Meetup Posting When Using Carpool: When including a carpool, put the carpool location in the Meetup location field and put the trailhead meeting location, time and coordinates.

Shenandoah National Park (SNP) Alerts: You can get alerts from SNP. Subscribers to SHENALERTS will get emergency notifications and significant event texts. These alerts will include hazardous situations, road closures on Skyline Drive, wildland fires, and other significant incidents that may affect visitors’ time in Shenandoah National Park. To subscribe, text SHENALERTS to 888777.

Past History: Based on recent changes Meetup has made to the user profile page using a browser, event organizers can click on a hikers name and you will see all their past history. As far as I can tell it is only available with the browser and not the apps.

I created a little video that will show you how to see this. If you have any problems let me know.

Northern VA Hiking Club: 2023 In Review

Dear NVHC Members,

Happy new year. We finish 2023 strongly, with over 2,250 members, 67 leaders, and 519 events, each a Club record. The 519 events averaged a little over 15 hikers each, adding up to about 7,800 “hiker-events”. Thanks so much, both members and leaders, for your support. We look forward to 2024 and to continue the Club operations as before. See you all on the trails!

Balance Attendance Count in Meetup After Hikes

NVHC Leaders,

This is a reminder to please make sure you correct the attendance after your hikes in Meetup to agree with the number of people shown on your sign-in sheet.

If there is somebody on your going list that did not attend the hike you should change their status to “didn’t go” or “no-show”.

– If they contacted you by any means to let you know they were not going to be able to make the hike just flag them as “didn’t go”.

– If they made no attempt to contact you, mark them as “no-show”.

This helps with the following:

1. Allows us to identify habitual no-shows so that we can take appropriate action.

2. Allows us to see an accurate attendance history of every hiker in case we need to screen them for future hikes.

3. Allows our hiker statistics to reflect an accurate number.

Permit Needed 25+ People on Fairfax County Park Authority Trails

Effects of Recent Meetup Changes to Manage Attendees

NVHC Leaders,

Meetup made some changes recently to the “manage attendees” screens on the browser, Meetup app and Organizer App.

As a result, what you see is different on the Android app, iPhone app and the browser.

Cannot ID Event Organizers

Using a browser, Android Meetup app or Android Meetup Organizer app you no longer see a flag next to the name of an “event organizer”, you do see a flag by the “event host”. The impact of this means you may not know who on your going or waitlist is a hike leader. You would need to know this in the event you want to move them to the going list per our leader perk.

This problem does not exist on the iPhone Meetup app. I am not sure what the iPhone Meetup Organizer app does.

The only way I can envision to get around this, since all leaders don’t know each other’s names, is if you are a leader and find yourself on a waitlist for a little while you may want to message the leader and ask them if they are willing to move you over.

Cannot See Answer to the Question

On the Android Meetup app you cannot see the answer to our question. The answer can be seen using the iPhone Meetup app, Android Organizer app and a browser. I am not sure about the iPhone Meetup Organizer app.

Sort Order

When using a browser, the sort order seems to always default to “Relevance”, which has to do with their interests. If you want to see it by RSVP time you have to change the sort each time.

Beware When Copying an Event

Beware of the following when making a copy of an existing Meetup event. This has happened a couple of times in the last week.

When copying an event that is not one of yours you need to make sure that before you save the draft the first time that you add yourself as a host and then delete the other person as host.

If you do not do that the person whose hike it was originally will get a message that they’ve been selected for the event.

Also, the new problem now is the original person will be shown as the host on the top picture and you will be shown as the host in the event attendee list once you publish. There’s no way to rectify this after you post it. The email announcement will show the other person as host.

Rock Creek Park – Permits for Hiking Groups more than 20

From the National Park Service:

The Rock Creek Park Superintendent’s Compendium requires: “Groups of more than 20 hikers must obtain a Special Use Permit from the Special Park Use office at 202-895-6013.”

If a hiking group is 20 people or less, no permit is required. But for large groups of 21+ people, groups should apply for a Special Event Permit, cost $120, so that we can manage activities to prevent resource damage in the park. The permit application form and submission instructions are at Special Event Permits – National Mall and Memorial Parks (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov), and completed applications go to a central Permits Office for the DC area at 1100 Ohio Drive, SW.

