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
9
St. Mary’s City. Watch the MD Dove under sail: A Moderate 6-Mile Hike
St. Mary's City, 18559 Hogaboom Lane, Saint Marys City, MD, USSt. Mary’s City. Watch the Dove under sail: A Moderate 6-Mile Hike
SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON REGISTRATION UNDER "NOTES."
The hike starts in the part where the museum is today. It leads past a representation of one of the original ships that brought colonists to Maryland in 1634: the Maryland Dove, past longhouses similar to those where the Indians lived and which colonists occupied when they arrived; past building like an inn, a print house, and the brick chapel rebuilt on its original
foundation. We leave the museum part before it opens at 10:00 AM. You have a chance to come back and visit after the hike. There is an admission charge. We then walk the Nature trail along St. Mary’s River, past a slave cabin and the home of the plantation owner, the Brome Howard House (today an inn and restaurant), whose ancestors bought the land of original St. Mary’s City once the capital moved to Annapolis.
While hiking along the water front we have the chance to watch the Maryland Dove under sail. (This is a public sail, so instead of hiking on the Nature trail you can purchase a ticket to be on board for the sail.)In 1973 archaeologists at St. Mary’s City were surprised to discover that in the 1650s iron was produced here, the first iron in Maryland. The trail in the museum part is on paved trails, mainly in the sun, while the Nature trail is mostly unpaved and shaded; both trails are scenic and close to the river.
Bring a snack to enjoy while watching the Maryland Dove under sail.
Time to Meet: Please meet at 8:45 for introduction and sign in. We will start hiking promptly at 9:00.
Directions to Trailhead:
The street address is 18559 Hogaboom Lane, St. Mary’s City, MD 20686Contact Information:
Please use the comments feature for routine comments and questions. The Hike Leader is
Christa: 410-610-6254. Call or text as needed.Details:
Distance: 6 miles
Elevation gain: Approximately 140 feet
Pace: 2.0-2.5 miles per hourFacilities: There are no open toilets at the beginning of the hike
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.Notes:
- RSVP TO ATTEND THIS HIKE. IF YOUR PLANS CHANGE, UPDATE YOUR RSVP BY 6:00 PM THE DAY BEFORE SO THERE IS TIME TO BACKFILL YOUR SPOT. SIGNING OUT AFTER 6:00 PM WILL RESULT IN A "NO SHOW." REPEATED NO SHOWS WILL RESULT IN BARRING YOU FROM FUTURE HIKES WITH THIS LEADER. IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITLIST, CHECK YOUR STATUS SOON AFTER 6:00 PM THE DAY BEFORE TO SEE IF YOU ARE ON THE "GOING" LIST.
-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.16 attendees
Past events
357
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Members
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