Planning for today’s activities started on Memorial Day when Lindsay Brown and I (John Shannon) checked on the condition of Charlottesville Chapter’s section of the AT. We both noticed summer growth, including poison ivy. Lindsay found two large blowdowns, and I removed some invasive plants near Rockfish Gap.
The following Saturday morning was the scheduled maintenance outing, and several workers answered the call. We shuttled a car from Rockfish Gap to McCormick Gap, where a cool breeze prompted some people to put on jackets.
On the trail, Ken Moss and Pete Fink traded a swing blade and loppers during the day. Dave Borszich used a swing blade all day. Bev Maresca mainly used clippers. She also carried a bag that I filled with garlic mustard from what I hoped was a small, isolated patch and thus potentially productive to clear. With garlic mustard looking like trees, we could have easily filled all the bags we could carry.
I also stopped to pull a few bittersweet plants, which either seemed isolated or were located in patches previously partially cleared, but leaving hours of potential clearing. As usual, some bittersweet was growing with poison ivy; this arrangement is believed to be a protection racket, although what the poison ivy gets out of it is unclear. The quandary is that standard trail clearing may help the spread of invasive plants by disturbing the soil and spreading seeds.
About halfway through, we stopped for lunch. Given the number of workers, it was a good thing that I had not earlier agreed to give away chocolate raspberry cake to some non-workers.
After lunch, there seemed less to clear, which was fortunate—we realized that we could not clear growth as thoroughly as we wanted if we wanted to finish the same day and avoid exhaustion.
During the day, many through hikers thanked us for our work, and one even shook our hands. One of the groups who thanked us was from Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club, whose members maintain the AT south of McCormick Gap. Toward the end of our workday, at the entrance station trail, we met a couple who had made news when one of them was rescued from Three Ridge after suffering a kidney stone. Now, after a trip home for medical treatment, they were back on the trail.
As to the fallen trees reported by Lindsay Brown, near the middle of the trail we saw a large, dead tree that someone had cut into movable pieces, and we wondered who had done the cutting.
It was a successful day. We cut growth along the entire McCormick to Rockfish section of trail, which often takes two trips, but with the combined efforts of several people, we finished the work in one day.
This lovely June day was the perfect setting for a combined hike with the PATC - Charlottesville Chapter, the Outdoor Adventure Social Club, and the Nature Conservancy to White Oak Canyon. As a benefit of this coordinated activity, the Nature Conservancy had arranged for a wine tasting at Ducard Vineyard, a short drive from White Oak, and a short video from the Nature Conservancy about land preservation.
Joining us this day from the OASC was Dallas Branum, Steve Cohen, Jennylynn Vidas, Katherine Maus, Karen Thompson, and CJ Woodburn. The PATC included regulars John Brandt, Eric Christensen, Brad Young, Bill Holman, and Dave Borszich along with distant member Pat Skelly (Augusta, GA) and our special guest hikers Neil McKinney and Tricia Neumann. At the trailhead, we were joined by Trish Carter and Sue Ellen Davison of the Nature Conservancy. We began our hike meandering along the banks of the creek in White Oak Canyon, enjoying the plentiful water. We stopped to admire the Lower Falls, and even John Brandt figured he would wait a little while before his swim. With Steve Cohen in the lead, we climbed the 1000 feet at our own pace, admiring the water seeping from rocks that would attract ice climbers during the winter months. While the fabulous weather did bring out others, it was not congested. We took a ½ hour lunch break at the overlook at the top of the Upper Falls, a welcome site for the over ½ the group who had never been on this trail. Some in sun, some in shade, we enjoyed our food and shared the cookies of the day.
Descending back the way we came, we marveled at the wonderful weather. Once reaching the Lower Falls again, only John and Pat were hot enough to fully submerge themselves, with Tricia, Iva, and Jennylynn getting our feet wet. We returned to the cars and headed to Ducard Vineyard for the winetasting part of the day. Only about 10 minutes from the trailhead, it is the perfect spot for post hike relaxation. Scott Elliff, the owner, and Rich Leahy, a long time PATC hiker and wine expert, were there to help us understand and appreciate the entire wine growing and tasting experience. We were treated to both red and white samples while the Nature Conservancy showed a video about the importance of conservation efforts and their successes and efforts for the future. After the film and some questions and answers from Doug, Scott took us outside to see the vines and tell us the Ducard story. Such a lovely spot and an enthusiastic proprietor made this a special day. Thanks to Trish Carter for making the arrangements for the PATC’s first “Wiking!” 
