News from the Valley Trail
Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter of PATC
February 2020 Newsletter
Welcome to our newsletter for February, 2020. Here, we will share news from our chapter of the PATC. We have many exciting activities in which our members are involved as well as updates from trails in our area.
If you have a Facebook page, be sure to look for and like our page, PATC Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter. On there, we include photographs and descriptions from our latest hikes and trail work.
If you have a Facebook page, be sure to look for and like our page, PATC Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter. On there, we include photographs and descriptions from our latest hikes and trail work.
Member Spotlight: David Bennick
I grew up in Scranton, PA and graduated from Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. I have an MBA with a Marketing/Sales major from Temple University. I worked for several companies and didn't like the corporate life. My last corporate job was with a large consulting firm and after a couple of years decided to consult on my own, working with client sales forces developing sales force attitude surveys and developing sales force compensation plans. It worked for 22 years. My wife Dian and I retired on the same day in 2007 and in the following years traveled to London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Venice, Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin.
I started hiking in Boy Scouts and eventually became an Eagle Scout with Palms and was a Merit Badge examiner for Hiking, Camping, Pioneering and a couple of other subjects. I continued to hike and camp during vacations, and in 1980, I backpacked through Shenandoah. I decided to continue on the Appalachian Trail and after a total of nine years, in 2011, I completed my last state, Vermont. I still hike and continue to enjoy Shenandoah, the AT and hikers in general.
I joined SSVC in 1997 when Dian and I moved to Virginia. I remember our first hike which was 11 miles on the Breastworks Trail with Doris True as our hike leader. I still hike and also lead hikes. I was SSVC President in 2016 and 2017. Now I am still active as an advisor, hiker and hike leader. I am also a railroad fanatic and have an 11' x 11' HO layout in the house. This past summer we traveled to Strassburg, PA to visit the Strassburg Railroad, the PA Railroad Museum, the Toy Train Museum and the Choo Choo Barn's layout.
*Be sure to look for upcoming hikes that David will be leading. He has several in the next few weeks on the AT in our area.
I grew up in Scranton, PA and graduated from Wharton at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. I have an MBA with a Marketing/Sales major from Temple University. I worked for several companies and didn't like the corporate life. My last corporate job was with a large consulting firm and after a couple of years decided to consult on my own, working with client sales forces developing sales force attitude surveys and developing sales force compensation plans. It worked for 22 years. My wife Dian and I retired on the same day in 2007 and in the following years traveled to London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence, Venice, Budapest, Vienna, Prague and Berlin.
I started hiking in Boy Scouts and eventually became an Eagle Scout with Palms and was a Merit Badge examiner for Hiking, Camping, Pioneering and a couple of other subjects. I continued to hike and camp during vacations, and in 1980, I backpacked through Shenandoah. I decided to continue on the Appalachian Trail and after a total of nine years, in 2011, I completed my last state, Vermont. I still hike and continue to enjoy Shenandoah, the AT and hikers in general.
I joined SSVC in 1997 when Dian and I moved to Virginia. I remember our first hike which was 11 miles on the Breastworks Trail with Doris True as our hike leader. I still hike and also lead hikes. I was SSVC President in 2016 and 2017. Now I am still active as an advisor, hiker and hike leader. I am also a railroad fanatic and have an 11' x 11' HO layout in the house. This past summer we traveled to Strassburg, PA to visit the Strassburg Railroad, the PA Railroad Museum, the Toy Train Museum and the Choo Choo Barn's layout.
*Be sure to look for upcoming hikes that David will be leading. He has several in the next few weeks on the AT in our area.
David Bennick and Pam Heinrich enjoy a recent hike in Shenandoah River State Park.
Upcoming hikes/worktrip for February
Also, be on the lookout for our weekly email reminders.
Saturday, February 1: Pocosin/South River. 10 mile, moderate. Highlights include Pocosin Cabin, Pocosin Mission Ruins, Meadows Cemetery, and South River Falls. Plan to meet at Verona Park and Ride at 8:00; Massanutten Presbyterian Church at 8:30; Swift Run Entrance Station at 9:00. Possible stop at Cave Hill Farm Brewery after. This hike is #19 in PATC Circuit Hikes for Shenandoah National Park book (2013 edition/reprinted 2015).
Hike Leader: Jim Fye, jfye40@icloud.com, 540-830-2023.
Saturday, February 8: Sunset Field to Petites Gap on the A.T. 8 miles moderately strenuous.
