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1999 News Archive
April thru June

April | May | June

1. CONVERSION OF THIS NEWSLETTER TO LISTBOT Welcome to our new automated mailing list!!!

2. PIMMIT RUN LITTER CLEANUP April 10 At the McLean Pizza Hut, Old Dominion Drive, 9 am. We'll have trash bags, maps of parking sites and pickup spots . Pick your own section of Pimmit, or we'll suggest one. You are invited to join us for lunch at noon afterwards.

3. PIMMIT RUN TRAIL BROCHURE AVAILABLE At the cleanup, we'll make public our new Pimmit Run brochure. Also available at our next monthly meeting (see item 8)

4. (VIRGINIA) GOVERNOR's CONFERENCE ON GREENWAYS AND TRAILS, Roanoke, May 2-4 This is a major conference. The theme is "Connecting Our Commonwealth". See http://www.state.va.us/~dcr/temp/trailcnf.htm or call 804 798 0045.

5. LYME DISEASE VACCINE IS READY Anyone mucking around on rustic trails should consider getting this vaccine. An excellent reference on the recently available Lyme Disease vaccine is available online at the address below. Read especially the Frequently Asked Questions document. http://www.aldf.com/templates/LateBreakingNews.cfm

6. GREAT FALLS CITIZENS ASSOCIATION's MAY MEETING FOCUSES ON TRAILS The Great Falls Citizen's Association is devoting its May meeting to trails in the area. Great Falls Grange, Georgetown Pike just east of the town center. May 11, 8pm. This was snowed out last month.

7. CROSS COUNTY HIKE (June 5-6): UPDATE National Trails day is 2 months away. Kate Hanley, Chairman, Fairfax Board of Supervisors, will give a brief keynote address to begin the Cross County Hike, Saturday June 5, 8 am, at Oak Marr Recreation Center (see our website for more details). Robert E. Simon, founder of Reston, will keynote the second day of the hike, at Great Falls Visitors Center, 8 am Sunday June 6.

8. NEXT MONTHLY MEETING April 28 Our next monthly meeting is at 7:30 pm on Monday, April 28 at the McLean Governmental Center, Balls Hill Road near Lewinsville/123 intersection.

PIMMIT RUN CLEANUP: On Saturday, April 10, we had great weather and a great turnout, about 30, to clean litter along Pimmit Run. Fairfax Trails and Streams focused on the area between the Dulles Connector road and Pimmit Bend Park. Altogether there were about 50 large trash bags plus numerous large objects (tires, mufflers, etc). Arlingtonians for a Cleaner Environment (ACE) held a simultaneous litter cleanup at the mouth of Pimmit Run (Chain Bridge area). PRESS COVERAGE: Yesterday, the McLean Connection featured this cleanup as its cover story. There are several pictures (including one of Paul Slattery), quotes from Steve Dryden about Pimmit Run's history, and quotes from Bill Niedringhaus (that's me) on efforts to connect up trails. The article also mentions the Fairfax Cross County Hike on June 5-6, our Difficult Run trail-advocacy efforts and our website.

PIMMIT RUN TRAIL BROCHURE: Steve Dryden has written a brochure for the Pimmit Run Trail, which summarizes the trail's history, wildlife and scenery. It has been reviewed by the Fairfax Co. Park Authority. Copies will be available at our April 26 monthly meeting (see below).

TRAIL STANDARDS: Fairfax Trails and Streams will present recommendations for standards for AT-style trails (similar to those used by the states on the Appalachian Trail) to Fairfax County Park Board Design and Development Committee, scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, May 5. A big turnout of trail enthusiasts would help our cause, if you'd like to come call 703 821 0975 evenings.

