June 3 – 5, 2011 Blue and White Crew Weeding Weekend 1 and National Trails Day (NTD is June 4) Event

[Hal Hallett]

Blue and White Crew Weeding Weekend 1 and National Trails Day (NTD is
June 4) Event
Shenandoah National Park Central District
June 3 – 5, 2011

General Information:

Weeding Weekend is a twice annual event (June and August) sponsored by
the Blue and White Crew to give trail overseers and others a chance to
weed Shenandoah National Park trails, focusing on the AT. Overseers
who have not already weeded their trail should set aside this weekend
to complete the first weeding before their trail sections become
impassable. The primary focus is to allow overseers to complete
weeding of their trail section. When these sections are done, we then
shift to other sections needing weeding as identified by the District
Managers.

Equipment. If you have a serviceable power weeder, you may wish to
bring it along. The park tool caches have several Stihl weeders, but
a large turnout may overwhelm the supply. If bringing your own
weeder, bring extra line in case the PATC line is the wrong diameter
for your equipment. Also bring fuel and fuel bottles. Protective
equipment – safety glasses, gloves, ear protection, etc. are strongly
recommended. Please bring work gloves, work boots, rain jacket,
snacks/lunch (for each day), and at least two liters of water

Lodging. Pinnacles Research Station (the usual Blue & White Crew
accommodation) is available for an overnight stay for all overseers
who would like to weed their section of trail during the weekend. We
are sharing Pinnacles Research Station with the PATC Trail Patrol.
Pinnacles has a small number of cots and limited floor space (first
come, first served), so be sure to bring a tent as a backup. Pinnacles
has a bathroom, shower, kitchen, and "crew room"--where, during story
time, logs, rocks, and bears become ever larger in the telling.

Directions. Enter the Park from U.S. 211 at Thornton Gap. Tell the
entrance station personnel that you're with the Blue & White crew, so
you won't have to pay an entrance fee. Go south on Skyline Drive about
5 miles to mile 37.2. Turn right into an unmarked driveway. Pass the
"Do Not Enter" sign and turn left to see Pinnacles Research Station.
Don't confuse Pinnacles Research Station where we're staying, with
Pinnacles picnic grounds or Pinnacles overlook

Departure times from Pinnacles Research Station

Friday: on your own (Alex and Hal will depart about 1 PM)
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m.

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the appropriate departure
time, so you'll have time to get settled and the weeding teams can
leave promptly. We want to maximize our time on the trail, so it's
important that everyone be conscientious in this regard.

If you are coming to help but do not have your own section of trail,
please contact Hal Hallett (hal.h...@verizon.net) and let him know
you are able to help others weed their sections. There are sections
of the AT that do not have an overseer and need weeding and/or
sections where the overseer needs help weeding and you will be
assigned accordingly.


Meals:

Lunch – on your own.
Friday dinner - For those arriving on Friday night – Spaghetti with
meatballs and meat sauce will be served at approximately 6:30pm
(ish). Please let us know if you will be arriving in time for
dinner. Dinner will be with some of the Trail Patrol folks.

Sat. AM – breakfast on your own. Alex and Hal plan on starting early
to get their section weeded.

Sat. Dinner – The Trail Patrol group is planning pot luck for dinner
at around 5:00pm-ish. Please let us know your preference to join in
the pot luck or to go to town for dinner, as we usually do during
weeding weekend.

Sunday AM – Alex will make a light breakfast of eggs and possibly
bacon, fruit salad, juice, and sweet rolls of some kind. If you car
to contribute towards breakfast please let us know!
Contact information:
Please contact Alex Lampros and Hal Hallett
a.la...@verizon.net or hal.h...@verizon.net
for additional information and to sign up to help.
703.793.5219 (h) or 703.304.5652 (cell)
Pinnacles Research Station: 540-999-3299 (please note that service
has been intermittent so far in 2011 and cell service is not available
at Pinnacles.
The SNP emergency-only number is (540) 999-3422.