Hikes
when
Hikes are usually held on the first three or four Saturdays of the month (check the schedule). We meet at 9 am Saturday morning, in the front of Albemarle High School, Hydraulic Road, Charlottesville. For guidance in getting there, see our directions.
where
The most common areas are in the southern and central districts of Shenandoah National Park. Other areas are George Washington National Forest, Pedlar District (south of I-64), Deerfield Ranger District (west of Staunton) and the Massanutten Mountains. Most of our hikes are shown on PATC Maps 10,11 and 12 which can be ordered from PATC publications
Our newsletter lists a schedule, and Charlottesville's Daily Progress carries a brief notice on Thursday. In bad weather, like continuous rain, threatened snow or ice, the scheduled hike may be changed. Closure of Skyline Drive also changes some plans.
Usually the drive to the trail head is one to one and a half hours, and sometimes car shuttles add to travel time. For information about the area, see the main PATC web site section on other places
For information about Shenandoah National Park, visit their web site.
What we do
Commonly hikes are eight to ten miles long. Depending on the group, there may be a shorter version of the scheduled hike. Most hikes involve significant altitude change; 2,000 feet total climb is common. The climbing may be concentrated in one section of the hike. The hike may be a circuit (many are in the PATC book of Circuit Hikes), an out-and-back route, or a one-way trip with a car shuttle.
Why
Because we want to.
Who goes
In bad weather, six or fewer people might show up, but in good hiking weather, 20 or more people may go. Hikers range in age from their early 20s to late 60s.
Time
We meet at 9 a.m. and usually return to Charlottesville between 4 and 5 p.m. However, we do not guarantee a return time. Anyone who has a mandatory commitment close to the time we anticipate to be back should not hike with us that day, since unforeseen delays can derail our best-laid plans. Stops for refreshments on the way home add to the length of some trips. We can occasionally predict a later-than-usual return time on certain hikes because of the travel time or hiking distance involved.
What you need
Food, water, clothing, a day to spend hiking, car pool money. Bringing chocolate or other delicacies is a way to win popularity.
For longer descriptions on how to prepare, read these pages on the PATC web site:
Visiting Shenandoah National Park in winter.
Risks
This is a volunteer organization and we make no guarantees about the safety of the hikes; see the disclaimer. Leaders are unpaid, and rely on their knowledge of previous trips on the trails we hike, thus a casual atmosphere prevails in the organization of the hikes.
Worried about bear? (we aren't); See a page about bears in the wilderness
Other hazards: See page on Lyme disease, snake bites, poison ivy