News from the Valley Trails
Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter of PATC
September 2020 Newsletter
Welcome to our newsletter for September, 2020. We hope that you all are doing well. We are happy that we have been able to plan some work trips and hikes again. We need to continue limiting the numbers of hikers on our trips, but it's been good to be on the trails again.
If you have a Facebook page, be sure to look for and like our page, PATC Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter. On there, we will try to post updates as we have them. If you don't already receive them, you can also subscribe to our email blast by using the link on our home page: SSVC PATC
If you have a Facebook page, be sure to look for and like our page, PATC Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter. On there, we will try to post updates as we have them. If you don't already receive them, you can also subscribe to our email blast by using the link on our home page: SSVC PATC
Notice for all upcoming hikes
All SSVC hikes will follow Covid-19 rules. Facemasks should be available and used when close to other hikers. Social distancing should be maintained throughout the hike. Attendance will be limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. Preference will be given to PATC members. PATC rules do not permit children under the age of 18 to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present. Dogs are not allowed on our Chapter hikes.
All SSVC hikes will follow Covid-19 rules. Facemasks should be available and used when close to other hikers. Social distancing should be maintained throughout the hike. Attendance will be limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. Preference will be given to PATC members. PATC rules do not permit children under the age of 18 to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present. Dogs are not allowed on our Chapter hikes.
Upcoming Opportunities
An additional email blast will be sent out as a reminder the week of each event.
Sunday, September 6th: Shenandoah Mountain Trail. This will be an out-and-back hike along the top of the ridgeline with numerous views of the mountains towards West Virginia. We will hike at least 8 miles (possibly longer depending on the wishes of the group) starting at the Mountain House trailhead in Ramsey's Draft. We will hike up to the ridge on the Road Hollow trail, about an 800-foot elevation gain over 2.5 miles, and return by the same route. Might change the starting point to the Confederate Breastworks on US 250 to avoid the climb and do more of the ridge. Contact hike leader John Kolp (JLKolp@yahoo.com or 540-887-1235) to register and final details.
Wednesday, September 9: Wintergreen Overlook Hike. This easy to moderate hike is about 3 miles total. There will be an optional picnic lunch after the hike. Attendance will be limited to 6 hikers. Contact hike leaders for time and meet up details. Karen and Mike Waterman, karenswaterman@gmail.com. Home phone 540-337-1273
Saturday, September 12: Worktrip on the club's section of the AT.
Contact leader: Jeff Bolander (jblndr@hotmail.com) for details including meeting time and place.
Saturday, September 12th: Mill Prong – Laurel Prong Loop Hike. 7.4-mile circuit. Moderately Strenuous 1,520-foot elevation gain. Circuit hike leaving from the Milam Gap and using the Appalachian Trail, Mill Prong Trail/Horse Trail, and Laurel Prong. Highlights include Rapidan Camp and Hazeltop, the third highest peak in Shenandoah. Contains three stream crossings. Hike leader: Sharon Carderelli (justonethingps274@gmail.com or 540-810-9648).
Thursday, September 17th: Appalachian Trail. This will be an out-and-back hike along the AT south from Rockfish Gap. We will hike 5 miles to the Paul Wolfe Shelter on Mill Creek, have lunch on the shelter's porch or down by the creek then head back. There is a 400-foot descent down to the shelter and another 200-foot dip near the Gap, so just about 1,000 feet of elevation change. Contact hike leader John Kolp (JLKolp@yahoo.com or 540-887-1235) to register and final details.
An additional email blast will be sent out as a reminder the week of each event.
Sunday, September 6th: Shenandoah Mountain Trail. This will be an out-and-back hike along the top of the ridgeline with numerous views of the mountains towards West Virginia. We will hike at least 8 miles (possibly longer depending on the wishes of the group) starting at the Mountain House trailhead in Ramsey's Draft. We will hike up to the ridge on the Road Hollow trail, about an 800-foot elevation gain over 2.5 miles, and return by the same route. Might change the starting point to the Confederate Breastworks on US 250 to avoid the climb and do more of the ridge. Contact hike leader John Kolp (JLKolp@yahoo.com or 540-887-1235) to register and final details.
