Dripping Rocks to Humpback on the AT, April 20, 2014

    We had an amazing hike of the AT from Dripping Rocks Spring to Humpback Rocks.  The weather couldn’t have been better and the flowers were starting to bloom. 19 folks enjoyed a perfect hike on a perfect day.  Those joining us were Dan Ralston and Kelly O’Rourke (hike leaders), Jeanne Densmore, Sunny Choi, Virginia Masterson, Sonia Bendjemil, Emil Frlez, CJ Woodburn, Brian Muszynski, Emerald Young, Leon Gorman, John Sinclair, Iva Gillet, Bill Holman, Michael Seth, David Crowe, Ginny Barber, John Brandt and Lindsay Brown. After passing the springs and climbing on the rocks on Humpback Mountain, some folks stopped at the Humpback cliffs for a snack and view of the melting snow at Wintergreen. It was here that John Brandt materialized. We continued onward to Humpback Rock.  Along the hike we met a very colorful pair of AT overseers.  They were Fran Leckie and Steve Yarus from the Old Dominion ATC. Their group maintains the AT from Reed’s Gap to Rockfish Gap the 3^rd Saturday of every month, traveling from Richmond.  According to Fran the 'Naughty Girl Creek' was named after her.  They were re-blazing the AT and we stopped and thanked them for their dedicated work.

       Lunch was around Humpback Rock, with some eating on the Rock and others in a less congested area nearby. 

 

        Most of the group continued on to the parking area, where we had a Don Davis sighting, as he was ascending with friends. Kelly added on another 3 mile section of the AT for a total of about 10.5 miles for 6 long distance hiking folks.  To make a perfect day even better, most of us convened at David Crowe’s beautiful new home for after hike refreshments with a stunning view of the Valley.

McCormick Gap, March 29, 2014

reported by John Shannon 

Slough and berm removal, with soft soil

A forecast of rain and low temperatures may have led some people to plan housework instead of trail work. I expected that if anyone showed up, they would choose a short hike. At 9, there was no real rain, just mist, and comfortable temperatures and Sunny was willing to have an adventure, so we headed to the park, where found the snow had gone. After asking an entrance ranger to hold the rain, we started up the Appalachian Trail at McCormick Gap. As planned, we raked leaves and some earth out of drains, and made some adjustments to the new runoffs and regraded sections of trail. The soft earth made moving earth easy,and also helped when pulling up some invasive multiflora rose, and garlic mustard. There was one small, easily removed tree across the trail. After reaching the top of the initial climb, we did a little slough and berm removal to keep the trail adequately wide and improve drainage. 
While eating lunch, rain started so we returned to the car to finish lunch, after putting muddy tools and boots in bags. Then we discovered  why there were so many wheel marks in the area, the ground was very soft, and did not provide enough traction to drive out. After some messy attempts to get out, I called for a tow truck which arrived relatively quickly. As the operator said, pulling the car on to the road did not take long, but filling out forms took time. We found little puddles were helpful in getting earth off the tools before returning them to the tool box. It was a little adventure, the first of its type at the spot in
Garlic mustard be gone


 25 years. 

Bayly the Hiking Dog

      The Charlottesville Chapter would like to extend its condolences to Leon Gorman on the passing of one of our favorite hikers for the last 7 years. Bayly was a pleasure for us all and we will miss her sweet, enthusiastic face. We will all remember Leon feeding her Boar's Head meat for lunches on our hikes and her happily wagging tail. We all had many happy trail miles with Bayly. A note from Leon:

     "Bayly's first hike with PATC was in 2007.  I had only rescued her a few days earlier and had not yet decided on a name for her.  The hikers on that first Saturday morning helped me settle on the name of Bayly.  She very much enjoyed her Saturdays with PATC.  Bayly hiked Nicholson Hollow, Turk Mtn, Bear Church Rock, Rip Rap, Three Ridges and numerous others.  Her last full hike was a hike led by Marit Gay at White Rock Falls.  The back of her spine gave in that day, Brian Muszynski and Andy Willgruber took turns carrying her to the car (I was in an orthopedic boot and could not do so).  Since then I had her on several medicines and she did relatively fine. But three weeks ago we discovered a fast growing cancer and there was no alternative.
      I was always so thankful that PATC opened up their arms so warmly to Bayly.  I, and I know Bayly, will be eternally grateful for that and all the fun times.  Many thanks.  Leon"

