Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

     
Front Page Events Details - SNP Trail Crew (2nd week)

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South District Trails Events

Event 

SNP Trail Crew (2nd week)
Title:
SNP Trail Crew (2nd week)
When:
August 8, 2010 - August 13, 2010
Where:
J. Frank Schairer Trail Center - Beldor
Category:
Shenandoah National Park Activities

Description

Thhis is an outstanding opportunity for you to get out in the backcountry, re-build hiking trails, and have a great time doing it! The 2010 Shenandoah Crew season in the South District is limited to two separate week-long sessions.

Volunteers for the Shenandoah Trail Crew rebuild sections of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and blue-blazed hiking trails. Each project is identified and scheduled by the Park staff and coordinated with PATC district managers and trail section overseers. This work is beyond the ability of an individual overseer to accomplish in a timely fashion. Examples of such work include:

  • Turnpiking trail over natural wetland areas to prevent damage to the area
  • Reconstructing cribbing and crib walls on which the trail section was built back in the 1930s
  • Rebuilding sections that have been badly worn by erosion

Compensation

Crew members are volunteers, not contractors. They provide their time and efforts for free. However, PATC provides food and accommodations for the crew. The Park provides a van the crew uses to travel between their “camp” (a backcountry cabin or PATC trail center) and their work sites or trailheads. Crew members provide their own clothing, sleeping bags, day packs, boots, and gloves. PATC provides the tools needed and safety equipment required to do the work.

Commitment

Each person volunteers a week of her or his time for the Crew. If you wish to volunteer more than one week, you may, depending upon the availability of spaces in the crew for that week.

If you are interested in this outstanding program, contact the PATC Trails Coordinator as soon as you can—crew openings fill up quickly!

Apply Now!

Contact the PATC Supervisor of Trails via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by regular mail to apply for the Shenandoah Trail Crew in the South District of Shenandoah National Park.

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Attn: Supervisor of Trails
Shenandoah Trail Crew, South District
118 Park Street SE
Vienna, Virginia 22180-4609

Venue

J. Frank Schairer Trail CenterMap
Venue:
J. Frank Schairer Trail Center   -   Website
Street:
Eaton Hollow Overlook, Skyline Drive
ZIP:
22827
City:
Beldor
State:
Virginia
Country:
Country: us

Description

The PATC purchased this former hunting lodge, along with 200 acres adjacent to Shenandoah National Park west of Skyline Drive between Powell Gap and Eaton Hollow Overlook, in 1993. Shortly after purchasing the property, the Council dedicated the lodge to J. Frank Schairer, who served PATC as its first Supervisor of Trails (he served in that position for more than 10 years). The Club dedicated its 200-acre acquisition in Rockingham County—the Firestone Tract—to the memory of Clifford Firestone.

Eaton Hollow Overlook
Eaton Hollow Overlook & Schairer Trail Center

The Schairer Trail Center is a locked cabin that may be rented only be PATC members. The facility includes a complete kitchen, equiped with a propane stove and refrigerator. Trail crews whose leaders are certified can use the gasoline generator to draw water from the very deep well; other renters must go to the lower spring and haul water up to the Center.

There are two bunk rooms; the living room provides additional sleeping room. In warmer weather, guests often sleep under the stars on the deck overlooking Beldor Hollow far below.

In winter, heating is provided by the large Fisher wood stove in the living room. Propane mantels provided adequate lighting at night. Guests must use the nearby privy.

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