The Potomac Appalachian

Transcription

1 ISSN The The Newsletter of the Trail Club 118 Park Street. S.E., Vienna, VA Volume 28, Number 1 January 1999 Message from the Departing President It is with mixed emotions that I finish out my tenure as President of PATC. The past three years have been both rewarding and challenging. And while it is now time for me to focus my energies in other directions, I see my leaving more a hiatus than a true departure. Looking back over the events of 1998, I am pleased to report that many of the changes I had hoped to effect while in this office have actually come to pass. The successful distribution of the Vos property proceeds along with the significant growth of the Endowment Fund has certainly placed PATC on firm financial footing. I am proudest of the financial management tools that are now in place to guide our annual budget planning, and of the project planning process that has been implemented this year. regard to its ultimate benefit to our organization. With the Headquarters Capital/Repair Fund; the Trail Lands Fund; and the Cabins/ Shelters Lands and Building Fund, we have given ourselves a way to set aside money we may need to fund our good works in times less prosperous than we now enjoy. Similarly, the adoption of the Project Planning Process gives the PATC Council a tool for managing all of our on-going Cabins and Shelters projects in a comprehensive, yet unobtrusive way. It helps members wishing to undertake a major project to develop comprehensive plans and allows the Council to set certain project milestones at which progress may be measured and additional funding be granted or withheld as circumstances warrant. in which PATC representatives worked not just with ATC staff, but also with President Clinton and Vice President Gore. The event helped to demonstrate to a national audience the importance of hiking trails and the volunteers that maintain them. In closing, while in the near future my focus will be on my career and schooling, I have every intention of remaining active within the Club. I look forward to having an opportunity to actually spend time in the woods and will, naturally, stay involved with the renovation of the Blackburn Trail Center. It was through Blackburn that I first came to the Club, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I also hope that I will again have the opportunity to serve the Club as it enters into the new millennium. The creation of our three restricted funds has proven to be a bedrock foundation upon which the Club may build a strong future. We have in place the mechanism to curb that most human of impulses to immediately apply any unexpected profit or windfall into some sort of action or activity without due An Evening with Ed Viesturs Hudson Trail Outfitters, in coordination with Mountain Hardwear, presents an evening with American mountaineer, Ed Viesturs, on Sunday, January 24th at 7 pm. The 75 minute presentation will take place at George Mason University and will include a slide show on Ed Viesturs adventures, including the making of the IMAX movie, Everest, now playing at the Smithsonian. Ed will discuss alpine and expedition climbing and his quest to be the first American to summit all fourteen of the world s 8,000 meter peaks. A 20-minute question and answer period will follow the slide show. The final achievement of what I hope you will see as a successful term in office is the re-emphasis of PATC s cooperative relationship with both the Appalachian Trail Conference and our many Government partners. I believe this was best illustrated by the very well-received Trail-building event this May in Harpers Ferry Tickets are $5 and will be sold in advance at all Hudson Trail Outfitters locations. All proceeds will benefit PATC and George Mason University s GEO Club. Remember, winter is a great time for Ski Touring and Mountaineering section activities. For more information on these two sections, check out their pages at PATC s web site, patc.simple net.com, or stop by PATC headquarters to pick up a copy of the section newsletter. See the Forecast for further details on the Mountaineering Section, which meets at PATC headquarters on the second Wednesday of the month and for Ski Touring events. My presidency has been a true learning experience and one that I will treasure and refer back upon through the rest of my life. I feel blessed to have had such an opportunity. Sandra Marra, outgoing PATC President In this Issue Final Budget Update... 2 In This Issue... 2 Walt s Notes Overdue Hikers Located... 4 Looking Back... 4 Corridor Monitoring Workshop... 5 Forecast of Events... 8 Notices Featured Cabin Trail News Around the World PATC in W W II Donations Trailhead Wanted

2 Council Members, Chairs and Staff Officers President: Walt Smith, 703/ , VP Operations: George Still VP Volunteerism: Tom Johnson Supervisor of Trails: Peter Gatje Supervisor of Corridor Management: Tom Lupp General Secretary: Warren Sharp General Counsel: Eric Olson Membership Secretary: Terry Cummings Treasurer: Dick Newcomer Recording Secretary: Gerhard Salinger Sections/ Chapters Mountaineering Section: Tony Sanders SMRG: Randy Rupp Ski Touring Section: Katherine Stentzel North Chapter: Steve Koeppen N. Shenandoah Valley Chapter: Martha Clark, S. Shenandoah Valley Chapter: Lynn Cameron Charlottesville Chapter: John Shannon West Virginia Chapter: Jane Thompson Standing Committee Chairs (Council Members) Blackburn Trail Center: Chris Brunton Cabins: Matt Ogorzalek Cabin Construction: Charlie Graf Conservation: Mary Margaret Sloan Corporate Donations: Jack Reeder Endowment: Bill Ladd Finance: Blair Staley Hikes: Tom Johnson Lands: Phil Paschall & Eric Olson, co-chairs Legal: Eric Olson Maps: Dave Pierce Maryland Appalachian Trail Management Committee: Charlie Graf Public Affairs: Terry Cummings Publications: Jean Golightly Shelters: Vacant Trail Patrol: Mickey McDermott Special Committees/Ongoing Activities Archives & Library: Paula Strain Tuscarora Trail Land Management: Vacant Cabin Reservations: Marilyn Stone Deputy Supervisor of Trails: Rick Rhoades Firestone Tract Management: Vacant Information/Sales Desks: Marguerite Schneeberger Internet Services: Andy Hiltz