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It's Fall Yall

10/1/2026

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Fall Season Maintenance:
As our line trimming season comes to a close, the last trim is very important to cut the tender plants in the trail corridor before they "Harden Off" over the winter. It will make next year's initial line trim around May 15 to June 1st so much easier. If you experience the trimmer line wrapping around plants or the line getting broken off, it's most likely due to missing the end of season trim. I have noticed less and less woody plants sprouting in the trail corridor on Marit's and my section due to regular trimming. 

As the trimming season ends, the next six months we can focus on Trail Tread Preservation. Oh Joy.  Waterbars! 

Cheers on your leadership and commitment to the outdoor community's  trail network. 

Gratefully, 
Mark Perschel
New Maintainer:
We welcome a new maintainer, Paul Kitchings, who started his volunteer role in late August as maintainer of the AT section from Jarman Gap to Calf Mountain Summit.

Having moved to the Charlottesville area from the Fort Worth/Dallas area a few years ago, Paul was looking for ways to get involved in the outdoors.  He started his search by looking at the national forest and national park’s website for volunteer opportunities.  There, he discovered PATC.  

Paul’s first outing was to help with mowing near the Loft Mountain area as he joined Bev Carver and Kate Hoffmeyer to help with the AT section from Frazier Discovery Trail to Ivy Creek Hut. Bev stated that Paul “weedeated like a champ.” A short time after that, Paul attends a hike and picnic hosted by the South Shenandoah Valley Chapter at Sherando Lake.  While there, he met other trail maintainers and expressed his interest in helping out on the trail. 

There’s been no slowing down for Paul after that.  He has attended a Hoodlum trail maintenance workshop and helped lead the UVA Forestry Club. Paul says his favorite part of being a PATC member is the feeling of comradery with like minded people that just like being outside.
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Flying McLeods: A Perfect Day on the AT
The forecasts threatened yet another 4th Saturday shower, but Mother Nature finally gave the SNP South District Flying McLeods a break. Instead of dodging raindrops, the crews were
treated to a beautiful day on the Appalachian Trail, between Beagle and McCormick Gap, and they made the most of it.

The McLeods split into three crews, each with a mission.

Ruth Stornetta led Jonathan Cannon and Albert Connette into some particularly overgrown sections of trail, where they battled a multitude of invasive species, and cleared several blowdowns left behind by recent storms. If you know this stretch of trail, you know this was no small undertaking. The area was once the site of the Royal Orchard, where Pippin apples were grown for Queen Victoria, before the orchard was eventually allowed to return to its wild state.  Today, the wild growth may be picturesque, but it certainly keeps trail maintainers busy!

Meanwhile, Michael Durland, Kim Durland, and Joel Brown took on a different challenge-more than 26 waterbars on both sides of Bear Den Mountain. The crew didn't simply clear the
structures, they took the opportunity to improve and fine tune many of them, helping ensure that future rainstorms will have a clear path off the trail rather than down it.

And then there were the Dream Weavers.

Flying McLeod crew leader Kevin Cwalina, together with Jon Yoder and Darren Stelle, spent the day turning Kevin's long held dream into reality: adding steps to a steep, badly eroded
hillside on the McCormick Gap side of the trail. By day's end, the Dream Team had installed five steps, plus one combination superstructure featuring two additional steps and a waterbar.

Dream realized. Hillside tamed. Trail improved!

After a productive day of trail work, all three crews gathered at McCormick Gap for a well earned potluck picnic. Plates were filled, stories were swapped, and the day's accomplishments
were celebrated.

A beautiful day, three hard working crews, and several improvements that will benefit AT hikers for years to come. Not a bad 4th Saturday at all!
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If you would like to get on the mailing list for future Flying McLeods worktrips, email Kevin at [email protected]
South District Shenanigans
​On Saturday, September 26, we held events to celebrate all things South District.  We had hikes, trail work and a picnic to honor the best area in Shenandoah National Park.
      **Hikes from Dundo Picnic Area
We offered two hikes that left from the Dundo Picnic Area. 

One went north on the AT to the intersection of Browns Gap trail.  Hikers used this trail to reach Doyle's River Trail and Doyle's River Falls.  Rich led this hike and said that the falls were just a trickle but it was still a great hike.

The second hike went south on the AT to visit Blackrock summit.  Ramzi led this hike and was joined by three other hikers. Everyone enjoyed the views at Blackrock on this beautiful clear sky day.

Rich was given a SNP wine glass for helping and Ramzi received a PATC hat.
         **Trail Work with the UVA Forestry Club
Led by William Brooks, 30 students from the the UVA Forestry Club helped on the AT section from Jarman Gap to Calf Mountain Summit.  They painted blazes, clipped vegetation and helped with rehabilitating some water bars and and side hilling projects.  The students were led by Paul Kitching (section maintainer), Laura Longley, Pam Heinrich, and Jim Fye.
William was also presented by PATC Appreciation Award for his volunteer work with the club.
         **Flying McLeods Work Project
Led by Kevin Cwalina, seven members from the Flying McLeods crew worked on the AT section from Blackrock Gap to Trayfoot Mountain Trail.  They improved waterbar features on the southern end of the trail.  Many thanks to all the maintainers: Bev, Roger, Albert, Joel, Ruth, and Kevin.  Kevin received a SNP wine glass and certificate for his role as Crew Leader.
       **Picnic at Dundo 
We wrapped up our South District Shenanigans with a picnic at Dundo.  Special shout out to Dave and Patti for bringing chili.  Our maintainers were presented with recognition items.  PATC and SNP swag were available for all guest.  Fun was had by all.  
Awards Winners Among Us: Chapter Hawksbill Awards
Congratulations to Anthony (Tony) Alimenti, Charlottesville‘s chapter recipient. Tony is active with leading hikes, assisting with trail maintenance, leading Map and Compass classes and assisting in clearing trees as a swamper. He is also a volunteer with Charlottesville Tree Stewards. I personally volunteer with Tony line trimming sections of the AT assisting fellow maintainers maintaining their trail sections. While hauling PPE to remote trail sections blocked by downed trees Tony will always lead the way with a positive story and cheerful attitude.  Thank you Tony for making time to make the trail community safer with their navigation skills and clear paths.
---Submitted by Mark Perschel

Congratulations to Pam Heinrich, South Shenandoah Valley's chapter recipient.  Pam is active with leading hikes, volunteering as a trail maintainer and assisting in managing the South District AT.  She has previously served as a chapter officer: helping with advertising through email blast and website publications, attending outreach events, and encouraging others to become involved.
---Submitted by Jean Stephens

South District Trail Maintainers enjoyed the dinner provided by SNP Trust for volunteers.
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September in the South

9/1/2026

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As summer leaves us and we head into fall, hopefully this will bring our final rounds of clipping back vegetation.  I have noticed the leaves already changing.  Cooler temperatures also makes for a good time to work on water bars and other more strenuous trail work.
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Events for your Calendar

Tuesday, September 15: SNP Volunteer Dinner.  This will be held at the Luray VFW (218 Veterans Ln, Luray, VA 22835) from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. RSVPs are required no later than Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Email Ranger Corrina Wendel to attend: [email protected].  Make sure you have an active Volunteer Service Agreement (301A form) on file with the park officials.

