This guest blog comes to us from one of our returning "Trailblazer" sponsors: Old Dominion Land Conservancy. We thank ODLC for their continued support of our festival—and for their work to protect our green spaces.

Scenic open space and farmland are constantly under threat of development throughout Northern Virginia. Land trusts, like Old Dominion Land Conservancy (ODLC), seek to work with landowners to protect these imperiled lands in perpetuity via conservation easement or land donations. We look to protect arable farmland, forests, riparian and wetland habitat, historic or heritage properties and scenic assets such as the Appalachian Trail viewshed. ODLC partners with landowners who are interested in preserving these vital resources not just for their benefit, but for future generations to enjoy. 

“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 436 acres of land in Northern Virginia with conservation easements. This included more than 110 acres of hardwood forest and 100 acres of active farmland within Loudoun County. Over the years ODLC has worked to protect close to 40 properties within the Appalachian Trail viewshed or with direct access to the trail. In addition to this, many of our projects have enabled ODLC to protect in perpetuity almost seven miles of Potomac River frontage and portions of many key tributaries within Chesapeake Bay watershed throughout Northern Virginia. Since 2008, ODLC has partnered with landowners to preserve over 21,000 acres of land via conservation easement. 

2025 also offers ODLC the opportunity to begin management of a donated 58-acre property bordering the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area. This property was neglected for many years and has been overwhelmed by invasive species. Additionally, much of the forest on the property is filled with dying ash and oak trees while the underbrush and trails have been taken over by green briar. We have work planned with our summer interns and local volunteers to reestablish the trails present on the property and establish a pollinator garden with bee hives. We look forward to improving this property for the benefit of the local community and future generations. 
 
--Geoffrey Nichols, Old Dominion Land Conservancy

Our guest blog comes from friend of the fest/sponsor Rick Oxner, founder and owner of Warm Peet, the sock company with a heart. 100% of Warm Peet's profits go to mental health and nature conservation nonprofits (like ours!). Rick and Warm Peet will be joining us at the festival again this year.

Here we are, just days from Tax Day—and I am just getting started! The phrase, "I’d rather be hiking," has never been more relevant.

Speaking of hiking, last September–October, I section hiked on the Appalachian Trail from Great Barrington, MA, to Phillipstown, NY, approximately 110 miles, as part of my “Filling the Gaps” hiking tour. This tour is where I am going back and hiking small sections I skipped on my 2017 SOBO adventure for one reason or another. So, this one hike completed MA, CT and NY for me. Check!

Joining me was a friend from my Air Force days, Mike, and this was his first section of the A.T. It was great catching up with him, sharing my love of the A.T. and the outdoors, and learning more about him and his family. 

​This stretch was more difficult than I imagined, especially Connecticut—roughly one-half of the planned hike. This was probably due to the seven years that had passed, zero training and, well, it was hard…but stunning, none the less. The end of Massachusetts, southbound, seemed to lull me into thinking: OK, this is going to be an easy ten days out, then Connecticut, WHAM! Right in the forehead!

Some parts of this short section challenged me and would have seven years ago, as well. It was rugged with some climbs seeming to be vertical; many required all four extremities, and a few caused some expletives to make their way into nature's silence. Still, the views this time of year were stunning as the leaves were changing from their lush green summer hues to the kaleidoscope of a northeast fall. Stunning!
 
Part of my difficulties, I learned and acknowledged eventually, were my boots. I have worn the same make and model for many years and knew this pair were on their last leg. I had worn them extensively prior to this—both hiking and volunteering at a farm. But I told myself for that last 100 miles, eh, they would be fine.

By the time we made Pawling, NY, (our shower day and overnight), I knew they had to go, because my brain was focused on being finished and taking my boots off, spoiling any chance to really enjoy the hike. At Pawling, I got my Brooks Adrenaline 23s back and immediately felt like a new hiker!

We finished on October 2. It all seemed too short, a mere 10 days. This was an incredible stretch of the A.T. and I would highly recommend it, especially in the fall. Afterwards, I remained a little secluded at home trying to immerse myself back into the world that we were never far away from physically, but millions of miles away from mentally and emotionally. I can't wait for the next one. Maybe Mike will join me again, and we will continue the journey.

Oh, and if anyone was wondering, I wore one pair of Warm Peet OG Hiker Crew socks the entire time! Hope to see you out there someday—or at the festival on June 7th!

--Rick Oxner, Warm Peet