Race Timing Unlimited presents the second annual 50 km race running the entire length of DRHT.

When: August 7, 2009 @ 6:30am
Start/Finish Location: Caledon Natural Area in King George, Virginia

Fees:
$79 Until July 10, 2009
$89 July 11, 2009 to August 5, 2009
$100 After August 5, 2009

More Information & Register Online: www.racetimingunlimited.org/raceinfo/DU10Info.aspx
Printable Entry Form: www.racetimingunlimited.org/raceinfo/DHRT10entry.pdf

A trail half-marathon organized by the Fredericksburg Area Running Club.

Visit www.runfarc.com for more information and to register online. Or download the entry form here [PDF]

When: Sunday, February 28th at 8:00am
Where: The DRHT trail in King George, VA

Looking for a new way to bring in 2010?   We have a unique way that you will never forget.  

Try sitting around a fire enjoying stories and friends. Add spiced shrimp, campfire lasagna, home-made caramels, much more food and the stars...all while sipping Hot Spiced Wine or Mulled Apple Cider! There will be a rustic cabin with propane heat, but the fun is really around the fire. 

We'll meet at 4:00pm to set up, but come when you can and stay as long as you like.  We hard cores are staying until 3 a.m. 

Prizes will be awarded for the most innovative, creative tropical chair set-up, (bring your own), and also for the best costume...just visualize a Jimmy Buffet shirt over a down coat...with parrots dangling from the sleeves...dressing up in not mandatory...just FUN!   

When: Thursday, December 31st @ 4:00pm
Where: A cabin off of Rt 694 Lamb's Creek Church Road

Everyone is welcome!

For directions or more information, call or email Paula VanAlstine at 540-644-1300 or paula.vanalstine@gmail.com

Carl Zirkle owns property on each side of the trail near Route 694.  He is interested in having the Friends of the DRHT be able to use his property for events, camping and other nature activities.  He would like to meet us and show us around his 40 acres that are split by the trail. We'll hike 0.5 - 0.57 milesa to the beautiful Zirkle property and explore it - complete with rustic cabin and grand canopy of huge trees.

When: Saturday, July 18th, 2009 @ 5:00pm
Where: Meet at the Rt 694 trailhead. We'll have alternate plans if there are more vehicles than parking room.

Everyone is welcome!

For more information, email contact@friendsdrht.org.

Race Timing Unlimited presents a 50 km race running the entire length of DRHT.

When: August 8, 2009 @ 6:30am
Start/Finish Location: Caledon Natural Area in King George, Virginia

Fees:
$75 Until July 11, 2009
$85 July 12, 2009 to August 6, 2009
$100 After August 6, 2009

More Information: http://www.racetimingunlimited.org/raceinfo/DU09Info.aspx
Printable Entry Form: http://www.racetimingunlimited.org/raceinfo/DU09Entry.pdf

Helping kids grow up naturally! Come together to celebrate the natural beauty of King George County. Activities will include beach activities, storytelling, crafts & games. Join a beach clean-up at Potomac Wayside Park beginning at 10:30am.

There will be information booths and activities from:
King George Dept of Solid Waste & Recycling
King George Dept of Parks & Recreation
Caledon Natural Area
VA Dept of Forestry
VA Cooperative Extension & 4H
Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail
Friends of Caledon Natural Area
King George YMCA
& Many More

Where: Barnesfield & Wayside Parks, King George, VA (All parking will be at Barnesfield Park)
When: Saturday, April 25, 2009 @ 9:00am - Noon

For more information, contact Parks & Recreation at 540-775-4386 or Caledon Natural Area at 540-663-3861.

Set at the main trailhead of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail in King George County amongst the daffodils and pear blossoms, this 2nd Annual Spring Fundraiser Festival of Friends will welcome pets and their owners to the trail and benefit two worthy local organizations - the DRHT and the King George Animal Rescue League. Join us out on the trail for a day of hikes, entertainment, games and food.

When: Saturday May 9, 2009 @ 10:00a - 4:00p
Where: the Joe Williams multi-purpose area at the DRHT's Rt. 605 trailhead
Suggested Tax-Deductible Donation: $20 per familt or $10 per individual

All pets must have current vaccinations and be led by a non-retractable leash of no more than 6 feet, please. Non-social pets will be given a red bandanna.

Hikes/Runs
Hikes/runs are open to anyone who wants to join in, with or without a dog. The King George YMCA is providing bus transportation for pets and humans from the Rt 605 trailhead to the starting points. All hikes/runs finish at the Rt 605 trailhead.

