OUTINGS Abbreviations: AT = Appalachian Trail SNP = Shenandoah National Park GWNF = George Washington National Forest SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Sat.-Sun., Jan.10-11, 1998 A sixteen-hour class in Wilderness First Aid will be conducted in Northern Virginia. The course includes classroom study, hands-on practice, and results in a two-year certification. The cost is $125. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information about Spring 1998 classes, please call Christopher Tate at (703) 836-8905 or visit http://webmentor.com/wfa.shtml. Sun. March 22, 1998 Rated A. Land Navigation Course, Class 101 . Introductory Map and Compass Workshop. A day long event featuring classroom study in the use of topographical maps and compass, with practical hands-on outdoor exercises using basic tools of land navigation. Limit: 25 people. Details: Send business-size SASE to Mike Gingerich, 15065 Lindenberry Lane, Dumfries, VA 22026-3039. Contact: Mike Gingerich, (703) 590-3188. NOVEMBER 1 SAT: 2nd Annual Halloween Hike-to- Hell Commemorating the Signature Event of 1993. Snickers Gap to Ashby Gap on the AT. 14 Miles, 4000+ Feet. Wear something Pumpkin Orange (and bring your magic wand if you have one). Meet at Oakton Shopping Center at 8 am. Inexperienced Hikers Call for Hiker Requirements. Co-leaders William Needham (703) 256-6735 and Jack Thorsen (703) 339-6716. *Chestertown Nature Bike. Bike 49 miles on flat roads on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Start in Chestertown, pass through Rock Hall, and explore Eastern Neck Island National Wildlife Refuge. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 7 AM from the "bus" side of the park & ride at Rte. 32 and Broken Land Parkway. Call Julie at 301-384-2925. * Little Bennett Park, Montgomery Co. Easy/Moderate 7 mi. circuit with 600 feet of elevation gain. Varied forest, farm, and succession environment. Meet at ground floor of parking garage of Shady Grove Metro at 9:30 am. Bring lunch and water. Leader: Dan Ryan, (301) 622-5259 before 9:30 pm. * Upper Prettyboy Circumnavigation. Ten moderately difficult miles with two steep climb and some bushwhacking to circumnavigate the reservoir above Beckleysville Road. Depart the Mt. Carmel Park & Ride (1-83, Exit 27) at 9 am/ John, 410-692-5751. *Circuit Hike, Appalachian Trail, VA. Mosby Raiders Hike #1. An enjoyable 7 mi. jaunt from Snickers Gap to Sam Moore Shelter with two overlooks and 1,500 ft. of gain returning by 4:00 pm. Leader: Dave Furlong, (703) 758-9409 before 9 pm. *Service Trip to Prince William Forest Park. Meet at Landmark Plaza Shopping Center, west side of I-395 on Rte. 236, at 8:30 am to carpool to Park. May build small foot bridge. Will require carrying material to job site. Rain date: Sat. Nov. 8. Bring work gloves, lunch, and beverage. Leader: Walter Wells, (202) 362-0250, mornings or evenings till 10:00 pm. 2 SUN: Thornton Hollow. A 13.4-mile circuit hike in Northern SNP. Moderate to fast pace with 1,100' of elevation change. Leader: Bill Carey, (202) 237 -8051, evenings until 9:30 p.m. * Fair Hill Natural Park. Six mile moderate hike on the Old Dupont Estate. Bring lunch and water. Meet at the Harford Road Park & Ride (Harford Road & Jomat Ave.) at 9 am. Kolman 410-356-4655. *Calvert Cliffs State Park. This 5-mile hike leads through woodlands to the Chesapeake Bay beach, where you can search for fossils eroded from the cliffs. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 9 am from the park and ride at Rte. 32 and Broken Land Parkway. Call Julika at 410-997-5364 (abond@csc.com). * North and South Marshall Mtns., SNP. Moderately strenuous 14.5-mile hike on the AT with return on the Bluff Trail. We will take a side trip to the upper part of Big Devil Stairs for a bonus view. This walk is for experienced hikers, since the pace will be steady with about 2,500' total gain. Meet 7:30 am at Oakton Shopping Center on VA Rte. 123 one mile north of I-66. Leader: Frank Wodarczyk, (703) 569-6737 (before 10 PM). 8 SAT: Massanutten Mountain West Trail Sixteen Mile Circuit Hike on New Section of West Massanutten Mountain Trail South of Edinburgh Gap. Meet at Oakton Shopping Center at 7:30. Inexperienced Hikers. Call for Hiker Requirements. Co-leaders William Needham, (703) 256-6735, and Jack Thorsen, (703) 339-6716. *Potomac Heritage Trail. Moderate 10.4-mi. hike on the VA side of the river from I-495 south to Rosslyn; close in and surprisingly wild. Meet at north end of Roosevelt Island parking lot at 9 am. Leader: Dick Williams, (703) 521-0731 before 9 pm. 8-9 SAT-SUN: Dames Quarter & Blackwater Weekend. Bring binoculars for super bird watching at these two Eastern Shore sites. On Saturday we will hike ten flat, easy miles in Dames Quarter Marsh. We will overnight at a motel in Princess Ann. Sunday we will hike 5-6 miles at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge. Meet at Southwest Park & Ride at 7 am. Cecila, 410-574-1453. 9 SUN: Piney Ridge, Overall Run Area. An 11-mile circuit hike in Northern SNP. Moderate to fast pace with 2800 feet of elevation change. Leader: Bill Carey, (202) 237-8051, evenings until 9:30 pm. *AT Worktrip, Northern SNP. No experience necessary! Time to give back for the nice hiking this fall & summer. Construct, maintain erosion control structures. Leader: Frank Turk (301) 249-8243, or e-mail to FWTURK@Gallua.Gallaudet.edu. *Wilderness Kids! And Moms! And Dads! An easy 5 mile parent-child hike in the C&O Canal Historical Park. Hike includes the lower segment of the Billy Goat Trail along the Potomac River and portions of the C&O Canal towpath. Please call before 9 pm. Co-leaders: Susan Rojas and Marilyn Mohney. Contact: Susan Rojas, (202) 966-1295. *Catoctin Mountain Park, Wolf and Chimney Rocks. Hike 7 or 9 miles, to the falls and rock outcrops, including some steep hills. Bring lunch and water. Meet for breakfast at the Bagel Bin in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, for an 8:30 departure. Call Ken at 301-725-3306 (kclark@excalib.com). 14 FRI: Leisurely 4 mile moonlight hike along the C & O towpath near Great Falls, MD. See beaver and Canada Geese. Bring a flashlight. Return to cars by 10:30, then go for pizza. Meet at 8 pm under the big tree in the small shopping center in Glen Echo at intersection of MacArthur Blvd. and Goldsboro Rd. This is at the end of the Ride-On 29 bus line from Friendship Heights Metro Station. Leader: Don Larson (301) 654-3573. 15 SAT: 12-mile linear hike along historic Bull Run from Bull Run Marina to Bull Run Regional Park. Meet at 8:30 am at the Oakton Shopping Center on VA. Rte. 123. Leaders: Dottie Cousineau (703) 591-1169 evenings before 9 pm and Pat Hopson (703) 379-1795 evenings before 10 pm. *Circuit Hike, First Manassas/Bull Run Battlefield, VA Easy-going 5-mile circuit hike covering major points in this well-preserved Civil War battlefield, with general comments on progress of the July 1861 battle. Carpool from Vienna Metro (north parking lot) leaving at 9:30 am. Bring water and light lunch. Leader: Michael Monbeck (703) 764-9632 for details. *this is yourBRAIN(on @poetry!!, H)ike. Central SNP, Hoover Camp, 7.4-mile circuit, 1300" elevation gain, recite poetry, e.e. cummings a plus (now do you get it?). Limited to 20 people. Leader: David Cheng, (301) 990-3689. 