NEXT MEETING: Our next meeting is (as usual) on the 4th Monday of the month--April 26 (an earlier message had an error on the date). Time: 7:30 pm Place: McLean Gov't Center, Balls Hill Road near Lewinsville Rd. Topics include: - Our focus for the 2nd half of the year (we've been so busy on April and June events but now its time to plan further ahead) - Starting a (snail) mail newsletter - Summary of our March 31 meeting with Kate Hanley (Chairman, Fx. Co. Board of Supervisors) - Cross County Hike update (this is getting a LOT of attention)

FTAS Proposes Appalachian-Style Trails to Fairfax County Park Board Committee On May 5, Bernie Stalmann and Bill Niedringhaus proposed to the Design and Development Committee of the Fairfax County Park Board that Appalachian-style trails would work well in Fairfax County, to connect disconnected trails along stream valleys. Stalmann described how PATC volunteers, headquartered in Vienna, have built and maintained thousands of miles of light-on-the-land trails in three states. He showed pictures of places along the Difficult Run Stream Valley Park where this (and only this) type of trail would be suitable. Birchard and Proudman's "Trail Design, Construction and Maintenance" (in use since 1982) was presented as a possible standard that could be adopted by the County. The Committee, chaired by Bo White, listened and asked questions with enthusiasm, but did not take a formal position. They asked us for a specific proposal to be evaluated by FCPA staff. We will discuss our response at FTAS's May 24 meeting (see below). In attendance were seven trail advocates to support FTAS, including Chuck Sloan, Bob Jordan, Eleanor Weck, Robin Rentsch and her husband, Lonni Briggs and Mark Nelson. Director Paul Baldino represented FCPA, along with Lynn Tadlock, Jay Jorgenson and Jenny Pate.

Trails Budget Rises to $2.5M, but Stream Valley Trails Face Setbacks The budget for countywide trails has increased from $1M (FY98 and FY99) to $2.5M (FY2000). In the two previous years, Supervisor Mendelsohn has approved significant parts of these funds for park/stream valley projects, on three major Dranesville streams: Pimmit Run (part of the Little League-Olney Park connector trail), Difficult Run (stream fair-weather crossings linking Great Falls Park with Colvin Run Mill Park) and Sugarland Run. Only the Sugarland trail was actually built. For various reasons--chiefly, limited staff available for trail design and planning, these approved projects for Pimmit and Difficult Run, competing unsuccessfully with Park Bond projects both for staff time and matching TEA-21 funds, were bumped first to 2000, then 2001. As a result they are in serious jeopardy of being completed, and any additional proposals park/stream valley trails, despite the increased budget, may not fare well.

Great Falls Citizens Association's General Meeting Devoted to Trails (May 11) This meeting starts at 7:30 May 11; the trails program starts around 8, at the building adjacent to the Great Falls Grange. Eleanor Weck and others will discuss the Georgetown Pike and Walker Road trails, Bill Niedringhaus will discuss the Cross County Hike. A representative of Supervisor Mendelsohn's office will attend.

Mayor of Fairfax City To Help FTAS Route Cross-County Hike Through City Mayor Mason and other Fairfax City officials will meet with FTAS Saturday, May 15 to explore possible routes of the Cross County Hike through Fairfax City, the last section still to be determined. The hope is to route it off roads as much as possible. We will also plan a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new trail bridge across the Accotink, as the Cross County Hikers come through.

Pimmit Run Brochure Published Steve Dryden has put together a professional-quality brochure on the (future) Pimmit Run Stream Valley and (future) Trail. Copies will be available at FTAS May 24 meeting.

Difficult Run Hike, Oakton to Great Falls, May 16: - Fairfax Cross-County Hike, Lorton to Great Falls, June 5-6 Call Tom McCready 534 5251 or Bill Niedringhaus 821 0975, for details on both hikes

FTAS Next Meeting May 24, 7:30 pm: Speaker Tom Johnson of PATC to Discuss Importance of Pimmit/Difficult Run Trails to Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail Tom Johnson, a PATC veteran of many years, will discuss how local trails could play a vital role on a larger, national scale, for the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail, which is planned to run on an as-yet unspecified route along both the Virginia and Maryland sides of the Potomac. We will also discuss FTAS proposal to the Park Board Design and Development Committee, and hand out Pimmit Run Trail brochures. McLean Government Center, Balls Hill Rd at Lewinsville Rd. (near intersection of Rt 123 and Dulles Access Rd).

Reminder, FTAS meets this Monday, May 24, at 7:30 pm (draft agenda below)

FAIRFAX CROSS-COUNTY HIKE: DEVELOPMENTS National Trails Day is only 3 weeks away! Preparations for this event continue to accelerate. A group of 19 hiked the northern half on May 16, a beautiful day; our primary goal was teaching a new set of leaders how to navigate the trail. Most walked Oak Marr to Colvin Run, but three people continued to Great Falls Visitors Center (the first time this 18-mile route has ever been hiked continuously).

