July Has Been a Blast
This month has been busy and lots of fun for the Trails Crew. We marched in the Independence Day parade and sold beer at the park afterwards. It was disconcerting to sell out a bit after 8:30, but it’s not up to us to buy it – we just serve it up. Then we had our Open House and Amphitheater dedication at Mint Springs Park. If you haven’t seen “The Little Amphitheater” we built there last year, be sure to look for it next time you’re out there for a hike. With a storm or two needing some trail clearing, and a work day on Saturday, July 24, we also did some honest work.
Info about Saturday’s work day is here. See you there!
Let’s Have a Party! (updated)
In March of 2020, the Trails Crew finished a big (well, big for us!) project, when Albemarle County Parks & Recreation asked if we would build an amphitheater at Mint Springs Park. We cleared an area, constructed a small stage, and built rows of bench seating. Just as we finished, the world shut down!
We haven’t had a chance to celebrate our achievement yet, but that’s changing.
Come to Mint Springs on Sunday, July 18, at 4:00 p.m. for a party and Open House. Learn how our construction project is connected to the Beatles. (Yes, really!) Have some pizza and lemonade. And best of all, get to meet the folks in the Trails Crew and find out how you can help build and improve the lovely Crozet Greenway that’s developing into a treasured natural getaway and a safe, car-free connection among Crozet neighborhoods.
The inaugural act on the stage — Live music provided by the Crozet Jam Band led by Jim Pyles
Everyone is welcome! Bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic drinks if you like. And your calendar, so you can sign up to help on one of our work days. Tell the cashier at the park gate you are attending the Crozet Trails Crew Amphitheater Party and park admission will be waived if you enter at about 4:00. (Doesn’t work for the whole day!)
LOCATION: In Mint Springs Park, drive to the farthest (large) parking lot, you will see the swimming beach to the left. The stage is to the right of the kiosk straight ahead of you in the lot.
April with the Trails Crew
Workday Friday & Saturday, April 16 & 17: Building a Handrail
The Trails Crew needs some volunteers to help with a construction project at the entrance to the Dog Park at Crozet Park. There will be two days of work: Friday, April 16 at 9 a.m. to dig the holes using a power auger and/or post hole diggers. On Saturday, April 17 at 8 a.m., the group will set posts, cut lumber, and construct the handrail. Power tools will be used.
Meet at the entrance to the Dog Park at Crozet Park, which is to the far right as you enter the parking lot. Bring your own water, heavy shoes and work gloves recommended. Please follow all Virginia guidelines for safety during the pandemic.
Click here to sign up for one or both days.
Workday Saturday, April 24: Pruning the Trail
Our first pruning/mowing/lopping work day of the season will be Saturday, April 24. Meet at 9 a.m. on the trail where the access at the intersection of Jonna St and Summerdean Rd in Westhall . Walk down the paved trail between the houses to the main trail near the pedestrian tunnel.
Wear sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing, long sleeves and long pants are recommended. Bring your own water and bug spray. Use our tools or bring your own. Come when you can and leave when you must.
Please click here for the required Sign Up.
Signups Are Open for Beer/Wine Sales at Arts & Crafts Festival
The Crozet Arts & Crafts Fair is returning in May! Crozet Park is an important supporter of the Crozet Trails Crew, offering us space and services for many years. In return, the Crew pitches in twice a year to man the beer/wine sales. It’s a fun way to be part of the excitement, talk to people, and get to know some of the Trails Crew folks a bit better.
The tasks include checking IDs, taking orders for beer and wine and collecting payment, and pouring. The beer/wine sales are outside under a canopy, and all the required measures for pandemic safety will be followed.
Monthly Meeting Thursday, April 22
We will hold our monthly meeting on Thursday, April 22, at 6:30-8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Everyone is welcome to be part of it! If you want to attend, drop Terri an email at terrim@crozettrailscrew.org. You will receive the meeting link and the agenda before the meeting.
Support the Trails with Starr Hill
Drink a pint of The Love and the Trails Crew gets money! All month in April…. Details here
March with the Trails Crew
Work Day Sunday, March 21
We got a great start on improving a muddy area of the trail off Nicolet Court on March 13, but we left the last layer of fine gravel to spread after a rain. We got we asked for, and now we’ll let the sun dry out the dirt part of the trail just a bit before going down Sunday afternoon to finish up. This will be a short project, probably only an hour or two if we can get a few people to come and help, Why not be one of them?
Click here for required sign up. If you find out after signing up that you cannot come after all, please cancel, so we have enough volunteers.
Wear sturdy shoes and work gloves; bring your own water. Bug spray and hats recommended.
Directions: Take Park Road past Crozet Park into the Westhall neighborhood. Turn right on Nicolet Court, which is the first right after crossing Westhall Drive. Trail entrance is on the left.
Work Day Saturday, March 13
We will finally make a try at fixing the muddy section of the access trail near Nicolet Court in Westhall. The work will involve some regrading of the trail to prevent water from pooling there, plus moving gravel down the trail from the road and shoveling/packing it onto the trail. In other words, prepare to use wheelbarrows, shovels, and rakes.
At the same time, a smaller group will build a short boardwalk over a drainage ditch at the bottom of the hill. This project will involve carrying lumber and tools down to the location, and use of power tools to assemble the boardwalk.
Because there will be two separate groups, we are opening this sign up to 15 people. Please bring your mask and wear it when you are working adjacent to others. We will provide hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes.
