GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SCPRO EVENTS
SCPRO events are open to the public, but participants must be able to meet the event requirements. See Hike Rating System for explanation of hike difficulty scale. At their discretion, leaders may screen would-be participants by phone; limit the number of participants; and cancel, reschedule, and/or relocate events.
Pets are not allowed on SCPRO outings, except on outings formally advertised (in this calendar or elsewhere) as being open to pets.
SCPRO suggests that each event participant make a $2 donation to help defray SCPRO expenses (the organization is wholly self-supporting). Similarly, for events involving a carpool, SCPRO suggests each rider pay the driver $0.08 a mile for day trips and $0.10 a mile for canoe and backpacking trips. SCPRO also encourages riders and drivers to agree in advance on the total amount per person and to round it off to the nearest 50 cents or dollar.
PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSIBILITY
Participants are responsible for their own safety and must assume all risks and liability when participating in outings or other events organized by SCPRO. SCPRO leaders and officials shall not be liable for any injuries, loss, or damage to people or property arising from SCPRO outings or other organized events. Individuals under the age of 18 must either be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or have a signed permission slip from that person to give to the leader of the outing or event.
Participants on SCPRO events are required to sign the Sierra Club's standard liability waiver. If you want to read the liability waiver before deciding to participate in an outing or other event, visit www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms or contact the club's Outings Department 415/977-5528 to obtain a printed version.
BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
Participants on SCPRO outings and other organized events should be prepared to deal with certain physical risks associated with hiking, especially dehydration and hypothermia. They should carry or otherwise have access to adequate amounts of water, the general rule of thumb being roughly 1 quart for every 5 miles of distance, depending partly on the weather and partly on the degree of physical exertion, and also being mindful of the old saying that, if you're not peeing, you're not drinking enough. They should take along sufficient layers of clothing (wool and fleece are best for warmth; cotton is bad, especially when wet), as well as effective raingear—and also may want to carry some food. Finally, individuals with health concerns should consult a physician and the event leader to ascertain whether a particular event is suitable for them.
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN CALENDAR: AT = Appalachian Trail, GWNF = George Washington National Forest, MP = Mile Post, PATC = Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, SNP = Shenandoah National Park.
MULTI-DAY EVENTS
Fri.-Mon. Feb. 12-15. Ski-Dance Weekend.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
On-going. The Sierra Club Inner City Outings (ICO) is looking for outings volunteers. If you are interested, contact Scott Johnson, (585) 738-4413, WashingtonDCICO@gmail.com.
HIKE SERIES
Get Fit for Spring/Train for One Day Hike (ODH) outings help hikers shake winter blahs, explore the beauties of nature without crowds, and prepare for outdoor activities in general and Sierra Club’s annual ODH along the C&O Canal towpath to Harpers Ferry. The distances covered by these weekly go-at-your-own-pace hikes gradually increase through the winter and early spring, so hikers can better gauge which (if either) of the optional distances (50 or 100 km) they want to tackle on ODH day? April 25 (see www.onedayhike.org for details and on-line registration).
Conservation hikes hikes are educational, focusing on the fauna, flora and history of a locale.
Get to Know [name of locale] hikes are educational/recreational outings open to all but aimed chiefly at newcomers to hiking or the metro area. They focus on select areas and combine exercise with brief information-enhanced stops, often along interesting but little-known routes.
Multicultural Outings are hikes that recognize some aspect of the diversity of the group such as language, customs or cuisine.
Potomac River and Fireside Winter Hikes explore the C&O Canal towpath and other trails along the Potomac River and enjoy a fire at the Carderock picnic area.
FEBRUARY EVENTS
Sat. Feb. 6. Rated A. DC Lincoln Cottage Hike (Get to Know DC).[CANCELLED]
Sat. Feb. 6. Rated B. Get to Know DC Park Walk [REPLACED BY SKI EVENT BELOW.]
Sat. Feb. 6. Unrated. Get to Know Nearby Maryland Park By Cross Country Skis. [NEW] Easy ski through the Gold Mine Tract near Great Falls Maryland. Absolutely beautiful with views of the Potomac River just below Great Falls - starts in late morning. You must have your own equipment. For details - meeting time and place, Contact Jim Finucane (301) 365-3485 (before 9 pm please) or jim.finucane@yahoo.com & Bob Mathis (301) 589-7539 before 9pm.
