Round Hill HANDS + Appalachian Trail Committee Meeting

Round Hill HANDS + Appalachian Trail Committee Meeting

Join us at our next meeting! Anyone is welcome to help us get this group and local outdoor movement off the ground as we continue:

  • Community hikes
  • 2018 Opening Sleeter Lake Park
  • Appalachian Trail Community application

The Round Hill Appalachian Trail Committee is also known as Round Hill HANDS with the mission of  “Connecting Round Hill to the Great Outdoors”. We are working to inspire our community to “unplug,” get outside, and explore our amazing “backyard” — from our national treasures, like the Appalachian Trail, to new local & regional parks.

Join HANDS to Promote in Round Hill:

H – Healthy Living

A – Active Recreation

N – Nature Education

D – Discovery of New Parks

S – Support for the Appalachian Trail

Say Hello @ Hometown Festival

Say Hello @ Hometown Festival

We’ll have a booth at the Open House for the Round Hill Volunteer Fire Department, part of the Hometown Festival. We’d love to tell you about the new Round Hill HANDS group, what we’re up to, and all the fun we can create together in our community. And you won’t go away empty-handed — We’ll have a bunch of handouts on the Appalachian Trail, the national scenic trail that is just 5 miles away from us.

Stop by and say hello. 

National Trails Day

National Trails Day

We’re cross-posting this event held by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) event to celebrate National Trails Day. They are holding events at Bears Den and Shenandoah National Park. Bears Den will have events and hikes throughout the day.

Use the comments section to meet up with other members.

More info at the PATC site here –> http://www.patc.net/PATC/News/National_Trails_Day_-_2018.aspx

—– From PATC Site —–

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
* 8:30 am – Photography Hike on the Appalachian Trail (3-4 miles RT) – Led by Terri McLellan (PATC)
* 9:00 am – “Warbler Walk” Birding Hike led by Loudon Wildlife Conservancy
* 9:00 am – Hike on the Appalachian Trail (3-4 miles RT) – Led by Simon Newberry (PATC)
* 10:00 am – History Hike on the Appalachian Trail (4-6 miles RT) – Led by Bob Pickett (PATC)
* 11:00 am – Family Hike (1-2 miles RT) – Led by Lee Sheaffer (PATC)
* 11:00 am – Presentation in Bears Den Hostel – “Backpacking in the Southwest” – Bob Melchoir (PATC)
* 11:00 am to 2:30 pm – Entertainment (Michael Kelly)
* 11:00 am to 4:00 pm – FREE sandwiches, chips, cookies, sodas and water
* 12:30 pm – Invasive Species Presentation followed by a Hike on the Appalachian Trail to locate invasive species (2-3 miles RT) – Dewey Clark (PATC Naturalist)
* 1:00 pm – Hike on the Appalachian Trail (3-4 miles RT) – Led by Lee Sheaffer (PATC)
* 2:00 pm – Flora & Fauna Hike (3-4 miles RT) – Led by Kit and Karen Sheffield (PATC)
* 2:00 pm – Presentation in Bears Den Hostel – “Women on the Trail” – Laurie Potteiger (ATC)

ALL DAY ON THE HOSTEL LAWN
* Trail maintenance equipment demonstrations – Dan Dueweke (PATC)
* Try Your Hand at a Cross-Cut Saw
* Leave No Trace Information – PATC Information Tent – John Noss (PATC)
* Potomac Appalachian Trail Information Tent
* Northwest Federal Credit Union Information Tent
* Appalachian Trail Conservancy Information Tent
* Loudon Wildlife Conservancy Information Tent
* PATC Store Open – PATC Merchandise Available

Round Hill Arbor Day Planting

Round Hill Arbor Day Planting

In honor of Arbor Day, tomorrow at 3:30 pm we are meeting at the future Sleeter Lake Park to plant several trees and shrubs; and put some finishing touches on the plantings from Earth Day.

What is Arbor Day? It has been celebrated across the country since the first Arbor Day in 1872. It is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care.

To learn more, here is a pamphlet from the National Arbor Day Foundation

https://www.arborday.org/celebrate/documents/learn-more.pdf

Community Hike: Keyes Gap to David Lesser Shelter

Community Hike: Keyes Gap to David Lesser Shelter

Everyone welcome — families, friends, kids. A simple walk in the woods along the Appalachian Trail with the David Lesser shelter at the turnaround point – an excellent example of an Appalachian Trail shelter used by thru-hikers walking from Georgia to Maine. It’s the perfect midway point to relax and eat your lunch, complete with a picnic table and swing. The shelter area is also a wide-open space in the woods for kids to play & explore.

Just downhill from the shelter is a stream where you can collect water (filtration recommended). I’ll bring a water filter if you want to try one out.

More info at ——–> https://roundhill.at/hike-keyes-gap-to-david-lesser-shelter/

Distance = 6 miles (3 miles to shelter, 3 miles back)
Difficulty = Moderate

Bring whatever you need to stay comfortable: water, snacks, comfortable shoes, etc…

A few simple notes:
— The hike will happen rain or shine.
— Pack a lunch and water
— Carpool forms @ 9:30 am, leaves at 9:40 am from Woodgrove Park (see below) to drive to Keyes Gap (at Route 9)
— If you want to meet us at the trailhead, see the link to our website for the trailhead parking lot location. It’s a small parking lot, you’ll be able to find us.
— Hike begins @ 10 am (no waiting for latecomers)
— Plan to arrive at least 5 minutes early. Folks will need to sign-in, which includes a simple waiver form.
— There is no waitlist. All comers are welcome.

As always, it’s important to know your own abilities and stay within them.

See you there!