This is a shuttle hike. Starting at Sunset Field (MP 78.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway) and ends at Petites Gap (MP 71). Meet at Verona Park and Ride at 7:30 or Riverheads High School at 8:00. Hike leaders: Jean Stephens:
jtstephens12@yahoo.com, 443-986-5649, Pam Heinrich: pamheinrich13@gmail.com, 540-290-5595,
David Bennick: dbennick@verizon.net or 540-337-5330.
Wednesday, February 12: Meet at Swift Run Gap, 9:00. Saddleback Mountain Loop.
Leader: Theresia Barger (540) 337-1567.
Saturday, February 15: White Rock Gap Trail, 5 miles round trip, easy to moderate. Hike from the upper reservoir at Sherando Lake towards the parkway and return. Meet at the Food Lion in Stuarts Draft at 9:00 a.m. Hike leaders: Karen and Mike Waterman, karenswaterman@gmail.com or (540) 337-1273
Sunday, February 23: Corbin Cabin - Nicholson Hollow Loop from Pinnacles Picnic Area: This is a circuit hike, 6.3 miles moderate. We will hike on the AT from Pinnacles Picnic Area in Shenandoah National Park to the Corbin Cabin Cutoff Trail. We will descend to see the remains of one of the Thornton family cabins and the PATC-restored Corbin Cabin. We will then ascend on Nicholson Hollow Trail to the AT and return back to Pinnacles Picnic Area.
There are three stream crossings on this hike and the return to the AT is fairly steep. Elevation change 1,585'. Hike leader: Jean Stephens: jtstephens12@yahoo.com,
(443-986-5649).
Saturday, February 29: Leap Day Hike This will be a shuttle hike. Start time: 9:30 AM meet at Humpback Rock Picnic area (near Greenstone Overlook; just North of MP 9 on PKWY). We will hike on the AT to Three Ridges Overlook (just South of MP 13 on PKWY). Distance:~ 5 miles. Elevation gain: ~ 750 ft. Trail character: Some rocky (potentially stumbly) sections; hiking poles are a good idea. Bring water and lunch. Hike leaders are Betsy Solomon
(kj4rmm@gmail.com--540-836-0584) and Tom Berkeley ( tomberkeley@gmail.com--434-610-1033)
Please call or email ahead of a hike to let the leaders know you are coming and to find out about any changes in hike location.
SSVC Members Tackle Wilderness First Aid Class
By: Malcolm Cameron
When folks passed by the Bridgewater Town Hall January 25 and 26 they may have been alarmed to see what looked like a mass casualty accident scene on the lawn. Seven members of SSVC along with 17 other outdoor types learned how to assess unknown patient situations and provide whatever level of care that may be needed to get injured or sick folks safely into the hands of professional first responders. The 20 hour MEDIC/SOLO Wilderness First Aid class was co-sponsored by SSVC and Walkabout Outfitters at the Bridgewater Arey Assembly Hall where we had our annual SSVC meeting last November.
Matt Rosefsky and Phoebe Stevens of MEDIC/SOLO guided us though an amazing amount of instruction and practice scenarios over two long days. No Powerpoint in their teaching model, only writing on whiteboards until the end of that topic and erase to move on to the next.
The class was the ultimate hands-on, OJT experience with no less than 8 practice scenarios outside in 40 degree weather and other learn by doing sessions inside like proper splint making for arms and legs. A rotating system of numbers and letters ensured that each participant had equal chances to be either ‘patients’ or ‘rescuers’. We even had homework Saturday night to read 2 chapters of the text and take a test.
It was very challenging to learn enough in a short time to be able to evaluate what may be wrong with the ‘patients’ and safely care for them without wasting precious time. We recorded SOAP notes on our ‘patients’ once ensured that their vitals were relatively stable, taking pulses and checking reflexes and asking about their medical history and events leading up to the accident or illness. All SSVC members (Jim Fye, Bill Markunas, Gina Washington, Jim Todd, Mike Dorman, Sharon Carderelli and Malcolm Cameron) passed the class.
The W. F. Aid classes have been taught for several decades and are updated all the time. SSVC will continue to co-sponsor them to provide this critical training for our hike and work trip leaders. PATC picks up the tab and MEDIC/SOLO donates 10 % of the course proceeds to SSVC when we help sponsor a class. Many thanks to Vince Meir of Walkabout Outfitters ( shown in the photo) in Harrisonburg for cosponsoring the class and also for taking the class with us and having a mini store set up in the classroom.