Land Management: Ed McKnew Vining Tract Management: Howard Johnson Chief Editor: Bianca Menendez Features Editor: Joanne Erickson Forecast Editor: Joe O Neill Joe_Oneill@prodigy.com Pre-press: Nancy Merritt, MeritMktg@aol.com Headquarters Tel: 703/ Fax: 703/ WRiley1226@aol.com 24-hour Activities Tape: 703/ Staff Director of Administration: Wilson Riley (Ext. 11) WRiley1226@aol.com Trails Management Coordinator: Heidi Forrest (Ext.12) heidif@erols.com Business Manager: Regina Garnett (Ext. 15) rgarnett@erols.com Membership/Cabin Coordinator: Pat Fankhauser (Ext. 17) pfankh@erols.com Sales Coordinator: Maureen Estes (Ext. 19) World Wide Web URL: Final Budget Update Just as this edition was heading for the press, Congress and the President enacted into law the final $15.1 million in appropriations needed to bring the Appalachian Trail fully into public ownership by the end of the century. The funds were included in the endof-session omnibus appropriations bill that the Senate passed and President Clinton signed on October 21. Rep. Ralph Regula of Ohio, chairman of the House interior-appropriations subcommittee, had championed the two-years-in-one approach as far back as the 1997 federal budget deal. President Clinton strongly endorsed providing the final Trail-protection funds this year, in an April speech on the AT in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. For the last 20 years, the National Park Service (NPS) and US Forest Service (USFS) have been acquiring more than 3,000 small parcels of land outside other national-park units and within national forests to provide a basic buffer for the footpath, averaging 1,000 feet in width. The 1999 omnibus appropriations bill contained $8.1 million for In this Issue Welcome to a New Year of the PA! This issue features two important new columns. The first is Walt s Notes, by our new President, Walt Smith. Walt will be jotting down his thoughts to the membership each month and letting the Club know of important issues and concerns we all need to know about. The second is Featured...of the Month, where I will feature a work crew, cabin, shelter, overseer, Chapter, or section in PATC each month. This feature is meant to spread the IN MEMORIAM the Park Service and $7 million for the Forest Service to complete the protection program. ATC Executive Director, David Startzell, thanked Rep. Regula and retiring Rep. Sidney Yates of Illinois, the ranking subcommittee Democrat and former chairman, for their years of support, as well as their Senate counterparts, Slade Gorton of Washington and Robert Byrd of West Virginia. He also noted that many senators and representatives speak up for the Trail each year. At the end of September, NPS had left to acquire 5,103 acres in 10 states to protect 14.4 miles of trail; USFS, 4,720 acres in six states, covering 11.5 miles. In addition, four of the 14 Trail states have pledged to buy another 150 acres to protect 1.7 miles. Just 20 years ago, 45 percent of the backcountry ridgecrest trail, begun in 1922 and completed as a continuous route in August 1937, was on private land subject to development. Judy Jenner reprinted from Appalachian Trailways word about all the wonderful things going on in PATC. If you re looking for a new volunteer opportunity or just want to find out what other Club members are doing, look to this article. This month s Featured Cabin of the Month is Blackburn. If you re interested in having your work featured in the PA, let me know. Don t have anyone who likes to write on your crew? I can provide a writer to work with you in developing an article. Bianca Menendez, Editor Laskey J. Howard, PATC Life Member, died in November, Laskey was the wife of Victor A. Howard, also a Life Member, who died in Laskey and Victor became members in 1936 and both served as AT trail overseers. They were active with the square dance group, the Allemande Lefters, up to the 1970s. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Victor served various officer positions of the Club including First Vice President, Second Vice President, and President. 2

3 Walt s Notes The Past and the Future It is a great honor to serve as the President of the Trail Club. I will do my best to live up to the respected standards established by previous presidents. As I looked around the hall during the annual meeting in November, while Sandra Marra was presiding, I noticed several past presidents John Oliphant, Warren Sharp, Jack Reeder people who continue to serve their Club in different capacities today. There were others in the room who likewise have distinguished themselves by volunteering to work for the Club for many years. And as I reflected on their accomplishments, I thought of how thankful for their service we may be, those of us who hike on the trails, sleep in the cabins and shelters, and enjoy many other Club amenities. I should like to thank the officers who have just left the Executive Council for their excellent service. There are many reasons for honoring Sandi for her work as President. Her commitment to establishing planning and financial systems comes to mind. But I shall personally not forget the workday night when she drove all the way out to Winchester to visit the local chapter. This action inspired me to commit myself, as President, to visiting as many of our activities in the outlying areas as I possibly can. Bob Butt completed ten years as Supervisor of Corridor Management, skillfully resolving a myriad of problems associated with boundaries and neighbors. He continues his voluntary service as a member of the Board of Managers for the Appalachian Trail Conference. Randy Minchew completed his term as the first General Counsel, a position that was created two years ago when the new constitution was adopted. However, Randy had been doing the work on a volunteer basis many years before the services were so formally recognized. His assistance in purchasing the headquarters building in 1991 is of special merit. Membership climbed past six thousand during Lisa Still s term as Membership Secretary. Lisa will also be remembered for many occurrences that promoted the welfare of the members: her monthly new member meetings, the family events, as well as