Sat. Feb. 6. Rated C. C&O Canal Towpath around Carderock (Get Fit for Spring/ODH). C&O Towpath between Carderock and beyond Great Falls. A go-at-your-own-pace, 11 mi. hike from Carderock to milepost 16 and return, with a side trip to the Great Falls overlook. Meet at 9 am promptly at Carderock Recreation Area, first parking lot; driving directions at www.sierrapotomac.org/directions. Leaders: Christine Ford, 703/425-6899 (before 10 pm) and Frank Wodarczyk, fwhiker44@cox.net or 703/569-6737 (before 10 pm).
Fri.-Mon. Feb. 12-15. Ski-Dance Weekend. This popular annual event, cosponsored by SCPRO and PATC, will be held as usual in Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands and will feature cross-country skiing, free skiing instruction, sledding, contra dancing, singing, and other forms of fun. The dance tunes will be played by David Wiesler and Laura Light, and you will be moved by the calling of Victoria Barone and Bob Mathis. Keep in mind that it's a great event for beginners and families and likely to sell out early—so be sure to make your reservation soon. For more information, call Eliot Applestein/Marta Vogel, 301/984-6855 or Bob Mathis, 301/589-7539 or visit http://www.skidance.com. This event will NOT be cancelled for lack of snow.
Sat. Feb. 13. Rated C. Patuxent Branch Trail (Get-Fit-for-Spring/ODH). Approx. 12-mi. out-and-back, at your own pace hike in Howard County, MD, with a loop around Lake Elkhorn; cross the last remaining Bollman suspension truss bridge in the U.S. Post-hike supper option at Ram’s Head Tavern in historic Savage Mill, near trailhead. Meet 10:30 am at Exxon/Tiger Mart/Wendy’s, corner of US 1 and Gorman Road in Savage, MD, via I-95N exit 38A, MD 32 east and then US 1 south (allow 1 hour from downtown DC). Call Gary for carpool options. Leaders: Gary Kosciusko, 703/765-0306 and Pat Hopson, 703/379-1795 (9 am-10 pm).
Sat. Feb. 13. Rated H. Overall Run and Heiskell Hollow Trails. A 16-mi. circuit hike that will transition from the Thompson Hollow access to the Heiskell Hollow Trail to ascend to the AT in the Matthews Arm area. Return will be via the Elkwallow and the Overall Run Trails. The Overall Run Falls are the tallest in SNP. Elev. gain 3500 ft. Meet at Oakton Shopping Center at 7:30 am. Moderate pace with stops for flora and fungi of interest. Inexperienced hikers call for hiker requirements. Leader: William Needham, 410/884-9127 or Needham82@aol.com.
Sun. Feb. 14. Rated A + A. National Arboretum (Get to Know DC Series). Instead of taking flowers to someone special, take that person to the arboretum, where there are bound to be flowers in bloom along the route of what will be a moderately paced 8 mi. circuit hike through an exotic landscape. The hike will consist of two leisurely paced 4 mi. loops with a lunch stop in between, and you’re welcome to do either loop or both. Brief stops en route will include myriad labeled trees and other plants, leaf-free Anacostia River overlooks, a well-stocked bonsai and penjing museum (including viewing stones), a one-time brickyard, the top of Mount Hamilton (a Civil War observation and signaling station), a native-plant grotto called Fern Valley, and 24 of the columns that once graced the Capitol’s East Portico. Leashed dogs are welcome. To participate, gather at 9:30 am in the parking lot just inside the arboretum’s R Street entrance; to do the second loop only, meet the leaders inside the nearby admin building at 1 pm. For details or if carless, contact the leaders. Joint event with AMC/DC. Leaders: Paul Elliott, 202/423-7913, and Frank Wodarczyk, 703/569-6737 (before 10 pm) or fwhiker44@cox.net.
