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 was 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
23
RESCHEDULED Memorial to Paul Fermoile (Friends please) MNBP Hike (Rating:D)
Manassas National Battlefield Park Visitor Center, 6511 Sudley Rd, Manassas, VA, USYou 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.
Join us in celebrating the life of our NVHC hike leader and friend, Paul Fermoile. He especially enjoyed leading hikes at Manassas National Battlefield Park. We will do a flat 5 miles around the battlefield with views of the historic old Stone Bridge. Pace will be about 2.5 mph. Lunch following at CraftWorx Taproom, 5615 Wellington Rd. Gainesville. We can raise a glass to Paul and share stories. Please note that RSVP's will open at 7am on Thursday, Nov. 20.
Leaders: Kris N. (618) 623-2484 and Dane
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Meet at 9:30am at the Manassas National Battlefield Park Visitor Center. Restrooms are available. We will begin hiking at 9:45am.
No entrance fees22 attendees
Neabsco Creek Boardwalk to Leesylvania State Park (Rating: B)
Neabsco Regional Park, 15125 Blackburn Rd, Woodbridge, va, USYou 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 mile hike with 515 feet of elevation gain.
Join us as we hike from Neabsco Creek Boardwalk to Leesylvania State Park and back.
Description: We will start off at Neabsco Regional Park and make our way to the boardwalk and across the marsh at Neasbsco Creek. We have the potential to see various water birds and even a family of beavers. Once across the boardwalk, we will hike a short distance through the Julie Metz Wetlands area and then enter Leesylvavnia Park on the Potomac Heritage trail. We will hike several trails within the park which includes views of the Potomac River.
You must be capable of hiking this distance and elevation.
The pace will be about 2.5 mph.
There are porta-johns at the parking area at Neabsco Regional Park as well as restrooms at Leesylvania State Park where we will break for lunch.
Bring: Sufficient water/hydration, snacks/lunch, and good hiking shoes. There are no stream crossings. Hiking poles if you normally use them.
Fee: There is no parking fee at Neabsco Regional Park parking lot.
Dogs are welcome. NVHC Dog policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Please ensure your dog is capable of this distance.
Meet: At the trailhead parking lot 15 minutes early to allow everyone to sign in and get ready to hike at 9:00 am.
Leesylvania State Park: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/leesylvania
Neabsco Creek Boardwalk: https://www.visitpwc.com/listing/neabsco-creek-boardwalk/1648/
Meeting Place Instructions: We are meeting at Neabsco Regional Park parking lot at 15125 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge, VA. Coordinates 38.61595,-77.27503
Leader: Gail Markulin (703) 402-5902 (C)33 attendees
Civil War Battlefield(s) Hike(s) (Rating: C/B)
Spotsylvania Battlefield, Grant Dr W, Fredericksburg, VA, USYou 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 is a 6 mile "figure-8" hike with about 400' elevation gain around the Spotsylvania Courthouse Battlefield (one of the best preserved in Northern Virginia), and for those that need a better reason to drive down to Spotsylvania, we will then drive 9 miles up the road to do a 4-mile loop around the Chancellorsville Battlefield. Hence the C/B Rating.
We will start from the Spotsylvania Battlefield Visitor Center (9550 West Grant Dr, Spotsylvania, VA 22553). Please be there by 8:45, so we can be hiking by 9am.
At the conclusion to the first hike we will drive 9 miles up the road (and a year back in history) to the Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center (9001 Plank Rd, Spotsylvania, VA 22553).
After Grant took command of Union forces his first battles with Lee were at the Wilderness Battlefield (just up from our hike location) on 5-6 May 1864, and the battlefields we will be touring saw clashes starting in the following day. This marked the beginning of almost 11 months of near-continuous battle, passing south and around Richmond, culminating in the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Courthouse in April 1865.
For those that continue on to the second leg of our hike, again we will move back a year in time to May 1863, and the second Union attempt to capture Fredericksburg, and control of the main route to Richmond. It was the last major battle before Gettysburg.
I am not a historian but will do my best to convey my knowledge of these battlefields. History buffs are encouraged to participate and correct any factual errors this yankee may make.
I hike at a moderate pace of 2-2.5 mph when moving, with stops at all photo points, and trail intersections, and for this hike there will be ample historical interjections.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Leader: Dale Johnson (540-454-5592)
RSVPs will close at 9pm the night before, so if you need to make a last minute change text me at 540-454-5592 so we are not waiting for you.14 attendees
Past events
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