Creating Clickable Links in Hike Description

Here are the steps to perform when you are editing the description of your hike to create clickable links:

1. Highlight the link that you want to make clickable and copy that.

2. In the formatting bar at the top of the description field click on the chain link looking symbol.

3. In the URL​ field ​that opens paste the link that you just copied. Click on OK. Your link is now clickable.

4. After you have saved the hike you should always test out all your links.

How to Handle Unexpected Hikers

We have had a couple of hikers show up at the trailhead recently who were not on the going list. This does not occur too often. Here is how you should handle that situation.

Do not allow anyone on your hike who shows up and is not on the going list. That includes people who were on the waitlist and just showed up hoping to get on the hike. This is not fair to others who may have been on the waitlist and sets a bad precedent. In this case, inform them nicely that they cannot hike with us and make them aware of the guidelines.

There is one exception to this which also occurs on occasion. When a person is in their 30 day membership free trial period and they sign up for a hike and fail to pay the membership dues by the due date their membership expires and all their RSVP’s are dropped. Their name would no longer show up on the going, not going or waitlist. Since this occasionally occurs at the last minute, that person may still show up not knowing that this has happened. In that case I have permitted them on a hike if I happened to have remembered their name from the going list or they show something that indicates they were on the list at some point.

Upcoming Hunting Seasons

We are soon getting into the main hunting seasons for Virginia and West Virginia outside of National Parks. If you want to look at all the dates for all animals and weapon types, and there are many, you can go to the web pages shown below, although it is very confusing. I am showing you below the dates for the main deer rifle season, these usually apply to National Forest land and some others. Hunting is now permitted on Sundays in West Virginia and Virginia (new).

The bottom line is you may want to avoid hiking in National Forests, like George Washington and Jefferson National Forests (GWJNF) during these periods. There is almost some kind of hunting going on most of the time for many months.

Virginia

https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/

November 19 – December 3, 2022

West Virginia

https://www.wvdnr.gov/hunting/hunting_regs.shtm

October 15 – October 16, 2022

October 20 – October 23, 2022

November 21 – December 4, 2022

December 8 -December 11, 2022

December 26-December 31, 2022

Do Not Give Advance Notice of NVHC Meetup Hike Postings

NVHC Hike Leaders,

NVHC is a community of hikers and we strive to balance the needs and concerns of both the hikers and hike leaders. We are a group of volunteers that share a passion for hiking and we try to offer a variety of hikes to our members.

It is important that leaders do not do anything that may give hikers the idea that they are giving advance notice, as it will hurt the Club’s reputation. If you hear people saying that this is happening, please tell them that NVHC treats everyone without favoritism. All members must have an equal chance of getting on a hike.

Regarding the waitlist, people should get on the hike in the order they are listed. Please do not promote hikers out of turn. Hikers watch the waitlist to see if people are moved ahead of them. You still have the ability to promote hike leaders ahead of others if space is available.

Continue to screen hikers as necessary. Screen them in the order that they are on the waitlist. Leaders will still drop people from hikes if they do not answer “I accept” to the question or do not answer your request for screening info in a timely manner.

The following are responses to specific items that were raised in the past:

– If you are concerned about safety, you can recruit a co-leader prior to posting your hikes. If there is a person you always want to have on a hike, encourage them to become a leader.

– To ensure as many people as possible have a chance to respond to a hike posting in a timely manner, you can post your hikes during the evening hours.

Methods for Communicating with Hikers on Meetup

Meetup mainly has three ways to communicate.

1. Post a message in the comments field

This is the preferred method to communicate with all hikers on the going and the waitlist. When you post a message in the comments field an email is sent to all those participants. The main advantage of using this is that the comment stays visible for others that may join the hike later. Also, hikers can post replies to your comment. Use this for such things as providing updates to your hike, expected weather conditions, rescheduling or canceling your hike and asking people to update their RSVPs.

Sometimes the comment field get cluttered with a lot of replies that are not the important to others. Feel free to delete those to reduce the clutter so hikers can easily see the stuff they need to.