Wednesday, September 9: Wintergreen Overlook Hike. This easy to moderate hike is about 3 miles total. There will be an optional picnic lunch after the hike. Attendance will be limited to 6 hikers. Contact hike leaders for time and meet up details. Karen and Mike Waterman, karenswaterman@gmail.com. Home phone 540-337-1273
Saturday, September 12: Worktrip on the club's section of the AT.
Contact leader: Jeff Bolander (jblndr@hotmail.com) for details including meeting time and place.
Saturday, September 12th: Mill Prong – Laurel Prong Loop Hike. 7.4-mile circuit. Moderately Strenuous 1,520-foot elevation gain. Circuit hike leaving from the Milam Gap and using the Appalachian Trail, Mill Prong Trail/Horse Trail, and Laurel Prong. Highlights include Rapidan Camp and Hazeltop, the third highest peak in Shenandoah. Contains three stream crossings. Hike leader: Sharon Carderelli (justonethingps274@gmail.com or 540-810-9648).
Thursday, September 17th: Appalachian Trail. This will be an out-and-back hike along the AT south from Rockfish Gap. We will hike 5 miles to the Paul Wolfe Shelter on Mill Creek, have lunch on the shelter's porch or down by the creek then head back. There is a 400-foot descent down to the shelter and another 200-foot dip near the Gap, so just about 1,000 feet of elevation change. Contact hike leader John Kolp (JLKolp@yahoo.com or 540-887-1235) to register and final details.
Notes from the SSVC President:
by: Jean Stephens
I hope everyone is doing well and keeping away from the COVID-19 virus. Hopefully you are still enjoying hiking and trail maintenance with proper safety protocols. With the virus in mind, I have decided to go against our chapter's constitution this year and hold our annual meeting in October so the weather will be nice enough that we can meet outside. (The constitution calls for an annual meeting in November or December.) I have reserved the Woodland Shelter in Riverview Park in Waynesboro for the afternoon of Sunday, October 4. So please hold that date and I will get more specific information to you by the end of September. We will follow all Phase 2 rules for social distancing and will have hand sanitizer available for use during the meeting and picnic. I will ask everyone to bring a meal and drink for themselves as we will not be sharing food at this event. There are picnic tables in the shelter, but some of you may want to bring lawn chairs so you can maintain a distance. It is requested that everyone bring a mask to use when in close contact with others. If you have anything that you would like to discuss at the meeting, please send me an email as soon as possible.
You may have noticed that the parking area at the Montebello Fish Hatchery used to access the AT and Spy Rock is still closed even after other AT access sites have reopened. The reason for this closure is that the Forest Service has been involved in a dispute with property owners along this road. Until an agreement has been reached, hikers will be asked not to use Spy Rock Road to access the AT and Spy Rock. The Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club was recently served a notice of legal action if they sponsor any recreational hikes using the road. I ask that all SSVC members refrain from using Spy Rock Road in the foreseeable future.
My email address is jtstephens12@yahoo.com if you need to contact me.
by: Jean Stephens
I hope everyone is doing well and keeping away from the COVID-19 virus. Hopefully you are still enjoying hiking and trail maintenance with proper safety protocols. With the virus in mind, I have decided to go against our chapter's constitution this year and hold our annual meeting in October so the weather will be nice enough that we can meet outside. (The constitution calls for an annual meeting in November or December.) I have reserved the Woodland Shelter in Riverview Park in Waynesboro for the afternoon of Sunday, October 4. So please hold that date and I will get more specific information to you by the end of September. We will follow all Phase 2 rules for social distancing and will have hand sanitizer available for use during the meeting and picnic. I will ask everyone to bring a meal and drink for themselves as we will not be sharing food at this event. There are picnic tables in the shelter, but some of you may want to bring lawn chairs so you can maintain a distance. It is requested that everyone bring a mask to use when in close contact with others. If you have anything that you would like to discuss at the meeting, please send me an email as soon as possible.
