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
Christmas Eve quick workout (Rating: A **FAST**)
Centerville park and ride, 14700 Lee Highway, Centreville, Centerville, VA, USREQUIRED: 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 is a brisk A-level morning workout. The hike is about 9.5 miles with 1900 feet elevation gain in AT. This is an extended version of the Trumbo Hollow hike. We will start from AT at Rt55, take the AT to Mosby campground.
We hike at a pace of 3 mph when moving. Faster on flat/downhill sections. This is considered a fast hike. The plan is to complete the hike nlt 11:30 AM so you'll have a good part of the day to prepare for holiday festivities. You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, elevation gain and speed.
Leader: Xiaobin 857-408-1070
The hike leader will meet at the trailhead at 8AM.
For those wishing to carpool, the suggested carpool location is at the Centerville P&R. The driving time from there to the trailhead is about 45 minutes. Please arrive at the Park and Ride a few minutes before 7:15AM to form carpool so all cars can leave at 7:15AM.
Suggested carpool fee is $5.
PLEASE NOTE: 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.
Trailhead: Parking area off 55 and Tucker Ln in Linden at 8AM
GPS Coordinates: 38.909609, -78.053043 https://maps.app.goo.gl/8T2MwBZDTYxjqjUA8
Park Entry Fee: $0
Rating: A
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Hiking Map: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IyHwYv3I9AL84cfjKXWKyHhHfXpBf_TP/view?usp=drive_link8 attendees
Christmas Lights Evening Stroll (Rating: D, Fun)
MARC train station, 3701 Howard Avenue, Kensington, MD, US*** 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/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: 200 feet. Pace: 2.0 miles per hour
** Not suitable for fast paced hikers **
DESCRIPTION
We will take a leisurely walk through the neighborhoods of Kensington, MD and Rock Creek Trail to visit the spectacular Christmas lights decorations at the Mormon Temple. Optional dinner in Kensington after the hike.
DETAILS
We will meet in the parking lot of the MARC station in Kensington MD. We will walk first along Kensington Parkway and then on Rock Creek Trail to the Mormon Temple. We will take a 45-minute break to visit the temple and the lights. We will then continue our walk through the neighborhood streets of Kensington to return to the starting point. Mostly pavement; there is a small section where we can hike optionally on the trail by the side of Silver Creek. Wear an article of clothing that reflects light so that vehicles can see you. Flashlights are ok but are not really required; once your eyes adjust, the night vision is usually sufficient.
Dinner will be at downtown Kensington; based on the group size we may need to split into different groups so that we do not overwhelm the restaurants. Options for dinner include Frankly Pizza and a couple of other restaurants.
WHERE TO MEET
Kensington MARC Station: at 3711 Howard Av. Coordinates: 39.026756, -77.071935
DOGS not permitted due to the nature of the event.30 attendees
Xmas Escape (Rating: C)
Red Caboose, W&OD Trail, 131 Church Street, NE, Vienna, 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.
(7ish-mile, mainly flat, out-and-back moderate [roughly 3 mph while moving] hike. Rating: C)
Looking for a getaway after Christmas presents have been unwrapped and before a festive dinner -- or just looking for a hike if you don't celebrate Christmas? Please join us as we trek along the paved W&OD Trail, its dirt horse trail, and a couple of side trails. We will attempt a couple of stream crossings (hopefully not too wet from the drought) but you can detour around them. We'll start at the RED CABOOSE in Vienna and turn around at Hunter Mill Road at Reston's border.
MEET: Noon at the RED CABOOSE on the W&OD Trail ACROSS THE STREET FROM the Freeman Store & Museum, 131 Church Street, Vienna, VA. Copy these coordinates into Google Maps: 38.903539, -77.265726
IMPORTANT NOTES: PLEASE READ. YOU WILL BE GRADED ON THIS. Adults only and no pets, including pet reindeer. Bring: sense of humor and water. Optional binoculars, cameras, and iNaturalist apps are welcome since this stretch of the trail is usually birdy and the hike leader can't resist a good nature op. Please stay RIGHT on all public trails to allow bikes, runners, walkers, and sleighs to safely pass us. Finish time of 3:30 pm is approximate.
RESTROOMS: Commercial/town restrooms will likely be closed for Christmas so stop by a restroom beforehand. There are portapotties at our turnaround point (and biobreaks available about half-way there).
PARKING: Free street parking by meeting place and additional parking in the lot at the nearby Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna, VA. (PLEASE READ THE SIGNS. DON'T PARK WHERE IT SAYS NO W&OD PARKING OR YOU COULD BE TOWED.)
W&OD TRAIL:
(Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park)
https://www.novaparks.com/parks/washington-and-old-dominion-railroad-regional-park
W&OD TRAIL MAP:
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Viewer/index.html?appid=58c4130464c747abb0f70fce13b30729
CLOSEST METRO: Vienna-Fairfax/GMU station on the Orange Line.
https://www.wmata.com/rider-guide/stations/vienna.cfm37 attendees
Dicky Ridge to Visitor Center (Rating: B)
Dickey Ridge Trailhead, 17065 Skyline Dr, Front Royal, 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 for a post Christmas hike to work off that Figgy Pudding and cookies. This is an out-n-back hike starting outside the SNP on the Dickey Ridge Tr. We follow Dickey Ridge to the intersection of the Sneed Farm Loop and then return to the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center for lunch. After lunch we retrace out steps back to the cars.
Need to Know Information:
*Hike Starts: 9:30 AM (Please arrive a 9:15 to sign in)
*Distance: 8.8 miles
*Elevation gain: 1,500 feet elevation gain
*Pace: Moderate Pace of 2.0-2.5 mph when moving.
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, pace and elevation gain.
*TRAILHEAD Location: Dickey Ridge Trailhead 38.90631,-78.19672 https://maps.app.goo.gl/AWdNBJkrW9xBiJqo9
*Park Entrance Fee N/A We meet outside the park
*CARPOOLING: For those who are looking to carpool, feel free to use the comment section to organize.
Neither the Club nor the hike leaders are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.
*Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic
Leaders: Becky M. 703-229-9699 and David C. 571-643-3897 and Sadie Mae 🐕
AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/dickey-ridge-to-vc-05c792f24 attendees
Past events
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