Saturday, September 26: South District Shenanigans.  We are planning a combination Flying McLeods work day, hikes and picnic.  Be watching for an email with more details but tentative plans include: making Dundo picnic area our base camp, the Flying McLeods will pick sections to work on, the UVA Forestry Group will join us to help with work, Ramzi and Rich will lead some fun hikes, we will host a "tailgate" themed picnic, and recognize all of you for your work this year.

October 2-4: CentennialFest 2026. PATC's Centennial Celebration weekend.  Taking place at Caroline Furnace, this special event honors the thousands of volunteers whose dedication has made PATC one of the nation's premier trail and conservation organizations.  Whether you're an experienced trail maintainer, cabin volunteer, hike leader, sawyer, Trail Patrol member, or someone looking for your first opportunity to get involved, CentennialFest is your chance to learn, connect, celebrate, and be inspired.
Use this link to register: https://www.patc.net/centennialfest
Congratulations to Bev Carver:
Our Hawksbill Award Winner
Practically deciding on a whim to take on maintaining a trail, Bev Carver has been working on her section near Loft Mountain for 22 years.  It all began when her work friend, Norma, expressed interest in helping out. Bev remembers thinking "it's only 1.2 miles, how hard could that be?"  With the help of Pat Doyle, Norma and Bev set out on their first work trip.  Upon seeing part of the section completely covered in vines, Bev quickly learned how much work this section from the Frazier Discovery Trail to Loft Mountain Camp Store could be.

Bev began to love her section of trail.  Often seeing families hiking while staying at Loft Mountain Campground and numerous thru-hikers, Bev says that she thinks of them as customers.  Recently visiting her trail to help with a blowdown, Bev noticed the section becoming a little overgrown. She returned a few days later to trim; just for her customers.  

Bev made sure to meet the maintainers on both sides of her section. A spirit of comradery was formed with Heather Warren and Kate Hoffmeyer, and the Ladies of Loft Mountain became a formidable team.  

Now, Bev and Kate work as co-maintainers.  Alternating days where they work on each section.  If you've hiked in this area, you know that their efforts require several trips to weed each year.  

After retiring from the Department of Environmental Quality in 2022, Bev said that she now has time to do her other hobbies twice as much.  She is very active in her church (Bridgewater Presbyterian), where she serves as clerk and treasurer.  She is also part of a choral group.

This year, Bev made a special effort to make sure the weed eaters at Simmons Gap tool shed were up and running.  She took all of them to Ace Hardware in Elkton for a tune-up.  Bev also started having her work trips posted on Meetup and brought in several new people to help out; often putting them on a weedeater.  She's an awesome recruiter!!

Described by her fellow maintainers as fierce, generous, positive and a powerhouse, Bev is an inspiration. I spent the day mowing with her and can definitely say, she's one kick-ass lady.

Congratulations to Bev on your well earned award!!
Featured Hike: Chimney Rocks
Taking a break from our usual series of AT section, this month's hike features a side trail.  Starting at the Riprap Trailhead Parking, this 3.4 Mile, out/back hike is moderately difficult with an elevation gain of approximately 830 feet. 

Leave the back of the Riprap Trailhead parking and hike a short distance to the intersection of the AT, turn right (north) to reach the Riprap Trail and then take a left at the post.  Continue on the Riprap Trail until you reach Chimney Rocks.  You will pass Calvary Rocks and lots of other cool rock formations along the way.  End your hike at Chimney Rock, a dramatic overlook known for its unusual geological formations, weathered stone features, and expansive views across the surrounding mountains and valleys. 

*Special note: did you know there was once a bridge at Chimney Rocks?  ---see picture below.

We were honored to have Ramzi lead us on this hike as part of his hike leader training and had a special treat of yoga-inspired warm-up sequence designed to gently loosen our muscles and help prepare the body for the trail. Ramzi stated, "I became a hike leader to share my love of Shenandoah, help others experience nature, and build community outdoors. I hope participants finish each hike feeling welcomed, pleasantly challenged, and renewed. I look forward to sharing the trail and creating memorable experiences with fellow PATC members."  

We welcome Ramzi as he helps lead a hike for our South District Shenanigans.  
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Dundo: A Picnic Spot with a Past
By Roger Smith:

Dundo Picnic Grounds is an easily overlooked spot in Shenandoah National Park. Located at mile 83.7 on the Skyline Drive, Dundo is the only picnic area in the Southern District of the Park. It offers a simple, peaceful woodland setting for folks to gather and socialize.

But the picnic tables and quiet woods hide a bigger story: this was once part of the New Deal workforce that helped transform Shenandoah into the iconic park that we know today.

This story begins with the CCC.

The Civilian Conservation Corps, or CCC, was one of the pillars of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. Established in 1933, the program put young men to work improving America’s forests, parks, public lands and natural resources. It served two purposes: providing much-needed economic relief to families during the Great Depression while laying the foundation for many of the national parks, scenic drives and natural vistas that we enjoy today.

Enrollees agreed to a minimum six-month term of services which included rigorous and disciplined outdoor labor.  In return, they received housing, uniforms, three meals a day and training. They were paid $30 per month, $25 sent directly home to their parents and $5 which they kept for their own use.

The program ran until 1942 and put more than 3 million unemployed young men to work. Known as “CCC boys”, the workers lived in more than 4,500 camps across all 48 states and several US territories. These CCC crews planted nearly 3 billion trees, developed more than 800 parks, built trails and roads, constructed shelters, and improved waterways nationwide.

Not surprisingly, the CCC played a critical role in the creation of the Shenandoah National Park. More than 6,500 “boys” came to the park to build and improve trails, fire roads, shelters, fire towers, comfort stations, sewage systems, phone lines, picnic grounds, overlooks and other areas. The work that they did was truly impressive. They built 28 sewage systems, 136 miles of phone lines, 1,145 miles of fire trails, 101 miles of trails, 4,001 signs and markers, and planted 147,595 trees and shrubs.

A number of CCC camps provided housing for boys while this work was underway.  According to the National Park Service, 12 CCC camps operated in and around the park. The first two camps, Skyline (NP-1) and Big Meadows (NP-2) were established more than two years before the Shenandoah National Park was dedicated.
 
The Dundo Picnic Grounds started as one of these CCC camps. A marker, located in the picnic grounds, identifies it as NP-27 which moved into the park from Grottoes, Virginia. That gives Dundo a direct link to the New Deal and the CCC work crews who helped build the park’s infrastructure, including Skyline Drive.

Present day visitors may stop there for a quiet lunch, restroom break or quick access to the Appalachian Trail, but in the 1930s it was bustling part of the CCC network.  The workers who lived in camps like NP-27 helped create the roads, overlooks, trails, picnic areas, plantings, signs, and utilities that still shape how visitors experience the park.

