PATC Annual Reports -- 2016 Activities AT Corridor ... · abin. Dennis Staiger, overseer of atoctin...

PATC Annual Reports -- 2016

Activities

Archives and Library

AT Corridor Management

ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Partnership

Cabins Operations

Communications

Information Technology

Lands

Maps

Marketing

Maryland AT Management

Membership

Naturalist

Operations

Publications

Trails

Trail Patrol

Treasurer

Volunteerism

CHAPTERS

Charlottesville

North Chapter

Southern Shenandoah Valley

SUPERVISOR OF ACTIVITIES:

Rush Williamson

Supervisor of Activities:

Rush Williamson

Prepared by: Rush Williamson

Number of Members/Volunteers:

206

Volunteer Hours Reported: 839.80

Number of New

Members/Volunteers: 96

Date: October 16, 2016

In FY 2016, PATC’s “Trail Talkers” participated in a total of 48 events (up from 37 for FY

15), staffed by 19 volunteers. We had to cancel out of two events because not enough

volunteers signed up to attend. Currently there are around 260 members listed

expressing an interest in participating in Trail Talker events, but over the past year only

26 actually turned out; however out of this group, many did several events. The low

number of volunteers willing to help out is still a serious concern. The good news is that

there are close to 100 new members who have expressed an interest in becoming Trail

Talkers this year and hopefully they will become active. A number of events and the

associated hours are not reported here as some Chapters requested to list them in their

reports.

The Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter again stepped up this year and well

represented PATC not only in the Valley but numerous times in Shenandoah Park.

Charlottesville Chapter under the steady hand of Iva Gillet has had many Trail Taker

events, as have North Chapter and Southern Shenandoah Chapter.

Boy Scout Liaison also continued the club’s involvement at several Boy Scout events.

PATC has had an increasing number of requests by Scout groups, to include Girl Scout

and church groups to have PATC representatives give presentations.

A Boy Scout “Trail talker” list to meet the rising demand for PATC to come talk with

Units has been established but still needs much work. There were quite a number of

Eagle Projects completed as a number of work days.

One of the newest outreach projects is going to libraries in Montgomery County, Md.

and doing a display that stays up for a month. This year there were four and there are

three scheduled for next year.

After many years of effort, it appears that PATC will be getting its first College Outdoor

Club affiliate and hopefully the relationship will be formalized this next year

In an effort to attract younger member there has been a significant effort to come up

with games and projects for children to be displayed along with traditional Trail Talk set

ups.

Goals for FY 2016:

Facilitate establishing a viable process to coordinate an interactive relationship between

Trail Patrol’s Hike Leaders Class and the Hike Committee with a goal to increase the

hiking program to include a wider variety of hikes and to make better use of the new

social media tools that are out there.

Work on getting more volunteers to come out and participate in the Trail Talker events

so we can meet the demand of the requests we are getting.

Put particular emphasis on establishing Outdoor Club relationships at a number of the

local Colleges/Universities, building upon the success with Shenandoah University.

2016 Annual Report

Archivist/Librarian

Prepared by: Tom Johnson

Number of Members/Volunteers: 3

Volunteer Hours Reported: 300

Number of New Members/Volunteers: 2

Date: 5 October 2016

The time this year was almost entirely devoted to scanning documents. PATC has literally

thousands of documents that need to be digitized so that the paper files are backed up by

documents in the “cloud.” Working with our IT section, Anstr Davidson has devised a process

for scanning documents and rolling them over into the PATC server, which is backed up to the

cloud every day. We have been recruiting volunteers and so far have several people interested

(and one who is actually working on the scanning process). As of this writing, we are working

on the Myron Avery documents from 1936.

Our newest recruit is Basil Manns, a highly-qualified former Federal worker, who has become

the leader of the scanning committee.

Our project for 2017 is to recruit more volunteers and come as close as we can to finishing the

job.

AT CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT

Tom Lupp

AT Corridor Management: Tom Lupp

Prepared by: Tom Lupp


Volunteer Hours Reported: 499.6


Date: 10/19/16

The AT Corridor Management Committee monitors and maintains the National

Park Service A.T. boundary where it adjoins private property. Working closely with the

Appalachian Trail Park Office and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the volunteer

monitors look for and report encroachment issues and make sure the boundary is

clearly marked for those who might enter the property. Activities for the past year

include:

Worked with monitors to help them perform maintenance on their boundary

sections;

Held training sessions for new monitors;

Supplied all monitors with current segment and survey maps;

Worked with Monitors and NPS rangers to deal with hunting & encroachment

issues;

Worked with ATC to determine reserved right on NPS easement property.

Located new and replacement monitors;

Helped new monitors with field activities;

Worked with volunteers to have entire NPS boundary monitored on an annual

basis;

Remove problem structures in conjunction with ATC;

Continued with road closures in problem areas;

Continued with bald management project on Calf Mountain;

Monitored grazing & mowing SUP for Ridenour Property in MD;

Mowing of the open areas near Linden VA, Ovoka Farms VA and Turners Gap

MD;

Worked with MDATMC to provide assistance with installation of rail fence at

Fox Gap MD, as part of the overall management plan;

Had regularly scheduled boundary maintenance work trips;

Worked with ATC staff to recover boundary using staff & volunteers

2016 Annual Report

ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Partnership

Committee

Prepared by: Pete Brown


Volunteer Hours: 168

Number of New Members/Volunteers: N/A


The Mid-Atlantic Regional Partnership Committee consists of representatives from each of the

mid-Atlantic maintaining clubs that meets with representatives from the Boiling Springs ATC

regional office and government partners such as the AT Park office and state and federal land

managers. It meets twice a year to provide communication between organizations, voice

concerns, approve Trail Community applications, and make recommendations to the ATC

Stewardship Council. The next two-day Spring MARPC meeting will take place at Catoctin

Mountain Park on March 11-13, 2016. All meetings are open to the public, but only invited

attendees join the discussions, and only MARPC members are granted voting privileges.

The 2016 Fall meeting occurred on October 22. Items on the agenda were:

Stewardship Council Report

Visitor Use Management Draft Policy Protecting the AT Experience & Landscape Initiative ATC Future of the Biennial and Annual Meeting (Vista) Greater Blairstown AT Community Application AT Community Integration Plan NPS-APPA Report

APPA Facility Maintenance Update ATC Report Update on PA Specialty Tag Funds Club & Volunteer Liability and Insurance Working with Youth Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness

The 2016 Spring two-day meeting occurred on March 12-13 in Bowmanstown, PA.

Items that were on the agenda were:

Stewardship Council report NPS Report Tick-Borne Diseases AT Community Spotlights AT Community Integration into RPC/Review of 5-Year Evaluation ATC Report Hazard Tree Draft Policy Landscape Conservation Initiative Update Biennial Task Force Update Volunteer of the Year Award ATC's Internal Organizational Structure Palmerton Trail Relocation Update Reassignment of Trail Section to KTA Volunteer/Partner Recognition Nomination Process Review AT Education Initiatives Update Why Diversity?

Cabins Operations Annual Report

The Cabins Committee lost a good friend in 2016 when Bob Oliver,

North District Supervisor and Hermitage Overseer passed away on

March 31st. He will be missed by many of his PATC family. Bob’s wife and

daughter plan to continue his attentive work as overseers of Hermitage

Cabin.

Dennis Staiger, overseer of Catoctin Hollow Lodge, will replace Bob as

North District Supervisor. Little Cove Cabin in that District will be getting

a new woodstove before the winter weather arrives.

The Big Event for Cabins this year was the Reconstruction and

dedication of Catoctin Hollow Lodge. Pat Fankhauser helped muster the

Volunteers and Sandy and Dennis Staiger help to keep them fed and

busy on a project which involved over 1500 volunteer hours. Sandy and

Dennis received a well-deserved Hawksbill Award for all the time they

put in on this project. The newest addition to PATC Cabins has been

getting rave reviews from cabin renters. Also in the central district, Ben

Mayock welcomed new overseers at Olive Green and Bear Springs

Cabins.

In the Piedmont District we welcomed a new overseer at Meadows

Cabin. We also completed projects which were planned in conjunction

with the acquisition of Horwitz Cabin, including roof and sewer line

repairs and screening in the porch. Special thanks go to Dave Kirkwood

who did the porch screening. Rosser Lamb Cabin is also showing lots of

improvement thanks to the efforts of Bruce and Alison Berberick.

In the Shenandoah Valley District Thomas Jorgensen added two new

enthusiastic overseers at Lambert Cabin and Cliff’s House. Lee Bowen,

overseer at Huntley Cabin found the septic tank and got it pumped out,

which wasn’t as easy as it sounds, since they planted a tree on top of it

in 1979 !

In the Shenandoah National Park, Regional Supervisor Glen Tsaparis got

help from the PATC’s President and Vice President to build a new

moldering privy at Range View Cabin. Glen continues to work with the

Park Staff to plan the replacement of roofs at Corbin and Jones

Mountain Cabins, which are both going to be real challenges due to

their remote locations.

On the Vining Tract, Jeff Testerman’s Overseers continue to do excellent

work maintaining their cabins. At a recent meeting with Dan and

Motoko Vining at the cabin we lease from them, we were able to

demonstrate that the Solar Power System that they paid for last year

has saved PATC one third on our electric bills over the last year.

I should also mention that Chris Jones and his Work Hut Overseers have

been doing an excellent job maintaining the Club’s four work huts. The

huts provide a great location for trail crews to stay and allow the club to

earn more income from our Cabins System.

