Spring has officially arrived and the flowers are popping.
April is a great time to clean our water bars and start planning for the growth of vegetation along your trail. Hike your section and report any blowdowns that you find.
April is a great time to clean our water bars and start planning for the growth of vegetation along your trail. Hike your section and report any blowdowns that you find.
Meet Flying McLeods Crew Leader: Kevin Cwalina
When the request was sent out for someone to help organize the revival of the Flying McLeods trail crew, Kevin Cwalina quickly said yes!
Having first become inspired by reading the book, Wilderness Ethics, Kevin started his trail maintenance by joining vacation trail crews in Maine and Vermont. After helping there for a couple summers, he took a section of his own on the Fahnestock Trail in New York.
After a break for a few years and settling in Virginia, Kevin began learning more about care of the trail by participating in the course provided by the PATC Hoodlum Crew as well as completing the "Train the Trainer Course" taught by Robert Fina. Now, Kevin is the proud maintainer of the AT section from Beagle Gap to McCormick Gap.
When he's not working on the trail, Kevin enjoys wood working, amateur radio, and bird watching. He likes to take long hikes and recently began creating "Sound Scapes." He takes time to sit quietly for 15 minutes and record the sounds around him. For Kevin, this is a time for meditation, listening to the surroundings, and learning about your environment.
The first work day for the Flying McLeods is scheduled for Saturday, April 25. Kevin is busy inspecting sections and meeting with fellow maintainers to select a project. Hope everyone can join the crew that day.
Contact Kevin for more information: [email protected]
When the request was sent out for someone to help organize the revival of the Flying McLeods trail crew, Kevin Cwalina quickly said yes!
Having first become inspired by reading the book, Wilderness Ethics, Kevin started his trail maintenance by joining vacation trail crews in Maine and Vermont. After helping there for a couple summers, he took a section of his own on the Fahnestock Trail in New York.
After a break for a few years and settling in Virginia, Kevin began learning more about care of the trail by participating in the course provided by the PATC Hoodlum Crew as well as completing the "Train the Trainer Course" taught by Robert Fina. Now, Kevin is the proud maintainer of the AT section from Beagle Gap to McCormick Gap.
When he's not working on the trail, Kevin enjoys wood working, amateur radio, and bird watching. He likes to take long hikes and recently began creating "Sound Scapes." He takes time to sit quietly for 15 minutes and record the sounds around him. For Kevin, this is a time for meditation, listening to the surroundings, and learning about your environment.
The first work day for the Flying McLeods is scheduled for Saturday, April 25. Kevin is busy inspecting sections and meeting with fellow maintainers to select a project. Hope everyone can join the crew that day.
Contact Kevin for more information: [email protected]
Featured Hike: Sawmill Run Overlook to Beagle Gap
Pam Heinrich is leading a series of hikes this year to help others hike the AT in the South District. On March 14, the group hiked from Sawmill Run Overlook to Beagle Gap and included a celebration of Pi Day at Calf Mountain Shelter. Fifteen hikers joined in on the fun: Laura Longley, Myra Robertson, Jocelyn Prostko, Barbara Martin, Hadley Jenner, Lee Legard, Callen Garrett, Theresa Fessler, Peggy Shy, Betsy Solomon, Roger Smith, Michael Seth, Kathy Schwartz, Gary Forrest and Bill Jones.
On April 3, Pam is hosting a special edition of the South District AT Hike Series. We will be hiking from Wildcat Ridge Trail to Sawmill Run Overlook to help Bill Jones complete the AT in the South District. Join us to celebrate if you're free.
Pam Heinrich is leading a series of hikes this year to help others hike the AT in the South District. On March 14, the group hiked from Sawmill Run Overlook to Beagle Gap and included a celebration of Pi Day at Calf Mountain Shelter. Fifteen hikers joined in on the fun: Laura Longley, Myra Robertson, Jocelyn Prostko, Barbara Martin, Hadley Jenner, Lee Legard, Callen Garrett, Theresa Fessler, Peggy Shy, Betsy Solomon, Roger Smith, Michael Seth, Kathy Schwartz, Gary Forrest and Bill Jones.
On April 3, Pam is hosting a special edition of the South District AT Hike Series. We will be hiking from Wildcat Ridge Trail to Sawmill Run Overlook to help Bill Jones complete the AT in the South District. Join us to celebrate if you're free.
Have You Seen These Trees?
There are a couple special trees along the AT in the South District that everyone should make a point to visit and take a picture.
