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As the cold settles in and the outside world seems to start its winter sleep, our team is still at work (and resisting the urge to hibernate until next festival!) On October 5, we hosted a work day at Bears Den. Caretaker Glen lined up projects and a happy band of volunteers came to get the work done. Together, we fixed up the entrance driveway, cleaned up trails and the overlook, stacked firewood, and repaired privy roofs and vents. And we got to connect with dozens of A.T. hikers and scouts to talk about the A.T. and the work of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC.) (Sad you missed this? Visit www.patc.net for more opportunities to get out and do some trail work!) In November we (along with the Town of Hillsboro and the Winchester Old Time Jam) were proud to co-sponsor Up From The Mud, a square dance benefit for the North Carolina Arts Foundation Disaster Relief Fund. Like many of you, as Helene tore through the southeast in October, our thoughts turned to our friends and loved ones along its path. Among these was Asheville-based artist and friend-of-the-festival Mike Wurman. This June, Mike spoke at Eat Drink and Be Literary in Hillsboro the night before the festival and was also featured at the festival’s A.T. Art Show. Mike made the journey from Asheville to Hillsboro once again for Up From The Mud, brought friends - Mark Harmon and Scott Varn, two more hiker-artists from Asheville whose lives were upended by the storm. Before the dancing began, Scott Varn spoke about the remarkable mission of his organization, Preserving A Picturesque America, a nonprofit which raises funds for land preservation through art. Appalachian Trail Conservancy CEO Sandi Marra delivered remarks, fresh off a tour of the area hardest hit by Helene. While full recovery will take years, both Sandi Marra and the artists all spoke of the incredible community support in the time since the disaster.
With music from the Furnace Mountain Trio and the Barnstormers and calling by Ron Buchanan, we danced the night away all while raising over $3000 for the NCAF Disaster Relief Fund and $1000 for the Appalachian Trail Resiliency Fund. As any hiker knows, the Appalachian Trail is not just a path through the woods - it’s a trail that connects us and builds up communities. We are so glad that the Appalachian Trail has connected our community to these artists and we hope they’ll make the journey up again soon.
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 Hard to believe it's been almost four months since our fabulous fifth fest celebrating the Appalachian Trail here in Loudoun County, VA. And it's hard to believe, as well, that we haven't yet posted our thanks to all the attendees (some 2,000 of you), volunteers, sponsors, vendors, artists, musicians and eco-minded nonprofits who joined us. A belated, heartfelt thanks to you all. It was such a feel-good time that we're going to do it again on June 7th, 2025. Want to get involved? We're a 100% volunteer team that puts on this celebration, and we'd love to have you join our team. Please get in touch; we'll find something fun for you to do. What's in store for 2025? More tunes and trail talks. More nature crafts and family fun. You can meet professionals who oversee the A.T., volunteers who maintain the Trail and folks who hike it. Enjoy some brews and bites. Do a little shopping. Bid in the auction. Get inspired by A.T.-inspired art. We hope you'll join our 2025 celebration of the Appalachian Trail and all the Great Outdoors! Pictures below courtesy of Kim Ramsey.  The 2023 "trail magic" station, where we shuttled thru-hikers looking for some R&R from VA Rte 9/Keys Gap to our A.T. Fest. Long-distance hikers get hungry. They get blisters. They get thirsty (and not just for water). At some point during their hikes they're likely to yearn for breaks from backpacking, and they might want a ride into town to do laundry or charge a phone or eat a meal that someone else cooks or sleep in a nice, soft bed. People who reach out to thru-hikers are often called "trail angels," and they provide all sorts of "trail magic" to these hikers. That magic could come in the form of encouragement, a candy bar, a hotdog, a water refill, a bandaid and ibuprofen, a fresh apple or a ride. Though well-intentioned, not all "trail magic" is truly magical. There can be unintended negative consequences when a good soul leaves an unattended cooler by the side of the trail. It's just as likely (more likely, actually) that wildlife will raid the cooler before a hiker finds it. Trash can be left on the trail, trash that volunteers have to haul out. Too many hikers congregating in one spot can be unhealthy and over-tax trail resources. So, when we collect "trail magic" donations at the festival, we share all that magic with this year's crew of thru-hikers thoughtfully. We offer our collected donations directly to the hikers who choose to take a shuttle from Keys Gap, VA (Rte. 9) to join us at the festival on June 8th. And the rest goes to the caretakers of the Bears Den and Blackburn trail centers for safekeeping and distribution. What could you donate to our festival to share with a thru-hiker? Here's some of what hikers have told us they would love:
Want to be an "angel"? You can drop off "trail magic" at the Loudoun A.T. Festival on June 8th—or anytime before then at the Round Hill Town Office (23 Main St.) or the Old Stone School in Hillsboro (37098 Charlestown Pike) during office hours. Want to know how you can best be a "trail angel" year round? Here's advice from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy on trail magic best practices: How to Support Hikers, the Trail, and Local Communities There are many ways to offer trail magic while supporting hikers, Trail communities, and protecting the Trail we all love.
