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  • This is a family club and website.  Therefore please use appropriate language and respect the opinions of others.
  • We reserve the right to monitor and remove inappropriate entries.

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  • 19 May 2017 9:56 AM | Sue (Administrator)

    Hello!

    At noon on June 2 (the eve of National Trails Day), the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) will join hikers to peacefully rally and then hike around the Capitol grounds in Richmond to raise awareness on the impact two proposed fracked-gas pipelines -- the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) and the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) -- will have on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (ANST). We cordially invite you and members of your group to join us!

    As a long-time member of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) and a lifelong hiker of the ANST, Executive Director Mike Tidwell is motivated to do everything possible to stop these pipelines. CCAN has been working with many great partners, including the ATC, toward this effort.


    The MVP and the ACP are slated to cross the ANST and will require easements that are 125 feet wide, destroying private and public lands alike and threatening viewscapes.  As if that’s not bad enough news, recent analysis has shown that construction of the ACP alone will flatten 38 miles of ridgetops in West Virginia and Virginia from 10 to 60 feet.  These pipelines will destroy some of the most precious natural areas in the Commonwealth, in addition to posing significant threats to our water and air quality.


    Earlier this week, Governor McAuliffe issued a cap on carbon emissions.  He showed us that he understands the detrimental impacts of continuing to rely on fossil fuels. Yet he still supports the pipelines.  We need to convince him change his course.


    At the conclusion of our hike on June 2nd,  we will provide Governor McAuliffe with a gift of compasses, reminding him that he has the ability to change course on pipelines.  We would love to have you and members of your group to join us, so please share this invitation widely.  


    Please let Mike know if you can join him -- email him at mtidwell@chesapeakeclimate.org or call/text him at 240-460-5838. You’re also welcome to call/text me directly at 757-871-8639.

    Thanks!

    Stephanie Weber
    Virginia Director
    Chesapeake Climate Action Network
    C: 757-871-8639

    stephanie@chesapeakeclimate.org


  • 13 Jan 2017 9:25 PM | Sue (Administrator)

    I am writing this letter to your organization in hopes of obtaining information regarding trail angels in your area of coverage on the AT. I’ve been walking the AT since 2013 and learned a great deal about the trail, my hiking capabilities, and lastly the kindness and hospitality of trail angels. I haven’t been able to complete the trail for various reasons. This year my goal is to make it to Maine.

    My friend and I plan to take our cars and move them along the trail with a 4-6 day walk between each resupply and/or zero day. We’re also planning to provide trail magic and trail angel services during our zero days. I realized after my many times on the trail how wonderful it felt to receive trail magic and trail angel assistance. I’ve begun the planning process to locate feasible spots along the trail where the trail crosses a major road, passes near or through a town or city, where a car can be parked safely. That’s where the trail angel comes in.

    I would like to contact other trail angels and ask for their time and assistance to provide rides to and from the cars when parking the cars close to the trail is not feasible. I would like to pre-arrange their assistance prior to starting my trek in mid April. I left the trail in Damascus, VA this past June and that is where I plan to resume my walk.

    If no information exists regarding a trail angel listing I would then request a referral to any person or other organization that you think may be able to help me. I can be reached via my email account or my cell phone. I thank you for your assistance. The great trail philosopher once said, “The hiker may be slow, but the trail is patient.”

    Contact:  Ernest A. (Big Tony) Amende

    9311 Andersonville Lane

    San Antonio, Texas 78240
    eaa9311@fastmail.us
  • 14 Mar 2015 11:19 AM | David
    11:30 to 12 noon, Sat, March 14 - on CW WUPV Channel 13 - Verizon FIOS in Henrico County - Jack Stewart & Colton Smith hike one of the most dangerous trails in the Shenandoah National Park


  • 23 Nov 2014 8:26 PM | Theresa (Administrator)

    On Monday November 17, Thomas Pearson passed away at the age of 98. He was a founding member of ODATC and the first president. I never had the privilege of meeting Mr. Pearson but he established a legacy that I am grateful to have been  part of. For more information please see the link below. 

    Theresa Duffey

    http://www.timesdispatch.com/obituaries/pearson-thomas/article_ab120aca-836f-58ae-a8ff-4821dcc73787.html

  • 19 Oct 2013 12:58 PM | Anonymous
    Recently, six members of our club completed a week-long section hike of the Georgia AT as "Slack Packers".  During most of the hikes, the group walked with a section backpacker named Brian from Colorado, with everyone thoroughly enjoying each other's company.  At the end of the ODATC group's planned hike around seven miles from the NC border, a group photo was taken that included Brian using his camera.  Once he returned to Colorado after finishing his planned section hike of the AT, Brian contacted the group via email and mailed them the photo.  The email text and picture are included below.  The ODATC members participating in this hike were Alex Alexander, Bill Beck, Jim Henry, Jim Hunt, Larry Kidd, Jim Metz, Bill Tennant, and Jeff Samuels.
    Dear Larry and the rest of the Gang,

    I just wanted to thank each of you for the kindness you showed me on my hike. I truly enjoyed the company and the conversations and I very quickly feel welcomed into your group. 

    As an update, after my one rest day, I hiked 18 and 15 miles and made it to my goal in North Carolina just past Albert Mountain. Camping those two nights went well, but were no competition to slack packing.

    I hope you are all well and our paths cross again. Attached is the group photo.

    All the best,
    Brian
    P.S. Planning to eat grits tomorrow morning with a dab of butter....

    Sent from my iPhone
    ODATC GA AT Group Photo
  • 03 Jun 2013 9:47 PM | Deleted user
    I and Joy Cobb are attending the conference Mon. through Fri.
    We are interested to know who else is attending?? 
    We have two spots in our car.

    Also, I am a new member and I would like a roster of members.

    Also, I paid for a T-shirt online. Will I receive this shirt by July 20, so that I may wear it at the conference?

    Thank you, Linda Edwards
    Linda@afairworlddesigns.com, 804-338-4524
  • 29 May 2013 12:27 PM | Deleted user
    Members forum opened on the conference to facilitate ride sharing or maybe rooming  with another another club member.  Log in as a member and post if you're interested.
  • 20 May 2013 5:14 PM | Anonymous
    We have had an outbreak of Norovirus on the AT that appears to be moving our way.  We are primarily concerned with the AT but it could spread to other trails.  If you encounter hikers when on your trails, ask if they are aware of the norovirus and ask for any feedback about ill hikers and suspected locations.  The poster below from ATC provides more information on the virus.


    I've attached the poster developed for use along the A.T. between Hot Springs and Erwin earlier in the season. I believe the language was developed primarily from input from the Tennessee Dept. of Health, after learning about the situation on the Trail and the practices of hikers. They noted all the sick people they had interviewed had used only hand sanitizer. They seemed to think that hand sanitizer was better than nothing but not adequate by itself.
     
    I don't know if there have been any studies to determine how effective hand-washing in the backcountry might be, especially if only cold water were used. But it's feasible with planning and preparation, if inconvenient. There are also some non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers that claim to be effective against norovirus and registered with the EPA. One is www.microbearmour.com, but it's expensive.

    Laurie Potteiger
    Information Services Manager
    Appalachian Trail Conservancy
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Richmond, VA 23260-5283
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