Dundo Picnic Area will be our base camp for our South District Shenanigans.  Join us at this historic spot.
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Mowing into August

8/1/2026

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Line Trimmer Safety:
As we move along in summer, our work with trimming continues.  Thanks to Mark Perschel for sharing the attached PDF with safety reminders: personal protective equipment and other items to be mindful of. 
string-trimmer-safety-bulletin.pdf
File Size: 772 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
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​Featured Hike: Loft Mountain Loop
Pam Heinrich is leading a series of hikes this year to help others hike the AT in the South District. On July 12, the group hiked the "Loft Mountain Loop." Beginning at Loft Mountain Wayside, we hiked the paved path to  reach the AT at Loft Mountain Amphitheater.  We continued north on the AT until we reached Ivy Creek Shelter.  We finished the loop on the fire road from the shelter back to the Wayside.  We celebrated our hike with a hot dog cookout.  Hikers that joined Pam for the outing were: Christine, Joel, Laura, Karen, John, Jack and Akemi.  Plans for the next hike are in the works. 
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Trail Maintainer: Shout Outs

New Maintainer:
We welcome a new Maintainer, Alan Peura, who joined PATC and started his volunteer role in June.

Alan recently relocated to Crozet with his wife Rachel, having come to Virginia after 20 years of living in the west, in Montana and New Mexico. He was a volunteer trail maintainer with the Flathead National Forest in northwest Montana for several years where they lived off-the-grid just outside Glacier National Park. But Alan says, "trail maintenance in the Appalachians is more demanding than the dry Northern Rockies, as the vegetation grows and regenerates so much faster here, even in drought conditions, compared to the more arid, less humid west."

In 2003, Alan and Rachel backpacked the AT with their then 14-year old daughter, who, ironically, celebrated her 14th birthday in Waynesboro on a zero-day as the trio hiked north through Virginia from Springer Mountain. "I like having this opportunity now to give back to the trail, to the trail community, and to help others enjoy their AT experience, whether it's a thru-hike or a day hike," said Alan.

Alan will be maintaining the trail segment from the Crimora Lake Overlook north to the Hairpin Switchback. 

Celebrating 50 Year's of Volunteering:
This summer marks 50 years of AT trail work for Pete Peterson on his section of trail from Doyle River Trail to Loft Mountain Amphitheater.  Pete started in 1976 with his father, who also served as South AT District Manager.

He shared that he has lots of great memories. "My father and I based our work trips out of Doyle River Cabin in the early days. We often stopped by Simmons Gap to say hi to the sole park ranger who lived there. Not sure the place is even occupied anymore. Loft Mountain was still an open meadow in many places with numerous bobwhite, ticks were almost non-existent, and old growth eastern hemlocks grew in many of the cooler ravines."
 
Thanks to Pete for his many years of volunteer work on the trail.
It’s time to attack Japanese Stiltgrass!
By: Ruth Stornetta

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) is easy to spot and can take over large areas quickly. It is an aggressive, invasive annual weed that forms dense blankets, smothers native plants, and ruins natural ecosystems. Its seeds stay alive in the soil for up to seven years, so removing it or keeping it from going to seed is very important. It puts up flowers that turn to seeds in September (and with climate change who knows…) so NOW IS THE TIME.

How to Remove It
  • Hand pulling: Grab small patches and pull them out by hand in late summer before seeds drop. The roots are very shallow, making it easy to pull. 
  • Mowing or weed-whacking: Cut large areas down close to the ground in late summer (August to early September) just before the plant makes flowers and seeds. 

Japanese stiltgrass growing next to the AT recently- I pulled it after taking the photo. Note the different shape from the native grass growing underneath. There is a distinct white/pale line that runs down the leaf slightly off-center. If you only have small patches, pull it up. No need to bag it, just leave it lay so long as it doesn’t have seeds. If you pull enough to disturb the soil, pack the dirt down and try to cover the area with leaves. Invasive plants love bare earth, so don’t make life easy for them! Remember that the seed bank (seeds the plant has produced in previous years) can last up to seven years so this is a long battle. But you can make a difference and keep our Park looking great by getting rid of this nasty uninvited guest every August.
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Welcome Back: Flying McLeods
On July 25, the Flying McLeods hosted their first official work trip for the year. For this trip, we concentrated on the section from Rockfish Gap to McCormick Gap.

Two main projects include:
1) trimming back the briars and improving blazing as you hike south from McCormick Gap
2) work on water bar/erosion efforts on the steep ascent heading south from McCormick Gap

Mark Perschel and Tony Alimenti went through a few days ahead and cut all the blowdowns (12 in total). Thanks to them for clearing the trail and getting it ready for other work.

Our fourteen volunteers accomplished lots of work:
Roger Smith and Jack Green placed a new post at McCormick Gap to aid in trail marking and then clipped vegetation along the trail  Jim Fye and Julia Sheets use a Katanaboy to cut a blowdown from the trail and freshened some blazes.  Pam Heinrich and Steve Hawkes cut back vegetation to make the trail route more visible at McCormick Gap.  Mark Perschel, Jeff Landis, John Shannon, Laura Longley, Darren Steele, Karen Doherty (Ridgerunner), Joel Brown, Mark Honosky cleared and repaired water bars.  

A picnic was held at McCormick Gap and the theme was Beach Day.  Jeff Landis and John Shannon celebrated the day by wearing vintage 2008 Flying McLeods T-Shirts.
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White Blaze for July Days

7/1/2026

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With the heat of the summer on us, it's a good time for blazing. 
As a reminder for blazing from the Shenandoah National Park Trail Maintenance Standards:

General Standards for blazing:
1. Use 2" X 6" vertical rectangles.
2. Place at eye-level on live trees. Avoid painting rocks.
3. Use double blazes (one above the other) for sharp turns and trail junctions.
4. Blazes should be visible across an intersection with another trail, a stream, or road.
5. Where two blazes of different colors are used on the same trail, the two blazes are to be placed side-by-side.
6. Avoid over-blazing.
7. Cairns, metal diamond markers, etc. should not be used to mark trails.

​Techniques for Blazing:
1. Pick prominent, large, living trees; dark-colored bark provides a better contrast for the blaze.
2. Choose trees which are prominent when foliage is out (clip away low bushes or protruding branches to clear the blaze area).
3. Scrape a 3" X 7" rectangle on thick barked trees, without cutting through the bark.
4. Rub moss and lichen off a 3" X 7" rectangle on thin barked trees.
5. Paint neatly using a small, artistic style brush (brush bristles approx 1” x 1”); avoid using too much paint (it will run down the tree).
6. Blaze in the direction you are hiking; walk back to blaze the other direction.
7. Avoid blazing rocks.
8. To avoid over-blazing, err on the side of too few blazes; more can be placed later if needed.
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Old metal AT blaze found on the trail section north of Wildcat Ridge Trail intersection.
Shout out to South District Maintainers: Myra Robertson, Margaret Lester, Chuck Troutman and Patti McInerney along with SSVC members John Kolp and Michael Groah for their representation at the Hiker Fest in Waynesboro.
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​Featured Hike: Loft Amphitheater to Blackrock Gap
Pam Heinrich is leading a series of hikes this year to help others hike the AT in the South District. On June 14, the group hiked from Loft Amphitheater to Blackrock Gap.  For this hike, Pam assisted in leading the hike with Rich Stowell, as part of his hike leader training.  We celebrated Flag Day with our own mini-flags.  We enjoyed eating raspberries along the trail, had lunch at Dundo Picnic area, and our own version of flag planting on Blackrock Summit.   Hikers that joined Rich and Pam for the outing were: Roger, Gary, Laura, Michael, Andrew, Anne, Christine.  Plans for the July hike are in the works.
What is Talus?
The national park service defines talus as being: "an outward sloping and accumulated heap or mass of rock fragments of any size or shape (usually coarse and angular) derived from and lying at the base of a cliff or very steep, rocky slope, and formed chiefly by gravitational falling, rolling, or sliding."  Talus typically consists of larger, coarse, and jagged rocks (ranging from fist-sized stones to house-sized boulders). Smaller, finer pebbles are often referred to as scree). Because the rocks sit loose and are constantly shifting underfoot, these fields are notoriously difficult to traverse. Hikers often describe crossing them as "scrambling".