her last event, the annual dinner itself! Thank you all! The new Council will have its hands full in dealing with future issues. The Council completed a planning session in December, which resulted in determining those issues that would require the most urgent attention in the coming months. (See PATC Planning Session. ) However, these issues are PATC issues. These issues belong to all of us. Moreover, there isn t much time to deal with some of them. For example, urban growth doesn t stop while we try to make up our minds as to how we are going to protect viewsheds along the trails or provide means for parking cars and hiking into Shenandoah National Park from the outer perimeter. And the population keeps growing around the national and Virginia state capitals. This means that, if we are to leave a hiking heritage for our grandchildren that is at least of the same high quality as we found it, we will need more trails in the future in order to provide the experiences we cherish now. I challenge you to think about how much you appreciate the hiking and backpacking part of your life; how much do you value the organization that maintains cabins, shelters, and one thousand miles of trails in the area; how much is the volunteer tradition worth to you? Shall we keep it alive so that we can make a real difference in so many people s lives in the future? I challenge all members to become involved in making that meaningful difference. Why do We Volunteer? There are many examples of PATC volunteers who inspire us. Recently, while looking over a list of overseers of the Appalachian Trail, I noticed that Sam Moore began work on a stretch of 2.8 miles in January Imagine that, being an AT Overseer for more than fifty years! Why do we volunteer to be an overseer or join a work crew to help maintain a trail? I suppose there are many reasons. In this case, none of the reasons seem to have much to do with a good-looking résumé! Some people respond to the question by saying that its payback time. I have been hiking on these trails for years and now it is time to cut the weeds on one for awhile, or work on a cabin crew, or help at the PATC reservation desk in Vienna, or whatever might need to be done. This is a good reason and every hour contributed here and there, as part of the team effort, helps produce the worthy end result for which our Club is noted. Other PATC members volunteer to lead a hike, work with the Tulip Tree Cabin Crew, the Trail Patrol, or the Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group, or elsewhere because they want to learn new skills, or brush up on old ones, and enjoy working with a group of people. Sometimes the camaraderie that develops between fellow volunteers results in forming meaningful friendships over time. These are more good reasons for helping. For many folk, the opportunity to get away by themselves in scenic mountains is found to be healthy, even therapeutic. A trail or shelter overseer position provides a piece of familiar real estate to enjoy without the burden of ownership. Whatever your initial reason may be for volunteering, the activity should be fun and interesting in order to sustain your participation. From among the vast number of tasks needing another hand, I recommend that you select one that makes your PATC membership rewarding for you personally. Look around and take on a bit of the organization that makes you feel good! My friends, I ask for your support so that we continue to make our volunteer system work. I ask for your support so that we may leave a hiking legacy of the high quality that we now enjoy. See you on the trail, Patrons Capital Hiking Club Center Hiking Club Potomac Backpackers Association Sierra Club, Washington Outings Program Wanderbirds Hiking Club Corporate Supporters Blue Ridge Mountain Sports Campmor Casual Adventures Duron Hewlett-Packard Hudson Trail Outfitters Outdoor Adventure REI The Outfitter at Harpers Ferry The Trail House Wilderness Voyagers 3

4 4 Overdue Hikers Located On Appalachian Trail Amoonlit Halloween night. A husband awaits at a trailhead parking lot for his wife and her hiking companion, who are long overdue after a two-day backpacking trip on a Trail Club (PATC)- maintained section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) near Harpers Ferry. The two backpackers had planned to leave their car at Ashby Gap on Route 50 and head north on the AT to Snickers Gap on Route 7. The husband of one of the hikers, after waiting for several anxious hours at the trailhead for the two women, contacted the VA State Police. After arriving at the scene and interviewing the husband, the police contacted the VA Department of Emergency Services, which in turn contacted the Appalachian Search and Rescue Conference (ASRC), the umbrella organization of local and regional wilderness search organizations. Personal pagers started buzzing across the state as ASRC members were notified of a missing-person incident. Volunteers, including several men and women from the Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group (SMRG), which consists entirely of PATC members, were on site within an hour, and after estimating the distance the hikers should have traveled, two teams of SMRG members and other ASRC volunteers were hastily dispatched to search the Sam Moore shelter and sections of the AT. At approximately 11:00 p.m., a search team located the two hikers, who were bivouacked along the AT. They were tired and dehydrated, having run out of water several hours earlier, but they otherwise were in good condition and able to walk without aid. The hikers were escorted to the Bear s Den Hostel parking lot, where a county police car drove them to the impromptu search headquarters on Route 7. All ended well. The overdue hikers and search teams arrived home safely. But the night s operation provided several important lessons for all PATC members embarking on outdoor adventures. Hiking Precautions First If your hiking trip involves being picked up at a specific destination, stick to your original plans and allow yourself ample time to get to your destination. Simply put, hike where you tell people you re going to hike. When you arrange to have someone pick you