TRAINING HIKES THIS WEEKEND: This weekend, we continue to train leaders for the Cross-County Hike, this time focusing on the southern half. We'll do it in two 8-mile chunks. If you'd like to try a piece of the Cross-County, come join us either - Saturday, May 22 9 am at Americana Park (Little River Tpke just southwest of its intersection with the Beltway), or - Sunday, May 23, 9 am, at King Arthur Drive's bridge over Accotink Creek

CROSS-COUNTY ROUTE THROUGH FAIRFAX CITY DECIDED: Mayor Mason, City Manager Sasson and Mike Cadwallader of the Fairfax City Parks Dept. hiked the city's section of the Cross-County Trail with Joe Louden and Bill Niedringhaus on May 15. The eastern third is on stone-dust bike trails; the western third is on a quiet, narrow residential street; the crucial question concerned the middle section. We settled on a very nice, woodsy route along Accotink Creek near Draper Park, which keeps us off the roads. Fairfax City will provide refreshments to the Cross-County Hikers as they reach Thaiss Park (at Pickett Rd), at about the 14-mile point. Fairfax Trails and Streams promised to help Fairfax City clear the overgrowth from some sections, if they request. This would probably come over Memorial Day weekend, we may ask for volunteers for a couple of hours.

GOOD NEWS FOR LAND DONATORS: In recent years, land-owners donating use of their land for recreational purposes were relieved of most liability jeopardy. Now, starting in Jan. 2000, donors of conservation or trail easements will be able not just to take a tax deduction as today; they get a tax credit. This change could benefit trail advocates across the country.

DRAFT AGENDA-- MAY 24, 7:30 pm McLean Government Center, Balls Hill Rd. - A revised draft will be handed out for our proposal for Appalachian-style trails in Fairfax County - New stats show a surge in hits on our web site. - Don Finberg has a list of suggested initiatives for the 2nd half of 1999. - Cross County Hike: --- final plans --- Discussion of how best to exploit the publicity to further our goals? - Discussion of 1962 easement which may be useful in building Pimmit Run Trail. - Efforts to keep Evans Farm recreational proffers (assuming it is developed) for use in McLean (especially, for the Pimmit Run trail), rather than put into a general countywide pot as is standard procedure. - The featured speaker, Tom Johnson of PATC, on the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail and its relationship to local trails such as Pimmit/Difficult Run (more detail in my previous e-news from May 11.)

Volunteers needed Monday morning Fairfax City officials have approved a very scenic woodland route for the Cross County Hike through the city north of Route 50 and east of Route 123. About 0.7 miles of this trail is overgrown. In cooperation with the City, we are assembling a group of volunteers to help clear it in time for the Cross County Hike on June 5-6. We'll meet 7-9 am on Monday May 31--yes, Memorial Day. Long pants and long sleeves are recommended, hence the early hour. You don't need prior experience. Directions: Beltway to I-66 west, exit at 123 to Fairfax, left at first light to Eaton Place, immediate left to service road parallel to 123, park 100 yards north of the intersection. Thanks in advance for your help.

CORRECTION The next meeting of Fairfax Trails and Streams is (as usual) the fourth Monday of the month--Monday, June 28 (the date was given incorrectly in the previous note).

FINAL UPDATE: FAIRFAX CROSS-COUNTY HIKE8 AM - 5 PM Saturday June 5 and Sunday, June 6

GOALS OF HIKE: There are three main goals. First, we celebrate that such a long hike on public wooded land is possible at all. Second, we seek to attract community support for the trail, which is still something of a work in progress. In cooperation with local government agencies, primarily the Fairfax County Park Authority, we seek to complete the trail, improve its routing in places, secure additional land, build stream crossings, sign, blaze, map and publicize it. Finally, we plan to have a good time.

IMPORTANCE OF A BIG TURNOUT: A big turnout, even by people only hiking short distances, will support these goals, especially the second. Many of influential local political leaders are coming to the event at our request; a big welcome will make their support of trails more likely

SCENERY: ranges from large remote wooded areas to suburban parkland. 91% is off-road, 5% is along quiet suburban streets, and 4% is along busy streets.

