FCPA, FTAS consider low-cost, low-impact fords for Pimmit Run. On Jan. 15, Ed Pickens, Bill Niedringhaus and Bruce Glendening met with Christina Schuler and Jenny Pate (Fx Co. Park Auth.) to view the PHT Pimmit Run crossing [below the GW Parkway] and decide whether similar boulder crossings could be used at other upstream sections of Pimmit Run. Christina is currently scoping the Pimmit Run Trail project, with a focus on the Brookhaven to Old Dominion section. There was a detailed discussion on how volunteers and the Park Authority could cooperate to bring in large boulders to crossing sites (perhaps using Bobcats), where volunteers would emplace them, anchored with rebar and perhaps mixing concrete on the site. All agreed that this approach may be a viable way to get many crossings built inexpensively and quickly. The Pimmit Run Trail scoping project will determine the cost, feasibility and timetable of this approach. It is expected to be complete inMarch.

Pimmit Run Planning Meeting Feb 3; Mendelsohn to receive 2002 PTC Award. FTAS will meet at 7:30 pm on Feb. 3 for two purposes. We will present Dranesville Supervisor Stu Mendelsohn with with the Potomac Trail Council's 2002 Trail Development Award (announced in October at the PTC Caucus), which recognizes his leadership in working with Madeira School to create a trail easement for the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. Also, we will discuss detailed Pimmit Run Trail planning. There is a lot of news, as the Fairfax County Park Authority nears completion of the scoping of this trail. Meeting is at Wade Smith's house, in McLean Hamlet (more details next e-newsletter)

Feb 24 Guest Speaker: Montgomery Co. Trail Planner. FTAS's next regular meeting is 7:30pm Feb. 24. Guest speaker: Naomi Manders, Montgomery County Trail Planner, discuss volunteer-built stream bridges. At McLean Govt Center,1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean

Pimmit Run Litter Cleanup March 22; Potomac-wide cleanup April 5. FTAS's semi-annual Pimmit Run litter cleanup will occur Saturday March 22, 9am at various spots along Pimmit Run. This is part of a Potomac-wide cleanup effort on April 5 (our date was changed since our leader, Ed Pickens, will be out of town then). Rain date March 29.

2nd Annual Cross County Trail Caucus
January 27, 2003 - 7:30 p.m. - Fairfax High School, Fairfax,VA.
DRAFT AGENDA - 7:30 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Kirk Holley, FairfaxCounty Park Authority Bill Niedringhaus, FairfaxTrails and Streams. 7:40 ANNOUNCEMENT OF CROSS COUNTY TRAIL CHAMPION AWARD Bill Niedringhaus, FTAS. 7:45 STATE OF THE TRAIL - CCT Annual Status Report Jenny Pate, FCPA TrailCoordinator. 8:05 RECOGNITION OF VOLUNTEER TRAIL PROJECTS AND SUPPORTING GROUPS Kirk Holley, FCPA and brief presentations by representatives of trail-support groups. 8:35 CROSS COUNTY TRAIL COMMUNICATIONS PLAN Judy Pedersen, FCPA PublicInformation Officer. 8:45 STATUS OF LAND TRANSFER, OTHER PLANS, GREENWAY - LAUREL HILL Doug Petersen, FCPA Right ofWay Agent. 9:00 PLANS FOR NATIONAL TRAILS DAY - JUNE 7, 2003 Bill Niedringhaus, FTAS Jenny Pate, FCPA. 9:10 QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION - OPEN DISCUSSION. 9:30 ADJOURN [More about the CCT Caucus]

2nd Annual Cross County Trail Caucus Monday, January 27, 2003, 7:30 p.m.

The 2nd Annual Cross County Trail Caucus will be held at Fairfax High
School, 3500 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax on Monday, January 27, 2003, 7:30 p.m. Come out and support the trail.

The State of the Trail status report and packets of new trail maps will be
distributed to all attendees. We will recognize participants in the various
volunteer projects completed during the year. Many of the volunteer groups
involved with the trail will have display tables and share information about
how you can help get the trail completed. We'll talk about National Trails
Day events - past and future. As the trail comes closer to completion, the
excitement is spreading. Come be a part of it all!