up, don t assume that they have ESP and will somehow sense that you ve changed your travel plans. The two hikers in this case decided, at the last minute, to start their hike from Linden, VA, instead of Ashby Gap, parking their car near Route 66. This added several miles to their trip, and when police looked for their car at Ashby Gap (where they specifically said they were going to park) it wasn t there. This whimsical extension of the hike not only caused the two backpackers to be substantially overdue, but the fact that their car wasn t where it was expected to be raised grave concerns among authorities as to the possible fate of the hikers. Had they been kidnapped? Did someone on the trail attack them and steal the car keys? Obviously, none of these events occurred, but no one had any way of knowing that at the time. Second, carry enough water! An obvious point, but one that many hikers overlook. Due to the current drought, many water sources along the AT, especially at higher elevations, have dried up. Even reliable springs have turned off the taps for the season. The two backpackers in this case were thus unable to replenish their water supplies. It is important to study your topo maps, ask hikers with recent experience in the area you plan on hiking where you ll be able to get water on the trail, and carry plenty of water when you start your trip. Bring a water filter pump or purifying tablets on hikes, especially long ones, and fill up your bottles at every opportunity. If a water source you ve been counting on is dry, don t tough it out, cut your trip short. An exhausted and dehydrated hiker is well on the way to becoming a disoriented or injured hiker. In many cases of hypothermia, dehydration is an underlying component. The Right Things To Do The hikers did several things right, says Todd L Herrou, PATC member and ASRC Incident Commander for the search. Although they changed their plans, at least they let someone know where they were going and when they were planning on finishing their trip. When they didn t return as scheduled, the husband did the right thing by waiting for a length of time and then contacting the police. Additionally, the women didn t continue hiking into the night. They conserved their energy by stopping and making camp along the trail. Also, L Herrou adds, the search greatly benefited from the fact that the SMRG members who were involved in the search are active PATC members and were very familiar with the trails in this region. They ve hiked in the area previously (several SMRG members had actually been hiking near Route 7 earlier that day) and knew where the shelters were and where a person would be likely to make an emergency camp along the trail. This knowledge greatly aided in the swift and safe completion of the night s search. John Luck Looking Back 20 Years Ago this Month... Construction of a bridge in the Linn Cove area of Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina was announced. The bridge and 1.3 miles of Parkway remaining to be built were to complete the Blue Ridge Parkway. That portion of the Parkway was scheduled to open on September 11, 1985, the 50th anniversary of the beginning of construction on the Parkway. 40 Years Ago this Month... A quiz on members knowledge of the PATC pointed out that the entire AT was not blazed. Parts of the Trail were so clear that the relevant maintaining club or agency painted no blazes. At the time, that included the Trail in Shenandoah National Park. 60 Years Ago this Month... The US Forest Service and the National Park Service signed an agreement to promote the Appalachian Trailway as a distinct type of recreational area devoted particularly to hiking and camping. At the time, 704 miles of AT in eight national forests and two national parks were included in the agreement, including Shenandoah National Park, George Washington National Forest, and Jefferson National Forest.

5 Corridor Monitoring Workshop The Appalachian Trail passes through a strip of publicly owned land known as the AT Corridor. The corridor is a large jigsaw puzzle of parcels purchased by the National Park Service and other federal and state agencies. It is the responsibility of ATC and PATC to inspect and monitor the corridor lands purchased by NPS. The purpose of a monitor program is to serve as the eyes and ears of the land owner, NPS. Monitoring is the first step in identifying problem areas in the AT Corridor, and planning remedial action to protect the investment in the land. Volunteer corridor monitors are assigned a section of corridor and usually spend about a half a day on each inspection trip. A corridor monitor must enjoy bushwhacking as work is entirely off trail. Strong map and compass skills are necessary, and some detective work is required to locate corner markers or faded property lines. Monitors will look for illegal activities such as dumping, timber cutting, hunting, horseback riding or bike/ ATV use. A corridor monitor workshop will be held on March 20, 1999 at Bears Den Hostel from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This will be the first corridor monitor workshop held in five years and there are currently several areas that need monitors. This workshop will be necessary to learn the technical skills needed to be a successful monitor. Registration is required to attend the workshop as space is limited. The hostel will provided free Creative Uses for Trail Maintenance Tools overnight lodging Friday & Saturday nights. Please send your registration form to Heidi Forrest, 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna, VA or fax to by February 28, CORRIDOR MONITORING WORKSHOP Saturday March 20, 1999 Registration Form Name Address Phone(day) I require overnight lodging for Friday (evening) Saturday Mail to: Heidi Forrest, 118 Park Street, SE. Vienna, VA or fax 703/ by February 28, 1999 Members of the Shenandoah Work Crew really got creative when one of their compadres inadvertently left their car keys inside their vehicle. It was a good thing Park Service Rangers were with them, or this exercise would have looked a little bit suspicious from the road. Maybe Heidi Forrest will add this to the Chainsaw Workshop program. You just never know when you might need to use this technique. Photo by Heidi Forrest 5