As usual the Cabins Overseers held their Annual Meeting at Blackburn

trail Center in April and the Cabins Committee met in April and

September.

SUPERVISOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: Alan Day

Supervisor of Communications:

Alan Day

Prepared by: Alan Day




Date: 10/17/2016

Public Affairs

Jim Fetig has agreed to chair the Public Affairs committee. Pending the possible realignment of reporting channels addressed in the PATC Strategic Plan, this committee will need to develop a communications plan that will improve PATC internal communications. It will also need to develop a social media program that projects PATC activities and goals to the general public.

Potomac Appalachian

Potomac Appalachian Editor Rachel Levin and Co-Editor Dan Pulskamp have continued to lead the committee that produces and publishes the Potomac Appalachian every month, on time.

Rachel has drafted a policy for Letters to the Editor that addresses how to handle unsuitable content sent in by members. This policy will be reviewed by ExCom prior to being presented to Council.

Wolf Trap

PATC helped Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts put on a spring (22-23 April 2016) and fall (7-8 October 2016) campouts for 5th and 6th grade first-time campers. The campers were from local Fairfax County elementary schools and they had fun, learned about nature, the basics of cooking with Dutch ovens, pitching tents, and other camping skills. Mike Moran and Alan Day led the campers on hikes on the PATC-constructed and maintained trail around the Park, and provided planning and logistical support. Jayne Mayne served as an adult volunteer for the fall camp out. In addition to setting up tents, and cooking their own meals using Dutch ovens and camp stoves, the campers were taught archery, fly fishing, gardening, about insect pollinators and went on a backstage tour. Campers also participated in a camp fire, performed skits, and enjoyed s’mores. PATC donated $1,000 that funded camperships for needy campers and provided two slightly used sleeping bags in good condition. There were 28 girls and 17 boys at the spring event; 34 girls and 25 boys at the fall event. A press release has been drafted and is in editing.

Information Technology

IT Chair Lee Manning and PATC IT Analyst Kit Sheffeld deployed a new design for the PATC website. Several members of ExCom are participating in a pilot test of a new email system for PATC. If this is successful, and adopted by Council, it would allow Council members to send and receive email with a patc.net domain name. This system would automatically archive PATC emails and would significantly improve PATC record keeping.

NPS Partnership Summit

Supervisor of Communications Alan Day participated at NPS Partnership Summit held in Fredrick MD on 19 October 2015. This was an opportunity to discuss the PATC youth outreach activities and connect with NPS staff.

We participated in the Virginia Trails Advisory Committee meetings on 22 March and 18 August 2016. This Committee was mandated by the Virginia General Assembly to provide input to the trails and waterway recreational planning. There was a lot of interest expressed in the PATC Youth outreach program & PATC may have an opportunity to make a more formal presentation at a future meeting.

Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority Executive Director Paul Gilbert suggested that a First-time Campers camp out might be held at Pohick Bay & Bull Run Regional Parks. Boy Scout Scoutmaster Gary Pan and Alan Day have engaged several Boy Scout troops to explain the concept to try to interest them in taking on the camp out concept as a scout service project that promotes outdoor youth leadership experience.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Lee Manning, Chairman

Information Technology: Lee Manning

Prepared by: Lee Manning




Date: 10/14/2016

This has been a fairly quiet year for Information Technology, as the PATC web site and

its associated databases have been stable. We undertook a significant redesign of the

web site look and feel, with the able assistance of temporary staff help added as a part-

time manager. New features included reorganized drop-down menus and an animated

slide show featuring major items of interest which could be selected by mouse click as

the slide appeared.

We continue to enjoy cost savings associated with our decision to combine telephone

service with our internet/broadband service, eliminating most long distance charges,

and providing high speed internet access throughout the PATC HQ building in Vienna.

Our ability to do electronic business has improved steadily, with all sales from the on-

line store, dues payments, donations, and cabin rentals all now enabled for credit card

use.

We take some pride in the fact that our web services offer free technical support,

provided by volunteers and staff. The improvement to the quality of our databases is

notable, as users interact with them via secure logon for all reporting of volunteer

hours.

We are currently engaged in an upgrade to our primary business operating system,

iMIS, with full access to the new system planned for November 1. The system upgrade

will include new possibilities for further improvements to the web site look and feel, and

will open up our on line payment options to subscription payments, automating (for

example) membership renewal dues payments, and recurring donations.

We anticipate further improvements in calendar year 2017, as funding permits.

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club

2016 Lands Report

In order to protect the Appalachian Trail corridor, the Tuscarora Trail

and to preserve other open space land, the Potomac Appalachian Trail

Club currently owns 45 land parcels totaling 2,610.51 acres, located in

four states. In Virginia the club owns 1,919.19 acres; in Maryland 76.38

acres; in Pennsylvania 256.64 acres; and in West Virginia 358.31 acres.

A total of 1,177.18 acres in Virginia has been donated as Conservation

Easements. We are currently negotiating to protect another 24 acres

through a conservation easement.

Granting Conservation Easements is not only good for the environment

but in Virginia also provides a financial benefit for the Club, as we are

permitted to sell our state conservation tax credits to individual and

corporate purchasers. Thus far we have realized $854,630 from the sale

of Virginia conservation tax credits.

Together with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, we are in the process

of negotiating the sale of 17.816 acres in Maryland which protect the AT

corridor. The proposed purchaser, Maryland’s Department of Natural

Resources, will continue to utilize this land to protect the Appalachian

Trail.

Earlier this year the Club sold approximately 21 acres of our property at

the foot of Old Rag Mountain to the Shenandoah National Park Trust,

which in turn transferred the land to the Shenandoah National Park to

be utilized in the future as a new parking lot for Old Rag hikers.

In October, 2016, the Club’s Council adopted a Hunting Policy for club-

owned and managed lands. This policy will ensure that the granting of

a limited number of hunting permits will be conducted in a transparent

manner and will enable the Club to maintain complete records of all

such hunting permits.

2016 Annual Report: Maps

Maps Committee Chair

Prepared by: Brian Goudreau





Major Accomplishments, October 2015–December 2016:

Map printing:

Map 12 new edition Nov 9, 2015 2550 copies

Map 13 new edition Nov 9, 2015 2550 copies

Map F new edition Feb 22, 2016 2050 copies

Map N reprint May 10, 2016 1500 copies

Map 10 reprint Aug 9, 2016 4000 copies

Map 5-6 reprint Oct 2016 1000 copies

Map H reprint Oct 2016 1000 copies

Map 8 new edition (planned) Dec 2016 6050 copies

Map mobile apps:

No activity in 2016

Committee Highlights: The GPS Rangers continued their excellent work. See separate subcommittee report below.

On 9/29/2016, five licenses of ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced were purchased to run through 9/29/2017 from ESRI to support GIS data maintenance, new map layouts, and other database development projects.

On 9/29/2016, three ArcPad licenses were renewed, to run through 9/29/2017. These support the use of the high-precision Trimble Juno and Trimble Geo X 6000 GPS devices donated by Jim Tomlin for use in boundary marker recovery for Lands Committee activities and for special storm-related surveys.

New editions of Maps 12, 13, and F were produced (see schedule above).

A new edition of Map 8 is planned for late 2016 (see schedule above).

Reprints of Maps N, 10, 5-6, and H were ordered (see schedule above).

All allocated print funds are expected to be used in 2016, likely leaving a surplus. At the time of this report, map sales revenues are trending slightly lower than predicted for 2016, once discounts are factored in. Map app sales are trending lower than predicted, and are still not recouping costs of development and marketing.

Three members of the Maps Committee assisted at both sessions of Hike Leader Training put on by Trail Patrol. Instruction was provided in basic map reading and navigation skills, including a short introduction to GPS concepts.

The GIS Subcommittee failed to achieve its goal of completing a GIS system to manage GPS Rangers GPX tracks and waypoints, reference data for map updates, and land parcels. The subcommittee did develop a database schema that can still be used to build a database. The entire concept is under revision and will evolve into a much simpler (and cost-free) plan to take advantage of the ArcGIS Online capabilities already available to us as customers of ESRI, Inc. The $4000 that was allocated to cover the cost of an online system will not be spent in 2016.

Maps Committee Goals for 2017 By January 1, 2017, permanently remove PATC apps PATC-Shenandoah and PATC-Maryland-Northern

Virginia-West Virginia from the iTunes App Store and Google Play store. Our maintenance contract with International Mapping, Inc., has expired and the apps are too far out of date to continue to sell. Revenue is miniscule.

By January 2017, print Map 11 Edition 17 (reprint), 6000 copies (2-yr supply).

By March 2017, print Map 2-3 Edition 13 (new), 4500 copies (2-yr supply).

By March 2017, print Map 4 Edition 12 (new), 4500 copies (2-yr supply).

By April 2017, print Map 5-6 Edition 20 (new), 6000 copies (2-yr supply).

By April 2017, print Map 7 Edition 17 (new), 6000 copies (2-yr supply).

By mid-2017, complete loading GPS Rangers data to a single geodatabase to be used to drive out online maps showing PATC content (cabin locations, trail maintenance status, etc.).

By June 2017, print Map 1 Edition 12 (reprint), 6500 copies (2-yr supply).

By September 2017, print Map 10 Edition 23 (new), 8500 copies (2-yr supply).

By September 2017, print Map F Edition 6 (reprint), 2000 copies (2-yr supply).

By October 2017, print Map 12 Edition 12 (reprint), 2500 copies (2-yr supply).

