow, high heat generation. At the end of the burn, which could easily take a week, the pile was exhumed and the powdery quicklime removed, albeit comingled with ash and other detritus. The Romans improved on this rudimentary arrangement with the progenitor of the lime kilns of Roman Britain (43-410 CE) and subsequently, due to the British diaspora (of 16071776), to colonial North America. The lime kilns of Great Britain were introduced by the Romans; there is no evidence of their use by the preceding Celtic population. Their use was primarily for the manufacture of lime materials for the construction of forts and villa-type edifices as evidenced by the location of kilns near to the ruins of these sites. Due to the economics of raw material procurement and transport, lime kilns were necessarily located close to limestone quarries and either coal mines or forests. The use of kilns fell off with the departure of the Romans, only to be revived in medieval Norman England (1066-1485) for the castles and churches of that era. The concomitant and subsequent use of lime for agricultural purposes may stem from this period. The lime kiln of England that became the lime kiln of New England was a simple affair. Called a flare kiln, it consisted of an open-top enclosure of refractory, granitic stone perforated with several openings at the bottom with an internal ledge. The limestone was stacked on top of the ledge and wood or coal was placed in the bottom. The openings, known as flues or stoke-holes, allowed the air of combustion to enter the hearth region. After about a week, the limestone now calcified, the quicklime and ash were raked out of the hearth region for processing into construction materials. Due to the physics of the heat transfer needed to convert limestone rock into quicklime powder, the flare kilns were about the same size—producing 25 tons of lime with 50 tons of coal every week. Modern kilns are continuous process with a constant flow of crushed limestone and an output of up to 500 tons per day. Quicklime is labile, preferring the lower energy state of greater stability. The natural carbon dioxide in the air suffices to restore calcium oxide to its calcium carbonate limestone natural state over time. The time frame for this reaction is slow enough to allow storage and use of the material without hermetic measures. However, water is a problem. The spontaneous exothermic reaction of one liter of water with an equal volume of quicklime according to CaO + H2O -> Ca(OH)2 or calcium hydroxide results in about 4 mega joules of heat. The material safety data sheet for quicklime offers the cautionary note that “addition of water to quicklime has generated temperatures as high as 800 °C. Some reports describe the reaction as violent.” To alleviate this problem, quicklime is frequently hydrated to produce slaked lime, or calcium hydroxide. In either case, quicklime and slaked lime are the primary constituents for a variety of fundamental construction materials including cement, mortar and plaster. Next issue: Into the Limelight: the many uses of quicklime. —William Needham Announcing New Editions of Two Hiking Guides! The 2014 Fourth Edition of “Hikes in Western Maryland,” the first since 2010, contains updated descriptions of many of the hiking trails found in earlier editions including day hikes and multi- day backpacking trips, level strolls and demanding climbs, linear hikes and circuits. Historic sites, opportunities for a dip in a stream or lake along the way, or options for camping along the trails or nearby are highlighted. GPS coordinates (NAD83) for the parking lots at trailheads have been added to this edition. Swallow Falls in Swallow Falls State Park. Photo by Eric Savage 22 The 2014 Fifth Edition of “Hikes in the Washington Region, Part B: Northern Virginia,” the first since 2007, is part of a trilogy on Washington, D.C., area hiking. The Part A companion book covers counties in Maryland that lie to the northwest of the capital. Part C covers the capital itself, as well as Maryland counties on and near the western shore of Chesapeake Bay. Part B offers a variety of hiking experiences in Northern Virginia; it describes more routes, with more options for longer and shorter variations than previous editions, and extends beyond the immediate Capital Beltway to the Shenandoah River and close to Harpers Ferry. GPS trailhead coordinates (NAD83) have also been added. January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian YOUTH SECTION In December 2014, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club volunteers began rehabilitating a national recreational trail designed for the blind. The Lions Tale Trail is located in the George Washington National Forest, a 1.1 millionacre park west of Luray, Va. The half-mile Lions Tale Trail, designated as Easy, is constructed to emphasize senses other than sight, such as sounds from a babbling creek, or the sweet smell of a native plant. Vision impartment doesn’t mean an individual has to be limited in the great outdoors. In 1990 Bill Irwin (1940-2014), with his guide dog Orient, became the first blind individual to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. Like many, Irwin hiked north from Georgia to Maine but he hiked without a map, a compass or a GPS. Irwin was 36 years old when he lost his vision and 50 years old when he began his hike. The hike took him over eight months to complete, proving he stuck to his motto “never lose faith and never give up.” In 2008, blind hiker Trevor Thomas completed a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail without the assistance of a guide dog. Thomas recalls that he fell more than 3,000 times and sustained several injuries while hiking the Appalachian Trail. Since then, Thomas has gone on to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), Tahoe Rim Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). Neither Thomas nor Irwin had the help of a map, because at the time, maps of the AT, PTC and CDT were not available in Braille. Braille is a form of written language in which letters are represented by patterns of raised dots. The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) developed a website called http://www.BrailleBug.afb.org to teach sighted children about Braille. If you visit the website and complete the form (with your parents’ permission of course!), AFB will mail you a free Braille Alphabet card that includes letters, numbers, and common grammatical characters. Next month is February and National Black History Month. In honor of Black History Month, we’ll learn about adventurous black Americans in history. Youth Section Editor: La Benn Contact the Youth Section at pa@patc.net January 2015 • Potomac Appalachian Friendly Reminder: You may have heard of a pest called the emerald ash borer. It nests in ash trees and can spread when individuals transport ash tree wood for campfires. The emerald ash borer has been found in Shenandoah National Park (SNP) In June, 2014, SNP staff confirmed the existence of additional emerald ash borer beetles in the park. Emerald ash borers kill ash trees. Since their detection in 2002, it is estimated that emerald ash borers are responsible for the deaths of at least 50 million ash trees across 14 states and parts of Canada. In the United States it is considered the most destructive non-native forest pest. You can help prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer by not transporting firewood or fallen trees from one area to another. During the winter, emerald ash borers nest in the trunks of ash Trees. In spring the borer, now equipped with wings, leaves the tree in search of other ash trees. Keeping firewood local prevents ash borers from ruining trees in other regions. You can learn more about, and see pictures of, the emerald ash borer on the Northeastern Area page of the U.S. Forest Service web site: http://na.fs. fed.us/fhp/eab/. 23 PERIODICAL 118 Park Street, S.E. Vienna, VA 22180‑4609 US POSTAGE PAID AT VIENNA VA Telephone: 703/242‑0315 Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. NEW BOOTS Volunteers Appointed in November Shelters Larry Linebrink Rock Spring Hut ~ SNP Central District Trails DMs Fritz Gottschall Co-district Manager, DC Sean Dunn District manager of SNP Central BB South Jim Tomlin District manager of Maryland National Battlefield Parks Trails Terry Shaw Tuscarora /Overall Run ~ Thompson Hollow/Overall Run to Mathews Arm Trail George Clissold Broad Hollow Trail Scott Kelly Buck Ridge Trail Charles Webster Sleepy Creek Mountain Connector Trail Arthur Duran Cabin John Trail ~ Bradley Boulevard [parking] to Democracy Boulevard Potomac Appalachian Printed on 100% Post Consumer Waste Paper (UPS‑440‑280) ©2015, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, Inc. Published monthly by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, Va. 22180. Periodical class postage paid at Vienna, Va. Postmaster: send address changes to: PATC, 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, Va. 22180 Subscription: (Free with membership) $9 annually; $.75 single copies.