Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club

www.TidewaterATC.com

Schedule of Hikes & Events

January 29, 2012

Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was.” — Dag Hammarskjold

February 2-6, 2012, Thur-Mon ADIRONDACK WINTER ADVENTURE HIKE

Mal Higgins, 473-2231 **HIKE IS FULL**

Freezeree, The Thrill is Back! Once again, Mal Higgins leads this wintertime undertaking.

February 8, 2012, Wednesday TATC GENERAL MEETING

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

Business meeting & recognition of new members and guest. Program features Bill Rogers on an aspect of trail maintenance: TOOLS, common and not so common. 40^th Anniversary T-Shirt contest entries to be displayed for judging by secret ballot. Winner to be announced at March 24 TATC Anniversary Event.

February 11, 2012, Saturday FRIENDS OF FCSP ANNUAL MEETING & HIKE

Bob Safford, 721-4449

This meeting & hike is open to all Friends of False Cape State Park and others interested in considering membership. Hike portion, approximately 5 miles; meeting includes park personnel report on activities, update on Friends status & election of officers. Attendees should bring their own brown bag lunch. Meet 9:00AM at Little Island City Park in Sandbridge for transport to the park. Return to Little Island about 2:00PM. RSVP FalseCapeFriend@yahoo.com

February 12, 2012, Sunday THE CHOCOLATE HIKE

Phyllis Neumann, 757 566-4584

It’s time once again for the “Chocolate Hike”.  Enjoy a pre-Valentine’s Day celebration by bringing your favorite sweetheart (or your FAVORITE SWEET) for a pleasant promenade on the Noland Trail.  In past years we have indulged in such trailside decadent delights as “Mayan Hot Chocolate”, “Cocoa Peppermint Brownies” and the unequaled “Chocolate Intravenous”.  What fabulous fodder will fascinate us this year?  An award will be given for the yummiest and most unique confection.  Meet at the Mariner’s Museum Parking lot in Newport News at 10:00 am. Wear comfy shoes for this 2-3 hour walk.  And we’ll eat out afterwards!!!!!

February 18-20, 2012, Sat-Mon FAMILY CANOE CAMPING AT MERCHANTS MILLPOND

Nancy Rinkenberger, nancy@rinkenbergerus

Dottie Abbott, dottieaster@gmail.com

Winter camping is great fun!  In Gates County, NC, it's fairly tame and the tick population should be asleep!  Join us as we canoe/kayak to the Group Canoe Campground.  For those of you who have never experienced the Millpond, it is a magical place filled with cypress trees and abundant wildlife.  If we are lucky, we may even see an alligator. Canoe camping is a close second to car camping in that you can take more than will fit into your backpack.  If you would like a backpacking experience, bring it along and you can carry it as we hike 6 miles of the Lassiter Trail.  Each person should bring their own camping gear, food and water.  A pit privy is available.  If you have concerns about the adequacy of your gear for winter temperatures, Nancy will be glad to meet with you before hand and make suggestions.  She has some gear to lend. Canoes are available for rent at the Millpond ($20/24 hours). The campsite fee will be $5 per person. We will gather at the Park 'N Ride on the West side of 64 at Indian River Road at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday Feb. 18 and caravan to the Millpond. If  you have questions or concerns, please contact Nancy or Dottie. Don't forget to bring campfire stories and marshmallows!

March 7, 2012, Wednesday TATC GENERAL MEETING

Jim Newman, 867-6688 or jimnewman55@cox.net

Business meeting & recognition of new members and guest. Program features Bill Rogers on another aspect of trail maintenance: Common Tasks & Practices.

March 17, 1012, Saturday DAY HIKING & BACKPACKING SEMINAR

Bill Rogers, 484-6001

What to wear-Not to wear.  What to carry – Not to carry.  Things the books don’t tell you.  The top of the head to soles of your feet info on these marvelous outdoor activities. Packs-filters-flashlights-stoves-footwear, the whole gamut. Participation limited.  Call Bill – Others surely will. 

