Archive for HAGARTY TALES
VOLUNTEER: a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.
As with any dictionary definition, the word is accurately described but leaves us with an image that’s dry as day old toast.
…take part…enterprise…undertake…task.
Yawn.
Now, paint a word picture of a mountain trail volunteer: A forest lover who blissfully wanders along an assigned wooded path on a glorious early December afternoon, removing any fallen branches or unruly undergrowth that may slow a passing hiker.
Ahhhh…is that a volunteer or just a lucky guy? Actually, both.
Intersection of AT & Upper Thornton River Trails
Yesterday, I performed one of my more pleasant tasks. I cleared my section of a blue-blazed path, the Upper Thornton River Trail, located in the North District of the Shenandoah National Park. I get to perform this assignment several times a year. And they don’t charge me for the privilege.
The history of the Eastern Seaboard trail systems dates to 1927 when a group of ardent outdoorsmen conceived and created the renowned Appalachian Trail, a 2,175 mile foot path extending from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine.
Today, the gift these trail pioneers gave us is enjoyed by everyone who seeks the beauty, exercise and solace of a walk in the woods. A better antidote to the hectic stress of Twenty-First Century America is hard to find.
Appalachian Trail
Maintenance of the Appalachian Trail, more commonly know as the AT, is divided among thirty volunteer organizations extending its entire length. In Virginia and Maryland the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club is responsible for 240 miles of the white-blazed AT and over 700 miles of side trails. The section I maintain, a blue-blazed side trail, is a short, steep accent that connects Skyline Drive with the AT, which runs the ridge of Knob Mountain.
In addition to my trail work, I am fortunate to assist with a civil war cabin restoration project, also sponsored by the PATC. If you are looking for an enjoyable outlet for your volunteer urges, consider joining the over 6,000-member volunteer-based organization.
Your reward will be the natural highs you’ll experience in preserving our valued mountain hiking trails and its shelter & cabin system.
On Saturday, August 8, the Hagarty Clan gathered to celebrate—nothing.
It’s late summer and the deck was calling so why not give the kids a call and see who’d be interested in a barbecue. “Did you say pulled pork, Dad?” Yep, they all showed up, sans our newly weds, who have not yet moved home from California.
The day started off with two of my sons joining me at the South Wales golf course. We all apparently set a course record because the pro said he’d never seen three higher scores. Just kidding. We shot in the low eighties. If it gets any warmer, we don’t play. My oldest son avoided any links embarrassment by spending the day with his son and wife, who is expecting in a few months.
About 4 PM, the entire gang began arriving and the evening of merriment commenced. My wife Jean unveiled her new recipe for pulled pork, coupled with her legendary potato salad. Two of my daughters-in-law contributed a homemade three-bean casserole, white wine sangria and apple cake. My third daughter-in-law spent the day outfitting her family of four with back to school clothes and arrived ready for a glass of wine. Whoa. We remember those hectic shopping trips for kids’ clothes. There’s a special place in Heaven for Moms, for sure.
So what wine goes with pulled pork? Beer. At least that was the boys’ choice of libation and who’s to blame. It’s summer and a frosty bottle is hard to beat with barbecue. Jean and I, however, opted for a crisp, Hagarty Cellars Riesling. Not an obvious wine/food match but it underscores my number one wine rule. There are no rules. Fact is, I had a bottle of my Zinfandel at the ready but the evening was warm and the red wine urge never struck. My advice? Always go with your wine instincts on dining occasions. It’s fun and one never knows what happy matches are out there waiting to be discovered.
So what’s the recipe for pulled pork? I thought you’d never ask.
CROCKPOT PULLED PORK
Ingredients:
- Pork shoulder roast, about 4 pounds
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 1 ½ cups of water
- 1 bottle (16 ounces) barbecue sauce, or two cups of homemade sauce
- (Sweet Baby Ray’s Original Sauce is our favorite but the choice is yours)
- 1 cup chopped onion
Preparation:
Place half of the thinly sliced onions in the bottom of the crockpot; add pork and water, along with remaining onion slices. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours or 4 to 5 hours on HIGH heat setting. Drain liquid from slow cooker; chop the meat coarsely and discard excess fat. Put the pork back in the slow cooker. Add barbecue sauce and chopped onion. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours on longer. Stir occasionally. Serve warm with split buns and coleslaw.
Serves 8 to 10.
Argow Cabin 1999
The 2003 movie Cold Mountain is being brought vividly to life in the form of a cabin restoration project in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
Once on the brink of decay, this three-story cabin is undergoing a magical rebirth through the skill and volunteer labor of a handful of members of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, known nationally as PATC.
Samuel Eaton cira 1900s
Samuel Eaton, who built the cabin in 1850, may well have lived the real life of the movie’s W.P. Inman—a southern soldier from North Carolina who simply walked away from the army after experiencing the horrors of war. The mists of time, however, give us no hint as to where Eaton served or what battles he may have fought in. Nonetheless, it’s almost certain he returned to his mountain home when the war ended.
The cabin is located on the evening side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, six miles southeast of the town of Elkton. In the mid-1800s, the people who lived in this area were true mountaineers. One can easily imagine the arduous hand labor required to fell and hand carve the eighteen inch chestnut beams used in the construction of the home. In the early part of the twentieth century, the giant chestnut tree was destroyed by blight. Over three billion trees were lost to the Asian bark fungus and helped accelerate the decline of the mountain culture. To look at the hand cut logs used in the cabin’s construction is to gaze back into a period rich in American history.
Keith Argow, a professional forester, gifted the two hundred acre property and cabin to PATC. The cabin is named in his honor.
From left, Jeff Testerman & Frank Francisco
Jeff Testerman, a project superintendent with a major commercial construction firm in Charlottesville, is the moving force behind the cabin’s restoration. Jeff’s love of history and the mountains drew him to commit to the lengthy and difficult volunteer project. Frank Francisco, a retired engineer, ably assists Jeff. Both men have labored for over four years to bring an invaluable piece of history back to life. It is anticipated the restoration will take another year before completion.
cabin fireplace
Each month, approximately ten volunteers travel to the property for a weekend of work and camaraderie. With meticulous attention to construction details dating from the 1800s, the dwelling is being brought back to its original condition. Enhancements, such as a side porch with breathtaking views of the Shenandoah Valley, add an updated dimension while rewarding visitors with an impressive scene of a bygone era.
Argow Cabin 2009
I am fortunate to be one of the volunteers that assist with this project on occasion. While I only participate two to three times a year, usually as cook and wine steward from Hagarty Cellars, the reward for being even a small part of this adventure is gratifying. Moreover, each weekend trip includes a full dinner party on Saturday evening replete with home cooked food and libations, including a nice assortment of wines and beer. Recreating history is thirsty work.
Upon its completion, Argow cabin will be placed into PATC’s rental chain of thirty-three cabins located in the mountains of Virginia and Maryland. The cabins are available for rent by club members and the general public. If you are intrigued by the thought of reliving the life of a 1800s Virginia mountaineer for just a few days, consider a stay at this rustic historic home sometime after June 2010.
