What we’re about
THE CLUB www.nvhc.com
The Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC) offers a range of hikes of various difficulty levels in Virginia, Maryland, DC, and beyond. The club also offers other outdoor events occasionally. NVHC members reflect the rich diversity of the Washington DC Metro area. Annual membership fee is $5. Guests are welcome and enjoy a month’s free participation in the club events. NVHC is a nonprofit organization and donates funds to local parks and trail maintenance organizations from time to time. The selection of the parks and organizations is based on club usage - it is our way of giving back. Monies vary each time - $7,200 were donated in 2023.
Members are required to accept the liability disclaimer by typing “Accept” in the fields presented when they join the club.
DIFFICULTY RATINGS
NVHC hikes are assigned difficulty ratings. A combination of linear distance and elevation gain is used to determine the rating, with 400 feet of elevation gain considered to be equivalent of 1 mile of linear distance. With the “miles” derived from elevation gain added to the linear distance, following are the ratings:
A+= Very Difficult (19 miles or more)
A = Difficult (13 miles or more, but less than 19 miles)
B = Moderately Difficult (10 miles or more, but less than 13 miles)
C = Moderate (7 miles or more, but less than 10 miles)
D = Easy (Less than 7 miles)
For example, a nine-mile hike with 1,000 feet of climbing would be rated B (9 + 2.5 = 11.5).
Elevation loss is not measured in this system. Also, the difficulty rating is separate from the pace of the hike, which is determined by the leader, and is usually specified in the individual hike descriptions.
RSVP ETIQUETTE
Often there are limits on the number of participants on NVHC events, set by our leaders. This creates wait lists on Meetup. If you find yourself in this situation, we request that you keep in mind the interest of the leaders and your fellow hikers, and follow the guidelines below:
- If you RSVP’d “yes” for a hike, change your RSVP to “no” as soon as you decide not to go, so that someone else can go.
- If you RSVP’d “yes” to overlapping events on the same day, decide on one as soon as possible, and change your RSVP to “no” for all others.
- If you are on a wait list and decide not to go, remove yourself from the list.
DOGS ON HIKES
Dogs are welcome on NVHC hikes at the discretion of the hike leader. Several restrictions apply including advance notification to the leader, dogs being well behaved, and their being kept on a six foot leash. See dog policy located at [https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy] for details.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Bears Den & Buzzard Hill (Rating: A)Snickers Gap Parking Lot, Bluemont, VA
You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
This trail isn’t a stairway to heaven—it’s a full-throttle highway to hell in hiking boots. Gear up, or get chewed up.
This hike is approximately 10 miles’ out and back with an elevation gain of approximately 3200 feet, featuring Bears Den and Buzzard Hill on AT. For every linear mile expect to climb average one eighth of vertical mile – start to finish. This is technically a full roller coaster without the luxury of first class shuttle service :-)
We meet at Snickers Gap parking lot at Rt.7 (on south of Rt.7) Refer the parking lot coordinate in the description below. Please be there at the trailhead parking by sharp 8.00 a.m. We will finish the sign up & el bano business and start the hike by 8.15 a.m.
Safety is paramount for all of us. Please bring hiking poles and wear proper hiking shoes to enjoy the trails safely. Please bring minimum 3 liters of water with some electrolytes, weather may get warm and humid and there’s no reliable water source or stream, so load up the water.
This hike is suitable for experienced, fit hikers who did similar distance/elevation in past few months. If this is your first hike with me please send a meetup message before sign-in so that we can review and decide. If you sign up for more than one hike for the same day please decide and free up the space for wait-listers. If you have ANY question about your ability to complete this hike, please contact me.
Need to know details:
Distance: 10 miles (approximately)
Elevation gain: 3200 feet (approximately)
Pace: 2 – 2.5 mph (average)
Terrain: Roller-coaster
Park entry fee: None
Carpool Fee: $4
Parking Lot Coordinates: 39.115548, -77.846511
Trail head parking lot meet up time: 8.00 a.m. ET.
Directions from Centreville P&R to Snickers Gap Trailhead: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CNj3Phku3PiqLfrq5
Driving time and distance from P&R to Trailhead parking: 45 minutes (approximately)
Dogs permitted in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Bring: Minimum 3 ltr water, food/snacks, hat, layers, basic first aid kit, map, rain gear (depending), hiking poles, hiking shoe, water shoe, additional pair of socks/liner (to protect feet from water, if needed) and your big happy smile 😊.
