At Skyland Resort, come and sample some of the finest wines of a selected Virginia vineyard from April 7- 28, 2011. Every week, there will be one winery featured beginning at 3pm. There is a minimal charge of $15 per person which includes assorted cheeses plus a handcrafted glass to take home. You must be 21 to attend. Call for reservations.

Dates              Featured Vineyards

April 7              Horton Vineyards

April 14            Jefferson Vineyards

April 21            Lovington Vineyards

April 28            Rockbridge Vineyards

www.youtube.com/watch?v=11746847D701EAAB

These folks are from Kansas and were vacationing at Big Meadows in the Shenandoah National Park.  They also volunteer for their PBS station back home.  What a great coincidence — the photographer and the  Kansas PBS station employee that these volunteers worked with serve on National  Friends of Public Broadcasting Board together! 

This is a group photo of the hard working Shenandoah National Park 75th Anniversary committee lead by Donna Bedwell. Check out the official website to be launched soon www.CelebrateShenandoah.org for information, events, and more!

The event is designed to give novice hikers the information they need to leave their cars behind and venture beyond the trailhead to enjoy this area’s numerous hiking and nature trails. Even experienced backpackers can learn new skills at the information tables and discussion groups on Leave No Trace outdoor ethics, hiking techniques, and equipment. Hands-on demonstrations of traditional tools, such as crosscut saws, used to maintain wilderness trails will be offered by Shenandoah National Park trail crew.

A variety of hikes guided by experienced Trail Patrol members will be offered for people of all ages and experience levels: hikes suitable for families with children; easy, moderate, and advanced hikes for adults. Hikers will need to meet at the registration table at Byrd Visitor Center 15 minutes before the hike time to sign in. Hikers should wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the season, and bring food and plenty of water.

Hikes leaving Byrd Visitor Center:

Pre-registration is encouraged but you may also register on June 5 at Byrd Visitor Center. To pre-register, send an email to TPNTD@patc.net by June 3. Please include your name and which hike you wish to join.

A presentation about thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, Appalachian Trail Reflections, will be offered as part of the National Trails Day event. Maryland backpackers Georgia Harris and Randy Motz will share their 2006 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail by describing what trail life is like, relating what it takes to accomplish a thru-hike, and showing photos of their journey. The one hour presentation will be given Saturday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Byrd Visitor Center auditorium. A book signing of the presenters’ book, Solemates – Lessons on Life, Love and Marriage from the Appalachian Trail, will follow each presentation.

PATC and Trail Patrol are charging no fees to attend or participate in any hike, workshop, or demonstration connected with the event. Byrd Visitor Center lies within the park at milepost 51 on Skyline Drive. For more information about the event, visit the PATC website at potomacappalachian.org or contact Trail Patrol TPNTD@patc.net. For more information on the park, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/shen. “Beyond the Trailhead” celebrates the annual National Trails Day organized and sponsored by the American Hiking Society.

Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is the volunteer trails maintenance group headquartered in Vienna, Virginia that maintains 240 miles of mid-Atlantic Appalachian Trail and 730 miles of other trails in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, southern Pennsylvania, and eastern West Virginia. PATC volunteers build and maintain trailside hiker shelters and rustic rental cabins; and publish detailed trails maps, hiking guidebooks, and books detailing the history of the Appalachian region. For more information about PATC and the Trail Patrol, visit the club’s website as potomacappalachian.org.

Contacts:  Laura Buchheit – 540-999-3500 x3723

Stress test!

Clink the link below to begin playing the audio story.
Denise.mp3

Clik on the link below to begin playing the story.
Felts.mp3