By: Malcolm Cameron
When folks passed by the Bridgewater Town Hall January 25 and 26 they may have been alarmed to see what looked like a mass casualty accident scene on the lawn. Seven members of SSVC along with 17 other outdoor types learned how to assess unknown patient situations and provide whatever level of care that may be needed to get injured or sick folks safely into the hands of professional first responders. The 20 hour MEDIC/SOLO Wilderness First Aid class was co-sponsored by SSVC and Walkabout Outfitters at the Bridgewater Arey Assembly Hall where we had our annual SSVC meeting last November.
Matt Rosefsky and Phoebe Stevens of MEDIC/SOLO guided us though an amazing amount of instruction and practice scenarios over two long days. No Powerpoint in their teaching model, only writing on whiteboards until the end of that topic and erase to move on to the next.
The class was the ultimate hands-on, OJT experience with no less than 8 practice scenarios outside in 40 degree weather and other learn by doing sessions inside like proper splint making for arms and legs. A rotating system of numbers and letters ensured that each participant had equal chances to be either ‘patients’ or ‘rescuers’. We even had homework Saturday night to read 2 chapters of the text and take a test.
It was very challenging to learn enough in a short time to be able to evaluate what may be wrong with the ‘patients’ and safely care for them without wasting precious time. We recorded SOAP notes on our ‘patients’ once ensured that their vitals were relatively stable, taking pulses and checking reflexes and asking about their medical history and events leading up to the accident or illness. All SSVC members (Jim Fye, Bill Markunas, Gina Washington, Jim Todd, Mike Dorman, Sharon Carderelli and Malcolm Cameron) passed the class.
The W. F. Aid classes have been taught for several decades and are updated all the time. SSVC will continue to co-sponsor them to provide this critical training for our hike and work trip leaders. PATC picks up the tab and MEDIC/SOLO donates 10 % of the course proceeds to SSVC when we help sponsor a class. Many thanks to Vince Meir of Walkabout Outfitters ( shown in the photo) in Harrisonburg for cosponsoring the class and also for taking the class with us and having a mini store set up in the classroom.
Announcement from Jean Stephens: Chapter President
- Trail Maintainers: We would like to start scheduling monthly trail work for our Chapter on the second Saturday of each month starting in April. If you need help with your section of trail, please contact Pam Heinrich (pamheinrich13@gmail.com) to have her put your trail information on the upcoming schedule. Let her know what you need people to bring, place and time to meet, etc.
Announcements from Pam Heinrich: Chapter Vice President
- Meetup: We are trying Meetup as another way to advertise our hikes. If you already use Meetup, look for us by searching PATC:Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter. If you do not use Meetup, it is easy to set up an account, find/join groups and attend events. We will continue to publish hike reminders on Facebook as well as sending out our email blast. This is a new for us and will take awhile to learn. Hike Leaders: If you are uncomfortable using Meetup, that is fine. Link to our Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/PATC-Southern-Shenandoah-Valley-Chapter
- Scheduling a hike or work trip: We try to plan out our hikes/work trips for a few months at a time. Hike Leaders and Trail Maintainers: hikes and work trips can be added to the schedule at any time. Please check the schedule to see what may already be planned. You can email me at any time and I can send out the email blast and post on Facebook for you.
- Email me with any questions/concerns about these. Pam Heinrich, pamheinrich13@gmail.com
Notice - Storage wanted for Thru-Hiker Truck/Camper
A thru-hiker is looking for secure storage for their pickup truck/camper (21.5 feet long) for approximately 6 months while they thru-hike the AT in 2020. The plan to arrive in Waynesboro around April 1. Covered storage is preferred, but will considered uncovered as long as it is secure. If anyone knows of a place where they could store their vehicle, please let Jean Stephens (jtstephens12@yahoo.com) know as soon as possible.
Announcement from John Stacy: PATC Supervisor of Trails
You may begin to notice instances on the website have been updated from "overseer" to "maintainer." Below is John's letter concening this change.
I think it is time we move on from the use of “trail overseer” to “trail maintainer.” “Overseer” has a dictionary definition per Merriam-Webster of “a person who oversees others: a person with supervisory responsibilities.” “Overseer” had notable use during slavery as the person who directed the daily work of the slaves. I contend that it can strike many as inappropriate for our trail maintainers and insensitive to potential volunteers. As we present ourselves as an organization working toward a more diverse membership, it is a small but tangible step to rename the function to “maintainers.”