16 SUN: Gunpower River Hike. Moderate six to seven miles below the Prettyboy Dam. Meet at 11 am at the Park & Ride on Deerco Road near Padonia Road. Jack, 410-256-3963. *"An American Beauty" Tour '97 continues (Hike No.12) with a 15 mile hike from Sycamore Landing to Old Anglers Inn on the C&O Canal Historical Trail. Car shuttle required. Co-Leaders: William Fout, (703) 684-5951; Robert Lovisa, (301) 593-5360, please call before 5 pm, November 13. *Great Falls Billy Goat Trail. Fun 8-mile hike over the rocks by the Potomac River. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 9 am from the park & ride at Rte. 32 and Broken Land Parkway. Call Leslie at 301-854-0299 (lesliee@bellatlantic.net). 22 SAT: Rated D. Circuit Hike, Appalachian Trail, VA. Mosby Raiders Hike #2 An enjoyable 7 mi. jaunt from Rte. 605 to Sam Moore Shelter with two overlooks and 1,500' of gain, returning to trailhead by 4:00 pm. Leader: Dave Furlong (703) 758-9409 before 9 pm. *Old Rag Mountain in Virginia. The 8 mile hike includes boulders, some climbing, and a great view. Bring lunch, water, and good hiking shoes. Depart at 7:30 AM from the "bus" side of the park & ride at Rte. 32 and Broken Land Parkway. Call Dave at 410-997-5672 (tdhu@hotmail.com). *Bushwhack in Central SNP, VA. The moral equivalent of 12 miles, this tough off-trail adventure to Buzzard Rocks and Lovisa Falls is presented for graduates of MWROP's Land Navigation class. Limited to 10 people. Leader: Christopher Tate, (703) 836-8905. 23 SUN: Lock Raven (Glen Ellen) Hike. Five moderate miles on the Glen Ellen Trail in the Loch Raven Watershed. Depart CVTC (938 York Road and Fairmont) at 10 am. Clint, 410-235-5835. *Robertson Mtn. circuit hike. Almost 5,000 of elevation change in 9 miles. Been up Old Rag 92 times? Climb something nearby that's hardly visited and see Old Rag from a different angle. Spectacular view for lunch (you'll earn it). Leader: Dirck Harris, (703) 771-8863 eves. before 9 pm. 27 THURS: Great Falls Virginia. A scenic 9- mi. hike at a moderate pace. Meet at Great Falls VA. Visitor Ctr. at 9:30 am. $4 vehicle fee. Leader: Hank Comeau (703) 451-7965. 27-30 THURS-SUN: Rated E/F. PA AT Backpack Trip. A 28-mile backpack along an unscouted PA AT route from Port Clinton to PA Route 309. Limited to 10 people. Suitable for experienced backpackers and those with interest to get winter experience. Leave late Thurs. and stay in motel. Car shuttle required. Co-Leaders: Frank Turk, 301-249-8243; Robert Lovisa, (301) 593-5360, please call before Nov. 21. 28-30 FRI-SUN: Backpacking-Shenandoah National Park. Moderate three days in Shenandoah National Park. Backpack to a base camp and then hike without a heavy pack. Details and reservations from Jack, 410-256-3963. 29 SAT: Gunpowder East Hike. Moderate 8 miles of flat trail along Gunpowder Falls. Trail may be muddy. Numerous small stream crossings. Bring lunch and water. Meet at Carney Park & Ride at 9:30 am. Carroll, 410-828-0048. *Beaver Loop, Prince William Park, Virginia. Hike 7.5 miles through woods along the Quantico Creek. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 9 am from the park & ride at Rte. 32 and Broken Land Parkway. Call Julika at 410-997-5364 (abond@csc.com). 30 SUN: Glen Artney/Orange Grove. Ten miles of hills, streams, rock and ruins in Patapsco State Park from Rolling Road to Cascade Falls and return. Hiking boots recommended. Meet at the Southwest Park & Ride at 9 am. Joyce, 410-254-7240. DECEMBER Cross Country Skiing. We will ski locally if there is enough snow. Trips to Western Pennsylvania and Western Maryland to be arranged sometime in January or February. For details call Jack, 410-256-3963. 