WEATHER looks good. According to http://weather.yahoo.com/ , both days will be partly cloudy, with Saturday hi 84, lo 61; Sunday hi 89, lo 66. Since we'll be in forest almost the entire route, it will seem cooler.

PACE: This pace will be relatively slow both days, to preserve endurance. This is a long hike! There will be sag-wagons at several points if people wish to bail out.

BRING: Lunch, snacks, lots of water (especially on Sunday), sunscreen, large cars (you will be asked to volunteer for carpool). Remember that some of the trails are narrow; some might want to consider ivy block and/or insect repellant.

SATURDAY: - FOOTWEAR: Terrain gentle; A few fords over stepping stones; a few short scrambles over rocks. Good walking shoes may suffice. - WATER/TOILETS: Available every few miles on the trail

SUNDAY - FOOTWEAR: Terrain more rugged and remote; trails more primitive; hiking boots recommended. The last 5 miles (north of Colvin Run Mill) we will wade 4 times across Difficult Run (18 inches of water); bring sandals/old shoes, towel, spare socks, etc. - WATER/TOILETS: Available only at beginning and end, and at Mile 10.6, Colvin Run Mill Park (we are negotiating for another around Mile 6)

DETAILED SCHEDULE SATURDAY JUNE 5 8 AM -- OPENING CEREMONY -- Oak Marr Recr. Center, 3200 Jermantown Rd, Oakton VA Speakers: - Kate Hanley, Chair, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors - Supervisor G. Connolly, Providence District - Frank de la Fe, Chair, Fairfax County Park Authority 8:45 AM volunteer carpools to hike's start at Saratoga Elementary School 11:30 AM Arrive at Lake Accotink (Mile 5.3) Water, toilets (park will be VERY busy) 12:30 PM Wakefield Recreation Center (Mile 7.7) Lunch (bring); snacks, water, toilets available 3:00 PM Gateway Park, Fairfax City, (Mile 13.6; Pickett at Old Pickett) Refreshments provided 3:30 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: new footbridge across Accotink Creek (Mayor Mason, Fairfax City) 5-6 PM End of Saturday's Hike, (Mile 17.4) Oak Marr Recreation Center SAG WAGONS (you can bail out here if necessary): Mile 9.2, Americana Park Mile 13.6, Gateway Park Fairfax Mile 15.6, Chain Bridge Rd.

DETAILED SCHEDULE SUNDAY JUNE 6 8 AM -- OPENING CEREMONY - Great Falls Visitors Center, Great Falls, VA Speaker: - Mr. Robert E. Simon, founder of Reston 8:30 AM volunteer carpools to hike's start at Oak Marr Recreation Center 12:00 W&OD Trail at Hunter Mill Road (Mile 7.6) 12:30 Lunch, Difficult Run Overlook 2 PM Colvin Run Mill Park - MIDDAY CEREMONY and rest stop- (Mile 10.6) water, toilets Speakers discussing trails- Supervisor Stu Mendelsohn, Dranesville - Supervisor Robert Dix, Hunter Mill - Mayor Bob Robertson of Vienna - State Sen. Janet Howell 5:00 PM End of Hike, Great Falls Visitors Center (Mile 16.6) SAG WAGON (you can bail out here if necessary): Mile 10.6, Colvin Run Mill Park

Fairfax Cross-County Hike a Success !!! Our National Trails Day event, the Fairfax Cross-County Hike, was quite successful. Several hardy hikers completed the entire 34+ miles over two days, from Saratoga Elementary School to Great Falls Visitors Center. On both June 5 and June 6, about 35 people participated. Sunday evening, Fox News on Channel 5 showed the hikers crossing the finish line. Special congratulations go to Linda Johnston, Phil Hocker and Cynthia Lim, who completed the entire Cross-County Hike. They will receive an honorary certificate. Others who have hiked at least two-thirds of both the northern and southern half, at this or other times, are Larry Hodapp, Michael Hindler, Ric Francke, Chuck Sloan, Tom Johnson, John Weiler, Tom McCready and Bill Niedringhaus. Please let me know if I left anyone out. Our leaders--Hank Cameau on Saturday, and Mike Gingerich on Sunday--did a commendable job despite the hike's length and complex logistics. Tom McCready did most of the flagging. Congratulations, Hank, Mike and Tom! Many others provided valuable assistance in many ways. Maps and a hikers cue sheet for the Cross-County Hike will be available at our next meeting June 28 (see below). We plan to repeat it in the fall or spring, but over three or four days rather than two (perhaps successive Saturdays).