P.S. from the Loudoun A.T. Festival: Three of those A.T. Communities you can get involved with are the communities that put on this festival--Round Hill, Hillsboro and Bluemont, VA.  Thru-hikers arriving at our 2023 A.T. Festival.  Melinda Irby is one of five artists invited to share A.T. inspirations in our "Art of the Trail" show. As a child, Melinda grew up just miles from the A.T. in Bedford, Virginia, and her designs are inspired by hikes on the Trail. Melinda has section hiked all of the Trail in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. She's now a full-time artist, who still makes time to section hike and take her daughter on shorter hikes in the mountains. Here's a guest blog from Melinda: The A.T. has opened my eyes up to all the small things in nature, especially the diversity of the Appalachian Mountains. Amazing summit views are definitely fantastic. But I've come to appreciate things like mosses, lichens, moths, butterflies, mushrooms and wildflowers—just as much as vistas. I’m still section hiking my way north. I’ve hiked half of the trail from Georgia to Harper’s Ferry. I hope to be a 2000-miler within the next five years. The most inspiring place on the trail for me so far is the Roan Highlands, where the 360-degree views, rhododendron and Grey’s lilies are like a magical paradise. My latest A.T.-inspired art creation is a 14x14" colored-pencil drawing of Charlie’s Bunion, a picturesque stone outcropping along the state line between Tennessee and North Carolina. I worked on it for three months, and I’m happy to say I'll have it on display at the festival. My tips for drawing and hiking include keeping a nature journal. Journal art is meant to be done in an hour or two on trail—not a perfect masterpiece. You can do a more detailed piece of art at home. Be sure to include the time, date and location of all things observed on trail in your journal, too. It has become a valuable tool for my memory and identifying wildflowers. Meet Melinda at the festival; she'll be in the "Art of the Trail" gallery space from 12:30–1:30 on June 8th.  Catoctin Creek Distillery Welcome to new festival sponsor Catoctin Creek®. Founded by Becky and Scott Harris in 2009, Catoctin Creek was the first legal distillery in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. Virginia is the birthplace of American whiskey, and Becky and Scott faithfully dedicate themselves to that tradition, producing Virginia's most awarded whisky: Roundstone Rye! "At Catoctin Creek, sustainability and supporting our local community have been baked into our company since day one," explains Scott. Their Catoctin Creek Hot Honey Rye, for instance, uses local honey from the Shenandoah Valley, and $1 from each bottle purchased is donated to local and national charities (like the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy) to protect the bees and foster natural habitats. Scott and Becky are no strangers to the Appalachian Trail. They've hiked sections of the A.T. since moving to the area 27 years ago. Their home is only five minutes from Bears Den, which is a favorite hiking spot for them. They also enjoy the hike to Raven's Rocks across Rte. 7. Thanks for supporting our festival and the A.T., Catoctin Creek®! (P.S. You can support the festival by bidding on a gift card for Catoctin Creek in our auction.)  Photo courtesy of Catoctin Creek Distillery  Walsh Family Wine This guest blog comes from Visit Loudoun, sponsor and long-time friend of the fest. TEN THINGS TO DO IN LOUDOUN Loudoun is lucky to be home to a spectacular 13-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail, arguably the greatest hiking trail on earth. The fifth annual Loudoun Appalachian Trail Festival hosted by the “trail towns” of Hillsboro, Round Hill and Bluemont celebrates all-things A.T. in Loudoun. But while here for the fun, free event, why not explore a little further? Don’t miss these ten activities to do while in Loudoun. VISIT A WINERY Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Loudoun’s wine industry with a visit to one of our 50-plus wineries and tasting rooms. Venues close to the A.T. Festival include 2020 Governor’s Cup winner 868 Estate Vineyards and the scenic 400-acre Doukénie Winery. On the slopes facing the Blue Ridge a little further west, you will find Hillsborough Winery, Brewery and Vineyard and the French Louisiana-style Breaux Vineyards. Closer to Purcellville is the modish tasting room of Walsh Family Wine and the rustic-chic tasting barn of Sunset Hills Vineyard. GREAT COUNTRY FARMS Featuring wagon rides, pick-your-own opportunities, putt-putt, farm animals, mining sluice, farm store and ‘roosteraunt’, Great Country Farms in the foothills of the Blue Ridge outside historic Bluemont immerses kids in Loudoun’s rich agricultural roots. For grown-ups, Henway Hard Cider artisanal cidery is right next door, while the same family also operates Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewing just up the hill. VISIT HISTORIC TOWNS Loudoun is home to several historic towns and villages that date back centuries. A short drive from Hillsboro on the banks of the Catoctin Creek is Waterford, founded by Quakers in 1733 and now a National Historic Landmark. Explore its immaculately preserved homes on a self-guided walking tour. In southwest Loudoun, picturesque Middleburg, America’s horse and hunt country capital, dates back to 1728 when a fieldstone tavern was established by a cousin of George Washington. That tavern became the Red Fox Inn, still going strong today. County seat Leesburg meanwhile was founded in 1758 at the crossroads of two Native American trails near the Potomac River. Its historic downtown is lined with handsome 18th- and 19th-century buildings repurposed as bars, breweries, shops and restaurants. The town is bookended by the historic mansions and grounds of Morven Park to the north and Oatlands Historic House and Gardens to the south. GET AN ICE CREAM It’s June and it’s hot—time to cool down with ice cream. Purcellville is home to the original Gruto’s Soft Serve, a buzzing hole-in-the-wall popular with local school kids, while Tipped Cow Creamery down the street features a dozen farm-fresh, artisanal flavors to suit purists. Further afield, Leesburg has its own branch of Gruto’s for soft serve, while European-style dessert house Mocatinas does craft ice cream in cones, cups, shakes and spectacular sundaes. GO FOR A SWIM If the ice cream doesn’t cool you down, a dip in cold water will. Among several wonderful public pools in Loudoun, Sterling’s Volcano Island Waterpark with its twisting slides connected to a huge central pool is chief among them. Your kids will also love the AV Symington Aquatics Center at Ida Lee Park and the slides and rides at Franklin Park pool in Purcellville. For something quieter and fairly close to the Festival, the Lovettsville Community Center pool has clear refreshing water, deck chairs to lounge on and a playground and tennis courts. Dive in! BREWS WITH A VIEW Hiking can make you thirsty. Among Loudoun’s 30+ craft breweries on the LoCo Ale Trail are a slate of gorgeous beer gardens with views as good as the brews. Bear Chase Brewing Co. on the crest of the Blue Ridge is a wildly popular tap room near the A.T. with acres of lawn dotted with firepits and Adirondack chairs. Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery in Waterford is surrounded by farm fields. The owners make crisp clean European-style beers using almost all local ingredients. Out west, hilltop Harpers Ferry Brewing in far northwest Loudoun has spectacular views across the Potomac River of Harpers Ferry, WV. Try the summery, citrus-forward Potomac Pale Ale. EXPLORE A MUSEUM Loudoun has several landmark museums. The National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg is the nation’s leading resource on equestrian and outdoor pursuits. The Loudoun Museum, located in a log cabin in downtown Leesburg, tells the story of the county from its founding to the present day. A short walk away, the George C. Marshall House at Dodona Manor is the home-turned-museum of the great statesman-general who drafted the Marshall Plan that rescued Europe after the war. Over in Sterling, eastern Loudoun, the Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum tells the story of Loudoun’s rich agricultural heritage. Learn about “Bull of the Century”, Round Oak Apple Rag Elevation, and find out why George Washington called Loudoun “The Breadbasket of the Revolution.” ANTIQUING IN LUCKETTS Famous for its antique emporiums, little Lucketts on a stretch of Route 15 in northern Loudoun is bursting with eclectic treasures at its roadside vintage stores. Sift through rare antiques at tumbledown, multi-story curiosity shop Lucketts Store, pick up cool vintage home décor items at Rust & Feathers and browse eclectic furniture at On A Whim antique store. VISIT A SPA If a day hearing about hiking makes you tired, how about some rest and rejuvenation? Loudoun has its share of spas to get you feeling right. OmFLOAT in Ashburn specializes in therapeutic flotation therapy that assists sleep and relaxation, while King Spa in eastern Loudoun is a luxurious three-story complex (with heated rooftop pool) modeled on the traditional Jjim-Jil Bang spas of South Korea. Salamander Middleburg offers a unique range of treatments from water therapy to basalt steam rooms and hot stone massages. Then there’s Lansdowne Resort’s Asian-themed Spa Minérale, which offers therapeutic massages and bodywork including acupuncture and cupping. BUSH TABERNACLE ROLLER RINK If your hiking boots hurt your feet, why not try roller skates? This classic roller rink in nearby Purcellville is a throwback to the retro roller rinks of the 1950s. Rent a pair of skates or blades for a fun blast from the past. If skating is not your thing, check out if there’s a game at Fireman’s Field right next door, home to local collegiate strivers the Purcellville Cannons of the North Valley Baseball League. Come to our festival to celebrate the A.T.