March 24, 2012, Saturday TATC 40th ANNIVERSARY EVENT

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

Planning is being completed for this milestone celebration at Grand Affairs in Virginia Beach. Out-of-town guests and members from afar will be in attendance for this sit-down dinner. $25 per person with the club picking up additional expenses. See <TidewaterATC.com> for printable reservation form that must be received no later March 12. Presentations will include winner of commemorative T-shirt design contest.

April 1, 2012, Sunday NEW QUARTER PARK SPRING MAINTENANCE

Phyllis Neumann, 757 566-4584

Meet at the inner parking lot of New Quarter Park <http://www.yorkcounty.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=4626> at 9:30am for some light maintenance.  Bring water, gloves and snacks.  Tools will be provided.  Plan to eat lunch afterwards at a local restaurant.  Contact Phyllis to sign up.

April 11, 2012, Wednesday TATC GENERAL MEETING

Jim Newman, 867-6688 or jimnewman55@cox.net

Business meeting & recognition of new members and guest. Program features Kevin DuBois:

John Muir Trail from Yosemite’s Tuolumne Meadows to Devil’s Postpile.

April 18, 2012, Wednesday 64^th ANNUAL SHAD PLANKING

Jim Newman, 867-6688 or jimnewman55@cox.net

This is the granddaddy of Virginia political gatherings and will be especially charged this presidential election year! Enjoy free beer, hear live music, rub elbows with politicians, and enjoy a good meal under the Essex County pines. See www.shadplanking.com for details, directions, tickets & updates. For those driving independently to Wakefield, the destination is Wakefield Sportsmens Club, 12205 Brittles Mill Rd, Wakefield. In this case, it is essential you send your cell phone number to Jim Newman. <jimnewman55@cox.net> Upon receipt, the host will send his number. Some may want to organize car pooling. We'll see how this develops. Arriving in Wakefield via Rt 460 westbound, turn left onto W. Main Street (Rt. 628) There is a 7-11 at the SE corner. Proceed about 0.6 miles. Slight right onto Brittles Mill Rd (Rt. 620). Proceed 2.1 miles to destination. Prepare to drive through a thicket of political signs. Officials will direct parking. Expect to be among about 1,200 people! If you are a politics junkie or a people watcher, this is for you! The goal is to arrive at the event between noon and 1:00 P.M. Dinner served when ready (about 4:00). Introductions and speeches around the meal time. Gov. McDonnell will be in attendance along with former governors Allen & Kane who are vying for the U.S. Senate seat of retiring Jim Webb. An invitation will likely be extended to presidential candidates! Dinner is included in ticket price. Menu listed at website along with a news network video of previous events. Check with Vick Pisone or Gordon Spence for testimonials. This is a rain or shine event.

April 21-May 5, 2012 SOUTHERN VIRGINIA A.T. HIKE: 221.9 MILES

Gene Monroe, Geno_1@Charter.net

This is the first of two upcoming long-distance A.T. backpacks led by Gene Monroe. The second will be in mid-August with specific date announced later. This first-in-a-series hike will be northbound (NOBO) from Damascus. Join Gene for a 221.9 mile, two week backpack (April 21-May 5), to Trout Creek. Here are particulars: Leave Tidewater sometime before noon on the 21st, drive to the hike end-point and get shuttled to Damascus. Stay overnight in the hostel and begin this 14-day adventure with a 16-mile per day average. Participants need not sign up for the entire distance as individual, on-your-own bailouts can be planned. The first days will be of lower mileage, giving the unsure a taste of the undertaking & an opportunity to cut-short the endeavor. Gene forgives lack of experience if the participate compensates with determination.  Please make all inquiries to Geno_1@Charter.net, and feel free to “friend request” him on Facebook (His son is Gene Monroe also, but he lives in Florida). 

May 5-6, 2012, Sat-Sun      SPRING WALK-THROUGH OF TATC TRAILS.

Mark Connolly, 623-0764, mdemarestc@gmail.com

This is our reconnaissance effort to discover the effects of the winter on our section of the A.T. from Reeds Gap to the Tye River, the Mau-Har Trail, and possibly some trail in St. Mary's Wilderness.  Our goal is to assess how many, in what size, and with what tools our maintenance teams will be sent out on the following weekend, Spring Maintenance Weekend, May 11-13.  Our base for the Walk-Through is the tenting area in front of the CCC Kitchen near the dam at the upper lake at Sherando US Forest Service Campground.  To follow on with a new tradition, for those who stay at least through Sunday morning, May 6th, a pancake and sausage breakfast will be provided by Mark C. and Scott H.

