About us
PATC hikes are an opportunity to understand the club and its important trail maintenance work. You do not need to be a PATC member to hike with us, but we hope you will consider joining after getting to know us. Come join us on the trails!
(PATC hikes are conducted by trained hike leaders. The hikes offer various levels of difficulty and distance).
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ABOUT PATC
The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 100% Volunteer-Supported 501c3 non-profit formed in 1927 for the purpose of building and maintaining the Appalachian Trail (AT), a 2190-mile footpath from Maine to Georgia, the longest hiking-only trail in the world.
We are the Trail Guardians for over 1000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia & Virginia, including 240 miles of AT. Our territory begins in Central Pennsylvania at Pine Grove Furnace, continues thru Maryland & West Virginia to Harpers Ferry and extends into the mid-point of Virginia, including the Shenandoah National Park. In addition, we maintain other regional trails, for a total of over 1,000 miles of trails, thousands of acres of land and more than 80 shelters and cabins.
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ABOUT THE HIKE PROGRAM
The first stated purpose of PATC is "to support and encourage the ... proper recreational use of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and other trails". This is done partly through the sponsorship of hikes on trails in PATC's area and on other trails.
The club has a wide-ranging hiking program which includes local area hikes and excursions into other geographical areas. Hikes can range from short, close-in day hikes to extended excursions. Hikes can be for physical conditioning, social interaction, nature walks, history lessons, to reach a viewpoint, or any of a number of purposes. The club encourages a wide variety of hikes, and provides training and support to hike leaders.
Upcoming events
8
Rock Creek, Northern Section; 6.6 Miles
Rock Creek Park Nature Center, 5200 Glover Rd., NW, Washington, DC, USRock Creek, Northern Section; 6.6 Miles.
SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION UNDER NOTE
Enjoy this 6.6 mile loop trail in Rock Creek Park. The hike is generally considered a moderate route and takes an average of 3.5 hours to complete. The hike rambles through rolling hills that will make you feel far removed from city life. As this is a weekday hike, we will encounter relatively few others on the trails. We will pass by the site of a civil war fort, a "ford" crossing in use in years past, and the cabin of the “Poet of Rock Creek," Joaquin Miller. We also pass by a large community urban garden. There is a fun stream crossing, so feel free to bring a pole if you wish.
The hike will end around 1:00 PM.
The trails are open year-round and beautiful to visit anytime. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. Toilets are available at the start and finish of the hike.
Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:15 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:30
Directions to Trailhead: We meet at the Rock Creek Nature Center and Planetarium, 5200 Glover Rd NW, Washington, DC 20015.
The GPS coordinates are 38.96062, -77.05157
Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Tim; 202-744-0289. Call or text as needed.
Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 6.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 630 feet.
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hourFacilities: Toilets can be found near the trailhead
Fees: No entrance fees
Cancellation: In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.
Weather: The weather for this location can be found here.
Maximum number of hikers: 15
Notes:
-PLEASE RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. SHOULD YOUR PLANS CHANGE KINDLY UPDATE YOUR RSVP BY NOON THE DAY PRIOR TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO FILL YOUR SPOT. IF YOU ARE ON THE WAIT LIST IT IS IMPORTANT TO SIGN OUT AS SOON AS YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT ATTEND BECAUSE MEETUP MOVES PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY TO THE GOING LIST ONCE A SPOT OPENS. SIGNING OUT AFTER 6 PM WILL BE CONSIDERED A "NO SHOW" AND REPEATED INSTANCES MAY RESULT IN BEING BARRED FROM PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE HIKES LED BY THIS ORGANIZER.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here. Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.15 attendees
Wheaton Regional Park and Brookside Garden a 6.2 Moderate Hike
Wheaton Regional Park, 2004 Shorefield Rd, Wheaton, MD, USWheaton Regional Park and Brookside Garden a 6.2 Moderate Hike
SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION UNDER NOTES
Enjoy a delightful hike just outside of the beltway. This 536-acre park is loaded with wooded trails that traverse modest hills. We will explore many of them. We will also dip into the 50-acre Brookside Gardens, complete with its diverse plantings and shimmering ponds. It is often described as the jewel of Montgomery County parks. The surface for this hike is mostly natural surface, although there are significant sections of paved surface. Feel free to bring along lunch to enjoy at the trailhead when the hike is over, then stroll back to Brookside Gardens if you wish, a short walk from the trailhead. Please be advised that you may not eat in the park.
Time to Meet: Please meet at 9:15 for introductions and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:30.
Directions to Trailhead:
The GPS Coordinates are 39.054546, -77.043680
The Street address is 2004 Shorefield Rd · Silver Spring, MD. When you enter the park you come to a circle. Drive around it 3/4 of the way (to make a left turn) and proceed to a large parking lot. Drive to the far end of the lot.Contact Information: Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The hike Leader is Tim; 202-744-0289. Call or text as needed.
Details
Rating: Moderate
Distance: 6.2 miles
Elevation Gain: Approximately 480 ft
Pace: 2.0 to 2.5 miles per hour
Facilities: Toilets can be found near the trailhead and about 4.5 miles into the hike
Fees: No entrance feeCancellation: In the unlikely event that the hike needs to be cancelled, it may be cancelled up to the evening before the hike. Hikers will be notified through comments on this posting.
Weather: The weather for this location can be found here.
Notes:
-PLEASE RSVP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. SHOULD YOUR PLANS CHANGE KINDLY UPDATE YOUR RSVP BY NOON THE DAY PRIOR TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME TO FILL YOUR SPOT. IF YOU ARE ON THE WAIT LIST IT IS IMPORTANT TO SIGN OUT AS SOON AS YOU KNOW YOU WILL NOT ATTEND BECAUSE MEETUP MOVES PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY TO THE GOING LIST ONCE A SPOT OPENS. SIGNING OUT AFTER 6 PM WILL BE CONSIDERED A "NO SHOW" AND REPEATED INSTANCES MAY RESULT IN BEING BARRED FROM PARTICIPATING IN FUTURE HIKES LED BY THIS ORGANIZER. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS RE SIGNING OUT TEXT THE ORGANIZER.
-Please do not show up unregistered.
-Please keep this a fragrance free event.
-To find out more about PATC, click here.
-Consider becoming a member of PATC. To join, click here.15 attendees
Past events
344
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