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-newsletter Jan 26, 2003

Fairfax County's 2nd Annual Cross-County Trail caucus is tomorrow evening, (Monday), 7:30 pm at Fairfax High School, in the Auditorium.

This FREE event is the county's major gathering of trail advocacy groups,
with 80 attendees last year. If you would like to help extend and
interconnect our major scenic trails, its the place to be tomorrow night!

DIRECTIONS: I-66 to Rte 123 (South towards Fairfax), left on Rt 50 (Lee
Hwy), right on Rebel Run. It is just west of Fairfax Circle at 3500 Old Lee
Hwy. For more information please see http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/trailcaucus2.htm (703-324 -8726) and www.fairfaxTrails.org

FEB. 3 MEETING:
Fairfax Trails and Streams next meeting is Feb. 3 at 7:03 pm in Wade Smith's house in McLean. If you'd like to attend, please contact Wade at
whsmith@mitretek.org or 703 356 2586. Agenda includes presentation of PHT Trail Award and a framed Pimmit Run map to Supervisor Stu Mendelsohn, and Pimmit Run Trail Planning.

Fairfax Trails and Streams e-newsletter Feb 2, 2003

Our next meeting is TOMORROW, Feb. 3 at 7:30 pm in Wade Smith's house in McLean. If you'd like to attend, please contact Wade at whsmith@mitretek.org or 703 356 2586.
Agenda:
-Presentation of PHT Trail Award and a framed Pimmit Run map to Dranesville Supervisor Stuart Mendelsohn
-Pimmit Run Trail Planning, by segment

Report from The Cross-County Trail Caucus
The Caucus last week was a big success. There were about 100 attendees. The Trail has seen a great deal of progress in the past year, and is on schedule for completion in 2005. The Park Authority will soon write a summary of the caucus. FTAS announced our 2003 Trail Champion Award to Supervisor Gerry Connolly for his many accomplishments in making the Cross-County trail a reality.

Next FTAS meetings: every 4th Monday, 7:30pm: Feb. 24, Mar. 24, April 28, ...

Pimmit Run Litter Cleanup: Sat. Mar. 22 9am

Fairfax Trails and Streams E-News 17 February 2003

Next meeting Feb 24 7:30 pm Guest speaker: Naomi Manders,Montgomery County Trail Planner, to discuss volunteer-built stream bridges. McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Road, McLean

Award Ceremony POSTPONED Gerry Connolly, Providence District Supervisor, has won FTAS's 2003 Trail Champion Award. It recognizesConnolly's long list of achievements in helping create the Cross-County Trail and enable other trails in Fairfax County. The award ceremony, unfortunately, has been postponed due to snow; stay tuned for newtime.

Trail Advocacy WeekMarch 2-5 This American HikingSociety (AHS) event includes training on policy issues, lobbying and advocacy skills, and a congressional breakfast reception. Most of the week is devoted to your congressional meetings. AHS offers guidance for scheduling these appointments once you register. Our advocacy focus for 2003 includes fullfunding for trails within the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management,and USDA Forest Service and other trail-related legislation and policies suchas the reauthorization of transportation funding legislation (TEA-21). Please contact Celina Montorfano at301-565-6704 ext. 205 or CMontorfano@AmericanHiking.org for more information. Website: http://www.americanhiking.org/policy/advo_week.html

County Unveils Volunteer Trail Maintenance Guidelines The draft document, released Feb. 12, has four sections (Trail Planning, Development, Management and Maintenance). It is 24 pages in all, plus much longer appendices. Copies will be available at our Feb. 24 meeting. We encourage trail volunteers to provide comments. The Park Authority's Brian Daly (Grounds Management Branch) has asked FTAS to provide comments by Feb. 28.

County Green-Lights Final "Ultimate Hike" Leg thru Lorton (June 7) FTAS will work closely this spring with the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA), the No Va Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) and the Potomac Trail Council, to establish a route from Occoquan to Lake Accotink. This represents the final leg of the Ultimate Cross-County Hike. FTAS led the other three legs last year. The hike will start either at Occoquan Regional Park or the Town of Occoquan. It proceeds up the NVRPA' Ridge Trail, then follows the abandoned Lorton Railway (FCPA will bush-hog this overgrown stretch) to Silverbrook Road, then along a wooded route Jenny Pate identified last month, to Pohick Road (we'll need volunteers in the spring to rough-cut this section).Then we follow the Cross-County Trail to Lake Accotink, to complete the Ultimate Cross-County Hike (Prince William to Loudoun County).

