Evening star., 1943-06-13
Shenandoah Parks
Beauties Unfold for
Hardy Hikers
Bus Transportation Taps
Network Of Valley and
Mountain Trolls
By HAROLD b. ROGERS.


If you are wondering what to do
about a vacation in these days of
banned pleasure driving, give a
thought to the beautiful Blue Ridge
mountains of Virginia, in nearby
Shenandoah National Park.
This popular playground in the
days before gasoline rationing,
traversed by the spectacular Skyline
drive, was the most heavily Travelled
of any national park in the United
States. It is almost deserted now,
but it still offers its miles of foot
paths and woodland trails which
take the hardy wanderer over noun
tain peaks and through picturesque
valleys.
All the hotels, filling stations, re-
freshment stands and concessions
which were operated by a conces-
sionaire, are closed because of the
gas shortage, but this has not killed
all the opportunities for vacation
in the park, which stretches from
Front Royal on the north to
Waynesboro on the south.
Stout Heart Required.
The opportunities, however are
only for those hardy souls who are
brave of spirit, stout of heart and
strong of back For you must carry
your provisions, your gear" and
your equipment for a vacation on
your back.
National Park Service officials
hope that persons who like the rug
ged out of doors and can stand the
physical strain will embrace the op-
portunity afforded by Shenandoah
National Park. But they warn that
it takes physical stamina and some
outdoor experience to make such
a trip enjoyable.
First problem presenting itself is
transportation. This can be solved
by bus line operated by railways
from its Washington terminal at
1901 New York avenue NV.
The most practical trip, accord
ing to Washingtonians who have
recently tried the park outing, is
by way of railways bus leaving
Washington daily, except Sunday,
at 4:30 pm. and due at Panorama
at 7:12 pm. There are also buses
which leave Washington at TAO
am, arriving at Front Royal at
1920 am, and leaving Washington
at 100 pm, arriving at Front Royal
at 4:10 pm.
Return Trips Listed.
Returning from the Park are
buses leaving Panorama at sos
am, arriving at washington at
1880 am; leaving Panorama daily
including Sunday at 1:3o pm, ar
irving in Washington at 4:25 pm,
and one on Sunday only, leaving
Panorama at 4:53 pm. reaching
Washington at 7:35 pm.
For latest accurate information
it would be advisable, on account OF
possible arrangements of sched-
ules, to consult the railways just
before embarking on a trip.
When you arrive at Panorama. or
at Front Royal. then what does the
park offer?
1t offers a great wild stretch of
mountain terrain full of winding
trails, principal of which is the
famed Potomac Appalachian Trail,
stretching entirely through the
park. This sector is part of the
longest continuous foot path in the
world, which reaches from Maine
to Georgia. There are side trails
to waterfalls. mountain peaks, 1t
is kept in fairly good condition. ac-
cording to people who have recently
Travelled it.
Within the past week, one WASH
ington traveller went on foot over
long stretches of it, He met man
and wife, who had come all the way
from Harrisburg, Pa, on the trail,
bearing heavy packs of food, blan-