6 6 Technology and the Map (Part 1 of 4) Information technology is affecting almost every area we deal in, and maps are no exception. In fact, geospatial information technology, such as the global positioning system (GPS) and digital mapping, are making significant changes in the cartographer s environment. For the most part these changes are bringing about improvements, whether directly or indirectly. One example can be found at the US Geological Survey (USGS), where they are adding full Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grids to their large-scale maps. The UTM is a coordinate grid system, which, when printed on maps, provides a way to describe the position of any feature portrayed by the map. A full grid means the grid lines are drawn across the entire map sheet vs. being portrayed by small cross symbols at the grid intersections. USGS adopted this system because experience and testing have proven that it is much easier to use for positioning than using a system based on geographic latitude and longitude expressed in degrees-minutes-seconds. In one test, a group of firemen and backpackers were taught how to use both systems and Of Maps and the Walkers The maps of which the Trail Club (PATC) is justifiably proud are, in large part, the creation of a botanist. The story of Egbert Walker s maps is only part of a larger story that began as a PATC romance and continued for over 50 years. The Romance Begins Dorothy Kimball Walker says that in 1930 and 1931 she saw Egbert Walker a number of times in the group at the corner of 15th Street where the bus picked up PATC hikers before she finally met him. This is not too surprising, because at that time, PATC trips brought out 40 to 60 people regularly. Egbert s memory of their romance, as he recorded it, was he went along as excess baggage on a camping trip to Mount Katahdin that his sister Lucille and Dorothy Kimball had planned, just in case a male might be useful in an emergency. Dorothy and Egbert checked out each other s camping skills, he were polled as to their preference. The choice was 100 percent for using UTM over latitude and longitude. While this change was brought about because of GPS, knowledgeable backpackers and hikers will find this grid adds a lot of value to their map even when they don t use GPS. Most of the time they will use the grid as a reference for measuring direction (for their compass) and distance. Today, Trail Club (PATC) maps carry full geographic latitude and longitude grid lines. In coming years, our maps will migrate to a system of full UTM grids just like those you ll find on USGS maps printed after In fact, most of the USGS maps of the northern Shenandoah National Park (SNP) already have this map feature. As part of the normal revision process, a new edition of Map 9, SNP s Northern District, was scheduled to be published in November 1999, and it is the first to carry the new grid. To prepare PATC members for these upcoming changes, a series of articles published in the coming months will explain how to use this new map feature. The first article will said, and Eyes were opened, and dreams began to form. In 1935, Dorothy learned a new word. The two were visiting her father at Sea Cairn in Maine and took a walk in the twilit woods. A shooting star passed overhead. That means it s time for an osculation, Egbert observed. What s that? she asked. He demonstrated with an enthusiastic kiss. They were married in 1936, and Dorothy resigned as teacher of science in one of the District s junior high schools to become a housewife. Egbert came to work in the herbarium of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Although both were interested in outdoor activities, Egbert discovered PATC a few months earlier than Dorothy did. Egbert s involvement in PATC mapmaking started out innocently enough. Coming home from a hard day of trail clearing and be how to measure direction on the map using the grid and a compass. The second article will feature using the grid in conjunction with measuring and relating distances. The last installment will explain how to measure a coordinate value for some place on the map. Think of the UTM grid value as an address in the woods. Someday you might use the grid to note in your journal the address of someplace special you visited on the Appalachian Trail. Or while out hiking, you might come across a person badly hurt and need to use a cell phone to call 911 for help. The UTM grid value will provide you with a precise address that local authorities will easily understand. And should you ever use GPS, you will find your UTM-gridded map an essential tool for use with your GPS receiver. Information technology is bringing about many changes, and these include information portrayed by our hiking maps. Hikers and backcountry explorers can make use of UTM positioning information to know exactly where they re going. Tom Terry in coordination with Dave Pierce (Map Committee) painting blazes in 1933, I was dozing on the back seat, Egbert said. Myron Avery and Frank Schairer, the driver, were, as expected, discussing PATC problems. In a semilucid moment, I heard that the Club was having trouble getting maps made. Innocently and unguardedly I said that in my early high school days, using a cyclometer-equipped bicycle and an Ingersoll watch for measuring divergent angles of diagonal streets, I had made a map of my home town on the Wisconsin-Illinois border. You re on the Map Committee, announced the President in his characteristic manner. In 1934, Egbert succeeded Gordon Kennedy as the third Maps Chairman, Ken Boardman being the first ( ). Early Maps The first maps the Club made were included in the Guide to Paths in the Blue Ridge. They were mostly reduced-in-scale reproductions of other maps, to which trail data had been added. However, hikers wanted maps