By October 2017, print Map 13 Edition 7 (reprint), 2500 copies (2-yr supply).

Yearlong - continue efforts to engage GPS Rangers volunteers in GPS data collection for the Tuscarora Trail and other trails. The Rangers will continue to accept special projects at the request of our partner organizations.

GPS Rangers Subcommittee Report, Jim Tomlin, Chair

The GPS Rangers performed 2,054 volunteer hours in 2016, down from 4,836 hours in 2015. Less surveying was needed in 2016, as most PATC maps have already had all trails and fire roads surveyed. Maps 1, 5-6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, D, F, G, H, L, and N are completed. Most of those maps remaining (J, K. L) are not popular hiking areas, are more distant, and therefore have less interest in volunteer visits, although the core group of dedicated GPS Rangers worked on all of these areas. The 2016 totals included 72 individual GPS surveys by 30 volunteers. The 2016 surveys tended to be for Maps 5-6, J, K, and L, with some cleanup surveys as needed on Maps H, 8, 11, and 2-3. Maps 2-3, 4, and K are close to being finished. The only PATC map that still requires significant effort is Map J. The primary focus in 2016 was finishing Map 5-6, 8, F, L, and getting a good start on Maps K and J, as well as performing numerous special surveying projects. GPS Rangers provided special projects for the Maryland State DNR (Maryland AT Access Points), Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (Short Hill Property Survey), Maryland State DNR for Monocacy Natural Resource Management Area (surveying for a new trail system), and continued work on the Shenandoah NP Non-AT Viewshed survey project. The Catoctin Trail in Maryland was surveyed in detail and entirety over the New Year’s holiday weekend. GPS Rangers collected GPS coordinates for one new PATC cabin (Cunningham Falls SP) and its parking area and both GPSed and wheeled its hike-in, as well as supported the Cabins staff with suggested routes and coordinates for several existing cabins. GPS Rangers assisted with surveying and producing a map for the new Blackburn septic system. One free GPS Rangers training weekend class was held in November 2015 for new volunteers. An Annual Planning meeting was held at Highacre in March to discuss, decide, and lay out the schedule for the year. Two GPS Rangers attended a 2-day Trimble ArcPad/Positions training course by Duncan-Parnell in Ashland, VA. GPS Rangers completed a Tuscarora Trail Pennsylvania assessment by walking the entire non-roads section of the TT in Pennsylvania, assessing conditions of blazing, blowdowns, brush, signage, structures, and tread. Collaborations with the University of Maryland Terrapin Trail Club and C&O Canal Association occurred in 2016. The TTC surveyed all of the Maryland AT in one day, by sending teams to each trail section. PATC GPS Rangers completed a special Park sign survey for the C&O Canal Association. These collaborations are ongoing. GPS Rangers attended meetings with Park staffs of C&O Canal National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Maryland State DNR (Greenbrier and Seneca Creek SP), Shenandoah NP, Antietam National Battlefield Park, Lee District GWJNF, Buchanan State Forest, and Tuscarora State Forest to assist in our surveying and improve the PATC maps of these areas.

Although not under the auspices of PATC, ten PATC GPS Rangers volunteered for one week of trail surveying in Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado at their own time and expense. They covered 526 miles of rugged, high-elevation trails, many in the Rawah Wilderness. GPS Rangers collaborated with the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers and the USFS staff in Fort Collins, CO. The volunteer hours for this project are not included in the totals for this report.

GPS Rangers Goals for 2017

Finish surveying of all trails and fire roads on all PATC maps. Maps 2-3 and 4 have a few trails remaining to be surveyed. The main effort in 2017 will be to finish the side trails on the Tuscarora Trail maps (J and K), with significant effort also going into finishing Map 2-3.

Continue support for Hike Leader Training classes.

Support PATC Lands and District Managers with special survey projects as needed.

Provide support for new PATC GIS efforts to produce online maps for viewing trail maintenance and surveying data.

Many thanks to all GPS Rangers 2016 volunteers, who made all of the above possible, and with no injuries. Nine GPS Rangers were selected for Service Awards for their exemplary service, and one couple (Luke Arbogast and Jennifer Tullman) received the Hawksbill Award from the GPS Rangers.

2016 Annual Report

Title: Supervisor of Marketing

Prepared by: Emeline Otey and Larry

Broadwell


Volunteer Hours Reported 701 (245)



Among the highlights of the marketing and promotional activities for FY2016 was the

design and development of a new brochure reflecting who PATC is and what it does. The

brochure will be our most readily available promotional piece, and will be widely distributed by

our presenters and those who carry our publications. Another highlight was the continuation of

the extremely well received “Hike with the Experts” series hosted by area REI stores; and the

implementation of a contract with BrightKey to provide fulfillment services. Other notable

marketing activities included the forthcoming publication of a new edition of the PATC

Wholesale Catalog; it will be sent to all vendors who have ordered from PATC in the recent past.

A retail sales version will also be published and will be used as a handout for meetings and

presentations.

Marketing volunteers participated in two large-scale community events, which provided the

opportunity to talk about PATC’s activities and to also introduce and sell some of our

outstanding publications and maps. The Sales Committee continued to provide advice in a

number of areas related to marketing and publication strategies. Each of the areas of activity is

described in more detail below.

A new brochure was designed by long-time PATC member and volunteer graphic

designer Lauren Walsh. Lauren’s love of hiking and knowledge of PATC led her to design a

brochure that captures the core of what PATC is about.

PATC’s collaboration with area REI stores, now in its fifth year, continued to be a high point of marketing and promotional efforts. This effort, organized by Larry Broadwell, will:

Enhance the club’s relationship with REI

Inform the public about the club, trails in our region, what is found along those trails in various seasons, and how to prepare for a good outing

Promote the club as a useful reference on local and out-of-region adventures

Encourage attendees to become members

Promote sale of PATC maps and trail guides This year, eight active speakers (with two more in backup roles) delivered 37 evening classes at the eight REI stores in our region. While REI continues to emphasize fee-based, staff-led classes, stores continued to book an average of three PATC presentations per month. As REI is opening a new flagship store in DC and planning to close its College Park store in 2017, steady demand is expected for next year. PATC’s marketing/fulfillment staff member Diane Yang coordinated supplies for the events, while information systems coordinator Kit Sheffield assisted on technical matters and followed up with attendees who requested membership information. The program’s general title remains “Hiking with the Experts.” 2016 presentation topics included:

Best Trails in Shenandoah National Park

Best Trails for Spring Hikes (to find/identify wildflowers)

Best “Splashdown” Trails (paths with dipping and swimming holes)

Best Trails for Fall Hikes

Best Trails for Winter Hikes

Best Nearby Trails (varied with store location)

Hiking Provence and the French-Italian Alps

Trekking up Kilimanjaro

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail

Biking from Pittsburgh to DC on the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal We have offered additional topics (trails in Colorado, in Florida, and elsewhere) for 2017, bringing the total to 29. Another eight topics are in development, as presenters gather material and plan treks. We would welcome still more, especially presentations by PATC’s climbing, mountain rescue and ski-touring sections. Whatever the topic of the evening, our

speakers explain how PATC’s maps and guidebooks help plan outings, as well as the skill-building and volunteer opportunities offered by the club. The number of PATC publications sold by REI and through our website attributable to this effort cannot be calculated, but we know that:

Total attendance at these events during the 12 months ended Sept. 30 was 777, nearly 20% higher than the total for FY ’15, which in turn was 20% higher than the previous year.

119 attendees requested membership information, a substantial drop from the prior year, but still good.

For these presentations, most of which are now in Powerpoint form on club-owned laptops and/or PATC’s Google Drive folder, presenters logged 116 hours of travel time and dedicated another 325 hours to research, photography, preparation of slides and delivery of their talks. Other Promotional Activities

Articles and notices on the release of new and planned publications are run in Potomac Appalachian.

Descriptions of REI events appear in PATC, REI, and Sierra Club on-line calendars.

Postings to two MeetUp websites attracted hikers to outings that promoted “The Hiker’s Guide to Civil War Trails.” In mid-October of 2015, these postings helped draw 32 participants for a hike and book-signing at Manassas Battlefield. Most of the hikers were either Sierra Club outings leaders or members of the “Capital Area Hikers and History Buffs” MeetUp.

While REI has shown little interest in scheduling another presentation based on the Civil War trail guide, the Izaak Walton League booked one for mid-October, just after the end of the current reporting period.

As work began on the next edition of the “Part C” guide to trails in the District of Columbia and Maryland counties on and near the western shore of Chesapeake Bay, more contacts were cultivated with park staff and outings leaders in that area. Maryland Mountain Club leaders have been supportive, but at least one park manager has discouraged inclusion of an entry on the Daniels section of Patapsco Valley State Park, and he seems unlikely to stock or promote the book when it’s published. After Backpacker Magazine described Daniels as having the best trails in Maryland, the manager cited concerns about overuse. He was encouraged to explore prospects for enlisting PATC volunteers, and promised that the new edition would warn about limited parking and other issues.

The tabletop display continues to attract attention at all our REI events. Inexpensive “giveaways” and display samples of our maps, books and other items help to attract attendees to the display table, where some fill in our form to request membership information.

One aspect of the REI relationship raises concern. In 2015, attendees began reporting that they could not find various PATC guides on REI shelves after our presentations. The

situation worsened in 2016, as stores cut sales space devoted to publications and failed to reorder as their trail guide stocks ran out. Discussing such lost sales opportunities to store staff proved fruitless. The only consolation has been with regard to PATC maps, which REI continues to stock and display prominently.