The change to “maintainer” came up recently thanks to comments from a district manager during the review of the Shenandoah National Park general agreement. He suggested it is time to update and move on. The park staff accepted the change for the agreement. We talked about it briefly at a recent ExCom meeting. Several, like me, had found it jarring at first but had gotten desensitized to it. No one objected to the change and most seemed to think it an improvement. Some mentioned other trail organizations had already made this change.
I recognize that this term has been part of our history for a long time. For the role of our trail maintainers, I found references in David Bates’ book “Breaking Trail in the Central Appalachians,” to “overseers” as early as 1932 and 1933. The January 1936 Potomac Appalachian Bulletin presents a list of “Trail Overseers.” But although it is part of our history, many things have changed since that time and are worth reconsidering.
We can ask what other trail clubs use. Based on the websites of the 31 Appalachian Trail Maintaining Clubs, there are 21 who use “maintainers (15)” or “maintenance (6).” Four clubs use “adopters.” There are single uses of “crews,” “caretaker,” “stewards,” and “leaders.” Only two including us still use “overseers.” It appears that at least one other club already changed from “overseers” as older documents appear using the term but newer references refer to maintainers. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy itself does not use “overseers” in current documents found on their website.
I hope you find this carefully considered and a reasonable change. It will take some time, but we will work to change references in Agreements and MOU’s, Handbooks, the Website, the Potomac Appalachian “Help Wanted” and “New Boots,” patches, hats and correspondence. I can speak only for trails but I will encourage cabins and shelters to consider similar changes. Your support as our District Managers and Trail Crew Leaders to use “maintainers” for references in trip reports, advertising, and regular conversations is essential.
You may begin to notice instances on the website have been updated from "overseer" to "maintainer." Below is John's letter concening this change.
I think it is time we move on from the use of “trail overseer” to “trail maintainer.” “Overseer” has a dictionary definition per Merriam-Webster of “a person who oversees others: a person with supervisory responsibilities.” “Overseer” had notable use during slavery as the person who directed the daily work of the slaves. I contend that it can strike many as inappropriate for our trail maintainers and insensitive to potential volunteers. As we present ourselves as an organization working toward a more diverse membership, it is a small but tangible step to rename the function to “maintainers.”
The change to “maintainer” came up recently thanks to comments from a district manager during the review of the Shenandoah National Park general agreement. He suggested it is time to update and move on. The park staff accepted the change for the agreement. We talked about it briefly at a recent ExCom meeting. Several, like me, had found it jarring at first but had gotten desensitized to it. No one objected to the change and most seemed to think it an improvement. Some mentioned other trail organizations had already made this change.
I recognize that this term has been part of our history for a long time. For the role of our trail maintainers, I found references in David Bates’ book “Breaking Trail in the Central Appalachians,” to “overseers” as early as 1932 and 1933. The January 1936 Potomac Appalachian Bulletin presents a list of “Trail Overseers.” But although it is part of our history, many things have changed since that time and are worth reconsidering.
We can ask what other trail clubs use. Based on the websites of the 31 Appalachian Trail Maintaining Clubs, there are 21 who use “maintainers (15)” or “maintenance (6).” Four clubs use “adopters.” There are single uses of “crews,” “caretaker,” “stewards,” and “leaders.” Only two including us still use “overseers.” It appears that at least one other club already changed from “overseers” as older documents appear using the term but newer references refer to maintainers. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy itself does not use “overseers” in current documents found on their website.
I hope you find this carefully considered and a reasonable change. It will take some time, but we will work to change references in Agreements and MOU’s, Handbooks, the Website, the Potomac Appalachian “Help Wanted” and “New Boots,” patches, hats and correspondence. I can speak only for trails but I will encourage cabins and shelters to consider similar changes. Your support as our District Managers and Trail Crew Leaders to use “maintainers” for references in trip reports, advertising, and regular conversations is essential.
Announcement from Don White: PATC South District SNP A.T. District Manager
Notes from Don's annual meeting between PATC and the SNP:
Safety
We are required to remind you that you must leave information with a person (Point of Contact, spouse, friend, acquaintance) whenever you go into the Park to work on a trail or trail section that includes: when, where, with whom, and expected day and time of your return. Apparently, his is, or soon will be, a mandatory requirement. There is no mechanism foreseen to confirm compliance, however.
No-Fee Entrance for Maintainers
The SNP informed us that new cards will be directly mailed to all recognized Maintainers within two weeks. These cards are like mini-credit cards; they are approximately 2/3 the size of a typical bank or credit card and they can be, and probably will be, scanned at the entrance station you use.
