The Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club

http://www.tidewateratc.com

26 January 2010

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into the trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” -----John Muir

February 2, 2010 Tuesday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

TATC Board of Directors Meeting

7:00PM at the Pretlow Library, 111 West Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Open to all members.

February 6, 2010 Saturday

Rosanne Scott, Bill Rogers, Milton Beale or <Education @tidewateratc.com> 763-0859

Low Impact Camping and Hiking Workshop----WORKSHOP IS FULL---------

Time and location: First Landing State Park Visitor Center, 9:30AM – 3:30PM. This one-day workshop will explore ways in which we can minimize our impact on the world around us, and increase the enjoyment of the experience while camping and hiking. The class will consist of a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on practice. This is a great introduction for those new to hiking and camping and an informative addition for the more experienced outdoor enthusiast. Participants should bring a bag lunch and should dress with regard to the weather, as the hands-on portion of the class will be conducted outside. The sign-up has already filled all available slots, and the workshop may be offered again if there is sufficient additional interest.

February 10, 2010 Wednesday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

TATC General Meeting

7:00PM at the Pretlow Library, 111 West Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Program: Presentation on Alaska by Richard Tarr (Part I) and affirmation of proposed TATC Budget.

February 14, 2010 Sunday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

THE Chocolate Hike

Annual hike of the 5-mile Noland Trail around the lake near the Mariners Museum and PFAC in Newport News at the south end of J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Take your Valentine for a walk in the woods, and take your chocolate treat to enter into competition for the winning recipe to be determined by our impartial judge. Whether or not you present an entry, expect to be sampling some of the chocolate-related goodies available in this tournament of treats, this marathon of morsels, this ultimate contest of confections. Lunch afterwards for those who have to temper their chocolate with something else. Meet at the Mariners Museum parking lot at 10:30AM.

February 27, 2010 Saturday

Jim Sexton, 484-2827

False Cape State Park TerraGator Ride and Hike

Get a ride on the ultimate swamp- and beach-buggy, the TerraGator. This trip is by reservation only, and limited to 28. Meet by 12:45PM at Little Island City Park in Virginia Beach. The transporter LEAVES Little Island City Park in Sandbridge at 1:00PM and returns there at 5:00PM, with a 45 minute ride each way on the beach. Get in some strenuous hiking on soft sand. See some of the wildlife and environment in this quiet and beautiful state park. Bundle up for cool beach winds, and bring ear plugs for the ride. Call Jim or Chris to make your reservation.

March 2, 2010 Tuesday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

TATC Board of Directors Meeting

7:00PM at the Pretlow Library, 111 West Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Open to all members.

March 10, 2010 Wednesday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

TATC General Meeting

7:00PM at the Pretlow Library, 111 West Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Program: Installation of new Board of Directors/Officers. ALSO: Presentation on Alaska by Richard Tarr (Part II).

March 13, 2010 Saturday

Chris Sexton, 484-2827

Fisherman Island NWR Beach Cleanup
Trip is limited to 20, so get your spot on the list by signing up early. Meet at 8 a.m. at the south toll plaza parking lot for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Cars will be limited on Fisherman Island, so we will first carpool to Eastern Shore Wildlife Refuge. A Ranger will lead us to our access to Fisherman Island. We will be picking up trash on the beach. Eat at restaurant on Eastern Shore afterwards if desired. Take warm clothes, a warm hat, work gloves, and suitable shoes or boots to walk through the possibly wet sand. Wear sunscreen. Bring your camera. All persons will share toll costs for the cars.

March 13, 2010 Saturday

Bill Rogers, 484-6001

Backpacking Seminar

The Do’s-Don’ts, and How to—How not to, and Equipment, Clothes, and more about our favorite outdoor adventure sport. Get some discussion of how to make choices in your equipment purchases. What features to look for. What’s high-priced overkill and what’s a light, satisfying pack to carry that has what you need in it, and what to wear while carrying the pack. Bring lunch and a beverage. 09:55hrs to 16:40hrs (4:40PM). For directions, call Bill.

March 14, 2010 Sunday

Bill Lynn, 867-6753

Merchants Millpond Maintenance

Help do some grooming of this local gem of a locale, after some of the effects of winter, and before the onslaught of bugs. We’ll provide some tools. Bring lunch and gloves to help clear the trail. Call Bill for details and to arrange car-pooling.

March 20, 2010 Saturday

Pat Parker, 851-9252

Sandy Bottom Maintenance

Meet at the Trail Center at 9 AM, work until 12 noon. Pat will coordinate with the rangers to determine the work project for the morning.

March 20-21, 2010 Saturday-Sunday

Bill Lynn, 867-6753

Merchants Millpond Canoe Overnighter

Early springtime camping and canoeing at Merchants Millpond State Park before the bugs arrive in mass. We’ll camp on an island and explore the millpond with its beaver, birds, and alligators. We might also hike or just hang around. This is a great trip for beginners, because canoe rentals are available, and, if you don’t know how to paddle, the trip leader will give you free lessons on this still-water pond. It’s a great trip for children too, so take the munchins. You’ll need normal camping equipment, plus drinking water, and whatever fills your canoe. Contact Bill for details.

