K9 Trailblazers Dog Hiking Club
First Annual K9Trailblazers Holiday Party
Sunday, December 9, 2001
Sky Meadows State Park, Delaplane, VA
K9 Trailblazers Dog Hiking Club Where:
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Hike and Festivities Description:
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Our first annual K9Trailblazers Holiday Party will be at Sky Meadows State Park. There is a nominal entrance fee, free parking and restrooms. Sky Meadows is located near Delaplane, VA. Directions are listed below. We will meet in the parking area near the Visitor Center.
For the exact time to meet at the trailhead, contact one of the hike organizers.
This hike will be limited to 20 people plus dogs.
The hike will be 2 loops totaling about 6 miles. You can choose one or both. We’ll hike down an old Colonial road to the
nature trail, then do a loop over gently rolling terrain with stunning views across the valley to mountains. The second loop has
one moderately steep short climb and passes historic sites and more great views.
This hike is rated "B." For more information on the rating system, click here.
Lunch: Bring your own lunch, and If you wish to bring something to share with the group that’s nice but not necessary. We’ll provide hot cider and "festive gingerbread" for everyone, special treats for dogs and the traditional K9Trailblazer "chocolate in some form" for humans.
Sing-a-long: After lunch, we’ll sing holiday songs and not-especially-holiday songs accompanied by Jeff on the guitar and YOU on Pat’s rhythm-band instruments! We’ll bring copies of some songs, but will not be limited to those. If you have a favorite song please make copies so we can sing with you but if we don’t have copies we’ll all do our best to sing anyway so don’t fret over it. If you can play an instrument, please bring it and play for us—no music critics are invited so don’t be shy!
Gift exchange (optional): If you wish to participate, bring a wrapped dog gift ($5 limit) and we’ll draw numbers out of a hat and take turns choosing gifts.
Sky Meadows Park Trail Map
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Follow this link for more information on the Sky Meadows Park.
As usual, come prepared for the hike. This means appropriate footwear, a hat, and sufficient water for you and your dog (at least a quart for each of you). The weather is unpredictable this time of year, and mist or rain is also a possibility so be prepared for potential inclement weather. If you dress in layers, you will find it easier to adapt to changing conditions as you heat up while hiking and chill down when stopping for lunch or where the wind is blowing. The trails are rocky and steep in spots, so good hiking shoes are a must. Bring snacks for you and your dog. Bring lunch and if you wish to participate in the gift exchange, bring a wrapped dog gift ($5 limit.) You might also want to bring a blanket or extra jacket for sitting around during the post-hike festivities. If you can play an instrument, we’d be grateful if you bring it! If you know some good songs, we’d like to sing them with you so bring copies if you can.
Basically the main rules we have are that dogs need to stay on leash and under control, and that you scoop your poop. Please bring a 6-8' standard leash for your dog. With a large group, flexible leads can allow people and dogs to trip or tangle, resulting in rope burns or injuries.
We'll go rain, snow or sunshine unless there is severe or dangerous weather. If the weather is really rotten, those hardy folks who show up will decide how much time to devote to each activity-- Moving directly to lunch and gifts will be acceptable options, we can sing while we do that!
From DC area: From the Beltway, go west on I-66 to exit #23, which is U.S. Rt. 17. Go north about 7 miles on Rt. 17 and look for the park entrance on your left-- the sign is on the right and easy to miss! (Technically you will be turning left onto State Rt. 710, but just follow the signs.) After you pass the contact booth (pay your $2/adult entrance fee and get your free park map) continue to follow the road to the parking area in front of the Visitor Center.
From Baltimore area: Take I-95 South and follow directions above.
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To register for the first annual K9Trailblazers Holiday Party and to get the details on meeting location and time, or for anything else about this hike or the hiking club in general, please contact Pat Fuhrer or Jeff Bolognese.