7 they could take with them, without having to carry the guidebook. They also wanted more information on heights and grades. The Club s map of the Maryland section of the AT (1933) was the first attempt to show contours in some way. In 1935, the Maps Committee produced an experimental map of the Old Rag region with actual contour lines at 150 feet apart. Later central and southern maps of Shenandoah National Park (SNP) appeared with contour lines at the now conventional 100-foot intervals. The Maps Committee met monthly to plan its work, usually at the Walker residence, since PATC had no building of its own until Field testing was a large part of the committee s work because the available base maps were often quite out of date. Most field work was carried out by individuals or small parties, either operating on foot or by auto. Back in town, volunteers would trace contours and other information from the base map onto a transparency overlay, then add trail data and lettering. After the map was printed, copies were returned flat to the Club where map-folding parties were held. Egbert described how PATC maps were made at the ATC in Gatlinburg, TN (1937). Shortly thereafter the ATC s Manual of Techniques for AT and Amateur Mapmaking, based on Egbert s speech, was published. she is listed as a member of the Shelters (that is, Cabins) Reservations Committee and was also on the Headquarters Committee in The birth of young William about 1944 did not curtail the Walkers activity much. The baby went along in a canvas and wood backcarrier. The design and instructions for its construction can be found in a 1944 PATC Bulletin article written by H.F. Stimson and Egbert Walker. Egbert became PATC s third president in , resigning as Maps Chairman, but remaining on the committee. Dorothy also was listed as a member of the Maps Committee in Later Involvement The Walkers became active again in PATC committees in the 1960s. Egbert was a Map Committee member in 1963 and Chairman in He resumed the chairmanship in 1969, holding it till Dorothy was a member of Headquarters staff in 1960 and remained there until 1966 when she took over as Headquarters Committee Chair from Ruth Blackburn, holding that post through Dorothy explains her Headquarters work this way: Egbert always came to Headquarters after leaving work at the Smithsonian. He would work there several hours in the evening. I got in the habit of coming there with something for him to eat, so it was easy for me to get to know Headquarters operation and to help there. While Egbert had officially retired in 1958, it was not until the couple sold their Takoma Park home and moved to the Friends Retirement Village in Sandy Spring in 1976 that Dorothy and Egbert dropped out of active Club participation, though they continued to appear at annual meetings and dinners until Mr. Maps died in Old-timers of the Club miss them both and appreciate Egbert s contributions. New-timers may not realize how much outdoors fun mapmaking was back then and sometimes still is today. Paula M. Strain In 1940 and 1941, Egbert s Maps Committee reorganized the boundaries of the PATC and renumbered the existing 12 maps to create a series that provided continuous coverage of our part of the AT. Egbert also standardized map symbols. This was fortunate because when America entered World War II in late 1941, PATC had the most up-to-date and complete maps available of the Mid- Atlantic region, which the US Army wanted to use for training troops. Our maps of the SNP and of the area surrounding Camp Ritchie, Md., sold in quantity, enriching the Club s treasury. Other Walker Activities Egbert, who had received his Ph.D. in 1940 from Johns Hopkins, did more than make PATC maps in his spare time. He continued blazing trail and leading hikes. Meanwhile, Dorothy had been going on Club trips, but did not become involved in other Club work until 1941 when she was a member of the Photo Committee. In 1942 through 1945, ARE YOU MOVING?!! Did you know that the Post Office charges PATC 50 cents every time they let us know a member has moved? You can help save money and get information to you faster just by telling us yourself. Please fill out the following form and mail it to 118 Park Street, S.E., Vienna VA You can also call Pat Fankhauser at 703/ or her at pfankh@erols.com. Name: Effective date of New Address: Old Address: New Address: New Phone Number: 7

8 FORECAST Charlottesville Chapter The Charlottesville Chapter hikes every Saturday, summer, winter and in between. Hikes are about 8 miles. Trail maintenance is usually done on the last Saturday of the month. Meet at Sprint parking lot, 2307 Hydraulic Road at 9 a.m. with food and water for the day. We hike trails in the Southern, Central and occasionally Northern Districts of Shenandoah National Park, and in George Washington National Forest. INFO: Jere Bidwell 804/ , John Shannon 804/ or Lois Mansfield 804/ North Chapter The North Chapter of PATC conducts monthly trail work trips on the Maryland and Pennsylvania sections of the Appalachian Trail (AT) and on the Pennsylvania sections of the Tuscarora Trail. We also lead hikes on these and other trails. Maryland AT work trips are generally held on the first and third Saturdays contact Rick Canter (rbcanter@erols.com), 301/ for information. Pennsylvania work trips are generally held on the AT on the first Saturday and on the Tuscarora on the third Saturday contact Charles Irvin at 301/ Pennsylvania AT work trips also include an optional Saturday night stay at the Gypsy Springs cabin. Dinner, breakfast, and camaraderie available. For information on upcoming hikes, contact Chris Chapters Firme at 717/ For general chapter information, contact chapter president Steve Koeppen 410/ Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter The Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter sponsors hikes in national and state parks and forests in the Shenandoah Valley vicinity, open to the public, on a monthly basis except during the winter. Hikes are posted in the Forecast. Other activities are in the NSV Chapter Newsletter. For further information contact to Martha Clark (mclark@visuallink.com) 540/ Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter See Forecast for work trips and hiking events sponsored by the Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter. Most trips meet in Harrisonburg at the Cloverleaf Shopping Center at 8:00 a.m. Hikers from the DC area should allow about 3 hours to get to our region. INFO: in Harrisonburg, call Suzanne 540/ ; in Staunton or Waynesboro, call Vernon 703/ , or Doris 540/ West Virginia Chapter Chapter meeting at Highacre on the first Wednesday of the month; see Forecast for up-coming activities. For further information on chapter activities or to receive the chapter newsletter contact Jane Thompson 301/ Ski Touring Section The Ski Touring Section has served since 1974 to introduce Washington area residents to crosscountry skiing and to provide cross-country skiing opportunities to experienced skiers. The Section sponsors winter weekend ski trips for all levels of skiers to nearby mountains in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well as periodic social events year round. INFO: Katherine Stentzel 703/ PATC Midweek Hikes PATC s Vigorous Group hikes 8-10 miles at a fast pace; and the Easy Hikers hike 5-8 miles on trails with little elevation change. See below for scheduled trips; check the weekly tape (703/ ) on Thursday or Friday for any changes or additions. Other Clubs Hikes Capital and Wanderbirds hike on Sundays, traveling by bus and leaving from downtown, with suburban stops as well. Center Club, Northern Virginia Hiking Club and Sierra Clubs hike on both Saturdays and Sundays using carpools, which often leave from a suburban Metro stop. Schedules are available at PATC Headquarters and are published in area newspapers on Fridays. KEY to Forecast Activities All events are marked for easy identification. Late changes or cancellations are listed on the weekly information tape (703/ ), which is updated on Wednesday evening for the following seven days. The Forecast can also be found on PATC s Web site at forecast.html Hiking Trips Backpacking Trips } Trail Work Trips Cabin/Shelter Work Trips Special Events Meetings Cross-Country Skiing Note to all hike leaders: Please ask nonmembers on your hike if they would like to join PATC, then get names and addresses so a club volunteer can send them information packets. Thanks! January 1 (Friday) DEADLINE - February 5:00 p.m. All items for the next issue of the PATC newsletter must be submitted on disk if possible to headquarters, or via or attachment to bianca@moon.jic.com. Allow one week for postal service delivery. 1-3 (Friday - Sunday) Ski Trip - Ski Touring Section New Germany State Park, MD Ski Touring Section x-c ski weekend. New Years Weekend at Castelman Inn/Motel in Grantsville, MD. Ski the lovely trails of New Germany State Park in Western Maryland. INFO: Jack Wise 410/ (Tuesday) MEETING - Trail Patrol 7:30 p.m. Trail Patrol volunteers are PATC s good will trail ambassadors to the hiking public. They provide a visible, reassuring presence on the trails, educating the public on good hiking practices, minimum impact hiking and camping ethics. Patrol members are trained in land navigation, emergency procedures, radio communications and personal equipment. All patrol volunteers are also expected to become certified in a recognized basic first aid course. Some equipment and uniform items are provided upon completion of training. INFO: John Moore (trailptrl@aol.com) 703/ or see PATC s website ( 5 (Tuesday) HIKE - Vigorous Hikers A fast paced hike of about miles for strong hikers who enjoy a fast paced workout in the clear winter air. INFO: Cliff Noyes 703/ (Wednesday) CLASS - Where To Cross-country Ski REI, Baileys Crossroads, VA 7:30 p.m. Get your gear ready! When it snows, you want to get the best of it! But where can you find snow? REI s Mark Nelson will detail the best places to skinny-ski and the probabilities for good snow from Northern Virginia, Western Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Whether you like skiing in tracks or the solitude of breaking trails, there s a place with snow for you! INFO: REI 703/ (Wednesday) HIKE - Easy Hikers Washington, DC About 5 miles city walk around the Washington monuments. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Metro elevator on 12th Street at the Federal Triangle Station (across the street from the Old Post Office). INFO: Renee Schick 301/ (Thursday) CLASS - Cross-country Ski Destinations REI, College Park, MD 7:30 p.m. Where can you find reliable snow in the Mid-Atlantic Region? REI s Mark Nelson will discuss and detail some of the best places to ski in Virginia, Western Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Whether you like skiing in tracks or backcountry solitude, there s a place in the snow for you! INFO: REI 301/

9 9 (Saturday) HIKE - Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter Roosevelt Island and Washington, DC All are invited to join the NSVC as we explore the Potomac River area from the Arlington Cemetery Metro Station to the Foggy Bottom Metro Station, a distance of about eight miles. After noting monuments in the Arlington Cemetery area, we will pass through Rosslyn, hike around the Theodore Roosevelt Island, and cross the Key Bridge into DC. We will walk through Georgetown, enjoy lunch at Georgetown Park, hike along the C&O Canal towpath and the Potomac River, and eventually reach the Foggy Bottom Metro. Come and enjoy a change of scenery from January in the Valley. Leader/INFO: Betsy Fowler (efowler@logicon.com) 703/ (w), 540/ (h). 9 (Saturday) HIKE - Natural History Hike North District, Shenandoah National Park, VA Join Bob Pickett on an 8.2 mile loop along Little Devil s Stairs and Piney Branch Trail. This is a moderately difficult trail, ascending 1500 feet, and involves several small stream crossings and walking over wet/icy rocks. At least the nettles and poison ivy will not be a problem. Cultural resources, woody plants, mammals and geology will be discussed. INFO: Bob Pickett 301/ (Saturday) HIKE - North Chapter Tuscarora Trail Hike #II-8 George Washington National Forest, VA Route 11 to Elizabeth Furnace miles with 1100 feet elevation difference. Come join in the fun with the North Chapters hiking crew. Enjoy the winter scenery from atop the Massanuttens. INFO: Chris Firme 717/ after 6:00 p.m. 9 (Saturday) } TRAIL WORK TRIP - Massanutten Crew Massanutten Mountain, VA Call 5 days ahead. INFO: Wil Kohlbrenner 540/ (Saturday - Sunday) } TRAIL WORK TRIP - North Chapter Appalachian Trail, PA Meet at US 30 and PA 233 at the parking