Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC)

Beaverdam Reservoir ( Rating: C)

Fri, Jul 17 · 8:30 AM EDT

Brambleton Park West, 22404 Water Vista Drive, Brambleton, VA, 20148, Ashburn, VA, US

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 hike offers plenty of water views. It's a 7.7 mile/ 212 foot elevation gain hike around Beaverdam Reservoir. Please note that we're starting at 8:30 to take advantage of the cooler morning air.

For those of you who like numbers the reservoir is 350 acres and holds between 1.3 and 1.5 billion gallons of water.

We will meet in front of the Visitors Center with hike start at 8:30 am.
The Visitor Center, with the trailhead, is new and the GPS mapping apps are still updating.
The Reservoir Park Main entrance is located within the Brambleton Community Park West Baseball field complex, accessed from Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn.
The address is 22211 Water Vista Drive Ashburn, Virginia.
The GPS coordinates are: 39.00223 N, 77.53529W.

We hike at a pace of ~ 2.5 mph while moving. You must have experience with hikes of this length and elevation gain.
Meet in front of the Visitor Center at 8:45am for sign-in. Restrooms are available.

Dogs are welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicyhttps://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolic

Leaders: Steve Frith cell 703-629-0174

Park Entry Fee: $0.00
Map for hike:
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/virginia/reservoir-park-trail?sh=iypgzx&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

Sky Meadows State Park (Rating: B)

Sat, Jul 18 · 8:15 AM EDT

Gainesville Park and Ride, Virginia, VA, US

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!

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. There are 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 South Ridge trail to the top of the ridge to the AT. Make sure you are up to doing the elevation gain. After that, it's 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 8:15am 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, -77.589532

Sky 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 $4.00

Meeting 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.

AT - MD Washington Monument, Reno Monument, County Agr. Fair (Rating: C)

Sat, Jul 18 · 8:30 AM EDT

Washington Monument State Park parking lot, 6620 Zittlestown Rd,, Middletown, MD, US

Disclaimer
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.

Hike description
This is an out and back hike with a distance of 6.5 miles and an elevation gain of 1200 ft.

Starting in the parking lot of Washington Monument State Park we'll walk a short distance north to see Maryland's Washington Monument, read it's history, and enjoy the great view. The inside of the Monument opens at 10 am so those who wish to enter can do so after the hike.

We'll then hike back south, past the parking lot and continue on the Appalachian Trail, passing the small Dahlgren Chapel and stopping to check out the Dalhlgren Camping Area.

From there we'll continue hiking south to the Reno Monument which commemorates Union General Jesse Lee Reno, killed in that area during the Civil War Battle of South Mountain on September 14, 1862. We'll stop at the Monument for a snack and then hike back north to the Washington Monument State Park parking lot.

Afterward (optional) we'll drive to the Washington County Ag Expo and Fair at 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro, MD 21713 for fair food and farm animals. They may also have carnival rides. Parking is free, and on this day admission is also free.
Link to the fair website: https://agexpoandfair.org/.

There are regular public toilets next to the parking lot where we'll start and end our hike, and also at the Dahlgren Camping Area.

We’ll hike at a 2.0 to 2.5 mph pace when moving,

Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy.

Leader: Ron Krifcher 703-856-7557 (C)

Park Fees:
$3 per vehicle for Maryland residents and $5 per vehicle for non-residents.
Entrance is free for holders of the MD State Park Passport or Golden Age Pass.

Meet
Meet at 8:30 am at the Washington Monument State Park parking lot which is northwest from the intersection of Zittlestown Rd and Washington Monument Rd (go up the hill passing the 1st parking lot on the left until you arrive at the 2nd parking lot near the main buildings). GPS Coordinates: 39.499033, -77.623725.

Carpools
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 a carpool location. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk. Feel free to arrange a carpool in the comment section below. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.

Alltrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-94613c8?u=i&sh=r3znix

Weather link

You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, pace and elevation gain to join this hike.

Gathland State Park to Weverton Cliffs (Rating: A)

Sun, Jul 19 · 8:30 AM EDT

Gathland State Park, 900 Arnoldtown Road, Jefferson, MD, US

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.

Join me this weekend hiking ~11 miles with ~1,600 feet of elevation gain along the AT through Maryland's state parks! We'll begin at Gathland State Park and hike south along the AT to the Weverton Cliffs Overlook where we'll enjoy the views during a snack/lunch break before heading back.

Here are details for the hike:

• Start time: 8:30 a.m.
• Trailhead parking: Gathland State Park Parking Lot (GPS 39.404671, -77.640304)
• Park entry Fee: None
• Distance: 11.3 miles
• Elevation gain: 1,624 feet
• Pace: 2.5--3.0 miles/hour when moving
• Duration: 5 hours
• Hike map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/gathland-state-park-to-weverton-cliffs-f316e3f
• Leaders: Chris Bosch 703-216-7801

Carpools

The hike leader(s) will meet hikers at the trailhead. Neither the Club nor the hike leader(s) are responsible for coordinating transportation to/from the trailhead. Carpooling is organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.

What to bring

Bring a backpack, water, snacks, sunscreen, hiking poles if you like. Wear comfortable shoes or boots that are suitable for hiking. Dress in layers for the weather including a hat, gloves, and rain gear as needed.

Dogs

Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. Please contact the hike leader in advance if you intend to bring a dog.

https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy

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 (Gathland State Park).

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.404671&lon=-77.640304

In case of poor or severe weather, this hike will be postponed.