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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.
Предстоящие события
27
4H Center - Compton Peak - Hickerson Hollow (Rating: A)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, VA, USREQUIRED: You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet
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.
The hike is about 11 miles with 2400 feet elevation gain in SNP.
Pace will be about 2.5MPH while moving. We will begin at the 4H Center near Front Royal (park at the top lot after the 4H gate), pick up the Appalachian Trail, go over to Compton Peak, back over to Dickey Ridge Trail and return via Hickerson Hollow Trail. Bring an apple or some carrots in case the horse at the Promised Land comes out to greet us.**You must be experienced in hikes of this distance, elevation gain and speed. ***
Leader: David K 571-488-4449
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 1 hour. Please arrive at the Park and Ride a few minutes before 7AM to form carpool so all cars can leave at 7AM.
Suggested carpool fee is $7.
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.
I plan to meet everyone at the trailhead.
Suggested carpool fee is $7.
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.
IMPORTANT!
You must be experienced in hikes of this distance and elevation gain. If I do not already know you, please contact me directly (571-488-4449). I reserve the right to drop anyone I feel may not have the necessary skills!
If I see that you are "double-booked" on another hike on the same day as this hike, I WILL DROP YOU FROM THIS HIKE. This is a courtesy to those waiting patiently on the waitlist.Trailhead: 4-H Center Parking Lot at 8AM
GPS Coordinates: 38.86418073943538, -78.16974356847578 https://goo.gl/maps/oTdG2BfeYMTP1cu16
Park Entry Fee: $0
Rating: B
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/1H_3z72qDAuyoD05_lzrXPnc3v4RNQmO7/view?usp=share_link
6 участников
Keys Gap to Split Rock via Appalachian Trail (Rating: A)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy,, Centreville, 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 11 mile out and back, with an elevation gain of about 1,700 ft on the Appalachian Trail, following the border of Virginia and West Virginia, from Keys Gap (Route 9) to Loudoun Heights. We will view but not descend into Harper’s Ferry before turning back. Our pace will be about 2.5 MPH
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
We meet at the Keys Gap Parking lot on the north side of Rte 9 (GPS: 39.2616, -77.7624) just west of Hillsboro, VA. Carpools are highly encouraged, since parking is tight. Overflow parking is available a short distance away at the corner of Rte 9 and Charles Town Road (GPS: 39.2621, -77.7649)
Suggested Carpool location is Centerville P&R. Suggested carpool fee is $5.00. Hike leader will not be at carpool location.
Neither the Club nor the hike leader is responsible for coordinating transportation to/fro the trailhead. Hikers are not guaranteed to get a ride to the trailhead from the carpool location. Carpools are organized by the participants and they participate at their own risk.
Try to get to the trailhead a few minutes early so we can get signed in and start promptly at 0900.
Hike map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/west-virginia/keys-gap-to-split-rock-via-appalachian-trail
Bring a snack or early lunch and plenty of water.
Leader: Dick Pregent 703-587-2359
Driving time from Northern VA is about 1 hour.
Parking Fee: free
22 участников
Sky Meadows Lost Mountain (Rating: B)
Centreville Park & Ride, 14700 Lee Hwy, Centreville, 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.
Come join me on this lovely 9.7 mile hike in Sky Meadows State Park with 1,348 feet of elevation. We will wander up and down over grassy trails to reach the Lost Mountain section, do some sustained climbing, maybe see some horses, and then have a brief lunch at the picnic tables near the beginning of the Hadow Trail. After lunch we will mosey for a bit, then do another sustained climb up to enjoy the spectacular Piedmont Overlook before heading back down to our cars.
We will hike at an average moving pace of 2.5 miles per hour and stop at all intersections. While this hike is rated B, the combination of distance and elevation makes it very close to an A hike, so please plan accordingly. .
The park opens at 8:00 a.m. and there are restroom facilities at the trailhead. The park fee is $10 unless you have a Virginia State Park Pass or an REI receipt with a coupon for one day of free parking in a Virginia State Park. If you need to pay, bringing cash is most convenient.
Dogs are permitted on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://drive.google.com/file/d/10TK3WUZt86QCViPsF8jO39s5rVbgEymD/view?usp=sharing. If you plan to bring a dog on this hike, please contact me about the dog’s prior hiking experience.
Leader: Becky Reickel 301-471-3641 Note: I am unlikely to have cell service at the Visitor Center.
Carpools: Meet at the Centreville Park and Ride at 7:45 a.m. to leave by 8:00. Suggested carpool fee is $5.00 per rider. The leader will not be at the carpool location and will meet the group at the trailhead. Anyone intending to carpool may want to post a message to the group to be sure someone else will be there. GPS coordinates for Centreville Park and Ride: 38.836080, -77.455327. https://goo.gl/maps/hc3LRG7Hsy2wMJs18
Trailhead: Meet at the Sky Meadows State Park Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. for our 9:00 a.m. start. GPS coordinates for the trailhead: 38.9919027532781, -77.96586075880815
https://goo.gl/maps/NvZbneCJwbnuD8mw9Park entry fee: $10
Rating: B
Map for hike: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/sky-meadows-9-7-1bc0249?u=i
22 участников
Little Devils Stairs (Rating: A)
Little Devils Stairs, Virginia, 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 an ~8 miles’ loop with an elevation gain of ~2000 ft., featuring a beautiful initial hike up the steep Little Devils Stairs Trail canyon, one of the most scenic canyons in SNP. Most of the elevation gain is in these initial 2 miles up the canyon. However, there is another climb toward the end of the hike of 485 ft, starting at the 5½ mile mark where we climb the Hull School Trail from the Piney River up to the Keyser Run Rd to see the Bolen family Cemetery, before descending back to the parking lot.
Trail maps
pdf map:
https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/092HM0dNKDqTu8UpB6TGyilBQ#Little_Devils_Stairs
Shenandoah NP Keyser Run Area map
https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0dagfKAPUnQSGKiNVAD0_73-A#MP_20-26_KeyserRun_RoadTrail
GaiaGPS map:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=11.9/-78.2829/38.7286&pubLink=Chv9qJv1m8rhovXfXYaM4lo4&trackId=23e27e16-b81c-4813-b34e-64e759df2618Difficultly Rating: A
At 8 mi + 2000/400 =13 mi, this makes this on the border of hard B-hike or easy A-hike. So treat it as you will, but I've listed it as an A-hike. The only thing that makes this hike more difficult is the initial climb of the canyon pictured above.
https://nvhc.com/hikeinfo/ratings/Pace: 2 – 2½ mph on average.
We'll go as slow as 1 mph up the canyon, and as fast as 3+ mph for the easy hike down the Piney River trail with an average of 2 - 2½. In past trips this hike has taken from 4⅓ hrs to 5hrs.Trailhead: We'll meet at the Little Devils Stairs Parking Lot which is at the end of Keyser Run Road. To get there take US 211 west to Gid Brown Hollow Rd (Rt 622), then 1.9mi to Keyser Run Rd.
TH Coordinates: 38.7305, -78.2583.
It's a 65 minute drive from Centreville Park & Ride.Dogs permitted per NVHC Dog Policy: https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
25 участников
Прошедшие события
4552