• Fido Four Miler: catch the bus at 10:30am and again at 1:30pm for this 4 mile hike
• Hike with your Hound: catch the bus at 11:00am and again at 2:00pm for this 1.5 mile hike

People & Pets

• Blessing of the Dogs (10:15am)
• Fun games, an obstacle course and lighthearted competions will take place all during the Festival Day
• Raffle drawings will be held throughout the day (winners need not be present)
• Dog Superlatives (3:00pm)
• Rail cars will be running all day, offering FREE RIDES
  

Food
Great food and drinks provided for sale by Cajun Creations during the entire event.

Music
Music at 1:00pm will feature local musician Bob Gramman. As a folk music presenter, Bob Gramann likes songs that say something new or look at something old in a new way - songs that make the listener think, feel, and connect the dots. Over the past 12 years, Gramann has earned respect as a songwriter, presenter, and guitar maker in central Virginia. His Fredericksburg Songwriters' Showcase series, begun in 1993 with Peter Mealy, brings performers to the historic town eight times a year. Bob was voted Fredericksburg's Best Acoustic Act for 1995 in the Free Lance-Star's music poll. For more information, visit his web site at http://www.bobgramann.com.

Directions to the Rt 605 trailhead:
The Rt 605 trailhead is located off of Rt 3 in King George County. Heading east on Rt 3, turn left on to Rt 605 (Bloomsbury Road) just past the Ricks & Vans vegetable stand; heading west on Rt 3, turn right on to Rt 605 (Bloomsbury Road) just past the La Grange horse farm and statue. The trailhead is on the right about 1.5 miles from Rt 3 and about 200 yards north of Rt 605's intersection with Birchwood Drive, Rt 665.

Get the Event Flyer [PDF]

For more information, email contact@friendsdrht.org.

The DRHT welcomes spring! Join us at the Rt 605 Trailhead for a day of fun and fresh air.

• HIKES! Self-guided out and back hikes/runs with plenty of distance choices
• LUNCH! Hot dogs, soft drinks and chips
• HAY RIDES! For children and adults alike
• GEO-CACHING! See a demonstration at 1PM and learn about caches located on the trail
• SCAVENGER HUNT! Challenge your observational skills
• BONFIRE! After 4PM; bring a chair

This event is a fund-raiser for the Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail.  The suggested donation is $10 for individuals and $25 for a family.  Donations support trail events like this one, trail development and maintenance, and continuing efforts to make the trail a new state park! All donations are tax deductible when made through RF&P BikeWalk - DRHT. Receipts for tax purposes are available.

Directions to the Rt 605 trailhead:
The Rt 605 trailhead is located off of Rt 3 in King George County. Heading east on Rt 3, turn left on to Rt 605 (Bloomsbury Road) just past the Ricks & Vans vegetable stand; heading west on Rt 3, turn right on to Rt 605 (Bloomsbury Road) just past the La Grange horse farm and statue. The trailhead is on the right about 1.5 miles from Rt 3 and about 200 yards north of Rt 605's intersection with Birchwood Drive, Rt 665.

Get the Event Flyer [PDF]

For more information, email contact@friendsdrht.org.

Join us as we participate in the 50th Annual King George Fall Festival!

Led by a rail car float , we'll hike, walk dogs, bike, and push strollers along the parade route. Join the fun and show your support for the trail!

If you can, please bring candy or other fun goodies for tossing to spectators.

WHERE & WHEN TO MEET: Gather around our float in the parade line-up between 10 & 11:00am on Saturday October 11th. We're not sure where we'll be in the line-up exactly but you'll find us! Look for the railcar!

For more information, email contact@friendsdrht.org.

THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Join us to clean up roadside litter along Rt 610 in King George County. Wear sturdy footwear and dress appropriately for the weather. Long pants are recommended. Bringing something to drink is a good idea. Trash bags and orange safety vests will be provided.

Meet at the American Legion building (near Dutch's Mart) on Rt 206 near the intersection with Rt 610.

For more information, email contact@friendsdrht.org.

A historic day for Virginia's Railroad History.

11:00am Dedication Ceremony and Driving of the Golden Spike
The final "golden spike" will be driven on the Dahlgren Heritage Railroad in Sealston, VA. We will commemorate this occasion with a dedication ceremony starting at 11AM featuring a few words from key people involved with getting the trail and rail up and running. In addition, this ceremony will also celebrate the arrival of RF&P outside braced 40' boxcar 1023 built in 1919, and RF&P wooden caboose 803 built in 1917. We hope to also hear a few words from the past owners who have donated the cars to be used as a display at the Route 605 trailhead in Sealston.