2. Send a hiker a message using the Meetup messaging feature

This is best used when you want to contact a specific individual with a message that is not necessary to be seen by all people on the hike. To access this, click the three dots to the right of the persons name and select “send message”. If you cannot because they have it blocked let me know as I can send the message. This should be used for things such as telling people to write “I accept”, to ask for their sign-in info, telling then they were a no-show or for asking for hiking experience.

3. Use the contact attendees option under the organizer tools menu

There is really no advantage to using this feature unless you just want to send a message to the people on the waitlist. When you send a message this way it is not visible others that may join the hike in the future and you have no way to see a history of what you sent. When using this be careful of what options you select as you could email all our Meetup members, ~1450, by accident.

Suggested Message to Send When Hikers Do Not Answer the Question

If a member does not properly answer the liability question here is a suggested message to send them. Acceptable answers are: I accept, accept, I agree and agree. Answering yes is not acceptable. If you don’t see one of these send them a message and remove them from the hike if they do not correct it.

We did not see the answer “I accept” to our question when you RSVPd to the ???? hike. In order to attend our hikes, we require everyone to answer “I accept.” To answer the question, make sure you log in to Meetup using a browser on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet, and pick the option to “Edit RSVP” on the bottom of the screen. You may not be able to go back and do it with a Meetup app. If you are having trouble, please let me know, and I can help you troubleshoot. If we do not see an answer within 24 hours we will have to remove you from the hike. Thanks.

Emergency Numbers on Sign-in Sheet

There are two places on the sign in sheet for emergency numbers, one is in the header and the second is in the lower portion where the people sign.

The one in the header is where you should be listing the emergency number that you would call for help if needed if there was an incident on your hike. This is not your personal emergency number. Those numbers are reflected on this web page, select the proper one and put that in the form header.

https://www.meetup.com…­

The one in the lower portion near the person’s name is the one you would call to report an emergency to someone the hiker knows. Many times the hiker leaves that blank and it should really be filled in so please urge them to do so.

Two-Way Radio Subsidy

NVHC Leaders,

The NVHC Executive Committee has unanimously approved an increase in the subsidy program for two-way radios from $25 to $50.

If you have led six hikes in the past year you are eligible to apply for the $50 after you purchase your two-way radios. This will be limited to the first ten hike leaders that apply, as $500 has been allocated for this.

Just email a copy of your receipt to Mike Gingerich the Treasurer at: mgingerich@gmail.com

Please copy me on the e-mail to let me know that you applied for the subsidy so that I can keep track of who has filed.

Here is one on Amazon that received good ratings and is in our price range.

Motorola T260 Talkabout Radio, 2 Pack

https://www.amazon.co…

Guidelines for Regrouping When Leading Hikes

When leading a hike it is important not to lose anyone or to make a hiker feel unsure of their whereabouts. Here are some suggestions to insure these goals are met.

• Mark or wait at all trail junctions. Watch out for false trails! Every trail junction is important. Therefore either wait at each trail junction (even if only a few yards from the previous junction), or mark the right trail (some leaders use arrows, which is not always reliable). If you use marks, clearly explain the marking convention to all hikers at the beginning of the hike and use the mark consistently.

• Don’t get too far ahead. If trail junctions are very far apart it could be a long time before you realize something is amiss. Regroup every 30 minutes or so even if there is no trail junction. It is a good idea, especially in the winter time not to get too spread out as you will find yourself waiting too long at intersections and people will be getting cold and wanting to go ahead.

• Using a sweep is a good idea, especially if the group size is large. Keep in mind that the leader should wait and regroup at trail junctions even when using a sweep, since the sweep cannot prevent people in the middle of the pack from taking a wrong turn.

• Take head counts frequently. Even with a sweep someone could get separated from the group.

• Be cautious about letting people go ahead by themselves. This may lead to them going the wrong way or missing an intersection.

• If someone needs to return to the cars, if possible, the leader should communicate directly with this person and understand what the person plans to do when they get back to the car. If the leader does not talk to the person, someone else should have a clear under

Recommended Actions to Minimize No-Shows

Approximately two days before your scheduled hike post a message in the conversation section for your hike telling people what the weather may be on the day of the hike and to remind them to change their RSVP to “no” if they do not plan to go as there are people on the waitlist (assuming there are people on the waitlist).