Fridley Gap - March 15, 2014

     At Swift Run Gap hike leader Mike Seth met the Kelly O’Rouke  who rounded up Jeanne Densore, Dan Ralston, Seviere Freny, Susanne Williams, John Brandt, and Leon Gorman.  They then drove to the Fridley Gap Trailhead on Cub Run Road in Massanutten where they Mike Smith and Dave Borszich were waiting. The ten hikers then made the first of the three ascents.  The weather cooperated, clear skies, temperatures in the 50s climbing to around 60.  It was a little windy but most of the hike was out of the wind.  Even though a winter storm was coming the next day there were many signs of spring.  At the trailhead we were entertained by a chorus of tree frogs.  Later Mike Smith spotted the season’s first butterfly an angle wing. 

     We ate lunch at our high point, on the top of Grubbs Knob we from rock cliffs were had a great panoramic view to the west.  We descended Fourth Mountain and everyone managed to cross Fridley Run with dry feet.  We paused a bit and while the hike leader was lecturing on the history of China, John Brandt kept trying to interrupt to explain that there was an unattended camp fire.  John, Mike Smith, and Dave re-crossed the stream and put the smoldering campfire out- an important deed since the fire level in the forest was on high.  Dan and Jeanne continued on alone not realizing that they had passed the rest of the group preoccupied with the campfire, climb up Third Mountain when they didn’t see anyone they backtrack and went a different route and then decided to go back up Third Mountain for the second time where time they found the rest of the us making their way up the steep climb.  Thus so we finished with the group intact.

     Afterward we drove to Elkton to see one of the Remarkable Trees of Virginia, an ancient burr oak - it took five of us to wrap our arms around it.  After a brief stop at Dairy Queen we all headed home.

UVa Students Put In New Trails At Mutton Hollow

Hey PATC community!

Liz, Erik, Katie, Tyler, John, Kim, Sarah, Brennan, Ben, and Annie

      We are a group of 10 students from the University of Virginia who are members of a student-led organization called Alternative Spring Break (ASB). Each year ASB organizes a variety of service-learning trips all around the world for UVa students to participate in over spring break in March. It provides a fun and meaningful alternative to other traditional spring break plans college students have. We are committed to serving others while also encouraging students to reflect upon the experience with hopes of broadening their perspective. 

Early morning at Mutton Top Cabin

     This year we had the opportunity to work with a branch of your organization! We collaborated with Bill Holman, the District Manager of the Mutton Hollow Trails and spent from March 9th to the 15th living in the Mutton Top cabin close to Charlottesville. During our stay, we cleared two new hiking trails near Mattie's Run in addition to performing other general maintenance throughout the area. It was an incredible experience and we all had a wonderful time exploring the PATC property and enjoying the outdoors for the week. We also picked up some new skills along the way like becoming pros at splitting wood, hauling water jugs, working a wood stove, and avoiding getting sprayed by a family of skunks. We are all coming away from this experience with some great memories and friendships and want to thank Bill for being a great resource and guide throughout our stay!

Before clearing trail

After clearing trail

    

    

Mattie's Run

     We are very appreciative of all the work PATC puts in throughout the year to maintain these areas so that the cabins and trails can remain usable for the public. We were excited to be apart of your mission by expanding the amount of trails and hope that we can continue to work with you all in the future! Many of us are looking forward to becoming members of the PATC after this experience and plan to visit the area more often. 

     Hopefully we will get to visit again soon!

 

Liz Holohan and Ben Campbell (ASB Shenandoah Site Leaders 2014)

Happy campers!