March 19-21, 2010 Friday-Sunday

Gordon & Melinda Spence, 464-5096

Beach Camping at Portsmouth Island, NC

Meet on Friday night in Ocracoke, after taking the Hatteras Ferry, and then car-camp or get a motel for the evening, and get ready to leave the car behind for a morning boat ride to Portsmouth Island on Saturday. Explore Portsmouth Island on foot, seeing the town, graveyards, and tidal marsh.  Then set up camp on the beach.  Wonderful shell-searching and wildlife watching.  We will have a fire to sit around weather permitting.  On Sunday morning, it’s time to break camp and hike back to catch the boat to Ocracoke and the ferry to Hatteras.  Take the camera for photo opportunities.  Call Melinda and Gordon for details.

March 28, 2010 Sunday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

New Quarter Trail Maintenance

Meet at 9:30AM at the inner parking lot for a morning of light maintenance. Bring gloves, comfortable footwear, water and snacks. Tools will be provided. Possibility of lunch afterwards, courtesy of Appomattox Canoe and Kayak, featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, barbecue, condiments, and drinks under a shelter as part of “New Quarter Park’s Cabin Fever Sunday.” You could take a big dish to share with the group: chips, beans, pasta salad, veggie tray, deserts, etc. Kiosks will be manned by other outdoor activities and businesses 10:00AM to 1:00PM. Come to explore other groups’ offerings. For more info, check out: <http://www.yorkcounty.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=4626>.

April 6, 2010 Tuesday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

TATC Board of Directors Meeting

7:00PM at the Pretlow Library, 111 West Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Open to all members.

April 10, 2010, Saturday

Bill Buck, 846-1125

First Landing State Park Maintenance

Meet at the parking lot of the Visitors’ Center off Shore Drive for some light maintenance on the Osmanthus Trail. Bring gloves, water, and a snack. Tools will be provided. Share some walking and talking, and maybe a little trimming with your fellow members for some helping out on our local trails. Possible lunch out afterwards.

April 14, 2010 Wednesday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

TATC General Meeting

7:00PM at the Pretlow Library, 111 West Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Program: New Zealand Highlights by Steve Ralph.

April 16-18, 2010 Friday-Sunday

Scott Hilton, 625-6052

Spring Walk-Through

Here’s your chance to get a look at our section of the AT and assess a winter’s wear on the trail. You can get an idea of what we will work on later in May on the Spring Maintenance Weekend. Share some trail time with your friends on the AT somewhere between Reeds Gap and the Tye River as the spring’s earliest growth is revealed.

April 23-25, 2010 Friday-Sunday

Steve Babor, 588-7501

TATC Cabin Maintenance Weekend

Qualify for cabin rental on your own by participating in a cabin maintenance/orientation weekend.

Provide the elbow grease for making the cabin ship-shape for the Spring-Summer. Share some camaraderie with other cabin maintainers: bunk inside or tent outside. Inside bunks limited. Call Steve for more info.

May 4, 2010 Tuesday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

TATC Board of Directors Meeting

7:00PM at the Pretlow Library, 111 West Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Open to all members.

May 12, 2010 Wednesday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

TATC General Meeting

7:00PM at the Pretlow Library, 111 West Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Program: Searching Out and Hiking Historic Sections of the A.T. with Susan Gail Arey.

May 21-23 Friday-Sunday

Scott Hilton, 625-6052

Spring Maintenance—Family Weekend

This is the primary event! This is what we work on: the A.T. section assigned to TATC. Get out with your family to Sherando Campground as our basecamp, and participate in some aspect of the maintenance of our trail section, and share some meal(s) with others, either on the trail or at Sherando.

June 1, 2010 Tuesday

Phyllis Neumann, 566-4584

TATC Board of Directors Meeting

7:00PM at the Pretlow Library, 111 West Ocean View Ave., Norfolk. Open to all members.

LOOKING AHEAD…..SAVE THE DATE!!!!!

The Rockfish Valley Foundation has undertaken a project called the NELSON SCENIC LOOP which includes as part of it our section of the AT from Reed's Gap to the Tye River, and onward to Montebello. You can look at the basic website at www.nelsonscenicloop.com and www.rockfishvalley.org.  They hope to make the website grow with additional information. The Rockfish Valley Foundation will hold a grand discovery day on June 12, 2010, an event to which members of our club are invited to become a part.  As awareness grows of the LOOP, it should help drive volunteers to TATC, and may provide info regarding other sites and activities that may well enhance our enjoyment of the area also.

Canadian Rockies. A sightseeing, hiking, and excursion trip is planned for July 8-19, 2010 to Banff, Jasper, and Yoho National Parks in Canada. The group will be staying in hostels. The trip is full now, but call 484-2827 if you want to be put on a standby list. See Jim Sexton at one of the TATC General Membership meetings, or call for more information

CONTACTS

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.

Hikes and Activities. If you have hike or activities information for a trip you’d like to lead, please call Hikemaster Mark Connolly 623-0764 to leave a message or e-mail at Hikemaster@TidewaterATC.com with all information to be inserted or updated in this listing. Your information provided to the Hikemaster will also be used to update the TATC website. If you e-mail these items, be sure to identify yourself by full name and mention that this is a TATC event. After the event, please return completed Sign-up sheets to the Hikemaster, so they can be retrieved from file for a period of several years. You may take sign-up sheets to the board or general meeting following the event, or mail them to the Hikemaster: Mark Connolly, 1721 LaSalle Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23509.

Return to: www.TidewaterATC.com