Great Falls to Algonkian Hike/Ride Planned (pending Loudoun Co.BOS vote 2/24) FTAS volunteers hope to join the No Va Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) and our friends in Loudoun County this spring to rough-cut a new volunteer trail. Last year's Ultimate Cross-County Hike had to stop at Seneca where the trail ended.This new piece of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail would extend it 3 miles to Algonkian Regional Park. A Great Falls to Algonkian hike/horse ride is planned for Sunday, June 8. It will be possible, however, only if the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors rejects a proposal on Monday (2/24) to vacate a key NVRPA trail easement. The alternate route, an 8-foot grassy strip between the river and four fairways of Lowes Island Golf Course, would require over a mile of fencing to shield the trail from golf balls. The fencing (and the right of way itself) will be at risk of being washed away in floods. This route would shut out equestrians entirely. Karen Jones of Sterling has offered to lead this hike/horse ride (assuming the vote is favorable). June 8 is the day after FTAS's Lorton hike on NationalTrails Day (so you can do both!). For more information on this very controversial Loudoun issue please contact her at sadiqi53@aol.com .

CALENDAR:
Feb. 24, 7:30 pm FTAS monthly meeting, McLean.
March 2-5 Trail Advocacy Week (Hike the Hill)
March 22 9 am Pimmit Run Litter Cleanup
March 24 FTAS monthly meeting
End of March Park Authority to complete scoping for Pimmit Run Trail
April 5 9am Potomac River Cleanup
June 7 Final leg of Ultimate Cross County Hike: Occoquan/Accotink
June 8 Great Falls to Algonkian hike/ride (but, see caveats above)
June 14-21 Potomac Sojourn (canoe excursion on river)

Next FTAS MonthlyMeetings, McLean Govt Center, 7:30 pm(all 4th Mondays) Feb 24, March 24, April 28,May 26, June 23, July 28, Aug. 25, Sept 22

Fairfax Trails and Streams E-news March 20, 2003

Pimmit Run Cleanup - Spring 2003 SATURDAY MARCH 22 9am-12noon
Join Fairfax Trails & Streams, Your Friends and Neighbors to Help Clean up Beautiful Pimmit Run. We Will Be Picking Up Litter, Glass, Plastic and Other Debris from the Stream, side streams and the Trail. Cleanup Activities Are Planned to Start at 9AM from the Following Spots; Gloves and Garbage Bags Will Be Available at these Spots.

This Cleanup is sponsored by Fairfax Trails & Stream as part of its "Adopt A Stream" Program for Pimmit Run under the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation's statewide "Adopt
A Stream" Program.

Elie Weck, Great Falls Trailblazers Receives Award. The Potomac Trail Council presents an annual award to a grass-roots group for progress in creating or enhancing the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST). The 2002 award goes to the Great Falls Trailblazers and the group's president, Elie Weck, for work on the PHNST in northern Fairfax County. This includes new trail construction north of Riverbend Park (which enabled FTAS's Ultimate Cross-County Hike into Loudoun County last year). Another significant contribution was Elie's work, in conjunction with Ann Bennett and Supervisor Mendelsohn, to work with Madeira School to secure a proffer of $89,000 to construct a trail, probably along Georgetown Pike, across the school's property. Inability to establish a trail at this spot led to the collapse of an earlier effort to establish the PHNST. The current effort, thanks to the efforts of the Trailblazers and their supporters, is moving along at a rapid pace. Kudos to Elie and the Trailblazers.

FTAS to tour volunteer-built bridges in Montgomery County. Following up on her talk at FTAS's February meeting, Ms Naomi Manders, Montgomery County Trail Planner, has offered FTAS a tour of volunteer-built bridges in Montgomery County. It will be held in early April, possibly April 9. If you'd like to come, please contact Gordon at gordonharris@mris.com.

Fairfax Trails and Streams meets Monday, April 28, 7:30pm

Place: McLean Govt Center, 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean. Main conference room
From Beltway, take 123 toward McLean, left on Lewinsville, immed. right on Balls Hill Rd.