Larry Broadwell currently coordinates REI presentations and prepares calendar and newsletter entries.

Council voted to approve the outsourcing of our fulfillment and warehousing needs

through a contract with BrightKey. The contract went into effect in mid-May; and will be

reevaluated after 18 months. The expectation is that outsourcing these tasks will free up staff

and volunteer time for other central PATC tasks, and allow the Staff Sales Coordinator, Diane

Yang, and Supervisor of Marketing, Emeline Otey, to expand their efforts to increase the

number of outlets and wholesalers for PATC’s maps and publications. Other staff involved in

aspects of the contract included Mona Filchock, Finance Coordinator, Kit Sheffield, IT

Coordinator; and Brewster Thackeray, Staff Director. The initial run-in period has not been as

smooth as one would have liked, but the BrightKey staff are responsive to any concern raised by

PATC and work to put corrections in place.

Our Wholesale Catalog is being upgraded by Kate Day to a more professional format,

InDesign, that can be easily edited to include new publications as they appear. We will mail it to

our wholesale customers twice a year and distribute it through a link to our website. A retail

version that can be handed out to participants at our events will also be developed. The catalog

is an important way to get out the news about our many publications and to remind our

wholesalers of the wide range of maps, hiking guides, and history books published by PATC.

The Sales Committee is proving what an essential part of planning and implementing a

marketing and publication approach it is. The three primary areas on which the Committee is

asked to provide advice are: (1) new publications and revisions of existing publications to be

undertaken by PATC; (2) “resale” publications and other items to be carried by PATC; (3) pricing

of new and existing publications and resale items, as well as other issues related to marketing,

publications, and sales. The members of the Committee are Jean Golightly, Alan Kahan, Diane

Yang (staff sales coordinator), and Kyler Nierson until his recent move to the southwest. The

chair of the Committee is Emeline Otey. Another member will be added to the committee

before the end of the year.

Marketing volunteers participated in two community-wide events that provided

opportunities to introduce PATC and our publications to participants from the community that

might not otherwise know us and what we do. The first, covered by Emeline Otey, was The

Gathering, a Native American harvest festival and multi-cultural celebration in Berryville, Va.

October 30 through November 1, 2015. The second, covered by Jean Golightly, Judy Smoot, Dick

Hostelley, and Emeline Otey, was the Subaru Adventure Show, part of the Apple Blossom

Festival in Winchester, Va. on May 1. In each of these events, PATC was one of many

organizations around a broad nature or outdoors theme.

Plans for the coming year are to continue the successful association with REI through the

“Hike with the Experts” series and to look for opportunities to broaden this relationship. We will

also look for similar opportunities to introduce PATC and its programs to parts of our community

with whom we have no established relationship.

MARYLAND AT MANAGEMENT

Rick Canter and Tom Lupp

Maryland AT Management: Rick Canter &

Tom Lupp

Prepared by: Tom Lupp




Date: September 27, 2016

The Maryland Appalachian Trail Management Committee is a consortium of public and private

agencies tasked with maintenance and management of the 41-mile segment of the Appalachian

Trail in Maryland and the associated 17,000 acres of buffer land known as the Appalachian

Trailway.

Work with MD DNR, NPS and CMHL to address the final solution to Fox Gap.

Work with CMHL to provide support for plans to clear trees on their property to return

land to 1862 appearance.

Continue discussions and planning of additional fencing and parking management in Fox

Gap.

Removal of the Sera house and outbuildings at Fox Gap.

Removal of the legacy campground at Gathland State Park.

Removal of the Boy Scout structures on Pine Knob.

Continue discussions with DNR & SHA on improvement and modifications to the parking

area at US RT 40.

Working with Washington County Parks to improve signage at PenMar Park.

Improvements at High Rock with graffiti removal and tread repair.

Work with MD DNR and Club Ridgerunner program to ensure the hiring of two

Ridgerunners.

Work with Annapolis Rocks overseer to ensure all needed supplies and materials are

available to maintain the campground.

Work with MD DNR to identify and mark hazard trees for removal at several shelters and

campgrounds.

Work with ATC & MD DNR to find solutions to land ownership issues at Thurston Griggs

Trail Head.

Work with MD DNR to locate and acquire lands to buffer the trail.

Continue annual assistance to NPS for the safe running of the JFK 50 race.

Keep abreast of various utility activities that will/may affect the AT in MD.

Continue to work with Catoctin Mtn Park and City of Hagerstown to find a suitable route

to connect the AT to the Catoctin Trail.

Begin working to identify property boundary at trash dump north of RT 77.

Supervisor of Membership

2016 Update

Our membership base is strong and growing. For the last five years, membership has grown at an annual

rate of about five percent. We matched that rate again this year. As of October 2016, we have 7,632

total members of all types. Income from dues should increase at a greater rate because we increased the

cost of membership for the non-senior memberships by $5. This was the first dues increase in 10 years

and became effective this summer. The increase was required to keep pace with increased operating

costs and to allow us to balance our operating budget.

PATC Naturalist Report 2016

The role of the Club Naturalist is primarily characterized by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Forest

Health Initiative. This initiative started in a very modest way in 2011 and has since grown to be known

and respected by professional ecologists throughout the Club’s geographic region of responsibility. We

have projects from Shenandoah National Park in central Virginia, to the Michaux State Forest in

Pennsylvania. Our efforts are known and appreciated by diverse groups working on the health of the

Mid-Atlantic Forest from the long standing Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council (MAIPC), to the newly

formed Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) of central Virginia.

This last year PATC volunteers inventoried the trails within the Shenandoah National Park for invasive

plants that were then removed by Park staff. In the Michaux State Forest PATC volunteers have trained

as Pennsylvania Wildland Fire Fighters to provide support for prescribed burns. PATC partnered with

ATC-MARO to support including the AT corridor in the habitat management plan for the Dead Woman

Hollow Tract, and PATC funded and built two interpretive kiosks to educate forest users about this

process as it develops. PATC volunteers are working with ATC-MARO to create a demonstration meadow

near the Big Flats parking lot in Pennsylvania.

The Club Naturalist provided a panel of knowledgeable naturalists to evaluate a recently acquired

property (Kleymeyer Tract) for ecological importance and potential use. While the panel’s conclusions

were disappointing, it demonstrated the utility of including people who know how to evaluate habitat

value in PATC land acquisition and disposal decisions.

In addition, the Club Naturalist has been involved in educational activities related to Forest Health. The

PATC Naturalist funded and distributed signage warning forest users of a newly emerging invasive plant

(wavyleaf basket grass) that poses a severe threat to forest habitat. PATC volunteer workers have been

instructed in the dangers posed by this plant, and how to identify and report it so the land managers can

destroy it before it takes hold. These same materials have been used by agencies as diverse as state

departments responsible for conservation, the USFS George Washington National Forest and the several

hundred members of MAIPC and PRISM.

Several PATC volunteers are collecting specimens for Professor Vanessa Beauchamp of Towson University

in Maryland, who is the primary researcher on wavyleaf basket grass.

Another important educational activity has been the involvement of the Club Naturalist in the freshman

orientation Outdoor Action program at Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. This year our session was

oversubscribed as a result of the ratings we received from last year’s program. This two-day program (at

PATC’s Anna Michener Cabin) was a partnership between ATC-MARO, the Yankee Clippers District

Manager and the Club Naturalist. This year 14 Dickinson freshmen participated, including students from

China, Vietnam, and Trinidad. Very few of the 14 had ever been on a trail or in a forest. And we were

very pleased to include the Central PA Audubon Society in this year’s program.

Finally, the PATC Naturalist has represented PATC at professional meetings, a regional summit on invasive

plants and by liaison activities with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society and

Maryland DNR. We are pleased to announce that PATC member, Mark Gatewood, has volunteered to

represent PATC at the PRISM meetings.

Finally, the work of the PATC Naturalist attracted the attention of a customer of Historic Timekeepers,

Inc. This customer from Colorado made a private donation of $525 restricted to the Naturalist

Committee account. Later as a member of the Board for the Laura Jane Musser Fund of Minnesota, that

individual initiated an unrestricted grant of $3,000 to the PATC general operating budget.

Objectives for 2017

The Club Naturalist will pursue the Forest Health Initiative by adding the following objectives in 2017:

Create Invasive-Free Shelter Sites PATC will work with land managers and ATC-MARO to remove invasive plants from shelter sites.

This will not only provide overnight users with sites that minimize the opportunity for the

dispersal of invasive plant seeds by humans, it will provide an opportunity to interpret basic

issues in forest health to all forest users. We are working with land managers in the Michaux

State Forest, Shenandoah National Park, and Maryland to treat and replant the areas around our

shelters.

Expand Invasive Plant Trail Inventory According to Jake Hughes of SNP, the work performed by PATC volunteers using a smart phone

app called MAEDN to report the location and type of invasive plants they observe on the their

scouting trips has been accurate and extremely helpful.

A workshop to train PATC volunteers to perform this same function in Maryland is planned for

the spring. Aside from performing an important task for which land managers do not have the

resources, a major draw for these volunteers appears to be working directly under the

supervision of respected professional ecologists.

Assist with Old Rag Mountain Habitat Restoration The Naturalist will recruit a work team to assist Shenandoah National Park staff with a

restoration project at Old Rag Mountain. This will provide an opportunity for volunteers to work

directly with professionals as they repair damage to a fragile habitat in an area of high

recreational use.