6 SAT: Sugar Loaf Mountain. Explore this prominent nearby peak with rocky outcrops and sweeping views on this briskly paced 8-mile circuit with about 1,700' gain. Help the leaders celebrate their upcoming birthdays (by consuming 1,000 calories of cake afterwards). Meet 9:30 am at Shady Grove Metro Parking Lot #1. Leaders: Frank Wodarczyk, (703) 569-6737, Maggie Chan, (703) 917-9886. *Sugar Loaf Mountain. 8-mile hike featuring rocky outcrops with sweeping views. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 8:30 am from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Rte. 32. Call Leslie at 301-854-0299 (lesliee@bellatlantic.net). *"An American Beauty" Tour '97 concludes (Hike No. 13) with a 12-mile hike from Old Anglers Inn to Harry Thompson Boat House Center on the C&O Canal Historical Trail. Car shuttle required. Co-Leaders: William Fout, (703) 684-5951; Robert Lovisa, (301) 593-5360, please call before 5 pm, Dec. 4. *Circuit Hike, Second Manassas/Bull Run Battlefield, VA . Easy-going 7-mile circuit hike covering major points in this well-preserved Civil War battlefield, with general comments on progress of the August 1862 battle. Carpool from Vienna Metro (north parking lot) leaving at 9:30 am. Bring water, light lunch. Leader: Michael Monbeck (703) 764-9632 for details. 7 SUN: Panther Branch Hike. Moderate 6-7 miles along the Panther Branch and the Gunpower River. Meet at the Park & Ride on Deerco Road, near Padonia Road, at 11 am. Jack 410-256-3963. *Nicholson Hollow. A 10-mile circuit hike in Northern SNP. Moderate to fast pace with 2,000 feet of elevation change. Leader: Bill Carey, (202) 237-8051 eves. 'til 9:30 pm. *Ball's Bluff Regional Park, near Leesburg, VA. An easy 2-mile circuit hike with habitat ranging from hardwood forests to rocky cliffs to views of the Potomac River. Site of a Civil War battle, this short interpretative hike is suitable for adults and parents with children. Leader: Marilyn Mohney, (703) 425-0173, 'til 9 pm. 13 SAT: White Oak Canyon and Hawksbill Mt. 15-Mile Circuit Hike with 4,000' elevation change to Include Limberlost Trail and Highest Peak in Shenandoah National Park. Meet at Oakton Shopping Center at 7:30. Inexperienced Hikers Call for Hiker Requirements. Co-leaders William Needham (703) 2566735 and Jack Thorsen (703) 339-6716 *Harpers Ferry C&O Canal Hike. Hike through 3 states at Harpers Ferry, along the C&O canal to Split Rocks and Jefferson Rocks. This 7-mile hike passes several spectacular overlooks of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Bring lunch and water. Meet for breakfast at the Bagel Bin in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center at 8:00 am, for an 8:30 departure. Call Julie at 301-384-2925. *Mosby Raiders Hike #3.Circuit Hike, Appalachian Trail, VA An enjoyable 7-mi. jaunt from Rte. 605 to Rod Hollow Shelter with two overlooks and 1500 ft. of gain returning to trailhead by 4 pm. Leader: Dave Furlong (703) 758-9409 before 9 pm. *Lakes Needwood and Frank, Montgomery Co. Easy 8-mile circuit with less than 200 feet elevation gain. Nice views of lakes. Meet at ground floor of parking garage of Shady Grove Metro at 9:30 am. Bring lunch, water. Leader: Dan Ryan, (301) 622-5259 before 9:30 pm. 14 SUN: Wakefield/Lake Accotink Parks, Fairfax, VA . A not for fast hikers, mostly flat 7 mile circuit hike. Meet at Wakefield Park at 9:30 am. Beltway exit 5, Braddock Road, W. then 1/8 mile to right on park road and 1st parking lot on left. Leader: Hank Comeau (703) 451-7965. *Middle Gunpowder River Hike. Moderate six miles along the Gunpowder River from Harford Road to Belair Road and back. Meet at the Carney Park & Ride (Harford Road & Tottenham Road) at 10 am. Kolman, 410-356-4655. *Sherman Gap Hike. 8-mile circuit hike in GWNF, 2,200 feet elevation change. Begins on the Sherman Gap trail and returns on the Tuscarora. Limited to 15 people. Leader: Martha Canan, (703) 764-3763. 