Sat. Feb 20. Rated A. Accotink Creek: Impact of the I-495 Expansion. (Conservation Hike) This hike of about 4 very-moderately paced miles, over possibly muddy trails, will focus on the impacts of road projects, such as the HOT-lanes expansion of the Beltway, and other construction on local stream valleys and watersheds. We'll also discuss environmental restoration projects in the area. Meet at 10 am, at Americana Park, Annandale, VA. (From Little River Tnpk just west of Beltway, turn left on Pineridge Dr, then left at Accotink Pkwy, and follow to park entrance: http://tinyurl.com/6tzswn.) Contact leaders for pick-up at West Falls Church Metro. Leaders: Kris Unger, krisunger@gmail.com or 301/980-5621, and Mike Darzi, Michael.Darzi@saic.com or 301/580-9387.
Sat. Feb. 20. Rated C. Beaverdam Lakeshore Trail. Enjoy a winter hike around the beautiful and largely unknown Beaverdam Reservoir in eastern Loudoun County. As the largest lake in Northern Virginia, Beaverdam is being proposed as a possible Northern Virginia Regional Park. A new trail is already in place, with views of wildlife (including beaver lodges), forests, and Goose Creek State Scenic River. Hike distance: 8 mi. over totally flat terrain. Meet at the Dulles Town Center parking lot along Rt. 7 (Leesburg Pike) in eastern Loudoun County at 10 am. Directions: From the Capital Beltway take Rt. 7 west 18 mi. to the Dulles Town Center. Go left on City Center Blvd. and right on Mirage Way. Park in front of Dicks Sporting Goods. Leaders: Glenn Gillis, 703/430-0568 or glennpotomacfalls@yahoo.com and Paul Elliott 202/423-7913.
Sat. Feb. 20. Rated C/D. Mt. Vernon Trail (Get-Fit-for-Spring/ODH). A scenic 13.5 mi. out-and-back hike along the Potomac River between Mt. Vernon and Dyke Marsh, with a loop through Fort Hunt Park. At your own pace. Meet at 9 am at north end of Mount Vernon’s east parking lot. Leaders: Russ Norfleet, 703/294-6068, and Carol Ivory, carolivory@verizon.net.
Sun. Feb 21. Rated D. Riverbend Park/Great Falls. Moderate to fast paced hike of 9.8 mi. with 2200 ft. of elev. change. Beautiful views of the Potomac River and Great Falls. (from Paul Elliott's book: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Washington, D.C.). Bring lunch. Meet at Riverbend Park Visitor Center parking lot at 8 am. Leader: Liz Guertin, 202/415-4639 (till 9 pm) or eguertin@yahoo.com.
Fri. Feb. 26. Rated A/B. Moonlit Hike on the Mall. Explore the beauty of DC's Mall and monuments by the full moon. Meet at Constitution and 16th St. (on Constitution half way between 15th and 17th Sts.) near the Washington Monument at 7 pm. Use Federal Triangle Metro or park on the street (Constitution Ave.). Kids who can walk 7+ mi. (or 3 mi.) on relatively level terrain are welcome. Leader: Jim Finucane, 301/365-3485 (before 9 pm) or Jim.finucane@yahoo.com for more information.
Sat. Feb. 27. Not Rated. Ninth Annual End of Winter Celebration – Canoeing Antietam Creek. Winter is winding down; get out and overcome cabin fever. Practiced novice trip of 12 mi., Class 1-2 whitewater running through Antietam National Battlefield Park. Canoe and life jackets required. Dry bags with clothing change strongly suggested. Co-sponsored with Canoe Cruisers Assoc. Monocacy Canoe Club, & Blue Ridge Voyager Canoe Club. Leader: Contact Jim Finucane, 301/365-3485 (before 9 pm please) or jim.finucane@yahoo.com.
Sat. Feb. 27. Rated C/D. Raven Rock/Magic Quartz Hike. AT from Rt. 7, north to Raven Rocks. 6 mi. total, but feels like 10+, with lots of rugged, rocky stretches. Make sure to bring a good lunch to enjoy at memorable turnaround vista. Ice/snow alternative Bull Run Mountains. Meet at 9 am, to carpool from Oakton Shopping Center, VA, Starbucks, on VA Rt. 123 (2930 Chain Bridge Rd.) Leaders: David Burd, dburd26@hotmail.com or 703/998-9390 and Carol Ivory, carolivory@verizon.net.