No-Fee Entrance for Non Maintainers
The Park Volunteer Coordinators are completing work to provide a link on the SNP website for crew leaders so that they can submit pertinent information for those who you anticipate will come out and work with you on a worktrip. This includes all who have not previously submitted an of301A form to the Park - PATCers as well as non PATCers. The goal is for the Park to issue a paper coupon or certificate for each of the people who accompany you that will be "redeemed" at the entrance station they use and that certificate/coupon will be valid for the day of the worktrip. I do not know how the paper permits will be issued: it could involve mailing the permits to the crew leader or having the crew leader download and print the permit or picking up pre-printed permits at the entrance station. The latter will, if implemented, require foreknowledge of which entrance station each member of the work party will use.
If you invite people to come out and work with you on your trail section, you are the crew leader.
Background Investigations for Youth Participants
If you know of anyone who intends to participate with you on a worktrip who is under 18 years of age, that person is a minor. If a minor participates, his or her parent or guardian must accompany the minor when he or she participates . The parent or guardian must also sign the of301A form for the minor. If the parent or guardian of a minor cannot or will not be present with the minor on the work trip, the crew leader must be cleared by the Park to lead an unaccompanied minor. This means that the crew leader must complete and submit to the Park a Background Check request to the Park Volunteer Coordinator. I'm told that this can be done what they term as "reasonably quickly." It is similar, I believe, to a National Agency background check. If a youth group (BSA, GSA, etc.) are scheduled to work with you, the leaders of those groups must be prior cleared through the Background Check as the leaders of their youth members. of301A forms are required for all who participate. By the way, this requirement applies to family members (niece, nephew, cousin, etc.) for whom you are not the guardian.
of301A Form
According to the Park Volunteer Coordinators, all that is required to satisfy the of301A form are blocks 1, 5, 6, and 33. They want or hope for complete information, but those named blocks are are required. (Block 33 acknowledge acceptance of NPS/SNP rules and is signed by you.)
Notes from Don's annual meeting between PATC and the SNP:
Safety
We are required to remind you that you must leave information with a person (Point of Contact, spouse, friend, acquaintance) whenever you go into the Park to work on a trail or trail section that includes: when, where, with whom, and expected day and time of your return. Apparently, his is, or soon will be, a mandatory requirement. There is no mechanism foreseen to confirm compliance, however.
No-Fee Entrance for Maintainers
The SNP informed us that new cards will be directly mailed to all recognized Maintainers within two weeks. These cards are like mini-credit cards; they are approximately 2/3 the size of a typical bank or credit card and they can be, and probably will be, scanned at the entrance station you use.
No-Fee Entrance for Non Maintainers
The Park Volunteer Coordinators are completing work to provide a link on the SNP website for crew leaders so that they can submit pertinent information for those who you anticipate will come out and work with you on a worktrip. This includes all who have not previously submitted an of301A form to the Park - PATCers as well as non PATCers. The goal is for the Park to issue a paper coupon or certificate for each of the people who accompany you that will be "redeemed" at the entrance station they use and that certificate/coupon will be valid for the day of the worktrip. I do not know how the paper permits will be issued: it could involve mailing the permits to the crew leader or having the crew leader download and print the permit or picking up pre-printed permits at the entrance station. The latter will, if implemented, require foreknowledge of which entrance station each member of the work party will use.
If you invite people to come out and work with you on your trail section, you are the crew leader.
Background Investigations for Youth Participants
If you know of anyone who intends to participate with you on a worktrip who is under 18 years of age, that person is a minor. If a minor participates, his or her parent or guardian must accompany the minor when he or she participates . The parent or guardian must also sign the of301A form for the minor. If the parent or guardian of a minor cannot or will not be present with the minor on the work trip, the crew leader must be cleared by the Park to lead an unaccompanied minor. This means that the crew leader must complete and submit to the Park a Background Check request to the Park Volunteer Coordinator. I'm told that this can be done what they term as "reasonably quickly." It is similar, I believe, to a National Agency background check. If a youth group (BSA, GSA, etc.) are scheduled to work with you, the leaders of those groups must be prior cleared through the Background Check as the leaders of their youth members. of301A forms are required for all who participate. By the way, this requirement applies to family members (niece, nephew, cousin, etc.) for whom you are not the guardian.
of301A Form
According to the Park Volunteer Coordinators, all that is required to satisfy the of301A form are blocks 1, 5, 6, and 33. They want or hope for complete information, but those named blocks are are required. (Block 33 acknowledge acceptance of NPS/SNP rules and is signed by you.)