Click here for required sign up. If you find out after signing up that you cannot come after all, please cancel, so we have enough volunteers.
Wear sturdy shoes and work gloves; bring your own water. Bug spray and hats recommended.
Directions: Take Park Road past Crozet Park into the Westhall neighborhood. Turn right on Nicolet Court, which is the first right after crossing Westhall Drive. Trail entrance is on the left.
Help Starr Hill Brewery Support Our Trails
During the month of April, Starr Hill will donate $1 to the Crozet Trails Crew for every pint of “The Love” it sells at the Crozet brewery. You all know where it is! They have outdoor seating, sometimes there are food trucks. Plan to take a walk on the trail, then stop by for a beer to show your love.
New Film About the Blue Ridge Tunnel
We all know the Blue Ridge Tunnel in Rockfish Gap recently opened, providing another near-by place for a walk on a trail. Now we can see its story in The Tunnel, a 35-minute documentary film about the creation and the re-creation of the Blue Ridge Tunnel.
It will premieres March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, with free streaming on YouTube. The broadcast version of The Tunnel premieres the following Tuesday, March 23 at 9:30pm on VPM PBS in Richmond, Charlottesville, and Harrisonburg.
View The Tunnel trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maYZkHej0PM
View The Tunnel film on St. Patrick’s Day: https://youtu.be/IRJGKjT-ahQ
Monthly Meeting Thursday, March 25
We will hold our monthly meeting on Thursday, March 25, at 6:30-8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Everyone is welcome to be part of it! If you want to attend, send an email to terrim@crozettrailscrew.org. You will receive an email with the meeting link and the agenda before the meeting.
January with the Trails Crew
Sunday Work Day
Pruning and Trimming the Perimeter Trail at Crozet Park
On Sunday afternoon, January 17, the Trails Crew will clear brush and branches from the Perimeter Trail in Crozet Park. If we can get enough people out, this won’t take long, and it will keep the trail clear when regrowth begins in the spring. We will provide tools (although you’re welcome to bring your own if you have a favorite) and will mostly involve pruning. This is a good project for families that want to work together. Meet at the CTC storage shed (directions below) at 1:00. Dress for the weather, bring your mask, wear work gloves and sturdy shoes. Sign up is required: please click here. We will follow our COVID-19 safety rules (see below).
Directions: Take Park Street to the Crozet Park entrance. Follow the driveway to the left of the pool, then straight back to the parking lot/basketball court. The CTC storage shed is adjacent to the Community Building (formerly called the Radio Building).
Saturday Work Day
On Saturday morning, January 23, at 9:00 a.m. we will improve the Rowcross Trail, west of Rowcross Street, where it descends to follow Lickinghole Creek towards the future Western Park. Albemarle County is out there with their equipment this week, making the grassy part of the trail down the hill much better, but the section between the slope and the creek will need some muscles swinging picks, mattocks, and shovels as we dig into the hillside to make the trail wider and flatter. We will provide tools; come ready for the weather, and be sure to wear good shoes and gloves. Sign up by clicking here.
Directions: From Jarmans Gap Rd. turn south into Old Trail Dr. At the third traffic circle (ACAC is at the corner) take the third exit to Golf Dr., heading away from the golf course. At the end of the street, meet at the trail entrance on the opposite side of Rowcross St.
Monthly Meeting Thursday, January 28
We will hold our monthly meeting on Thursday, January 28, at 6:30-8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Everyone is welcome to be part of it! If you want to attend, send an email to terrim@crozettrailscrew.org. I will email the meeting link and the agenda before the meeting.
Thanks to Our Volunteers Who Keep the Trails Open!
Lots of folks have pitched in to help over the last few weeks. Jimmy, age 11, from BSA Troop 79, and Sadie, age 7, Wolf Cub Scout from Pack 79, took an afternoon from their winter break to clean up the directional arrows along the Crozet Connector Trail. It took a five mile hike, but they found them all.
Recent storms have brought down a few trees, but none so large we couldn’t handle them with the equipment we have. Here’s one, after it was cleared off the trail near Lickinghole Basin by John, Schuyler, and David:
| Guidelines for Safe Work Days During the Pandemic 1. Work groups will be limited in size All groups will be limited to 10 people or fewer, depending on the space we will be working in. When we go out to prune and trim a trail, we’re able to spread out, so as many as 10 people may be OK. If we are working in a smaller space, the numbers will be smaller. 2. Everyone must sign up in advance This allows us to control the size of groups, and to follow up with you in case contact tracing is needed. There will be links to Sign Up Genius pages for each work day. PLEASE: If you sign up and then have to cancel, remove your Sign Up so we have enough workers for every project! 3. Masks are required; work gloves are encouraged We will need to wear masks when we are close together–I anticipate this will be when we gather to discuss the work to be done. Once we are spread out, and are not within a few feet of each other, masks can be removed. Please be aware of trail users, though, and make sure to step aside to allow space if people pass on the trail. 4. Disinfectant wipes will be available to clean tools at the beginning and end of work, and when transferred between people. The Trails Crew doesn’t have an unlimited supply, so it would be great if you bring your own. 5. A hand washing station will be available with soap, water, paper towels, and hand sanitizer. If you can bring your own hand sanitizer, please do! 6. Social Distancing will be required. Please keep at least 6 feet distance from others not in your household. 7. Don’t come if you don’t feel well. If anyone in your household is experiencing COVID symptoms, or has been exposed to a person with COVID, please stay home. The trails will still need your help when you are well. |