Strengthen Partnerships with other Organizations This tends to be an opportunistic venture. For example, we have worked with the Audubon

Society of Central PA and plan to work together for next year’s Dickinson College orientation.

But one of the Audubon tracts (Wagonner’s Gap Hawk Watch) has been attacked by vandals.

We have offered our assistance and knowledge in removing graffiti. We also need to spend time

exploring common interests with The Nature Conservancy.

Find Placements for College Students Our knowledge and relationships with the regional professional community put PATC in a unique

position to help college students pursuing environmental science programs with placements and

research ideas. While this has been done informally over the past year, it needs to become an

integral part of PATC’s presence.

Host Mid-Atlantic Summit on Wavyleaf Basket Grass (WLBG) PATC and other observers are providing invaluable Early Detection services throughout the Mid-

Atlantic. These reports are readily observed on a map oriented database called EDDMapS. This

database reveals that while the central repository for WLBG is Maryland, this invasive plant is

being dispersed in a manner similar to the spot fires of a wildland fire.

The land managers have limited resources and are required to plan their responses around their

geographic boundaries while the dispersal agents (birds, mammals and water) do not respect

those boundaries. The PATC Naturalist has offered to host a summit to develop a strategy to

deal with these “spot fires”. The invitees will not only include our regional land managers, but

decision makers from the Department of the Interior and the United States Interagency Invasive

Plant Council who may be able to help in the development of a regional response and identify

sources for funding.

There is considerable fear that if WLBG becomes entrenched, it will have a devastating impact

on all forest users, from photographers to hunters.

Summary

The Forest Health Initiative has brought the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club the attention of ecologists

and researchers throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region. PATC is becoming known not only as primary

promoter of forest recreation, but as a strong proponent and activist regarding the health of the Mid-

Atlantic Forest.

This initiative is proving that many in PATC are concerned about these issues. It is providing a new area

in which PATC members can volunteer and provide meaningful contributions, a way for those who “age

out” of trail work to continue their interests, and an opportunity to attract new members.

2016 Annual Report

Title: VP of Operations

Prepared by: John Hedrick

Number of Members/Volunteers:

Volunteer Hours Reported 1,252

Number of New Members/Volunteers:


Overall 2016 was a very interesting and busy year. The year could perhaps be classified

as a recovery from the intense preparations and execution of the Biennial and a relook at our

policies and procedures. There was some internal turbulence created when the Staff Director

resigned and the normal delay in hiring a new Staff Director. Our General Counsel died

suddenly which was a great loss to the club. We have been fortunate to obtain the services of

Keith Troxell as our attorney.

Construction continued on the Whiskey Hollow shelter in Northern Virginia. There have

been some delays encountered due to road access and the availability of the construction crew.

We anticipate the shelter to be completed in November 2016 although it is useable now.

The Lincoln Loggers continue to work on the Old Rag Cabin and it is nearing completion.

The survey and extensive documentation required to subdivide the Old Rag property

(purchased by PATC in 2002) was accomplished. Approximately three acres were retained by

PATC and the remaining 22 were sold to the National Park Trust. The Trust then donated the

property to Shenandoah National Park. The Park will construct a new Old Rag parking lot on the

22 acres, probably in 2017.

PATC has begun constructing a connector trail from the proposed parking lot to the park

boundary. The park backcountry staff will extend the trail to connect to the Old Rag Ridge Trail.

PATC purchased a trailer mounter Honey Wagon which will be used to access hard to

reach pit privies and then remove the waste material. There is a learning curve associated with

this system but we are making progress.

Our trail and shelter system continue to receive high praise from all hikers. This season we hired and managed six Ridge Runners, who were essential to patrolling the trail and AT shelters. There has been a considerable increase in hiker numbers and some of the shelters are used beyond their capacity. This is especially true in SNP. There has been a noticeable increase in the amount of trash being left at the shelters. Last year the Appalachian National Scenic Trail Park Office initiated an AT-wide inventory of all trail artifacts, i.e., water bars, check dams, shelter measurements, etc. We have completed 98% of our inventory and the forms have been provided to the Mid-Atlantic Region. We have expressed concern that the AT wide inventory is proceeding slowly and numerous clubs have not submitted their inventory. We continue to struggle with the maintenance along the Tuscarora Trail (TT), especially in Pennsylvania. We have received a sizable grant from REI to improve the “branding” of the TT and to develop a web site and improved signage. There is a real shortfall in volunteers willing to work in the Pennsylvania area and this slows the planned improvements. The Catoctin Hollow Lodge is now in our rental system and it is a great addition to our cabin inventory. The GPS Rangers continue to accomplish an amazing number of tasks and have contributed greatly to the accuracy of our maps. They have also provided accurate information about the current maintenance of our trails, especially the Tuscarora Trail. PATC is working with the Lee District of the George Washington National Forest to rehabilitate the “Lions Tale Trail”, a National Recreation Trail for people who are visually impaired. This effort requires a number of work trips and the rental of equipment to complete the task. It is estimated that the initial phase will be completed in December 2016. There have been some challenges over the year, such as preparing for the election in November 2016. There are a group of individuals who believe change in the elected board is necessary in order to achieve immediate diversity and improve the membership numbers. Some of this is personal animosity which has generated ill-will and discontent among the membership. It is not clear how the upcoming election will resolve this challenge.

This will be my last Annual Report since I will not be running for any elected office. I

have enjoyed my time as an elected PATC officer and wish the new board success.

2016 Annual Report

Title: Chair, Publications

Prepared by: Emeline Otey


Volunteer Hours Reported: 4,354 (103)



This has been an active and productive year for PATC with regard to publications. The following were published or in process in FY2016:

AT Guidebook # 7, SNP (15th Edition): edited by John Hedrick; layout and design by Alan Kahan);

Cabins Book (2016): edited by Anstr Davidson and Alan Kahan; layout and design by Alan Kahan; floor plans and interior pictures provided by Bruce Berberick, James Karn, and Michael Hall;

Tuscarora Trail North (6th Edition): edited by Pete Brown; layout and design by Darrell Midgette;

Tuscarora Trail South (6th Edition): Edited by John Spies and Rick Rhoades; layout and design by Darrell Midgette;

Hikes in the Washington Region, Part C (4th Edition): edited by Larry Broadwell and William Needham; layout and design by Lauren Walsh; maps by David Pierce; (field work almost completed);

Shenandoah Mountain Trail Guide Book (1st Edition): written by Tim Hupp; layout and design to be done by Darrell Midgette (completion of field work in process);

Great Eastern Trail Guide Book (1st Edition): written by Tim Hupp; layout and design to be done by Darrell Midgette (completion of field work in process);

The Diary of a Trail (1st edition): written by Tom Floyd; reviewed extensively by Sales Committee; under prepublication review/editing by Dylan Kilby (in process);

These Hills Were Home: A History and Walking Guide of Greene and Madison Counties (working title) (1st edition): written by Kristie Kendall; layout and design by Alan Kahan (in process). The plans for the coming year are to finish the work needed to move the “in process” books and trail guides listed above to publication. At this point, two publications, both history books by Jack Reeder, are slated for reprinting. In addition, one publication is slated for revision and updating: Circuit Hikes in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania (9th edition, 2013). Larry Broadwell and William Needham have volunteered to edit the 10th edition. As our attempts to expand our market to a larger number of wholesalers/distributors, we will keep careful watch on our “stock-out” numbers to anticipate the need to update or reprint other titles.

2016 Annual Report

Supervisor of Trails

Prepared by: Wayne Limberg

Number of Members/Volunteers: 750+

Volunteer Hours Reported: 36,700+

Number of New Members/Volunteers:


Over 750 PATC volunteers put in more than 25,314 hours of trail work in 2016 and more than an additional 11,400 hours in travel time on the nearly 1,100 miles of trail the club maintains in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. The 241 miles of the Appalachian Trail that PATC maintains accounted for roughly a third of those hours work and travel hours. April 2016 witnessed a potential disaster for the AT when a fire broke out in the in the South District of Shenandoah National Park The fire was the Park's second worst in its 80 history, ultimately amounting to $4.2 million in damages as it consumed over 10,000 acres and drew 350 firefighters from 33 states. It also closed sections of the AT in the South District just as the first north bound thru-hikers arrived, forcing PATC to set up shuttles and help hikers find shelter. The good news is that with a few small exceptions the NPS crews contained the fire within the park and had it under control relatively quickly with no major injuries or damage to structures or trails. By mid-May, there were already signs the forest was on the mend, indeed, may have even benefited from the blaze as new flora and fauna returned. By mid-summer, many AT thru-hikers were surprised when they were told they had just hiked through a burn area. Even as the fire raged, PATC trail crews were hard at work on the AT and side trails. Work continued on the major relocation of the AT at Loudon Heights begun in 2015. Five Mid-Atlantic crews put in a week each working the project in the fall. Three PATC crews--Cadillac, Blue and White, and North District Hoodlums--also worked weekends on the relocation. The project is progressing and may be completed