After the hike has been completed mark the people who did not show as no-shows by editing the attendance under the tools menu. When you do this the no-show does not receive a message. If someone attempted to contact you to tell you that they would not be on a hike, or provide an explanation for why they could not go, I would not mark them as a no-show; just mark that they did not attend. Here is a good article on Meetup on how to do that if you choose to do it. https://help.meetup.co…­

Consider sending a direct message to the no-show via Meetup with text similar to the following:

“You had RSVP’d “yes” for today’s hike to <hike name> but we did not see you. Unfortunately, your RSVP remaining “yes” may have prevented another hiker from going on the hike in your place. In the future as a courtesy to the hike leader and other hikers would you please change your RSVP to “no“ if you are not going? Thank you.”

This may prevent that person from doing the same thing on someone else’s hike.

We have updated the Club info on the main Meetup page that new users see when they first find our Club to include RSVP etiquette. To see this go to https://www.meetup.co…­ when you are logged out of Meetup.

We will periodically send a message to the members reminding them of the RSVP etiquette.

How to Describe Hiking Speeds

In order ensure consistency in our hike descriptions, you should state the average speed you plan to maintain while you are hiking (moving average). e.g. 1.5-2.0 mph (moving average), 2.5-3.0 (moving average) mph. Do not use adjectives. e.g. fast, moderate, slow.

This pace should be determined by using your moving average during the hike excluding breaks, lunch and waiting for people.

As we have done in the past, when telling people the total time a hike will take including everything, 2 mph is a good rule of thumb.

The advantage of doing this is that hikers will have an idea of the speed maintained while hiking and they can better judge if the hike speed is something they can maintain.

If you have some hikes already posted please modify accordingly.

Proper Use of Guest Feature for NVHC Meetup

NVHC Members,

This is a reminder that the guest feature (+1) in the Northern Virginia Hiking Club (NVHC) Meetup must only be used when RSVPing for a guest who has never hiked with NVHC before and is NOT a current member of NVHC.

After hiking with NVHC as a guest one time that person must join if they would like to continue to hike with us and must RSVP for themselves in the future.

If you have used the +1 for someone on a future hike that you have already RSVPd for and that person is a current NVHC member please remove that person as a guest and have them RSVP for themselves.

If a hike leader sees the guest feature is not being used properly, the leader may send a message asking you to correct the RSVP using the steps above.

Your cooperation in the proper use of the guest feature is greatly appreciated and provides a priority for our existing members.

During this COVID period, with reduced number of hikes and hike limits, many leaders choose not to allow guests so that our members have a better chance of getting on a hike.

Ed Brimberg

NVHC Director of Trails

Lightning Safety

NVHC Hikers,

Here is a good article on how to reduce your risk from lightning when out hiking.

https://appalachiantrail.org/explore/plan-and-prepare/hiking-basics/safety/lightning-safety-on-the-appalachian-trail/­

Ed Brimberg

NVHC Director of Trails

Hazardous Things You May Encounter While Hiking

NVHC HIkers,

Here is information on some of the most hazardous things you may encounter when hiking in our area. It is also very important to adhere to the hike leaders direction if you encounter any of these.

Ticks

Information on Lyme Disease from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://goo.gl/EqVbSK

Bee Stings

If you are allergic to bee stings you need to be prepared with the appropriate medical device. Notifying the hike leader of your condition is recommended. It is also good if you carry some other medication in case you are stung, such as Benadryl.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/insects/beeswasphornets.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bee-stings/manage/ptc-20251667

Bears

Here is a good video from backpacker magazine on how to deal with a black bear or grizzly encounter.

Snakes

How to handle snake encounters and snake bites.

https://www.wildbackpacker.com/wilderness-survival/articles/treating-a-snake-bite/

Ed Brimberg

NVHC Meetup Messaging and Notifications

We frequently get questions from hike leaders and members on messaging and failure to receive notifications.

Specifically, hike leaders cannot send messages to some members based on their privacy settings, and members do not receive notifications based on their notification settings. When notifications are not set properly, members do not receive important communications such as when they are moved from the Waitlist to Going and when comments are posted on a hike. On occasion, these&nbsp; messages are in your spam folder.

