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
28
AT Shuttle Hike - 4-H Center to Manassas Gap (Rating: A)
Tucker's Lane AT Trailhead Parking, 3128 Tuckers Lane, Markham, 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 me on a 10.7 mile shuttle hike along the AT with about 1,960 feet of elevation gain between the Northern Virginia 4-H Center and Manassas Gap. I last led this hike two years ago, and I'm long overdue to lead it again!
Here are details for this hike:
- Distance: 10.7 miles
- Elevation gain: 1,960 feet
- Pace: ~2.5 miles/hour when moving
- Duration: 5.5 hours
- Hike map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/at-northern-virginia-4-h-center-to-manassas-gap-99f42c4
- Trailhead A parking: Northern Virginia 4-H Center Parking Lot (GPS 38.86113, -78.16814)
Trailhead B parking: Tucker's Lane AT Trailhead Parking (GPS 38.91138, -78.05298) - Time to meet at Trailhead B parking: 8:00 a.m.
- Driving time / distance between trailheads: ~20 minutes / ~12 miles
- Time to start hike from Trailhead A parking: 8:30 a.m.
- Leader: Chris Bosch 703-216-7801
Carpools
As this is a shuttle hike, the usual NVHC Park & Ride carpool locations will not be used. Hikers should initially arrive at the Trailhead B parking area with room in their vehicles for additional passengers. After getting everyone signed in, we will consolidate hikers into at most half of our available vehicles and carpool to the Trailhead A parking area. After hiking from Trailhead A back to Trailhead B, we will need drivers of vehicles initially left at Trailhead B to take the the other drivers back to their vehicles left at Trailhead A before the hike.
What to bring
Bring a backpack, water, lunch/snacks, sunscreen, insect repellent, hiking poles if you like. Wear comfortable shoes or boots that are suitable for hiking. Dress for the weather including hat and rain gear as needed.
Dogs
No dogs are permitted on this hike.
Park entrance / parking fees
None.
Weather
Here's a National Weather Service URL you can use to check the 7-day weather forecast at the trailhead from which we start the hike (Northern Virginia 4-H Center).
https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=38.86113&lon=-78.16814
In case of poor or severe weather, this hike will be postponed.16 attendees
Columbia Island Marina (Rating: D)
Crystal City Metrorail Station, Crystal Dr, Arlington, 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.
Meet at Crystal City Metro street level (38.858, -77.0516) and walk a total of 5.2 miles out and back to Columbia Island (between the Pentagon and the Potomac). The walking route will be on paths through Longbridge Park and on sidewalks near the lagoon between the Pentagon and Columbia Island Marina. The pace will be 2 to 2.5 miles per hour.
Pack a lunch to eat the picnic tables at the Island Time Bar and Grill. The restaurant is open and offers lunch options (as well as beer and wine). There are tables outside and it is a great place to relax and enjoy the conversation and the views. We will stay there for less than an hour or so and then return.
Joint hike with the Center Hiking Club.
If you want to join us by driving directly to the Marina where there is plenty of parking. Underground parking is available in Crystal City and is free on weekends. Garage entrance is down 18th Street from the metro.
Meet Stu (703) 517-3490 (C) at the street level at Crystal City Metro Station.
No dogs permitted on this hike.11 attendees
Sky Meadows / Whiskey Hollow Shelter (Rating: A)
University Blvd Park and Ride, 7201 New Stable Way, Gainesville, 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 hike is a 12-mile loop and out and back circuit with an elevation gain of approximately 2,100 feet. I plan to hike at a pace of 2.0-2.5 mph when moving.
Route. We’ll hike from the Sky Meadows Visitors Center up to the AT via the South Ridge Trail and a portion of the North Ridge Trail and then south on the AT to the Whiskey Hollow Shelter. We’ll plan to have lunch at the Whiskey Hollow Shelter. We’ll then retrace our path north on the AT to the Old AT, then on to the Ambassador Whitehouse Trail, down the North Ridge Trail, and down to the parking lot via the Piedmont Overlook Trail. (Reference map in photos.)
Carpools. Meet at the Park and Ride off Route 29 at GPS coordinates: 38.80136, -77.59032 no later than 8:30 AM. The meetup is across from the Sheetz store location which is located at 7201 New Stable Way.
The hike leader will be at the carpool location but neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride to the trailhead from the carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants, and they participate at their own risk.
Driving Time. It is about a 28 mile / 35-minute drive from the Park and Ride to the Sky Meadows visitor parking lot; take Exit 23 off Route 66.
Those planning to meet at Sky Meadows should plan to be at the Sky Meadows visitor center parking lot by 9:15 AM. The Park opens at 8:00 AM. The Sky Meadows State Park visitor center parking lot coordinates are: 38.991732, -77.966120
Fees.
- Park Entry Fee: $10/car (free for Virginia State Parks pass holders or REI receipt.)
Note: Thanks to a partnership between Virginia State Parks and REI, REI shoppers and Co-Op members receive special discounts to Virginia State Parks. One discount includes Free Parking at a Virginia State Park with any REI purchase. To take advantage of this discount, make any purchase from REI and use the bottom of your receipt for free parking in any Virginia State Park. Provide your receipt to the contact station ranger or insert it in a self-pay envelope.
· Suggested carpool fee is $3.
Dogs. Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Jim Hollis (703-927-7189… use text)35 attendees
Algonkian Regional Park – Sugarland Run (Rating: C)
Algonkian Regional Park, Sterling, 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 8 mile out and back hike with 350' of elevation gain on the Potomac Heritage and Sugarland Run Trails in Loudoun County.
We will start the parking lot near the Volcano Island Waterpark in Algonkian Regional Park https://www.novaparks.com/parks/algonkian-regional-park and take the Potomac Heritage and Sugarland Run Trails in Loudoun County passing through and along the golf course. Nice scenery along Sugarland Run.
Some of the hike is on trails, pavement and gravel road. We hike at a 2.5-3.0 mph pace when moving. Bring a snack.
Leader: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920 (C)
Rating: C
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Meet: 8:30am near Volcano Island Waterpark in Algonkian Park.
Trailhead GPS coordinates: 39.060142, -77.388550
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PgTT77xqTVTt4AGj9
AllTrails Map for hike: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/algonkian-park-sugarland-run-db9e6ee?u=i&sh=7cs7ov35 attendees
Past events
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