Hit the W&OD Trail with the Friends and the Volksmarchers
This is not a race, but it is a non-competitive, healthy weekend of exciting trails starting and finishing at the Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street. Start times are between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., finishing by 4 p.m..
Anne-Marie Pastorkovich, Friends of the W&OD Trail, said, “This event highlights the W&OD blacktop trail, which runs from Purcellville in Loudoun County to Shirlington in southern Arlington County. The purpose of this event is for the community to have fun and to raise awareness about the joys of volksmarching on the W&OD Tail and about the Friends of the W&OD Trail and the W&OD Trail Patrol.
“The Trail Patrol is a group of volunteers who help out fellow trail users-most are on bikes, but some run, hike, or rollerblade their patrols. For more information on the Trail Patrol, I’d suggest contacting BJ Silvey at silveymarbj@comcast.net. He is one our most active Trail Patrol folks,” Pastorkovich said.
Trails include two 10-KM (6.2 mile) walking trails, each offering a 5-KM (3.1 mile) option; one 25-KM (15.5 mile) bike trail, and a 10-KM (6.2 mile) trail for roller skating or roller blading. Four IVV credit stamps will be available for this weekend event.
“The ‘Nottoway Trail’ walk explores a section of the W&OD east of Route 123, some nice residential areas, and paved and fairly well-manicured natural trails in Vienna’s beautiful Nottoway Park. The trail is rated 1+ because it is fairly flat and is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs unless rain makes the natural trails too muddy. Food, water, and restrooms are available along this trail,” according to Northern Virginia Volksmarchers’ brochure.
“The ‘Western Trail’ proceeds outbound toward Reston on the blacktop W&OD and returns via a bluestone equestrian trail and attractive town sidewalks. It is rated 2 because of moderate hills and stepping stones across two shallow creeks, although walkers desiring an easier trail may opt to return vie the same blacktop trail they walked out on. The trail is suitable for strollers but not wheelchairs. This trail has no food or restrooms. Water will be available at the checkpoint.
“The bike trail will be an ‘out and back’ segment between Vienna and Reston on the blacktop W&OD Trail. The trail is rated 1+. Food and restrooms will not be available directly on the trail, although a few drinking fountains should offer water.
“The roller skate/roller blade trail will be an ‘out and back’ trail along the W&OD Trail in Vienna and nearby neighborhoods.”
The award for this event will be a 4″ patch depicting Chargin’ Charlie as a ember of the trail patrol of the Friends of the W&OD, according to the Northern Virginia Volksmarchers. Only 75 patches will be ordered, and there will be no reorders.
A volksmarch is a non-competitive walk. “You can walk alone with family members or friends, or with folks you meet along the way.”
There is no charge to participate in these events. Pre-registration is $6.00 for the event award and IVV credit received by September 9. Registration for the award and credit at the event is $7.00. The fee for IVV credit only is $3.00.
Pre-registration ends September 9, 2006. Fees will not be refunded for those who do not participate.
The event is pet-friendly as long as pets are leashed. Pets are allowed on the trails but not in the buildings.
The sponsors, Northern Virginia Volksmarchers and the Friends of the W&OD are not liable for accidents, injury, thefts, and/or material damage. “Every reasonable effort will be made to make these safe, enjoyable, and memorable walks,” say the sponsors.
Directions:
From the North or East via I-495-From the Washington Beltway (I-495) take Exit 11B (VA 123 South Chain Bridge Rd; south to Vienna where VA-123 becomes Maple Ave. About 2-3/4 miles after you exit I-495, turn left on Park St. The community center will be on your right just before you reach the end of a long block at Cherry St.
From the West via I-66-Take Exit 60 (VA-123 North) and proceed north toward Vienna, where VA-123 becomes Maple St. About 3-1/4 miles after you exit I-66, turn right on Center St. and then left on Cherry St. into a parking lot.
From the South via I-95-Take Exit 160 (VA-123 North) and proceed for about 16 miles until you cross I-66. Proceed for another 3-1/4 miles into Vienna (where VA-123 becomes Maple Ave.) and turn right on Center St. Proceed for one block and left on Cherry St. into a parking lot.
The Friends of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail (FOWOD) is a non-profit citizens’ organization dedicated to the preservation, enhancement and promotion of the W&OD Trail Some of their activities include organizing a Trail Clean-Up Day, funding the Trail’s “mutt mitt” stations and portable toilts, monitoring the Trail with their Trail Patrol, celebrating National Public Lands Day with a “garden party” planting in Falls Church, and promoting the designation of three Trail areas as Natural Wildlife Habitats.
For more information contact the Friends of the W&OD at www.wodfriends.org.
A Brief History of the W&OD Railroad Regional Park
From 1859-1968, the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad stretched from the port of Alexandria to the foothills of the Appalachians in northern Virginia. After being broken and rebuilt during the Civil War, the railroad often got new ownership, a new organization, or a new name and wasn’t really successful until the early 1900s when three trains moved daily between Alexander, Falls Church, Leesburg, and Purcelville.
The end of the line was assured in the mid-1900s with the rise of the automobile. In 1968, when the W&OD ceased operations the right-of-way was bought by Virginia Electric and Power Co. for electric transmission lines. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority (NVRPA) bought the land between 1977 and 1982, allowing an easement for overhead power lines. The 45-mile paved trail was completed by 1988. The trail’s popularity with walkers, hikers, bikers, runners, skaters, even horseback riders caused the (NVRPA) to widen the trail to 10 feet.
The 100-foot wide, 45 mile long W&OD Railroad Regional Park has been called “the skinniest park in Virginia.”
Many groups and organizations contribute to the upkeep and maintenance of the park including Friends of the W&OD and many local service, civic, and private groups who also provide assistance and individual volunteers and groups who have adopted sections of the trail and helped with maintenance.
Also, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s “Rails to Trails” and the Virginia Commission on Outdoor Recreation have also supported the Park.