1) Old Knobby is located on Bucks Elbow Trail near its intersection of the AT at Jarman Gap. If you hike east on Bucks Elbow Trail, this tree will be on the right just past the AT crossing.
2) Lucy's Tree is located between Calf Mountain Shelter and Calf Mountain Summit. If you are hiking north on the AT beyond the summit, it will be on the right side of the trail.
Take time to hug them both.
There are a couple special trees along the AT in the South District that everyone should make a point to visit and take a picture.
1) Old Knobby is located on Bucks Elbow Trail near its intersection of the AT at Jarman Gap. If you hike east on Bucks Elbow Trail, this tree will be on the right just past the AT crossing.
2) Lucy's Tree is located between Calf Mountain Shelter and Calf Mountain Summit. If you are hiking north on the AT beyond the summit, it will be on the right side of the trail.
Take time to hug them both.
What do you know about Jarman Gap?
Jarman Gap was first called Woods Gap. Michael Woods and his family were the first to cross the Blue Ridge there. They came up from the Shenandoah Valley in 1734, the first known settlers on this mountain. Around 1800, Thomas Jarman bought land, and since then people have called it Jarman’s or Jarman Gap.
Three years after Woods settled on the land, the county court issued him an order to clear a road. His stretch of road was intended to be part of a route linking Staunton with Richmond. Because it was marked by notches on trees along the way, it became known as Three Notched Road.
During the Revolutionary War, thousands of British and Hessians captured at the Battle of Saratoga were marched to a prison camp near Charlottesville. When the British army approached the city in 1789, the prisoners were evacuated via the Three Notched Road.
The original plan was to have Shenandoah National Park end at Jarman Gap; the Skyline Drive would dead end here. In August, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt approved the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway to connect the Skyline Drive with the proposed Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This meant that the federal government would take responsibility for obtaining the remainder of the park south of Jarman Gap.
Government officials negotiated with the Scott family and reached an agreement where the Skyline Drive would be moved to the west side of Scott Mountain away from their home (Scott's Castle). The Scotts gave an easement covering 400 feet on either side of the roadway, all the way to Rockfish Gap.
Sources:
Wandering Virginia
Southern Shenandoah
Jarman Gap was first called Woods Gap. Michael Woods and his family were the first to cross the Blue Ridge there. They came up from the Shenandoah Valley in 1734, the first known settlers on this mountain. Around 1800, Thomas Jarman bought land, and since then people have called it Jarman’s or Jarman Gap.
Three years after Woods settled on the land, the county court issued him an order to clear a road. His stretch of road was intended to be part of a route linking Staunton with Richmond. Because it was marked by notches on trees along the way, it became known as Three Notched Road.
During the Revolutionary War, thousands of British and Hessians captured at the Battle of Saratoga were marched to a prison camp near Charlottesville. When the British army approached the city in 1789, the prisoners were evacuated via the Three Notched Road.
The original plan was to have Shenandoah National Park end at Jarman Gap; the Skyline Drive would dead end here. In August, 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt approved the construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway to connect the Skyline Drive with the proposed Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This meant that the federal government would take responsibility for obtaining the remainder of the park south of Jarman Gap.
Government officials negotiated with the Scott family and reached an agreement where the Skyline Drive would be moved to the west side of Scott Mountain away from their home (Scott's Castle). The Scotts gave an easement covering 400 feet on either side of the roadway, all the way to Rockfish Gap.
Sources:
Wandering Virginia
Southern Shenandoah
College Outreach Projects
Special thanks to Chuck Troutman for working with the UVA Forestry Club on his section from Blackrock Gap to Trayfoot Mountain Trail.
Special thanks to Chuck Troutman for working with the UVA Forestry Club on his section from Blackrock Gap to Trayfoot Mountain Trail.
Special thanks to Dave Bowen, Pam Heinrich and Roger Smith for working with the JMU Environmental Management Club on Dave and Patti's section from Hightop Parking to Swift Run Gap.
Final Winter Social Outing
Special thanks to Chuck Troutman for hosting our winter social outings. The last one was held on Sunday, March 22 at Deli Up in Waynesboro. Hopefully, we can plan for gatherings outside now that the weather is warmer.
Special thanks to Chuck Troutman for hosting our winter social outings. The last one was held on Sunday, March 22 at Deli Up in Waynesboro. Hopefully, we can plan for gatherings outside now that the weather is warmer.
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