Sat. Feb. 27. Rated C or D. Fairfax Cross County Trail (Get Fit for Spring/ODH). A flat, go-at-your-own-pace hike along a pleasantly wooded path in Fairfax County, with 11- or 15-mi. options. We first loop around Lake Accotink in Springfield and then do an out-and-back to either Eakin Community Park (shorter option) or Thaiss Park (longer one) in Fairfax. Meet at 9 am at the Audrey Moore Recreation Center in Wakefield Park, 8100 Braddock Rd, Annandale. The entrance to Wakefield Park is the first right turn just west of I-495 Exit 54A, and the Rec. Center is 0.5 mi. down the park road. Leaders: Frank Wodarczyk, fwhiker44@cox.net or 703/569-6737 (before 10 pm) and Mike Darzi, michael.darzi@saic.com or 301/580-9387.
Sun. Feb. 28. Rated B. St. Mary’s River State Park. Venture forth to St. Mary’s Co. in southern MD to do a moderately paced 8-9 mi. and enviro-educational hike that will wend around a 250-acre lake in an area filled with woodlands, fields, and wetlands. You’ll also have the prospect of getting fine waterscape views before the trees leaf out and of seeing skunk cabbage, orchid blossoms, and other early glimmers of spring. Take along lunch and water (hot beverages also recommended), and warm clothing. To carpool, meet at 9 am in Alexandria in the Van Dorn Metro station’s Park & Ride lot (Metro riders should cross the Kiss & Ride lot to get there). Or arrange with the leader to drive directly to the trailhead (there, expect a park entry fee of $4/vehicle). Joint event with AMC/DC. Leader: Paul Elliott, 202/423-7913.
Sun. Feb 28. Rated D. Broad Hollow/Pine Hill Gap, SNP. Moderate circuit hike in of 5.7 mi. with 3600 ft. elev. change. Good views. Meet at north parking lot of the Vienna Metro at 8:30 am. Leader: Liz Guertin, 202/415-4639 (before 9 pm) or eguertin@yahoo.com.
FUTURE EVENTS
Sat. Mar. 13. Rated H. Knob Mountain and Neighbor Mountain Trails. A 17-mi. circuit hike starting at Rt 611 and ascending Knob Mountain and Cutoff Trails to the AT. Return on Neighbor Mountain Trail. Elev. gain 4,000 ft. Meet at Oakton Shopping Center at 7:30 am. Moderate pace with stops for flora and fungi of interest. Inexperienced hikers call for hiker requirements. Leader: William Needham, 410/884-9127 or Needham82@aol.com.
Sat. May 1, 2010. Rated H++ or H+. Annual One Day Hike. Join a couple hundred new and old friends to walk 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) along the C&O Canal towpath from Washington, DC, to Harpers Ferry, WV. Or start later the same morning upriver from DC for the 50K option. Registration opens January 1. For more information, go to www.onedayhike.org.
EVENTS SPONSORED BY AFFILIATES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
The following events are not run by SCPRO. Neither SCPRO nor other Sierra Club organizations can take responsibility or make representations or warranties about the quality, safety, supervision, or management of events they do not sponsor. These events are gleaned from other sources and presented here in case interested readers want to contact the sponsors for more information.
Tuesday Vigorous Hikes. This is a series of generally difficult hikes--often with a less vigorous option--held each Tuesday. The series is now sponsored by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. For more information, see http://potomacappalachian.org or http://groups.google.com/group/Vigorous-Hikers.
Sat. February 13, 9 to 11:30 a.m. Explore Columbia Heights (DC). Trace its development from rural hinterland to upscale suburb, middle and working-class neighborhood, and now a revitalizing ethnically and economically diverse residential area with commercial and cultural amenities. Learn more about area residents, professionals, and visitors who changed the neighborhood, nation, and world. See sites where Marriott got its start as a 14th Street root beer stand and civil rights leaders planned and implemented Martin Luther King Jr.’ s Poor People’s Campaign. Meet at pool and fountain at corner of 14th Street and Kenyon Street one block north of the Columbia Heights Metro Station. Cost $10.00/person. For more information contact Russ Norfleet, 703/294-6068 or russnorfleet@verizon.net