Blackrock is the perfect example of talus.  Where else have you seen or hiked through a talus field?  
New Trail Maintainers
This month, we welcome two new maintainers:
Laura Longley and Jacob Webb.

Laura Longley
Laura first joined the PATC in March 2024 after retiring as a nurse at UVA.  Growing up in Massachuetts, Laura gained experience while being a part of the Appalachian Mountain Club and hiking in the White Mountains. She also enjoyed backpacking while stationed in California with the Navy.  The Sierra Mountains were one of her favorite spots then.  

Laura also has an interest in horses and had a horse of her own.  After the loss of her horse, she began looking for something to volunteer her time.  An internet search lead her to find the PATC and the Charlottesville/Southern Shenandoah Meetup group.  Her first outing was to help out on a trail work group with both Howard Davis (Hightop section) and Mark Pershel (Turk Gap). Laura has also helped with maintenance in the North River District area (Lynn Cameron, District Manager) and became a trail maintainer for the Bear Draft Trail.  

Laura is a very active with PATC activities.  She is a member of the Flying McLeods, Trail Patrol and a hike leader.  Laura's favorite hike is to Hanging Rock on Three Ridges.  She said that it's a great workout with a great view as payoff.   

After joining on a few hikes to complete the South District AT, Laura agreed to join Pam Heinrich and Jean Stephens to help out on the section from Sawmill Run Overlook to Turk Gap.

Jacob Webb
Jacob was born and raised in Richmond, where he still lives. When he’s not out on the trail, he works in construction installing computer network cabling —which means he knows a thing or two about getting things connected. Fortunately for us, he’s now connected to PATC and helping care for the AT.

Jacob joined PATC just a few months ago and currently maintains the section of the AT from Smith Roach Gap to Hightop Hut. He joined the club because of his deep love of nature, along with the chance to meet people who share similar interests and make some new friends along the way.

Although Jacob is new to trail maintenance, he is definitely not new to hiking. Growing up, he often visited Shenandoah National Park with his dad, and those hikes helped spark his love of the outdoors. Today, he enjoys studying plants, spending time in nature, and exploring the trails whenever he can. Even though he lives in Richmond, Jacob can be found in the park most weekends.

Jacob first learned about PATC through the maps he purchased for his hikes. He is a serious map enthusiast. He enjoys studying maps, learning how they are made, and even creating his own using ArcGIS and other online mapping tools.

And that’s not his only creative interest. Jacob enjoys photography and often brings his Nikon camera with him to the park. He is also an artist who enjoys graphic design and colored-pencil drawing, especially realism, geometric shapes, and detailed designs. 

Welcome
When you get a chance — whether you meet them out on their section or at a future Flying McLeods event — please be sure to say hello to Jacob and Laura.  We are glad to have them join our group of maintainers.
​Cool Hikes for Hot Days: Doyles River Falls
By: Roger Smith
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When the summer heat settles into the valley, there are few better excuses to head for Shenandoah National Park than a waterfall hike. The park’s overlooks give us big skies, distant ridgelines and panoramic views of the mountains. Waterfalls offer something a little different. They lead hikers down into a more intimate setting that features cool hollows, flowing streams, mossy rocks, and shaded forest.

Spring is usually the best time for visiting waterfalls as the seasonal rains can dramatically get the water flowing. But early summer is still a great time to visit, especially after a good rain shower and before the dry late summer period when some falls can shrink to a trickle.

Shenandoah Nation Park offers more than a dozen named waterfalls. Overall Run Falls is the tallest at over 93 feet, while Dark Hollow Falls is considered the most visited because of its easy access from Skyline Drive. Other popular falls include Whiteoak Canyon Falls, Rose River Falls, and South River Falls.

Closer to home here in the southern section of the park, we’re lucky to have a few wonderful waterfalls of our own. One of the prettiest is Doyle’s River Falls, reached from the blue blaze Doyle’s River Trail near Skyline Drive milepost 81.

Doyle’s River Falls offers not just one but two significant waterfalls on a relatively short route. The out-and-back hike is roughly 3.3 miles round trip with one stream crossing and roughly 1,100 feet of elevation gain on the return. Along the way, you’ll pass the access trail for Doyle’s River Cabin and Browns Gap Road, before coming across trail posts that mark both falls. Upper Doyle’s River Falls drops approximately 28 feet and Lower Doyle’s River Falls drops approximately 63 feet.

If you don’t want to retrace your steps and are up for a longer outing, you can continue beyond the lower falls to the Jones Run Trail for a slightly more strenuous loop of 7.7 miles with roughly 2,200 feet of elevation gain. A trail post marks the end of Doyle’s River Trail and the beginning of Jones Run Trail. From there, follow Jones River Trail until it crosses the Appalachian Trail, turn right and continue northbound until you get back to Doyle’s River Parking.

So, as the mercury rises, consider trading the wide open overlooks for a shady hollow, the beautiful sounds of a fast-flowing stream, and two of southern Shenandoah’s prettiest waterfalls.
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Summertime Breezes in for June

6/1/2026

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In June, we will officially welcome the start of summer.  It's the time of year when the sky becomes more hazy and vegetation can really grows.  Hopefully, you've checked your section to see if it needs weedeating. I know some of you have already started on the whacking.  
Are those vines in the trees friend or foe?
By: Ruth Stornetta

