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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
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Big Devils Stairs – Bushwhack (Rating: A)
Gravel Springs Gap, 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.
Hike Overview: This deceivingly short 6-mile out-and-back hike will descend the Big Devils Stairs trail with a bushwhack up the Big Devils Stairs stream bed. The elevation gain is about 1600-1700 feet with lots of climbing, occasionally involving all four limbs. You should be experienced with bushwhacking and climbing rocks to go on this hike.
We start at a small Gravel Springs Gap parking lot on Skyline Drive. We'll travel a short distance on the AT, diverge off to see the Gravel Springs Hut, walk another short distance on the Harris Hollow Trail to the Bluff Trail. We'll hike the Bluff Trail 1.3 mi to the Big Devils Stairs trail and descend that trail to the bottom where we will bushwhack up the stream bed to the Bluff trail then return to the Parking Lot at Skyline Drive.
The picture above is the waterfall on the Big Devils Stairs stream. We'll see this waterfall from above on the Big Devils Stairs trail, the overlook is the normal turn around point of a Big Devils Stairs hike. We'll also lunch at the base of the waterfall on the climb back up.
Leader: Harvey Haines
Rating: A Normally this would be rated a B-hike at (6 mi + 1700ft/400mi/ft = 10.25 eq mi), but the bushwhack makes this hike more difficult, so I've upped the grade one level to an A-hike.
Pace: For most of the hike we will go between 2 & 3 mph. However, it will be slow hiking up the Big Devils Stairs where we'll climb at 1 mph or less.
Trailhead: Meet at the Gravel Springs Gap parking lot between MP 17 & 18 on Skyline Drive (GPS: 38.7678, -78.2336), alternatively if the lot is full, park at Range View Overlook closer to MP 17 and walk the ½ mile down Skyline to Gravel Springs Gap.
Park Entry Fee: $30.
Pets: Because of the terrain no dogs are permitted on this hike.
Map for hike:
Annotated PATC Map 9 cutout:
https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0c6GnyiclUvNh-d3OL4iev06A#Big_Devils_Stairs
GaiaGPS map of hike:
https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=12.7/-78.2234/38.7593&pubLink=dyWxMHumLFYniNagkWV1iQ2G&routeId=f50b00b4-9483-4b6c-9f2e-e9bbe32e7b37
Carpools: Feel free to coordinate carpools in the comments section as parking at Gravel Springs is limited. It's a 1hr 25min drive from the Centreville Park & Ride Lot. 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.
Description from the PATC Appalachian Trail Guide to Shenandoah National Park:
The Big Devils Stairs canyon is one of the most impressive features of Shenandoah National Park. Originally the trail followed through the canyon. Due to flooding which obliterated the trail on a regular basis, a relocation was performed which situated the trail on [the] east rim of the canyon. With caution, one can climb along the stream all the way through. The old route up the canyon is not recommended for young children due to the rough going. The present trail should be traveled with caution with children due to the sheer cliffs along the east rim which follow[s] the trail for most of its length.10 участников
Bull Run Mountains & The Farm Brewery (Rating: C)
Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve - Virginia Outdoors Foundation, 17502 Beverley Mill Dr, Broad Run, 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 7 mile hike with 750' elevation gain through the various trails in the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve near Haymarket, VA.
https://www.virginia.org/listings/OutdoorsAndSports/BullRunMountainsNaturalAreaPreserve/ .
After the hike, for those that choose to do so, we will drive down the road a little for lunch at the The Farm Brewery. https://www.thefarmbreweryatbroadrun.com/ , GPS Coordinates: 38.818900, -77.668610. https://goo.gl/maps/WT6MnDCgMFHUR5cL6
We hike at a pace of 2.0-2.5 mph while moving.
No dogs permitted on these trails.
Leader: Ed Brimberg 703-944-9920 (C)
Rating: C
Meet: Plan to arrive at 8:45am hike starts at 9:00am
Trailhead: Park in the first parking area on your left. GPS coordinates: 38.825092, -77.704160 https://goo.gl/maps/vvYmeFwSKYVU4dGMA
Please park efficiently so we can get all the cars in this area.
Park Entry Fee: $0.00
AllTrails Map: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-bull-run-red-yellow-and-green-loop-d465f14?u=i&sh=7cs7ov27 участников
Battery Kemble Park (Rating: C)
Battery Kemble Park, 2832 Chain Bridge Road NW, Washington, DC, 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 six mile circuit hike, with an elevation gain of about 450 feet, starting at Battery Kemble Park in Washington, DC. Battery Kemble was a fortification used for the defense of Washington during the Civil War.
From the parking lot, we'll proceed south on Battery Kemble Trail. At the Wesley Heights Trail, we'll head east to intersect the Glover Archbold Trail. Heading south on Glover Archbold, we reach the C&O Canal towpath and then head west to Fletcher Cove. We'll stop briefly at the cove and then finish the hike by heading north along the Battery Kemble Ridge Trail.
Map: AllTrails: Battery Kemble - Glover Archbold - C&O Canal
Length: 6 miles
Estimated Time: Two and a Half (2.5) Hours
Hike Pace: about 2.5 mph
Trail Type: Dirt, stairs, grass, and gravel.
Elevation Gain: ~ 450 feet.
Hike Type: Circuit
Dogs are welcome on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy. https://tinyurl.com/nvhcdogpolicy
Facilities: There are no restrooms at Battery Kemble Park. Restroom facilities are available at Fletcher Cove, which is at mile 4.5 of this 6 mile hike.
GPS coordinates: 38.929611, -77.094103
Directions: From MacArthur Boulevard in Northwest DC, turn (left if inbound, right if outbound) onto Chain Bridge Rd. Go one-half mile to the park entrance on the right. Follow the winding park road to the parking area.
Leader: Steve Wiley (571) 345-6441
Rating: C
Hike Rating System explained
Meet: Please arrive by 9:15 a.m. so that we can check everyone in and start hiking on time at 9:30.
Park Entry Fee: $0.0018 участников
A Taste of Mount Vernon! (Rate: C Fun!)
Fort Hunt Park, 8999 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, 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.
Ring in the New Year 2026 on the grounds of George Washington's estate with a lovely meal at the Mount Vernon Inn offering flavors of early America in a tranquil 18th Century atmosphere. The menu is available HERE. 20 Spots have been reserved for us!
8 mile loop from Fort Hunt Park Picnic area C to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estates. Elevation is essentially zero.
Description: This is a lovely hike along the Potomac River on the Mount Vernon Trail to George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens.
Fee: There is no fee to enter Fort Hunt Park.
Restrooms: there are facilities near Picnic Area A in Fort Hunt Park as well as at the GW's Mount Vernon Estate.
Pace: pace is about 2.5 mph while moving.
Bring: adequate water/hydration, also snack/lunch, and sturdy hiking
shoes. Dress in layers especially covering your head and hands.
Dogs: No Pets on this hike in accordance with the NVHC Dog Policy.
Weather: weather in this location is HERE.
Meetup Location: Fort Hunt Park, Picnic Area C, 8999 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22308. GPS: 38.7152° N, 77.0531° W. I have a Honda Fit Hatchback that will be up. Please be ready to hike at 9:45am so we can get signed in and leave at 10 am.
MAP: Fort Hunt Map
Leader: Dawn K. Feel free to reach out to me at 703 533 923121 участников
Прошедшие события
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