May 11-13, 2012, Fri-Sun SPRING MAINTENANCE WEEKEND

Mark Connolly, 623-0764, trailsupervisor@tidewateratc.com

This is a weekend for us to do what the club was set up to do: Maintain our assigned section of the Appalachian Trail, the Mau-Har Trail, and possibly some trail in St. Mary's Wilderness Area.  Come on out to our base camp at Sherando US Forest Service Campground on Friday, if possible, to set up your tent at the Williams Branch Picnic Area at Sherando, keeping in mind that the gate is locked at 10PM and opens on Saturday morning at 6AM.  The map and directions are available at our website <tidewateratc.com>.  Our teams will be formed up by 7:45AM on Saturday morning to try to fix the trail deficiencies created over the winter by trees falling on the trail, erosion, etc. Tools will be provided.  At the end of the day, we return to Sherando for a group dinner, sponsored by TATC, that's created by Chef Mike Mureddu. The other meals are yours to provide.  Bring gloves, appropriate clothes, sleeping bag, tent, cooking equipment, etc.  Come out for the joy of sharing time with dozens of other TATC members in fun activities with a benefit to the trails.

July 14-15, 2012, Sat-Sun SUMMER SWINGBLADE AND LOPPER FESTIVAL

Mark Connolly, 623-0764, trailsupervisor@tidewateratc.com

Come out for the second annual festival that pits our members and our tools against the outrageous plant growth that hinders the passage of hikers on our section of the A.T. and Mau-Har Trails.  Get a tool and get swinging or clipping or lopping. Tools to be provided.  We'll negotiate for an appropriate base for our recovery on Saturday night, either the TATC Cabin or Sherando.

August 2-6, 2012, Thur-Mon KONNAROCK CREW SESSION AT MEADOW MOUNTAIN

Mark Connolly, 623-0764, trailsupervisor@tidewateratc.com

Come out to Sherando as our base camp for a couple days, the weekend, or what you can, and travel a short distance to work alongside the Konnarock Crew from Sugar Grove, VA, on our section of trail from Reeds Gap into Meadow Mountain.  We'll assist in installing waterbars, grooming the trail surface to better shed surface water, obliterate old fire rings and unsightly areas along the trail, etc.  We can put into practice the skills taught at the February and March General Meetings. Note: This event is subject rescheduling. Stay tuned.

Informational Notes

Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club. We work closely with our neighbor club in Richmond. Please go to the following website for some of their offerings: www.odatc.net

Weekday Activity Group: If you would like to receive e-mail notifications of local hikes, bicycle rides, and paddles taking place during the week (usually on Tuesdays) please send e-mail to Ellis Malabad malabad2@gmail.com requesting to be added to the “Tuesday Group” e-mail distribution list.

The TATC/Douglas Lee Putman Memorial Cabin is available for rent.  You must be a member and first attend an orientation / work weekend in order to rent.  The cabin can be reserved 8 weeks (56 days) in advance.  Please call Bob Adkisson at 627-5514 if you have any questions, or want to check on availability, or want to make reservations.

Local Trails Maintenance Opportunities: If you would like to receive E-mail notification about TATC Local Trails Maintenance activities, please send an E-mail to Bill Buck at LocalTrails@tidewateratc.com requesting to be added to the Local Trails E-mail distribution list. Trail maintenance may include weed cutting, brush and tree trimming, removal of small blown down trees, painting of trail blazes, repairing walkways and creating trails. Other special projects may be performed, such as building water bars to prevent erosion, building and repairing foot bridges, as well as building benches and other structures. Skills used in these efforts are also useful for Appalachian Trail maintenance.

Information for Hike & Activities Schedule, TATC website listings and MeetUp postings are collected and edited by the hikemaster. Contact Jim Newman at 757 867-6688 or jimnewman55@cox.net with information for publication.

www.tidewateratc.com