Supervisor Connolly Proposes Board of Supervisors Adopt Fairfax Cross-County Trail Supervisor Gerry Connolly of Providence District (in a June 10 letter to Fairfax Trails and Streams) wrote: "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address Fairfax Trails and Streams last weekend as part of the group's cross-county hike...it was a pleasure to see so many individuals who are also committed to improving our County's network of trails. I am enclosing the attached Board Matter which I put before the Board of Supervisors this past Monday. I look forward to the County Executive's report in September on the options for completing the Cross-County Trail." The Motion: "Madame Chairman, I move that the County Executive begin discussions with the Park Authority with an aim to completing the Cross-County Trail as a fully connected, properly marked trail that will allow county residents an uninterrupted 30-mile trek across Fairfax County and include a plan of action that identifies the steps, such as additional land acquisition and easements and their costs, necessary to complete the trail and to connect it to Bull Run Trail. I further move that the County Executive report back to the board on this plan at our first board meeting in September."

Proposal for Volunteer Trails Submitted to FCPA Board Committee As mentioned last month, Fairfax Trails and Streams asked the FCPA Board's Design and Development Committee on May 5 to give their support to volunteer-maintained trails on FCPA land. They received the idea favorably and asked us for a specific proposal, which has recently been sent in. It recommends that the County adopt a standard similar to those used for the Appalachian Trail or US Forest Service trails, and that the first example be the section of Difficult Run from the W&OD to a cul-de-sac just south of the Dulles Access Road. This would be a big breakthrough. Until now, the light-on-the-land trails we envision have had only minimal official support from the FCPA.

Recent Progress on Little Pimmit Run Trail There has been recent progress on Little Pimmit Run Trail at Chesterbrook Farms. The developer was supposed to build this trail, but some time ago sold one of the lots without recording the trail easement. Recently, working with FCPA's Jenny Pate, the residents have agreed in principle to allow a public wood-chip or natural surface trail through this area, to connect two existing long segments of the Little Pimmit Run trail. One could thus hike from Leven Preserve across Maddux Lane, thence along Little Pimmit Run to Chesterbrook Road and beyond. An important part of the agreement is to get volunteer trail maintainers to clear this section, which FTAS has in principle agreed to do. This is the first instance I know of where the FCPA has sought out volunteers from a group such as ours in order to establish a new trail connection.

FTAS to help make master map of existing trails in McLean Volunteers from Fairfax Trails and Streams and other groups are planning to map the existing trails in McLean, as was recently completed in Great Falls. The results will be combined with aereal photo data and the Fairfax Comprehensive Trails Plan, and stored in a GIS data base. The results can be used to determine trail priorities for the area. These efforts will be discussed at the next meeting on June 28 (see below)

Difficult Run Loop Hike, 10 Miles, July 25 Tom McCready (534 5251) will lead a 10-mile hike along the Difficult Run Loop, starting at 10 am at Colvin Run Mill Park on July 25. Co-sponsor is the Northern Virginia Hiking Club.

FTAS Next Meeting June 28: As usual, we meet on the 4th Monday of the month, June 28, at 7:30 in the McLean Government Center, at Balls Hill Road at Lewinsville Rd (near where Route 123 crosses the Dulles Access Road). We will discuss how to capitalize on the momentum generated by the Fairfax Cross-County Hike. A steering committee met on June 7 to develop a list of initiatives for the rest of the year, and assign responsibilities in various areas; Don Finberg will discuss the results. Hope to see you there!

TV Coverage for Cross-County Trail On Saturday, June 26, Channel 8 plans to show a clip about the Fairfax Cross-County Trail. It is expected to air on the noon, 6 and 11 pm news. They are interviewing Bill Niedringhaus, Supervisor Connolly and a FCPA representative on Saturday morning. Niedringhaus was also interviewed earlier this week by the Journal newspaper. We are considering announcing a 3-day Cross County Hike for October or November (either 3 successive weekends, or the 3 days of Columbus or Veterans Day). Which would you prefer? Reply to rowemm@aol.com by Saturday 8 am to influence the decision.