You may have noticed that the parking area at the Montebello Fish Hatchery used to access the AT and Spy Rock is still closed even after other AT access sites have reopened. The reason for this closure is that the Forest Service has been involved in a dispute with property owners along this road. Until an agreement has been reached, hikers will be asked not to use Spy Rock Road to access the AT and Spy Rock. The Natural Bridge Appalachian Trail Club was recently served a notice of legal action if they sponsor any recreational hikes using the road. I ask that all SSVC members refrain from using Spy Rock Road in the foreseeable future.
My email address is jtstephens12@yahoo.com if you need to contact me.
Election News
All PATC members should have received an email recently from the PATC election committee regarding the town hall meeting they are holding September 17 from 7:00-10:00 p.m. for you to meet the candidates for office this year. If you would like to have the candidates answer any questions, please send your question(s) by email to elections@patc.net no later than September 10. If you did not receive this email, please check your contact information in your profile at http://www.patc.net.
Current candidates:
President: Joe Lombardo; Don White
Vice President for Operations: Jim Tomlin
Vice President for Volunteerism: Anstr Davidson
Treasurer: Michael Filchock
Secretary: Steve McLaughlin
Supervisor of Facilities: John Hedrick
Supervisor of Trails: John Stacy
Supervisor of Lands: Tom Taylor
Supervisor of Membership: Jeff Monroe
Supervisor of Outreach: Kristine Villatoro
Supervisor of Marketing: Nancy Doyle
Supervisor of Communications: George Neighbors
With the office of president being the only office with candidates in contention, we have received a Presidential Candidate Profile from Don White. Click here to read Don's submission: Don White
With this being an election year for the PATC Executive Committee, PATC has asked that each member check your online profile at http://www.patc.net to verify that your email and mailing address are correct. PATC has decided to mail ballots to all members this year, so please make sure that your address is correct so you receive one. This should be done by October 1. There will not be an in-person annual meeting this year, so ballots will not be collected there. All voting will be done by mail. If you have any trouble making the correction online, please send me an email with the correct information and I can send it to the Membership Chairperson to make the correction.
Jean Stephens: jtstephens12@yahoo.com
All PATC members should have received an email recently from the PATC election committee regarding the town hall meeting they are holding September 17 from 7:00-10:00 p.m. for you to meet the candidates for office this year. If you would like to have the candidates answer any questions, please send your question(s) by email to elections@patc.net no later than September 10. If you did not receive this email, please check your contact information in your profile at http://www.patc.net.
Current candidates:
President: Joe Lombardo; Don White
Vice President for Operations: Jim Tomlin
Vice President for Volunteerism: Anstr Davidson
Treasurer: Michael Filchock
Secretary: Steve McLaughlin
Supervisor of Facilities: John Hedrick
Supervisor of Trails: John Stacy
Supervisor of Lands: Tom Taylor
Supervisor of Membership: Jeff Monroe
Supervisor of Outreach: Kristine Villatoro
Supervisor of Marketing: Nancy Doyle
Supervisor of Communications: George Neighbors
With the office of president being the only office with candidates in contention, we have received a Presidential Candidate Profile from Don White. Click here to read Don's submission: Don White
With this being an election year for the PATC Executive Committee, PATC has asked that each member check your online profile at http://www.patc.net to verify that your email and mailing address are correct. PATC has decided to mail ballots to all members this year, so please make sure that your address is correct so you receive one. This should be done by October 1. There will not be an in-person annual meeting this year, so ballots will not be collected there. All voting will be done by mail. If you have any trouble making the correction online, please send me an email with the correct information and I can send it to the Membership Chairperson to make the correction.
