Dunlodge - August 4-5, 2012

Reported by John Shannon

The repainting of Dunlodge continued this weekend. A crew of young workers from northern Virginia made a lot of progress painting the exterior walls and shutters. Thomas Jorgensen directed activities both days, and cabins supervisor Mel Merritt also made a long trip to help.

Don Davis tended to numerous projects. John Shannon continued trying to push back bamboo and English ivy in a couple of spots. One person who saw Dunlodge early on was impressed by the near disappearance of one bamboo patch.

Of course, the full Dunlodge experience had more to it. On Friday and Saturday nights, people emptied beer and other bottles, plus enjoyed mountain pie and fireworks.

Major Trail Operations Have Ended on Two Fronts - August 4, 2012

Reported by John Shannon

After 20 years, the project to relocate the Appalachian Trail between Beagle Gap and Little Calf Mountain changed today from a construction project to routine trail maintenance. At Beagle Gap, a ceremony to dedicate the new section of trail drew a group of PATC members, Shenandoah National Park employees, and Appalachian Trail Conservancy representatives.

PATC president John Hedrick addressed a group. Then Reverend Heather Warren, a trail maintainer, gave a blessing, followed by an address by Robert Proudman from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Heather Warren and Shawn Green

Al Dahler center

We then celebrated by using the trail. Two groups, intermingled at first, headed up the trail to Little Calf Mountain, where Park Ranger Betty Gatewood told the group about a project to interest people in the trail, especially high school students, who have worked with Mark Gatewood of the Flying McLeods.

The hikers admired the open area on Calf Mountain, which exists because of the efforts of Andy Willgruber over the last decade, assisted by other members of Charlottesville Chapter. Then the short hikers returned to Beagle Gap.

The longer hikers headed toward Jarman Gap, over a section now maintained by Jeff Monroe. Part of the section is a short relocation built several years ago. This part of the hike was spoiled by an encounter with a nest of yellowjackets. The yellowjackets launched an attack and stung about half the hikers, with Leon Gorman receiving the most stings, which produced large welts. The winged creatures followed Leon some distance down the trail.

Upon reaching Jarman Gap, drivers jumped into two vehicles that were waiting to help with a car shuttle to take everyone back to the picnic at Beagle Gap.

AT District Manager
Don White

PATC President John Hedrick (left)
ATC representative Bob Proudman

Iva Gillet had suggested that Charlottesville Chapter change the previously planned hike to attend this event because it was an historic event close to us, and a number of chapter members had participated in the trail building. This event also had important elements of the hike that had been planned: the hike was short and involved new trail to most people, it involved food, and it involved major contributions by Andy Willgruber (who was scheduled to lead the originally scheduled hike).

A large contingent from Charlottesville Chapter and Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter attended the festivities and were rewarded with more interesting food than what many of us normally have on a hike. Mark Gatewood and others from Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter set up tents and signs to make the event more comfortable and to show people that this was not just a picnic.

Besides PATC president John Hedrick, other figures from PATC present included Supervisor of Trails Catherine Kelleher (both worked on the relocation), four past and present chapter presidents, and former SNP back-country range Shawn Green, who was involved in planning the project. Don White posted an excellent write-up of the event on southshenandoah.net.

Within a week, as proof that this trail section was real trail, the first blowdown was reported.

Following the picnic, Andy Willgruber, Marian Styles, and I headed to the site of the former entry station to clear the remaining blowdowns on the club’s section of the AT from the June derecho. We followed an abandoned trail to the AT, then started the walk to the tree where we stopped last trip.

As Andy had suspected, this proved a difficult job. Cutting through the tree to near the bottom was straightforward, but then there were rocks on the ground that a saw would hit. A large lever would have helped, or we could have spent a much more time cutting out pieces, but we decided to leave it and clear trees that were straightforward. A week later Andy returned with appropriate tools and removed the piece of tree blocking the trail.

As we walked on, I kept looking at my GPS to locate the next blowdown. We checked one branch on the trail and suspected that someone else had done some clearing, possibly a crew seen by Lindsay Brown a few days earlier. We found one tree across the trail and a couple of logs that have jutted into the trail for a while—things that we wanted out of the trail, but not warranting a special trip.

We found one of the recorded blowdowns, which had several branches. We reduced it to movable pieces. Our decision to continue up the trail was correct, rather than assuming all blowdowns had been cleared. We then found what we suspect is new damage, a tree leaning into the trail because another fell on it. The leaning tree was not supported, so cutting it did not carry the usual risks of leaning trees. But collateral damage had occurred in the form of lost blazes. A few days earlier, Lindsay Brown had repainted blazes between Rockfish and McCormick Gaps. This last tree we cut had one of his blazes on it. The same thing had happened on a previous clearing trip.