It’s getting to be vine season where your trails are starting to look like the jungle! Some of those vines could kill the trees they grow up and you should do your best to eliminate them. Other vines are beneficial for the forest, and you should let them be- can you tell them apart? 
Invasive vines that are not native to our forest biome include English Ivy, Asian bittersweet, Japanese Honeysuckle and Wintercreep(er). Most people can identify English Ivy. You could probably also identify Japanese honeysuckle. Remember those sweet-smelling honeysuckle blossoms you used to drink the sap from as a kid? Yes, that’s the same evil Japanese Honeysuckle that can girdle a tree and choke off its nutrient supply. Ivy usually grows on larger trees where the honeysuckle climbs up smaller trees (spicebush and dogwood are favorite targets). Bittersweet has those lovely yellow-orange-red berries that are great for Autumn decoration and birds love them (although they don’t provide much nutritional value- like bird candy bars). However, don’t be fooled, the mass of vines can bring down even a large tree in winter under the additional weight of snow and ice. Wintercreeper is a relatively new invasive so be on the lookout- it has distinctive emerald-colored leaves, much like periwinkle (vinca), but will climb trees and smother them. 
We also have native vines that have evolved together with the trees over millennia and are an important part of the area’s ecology. Unlike the invasive vines, our native vines will not kill trees and they provide food and shelter for many native animals. These vines include Virginia Creeper, Greenbrier, Grape and Poison Ivy. Virginia creeper’s small spring flowers attract pollinators and in Autumn, its dark blue berries provide food for over 30 species of migrating birds. Greenbrier (aka Dammit Vine due to its sharp prickers) provides crucial winter browse for deer, berries for many bird species and dense thickets to shelter small wildlife.  Native grape canopies provide excellent nesting habitats and protective cover for songbirds and small mammals. Grape roots can act as erosion control on steep banks. Even Poison Ivy has many ecological benefits- over 60 species of birds rely on the high fat from the waxy berries during wintertime.
So, what to do about those nasty invasive vines? If they are relatively small you can pull them out by the roots.  Be careful to pack the disturbed soil back in, as disturbed soil is an open invitation to more invasives. If they are too big to hand pull, you can cut them off with loppers where they emerge from the ground. Then make another cut at waist or shoulder height and remove the cut out. Be careful when removing ivy or wintercreeper as they often cling to the bark with holdfasts that need to be cut so you don’t pull the bark off the tree which can damage the tree as much as the vine. NOTE- don’t pull the vines down out of trees- this can damage tree limbs not to mention bring things down on your head! I hope you’re inspired to go save some of the trees on your trail from invasive vines but leave our natives to do their job.
More info at Blue Ridge PRISM (blueridgeprism.org)

This Month’s Featured Trail Maintainers:
Ruth Stornetta and Roger Friend
By: Roger Smith
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This month’s Featured Maintainer article is a two-for-one: a chance to learn a little about fellow trail maintainers Ruth Stornetta and Roger Friend. 

Ruth and Roger are long-time PATC members but relatively recent trail maintainers.  They starting maintaining trails because of their passion to “take care of nature as much as they can and to give back.” Today they maintain the section of the Appalachian Trail from Ivy Creek Overlook to Ivy Creek Maintenance Hut Trail as well as a bit of Blue Blaze on the Big Run Loop where it connects between the AT and Rocky Top Trail. 

The White Blaze trail they maintain is a breathtaking 2.1 mile hike which starts out uphill, passes an overlook, then descends though a beautiful laurel grove and crosses Ivy Creek before climbing again. While their Blue Blaze trail is much shorter, it’s heavily traveled as it connects not just to Big Run Loop, but to other popular hiking destinations  including Austin Mountain, Furnace Mountain and Lewis Peak.

In addition to trail maintenance, they are members and part of the executive steering committee for the newly re-formed Flying McLeods.

Ruth and Roger have been a couple for more than 45 years and just celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary at the end of May. They share many of the same interests beyond hiking and a great love of nature. These include kayaking and bicycling. In fact, it was cycling not hiking that first brought them together. 

Roger came to Charlottesville in 1978 when he entered college at UVA. Ruth had been an undergraduate from 1972 to 1975 and would go on to get her PhD in neuroscience.  Roger was an avid cyclist and raced bicycles often and had many wins and podium finishes in the Masters division. Ruth was also an avid cyclist who enjoyed racing, though maybe not as much as Roger. She did coach the UVA cycling team and was conference director for ACC Collegiate Cycling for 12 years. It was while cycling at UVA that they first met.

Roger would eventually own and manage a bicycle shop in Charlottesville, while Ruth would become a research professor at the university.

Hiking was something that they did as a break from cycling.

Ruth became interested in hiking and the trails through Roger. Roger inherited his interest from his parents, who loved the trails and often hiked with the family in Roger’s childhood. Roger’s father was in the military and his mother was from Germany, so he moved around a bit growing up. Not long after settling in Virginia though, while just in High School, Roger began his on and off-again relationship with PATC-“mostly for the great maps”.

While managing the bike shop kept him very busy, Roger often thought about becoming a trail maintainer when he retired. That chance came in 2020 when he sold the bike shop and was finally able to officially pick up trail maintainer duties. 

Ruth retired from UVA in 2021 and became a Virginia Master Naturalist with a keen interest in botany and especially in invasives. In fact, she has a column about invasives in the newsletter. Trail maintenance is one of the things that Ruth does as service for the Master Naturalists.

Ruth and Roger have plenty more stories to tell like adventures backpacking in the Sierra and kayaking the Rogue River in Oregon, but we’ll save those for when you run into them out on the Trail.
Featured Hike: Wildcat Trail to Blackrock Gap
Pam Heinrich is leading a series of hikes this year to help others hike the AT in the South District. On May 9, the group hiked from Wildcat Trail to Blackrock Gap.  They also enjoyed lunch at Loft Mountain Wayside. Hikers that  joined in on the fun were: Roger Smith, Solomon Lam and Michael Seth.  This was Solomon's first hike with us and he returned the following week to be part of the Loft Mountain Mowers on the AT section from Ivy Creek Hut to Frazier Discovery Trail.

The next hike is planned for June 14 from Loft Amphitheater to Blackrock Gap.  Come join us.
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Have you seen Shirley?
In my opinion, there are some cool trees along the trail that everyone should go to visits.  Shirley is one of those trees. Located north of the intersection with the Riprap Trail, Shirley got her name from maintainers, Myra Robertson and Bob Costanzo.  After many times of listening to her moans and watching her crack get larger, they knew "surely", she was going to fall.  In May 2024, Shirley finally fell, but she did not block the trail. She has made herself into an arch, which Myra and Bob measured to ensure that hikers could easily pass under.  If you hike through this section, look for Shirley and stop by. She is located one mile North of the Riprap parking lot or only 0.1 mile south of where the AT crosses the Skyline Drive. If you see her she loves taking selfies with hikers! We should all hope for a cool resting spot like Shirley's.
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Hiker Fest 2026--Waynesboro
Saturday, June 6, 2026: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Join us for Hiker Fest, the ultimate celebration of outdoor adventure in the heart of Waynesboro.

Get ready for a day of live music, free yoga sessions, henna designs, local food, trail talks, DIY tie dye, tarot reading, outdoor vendors, and more!  Join in to come together to celebrate nature, music, and the joy of exploration.  Admission is Free!!

There will be a PATC table hosted by John Kolp and Chuck Troutman.  We could use some help at the table. Please contact Chuck to help out: [email protected] 
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May the Forest Be With You

4/28/2026

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Welcome to May
Last month was busy with many of you out on your section of trail.  Water bars and blow downs were our main area of focus.  With warmer weather, we begin planning for the trimming of grass and control of weed growth.  Thank you for all your hard work. 