Jean Stephens: jtstephens12@yahoo.com
PATC- History by Tom Johnson
Recently club archivist and former president Tom Johnson joined us on one of our hikes. He told us about a book that he has written titled A History of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. At this point, he is not planning to publish the history as a book, though that could come later. Tom has graciously made the manuscript available for download by club members for their personal use. Tom would welcome comments on the book. The book is in PDF format and the file size is about 9.8 MB. A link to Tom's book can be found on this page: PATC-History
Recently club archivist and former president Tom Johnson joined us on one of our hikes. He told us about a book that he has written titled A History of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. At this point, he is not planning to publish the history as a book, though that could come later. Tom has graciously made the manuscript available for download by club members for their personal use. Tom would welcome comments on the book. The book is in PDF format and the file size is about 9.8 MB. A link to Tom's book can be found on this page: PATC-History
Ending a 31-Year AT Journey
By Lynn Cameron
Malcolm and I signed up to maintain a 1.6-mile section of the AT in 1989 when our son graduated from high school and headed off to college. It seemed like a good thing for empty nesters to do. Just this summer we decided it was time to end our 31-year stint as trail maintainers for this section. We had dug out the 58 water bars several times a year and clipped blueberries too many hours to count. We felt like we owned it, always calling it “our” trail. It was fun, and we always bragged that we got our exercise for free.
Our main motivation for stopping was that we need to devote ourselves to our new jobs – Co-District Managers for the GWNF North River District, which PATC formally added to its responsibility last year. Now we are recruiting trail maintainers and making sure they are well supplied with tools and whatever else they need.
While we are happy to have more time to devote to North River, we also have bittersweet feelings about our long tenure with the AT. One memory stands out. We were getting ready to start digging out our waterbars one day when a strange man hiked toward us, heading north. Two women had been murdered near Skyland a few weeks before, and we were on high alert. The man was older and had on a pith helmut and worn boots. He was carrying a military-style canvas backpack, and he had one pantleg rolled up. I immediately felt suspicious and cautioned Malcom to keep an eye on him. He greeted us and asked if we were in PATC. Malcolm confirmed we were, and then the man continued on. The next day we saw him in the Harrisonburg newspaper, not because he was a murderer, but because he was Earl Shaffer, the first person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. He was hiking it again for the third time at 79 years of age, apparently with the same equipment. Ever since, I have never claimed to be a good judge of character.
We leave our section in good hands with. Pam Heinrich as the trail maintainer, often helped by her husband Russell. Many thanks to all those who have helped us over the years, especially Jim Todd and Russell Fitzgerald, the good Samaritans who help everybody.
The pictures below are of Earl Shaffer hiking the AT the first time in 1948 and the 3rd time in 1998, the year we saw him.
Staunton Legacy Tree Project
by: John Kolp
We hikers know all about trees. We get to look them over by the hundreds as we scurry along the trail, marveling at their infinite variety of shapes and configurations. In the summer, we crave the shade they provide, especially if we find a nice spot for lunch with an overlook and a bit of a breeze. In the fall, their many colored leaves constantly dropping off branches turn the trails into a magical place. In the winter, when the trees have lost their leaves we get to see contours and features of the land that we could not imagine were there or have long forgotten from the last time we were there.
But the healthy forests we love to hike through in Shenandoah National Park and the George Washington National Forest are relatively recent man-made creations. Settlers, farmers, miners, and lumbermen had clear cut just about everything and everywhere. In 1891 Congress passed the Forest Reserve Act as a modest start to protecting forest lands. Theodore Roosevelt used this legislation aggressively to set aside vast tracts in the public domain out West. The US Forest Service was created in 1905 by Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot to manage the national forests sustainably. Shenandoah National Forest was established in 1917 with the purchase of three tracts of land. Shenandoah National Park was authorized soon thereafter. But it was in the Great Depression of the 1930s when the New Deal set the Civilian Conservation Corps to work planting trees, preventing soil erosion, building roads and trails that the forests we know today came into being. It is this legacy that we, nearly 90 years later, greatly enjoy.
But what about the “Urban Forest”? Isn’t that a contradiction in terms? Does such a thing even exist? When I lived in New York I was an active volunteer with MillionTreesNYC. This was one of 127 initiatives launched in 2007 designed to make New York City the greenest, most sustainable large city in North America. The goal was to plant 100,000 trees each year and complete the project in 2017. The goal was actually reached two years ahead of schedule. Two-thirds of the trees were planted in the large municipal parks that had been garbage landfills in the Outer Boroughs. The Parks Department called this Reforestation because they were trying to replace invasive species of weeds and shrubs with native trees and bushes, converting the landscape to a natural forest. The rest of the trees were planted by the “Green Streets” and “Sidewalk Trees” programs throughout the entire city.
