{"id":2250,"date":"2009-12-02T16:40:15","date_gmt":"2009-12-02T20:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hagarty-on-wine.com\/OnWineBlog\/?p=2250"},"modified":"2009-12-29T20:35:08","modified_gmt":"2009-12-30T00:35:08","slug":"clean-as-a-whistle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hagarty-on-wine.com\/OnWineBlog\/clean-as-a-whistle\/","title":{"rendered":"Clean As A Whistle"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

VOLUNTEER: a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task.<\/em><\/div>\n

As with any dictionary definition, the word is accurately described\u00a0but leaves us with an image that\u2019s dry as day old toast.<\/p>\n

\u2026take part\u2026enterprise\u2026undertake\u2026task.<\/em><\/p>\n

Yawn.<\/p>\n

Now, paint a word picture of a mountain trail\u00a0volunteer: A forest lover who blissfully wanders along an assigned wooded path on a glorious early December afternoon, removing any fallen branches or unruly undergrowth<\/em> that may slow a passing hiker<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Ahhhh\u2026is that a volunteer or just a lucky guy?\u00a0 Actually, both.<\/p>\n

\"Intersection<\/a>

Intersection of AT & Upper Thornton River Trails<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u2019t charge me for the privilege.<\/p>\n

The history of the Eastern Seaboard\u00a0trail 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Appalachian<\/a>

Appalachian Trail<\/p><\/div>\n

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 <\/span><\/a>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.<\/p>\n

In addition to my trail work, I am fortunate to assist with a civil war cabin restoration<\/span><\/a>\u00a0project, 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Your reward will be the natural highs you\u2019ll experience\u00a0in preserving our valued mountain hiking trails and its shelter & cabin system.<\/p>\n

\"Landscape\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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\u00a0but leaves us with an image that\u2019s dry as day old toast. \u2026take part\u2026enterprise\u2026undertake\u2026task. Yawn. Now, paint a word picture of a mountain trail\u00a0volunteer: A forest lover who blissfully wanders […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[5],"tags":[77,74,75,76],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n