Wanderbirds Hike Schedule for June thru September, 2009
All outings depart 17th & K Streets at 8:00 am sharp unless otherwise noted. VA=suburban pickup in Virginia; MD=suburban pickup in Maryland (see maps of pickup points). Hikes marked MD & VA will pick up at both suburban locations.
To join us on a hike, make a reservation with the leader at the telephone number listed at the end of the hike description. Membership is not required unless specified. It is club policy that hikers new to the club will take the moderate hike.
Please
try to sign up before 4:00 pm Friday afternoon before the hike!
Otherwise
the hike may be cancelled due to low number of sign-ups.
Rating of hikes based on elevation and terrain. Easy: less than 1,000 ft elevation gain. Intermediate: less than 2,000 ft elevation gain. Strenuous: 2,000+ ft elevation gain. Rating may vary with weather and terrain. Consult the leader at the phone number provided for advice.
Where park fee is indicated, holders of Shenandoah Park, Golden Eagle, or Golden Age passes are not charged, but must have passes available. Others pay $5.00 park entrance fee December through February, and $8.00 March through November, in addition to bus fare.
June 14 (Sunday) AT at Turners Gap to Thurston Griggs Trail, followed by Lunch at the Cozy Inn. Long hikers will start at Turners Gap (rte. 40a) and head north past Washington Monument Park and Greenbrier before heading to Thurston Griggs Trail and the bus at Crystal Falls Road. Moderate hikers will start where Boonsboro Mtn Rd crosses the AT near Greenbrier and will follow the long hikers to the bus. A half mile round trip to a view at Annapolis Rocks is available, time permitting. After the hike we will have a buffet lunch at the Cozy Inn in Thurmont. An easier option from the end of the hike to the AT is also available. Est. miles: 9.5 (intermediate) 5.5 (easy). PATC Map 5. Fare: $27 plus prepaid lunch fee of $15 (Contact Jack Dawson for lunch reservation: 703.575.7684). Hike reservation phone: 703.239.0131 and 301.990.1988. (MD)
June 21 (Sunday) Stephens, Massanutten, and Kennedy Peak Trails, GWNF, VA. Circuit All hikers begin and end at Camp Roosevelt and climb Stephens Trail to Massanutten Trail. Here, long hikers turn left to do an out-and-back toward Habron Gap and then join the route of the moderate hikers. Moderate hikers turn right with option to ascend Kennedy Peak Trail before returning to Massanutten Trail, which they follow to Camp Roosevelt. Est. miles: from 10 up to 14.5 (intermediate/strenuous) and 9 (intermediate). PATC Map G. Fare: $27. Phone: 202.863.9362 and 301.656.9169 (VA)
June 28 (Sunday) June 28th (Sunday) Dickey Ridge Trail to Jenkins Gap
SNP. Long hikers start on the Dickey Ridge Trail just outside the entrance
of SNP in Front Royal and proceed south until reaching the Appalachian Trail.
They then turn right and continue south on the AT to the bus at Jenkins Gap.
Moderate hikers start at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, taking a short trail
to reach the Dickey Ridge Trail where they head south and proceed to the AT,
also continuing south to the bus at Jenkins Gap. Est. miles: 12.4 (strenuous)
and 8.5 (intermediate). PATC Map 9. Fare: $27 plus park entrance fee of $8
for moderate hikers only. Phone: 443.852.4094 and 703.660.2342. (VA)
July 5 (Sunday) Great Falls and Billy Goat Trails. No bus. Car pool hike with optional repast at Old Angler's Inn. Start at 9:00 AM. Hikers needing a ride from DC or Vienna Metro, please contact leaders. Hikers will meet in the parking lot across from Old Angler's Inn. Take I-495 to Exit 41 (Carderock and Glen Echo), follow Clara Barton Pkwy towards Carderock, at junction with MacArthur Blvd turn left on MacArthur Blvd and continue west to Old Anglers Inn on right at sharp turn in road. Park in lot on left opposite the Inn. We will hike a series of Billy Goat trails and some others such as the Goldmine, River, and Berma Road Trails, and return on the Towpath. Moderates will turn around after Overlook of Great Falls and return via towpath. Food and refreshments may be purchased at Old Angler's Inn after the hike. Est. miles: 12-13 miles (intermediate), 8-9 (easy). NPS map. Admin. Fee: $3. Phone: 240.432.8840 and 301.869.3923.