19-21 FRI-SUN: Rated E/F. PA AT Backpack Trip. A 15-mile backpack along an unscouted PA AT route from Port Clinton to PA Route 183. Limited to 10 people. Suitable for experienced backpackers and those with interest to get winter experience. Leave late Fri., stay in motel. Car shuttle required. Co-Leaders: Frank Turk, 301-249-8243; Robert Lovisa, (301) 593-5360, please call before Dec. 12. 20 SAT: Circuit Hike in Central SNP, VA. A moderate to fast 11-mile hike to Nicholson Hollow, Hannah Run, and Hot-Short Mountain. For experienced hikers only, this hike includes a 2,000' climb. Limited to twenty people. Leader: Christopher Tate, (703) 836-8905. 21 SUN: Patapsco Valley State Park, Hilton and Orange Grove areas. Hike 7 miles, to the Buzzard Rock outcrop, over the swinging bridge, and along a cascading stream. Bring lunch and water. Meet for breakfast at the Bagel Basket Cafe in the Normandy Shopping Center, for a 10 am departure. Call Ken at 301-725-3306 (kclark@excalib.com). *Avalon/Hilton Hike. Eight to ten miles from Avalon to Buzzard's Rock and back in Patapsco State Park. Hiking boots recommended. Meet at the Southwest Park & Ride at 9 am. Joyce, 410-254-7240. 28 SUN: Lake Roland Hike. Five moderate miles in the Robert E. Lee Park, through the woods and long the shore. Meet at the Dam (Lakeside Drive and Hollins Road) at 10 am. Clint, 410-235-5835. *"Difficult Run" Trail, Great Falls, Virginia. A moderate 6-mile hike on the cliffs overlooking the Potomac River. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 9:30 am from the park & ride at Rte. 32 and Broken Land Parkway. Call Leslie at 301-854-0299 (lesliee@bellatlantic.net). *Hazeltop-Camp Hoover. Visit President Hoover's fishing camp in Central SNP. 8.5 mile circuit hike on the AT, Mill Prong and Laurel Prong trails. 2,800 feet elevation change. Limited to 15 people. Leader: Martha Canan, (703) 764-3763. *Circuit Hike in Central SNP, Virginia. A moderate to fast 8-mile hike to White Oak Canyon and Cedar Run. For experienced hikers only, this hike includes a 2,650' climb. Limited to twenty people. Leader: Christopher Tate, (703) 836-8905. January 1 THURS: 24th Annual New Year's Day Hike along C & O Towpath. Start the New Year right with a 10-mile walk along the Towpath. Meet at Wisconsin Ave at Canal, south of M Street in Georgetown at 9:30 am (2:30, Greenwich Mean Time for you slugabeds). We will walk along the Towpath to the Little Falls Pumping Station, enjoy whatever mast, browse, or other comestibles you've brought along, and return to Georgetown. Leader: Walter Wells, (202) 362-0250, mornings or evenings before 10 pm. 4 SUN: Gunpowder River and Sweathouse Branch. Moderate 6 miles along the river and side trail. Meet at Gunpowder River and Belair Road at 11 am. Jack 410-256-3963. 10 SAT: Spotsylvania Hike. Shake off the winter blahs on a hike of the historic Spotsylvania Civil War Battlefield. Hike will be approximately 9 miles through forest and field with some stretches of road walking. Interpretation along the way. Dinner stop. Jim 410-719-1429. 17 SAT: Patapsco Valley Park (McKeldin Area) 5-mile moderate hike in the McKeldin area of Patapsco State Park. Visit South Branch Falls and hike along the North Branch. Meet at Giant Plaza, Route 40 and Rolling Road at 10 am Kolman, 410-356-4655.