Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-06-03
BY GEORGE HUBER
Star staff Writer


Hiking in the vicinity of
Washington offers something
for almost everybody - from
casual strolls along the canal
to extended trips along the APP
palachian Trail.
In between are such easy but
interesting items as the Billy
goat Trail (aptly named be-
low Great Falls along the Po-
tomac River, or the trail along
Bull Run Mountain in nearby
Virginia-either Of which can
be enjoyed in little more than
half a day, including driving
time.
This spring, the trails in the
Blue Ridge Mountains near
Washington are in the best
condition they have been in for
years, according to Ed Carney,
supervisor Of trails for the Po-
tomac Trail Club.
More People Hiking
Two reasons are cited by
Carney. More and more people
are hiking, and actually the
more use a trail gets the better
its condition. Also, the recent
mild winter with only mod
crate snowfalls left fewer than
usual dead trees and general
fallen debris across the paths.
Only routine work was needed
by the crews of volunteer work.
ers under Garvey to whip the
trails into shape for the heavy
spring and summer use they
get around here.
The PATIO, with about 1000
members, is the largest club in
this area interested in hiking.
Actually it's emphasis is on
maintaining a section Of the
Appalachian Trail from Cen
trail Virginia to Central Penn
sylvania, with its associated
side trails, cabins and shelters.
1t also publishes hiking maps.
guidebooks and booklets on re-
lated subjects.
Hiking Clubs Listed
Club headquarters are at 1915
Sunderland place NV. Zone
block southwest of Dupont
CIRCLE, open from 7 pm. to 10
pm. weekdays. Phone COlum-
bia $500.
Other hiking clubs here with
general appeal are:
Capital Hiking Club: Helen
Dinwiddie, secretary; Randolph
6-6965.
Center Hiking Club: Head
quarters at Jewish Community
Center, Florence Gorfinkle, sec
rotary: Tuckerman $4,000.
Wanderbirds: Rose Marie
Walker, secretary; Union A.
0018.
All clubs have hikes and out
ings almost weekly, and nom
members are welcome. Printed
schedules of activities are avail
able from club secretaries.
Within moderate driving dis
tances of Washington there are
more hiking trails than the
uninitiated would suspect. The
PATIO maps and guidebooks-
sold at cost-are helpful in 10
eating them and planning trips.
The hiking maps particu-
larly are excellent. They are
contour maps, in color, and
show trails, shelters, springs
and streams, access roads, etc.
They cost from 35 to so cents
each and are available for IA
Appalachian Trail sections from
Central Virginia to Central
Pennsylvania.
Shenandoah Park Popular
Shenandoah Park especially
has much to offer mixers. A
90-mile stretch of the Appala-
chan Trail goes through the
park. and there are many side
trails and shelters. The Pate
publishes maps and guidebooks
for the park, but a good intro
duction to hiking there is in
the PATIO booklet, Circuit Hikes
in Shenandoah Park.
This 50-cent item lists 20
one-day hikes. with road and
trail directions detailed and
with a sketch map of each hike
included.
One real attraction for hik-
ers in the Washington area is
that extended trips along the
Appalachian Trail can be made
without carrying a tent. From
the middle of Pennsylvania to
the southern border Of Shen-
andoah Park there are about
80 overnight shelters available
free on a first-come basis.
They are an easy days walk
apart-6 to 10 miles-and they
at least offer a roof over ones
head and usually more. Gen.
erally they are three-Sided