July 12 (Sunday) ICE CREAM SOCIAL, Berry Hike. Fetzer Gap, George Washington National Forest, VA. Hike through laurel and blueberries and fruit orchards. Extra-long hikers (15 miles) will begin at Route 656 in the Shenandoah Valley and ascend to Fetzer Gap. Long and moderate hikers start at the Gap. All hikers then continue on the Tuscarora Trail along the ridge of the Little North Mountain, where blackberries and wine berries should be ripe. A short detour at the top of Tea Mountain offers a fine view of Little Sluice Mountain. After crossing Cedar Creek, moderate hikers will turn right to a forest access road to Route 713, which leads to the bus at the junction of Routes 713 and 603. Long hikers will cross Cedar Creek and stay on the Tuscarora Trail to the turn at Sulphur Springs and come down 1725 to 713 and follow the moderates to the bus. Moderates can do an extra loop of 1 mile by descending Rte 1725. Hikers will be treated to ice cream at the end of the hike. Est. miles: 13 (strenuous) and 8 (easy to intermediate). PATC Maps F & G. Fare: $27. Phone: 202.291.3868 and 301.528.2399. (VA)
July 19 (Sunday) Neighbor & Knob Mountains and Beahms Gap to Elkwallow, SNP, VA. Starting from Beahms Gap Overlook, long hikers will finish at Elkwallow Wayside parking area. They will start on the AT, continue on Neighbor Mountain Trail to cross Jeremy's Run to ascend up Knob Mountain Trail. They will then descend to Knob Mountain Cutoff Trail, which will lead them to Jeremy's Run Trail, the AT and the parking lot at Elkwallow Wayside. Moderate hikers will start at Jenkins Gap Overlook and will hike south on the AT at a leisurely pace to the bus at Elkwallow. Est. miles: 12.5 (strenuous) and 8 (intermediate). An easy 5-mile option is available from Gravel Springs Gap to Elkwallow. PATC Map 9. Fare $27 plus park fee or pass. Phone: 703.591.2822 and 202.363.4446. (VA)
July 26 (Sunday) Patterson Ridge, Brown Mountain, Appalachian Trail, SNP, VA. This is a classic hike in the southern section of Shenandoah Park with plenty of water abounding. All hikers will do a clockwise loop by leaving the bus at Patterson Ridge Trail to the Big Run Portal Trail. Moderate hikers will then ascend 1600 feet on the Rocky Mountain Run and the Brown Mountain Trails back to the bus. Long hikers will continue north on the Big Run Portal Trail, crossing the stream four times, to the Brown Mountain Trail, which will be ascended back to the bus. Est. miles: 10.1 (strenuous) and 7.4 (intermediate) (longer options available). PATC Map 11. Fare $27 plus park fee or pass: $27. Phone: 202.236.6258 and 703.352.4685 (VA)
Aug. 2 (Sunday) Elkwallow Circuit via Piney Branch and Piney Ridge. This watery hike starts and ends at Elkwallow for the long hikers. Following the AT north, long hikers will travel clockwise along Piney Branch, Hull School, Fork Mtn, and Piney Ridge Trails ending up intersecting the AT which they will take south back to Elkwallow. Moderate hikers will start at Rattlesnake Point Overlook and follow the AT south a short distance to Piney Branch Trail and follow the same route of the long hikers to Elkwallow. Options available for shorter hike from Beahms Gap to Elkwallow (ca. 5.5 miles) or south from Gravel Springs (5 mi.) Est. miles: 11 (strenuous) and 8.5 (intermediate). PATC Map 9. Fare $27 plus park fee or pass. Phone: 410.535.5171 and 202.812.8990. (VA)
Aug. 9 (Sunday) SWIMMING HIKE South River Falls, SNP, VA. Today's hike takes us to one of the park's most impressive falls. Long hikers start at the South River Picnic Area and take the AT north to Pocosin Fire Road and follow the moderate hikers. Moderate hikers start at the parking area for the Pocosin Fire Road then follow Pocosin Fire Road and turn right on Pocosin Trail, right again on South River Fire Road, turn left on unnamed fire road and left again on South River Falls Trail to reach the base of South River Falls, where hardy souls may take a cool dip. The bus is reached by ascending the South River Falls Trail to the South River picnic area. Est. miles: 10 (Strenuous) and 7 (Intermediate). PATC Map 10. Fare $27 plus park fee or pass. Phone: 703.575.7684. (VA)
Aug. 16 (Sunday) SWIMMING HIKE Jewell Hollow Overlook to Nicholson Hollow. All hikers start at Jewell Hollow Overlook and take the AT south. Moderate hikers will head east when they reach the connector trail for Nicholson Hollow. They will cross the drive and continue on Nicholson Hollow Trail to the swimming hole and the bus at Nethers. Long hikers will continue on AT to the Passamaquoddy Trail and go around Stony Man via a horse trail to get back to the AT. They will then head north to the Nicholson Hollow turn off and follow the path of the moderate hikers to the swimming hole and the bus. Est. mi. 11.5 (intermediate) 7.5 (easy). PATC Map 10. Fare: $27 plus park fee or pass. Phone: 703.591.2822 and 703.239.0131 (VA)
