Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Friends of the Dahlgren Trail >
      • Meet David Brickley
    • Trail History
    • Our Partners
    • Our Supporters
    • Contact Us
  • Trail Information
    • Trail Maps & Access
    • Use Permits
    • Trail Rules
    • Wildlife Sightings
  • News
    • Events
    • Newsletter
    • Mileage Club
  • How to Help
    • Trail Concept Plan & Public Comments
    • Treasure the Trail
    • Care for the Trail
    • Respect the Trail
  • DRHT Store
  • Poetry on the Trail
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Friends of the Dahlgren Trail >
      • Meet David Brickley
    • Trail History
    • Our Partners
    • Our Supporters
    • Contact Us
  • Trail Information
    • Trail Maps & Access
    • Use Permits
    • Trail Rules
    • Wildlife Sightings
  • News
    • Events
    • Newsletter
    • Mileage Club
  • How to Help
    • Trail Concept Plan & Public Comments
    • Treasure the Trail
    • Care for the Trail
    • Respect the Trail
  • DRHT Store
  • Poetry on the Trail

From the trailhead: Best practices from trail colleagues, event planning for the fall

9/1/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
Sunrise at Peppermill Creek on the DRHT. Photo by Chris McClintock
After last month's trail races and all the work to get the trail ready for them, we've taken it a bit easy this past month, tending to normal trail maintenance. A number of Friends of DRHT board members have participated in meetings with trail colleagues to inquire about best practices, continue work on a master plan, and start to plan some events for the fall — in modified form because of COVID-19.
We're continuing to see an uptick in trail usage and we're still looking for a good way to tally that usage, so we're working with some trail colleagues to develop a methodology.
​
We depend on fellow trail users to tell us when something needs attention, and many of you are very good about that. Recently we got a report that there were four (four!!) trees down around MP 5.0. Luckily we had just recruited a good neighbor in that area to be the trail steward for that section. The next day he let us know that they were cleared — great job! He has set a new standard for responsiveness for the rest of us!

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has listed the Dahlgren Trail on its website (see the listing) for quite some time. We talked recently with Conservancy staff, asking them about trail maintenance and best practices. One thing they emphasized was the importance of keeping good records on volunteers, so we'll be working on that.

We are also getting help through the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program to develop a master plan for the DRHT. The process, which is integral to our greater goal of becoming a Virginia state park, includes an ongoing effort to gather feedback and recommendations from stakeholders. Trail users have offered good suggestions like a recent one from Pearl, an avid trail runner, who suggested placing trash cans at the  parking areas, which we'll consider. Another suggestion was to clear more space at the turnaround spot for our half marathons to allow for volunteers and vehicles that need to be there for safety and runner support.
Our master plan work will culminate in about a year. We hope — depending on the status of COVID-19 — to be able to host some public meetings to hear more of your feedback.

We have some events coming up — keep an eye on our website and Facebook pages for details coming soon:
  • October: Big WOW,  an awareness walk for Wilson's Disease. This year's event will be greatly downsized, but we'll still be gathering.
  • November: The Friends of Caledon, our sister volunteer park organization, has had to cancel its Caledon Art and Wine Festival. We hope to participate in a substitute event more conducive to safety restrictions, tentatively named “King George Outdoor Adventures Day,” with tentatively date of November 7, rain date November 8.
  • January 1: First Day Hike. Last year's hike was very successful so we're going to do it again. This is a national program and we're glad to participate in this activity designed to start the New Year off right!

On a final note, the Friends of the DRHT voted at our last meeting to name our trailhead at Bloomsbury Road in memory of our friend and trail supporter Joe Williams. It will now be officially known at the Joseph L. Williams Multipurpose Area.

As always, et me know if you have any questions about the trail or I can help you get introduced to it!

See you on the trail!
Jim Lynch
President, Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail
1 Comment
college essay services link
4/9/2021 02:42:20 am

Negative thoughts can be converted to the positive ones through the power of the music because one can change his mood and behavior after listening to the favorite songs. I always put my headphones on to enjoy the voices of my favorite singers.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020

    Categories

    All
    50K
    Bike/pedestrian Bridge
    Covid 19
    Covid-19
    David Brickley
    Dogs On Leashes
    Edible Plants
    Half Marathon
    Jim Lynch
    Maryland
    Nice Bridge
    Plant Life
    President's Desk
    Rail-trails
    Rules
    Social Distancing
    Trail Etiquette
    Trail History
    Trail Run
    Trails Advocacy
    Virginia
    Virginia State Parks
    Visitors
    Warren Veazey
    Wineberry

    RSS Feed

FIND THE DAHLGREN TRAIL

Mailing address: PO Box 53, Dahlgren, VA 22448
​Please note: Use of the Dahlgren Trail requires a use permit. Please click here to request a permit.
Horseback Riding on the Dahlgren Trail is NOT permitted.
Trail disturbances? Call the King George County Sheriff's office: 540.775.2049

JOIN THE CONVERSATION


SUPPORT THE TRAIl

SIGN UP FOR Our NEWSLETTER

Proudly powered by Weebly