TATC Cabin Weekend and St. Mary Wilderness

When: March 6 – 8, 2020

Where: TATC Cabin (map)

Contact: Mark Wenger swfl1951@gmail.com  757-645-6700

Description: TATC Cabin Weekend and St. Marys Wilderness Trip. Drive up Friday evening to the parking lot for the cabin (paved  parking lot on the right between mile marker 18 and 19 headed south).  Spend Friday night at the cabin then Saturday hike 10-12 miles of the St. Mary Wilderness.  Return Saturday afternoon and spend the night.  Sunday morning pack up the cabin and head out to the St. Mary Wilderness and hike 8 -10 miles.  Then have dinner out and head back Sunday evening to Tidewater. 

Number of People;  Because the hiking is in wilderness area it is limited to 10 people, 9 people sign up and myself.  Also there is a cost to cabin for each person is responsible for $10 a night for the cabin rental.  Also, rules of the cabin are posted on line and will be followed.

Water:  There is plenty of water at the cabin and along the trails but it will have to be filtered or treated.  I will bring a water filter and hopefully one or more people will do the same. 

Food:  I am treating this trip more like a back packing trip so each person is responsible for their meals.  There is a propane stove at the cabin but suggest people bring their own stove if possible for cooking their meals.  Each person is responsible for meals at the cabin and while hiking. 

Weather:  Please check on line with Wintergreen Resort for weather reports of the area.  If the parkway is closed alternate plans will be provided. 

Clothing:  Dress for the weather for day hiking and rocky trails with at least 2000' elevation gain and loss each day.

Sleeping:  Bring pad and sleeping bag for the cabin.  Plan for minimal heat in the cabin so plan your sleeping accordingly.  Make sure you also have a working head lamp and extra batteries.

Hike:  This is an opportunity to hike the wilderness in late winter.  Maps will be provided but trails are not marked so important the group stick together.  there will be at least two or three water crossings during the weekend.  They will not be deep but plan for the occasion.  Hiking poles are a good idea on this hiking trip.  In addition this will be an opportunity to see what the condition of the trails is and what work needs to be done this coming year.  In some places the trails may be a big overgrown so loppers will be brought along. 

Travel:  Hopefully we can car pool to the cabin.  If you ride with someone please help defray the cost of gas. 

Sign Up:  When you sign up please be sure to leave a good working phone number so I can call if needed.  Also, if we have more than 9 people we will start a wait list.