Shenandoah National Park and the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club will celebrate National Trails Day on June 4, 2005. New hikers and experienced backpackers alike are invited to learn new trail skills and practice old ones at the “Beyond the Trailhead” event from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Dickey Ridge and Byrd Visitor Centers.
The event is designed to give novice hikers the information they need to leave their cars behind and venture beyond the trailhead to enjoy this area’s numerous hiking and nature trails. More experienced hikers can enjoy the longer hikes. Information about Leave No Trace outdoor skills and ethics will be available at both Dickey Ridge and Byrd Visitor Centers. For those interested in preserving our hiking trails or backwoods heritage, SNP Trails personnel and Potomac Appalachian Trail Patrol are offering hands-on demonstrations of hiking trail maintenance and the care and use of such traditional hand tools as crosscut saws at Byrd Visitor Center.
A variety of hikes guided by experienced Trail Patrol members will also be offered for people of all ages and experience levels: hikes suitable for families with children; easy, moderate, and advanced hikes for adults. Hikers will need to meet at the registration tables at Dickey Ridge and Harry F. Byrd Visitor Centers 15 minutes before the hike time to sign in. Hikers should wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the season, and bring a lunch and plenty of water.
Hikes leaving Byrd Visitor Center: Family/Easy Story of the Forest Nature Trail 1.8 mi. 9:30, 11:00, 1:00 Easy Taste of the AT 2 mi. 9:45, 11:15 Moderate Lewis Falls Trail 2.5-3 mi. 9:30, 1:00 Moderate Dark Hollow Falls Trail 1.4 mi. 10:30, 12:45 Moderate Black Rock AT Loop 5 mi. 10:00 Mod/Nature Booten Gap-Cat Knob 4.5 mi. 10:00 Advanced Rose River Loop Trail 6 mi. 9:45
Hikes leaving Dickey Ridge Visitor Center: Family/Easy Fox Hollow Trail 1 mi. 9:30, 11:00, 1:00 Easy Taste of the AT 2 mi. 10:00, 11:30, 1:00 Mod/History Snead Farm Loop 3 mi. 9:30, 1:00 Moderate Dickey Hill 3 mi. 10:00, 1:00
To pre-register, send an email to TrailPatrol@patc.net by June 2. Please include your name and which hike you wish to join. Pre-registration is encouraged, but you may also register on June 4 at both Dickey Ridge and Byrd Visitor Centers.
There are no fees to attend or participate in any hike, workshop, or event connected with “Beyond the Trailhead”; however, there is a $10-per-car entrance fee to the park (good for seven days). “Beyond the Trailhead” celebrates the annual National Trails Day, organized and sponsored by American Hiking Society.
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a non-profit volunteer organization and member club of the Appalachian Trail Conference. The PATC assumes responsibility for cooperative maintenance and visitor services along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and many other foot trails and associated facilities in the Shenandoah National Park and in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Shenandoah National Park and PATC have been jointly involved in the stewardship of trails since the Park’s establishment in 1936.
Trail Patrol is the education and outreach arm of PATC. Trail Patrol members hike area trails to offer information and assistance to hikers and backpackers who need their help. Trail Patrol volunteers report trail conditions to PATC trail maintainers, and offer public classes in beginning and intermediate backpacking, hike leadership training, and Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.
For more information about the event, visit the PATC website or contact Trail Patrol at TrailPatrol@patc.net. For more information on the park and Dickey Ridge and Byrd Visitor Centers, visit the park’s website . Dickey Ridge Visitor Center lies within the park at milepost 4.6 on Skyline Drive. Byrd Visitor Center lies within the park at milepost 51 on Skyline Drive.