—and stay to explore Loudoun County.  Tents aren't the only way to camp. Just ask friend-of-the-fest Don Gravatt of Jacks R Better, purveyor of camping hammocks, hammock quilts and other backpacking gear. Hammocks have the advantage of being light-weight and easily packable, and they get you off the ground. Key to comfort, Don says, is picking the right sleeping quilt. (And these quilts perform whether you're hammock or tent camping.) "Quilts offer a unique way to stay cozy while sleeping outdoors," Don explains. "They are lighter and more compact than sleeping bags, making them easier to carry on long hikes and backpacking trips. They also allow for more customization, as users can adjust the amount of insulation based on their personal preferences and the weather conditions." Don practices what he preaches. An experienced backpacker, his recent hammock camping trips have included section hiking the A.T. in Pennsylvania, camping in Ohio to view the eclipse and attending HangCon in Florida. Jacks R Better will showcase some new products at the festival, including:
And you can support the festival by bidding on a Jacks R Better Shenandoah Summer Quilt in our auction.  Is the festival free to attend? Yes! Should I bring my camp chair? Yes! (Though we do have limited picnic-table seating and lots of lawn to spread blankets! Can I bring my dog? Yes! Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome on festival grounds. Will there be any shade? Yes! We'll have a few shade tents, and there are also some trees on the festival grounds. But bring that sun block! Will there be food and drinks for sale? Yes! We'll have food trucks on site, plus beer and wine sales on the Old Stone School patio. Will there be enough parking? Yes! We have a big field, just east of the Old Stone School—with road signs to direct you there. Is anything going on inside the Old Stone School? Yes! We hope you'll tour our "Art of the Trail" show—and meet our A.T.-inspired artists. And you can also enjoy our "trail talks" in the OSS auditorium. Please send us your questions—and we'll do our best to have answers!  Old Dominion Land Conservancy returns this year as a sponsor of our festival. (Thanks!) In this guest blog, ODLC's Geoffrey Nichols tells us about their work to protect Virginia’s land and waterways for future generations. Are you looking to conserve rural land in Virginia? That's where Old Dominion Land Conservancy (ODLC) plays a part. ODLC works with landowners to protect important Virginia resources in perpetuity via conservation easement or land donations. ODLC partners with landowners who are interested in preserving their farmland, forest, wetlands and scenic assets—such as the Appalachian Trail viewshed. “We are blessed to have the Appalachian Trail in our backyard and protecting the view from the trail is vitally important. This makes the work of conserving land along the trail one of our highest priorities," explains ODLC Executive Director Henry Stribling. Last year, ODLC worked with landowners to protect more than 2,000 acres of land in Loudoun County with conservation easements. More than 1,100 acres of that land was in active agricultural use, helping to support everything from legacy cattle farms to the growing wineries in Loudoun. In addition to this, projects completed in 2023 have enabled ODLC to protect in perpetuity almost seven miles of Potomac River frontage and portions of many key tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay watershed throughout Northern Virginia. Under the leadership and guidance of ODLC, more than 20,000 acres of land have been successfully designated and preserved in conservancy.   Today's guest post comes from Carol Lenhart of Birch Hollow Yoga in Hillsboro. Birch Hollow is a sponsor of the festival—and you can bid on a package in our auction to get yourself set up to begin your own yoga practice!
Six Reasons Hikers Should Do Yoga We love hiking and being in the woods. Especially the challenge of a long and arduous trek through tough terrain. Or maybe a gentle stroll along a nice, flat scenic trail. Whatever style of hiking you do, yoga can be a great addition to your fitness habits. Here are some reasons why:
Carol Lenhart is a yoga teacher in Hillsboro, Virginia. She has been practicing yoga for over 35 years, and has been sharing the practice with others for 10 years. She loves all styles of yoga, and her favorite pose is “feet on the wall.” Carol lives on a farm with her husband Ben, their children and an assortment of animals. She enjoys hiking, cycling and paddling around the beautiful Virginia countryside and waterways. She can be found on Facebook and Instagram through @birchhollowyoga. |
This page features artwork by Mike Wurman, an artist invited to participate in this year's Art of the Trail show.
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