It is complicated, but here are some things to check to ensure you are receiving communications and that a leader can contact you.

Messaging

Use a browser on a desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. Each device may have slightly different steps.

Select your Profile, which may be found in the circle in the upper right hand corner, and then select Settings/Privacy/who can contact you on Meetup. You will have three choices:

• Members of my groups only
• Organizers only
• Anyone on Meetup

To allow a hike leader to message you, select Members of my Groups;. This will also allow others in the group to also contact you.

By selecting Organizers only; the leaders will not be able to contact you directly. This often results in the leader having to post a public comment asking you to message them.

If you are receiving messages you feel are inappropriate, you can block the person by clicking the options near their name and you should also notify us so we can take action to remove the person from NVHC.

Why am I unable to message a member? ­https://help.meetup.c…­

Here is a link on how to send a message: https://help.meetup.c…­

Notifications

Use a browser on a desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. Each device may have slightly different steps.

Select your Profile, which may be found in the circle in the upper right hand corner, and then select Settings/Email updates.

Turn on Email updates and look under &Updates from Meetup; and then select the the messages you want to receive in general from Meetup. ­https://help.meetup.c…­

Go further down the page and under Updates about your groups select edit Northern Virginia Hiking Club; and select what messages you want to receive regarding NVHC.

If you want to manage mobile notifications, if you use the app, click your profile circle in the upper right and and click the settings gear icon in the upper right. https://help.meetup.c…­

If you have any other issues contact Meetup help: ­https://help.meetup.c…­

Ed Brimberg

Paw Paws

NVHC Hikers,

I know that we come across pawpaws on many of our hikes. Here is a good article in the Washington Post about them.

The secret fruit that makes this time of year in Washington so sweet:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/09/03/pawpaws-forgotten-fruit-washington/­

Ed Brimberg

Director of Trails

How to Edit RSVPs after they are Closed

NVHC Members,

We occassionally get comments from members who say they cannot change their RSVP either before or after the hike RSVPs have closed.

— Before the RSVPs close, you should be able to change your RSVP using the Meetup app on your phone or tablet or using a web browser.

— After RSVP’s are closed, you cannot change your RSVP using the Meetup app on your phone or tablet, you must do it using&nbsp;using a browser on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet, and pick the option to “Edit RSVP” on the bottom of the screen.

As soon as you determine that you cannot attend a hike please update your RSVP per the above.

Ed Brimberg

Director of Trails

Do Not Leave Valuables in the Car When You are Hiking

NVHC Hikers,

It has been reported recently, by another hiking club, that cars were robbed at the Little Devils Stairs parking area off Keyser Run Road. While hiking, their locked vehicles were expertly broken into and cash and credit cards stolen.&nbsp;Thieves broke into cars using a police grade lock out kit, causing no damage to the cars. They went on immediate shopping sprees, amassing thousands of dollars in credit card charges.

Please take extra caution at trailheads, whether parking areas are secluded or not. Even locking your doors is not sufficient to keep these criminals out.

In years past, there have been break-ins at the Difficult Run parking lot off of Georgetown Pike and at parking lots inside Great Falls and Prince William Forest Parks.Make sure you carry all your valuables with you on the hike and do not leave anything visible inside the car.

Be safe!

Ed Brimberg
Director of Trails

Hot Weather Hiking Trips

Here are some good tips from REI about hiking in hot weather.

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/hot-weather-hiking.html

Ed Brimberg

NVHC Director of Trails

What to Do If Lost on a Hike

Here is a good article from one of our hikers on what to do if you are lost on a hike.

https://www.hopeandfeathertravels.com/2017/10/what-to-do-if-youre-lost-on-a-hike.html­

Ed Brimberg

NVHC Director of Trails

Hiking with Dogs – Taking Your Best Buddy on the Trail

1. Make sure that dogs are allowed on the land where you will be hiking and obey any restrictions concerning areas that are off limits.