All these trees contribute to the City’s long-term sustainability goals through the “ecosystem services” they provide. These benefits include trapping and slowing rainwater runoff, energy conservation, carbon sequestration, heat island reduction, and improvements to air and water quality. Preserving ecosystem services in urban areas is critical to making cities healthy, desirable places to live and work. Many large cities besides New York, for example, Seattle (https://www.seattle.gov/trees) and Washington, DC (https://caseytrees.org/) also have active tree planting and stewardship programs all aiming to increase “canopy cover” to at least 30% of the urban footprint. Even small cities like Fredericksburg, VA (https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/1219/Trees) have similar programs using volunteer efforts to complement work done by government agencies.
My new hometown, Staunton, has hills that offer good views of the Blue Ridge mountains to the east and Shenandoah Mountain and the Alleghanies to the west. It also has pretty good tree canopy cover. But some neighborhoods, like the West End and Sears Hill, don’t have nearly enough. Early last spring, Staunton City Mayor Carolyn Dull proposed the idea of planting a large number of trees in Staunton inspired by the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. She came up with the number 2,746, one for each child in the Staunton Public Schools, and wanted it to be a community building event. Shenandoah Green, a new environmental advocacy group in Staunton, agreed to take on the project. A core working group quickly assembled consisting of the Shenandoah Green leadership, several volunteers, former Mayor Dull, City Horticulturist Matt Sensabaugh, and Bart McDowell a professional arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts. Before we could make much headway COVID 19 struck and shut everything down.
Since then the Staunton Legacy Tree Project has made significant progress. The Virginia Department of Forestry awarded the Project a $12,665 reimbursable grant under its 2020 Virginia Trees for Clean Water. Shenandoah Green applied for a Climate Justice for All grant from Al Gore’s Climate Reality organization. When Shenandoah Green members completed the Climate Reality Leadership Training Course, we earned that $10,000 grant which is dedicated to purchasing 125 established 6 to 8-foot saplings to be planted in the historically black neighborhood on the West Side. This is one of the areas we had previously identified as lacking adequate tree cover. Christina Harrison, the Director of the Spencer Center for Civic Engagement at Mary Baldwin University, will be assigning student employees and volunteer students to work with the local community to identify residents who want a tree planted in their yard. Bartlett Tree Experts is donating 1,000 saplings to the project: 500 for the October/November planting dates and the other 500 in the Spring of 2021. Most of these trees will be planted on Staunton City School’s six campuses by the school students. Other trees will go to Gypsy Hill and Montgomery Hall Parks. We hope to attract homeowners who want trees for their property and will become “Tree Musketeers” by purchasing memberships that entitle them to one or more trees, their name on a plaque at City Hall and, (let’s not forget the most important benefit,) a T-Shirt!
Shenandoah Green sponsors a food waste for compost collection station at the Saturday Farmers’ Market at the Wharf in downtown Staunton. We have now added a Staunton Legacy Tree Project information kiosk station to that location. Press releases and media public service announcements will launch the first week of September along with outreach to Staunton’s 66 churches and civic organizations. The new Staunton High School will be the kick-off place for the project when six new Yoshino cherry are planted on October 10th.
So, if you live in or near Staunton and would like to help out with this worthwhile project, we need volunteers to help plant trees. There are planting dates on the last weekends in October, the 17th, 18th, 24th and 25th (with scheduled rain dates on October 31st and November 1st). We will continue tree planting in the Spring of 2021 – March 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st (again with rain dates scheduled for March 27th and 28th). You can register with John Kolp by e-mail at jlkolp@yahoo.com or phone at 540-887-1235.