• FARC-N-Bark: catch the bus leaving from the Rt 605 trailhead at 12:00pm for this 8 mile hike/run competition
• Fido 5 Miler: catch the bus leaving from the Rt 605 trailhead at 12:30pm for this 5 mile hike
• Hike with your Hound: catch the bus leaving from the Rt 605 trailhead at 1:00pm for this 2 mile hike

• Photo of you and your Pet: Take yours home with you! A 4X6 for $8.00 and/or an 8X10 for $20.00
• Fun games and lighthearted competions will take place all during the Festival Day with plenty of great prizes
• A raffle drawing will be held at 3:30 (winners need not be present) for terrific prizes
• Microchip your pet for $20.00. Also receive a universal data packet that will help you always find your pet.
• A Foster Parade will feature and show appreciation for folks that have adopted pets
  

Food
Great food and drinks provided by Cajun Creations during the entire event. Food cost is separate from the donation, but part of their proceeds will be donated back to KGARL and DRHT.

Music
Music at 2:00pm will feature local musician Bob Gramman. As a folk music presenter, Bob Gramann likes songs that say something new or look at something old in a new way - songs that make the listener think, feel, and connect the dots. Over the past 12 years, Gramann has earned respect as a songwriter, presenter, and guitar maker in central Virginia. His Fredericksburg Songwriters' Showcase series, begun in 1993 with Peter Mealy, brings performers to the historic town eight times a year. Bob was voted Fredericksburg's Best Acoustic Act for 1995 in the Free Lance-Star's music poll. For more information, visit his web site at http://www.bobgramann.com.

Directions to the Rt 605 trailhead:
The Rt 605 trailhead is located off of Rt 3 in King George County. Heading east on Rt 3, turn left on to Rt 605 (Bloomsbury Road) just past the Ricks & Vans vegetable stand; heading west on Rt 3, turn right on to Rt 605 just past the La Grange horse farm and statue. The trailhead is on Rt 605 about 200 yards north of Rt 605's intersection with Birchwood Drive, Rt 665.

For more information, email us at events@friendsdrht.org.

Join one of these Festival-day group hikes:
-- a 3.0 mile hike from the Rt 610 trailhead to Caledon Natural Area
-- a 7.0 mile hike from the Rt 609 trailhead to Caledon Natural Area

Meet at Caledon Natural Area ($3 parking fee) at 9:00am to catch the buses to the trailheads.

Once at Caledon, hikers can stay and enjoy the Caledon Wine and Art Festival.

The Caledon event is open from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The Wine Tasting costs $7.00/person; the Art Show is free.

Note: For all hikes we remind participants to dress appropriately (layered to match the weather conditions), to bring whatever food and drink they will need, to wear sturdy shoes.

Last year over 40 people made the 3 mile hike, ending with a great lunch and delicious wine tasting at Caledon.

Please email Warren Veazey at wjveazey@midatlanticbb.com to reserve a spot for a great one way hike back to the park!

Show your support and help us increase awareness for the rail trail in King George County by joining Friends of the DRHT in the King George Fall Festival parade! We'll carry our banner and bike, walk, run, stroller through downtown King George, just as we do out on the trail.

RSVP if at all possible so we know who and how many to expect. Meet at the Smoot L:ibrary at 9:30am on the day of the parade

We'll also be hosting an information table at the BBQ lunch and Festival Fair being held at King George High School. Information, brochures and sign up sheets will be available and Friends of the DRHT will be on hand to answer questions. Come by and see us!

For more information, email contact@friendsdrht.org.

Two dozen of the Friends of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT) and the Northern Virginia Shooting Facility (NVSF) met on a beautiful, cool July morning to work together to build a bridge over a small creek. This joint project was the culmination of many hours of discussion and negotiation; the by-pass trail was roughed in as a gesture of good will and cooperation by both groups. A memorandum of understanding has been written and signed, solidifying all of the terms by which both groups will move forward to create both a model shooting facility and a first class recreational trail in King George.

A community-spirited gathering to celebrate National Trails Day as well as the one-year anniversary of the DRHT's grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. We encourage hikers and runners and bikers to get out on the trail all day long to celebrate National Trails Day.

The organized part of the day will take place on the portion of the trail just east of Rt 610. Parking and directions will be available at the Rt 610 intersection, but the MAIN PARKING will be located just off Rt 218. Turn right at the Rt 610/ Rt 218 Intersection and go approximately 0.8 mile until you see a dirt road on the right. There will be balloons and signs. Drive down the dirt road and follow the directions to parking.

Agenda:
1600 - Arrive
1800 - Cookout (bring a covered dish)
1900 - Dusk hike
2000 - Storytelling & S'mores
The festivities and fellowship will be followed by an on-the-trail campout.