–Sean

Hike: Keyes Gap to David Lesser Shelter

Hike: Keyes Gap to David Lesser Shelter

Distance

6 Miles

Route Type

Out & Back

Difficulty

Moderate

Description

A simple walk in the woods along the Appalachian Trail starting from the Keyes Gap parking lot turning around point at the David Lesser shelter – an excellent example of an Appalachian Trail shelter used by thru-hikers walking from Georgia to Maine. It’s the perfect midway point to relax and eat your lunch, complete with a picnic table and swing. Just downhill from the shelter is a stream where you can collect water (filtration recommended).

A little local history on Keyes Gap from Wikipedia:

Keyes Gap or Keyes’ Gap is a wind gap in the Blue Ridge Mountain on the border of Loudoun County, Virginia and Jefferson County, West Virginia. The gap is traversed by Virginia State Route 9/West Virginia Route 9. The Appalachian Trail also crosses the gap.

 

Originally known as Vestal’s Gap, the 906 feet (276 m) gap is one of the lowest crossings of the Blue Ridge in Virginia. During the colonial period the main road between Alexandria and Winchester ran through the gap. As such, part of General Edward Braddock’s army under George Washington crossed through the gap on their way to Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War.

 

By 1820, the main route west became the newly completed Snickers Gap Turnpike which crossed the Blue Ridge to the south at Snickers Gap, and Keyes Gap lost its prominence. Despite this, Keyes Gap was still of strategic importance during the American Civil War, as it provided an alternate “back route” from Virginia to the key point of Harpers Ferry.

Map

Parking

Coming from Round Hill, on the right side (north) of Route 9 right at the WV / VA border. Parking spaces are limited, so carpool when possible.
Sleeter Lake Park: Pollinator Garden

Sleeter Lake Park: Pollinator Garden

Volunteers are welcome to join us at the site of the future Sleeter Lake Park. We will be planting native plants that bees, birds, and butterflies need to thrive.

Please email Melissa Hynes at mhynes@roundhillva.org to register.

— Saturday April 21 from 9 am to 12 pm: Prepping and planning out the new Pollinator Garden
— Sunday April 22 from 1 pm to 4 pm: Planting trees, shrubs, and perennials to create the new Pollinator Garden.

The approximate address is 17749 Lakefield Rd, Round Hill, VA.

Community Hike @ Bear’s Den

Community Hike @ Bear’s Den

Everyone welcome — families, friends, kids. We’ll hike up to Bear’s Den, hang out, and enjoy the view! You can hike back when you’re ready.

Bring whatever you need to stay comfortable: water, snacks, comfortable shoes, etc…

This is a short, strenuous hike up to an amazing view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah River.

All levels of ability are able to finish this hike. That said, it is a walk on uneven ground. So it’s important to know your own abilities and stay within them.

A few simple notes:
— The hike will happen rain or shine.
— We leave @ 2 pm (no waiting for latecomers)
— Plan to arrive at least 5 minutes early. Folks will need to sign-in, which includes a simple waiver form.
— No carpooling for this one… just meet us there
— There is no waitlist

See you there!

Round Hill Appalachian Trail Committee Meeting

Join us at our next meeting! Anyone is welcome to help us get this group and local outdoor movement off the ground as we prepare for:

  • Community hikes
  • 4/22/2018 Earth Day
  • 4/27/2018 Arbor Day
  • 4/30 – 5/6/2018 Screen Free Week
  • May 2018Opening Sleeter Lake Park (coming in May)
  • Appalachian Trail Community application

The Round Hill Appalachian Trail Committee is also known as Round Hill HANDS with the mission of  “Connecting Round Hill to the Great Outdoors”. We are working to inspire our community to “unplug,” get outside, and explore our amazing “backyard” — from our national treasures, like the Appalachian Trail, to new local & regional parks.

Join HANDS to Promote in Round Hill:

H – Healthy Living

A – Active Recreation

N – Nature Education

D – Development & Discovery of New Parks

S – Support for the Appalachian Trail

Screen Free Week

Screen Free Week

Celebrate Screen Free Week! Rediscover the joys of life beyond the screen. Plan to unplug from digital entertainment and spend all that free time playing, daydreaming, creating, exploring and connecting with family and friends!

Check back to see more events as we plan them.

From the Screen Free Week organization...

WHAT is Screen-Free Week?
Screen-Free Week is an annual, international celebration when families, schools, and communities swap digital entertainment for the joys of life beyond the screen. Instead of watching TV, surfing the web, or playing with apps and video games, they read, play, think, create, get active, and spend more time with family and friends.

Remember, Screen-Free Week is about taking a break from digital entertainment. You can celebrate, and still use devices for work or school. But if screens of any kind interfere with family time (including meals), you may want to rethink how and when you’re using them.

WHY Celebrate?
Regardless of whether children are consuming “good” or “bad” programming, it’s clear that digital entertainment dominates the lives of far too many kids, displacing all sorts of other activities that are integral to childhood. Excessive screen time is linked to poor school performance, childhood obesity, and attention problems. And it is primarily through screens that children are exposed to harmful marketing.

Screen-Free Week is a fun way to reduce our dependence on digital entertainment, including television, video games, smartphones, tablets, and computers. It’s a chance for children—and adults—to power down and reconnect with the world around them.

WHO and WHERE?
Anyone can participate by simply refraining from using digital entertainment during Screen-Free Week. But experience tells us that it’s more fun – and much easier – to go screen-free with others. That’s why we hope you’ll become a SFW Organizer.

You can organize Screen-Free Week in a classroom or entire school, with a scout troop, faith community, neighborhood association, at your local library or with any community group. Organizers and volunteers promote the week, reach out to partners, and help children and families discover fun, screen-free activities. If you can’t organize a whole week, consider hosting a screen-free event!