To get updated information over the course of the project check out this website https://www.shenandoahgreen.org/staunton-tree-legacy-project
by: John Kolp
We hikers know all about trees. We get to look them over by the hundreds as we scurry along the trail, marveling at their infinite variety of shapes and configurations. In the summer, we crave the shade they provide, especially if we find a nice spot for lunch with an overlook and a bit of a breeze. In the fall, their many colored leaves constantly dropping off branches turn the trails into a magical place. In the winter, when the trees have lost their leaves we get to see contours and features of the land that we could not imagine were there or have long forgotten from the last time we were there.
But the healthy forests we love to hike through in Shenandoah National Park and the George Washington National Forest are relatively recent man-made creations. Settlers, farmers, miners, and lumbermen had clear cut just about everything and everywhere. In 1891 Congress passed the Forest Reserve Act as a modest start to protecting forest lands. Theodore Roosevelt used this legislation aggressively to set aside vast tracts in the public domain out West. The US Forest Service was created in 1905 by Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot to manage the national forests sustainably. Shenandoah National Forest was established in 1917 with the purchase of three tracts of land. Shenandoah National Park was authorized soon thereafter. But it was in the Great Depression of the 1930s when the New Deal set the Civilian Conservation Corps to work planting trees, preventing soil erosion, building roads and trails that the forests we know today came into being. It is this legacy that we, nearly 90 years later, greatly enjoy.
But what about the “Urban Forest”? Isn’t that a contradiction in terms? Does such a thing even exist? When I lived in New York I was an active volunteer with MillionTreesNYC. This was one of 127 initiatives launched in 2007 designed to make New York City the greenest, most sustainable large city in North America. The goal was to plant 100,000 trees each year and complete the project in 2017. The goal was actually reached two years ahead of schedule. Two-thirds of the trees were planted in the large municipal parks that had been garbage landfills in the Outer Boroughs. The Parks Department called this Reforestation because they were trying to replace invasive species of weeds and shrubs with native trees and bushes, converting the landscape to a natural forest. The rest of the trees were planted by the “Green Streets” and “Sidewalk Trees” programs throughout the entire city.
All these trees contribute to the City’s long-term sustainability goals through the “ecosystem services” they provide. These benefits include trapping and slowing rainwater runoff, energy conservation, carbon sequestration, heat island reduction, and improvements to air and water quality. Preserving ecosystem services in urban areas is critical to making cities healthy, desirable places to live and work. Many large cities besides New York, for example, Seattle (https://www.seattle.gov/trees) and Washington, DC (https://caseytrees.org/) also have active tree planting and stewardship programs all aiming to increase “canopy cover” to at least 30% of the urban footprint. Even small cities like Fredericksburg, VA (https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/1219/Trees) have similar programs using volunteer efforts to complement work done by government agencies.
My new hometown, Staunton, has hills that offer good views of the Blue Ridge mountains to the east and Shenandoah Mountain and the Alleghanies to the west. It also has pretty good tree canopy cover. But some neighborhoods, like the West End and Sears Hill, don’t have nearly enough. Early last spring, Staunton City Mayor Carolyn Dull proposed the idea of planting a large number of trees in Staunton inspired by the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. She came up with the number 2,746, one for each child in the Staunton Public Schools, and wanted it to be a community building event. Shenandoah Green, a new environmental advocacy group in Staunton, agreed to take on the project. A core working group quickly assembled consisting of the Shenandoah Green leadership, several volunteers, former Mayor Dull, City Horticulturist Matt Sensabaugh, and Bart McDowell a professional arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts. Before we could make much headway COVID 19 struck and shut everything down.