National Trails Day brings together outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds to celebrate the great natural heritage of the United States trail system. Traditionally held each year on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day was established to recognize the value of recreational trails and the people involved in building and maintaining them. Whether it's the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, or a volunteer group, trail preservation is necessary to keep our trails open to the public and available for years to come.

For more information about this DRHT event, please contact events@friendsdrht.org.
For photos from this event, visit our Photo Gallery.

A Firends of the DRHT call to action effort at the Rt 605 trailhead to restore the continuity of the one remaining set of tracks!

All Friends are welcome but we will need about 6-8 burley men and women to haul rails around and drive spikes. Current plans for the rail line are that we will encourage the RR Historical Society to use the track from the Rt 605 trailhead to the end of the double width berm--the end of the siding line--to run a small work car setup that will carry a few people for rail rides on weekends. This will be a very attractive addition to the 605 trailhead for families with children; the elderly and anyone that wants a slow gentle ride on real railroad work car.

This effort will require the following:
Removal of a pile of rubbish from the tracks.
Restacking the fuel that we use for the fire pit.
Relocating the fire pit by a few feet.
Gravel bed renewal.
Relay about 5 full sections of rail--10 rails in all.
Relay about 40 ties beneath these rails.

So if you have always wanted to work on a railroad and if you can spare a few hours to work on this project, then this is your call to action. A good turnout on Saturday may complete the job.

Please RSVP to dnsj1s@earthlink.net if you can spare some time for this project.

We are asking for a $20 donation per adult and $25 for a family. You may also buy a table, engraved with your family or group name, to be placed on the trail for a donation of $250.00. The tables will again be made by the Boy Scouts. All donations are tax deductible when made through RF&P BikeWalk - DRHT. Receipts for tax purposes will be available at the event.

Schedule of Activities:

Meet at the Rt 605 trailhead. Please be sure to arrive at the Rt 605 trailhead (parking is available) in time to be ready to depart promptly at 8:00am on a bus that will transport hikers to the hike's starting point. Hike the trail (10-12 miles) back to the Rt 605 trailhead and the hikers' vehicles. The hike is expected to take all day. A barbeque of venison, burgers and hot dogs at the Rt 605 trailhead will follow the hike.

Jan 18th Update: The hike will take place as scheduled, rain or shine, sleet or snow. It's a winter hike so dress appropriately and enjoy the crisp fresh air!

The hikers will break for lunch at some point along the trail. Hikers should bring their own lunch and water and anything else they need for the actual hike. Hikers are reminded to dress in layers appropriate for the weather on that day. Because this is a challenging hike, we do not recommend participation of children under 12, or anyone else not prepared to hike a full and physically challenging day.

Directions to the 605 trailhead are: (from Rt 3) Turn North by La Grange Horse Stables and horse statue and go approximately 1.2 miles to the trailhead on the right. Park in the designated area inside the boulders.

Special Note: The route for this hike will not cross the trail property that is adjacent to the Little Ark Baptist Church cemetery. The Friends of the DRHT, out of our deep respect for the congregation of LABC and Rev. Dr. Ben Jones, do not allow our permit holders to use the trail property that is adjacent to LABC property at all without permission from the congregation through Rev. Jones. The hike has, therefore, been routed so that it will not touch LABC property at all. The goal of the Friends of the DRHT is and always has been to find a way to return the trail property that is adjacent to the LABC cemetery to the congregation and to complete the trail. Contrary to the vocal minority that composes the opposition, these are not mutually exclusive objectives.

A 5-mile hike beginning at the Rt 694 trailhead and ending at the Rt 610 trailhead.

The group will put up mile markers along the trail as they go. The hike will last through lunch so pack some snacks or sandwiches to munch on.

Meet at 11:00am at the Rt 694 (Lamb's Creek Church Rd) trailhead.

Note: For all hikes we remind participants to dress appropriately (layered to match the weather conditions), to bring whatever food and drink they will need, to wear sturdy shoes.

Join a 3.25 mile hike from the Rt 610 trailhead to Caledon Natural Area. The hike is expected to last 2-3 hours.

Meet at 9:45am at the KG School Board Office at 9100 St. Anthony’s Road (the old Elementary School) for the 10:00 bus to the trailhead.

Once at Caledon, hikers can return by bus to the School Board Office or they can stay for the Caledon Wine and Art Festival and catch the bus back to the School Board Office at a later time when the group decides to return.

The Caledon event is open from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The Wine Tasting costs $7.00/person; the Art Show is free. The bus can accomodate purchased art pieces for the return trip.

Note: For all hikes we remind participants to dress appropriately (layered to match the weather conditions), to bring whatever food and drink they will need, to wear sturdy shoes.