GPS Class and Trail Maintenance on the AT fromTurk Gap to Crimora Lake Overlook - September 28 and September 29, 2019

National Public Lands Day was September 28...and Charlottesville PATC had two offerings for serving the public and for helping our public lands over the whole weekend. Trail maintenance was in full swing on Sunday, September 29 when eleven participants met up in Shenandoah National Park to work on the Appalachian Trail from Turk Gap to Crimora Lake Overlook.  Marit Anderson and Mark Perschel led up the trail maintenance project which focused on repainting the blazes, clearing the waterbars, making berm waterbars, clipping vegetation, moving branches and a blowdown on the trail, and picking up trash at the parking lot.  Volunteers included SNP Ranger Bobbi Ann Pease, Mike Hammer, Joe Simaid, Anna Castle, Jeanne Bono, CJ Woodburn, David Crowe, Tony Alimenti, and Nancy Handley. After the work was completed at 1:30 pm, nine of the participants hiked up to Turk Mt. Summit to admire the Shenandoah Valley and use their muscles in a different way.  Many thanks to the volunteers for taking time to give back to the trails and to our public lands!

The day before, September 28, Mark Perschel offered a class, "Introduction to Using Mobile Phones & GPS Applications for Navigation" at Crozet Library.  Although the group was small, including Nancy Kern, Pepper of Great Outdoor Provisions, and Marit Anderson - everyone was happy to practice using different GPS apps, hone their map and compass skills, and navigate around downtown Crozet using these skills.  The group met from 9 am until noon.  Thanks to Mark for his instruction.

submitted by Marit Anderson