We encourage everyone to know and establish a connection with our sawyers.  If you discover a blow down on your section, please take a picture and add the GPS coordinates for each.  You may contact the sawyers directly for more assistance on the removal.  Our sawyers are:
Dave Bowen: [email protected]
Bruce Illusky: [email protected]
Jim Core: [email protected]
Mark Perschel: [email protected]
Kyle Brost: [email protected]

Finally, if you discover a project that you need some help with, contact Kevin Cwalina to add it to the list for the Flying McLeods.   [email protected] 
Featured Hike: Wildcat Trail to Sawmill Run Overlook
Pam Heinrich is leading a series of hikes this year to help others hike the AT in the South District. On April 3rd, the group hiked from Wildcat Ridge Trail to Sawmill Run Overlook.  This was a special edition of our AT Hikes as we helped Bill Jones finished hiking the South District AT of Shenandoah National Park. Our group took a picture at a cool tree down along the section from Crimora Lake Overlook to Turk Gap.  Thanks to Mark Perschel for his creative sawyer work.  We celebrated at Sawmill Run Overlook with Sparkling White Grape Juice.  Hikers that  joined in on the fun were: Roger Smith, Betsy Solomon, Martha Gibbons, Barbara Martin, Diane Mayer, Brenda Uekert, Gary Forrest and Bill Jones.  

The next hike is planned for May 9 from Blackrock Gap to Wildcat Ridge Trail.  Come join us.
Phantoms From the Past:
Ghosts Shelters of the Southern Shenandoah
By: Roger Smith
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In his 1921 essay in The Journal of The American Institute of Architects, where he first proposed the Appalachian Trail, Benton MacKaye wrote about the need for a series of Shelter Camps which he described as the “usual accompaniments of the trails”.  He wrote: “They are the trail’s equipment for use.  They should be located at convenient distances so as to allow a comfortable day’s walk between each.  They should be equipped always for sleeping and certain of them for serving meals – after the fashion of the Swiss chalets.”

He envisioned the building of these camps to be done by volunteers, since “volunteer work is really play.”  Of course, back then, MacKaye wasn’t considering the need to maintain water bars and trying to keep up with invasives, which can be described in no uncertain terms as anything but play.

But regardless…the Camp Shelters are an integral part of MacKaye’s vision for the Trail with more than 250 of them built and maintained beginning in the 1930’s by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps along with many other volunteers including the PATC.  Most are simple, wooden three-wall lean-to buildings, though some feature more grand designs with windows, a second floor, a front porch and even showers.  

Nearly all are located near good water sources and are the natural gathering points for both thru and section hikers, just as Benton originally intended.

Some of these shelters, though, are “ghost shelters” – phantoms from the past which have been lost over time.  These are shelters which have been deconstructed and removed for a variety of reasons.  

Some because they were located in wilderness areas and had to be removed following the passing of the Federal Wilderness Act in 1964.  Some because of misuse and excessive partying during the counter-culture revolution in the 1970s (perhaps a story for another time).  Some because of limitation of resources available to monitor and maintain them.  Some, like the Mosby Shelter located between Manassas Gap and Chester Gap in Northern Virginia, were stolen by persons unknown, likely to make use of the chestnut logs that had been used in its construction.

There are several ghost shelters that used to reside in Shenandoah National Park.  One such shelter was at Sawmill Run.

Sawmill Run Shelter
Sawmill Run Shelter was built in 1941.  Grandma Gatewood stayed here during her historic thru-hike of the AT in 1955.  Like other shelters of its generation, it was a simple, three-wall log or timber lean-to shelter located near a reliable water source (Sawmill Run).  

While the exact date of its deconstruction isn’t known, the National Park Service (NPS) History indicates it was removed between 1970 and 1980 due to overuse.  However, in some ways this shelter lives on as its remains were used when PATC built Calf Mountain Shelter in 1984

The shelter was accessed from a side trail which is no longer maintained but can still be seen today, especially in the Winter months when there is less foliage.  You can find it near the first, sharp right turn as you make your way northbound on the AT from Sawmill Run Overlook toward Turk Gap.  

While no remnants of the old shelter remain, there is a flat spot with a fire pit where it used to reside.  If you’re interested in visiting the site, Jeff Monroe wrote an excellent article describing his visit to the site several years ago along with some excellent pictures. Jeff’s article can be found at Wandering Virginia: Shenandoah National Park: Former A.T. Sawmill Run Shelter Site.  

​Other Ghost Shelters in the Southern Shenandoah include Bigflat Mountain Shelter and South River Shelter.  An interesting exhibit is available on Professor Mills Kelly’s Appalachian Trail History site found at Appalachian Trail Histories | Ghost Shelters · Trail Shelters.
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Figure 1 - Undated Photo of Sawmill Run Shelter from the PATC Archives, courtesy of Jeff Monroe.
Invasive of the month- Wavyleaf Basketgrass
By: Ruth Stornetta

Wavyleaf basketgrass (Oplismenus undulatifolius) is an invasive perennial grass that was first detected in the park in 2005. It thrives in shady areas but can also grow in partial shade along trails. There are sightings of wavyleaf in iNaturalist near Simmons Gap and Pinefield Gap in the South District and it is likely in other areas now. If you spot this plant, please take a photo and report your observation on iNaturalist, as well as to Jake Hughes ([email protected]). Wavyleaf basketgrass is known for its shade tolerance, rapid growth, and sprawling nature, which allow it to outcompete native plants. It can take over and blanket an area-worse than stiltgrass! The grass produces numerous seeds with sticky awns (long, pointed bristles) that readily cling to boots, clothing, or animal fur, enabling easy spread through infested zones. Seeds quickly reach new locations on trails, forming dense patches via creeping above-ground roots called stolons.
You can hand pull it now if it’s a small infestation. Be sure to get all the stolons (roots) and bag it- the roots can resprout if left on the ground. This is a very dangerous invasive plant and has been devastating in Maryland- please help protect SNP from this
relatively new threat. Don’t let it spread!​
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Featured Flower: Red Trillium
There is one special place in Shenandoah National Park where you can see Red Trillium (Trillium erectum).  We are lucky that this spot is on the AT leading to Hightop Summit.  From Hightop Summit Parking, head south towards the summit.  The Red Trillium bloomed a little early year and were seen around mid-April.  

History and Legends: 
This flower is also called "wake robin."  This name was given to it because the red hue of the flowers was said to mirror both in appearance and timing the red breast of the American robin.

Red Trillium is also called "beth root" which is from "birth root." The root was thought to assist in childbirth as root teas were made to help induce childbirth and aid in labor. Native Americans also created the whole plat into a poultice and used it to treat tumors, inflammation and ulcers.
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April--Not for Fools

4/1/2026

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Spring has officially arrived and the flowers are popping.
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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] 
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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.
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.  
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
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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 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.  
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March 2026

3/1/2026

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Snow kept us from the trail most of February but we made some progress for future plans.  March should bring warmer temperatures and the start of spring flowers.
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Flying McLeods Crew to Soar Again
We had a great turn out for our initial planning meeting at Crozet Pizza. It is great to see so much interest in the reformation of a South District trail crew. We ate great pizza, laughed, and talked though the details of how to get our crew off the ground and "Flying". 

