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Overseers

Trail overseers at work

Trail overseers—maintainers—are the core of our Club. In the South District of Shenandoah National Park, we are responsible for close to 50 miles of the Appalachian Trail, plus many miles of blue-blazed side trails. This mileage is more some other A.T. clubs have in total, yet PATC maintains over 1,000 miles of trails in all. This effort requires the dedication and commitment of many who contribute as trail overseers and trail crew members. Our overseers include members of the Charlottesville and Southern Shenandoah Valley chapters of PATC, as well as others who are not affiliated with a chapter. Some come out to the Park from as far away as the Tidewater region in Virginia—Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Newport News. Together, they invest hundreds of hours each year to maintain the hiking trails here in the South District.

Injuries to Volunteers: VIP Program

Written by Don White
Tuesday, 21 October 2008 00:00
We who voluntarily construct and maintain public hiking trails are well aware of the physical nature of our avocation as well as of the tools we use. One thing we don’t often think of is what use need to do if we’re injured. In this case, I’m writing about the administrative side, not about wilderness or emergency first aid. (If you’re out in the backcountry and don’t* have training in first aid, you must get it as soon as possible.*)
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What is Poison Ivy/Poison Oak?

Written by Yale Medical Group
Saturday, 07 June 2008 00:00
There are three native American plants that collectively may be called poison ivy: Poison ivy Poison oak Poison sumac These plants can cause an allergic reaction in nearly 85 percent of the population. To be allergic to poison ivy, you must first be "sensitized" to the oils. This means that next time there is contact with the plant, a rash may occur.
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Lyme Disease

Written by The Register
Friday, 26 October 2007 00:00
Trail workers should take precautions against Lyme disease, a debilitating tick-borne illness that can cause cardiac and neurological problems as well as arthritis. It is spread by black-legged ticks (deer ticks) and is found along most of the Trail, but is particularly prevalent in southern New England and the mid-Atlantic states.
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Poison Ivy on Steroids?

Saturday, 07 June 2008 00:00

A bed of poison ivy in a forest

If you’ve noticed anything different about the poison ivy you encounter while hiking or working on a trail, you’re not dreaming. Reports issued last year (2007) provide documentation on increases in:

Poision ivy growth
The average size of poison ivy leaves
The potency of urushiol oil in poison ivy

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

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