Aug. 23 (Sunday) Cross County (CCT) Trail from Oak Marr Park to Difficult Run. This hike is close in and covers only a portion of the 40 mile long CCT. It follows the Difficult Run Stream Valley. The trail connects hill and vale, stream, meadow and urbanized landscapes. The long hikers will start at Oak Marr Park off Jermantown Road and end at Difficult Run parking lot at Georgetown Pike. Moderate hikers will start at Lawyers Rd. to Difficult Run parking. Est. miles: 15.25 ; (easy to intermediate); 9 (easy). Fairfax County Parks Map. Fare: $27. Phone: 703.239.0131 and 301.656.9169. (MD & VA; check with leader about pickup times at suburban stops)
Aug. 30 (Sunday) SWIMMING HIKE Buck Ridge, Hazel Mountain, Hot-Short Mountain, and Nicholson Hollow Trails, SNP, VA. Long hikers start from route 211 and ascend Buck Ridge Trail, turn left on Hazel Mountain Trail, and then descend Hot-Short Mountain Trail to Nicholson Hollow Trail. After a dip in the Hughes River, they continue on route 600 to Old Rag parking area. Moderate hikers will take Hazel Mountain Trail from Skyline Drive, and follow the same route as the long hikers. Est. miles: 11.6 (strenuous) and 8.9 (intermediate). PATC Map 10. Fare: $27 plus park fee or pass for moderate hikers only. Phone: 202.758.2078 and 703.9410209. (VA)
Sept. 6 (Sunday) Paw Paw Bends and Paw Paw Tunnel, Little Orleans, MD. This hike covers a portion of the 184 mile C&O Canal towpath that stretches from Georgetown to Cumberland, MD. As the crow flies, this hike is 6 miles, but the Paw Paw Bends has to follow the bends of the Potomac River except for the tunnel. Long hikers start near Orleans Road and follow the bends to the Paw Paw Tunnel, where flashlights or headlamps are needed as the tunnel is 3118' long. Six million bricks were used to line the tunnel wall. From the tunnel there is a short distance to the end of the hike. Moderate hikers will start at the end of the hike near Highway 51 and walk out to meet the long hikers. All hikers can take a trail over the tunnel if they choose and do a 2-mile loop that takes you through the tunnel and back to the tunnel trail head. Very little elevation gain except for the tunnel trail. Est. miles: 15.5 (easy) and 10 (easy). Map from 50 Hikes in Maryland guide. Fare $27. Phone: 703.455.2756 and 240.997.6957 (MD)
Sept. 13 (Sunday) Annual Picnic. Shelter No. 4, High Knob, Gambrill State Park, MD. Members only. After an invigorating walk, hikers feast on hamburgers or veggie burgers (indicate preference to leader while making reservations), hot dogs, and an array of homemade treats. Long hikers start at Delauter Rd., head east to connect with and go south on the Catoctin Trail to the Nature Trail Parking lot off Gambrill Park Rd., then take the Yellow Poplar and Green Ash Trail to reach High Knob and the festivities. Moderate hikers start at Hamburg Rd. and follow the path of the long hikers to High Knob. A shorter hike can be arranged from Nature Trail Parking Lot: follow the Catoctin Trail north, Yellow Poplar Trail and Green Ash Trail to the Picnic Area at High Knob. Est. miles: 10 (intermediate) 6.4 (easy) and 5 (easy). PATC map 5 and Park map. Fare $27. Picnic cost $10. Phone: 410.535.5171 and 301.654.3749 (MD)
Sept. 20 (Sunday) Trout Pond and Rockcliff Lake, GWNF, WV. All hikers start at Trout Run Valley Road and go south on the Long Mountain Trail. At the Trout Pond Recreation Area (TPRA) moderate hikers turn right on Chimney Rock Trail and ford Trout Pond Run. Continuing on the Rockcliff Lake Trail bordering the lake, they ascend the Fisherman's Trail to the bus in the parking area at the entrance to the TPRA. Long hikers continue ascending on the Long Mountain Trail, turn right on the Trout Pond Road, make another right on the Trout Pond Trail, cross the TPRA, and finally ascend on the Fisherman's Trail to the bus. Est. miles: 12 and 8. PATC Map F. Fare: $27. Phone: 202.863.9362 and 202.270.8778 (VA)
Sept. 27 (Sunday) Tuscarora Trail, Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area, WV. All hikers start at route 45 and take Packhorse Trail Road through a parking area to High Rock Trail. Long hikers bear right at the junction with Equestrian-Bike Trail, then turn left onto the Tuscarora Trail, and left again at Millrace Trail. At the parking area, they turn right to return to the bus on route 45. Moderate hikers will bear left at the junction to continue on High Rock Trail to the Tuscarora Trail and turn left to join the path of the long hikers. Est. miles: 12.5 (intermediate) and 8.8 (intermediate). PATC Map L. Fare: $27. Phone: 443.852.4094 and 703.660.2342. (VA)
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