Since then the Staunton Legacy Tree Project has made significant progress. The Virginia Department of Forestry awarded the Project a $12,665 reimbursable grant under its 2020 Virginia Trees for Clean Water. Shenandoah Green applied for a Climate Justice for All grant from Al Gore’s Climate Reality organization. When Shenandoah Green members completed the Climate Reality Leadership Training Course, we earned that $10,000 grant which is dedicated to purchasing 125 established 6 to 8-foot saplings to be planted in the historically black neighborhood on the West Side. This is one of the areas we had previously identified as lacking adequate tree cover. Christina Harrison, the Director of the Spencer Center for Civic Engagement at Mary Baldwin University, will be assigning student employees and volunteer students to work with the local community to identify residents who want a tree planted in their yard. Bartlett Tree Experts is donating 1,000 saplings to the project: 500 for the October/November planting dates and the other 500 in the Spring of 2021. Most of these trees will be planted on Staunton City School’s six campuses by the school students. Other trees will go to Gypsy Hill and Montgomery Hall Parks. We hope to attract homeowners who want trees for their property and will become “Tree Musketeers” by purchasing memberships that entitle them to one or more trees, their name on a plaque at City Hall and, (let’s not forget the most important benefit,) a T-Shirt!
Shenandoah Green sponsors a food waste for compost collection station at the Saturday Farmers’ Market at the Wharf in downtown Staunton. We have now added a Staunton Legacy Tree Project information kiosk station to that location. Press releases and media public service announcements will launch the first week of September along with outreach to Staunton’s 66 churches and civic organizations. The new Staunton High School will be the kick-off place for the project when six new Yoshino cherry are planted on October 10th.
So, if you live in or near Staunton and would like to help out with this worthwhile project, we need volunteers to help plant trees. There are planting dates on the last weekends in October, the 17th, 18th, 24th and 25th (with scheduled rain dates on October 31st and November 1st). We will continue tree planting in the Spring of 2021 – March 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st (again with rain dates scheduled for March 27th and 28th). You can register with John Kolp by e-mail at jlkolp@yahoo.com or phone at 540-887-1235.
To get updated information over the course of the project check out this website https://www.shenandoahgreen.org/staunton-tree-legacy-project
Safety Reminder
Greeting to all the club leaders,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all the great work that has occurred as clubs return to work during these challenging times.
I have been following many of the work reports that we are getting in from the field, and recognize the sheer volume of work that has been done. This work is happening while many of our areas continue to experience higher than normal visitation. Many areas have also recently experienced severe weather, that have challenged the crews with significant trail clearing.
Unfortunately, as we have returned to work, we have also experienced a couple work-related injuries to our volunteers.
With so much to pay attention to out there (sanitizing equipment, maintaining social distancing, clearing trails, etc), it is important that we stay focused on the day-to-day dangers involved with trail maintenance. Slips, trips, and falls will always be a hazard we must deal with as we navigate the terrain we work in. Tool use carries its own range of potential injuries and also requires vigilant attention as we work.
With all work activities:
Thank you all for your continued hard work. The professionalism, dedication and quality of work produced by our clubs compares favorably to any organization out there.
Respectfully,
Kurt W. Speers
Acting Chief Ranger
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
P.O. Box 50
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-6170 (office)
(304) 535-6275 (fax)
(540) 784-0301 (mobile)
Greeting to all the club leaders,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all the great work that has occurred as clubs return to work during these challenging times.
I have been following many of the work reports that we are getting in from the field, and recognize the sheer volume of work that has been done. This work is happening while many of our areas continue to experience higher than normal visitation. Many areas have also recently experienced severe weather, that have challenged the crews with significant trail clearing.
Unfortunately, as we have returned to work, we have also experienced a couple work-related injuries to our volunteers.
With so much to pay attention to out there (sanitizing equipment, maintaining social distancing, clearing trails, etc), it is important that we stay focused on the day-to-day dangers involved with trail maintenance. Slips, trips, and falls will always be a hazard we must deal with as we navigate the terrain we work in. Tool use carries its own range of potential injuries and also requires vigilant attention as we work.
With all work activities:
- Take your time, and evaluate your work surroundings.
- Stay focused on the job at hand.
- Follow your protocols and JHAs.
- Watch out for one another, and say something if you see something.
Thank you all for your continued hard work. The professionalism, dedication and quality of work produced by our clubs compares favorably to any organization out there.
Respectfully,
Kurt W. Speers
Acting Chief Ranger
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
P.O. Box 50
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
(304) 535-6170 (office)
(304) 535-6275 (fax)
(540) 784-0301 (mobile)