Schedule: We agreed to hold work trips monthly on 4th Saturday of the month, starting April 25th and ending for the season on October 24th. 

Getting Work: Our biggest topic was how to go about finding projects for the Flying McLeods to work on. I have created a spreadsheet to start logging potential projects. For now if you have a project you would like to suggest, email me at [email protected] to add it to the list. 

Below are some of the ideas that came up in the discussion. If you have additional ideas please let us know. 
  • Ridgerunner, Trail Patrol, and Maintainer Reports
  • Emails from Maintainers
  • Announcement in the PA
  • Shenandoah National Park Hikers Facebook Group 
We would also like to add, word of mouth. As you are talking to other maintainers mention the Flying McLeods and talk about how we could help...
  • Clean out, repair, or build water bars and grade dips
  • Trim weeds / Mowing
  • Blow down removal
  • Invasive removal
  • Blazing
  • Rock Stairs, check dams
  • Help when you are on vacation or recovering from an injury
We want to have a wide variety of projects to attract the most amount of people. IE, some people will not want to move big rocks, but would love to weed or paint blazes. We also want to have extra projects on the books so if we get a large group one weekend we have backup plans to be able to split up the group. 

Once we have a list of projects, we will meet again and work out scheduling the projects and assigning leaders. The general idea is that we would start by asking the maintainer of the section to be worked if they would like to lead the group and if not we would assign someone from our group to lead with the maintainers input. 

Publicity: Directly related to getting work, we discussed publicity and how important getting word out will be to let people know how to find us and  for making people feel welcome and part of the team. A big hand to Ruth Stornetta for offering to help with this effort and write an article for the PA announcing the formation of the crew to the greater PATC community. 

Potluck: As we where all sitting around eating pizza and having a good time, we all felt that having a potluck after each work trip was a great way to embrace having fun while doing hard work together.

Something that both the Cadillac Crew and the Hoodlums do with their potlucks is have a monthly theme for the potluck. If you are interested in putting together the list of themes for our 7 work trips, let us know and we can coordinate how to get the message out. 

We also talked about safety, Volunteer Service Agreements, T-Shirts, Stickers, and other technical aspects of the start up. 

At this point the biggest next step is getting word out and asking people to submit project ideas to our group. 
Looking forward to April! 
-Kevin Cwalina
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History of the Flying McLeods
Flying McLeods South District Trail Crew 20?? To 2021

Origin story: I was on a work trip in the early 2000s. It might have been a storm cleanup.  Then-Supervisor of Trails John Hedrick approached me and asked me if I’d like to lead a trail crew.  Al Dahler was standing nearby and, before I could respond, he said,” I’ll be your assistant.” So that was it. I carried a black Moleskin notebook, now held together with duct tape, to record work trip information. Earliest date in the notebook is 2008 so that may be the “beginning.”  The club provided me with ten McLeods and five Pulaskis. I painted each handle with a band of orange, brown and green to identify my crew’s tools. Trail crews need cute, catchy names.  Bartenders was already taken, so I came up with the Flying McLeods. District Manager Don White procured t-shirts with a literal flying McLeod on the back.

Our mission: Don has an archive of historical information on the Appalachian Trail in the south district SNP. He had a vision of returning the tread to its early conditions. So that was our mission: to regrade “cupped” sections, remove slough and berm, repair waterbars. We also converted some grade dips to broad-based grade dips, that’s popular now under a different name.  The work we did was beyond the scope of section maintainers. We also worked on some blue-blaze trails when maintainers asked for help.

Signature project: The AT going north from Beagle Gap went up a steep, gravelly, easily-eroded section. We did two repair projects on that section, including carrying black locust logs up from the gap to build new waterbars. It all blew out in a month. Don had long advocated for a relocation of the AT which would go over the summit of Little Calf Mountain and not exceed 10% grade. We worked with our trails contact at SNP, Shawn Green, to scout and flag a reroute. Over many work days, we completed the relocation and had a grand opening in August 2012. Because of its gentle grades and the picnic view at the summit, the relocation is very popular with families introducing young children to hiking.

Finally, health issues starting in 2021 forced me to turn in my tools. I put everything in an empty fire toolbox in the Simmons Gap tool room. I don’t know what became of them after that.
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Mark Gatewood
27 Feb 2026
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Historic photos of the AT relocation over Calf Mountain
To read more about the history of the Calf Mountain Project, you can use this link: Calf Mountain Project

February: Social Outing
​Thanks to Chuck Troutman for organizing and hosting the February social outing at Elkton Brewery.  Nine other maintainers and friends joined him for a good time of fellowship.  We enjoyed sharing stories, sampling the beers named after local interest and listening to the band  The final winter social outing will be held Sunday, March 22nd. at Delly Up located in downtown Waynesboro from 3:00-5:00 pm.  
UVA Forestry Club Helps Out
On February 21st, the UVA Forestry Club worked on clipping back mountain laurel on the section of the AT from Turk Gap to Sawmill Run Overlook. We divided into three groups: two groups working from each end and one group worked on clearing the overlook. Led by William Brooks, these students were well organized, enthusiastic and hardworking helpers.  Special thanks to Joel Brown, Roger Smith, and Pam Heinrich for assisting the group.

On Saturday, March 28, Environmental Management Club from
JMU will help clip vegetation on the section from Swift Run to Hightop Parking.  Thanks to Patti McInerney and Dave Bowen for allowing them to help on their section.
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February 2026

2/1/2026

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Working Together

On January 3, Kate Hoffmeyer and Bev Carver planned a workday for their sections of the AT.  Word spread to other maintainers that may want to help out.  Roger Smith and Kevin Cwalina joined Kate to help clear waterbars from Ivy Creek Hut to Frazier Discovery Trail.  Pat Doyle, former president of the ODATC joined Bev from Frazier Discovery Trail to Loft Mountain Campstore.  Michael Durland received news of the plans and contacted his co-maintainer, Heather Warren.  Michael and his wife Kim, along with Heather worked on their area from Loft Mountain Campstore to Loft Mountain Amphitheater.  

It was a Lofty party !!  There were enough helpers to divide up the tasks and get all the trails cleared-waterbars cleaned out in this area. 

Kate and Bev have another work day planned for February 7.  Let's have more people join in.
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Awesome teamwork everyone!!
Award Winning Shelter Maintainer

​Chuck Troutman began his caretaking of AT shelters when he noticed a help wanted ad for Blackrock Hut.  Retired and looking for a way to get involved, the shelter was close to his home in Staunton and a great beginning. As things seem to happen when you volunteer, one thing leads to another and he stacked on a few more responsibilities: the trail leading to Blackrock Hut, AT from Horsehead Overlook to Blackrock Gap, and finally Ivy Creek Shelter. 

