Trail Work

You can’t go trail running without trails. As part of its mission supporting trail running, the VHTRC is dedicated to maintaining the local trails for all to use.

Trail work outings

The VHTRC sponsors semi-regular (we’re working on getting better) trail-work opportunities. Many of these are in partnership with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC).

Watch this space for our next outing. See also prior trail work reports.

John Stacy leads a VHTRC work-crew in the Massanutten Mountains on a cold January, 2017 morning
John Stacy leads a VHTRC work-crew in the Massanutten Mountains on a cold January, 2017 morning. This section of trail is near Elizabeth Furnace and is on the Old Dominion 100 course.

See a downed tree? Report it.

Detailed information on blowdowns is very helpful in planning the work trips to clear the trails and every trail run can be an opportunity to contribute. Workers need to know approximately where the blowdowns are and also an estimate of every tree’s diameter, its height above the ground, and whether it is a tangled mess.

Nowadays nearly everyone carries a GPS-enabled smartphone capable of recording geotagged photographs. Taking a photo of any trees you see documents their nature while also pinpointing their location. (Tip: after opening your camera app, wait a bit before snapping the photo to allow the GPS to lock on.)

After you get home upload your photo(s) and a description of what you encountered. We’ll make sure the appropriate authorities get the information.

Report a downed tree

VHTRC trail workers before a January, 2019 outing on the Bull Run Occoquan Trail

VHTRC trail workers before a January, 2019 outing on the Bull Run Occoquan Trail.