in 2017. The Flying McLeon trail crew in SNP’s South District continued to repair years of erosion damage to the the tread on the AT just south of Sawmill Overlook. Another high priority in terms of the AT in 2016 was completion of the AT infrastructure inventory that the ATC and the NPS rolled out at the close of 2015. The inventory intends to catalog all important infrastructure—shelters, privies, bridges, checkdams, steps, waterbars, parking, viewpoints, etc.—on the entire AT by the end of 2016. It has involved hundreds of volunteers over the course of the year. The goal is to make the AT—a National Park in its own right—more competitive when it comes to budgets and policy in the NPS system. PATC got off to a fast start and had over half of its 241 AT miles inventoried by March. South District in SNP and the North Chapter are finishing their sections which will complete PATC's part of the project. The Tuscarora Trail was another focus this year. In PA, the club's North Chapter is working with state officials on a relocation of a section of the Tuscarora that to increase trail access and ease maintenance work. The GPS Rangers surveyed the TT in PA this spring and summer to help establish priorities. The North Chapter also put in a new bridge across Augswick Creek helped with the burn at Dead Woman Hollow in Michaux State Forest. Sections of the TT remain without overseers, however, and some need work to meet PATC standards. The club hoped an AmeriCorps crew would take care of these problems this fall but the crew was pulled to help with the floods in Louisiana at the last minute. The plan is to again ask for AmeriCorps help next summer and develop a sustainable plan for the TT in PA. In VA, loss of trail right of way is forcing a relocation of the TT at Basore Ridge. The new trailway has been flagged and talks have started with local landowners to get an easement. An agreement is also in the works with the Shenandoah Valley Battlefield Trust to relocate a section of the TT near Tom's Brook. This would get the trail off the road and also include creation of a parking area and shelter. Like 2015, 2016 was a year of growth. This fall saw a new trail crew--the Old Line--up and running at Antietam Battlefield which is part of the club's newest district--Maryland National Battlefield Parks--and discussions continuing to get Monocracy Battlefield into the district. PATC also got approval and funding from the NPS and Belle Grove Plantation Trust to begin work three bridges at Cedar Creek National Battlefield in Virginia. The club also began work on the Lion's Tail Trail near Massanutten Mountain in VA. This is a National Recreational Trail for people who are visually impaired. The work is being funded by a National Forest grant and should be completed in 2017. North Massanutten District also added the Gap Creek Trail to its inventory. 2015 was also a year of outreach. Several districts had successful Eagle Scout projects with more in the works. Wolf Trap District also hosted two New Campers weekends for D.C. youth. A crew of George Mason University engineering students helped out on the AT relo at Loudon Heights this summer and expressed an interest in doing more with club and offered to provide technical assistance on trail design and projects; their first effort will be a bridge over the East Branch of Antietam Creek in PA. The North Chapter hosted an orientation class for Dickinson College students this fall; the students cleared brush on the TT. The ND Hoodlums once again threw a cookout for AT thru-hikers during their June work trip, and South District hosted a movie night and book signing—both on AT themes—in Harrisonburg, VA. The Prince William Forest Spooky Beavers ran several trail maintenance projects open to the public on National Trails Day and on National Public Lands Day. Over the year, DC Metro worked groups from Accenture, Boy Scouts, North Face and the Wilderness Society in Rock Creek Park. For the second time in two years, Great North Mountain District hosted a diverse group of volunteers from Oracle Corporation,

and the Maryland chapter again held its annual Trails Day which saw 300+ volunteers working on trails and shelters in MD. Other trail-related work continued apace. The North and Central Districts fielded two summer crews in SNP. The ND also hosted its annual overseer workshop in September and CD ran their popular traditional tools and rigging workshops in the spring and fall. SD held its trail maintainer workshop in August. Work continued on the Whiskey Hollow shelter that is replacing Dick’s Dome, and the Rod Hollow Shelter got a facelift. PATC again conducted two chainsaw and first aid certification courses at SNP despite the April fire and ATC ran two chainsaw courses for PATC members. Metro MD members took a four-day saw course at C&O Canal National Park, while North Chapter members took a state-run wildfire training course, and North Massanutten , a USFS trail maintenance course. Finally, PATC concluded new partner agreements with SNP, Potomac Heritage Trail, and Antietam and Spotsylvania Courthouse National Battlefields.

TRAIL PATROL

Christopher Firme

Trail Patrol: Christopher Firme

Prepared by: Christopher Firme


Volunteer Hours Reported: 3,422.11



Patrols. Continued distributing electronic newsletters to Trail Patrol members providing

information on trail conditions, PATC and partner patrol needs, upcoming training opportunities,

and upcoming events. 40 trail patrol members did 287 trail patrol hikes giving us a total of 1,762

miles patrolled on PATC maintained trails. Provided a total of 1,298.15 hiking volunteer hours

where members observed, interacted, or assisted 17,933 hikers by providing information to

hikers and other visitors on safe and responsible use of the backcountry, conducting light trail

maintenance, and providing information on conditions to trail, shelter, and cabin overseers.

Volunteer travel time was 513 giving us a grand total of 1,811.15 volunteer trail patrol hours.

Member training and coordination. Brought 6 probationary members into active status during

2016. At the end of 2016 there was a total of 62 active members still down from the 72 at the

end of 2012. This reduction was the result of cleaning up our membership roster and

eliminating names of members that have stopped attending meetings or stopped participating in

patrols or activities. In the administration end including our courses and meetings we had a total

of 1,611.6 volunteer hours. This year we decided to use the cabins for training in each of the

sections of the AT: PA-Michaux SF, MD, NVA and SNP. We were successful in training for new

trail patrollers at each of the cabin weekends. Since it was successful this year we have decided

to do this in 2017. This helps to get not just our new members trained but our active members

out on the AT and interacting with our new members.

Ridgerunners. Hired and supervised six Ridgerunners in 2016 to educate hikers and

backpackers on safe and responsible use of the Appalachian Trail and backcountry; reported

trails, shelters, and cabin conditions; conducted light trail maintenance; and assisted public and

private partners on special projects.

Leave No Trace. Conducted three Leave No Trace (LNT) trainer courses for the mid-Atlantic

region and hosted a NOLS LNT Master Educator course with support from Shenandoah

National Park (SNP), for a total of 25 new Trainers and eight new Master Educators.

Backpacking. Conducted 1 introductory backpacking class (Backpacking 101) for the public

and trained 25 students.

Hike Leadership Training. Conducted 3, 2-day, classes for 20+ participants. Topics included

backcountry medical information, LNT ethics, hike planning, personal gear, map reading, and

leadership skills. Currently we are in the process of reviewing the curriculum from the 2016

season.

CPR/AED/Wilderness First Aid. Conducted 3 classes of CPR/Basic Wilderness First Aid and

5 classes on Wilderness First Aid for a total of 80 students trained.

Provide Partner Support. Provided support for one SNP partner program: National Trails Day.

For National Trails Day we interacted with approximately 165 park visitors providing information

about PATC, safe and responsible backcountry use, and lead four hikes.

TREASURER

Joseph Lombardo

Treasurer: Joseph Lombardo

Prepared by: Joseph Lombardo





Accomplishments October 2015 – September 2016 Successful completion of 2015 audit – PATC got clean bill of health; identified fewer deficiencies

than in previous years.

PATC’s financial position remains very strong.

o PATC’s net assets fell from $9,260,502 in 2014 to $9,014,302 in 2015; a 2.7% decrease.

This appears to be due primarily to the downturn in the investment portfolio. We note

that between 2014 and 2015, the Endowment fund fell by 10%. Since the end of 2015,

the Endowment’s performance has improved substantially.

o Less than one percent (1%) of net assets are restricted.

o Total liabilities remained relatively low at $93,954 in 2015; and represented only one

percent (1%) of net assets.

o PATC’s cash flow situation remains strong, with $271,781 cash and cash equivalents on

hand at the end of 2015.

PATC’s Endowment Fund balance stood at $2,883,925 at the end of 2015, representing a net

decrease of 10% from the balance at the end of 2015. The decrease was due in part to the

downturn in the value of the investment portfolio, and to an approximately $270,000 withdrawal

to partially fund the Huntley property purchase. The investment performance in 2016 through

August this year has largely resulted in a recovery of the fund’s value. See table below.

Endowment Investment Performance (December 2015 – August 2016)

Held quarterly Finance Committee meetings to review progress in budget implementation, and

financial and accounting services management.

Our auditors again noted that having an outsourced controller paired with our in-house Financial

Coordinator resulted in significant improvement in the Club’s overall accounting and financial

reporting functions. Due to the Club’s significant volume of transactions with complex revenue

streams, we decided to expand the in-house financial management function by adding an

Accounting Assistant.

Developed budget formulation guidance for the 2017 budget that will more closely support the

priorities of the PATC Strategic Plan.

Replaced Tom Avey, who resigned from the Finance Committee, with Lynn Murphy. Ms. Murphy

has extensive non-profit financial and business management experience, and is completing her

CPA requirements. We thank Tom for his service on the Finance Committee, and welcome Lynn to

the committee.

Activities for October 2016 – September 2017 Strengthen PATC’s financial management functions by the addition of an assistant bookkeeper.

Monitor the cost-efficiencies due to the new inventory fulfillment services contract.

Adopt revised internal control policies and procedures to operationalize the financial

management requirements under the new contract with ATC for Bears Den.

Developing an accounting manual and improved cash flow management procedures.

Link PATC’s 2017 budget more closely to the new strategic plan goals.

Vice-President for Volunteerism

The traditional spirit of volunteerism is still of crucial importance to the Club's mission. In order to

insure that Club membership, outreach, education, and communication programs are handled efficiently

and effectively, and the Council goals are met, the VP of Volunteerism:

1. Oversees the operation of the club’s paid staff; supervises the Staff Director. 2. Oversees the implementation of volunteer staffing programs within the club Headquarters.