When he first took over Ivy Creek, it had many briars around it.  The road leading to the shelter was about the only thing in good shape.  The most interesting experience at the shelter occurred when Chuck was asked to investigate potential vandalism at the privy.  Upon seeing the damage, he instantly knew it was not caused by a human.  Chuck stated "I worked at a rec center.  I know what vandalism looks like!" He put in many hours of work at the shelter clearing overgrown vegetation, cleaning up inside, and fixing privy destruction by a bear.  He has more projects in mind:  trying to find a solution to the fireplace flue and rework the outside fire pit.  

Helped by his partner, Margaret, it is easy to see why Chuck was the winner of the Hawksbill award from both the SNP District Cabins and Crapper Crew.

We are lucky to have Chuck and Margaret among our crew.​
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Welcome New Maintainers

Since last month, we have welcomed three new maintainers. 

*Andrew Summers joins Lisa Swales and Linda Beights​​ to co-maintain the section from Riprap Trail to Hairpin Switchback.  After retiring from a career in law enforcement, Andrew was looking for a way to get involved as he loves using the trails.  One of his favorite adventures was a section hike from Front Royal to Swift Run Gap.  His interest in trail maintenance began when he helped on a worktrip organized by Mark Perschel and Marit Anderson to paint blazes on their section from Crimora Lake Overlook to Turk Gap.  That trip brought him to join us as a co-maintainer.  Andrew's girlfriend, Emilie Eckart plans to help occasionally as well.  

Beth Bowers and Julie Liskey are sisters and also long-time friends with Chuck Troutman.  Both retired, Julie worked as nurse and Beth, an educator and administrator.   On a trip to Europe, they decided that they wanted a way to stay in shape as well as give back to help the environment.  They enjoyed visiting Shenandoah National Park and knew about Chuck's work on the trail.  They asked to help and their training began.  Chuck will turn the section from Blackrock Gap to Horsehead Overlook over to them in the spring.  Beth and Julie's family will help them out too.  What a great way to pass along the love of the trail to family and friends!!

South District AT Hike #1
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​Pam Heinrich is leading a series of hikes this year to help others hike the AT in the South District.  On January 11th, twelve other hikers joined her for a shuttle hike from Beagle Gap to Rockfish Gap.  Even with a chilly wind and snow squall at the finale, the group enjoyed the outing and fellowship.   Hikers that joined the fun were: Laura Longley, Peggy Shy, James Downes, Karen Ballen, John Ballen, Lane Quarles, Michael Groah, Kathy Schwartz, Sidney Rabon, Betsy Solomon, Gary Forrest and William Jones.  
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Also to be noted, William is 78 years old and working on hiking all the trails in Shenandoah National Park.  We are excited to help out with part of his accomplishments.  
What do you know about Bear Den Mountain?

​Have you ever wondered who put the old tractor seats on top of Bear Den Mountain?

The shortest route to reach the summit of Bear Den and see the tractor seats is to begin at Beagle Gap (Mile 99.5 on the Skyline Drive) and hike south approximately 0.5 Miles.  The history of the tractor seats has been passed down as spot for the family that owned this property to have picnics, cookouts and bonfires.  It supposedly made a great viewing area to watch the fireworks on July 4th. 

The family that owned the property was identified as the Bocock family, and were major shareholders in Royal Orchard, bordering Shenandoah National Park.  Eventually, they sold their property on Bears Den Mountain to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy/Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

Thanks to Jeff Monroe for the history of the tractor seats.  More information from his writings can be found here: SNP's South End
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Happy New Year

1/1/2026

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As we welcome in the New Year, we want to begin with some shout outs to our members.  
Working Together

On December 21, Annette Owens reported numerous downed trees on her section from Flattop Mountain Summit to Simmons Gap. After hearing of the need for help, Jim Fye, one of our certified crosscut sawyers contacted Eric Seaborg, section co-maintainer to organize an outing.  On December 28, Jill York joined Eric and Jim to work on the section.  After six hours of work, all the blowdowns were removed and the trail clear for hikers.  

Awesome teamwork everyone!!
Welcome New Maintainers

Over the last few months, we have welcomed four new maintainers. 
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*Rachel Setear and Warren Catlett joined our group to help with the section from Sawmill Run Overlook to Jarman Gap.  Both of them are avid hikers and were looking for a way to give back to the trail. Their first work trip included completing the 8-mile AT-Turk Branch-Moorman loop with their new 14" saw in hand.

*Michael Durland will be a co-maintainer of two sections.  He will be joining Heather Warren on the section from Loft Mountain Campstore to Loft Mountain Amphitheater. Michael will also be helping new maintainers, Warren and Rachel on the section mentioned above.  Michael is an enthusiast volunteer as he has completed training with the Hoodlum Crew and is also a member of Trail Patrol.

*Roger Smith joined our hike and open house at Ivy Creek Hut and decided that he was interested in learning more about trail maintenance.  His request was to help with a section where the current maintainers wouldn't mind that he is learning.  Pete Peterson and Mike Hammer welcomed his addition on their section from Loft Mountain Amphitheater to Doyle's River Trail.

Welcome aboard to the South District AT Team
First Day Hike

Pam Heinrich led a hike on the South District AT to kick off 2026.  Four other hikers joined her for a shuttle hike from Smith Roach to Swift Run.  Even with temperatures around 28 degrees and a brisk wind, the group warmed up quickly on their climb to the summit. They also met many other hikers on their way to Hightop.  Everyone was greeted with "Happy New Year."  Hikers that joined the fun were: Margaret Helber, Sharon Celsor-Hughes, Rosemary Eyre-Brook and Lynn Hatch. Maybe this will be the start of a New Year tradition.


What do you know about Hightop?

At 3,587 feet, Hightop is the highest peak in the southern district. It once was the site of a fire tower.  From Shenandoah National Park's administrative history regarding the tower at Hightop:
"In CCC years and for a time thereafter towers were considered necessary in forest fire detection. C.V. Bert, project superintenent of Camp NP-3 (Camp Nira) reported building "two" fire towers on Hightop just south of Swift Run Gap:
"The first one... we didn't have any material or anything. Got some big, tall chestnut trees -- four of them, you know, and put them up there, and built a house on top...with chestnut shingles and everything. The boys used to stay up there, of course, and watch for fires. I think I worked them 24 hours on and 48 off. They'd take their provisions. You know, they liked that, Of course, the fire seasons, early spring and late fall-- they had to have heat up there and a fire to cook. And a spark from the stove set the shingles on fire, and the fire tower burned down....Then after that we built a steel tower with a copper cab on top. We had to carry concrete up there--on our backs."
The date of the fire tower fire was March 17, 1939. 
In the fall of 1939, the NPS chief of forestry, on an inspection visit, mentioned the 40-foot-plus steel tower being erected.


Ode to Hightop–by Gary Forrest
Here’s to Hightop,
the second tallest mountain in the county of Greene
Named for our revolutionary savior during years that were lean.
From trillium in spring to the colors of fall
With glorious vistas, Hightop has it all.
Views of the ridge line in cobalt blue, the Massanutten slope beckons to you.
The Shenandoah Valley unfolds at your feet
And a feeling of peace makes life complete.
What secrets yet, do you still hide?
A silent cemetery on your west side
Majestic granite and a gurgling spring
Hightop, the place that makes my heart sing!

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