During the descent at McCormick Gap, I noted some waterbars filled with soil. A week later after a hike I stopped to clear the drains and to do a little regrading to reduce water on the trail, plus put in some effort to slow bittersweet.

These two projects showed a need for wicking hard hats, to go with wicking shirts, so trail workers do not have hot, wet heads in summer.

Shenandoah Mountain Trail - July 28, 2012

Submitted by Andy Willgruber

A light drizzle and relatively cool temperatures greeted a small group of hikers at AHS. Iva Gillet injured her knee while hiking the week before, so Andy Willgruber filled in as hike leader. A combination of factors made this hike more of an adventure than normal. Besides the weather, long drive, and length of hike, a big question mark would be the condition of the Shenandoah Mt. Trail after the derecho storm. Key exchange logistics and timing would also add to the uncertainties. This undaunted group of hikers (Beverly and Pete Fink, Eileen Seaman, John Brandt and Anne Colgate) would not be talked out of this hike despite the uncertainties and the sure promise of a very late return to AHS.


Two vehicles headed to Braley Pond in western Augusta to meet Michael Seth an hour later. Upon arrival, Michael told us that this would NOT be a key exchange hike! The Southern Shenandoah group were just going to work clearing the trail at the northern end. If we were able to hack our way through downed vegetation and make it the almost 11 miles to the end of the trail, we would have the use of Malcolm and Lynn Cameron's pick-up truck to take us back to Braley Pond. The substitute C-ville hike leader realized that he was the victim of a friendly scam! This was clearly a SSVC work trip and they simply needed more bodies. (Michael and Iva, I don't get mad but I will get even! :-). We drove two cars up to the Confederate Breastworks on US 250. A limited amount of tools were handed out and we proceeded north on the trail from there.


The first three miles of our relatively level ridge top hike were pleasant. The SSVC had previously cleared this section. We spotted a number of wildflowers, all of which Michael knew(but I can never remember). From this point forward there were contiual blowdowns blocking the trail. We got started on our day's work and stopped for a quick trailside lunch in the middle of our fun. We resumed our work with the tools we had. Sometimes we just used bare hands and brute force. The C-ville PATC cleared about two and a half miles of trail! But with each blowdown cleared, concern mounted about our slow progress and the miles yet to go. Just as talk of mutiny was gaining traction, five members of SSVC appeared. The trail was now completely open...and, lo and behold, keys WERE exchanged. We handed over two keys and received one for the Cameron's truck. We continued on enjoying the experience of simply hiking, sometimes in a ghostly fog.


Our hike ended at Forest Road 95 on the Little River. As only six people could fit inside the truck, the C-ville hike leader jumped in the truck bed. John Brandt would drive. We drove the short distance up to the pass over the mountain to get turned around and to visit West Virginia. From there we careened (that's how it felt in the truck bed) down the gravel road along the Little and North Rivers to return to Braley. Just as we arrived there, the rain began falling in earnest. So the truck bed passenger was appreciative of John's swift and sure driving despite describing the experience as "like riding backwards on a roller-coaster that went on for way too long".


About 15 minutes later, the SSVC group arrived with our two cars. At this point, Anne headed directly home to Nelson County, possibly to a very worried husband (we hope not). To honor Beverly, our "director of trail operations" for the day, we all piled into Andy's car and headed to Beverly St. in Staunton to Baja Bean. Michael, Lynn and Malcolm joined us for tasty Mexican food, good beer and great hiking stories. One more part of the day's adventure remained: the drive through the rain and fog over Afton Mt. The hike leader (and driver) prepared for this by limiting himself to one beer at dinner (by far the most difficult thing he did this day!).


A tired but happy group of adventurers arrived safely back at AHS around 9:45 P.M.

Trail Clearing: Good Fortune Strikes Again - July 15, 2012

Reported by John Shannon

From time to time within PATC, I hear stories of the dedication of some members to the mission of having good trails in the PATC area and to the associated activities of PATC. For some years, Andy Willgruber has kept the summit of Little Calf Mountain open, using his truck and chainsaw skills in a combination that for years no one else in the chapter had. In the last few years, Don Davis has dedicated many hours and his skills to working at Dunlodge Cabin, relieving the workload on Andy keeping Little Calf Mountain clear, and in between, helping with regular trail maintenance.

Nevertheless, after announcing on July 2 that the Chapter’s section of Appalachian Trail had 31 blowdown sites, and 16 were chainsaw sized, I was surprised when Don Davis said he could cut fallen trees with a chainsaw on July 4, 6, 7, or 8 and Andy asked when he should help. Brad Young said he was glad to help carry chain saws and other equipment, and move large logs, even if it was 100 degrees. The willingness of these people to give hours of their time and years of experience is why our section of Appalachian Trail is largely cleared of the worst damage in over 25 years.