3. Oversees programs developed to improve the status of volunteer activities by coordinating with the Supervisor of Membership, Supervisor of Activities, the sections and chapters, and the Trail Patrol, in order to insure that Council goals are met, and tasks and obligations required of the club are fulfilled.

4. 4. Oversees procedures developed in coordination with relevant committee chairs to insure that volunteer opportunities and programs are shared effectively among club members and the public.

5. Seeks out or creates suitable venues and means to recognize and reward successful volunteer participation.

6. Plans and implements the club's overall strategy and specific programs to attract and retain volunteers.

This has been a year of transition. Our former staff director, Edna Baden, stepped down at the beginning

of the year, followed by the former VP for Volunteerism, Steve O'Conner. During the subsequent hiatus,

the rest of the staff did yeoman's work to step up and keep things running at Headquarters. After

several months of intensive searching, we hired our new staff director, Brewster Thackeray; Janis Stone

volunteered shortly thereafter to fill in as VP for Volunteerism for the remainder of the term.

During interviews with the staff, it became immediately apparent that the finance coordinator's job was

overtaxed. We worked identify how this could be resolved and determined the best course was to hire

an accounting assistant. Analysis of the budget showed that we could accommodate it, so we will be

hiring someone within the next month or so. We also brought evaluations of the staff up to date,

something that had lapsed for over 6 months.

To recognize our wonderful volunteers who help out at Headquarters, we held a recognition dinner and

celebration this past September. This was one of few chances that our volunteers ever get to meet their

peers, since many work on days when the others are not present. Anne Corwith (Cabins Coordinator)

also took this opportunity to give everyone a copy of the new Cabins Desk manual. That manual goes a

long way towards documenting how the volunteer position needs to be run and answering multiple

questions volunteers might have.

Some of the lesser known roles for the VP for Volunteerism are conflict resolution within the club and

investigating reported irregularities. During the lead-up to this year's election, a conflict and set of

questions arose that resulted in the first instance of someone invoking the whistleblower policy adopted

last year. A subsequent investigation uncovered multiple problems with the processes of our elections

and some of the individuals involved. This was reported to Council, with recommendations of how to

address these issues and to clarify related portions of our Constitution and Bylaws after this election

cycle. This effort will be coordinated with execution of other parts of our 2015 Strategic Plan.

Charlottesville PATC Annual Report- 2016

President- Iva Gillet Vice President – Marit Anderson Treasurer – Barbara Martin

FOCUS

Our focus for the last year has been to increase our trail maintenance work trips and to reach to a broader audience. We try to set up a monthly work trip, not only to work on the club’s AT section, but to help other overseers and nearby maintenance crews. To reach a broader group of people, we have started to post our hikes with Meet Up and FACEBOOK and combined our hikes with other local PATC groups. We offered spring, fall and winter meetings/pot luck gatherings all at Dunlodge. These allow people to come and see what we do and meet fellow members. We have hosted presenters at these meetings, which has been a way to increase awareness about many related topics. The most recent example was our guest speaker, Lynn Cameron, at the Fall Potluck presenting a lecture on promoting Shenandoah Mountain to be designated as a National Scenic Area.

We communicate through our blog: http://patc-charlottesville.blogspot.com/ , posting upcoming activities, hike reports, helpful information for new hikers, and links to help hikers. Our chapter also has a FACEBOOK page and an on-line photo album. We send information about special events (like our two meetings this year) to all people on our email list. Our club has approximately 350 members at large, 500+ members on our email list, and 50 active members.

HIKES- 6,745 hours

The club had 13 hike leaders for 2016. About 65 hikes were planned and reported on our Charlottesville PATC Blogspot. We have expanded to add hikes from the Shenandoah Valley Chapter and Roanoke Chapter when

http://patc-charlottesville.blogspot.com/

http://patc-charlottesville.blogspot.com/

invited. Jeff Monroe has been instrumental in this. An example of this was the March 5 joint hike led my Lynn Cameron at Lookout Mountain.

We hosted a number of unique hikes including Iva Gillet’s Soup Hike ending at her home, Entry Run Tract/Pocoson Mt. Hike with Mark Walkup sharing his home and history of the area where he lives, Gap Run/Rocky Mt. Loop with Gabriel and Inanna Garretson ending at their home and garden, and Dan Ralston leading a hike at Rocky Mt/Brown Mt. Loop to see 10 miles of burned forest in SNP after the major fire.

TRAIL MAINTENANCE- * hours in online system

We aim to have one Saturday a month dedicated to trail maintenance. The Charlottesville Chapter trail section of the AT from Rockfish Gap to McCormick Gap is a priority and is spearheaded by John Shannon. We also have a number of overseers of the AT in Southern Shenandoah National Park, including Andy Willgruber, Lindsay Brown, Connie Wright, John Shannon, Marit Anderson, and Jeff Monroe. Bill Holman is the District Manager of Trails in the Mutton Hollow/Vining District and all 10 overseers there are members from our chapter.

We had a number of unique work trips in 2016. A joint trail maintenance event included the Charlottesville Chapter, the Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter (SSV), and the Southern Environmental Law Forum which was organized by John Shannon and UVA Law’s, Olivia Glasscock, and led by Mark Gatewood, PATC SNP-South Association District Manager. Trail improvement was done on the south side of Bear Den Mt, as well as water bar repair and mini check dams built.

Another joint work trip involved the Charlottesville Chapter and SSV. On June 4, 2016 the two clubs teamed up to do work on a remote, but popular trail deep in the heart of the Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness. The mission was to clip back overgrowth and cut up some blowdowns on the Ramsey’s Draft Trail- each club starting from opposite ends and working towards each other.

A third notable work trip was on September 10 when members of the Charlottesville and SSV Chapters coordinated with the Flying McLeod’s Trail Crew to cut back overgrown vegetation along the 1.8 mile trail from the Doyle’s Run Parking area and the junction of the access trail to Loft Mt amphitheater.

Iva Gillet and Marit Anderson met with some chapter members and SSV members in August to look at a prospective cabin and parcel of land on Calf Mountain to help preserve the narrow AT corridor there.

Co-overseers Jeff Monroe and Marit Anderson also sponsored a work trip on their section of the AT to work with Boy Scouts on June 4. Over 36 Boy Scouts volunteered on the section between Cremora Lake Overlook and Turk Gap. The Eagle Scouts made over 25 water bars, another group did eradication of garlic mustard, and a third group practiced map, compass, and GPS skills.

CABINS- ~ 50 hours

Our chapter continues to provide support to the Dunlodge Cabin when needed. Don Davis is the overseer and he volunteers about 50 hours per year to keep it maintained properly. In addition, hosting 3 events a year at Dunlodge provides visibility to this premier cabin and attracts local outdoor enthusiasts to the work on the PATC.

OUTREACH- 90 hours

The Charlottesville Chapter keeps active in outreach in a number of ways. Bill Holman and Rich Bard manned the PATC display table at the Piedmont Environmental Council Mt. Heritage event at Graves Mill. Iva Gillet manned the display at Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park for National Trail Days. Marit Anderson is a volunteer at the Hiker Hostel in Waynesboro during the AT Thru Hiker season. Jeff Monroe was a Boy Scout leader taking the boys on many hikes and backpacking trips on the AT and other areas. Jeff Monroe is also a GPS Ranger and has devoted

many hours to mapping for PATC maps. Several members collected milkweed seed for the SNP near Big Meadows for National Public Lands Day.

Barbara Martin wrote an article featured in the PATC newsletter, The Potomac Appalachian, about the Dirty Dozen, which was a challenge sponsored by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine for area hikers to trek 10 miles in 12 different Wilderness areas. Anne Colgate, Barbara Martin, and Jeff Monroe completed the challenge.

Mark Perschel and Jeff Monroe offered a Navigational Skills Class on January 16 using map, compass, Smart phone apps, and hand-held GPS at Greene County Library. Concepts were discussed and skills practiced in the field after to solidify the knowledge.

Additional Joint Events

A campout and hike for both the Charlottesville and SSV Chapters was enjoyed by many on August 19-21 at Spruce Knob Recreation Area. Mike Smith and Barbara Martin co-lead the Seneca Creek Trail hike. More joint ventures like these will be encouraged for the future.

Administrative Hours- 750 hours

Time spent updating blog with hikes and write ups, writing articles, responding to emails, planning events.

2016 ANNUAL REPORT

NORTH CHAPTER

The 300+ members of the North Chapter construct and maintain trails, shelters, bridges, roads, and

cabins in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The chapter also leads hikes and participates in community

outreach events. The Chapter has two general meetings in the year, in early May and early November.

Officers are elected in odd numbered years at the November meeting. Between meetings a board

composed of elected officers and committee chairs conduct business.

The Chapter has two multipurpose work crews – the South Mountaineers in Maryland and the Yankee

Clippers in Pennsylvania. A volunteer dinner is held for Yankee Clipper crew members after the monthly

AT work trip. The South Mountaineers sponsor two volunteer appreciation events, on National Trails Day

in May and another in August.

The Chapter also helps sponsor with other organizations an annual picnic for thru-hikers in mid-June at

Pine Grove Furnace State Park. In 2017 the Chapter will assume full responsibility for the picnic at a new

location, Pen Mar Park near Blue Ridge Summit PA. The Chapter sponsors an annual Corn Roast, usually

in early August, to which all PATC members and guests are invited.