Quiz: At snacks/lunch stop we can have 3 quizzes related to this hike and the correct answer wins the prize 😊 😊
Thanks: To the teams, individuals and volunteers who contributes to keep the trails safe, beautiful and updates the portals to keep the trail data up to date which helps fellow hikers.
Any questions? Message or text me! Looking forward to this awesome hike,
Saran
(848) 248-0555 - Fireworks at Baltimore Inner Harbor (Rating: D, Fun)Forest Glen metro station, Kiss and Ride lot, Forest Glen, DC
*** New Trial Process - No More Signing In ***
Step 1: Read the Liability Disclaimer: https://www.nvhc.com/signin.pdf
Step 2: When prompted, type
"I Accept", Full name, Contact number, and Emergency contact number
Example: "I accept. Jane Doe, (703)555-5555, (301)666-6666."
This is a trial process and is not available on all hikes.Length: 4 mi. Elevation gain: Minimal. Pace: 2.5 to 3.0 mi/hr.
DESCRIPTION
The plan is to stroll through downtown Baltimore and find a convenient location near Little Italy to watch the fireworks.Optional Dinner/Drink/Snack
From our meeting location in Baltimore, we will walk about a mile to Cross Street Market in the Federal Hill area, where they have several nice options. (Optionally, you can bring your meal with you and enjoy it in the Federal Hill Park.)Fireworks
After the meal we will re-group and walk slowly around the Inner Harbor to the Seven Foot Knoll lighthouse and find a place to sit down - you may want to bring a ground sheet. We will watch the fireworks from this location (they usually start a little after 9 p.m.). After the fireworks we will make our way back to the DC area.Carpools
If you would like to carpool, you are welcome to meet at the Forest Glen Metro Kiss and Ride lot at 5:00. We will find public parking in Baltimore. Suggested carpool fee: $8. You are also welcome to make your own arrangements for travel and just meet us in Baltimore instead - up to you. Neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride from the carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.Meeting in Baltimore
We will gather at the junction of E. Pratt and Light streets in the corner closest to the Inner Harbor (McKeldin Plaza) at 6:00 p.m. - Ornithological Ooh La La! (Rating: C)Patuxent River Park, Upper Marlboro, MD
You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
(Another nature TWO-FER! Attend a bird banding for 2 hours and afterward do a moderately paced fitness and nature hike for roughly 8 flat and hilly miles on dirt trails and a potentially slippery boardwalk with gobs of stops for birds & beasts.)
FIRST, we'll attend a migratory bird banding on the Patuxent River by licensed bander Alex Pellegrini -- one of our region's most STELLAR banders and researchers. We'll watch him band perching birds like sunshine-yellow warblers and their cousins with teensy-weensy numbered bands so scientists can learn about their migratory patterns and more. AFTER the banding, we'll hike a very roughly 8-mile (* LARGELY UNSCOUTED*) loop at a moderate pace (2.5-3 mph).
Our halfway point is the visitor center, where we'll dawdle there hoping to glimpse a hummingbird slurping a "soda" from a native coral honeysuckle, to watch movie-star osprey babies and parents by the dock (they are on two popular webcams), and then we'll slowly wind our way along a possibly slippery boardwalk to enjoy the antics of birds that flew over a thousand miles just to nest there, including (hopefully!) beauty kings & queens like prothonotary warblers, indigo buntings, and bright orange/red scarlet and/or summer tanagers. We'll also look for slinky snakes and other sultry swamp creatures along the boardwalk's neotropical fantasyland.
IMPORTANT NOTES: Adults only. No pets, including pet hummingbirds. Our end time of 2 pm is approximate. We'll likely end earlier, depending on discoveries during our hike. Elevation is unknown since I have NOT scouted the main trail on this hike. I would estimate maybe 500 feet of elevation change. We can't hold the birds or use flash photography. BRING A FOLDING CHAIR FOR THE BANDING if you don't want to stand for two hours. You can put it back in your car before the hike.