2. Keep your dog on a leash. This one important guideline helps to ensure that other hikers will feel comfortable when they meet you on the trail. It also prevents your dog from chasing wildlife and reduces the habitat damage that occurs when dogs run off the trail. Dogs can leave behind a predator scent that disrupts wildlife and may hinder nesting and feeding activities. Keeping your dog on a leash also helps to ensure his safety, since the leash keeps him under control and by your side. Unleashed dogs can quickly run off when tracking a scent and may disappear from your view very quickly. Always use a leash so that you and your dog will finish your hike together safely and can hike again at another time.

3. Plan for your dog’s needs on the trail as well as your own. Be sure to pack food, water, and accessories that will keep your dog energized, hydrated, and comfortable. Check out our 10 Essentials for Hiking with Dogs. And remember to pre-treat your dog with heartworm preventative medication as well as insecticides to prevent flea and tick infestation.

4. Practice Leave No Trace ethics and clean up your dog’s waste. Either carry along a small spade and bury the waste or pack it out with you in plastic bags. Dog waste contains fecal coliform bacteria, which can cause disease and pollution. Dogs can also carry salmonella and giardia.

5. Don’t assume that every hiker you meet on the trail will like your dog. Be sure to keep your dog well controlled so that other hikers don’t feel frightened or threatened. Also, don’t assume that other dogs you might meet on the trail are friendly, even if they are wagging their tails.

6. Never leave your dog in a closed vehicle when traveling to the trailhead. Oven-like temperatures can build up in minutes, even on cool days.

The NVHC pet policy is here:

https://www.meetup.com/NVHC-Hiking/pages/17378562/NVHC_Policy_for_Weather%2C_Children_and_Pets­

Ed Brimberg

Director of Trails

Bear Safety

rom Shenandoah National Park (SNP):

BEAR BLOGBEAR SAFETY 101

It has been a busy summer for bears, visitors, and SNP park officials alike. We would like to take this opportunity for some bear awareness! Cherry trees and apple trees are providing much needed calories for bears at this time, and berries are still ripe. Soon we will be transitioning to acorns in the coming months…all important natural food sources. This means that SNP bears are still very active, crossing our roadways and our trails in search of food. Everyone needs to be “BEAR AWARE”. This includes being prepared in bear country, whether you are hiking, camping, or just driving through the park. For starters, you need to know that bear attacks in the wild are extremely rare…take a deep breath! Here are some bear safety tips you can take away that will make you feel more relaxed and minimize your risk when you are traveling in areas that are home to bears. IF YOU ENCOUNTER A PERSISTENT OR AGGRESSIVE BEAR…• Back away slowly while facing the bear• Keep your pack with you• Leave or detour the area• Running may provoke the bear to give chase. Bears are faster than humans…don’t run!• Make noise! Yelling, clapping, and throwing rocks may scare the bear away• Stay in a group• If a black bear attacks, always fight back!• Keep pets on a leash no longer than 6 feetAs with all outings, be sure to research where you are going and what wildlife is in the area. Preparation and knowledge is the key to ensuring a safe trip. Keep an eye out for bear warnings and always talk to a ranger if you have questions or concerns.

* We are currently asking any people coming to SNP and hiking with dogs to AVOID the Dickey Ridge area around Milepost 5 until further notice due to recent aggressive bear activity in the area. The Snead Farm Loop Trail is currently closed. Thank you for your cooperation on this serious matter.

Posting Pictures to NVHC Meetup

The ability to post pictures from a hike on Meetup is a very valuable resource and gives us the ability to share our favorite photos with people who were on the hikes and also others who follow us on the NVHC Meetup.

When posting your pictures, you should select only the best of your shots and post those. Since many people are posting different pictures for a particular hike if the quantity of photos gets too large the chances of people looking at all the photos drops significantly and could cause frustration.

Therefore, it is requested that you be very diligent with the number of pictures that you post for each hike so people are more likely to review the posted pictures.

Director of Trails

Ed Brimberg

Survive a Bear Attack Video

Here is a good video from backpacker magazine on how to deal with a black bear or grizzly encounter.
https://backpacker.com/survival_skills_survive_a_bear_attack/videos/40­

Ed Brimberg
NVHC Director of Trails

Dress to Avoid Tick Bites

An article on how to dress to avoid tick bites.
https://goo.gl/3Ftkp0
Ed Brimberg
NVHC Director of Trails