The trails maintained by Chapter volunteers comprise about one fifth of the total mileage of trails

maintained by PATC. This includes 102 miles of the Appalachian Trail, the northern half of the Tuscarora

Trail (109 miles) the Catoctin Trail, and numerous side trails. This trail mileage includes at least 23 major

bridges. Chapter members also maintain eighteen trail shelters, nine cabins, and associated roads.

In addition to ongoing normal trail, shelter, cabin and road maintenance activities, in 2016 the Chapter

participated in three special one-time events:

A new bridge, to replace a flood damaged and inadequate bridge on the Tuscarora Trail over

Aughwick Creek, north of Cowan’s Gap State Park was completed.

A new cabin, Catoctin Hollow Lodge, in Cunningham Falls State Park, was renovated and entered

into the cabins rental system, and an access trail completed.

The Chapter helped fund the Club purchase of and participated in the operation of a ‘honey

wagon ’a trailer with tank and pump used to clean out privies at remote locations not accessible

by normal septic service companies.

Information about volunteering and additional information about the North Chapter is available on

PATC’s website at www.patc.net/PublicView or on the Chapter’s website at www.patcnorth.net.

http://www.patc.net/PublicView

http://www.patcnorth.net/

PATC Southern Shenandoah Valley Chapter Annual Report

Prepared by David Bennick, President

October 10, 2016

Hiking – December 1, 2015 - November 30, 2016:

Our hike schedules listed 47 hikes for a total of 297.8 miles and led by 11 different members

plus three work trips for a total of 8.0 miles and led by two different members.

In the previous year our hike schedules listed 42 hikes for a total of 272.9 miles and led by 11

different members plus four work trips for a total of 12.0 miles and led by four different

members.

Many leaders asked hikers to bring tools to do clipping maintenance while hiking.

The hikes were on the Appalachian Trail inside and outside of Shenandoah National Park, on

blue trails in Shenandoah National Park and on trails in the George Washington National Forest.

Hike difficulty ranged from easy to moderate to strenuous.

SSVC also participated in events such as the July 4 Hikers Parade, Spruce Knob Camping Trip,

Hike Leaders Meeting and cookout, Earth Day, Earth Week, Spaghetti Dinner, Riverfest,

Webster County Nature Tour and the Wildflower Tournament.

This year we invited the Charlottesville Chapter to join our hikes and we had many new faces on

our hikes.

Membership:

Our membership list numbers over 200 people. However, the number of active members is

about 35. Active is defined as participating in two or more events during the year.

Many of the members who are not active live in other states and may have moved from this

area, were interested on a one-time basis such as part of a vacation trip or simply have aged

and dropped out.

Volunteer Hours:

Volunteer hours for our PATC-SSVC members. These numbers exclude hours from Tim Hupp,

Mark Gatewood and the Watermans who send their hours directly to the PATC.

Oct. 2, 2015 – Jan. 31, 2016 396.0 hours

Feb. 1 - May 31, 2016 375.5 hours

June 1 – Sept. 31, 2016 184.0 hours

Total for 12 months 955.5 hours

Volunteer Trail Work on Shenandoah Mountain - Sept. 1, 2015 - August 31, 2016

Date Trail Activity # of people # of hours

Total

9/23/15 Jerrys Run removed blowdowns and clipped vegetation

3 10 30

10/1/15 North River Trail removed blowdowns, clipped vegetation

2 7 14

10/10/15 Shenandoah Mountain Trail

removed blowdowns, clipped vegetation

6 10 60

10/15/15 Grooms Ridge Trail

clipped vegetation and removed 1 blowdown

4 9 36


removed blowdowns

4 10 40

10/31/15 Buck Mountain

Trail

removed

blowdowns

6 9 54


removed blowdowns and

6 11 66

clipped vegetation

3/5/16 Lookout Mountain Trail

remeasured trail to account for relocated segment

3 7 21


Clipped vegetation and removed blowdowns

7 (David K, Betsy S, Don B, Jean F, Christy B, L & M)

12 84

4/5/16 Bald Ridge Trail and Dividing Ridge

Clipped vegetation and removed blowdowns

8 (David K, Don B, Mark Gatewood, Terry Slater, David Bennick, Carter Fox, Malcolm and Lynn Cameron)

10 80

4/13/16 Bald Ridge Trail Clipped vegetation and removed blowdowns

3 (Terry, Lynn and Malcolm) 12.5 37.5

4/21/16 Ramseys Draft Trail

Removed blowdowns

5 (Terry Slater, Don Blume, Jean Fraser, Lynn and Malcolm

12 60

4/21/16 Jerrys Run Trail Removed blowdowns

Richard Hottel, Jim, and Russel

9.5 28.5

5/4/16 Ramseys Draft Trail

Removed blowdowns

Lynn and Malcolm, Don Blume, Terry Slater, and Ron Stoltzfus

10 50

5/27/16 Mud Pond Trail Clipped vegetation

Lynn and Malcolm 8 16

5/31/16 Bald Ridge Trail Clipped vegetation and dug sidehill

Terry Slater, Don Blume, David Kanagy, David Bennick, Jana Walters, Ron Stoltzfus, Lynn and Malcolm

12.5 100

6/4/16 Ramseys Draft Trail and Hiner Spring Trail

Removed blowdowns and clipped vegetation

Don Blume, David Kanagy,

Terry Slater, Lynn & Malcolm,

John Shannon, Marian Styles, Debra Fisher, Karen Siegrist, Tony Aliment, Ivana Kadija, Rich Bard, Lisa Auwater, Nick Auwater, Barbara Martin, Iva Gillet, Bill Holman

11 187

5/16 Grooms Ridge Trail

Removed blowdown

Ron Stoltzfus 4 4

6/22/16 Buck Mountain Trail

Clipped vegetation, removed blowdowns

Ron, David Kanagy, Lynn and Malcolm

4 32

7/2/16 Bearwallow Trail Clipped vegetation and removed blowdowns

Don Blume, Nancy Hall, Lynn and Malcolm Cameron, Ann Radloff

12 60

6/6/16 Buck Mountain Clipped vegetation

Ron Stoltzfus 4 4


Ron 4 4


Ron 9 9


Ron 8 8


Removed blowdown and clipped vegetation

David 6 6

7/11/16 Buck Mountain Replaced waterbars

Ron 8 8


Malcolm, Lynn, David K, David Bennick

7 28


Clip vegetation David 7 7


David K, Ron S, Christy B, Don B., Lynn and Malcolm

10 60

8/10/16 Buck Mountain Checked on waterbars, clipped vegetation

Lynn and Malcolm 6 12

Volunteer Hour Total:

PATC – SSVC 955.5 hours

Shenandoah Mountain 1,206.0 hours

Total Volunteer hours 2,161.5 hours

Garth Property:

The 9.6 acre property is owned by a Michael Garth and his wife and is located 150 feet from the

actual AT footpath on Calf Mountain within plain view of hikers who can see parts of it in the

leafy season and a whole lot more in the non-leafy season. From the Garth property, hikers can

be seen through the woods descending Calf Mountain.

The property has a primitive stucco-over-block one-room cabin without water or electricity that

can be fixed up to be a good addition to the rental system. It is in the middle of the property

where hikers cannot see it in both the leafy and non-leafy seasons. The property also has road

access.

This would be desirable property for the PATC to acquire, as it would offer an excellent buffer for

the Appalachian Trail from possible incompatible development. The area has road access.

There are additional properties along the AT that may be available in the future.

Goals for 2017:

Hiking and Work Trips:

We will continue to produce a new hike and work trip schedule every two months.

Activities will interesting and continue to be within a reasonable driving distance, perhaps 35

miles, for our members.

Membership:

We have a small group of active members out of our entire membership list.

Our goal is to add new members and entice our inactive members to become more active.

In our October Hike schedule we listed a hike that is considered “easy” to appeal to potential

new hikers and new members. We will continue to add “easy” hikes and work trips, perhaps

one per month.

And, we will be cognizant of the language we use in the hike schedules so new hikers are

not frightened away.

Leadership:

Our pool of leaders has declined somewhat and our goal is to expand our leadership

group. On future hikes and work trips, leaders should appoint a co-leader who after a few hikes

or work trips can be recognized as a leader.

During these hikes and work trips the leaders will discuss good and bad practices and

direct the co-leaders to the PATC Hike Leaders Manual which has many good tips. We will also

work to alleviate any fears individuals may have about leading a hike or work trip.

Large numbers of hikers have enrolled for some of our hikes. We will have our leaders

appoint co-leaders and sweeps in these cases.

Training:

Two of our members, Mike Smith and Don Blume have been enrolled in the next

Wilderness First Aid Course. In 2017, three additional members will be enrolled in the same

course, and three more members will be recertified.

Trail Maintenance and work trips:

We will continue to maintain our Appalachian Trail section from Ivy Creek Overlook to

Pinefield Gap, trails on Shenandoah Mountain and other trails by scheduling work trips when

necessary.

Facebook:

We will continue to post recaps of our hikes and work trips together with photos. Facebook

gives us a large audience of potential new members.

Environmentally Sound Legislation:

We will continue to support environmentally sound legislation. We will oppose the Atlantic

Coast Pipeline, mountain biking in wilderness areas and other hiker unfriendly projects.

Projected Expense Budget for 2017:

Wilderness First Aid Training for 3 members $570

Wilderness First Aid Recertification 3 members 570

Trail Maintenance Tool Sharpening and Purchase 250

Public Outreach Booth Rental at Staunton

Earth Day 100

Public Outreach Booth Updates 100

_______

Grand Total 2017 Projected Expense Budget $1,590

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