lot of Caledonia State Park. Departure: 9:00 a.m. sharp. INFO: Charlie Irvin 301/ (Saturday - Sunday) } TRAIL WORK TRIP - Cadillac Crew Vining Tract, Lydia, VA Got cabin fever? Put on your brand new thermal Christmas skivvies and come work outdoors with the Cadillac Crew! Weather permitting (meaning if we can drive up the mountain to the parking area) we re going to reclaim old trails so we can hike them in the summer. Overnight at Morris Cabin. Bring a lunch and water for Saturday. Saturday night community dinner. Please call by January 2 to let us know if you re participating! INFO: Fran Keenan 703/ or Jon Rindt 703/ (Monday) MEETING - Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group 7:30 p.m. New members meeting. INFO: Martin Juenge (mjuenge@rpihq.com) 703/ then press (Tuesday) MEETING - PATC Council 7:00 p.m. - sharp. The PATC Council meets the second Tuesday of every month to conduct business of the Club. All members are welcome, but members wishing to address the Council should call two weeks prior to the meeting in order to be included on the meeting agenda. INFO: Wilson Riley (wriley1226@aol.com) 703/ x (Tuesday) HIKE - Vigorous Hikers A fast paced hike of about miles for strong hikers who enjoy a fast paced workout in the clear winter air. INFO: Cliff Noyes 703/ (Wednesday) MEETING - Mountaineering Section 8:00 p.m. Second Wednesday of every month. INFO: Tony Sanders 202/ or see PATC s website ( 13 (Wednesday) HIKE - Easy Hikers Washington, DC Pierce Mill to the Zoo. 4 mile round trip (but can gain by walking around Zoo ). Very pleasant. Connecticut Avenue to Tilden Street or Beach Drive to Pierce Mill. Parking lot across road (same side) from the Mill. INFO: Betty Sanders 202/ (Wednesday) CLASS - Basic Climbing REI, Baileys Crossroads, VA REI and Inner Quest offer the Basic Climbing class year-round. The course is taught on the wall at REI Baileys Crossroads and covers the essential skills for top-roped climbing, climbing safety and climbing skills. Class size is limited to ensure plenty of individual attention. The course fee is $65.00 and includes all equipment. Each class is comprised of three 2-hour sessions on consecutive Wednesday nights. The next class is: Jan. 13, 20 and 27. Since space is limited, early registration is advised! Visit REI Baileys Crossroads for further information and registration. INFO: REI 703/ (Thursday) HIKE - Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter Old Rag Mountain, Shenandoah National Park, VA Legend states that Thomas Jefferson would celebrate his birthday every year by hiking Old Rag Mountain. Thomas Jefferson was lucky; he was born on April 13. However, in the great Jefferson tradition, and weather permitting, I will celebrate my birthday with the classic Old Rag hike. All are invited to climb the famous Ridge Trail, and return via the fire road on a day that will be cold and clear enough to inspire even old Tom Jefferson. Leader/INFO: Lee Sheaffer (thumpers@visuallink. com) 540/ FORECAST (Friday - Monday) Sandy Creek, NY Martin Luther King weekend. Ski Touring Section X- C Ski weekend. The Tug Hill region of upstate New York. Spend an extended skiing weekend at the rustic All Seasons Lodge in Sandy Creek, NY and enjoy the heavy lake effect snowfalls that are guaranteed in this region. Ski on the many trails at the nearby Winona State Forest, or visit the groomed trails at Salmon Hills, Osceola and other touring centers and forests. Driving time is 7+ hours, but the roadways are all interstate to within a mile of the lodge. Several restaurants are within walking distance in the town. Since sudden, heavy snowfall is always possible here, car chains are recommended as is schedule flexibility you MIGHT get snowed in for a day! The perfect trip for skiers who feared they might never see a decent snowfall again on the East Coast due to greenhouse warming. Cost is $100 per person for 3 nights lodging; any other nights additional. INFO: Rob Swennes 703/ (Saturday) HIKE - Tuscarora Trail Series #9 Sleepy Creek Mountain, WV A moderately paced 13 mile hike on the Tuscarora Trail south of Hancock, MD from Ruth Morris Forest to Whites Gap There will be a water crossing. Elevation gain is 1900 feet. A car shuttle is required. PATC map L. Meet at Vienna Metro, Nutley Street North at 7:30 a.m. INFO: Jack 703/ or William 703/ (Saturday - Sunday) CABIN WORK TRIP - Blackburn Trail Center Round Hill, VA Blackburn continues to grow and change before our eyes. Will you lend a hand to make this the most memorable Trail Center along the Appalachian Trail? Already we have built a new kitchen and bunk room, replaced the old roof, added huge sun-loving windows, and replaced the old porch roof. Still needed are stone work, porch extension and re-screening, the installation of crimped-metal roofing and much, much more. No special skills are needed; we offer on-thejob training. Just bring a lunch, work clothes and work gloves, your sleeping bag (if staying the night) and lots of enthusiasm. We provide the Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast - the meal cost is shared, and is usually between $7 and $10 per person. Please be sure to call by Wednesday prior to the trip so we can tell the cook to buy your portion too. Reservations/ INFO: Chris Brunton 703/ or Bruce Clendaniel 410/ (Monday) MEETING - Conservation Committee 7:00 p.m. INFO: Mary Margaret Sloan 703/ (Tuesday) MEETING - The Futures Group 7:00 p.m. (third Tuesday of each month). Meets to research, develop, and recommend to membership changes to PATC organization, constitution, and bylaws in order to meet challenges of the next century. PATC members welcomed. INFO: Walt Smith (wsmith@visuallink.com) 703/ (Tuesday) HIKE - Vigorous Hikers A fast paced hike of about miles for strong hikers who enjoy a fast paced workout in the clear winter air. INFO: Cliff Noyes 703/ (Wednesday) MEETING - PATC Shelters Committee 7:30 p.m. Come and learn about shelters along the Appalachian Trail and other PATC trails; help us plan 1999 activities; get YOUR assignment (or your own shelter) and go home happy. This meeting is open to PATC members and nonmembers alike (the secret meetings are held a different night!). INFO: George 703/