Archive for the ‘Martha Bogle’ Category

Shenandoah National Park Begins 75th Anniversary Celebration

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
Shenandoah National Park will launch a year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of its establishment with a ceremony at McCormick Gap Overlook at milepost 102 on Skyline Drive at 2:00 p.m. on November 5, 2010.

Park Superintendent Martha Bogle will receive the "mantle of celebration" from Phil Francis, superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway, whose 75th anniversary celebration took place in 2010. Due to limited space along Skyline Drive, parking for the event will be at Afton Mountain on Route 250, and shuttles will provide transportation to the ceremony at the McCormick Gap Overlook. Shuttle service will begin at 12:30.

The program will feature remarks by Alisa Bailey, President and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation, followed by "A Journey Through the Decades," a program marking the milestones of achievements and honoring Shenandoah's partners. Among the participants will be Matthew Mesher, great-great grandson of President Herbert Hoover, whose Rapidan Camp retreat lies within what is now the boundary of Shenandoah National Park; Robert Jacobsen, former Shenandoah National Park superintendent; and Mike Breeden, descendent of former residents of the land from which the park was created. Hammered dulcimer player, Madeline MacNeil will provide entertainment at the overlook from 1:00 until 2:00.

In announcing the event, Superintendent Bogle remarked, "We are excited about the beginning of this year-long celebration of Shenandoah National Park. We look forward to remembering the vision and dedication of the park's early supporters, the sacrifice of the residents and landowners, and inspiring a new generation of park stewards."

A rededication of Shenandoah will occur on June 25, 2011.

For more information about the 75th Anniversary, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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Shenandoah N.P. to close Old Rag parking lot

Friday, March 12th, 2010
Shenandoah National Park Superintendent Martha Bogle announced yesterday that the 12-space "upper lot" parking area along the park boundary at the Ridge Trailhead access for Old Rag Mountain will be permanently closed.

Temporary signs have been posted in the upper and lower lots, and at Route #600, to advise visitors of the impending upper lot closure. The park plans to install a temporary gate and other barriers by mid-April 2010. The closure is a result of an Environmental Assessment which included extensive public involvement over a two-year period. The Finding of No Significant Impact for that project was approved in June 2009.

Old Rag Mountain is the most popular day and overnight area in the park, with weekend visitation often exceeding 500 people per day.

Public vehicle parking has been provided at the 12-space NPS upper parking lot and the leased 250-space lower lot. Parking space at the upper lot is frequently overwhelmed, resulting in extensive roadside parking, which extends onto the road pavement and onto private land. Emergency vehicle access for incidents on Old Rag Mountain is hindered by improperly parked visitor vehicles.

It's anticipated that the closure of the NPS upper lot will substantially reduce the conflict and congestion of shared visitor vehicle traffic and pedestrian use on Route #600, and will minimize road shoulder parking, trespassing on adjacent private land, and should potentially reduce crowding and resource impacts at the Ridge and Nicholson Hollow Trailheads.

Park officials plan to build a new parking lot in the area on land purchased by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, said park spokeswoman Karen Beck-Herzog. The construction will begin once the park secures funding for it.

Once the new lot is constructed, which is expected to hold about 150 cars, the lower lot’s capacity will then be reduced so that the total parking area available is no more than 262 spaces - the amount of parking available when the environmental review was conducted.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Posted in Martha Bogle, Old Rag Mountain, Ridge Trailhead, Shenandoah National Park, Superintendent, parking lot | Comments Off