BRING: Sense of awe, sense of humor, LOTS OF WATER (freeze a couple of bottles the day before), lunch, bug spray, sunblock, full-charged cell phone with optional iNaturalist app, optional camera and/or binoculars, and dress for the weather, including "grippy" shoes for a potentially slippery boardwalk and trails.
MEET: 6:50 a.m. at Patuxent River Park's SELBY LANDING on the river. There is no street address there so please copy these GPS coordinates into Google Maps 38.753111, -76.700193 BEFORE you go. Ask the leader any questions you might have at least one day BEFORE the hike so you don't get lost or arrive late.
PATUXENT RIVER PARK: (main site and trail map):
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/pages/naturalareas/southern/patuxent-river-park.aspxhttps://www.pgparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/PRP-New-Trails-Map-3.30.2023.pdf
RESTROOMS: Portapotty at the start and restrooms by the visitor center.
WEATHER:
Bander will contact leader the day before the hike if weather will cause a cancellation. But so far the weather looks great but hot.USGS BIRD BANDING LABORATORY:
(Learn about the science behind these bandings):
https://www.usgs.gov/labs/bird-banding-laboratory#:~:text=The%20Bird%20Banding%20Laboratory%20(Est,science%2C%20management%2C%20and%20conservation.CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL AREA DRIVING TOUR:
(Open Sundays 10-3)
https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/southern/merkle/driving-tour.aspxPATUXENT BIRD GUIDE:
(from Birder’s Guide to Maryland & DC)
https://birdersguidemddc.org/site/patuxent-river-park-jug-bay-natural-area/THE INSTITUTE FOR BIRD POPULATIONS and MAPS PROGRAM:
(Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). Donations welcome.
https://www.birdpop.orgEBIRD:
https://ebird.org/INATURALIST:
https://www.inaturalist.org - Sky Meadows State Park (Rating: B)Gainesville Park and Ride, Virginia, VA
You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.
8.5 miles with 1500 feet elevation gain.
Let's hike to see the sights and activities of Sky Meadows! There may be wild berries!
Description:
Sky Meadows State Park is rich in history, the park has rolling pastures and woodlands, scenic vistas and is also a working farm. The park also has access to the Appalachian Trail which we will hike our way up to.Starting from Sky Meadows State Park visitors center parking area, we will combine several trails including the South Ridge, North Ridge Trails, the Old Trail, a portion of the Appalachian Trail and the Ambassador Whitehouse Trail. We'll also check out a new trail. There a some nice scenic overlooks including the Paris, VA overlook where we will take a break before returning back down to the visitor center. Most of the elevation gain is when we ascend to the top of the ridge to the AT. Make sure you are up to doing the elevation gain. After that, its mostly level and downhill.
The pace will be about 2.5 mph, slower uphill.
Bring:
At least 2 liters of water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes since there are some rocky areas, and tree roots. Recommend insect repellent and sunscreen. Hiking poles if you normally use them.Fee:
The park fee is $10 unless you have a Virginia State Park Pass or use your REI purchase receipt parking coupon from a participating Virginia REI.
Provide your REI receipt to the contact station ranger or insert it in a self-pay envelope. If main entrance contact station is not staffed you must use the self-pay envelope provided at the gate and hang the stub on your rearview mirror.Dogs are welcome. NVHC Dog policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
CARPOOLING: For those who are looking to carpool, meet at University Blvd - Gainesville Park and Ride and plan to leave at 7:45-8am to arrive at the trailhead in time to get signed in and start hiking at 9am.
A new Sheetz has opened in the Park & Ride, this would be a good meeting point. New Stable Way, directly across from the Sheetz store.
GPS 38.801119, -77.589532Sky Meadows trail map link: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/document/data/trail-guide-skymeadows.pdf
NOTE: The hike starts at 9am at the parking lot at Sky Meadows State Park. If you are carpooling from Gainesville Park and Ride plan on leaving there by 8:15am. The hike leader may depart around 8:10am.
Suggested carpool fee is $3.00Meeting Place Instructions: We are meeting at the parking lot closest to the Visitor Center where the hike starts GPS coordinates 38.991732, -77.966120
This parking lot is in front of the Mount Bleak House. You may want to arrive early to secure a parking spot.
Optional post hike rehydration TBD, but a winery nearby😊
Any questions please message me here or text/call me at 202-528-0456. If you text me please include your name.