As the weekend approached with 100 degrees forecast, the southerners, including District Manager Don White, said that we could cut trees in that weather, but others prevailed in the view that it was too hot. However, Don White said he had arranged to meet some overseers, and wanted help on July 7 in removing one blowdown north of McCormick Gap, so I reached out to my way-south origins and went to help. Before meeting Don White, I damaged some bittersweet that may have been a factor in one tree falling and did a little tidying on a couple of the major blowdowns. After helping Don White with a small but messy blowdown, I soon was watching my air conditioner run.

On July 15, the clearing crew, all wearing hard hats, assembled near Rockfish Gap. We put a car at McCormick Gap in case we were able to clear all or most of the trees and walk to the northern end of this section of trail.

None of these logs fell on heads
or toes or anything in between

Don Davis in action

This area seems to have suffered more storm damage than elsewhere in 50 or more miles of the park. The first blowdown involved three tangled-up trees. This site did not have the largest tree but had the most complex situation, with ten problems to solve. Andy and Don thought about what might happen, drawing on their years at the school of hard knocks and the weekends they spent in chainsaw classes, and then started cutting.

The trees fell where we wanted but did grab the chainsaw a few times. Andy had brought his chain saw in addition to the PATC saw, and the second chain saw simplified reclaiming the stuck saw. Brad moved logs with enthusiasm and strength and did some hand clearing. I spent a few minutes damaging bittersweet in the hope of slowing damage from this tree killer.

More conventional chain saw work

The storm also damaged Lindsay
Brown's blazes

After the first couple of blowdown sites, the work became more conventional. However, all the work took its toll on the chain of the PATC saw, which had led a hard life. So we were down to one saw sold for home use, so we took extra care to ensure that it did not get stuck in the logs.

Finally we reached the monster: a log 30” top to bottom. Don cut a couple of smaller parts, one of which was hollow. However, when the time arrived to make the biggest cut of the day, the saw was getting hot, and further use might have broken the chain. The crew, if not hot, was wet, thunder sounded in the distance, and one member said he needed to do some things at home, so we turned around.

After hearing District Manager Don White mention a case of an experienced chainsaw operator causing a scare when fatigue caused a miscalculation, I was again glad for Don Davis’ wisdom, also displayed at Dunlodge, in knowing when not to try to do more. Then we met Don White, who had said he was coming both to help us and to get help removing a large tree further north. Besides assembling reports on the storm damage, Don has made some trips from Richmond to remove some of it. On this day, unexpected events delayed his arrival.

During the day, I saw three people whom I had seen on that trail section two weeks earlier. Two of them admired our progress. Later, I met two Australian tourists.

So it was a very successful day. No injuries. And no scares, thanks to the skill of our chainsaw experts. We cleared a lot of big, tricky trees. Don White—who oversees 40 miles of AT, runs a trail crew, and was PATC supervisor of trails in the past—was impressed with the word we’d done. The areas we cleared looked very different with the fallen trees removed.

Riprap Trail - July 14, 2012

New Adventures on a Familiar Hike

Reported by John Shannon

It’s summer and time for a hike with water: today, the pool on Riprap Trail. For reasons involving food, I shortened the route from 10 to 7 miles with car shuttle and was surprised that only John Brandt and Neil McKinney showed up. After I had backed out of my parking spot, last-minute arrival specialist Norman Beil drove in.

We got to Wildcat Ridge parking area earlier than expected and, uncharacteristically, Michael Seth arrived later than expected. Despite three Ph.D.s, we finally did our initial car shuttle and started hiking.

John Brandt and Michael Seth

On the way down, we had the normal great views of the Shenandoah Valley, which John Brandt photographed for a class project. At the classic swimming hole, I was the first into water. Neil also ventured in. Neil has worked in health care, so I was not surprised to see that he also does not believe in subjecting human bodies to thermal shock of quickly immersing a hot person in cold water. Then Michael Seth went in, and of course John went in, with a splash.

On the way up, we saw a little storm damage (none on the way down), and then met a family of three bears who live on Wildcat Ridge Trail. After two of us stopped to look and photograph the bears, the mother started walking toward us. Then four of us slowly and noisily moved up the trail. We stopped while a cub came down a tree. The bears finally walked away, and we moved on.

Michael and I recovered the car at Riprap while the others looked over the Piedmont with Norman’s binoculars, spotting buildings in Charlottesville. Our next adventure involved how much fuel was left when a car’s low fuel light comes on. My excuse for overlooking the low fuel was lots of recent trail work trips, and work. After some discussion, the decision was that with considerable downhill, we could reach Waynesboro, only to find that the first two pumps did not dispense fuel. The rest of our trip home proved uneventful.