introducing the catoctin hollow lodge the newsletter of the potomac appalachian trail club

24 Pages·2016·1.86 MB·English

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE POTOMAC APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB
JUNE 2016 ‑ VOLUME 45, NUMBER 6
WHAT'S THAT
FLOWER?
CATOCTIN LODGE; INSET: THE FRONT PORCH
6 PHOTOS BY SANDY STAIGER
INTRODUCING THE CATOCTIN HOLLOW LODGE
Catoctin Hollow Lodge will be coming into the PATC Cabin System around July 1, with online
booking available after June 1.
KUDZU
7 So named because it is a full-scale house like Dunlodge, Catoctin Hollow will accommodate
eight people with three bedrooms and two full baths. It is unique among the PATC house-type
cabins in that to access it, renters must make a fairly level .7 mile hike. PATC holds a 20-
year lease on this 1988 log house from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The
property, which was recently added to Cunningham Falls State Park, is adjacent to Olive Green
Cabin and the Catoctin Trail.
Renters will be able to enjoy hikes to Cunningham Falls, swimming and fishing at Hunting
Creek Lake, and many other beautiful trails and facilities on thousands of acres of state park and
the adjacent national park right outside the back door.
TRAILHEAD
20 Thanks to the generosity of PATC members in the 2014 end-of-year fund drive, the Cabins
Committee has been able to restore Catoctin Hollow Lodge to excellent condition. Besides the
bedrooms and baths, the air-conditioned lodge features a great room with 22-foot ceilings and
loft, stone fireplace, full kitchen, sunroom, front porch and wrap-around deck.
We think that PATC members will find that it is more than worth an easy hike to stay at
Catoctin Hollow Lodge.
118 PARK STREET, S.E.,
VIENNA, VA 22180‑4609
WWW.PATC.NET —Mel Merritt
ISSN 098‑8L54
of PATC Officers. You can also talk to
any member of the Council, PATC Staff
Director (Brewster Thackeray, Brewster@
patc.net) or any member of the Elections
Committee: ([email protected]).
The rules of the election are clearly
spelled out in these documents. Of
particular note regarding the process
is the role of the club president. While
the club president is generally an ex-
officio member of every committee, the
Photo credit: Theresa Thompson, Flickr president is expressly prohibited from
participating in the Elections Committee.
CALL FOR CANDIDATES FOR Any member eligible to vote in the
While not required, it may be helpful
election can run for office. Eligibility
PATC ELECTIONS to inform the Elections Committee that
includes:
you wish to run for a given position
PATC is at a critical juncture for several * All individual members 21 and over well before Aug. 15. That way we can
reasons this year, and the pool of those may vote. send you reminders and answer any
willing to serve as an elected officer has questions you have. We will not attempt
probably never been more important. The * All student members age to determine who is qualified for which
club is in excellent financial condition 18-20 may vote. position; however we will send out an
and has a growing membership. At announcement to all known candidates
* Both members of a couple membership
the same time, very important choices if a position is undersubscribed, asking
may vote.
need to be made about how to use if anyone wishes to serve in that office.
club resources and where to form new * A family membership entitles two
We will also offer proofreading and
partnerships. We also need to provide people over 21, living at the same address,
editorial assistance at the candidate’s
more opportunities to engage members to vote (two votes) but does not allow
request (included with their response
in club activities, especially a wider dependents to vote, regardless of age.
package). If you want to use such
range of rewarding volunteer activities. (Dependents under 18 cannot vote due
assistance, send your written statement
to their age; those 18 or older would
The club is a multifaceted organization before Aug. 1. Editorial comments
need their own membership to vote).
with strong service, recreational, and will be sent back to you and you can
land management components. We If you want to offer your expertise, resubmit your final statement. Any
own about 40 properties covering more please consider running for statements sent in later than Aug. 1 will
than 2,000 acres in four states and one of these elected offices be printed as written by the candidate.
have an operating budget of over $1 The committee itself will not alter the
million, with assets totaling over $9.2 • President final submissions. Final statements must
million. We need the best leadership • Vice President of Operations be received no later than Aug. 15.
possible to sensibly manage these
assets and expand club functions. • Vice President of Volunteerism Should an elected position go unfilled,
• Supervisor of Trails there is a provision in the PATC
If you are a member we would like YOU Constitution for the president to
to consider serving on the Executive • Supervisor of Lands nominate someone to serve in that office.
Committee. PLEASE feel free to self- • Supervisor of Facilities
nominate! In the culture of PATC, this is While candidates are expected and
• Supervisor of Membership
called “stepping up to the plate” and is a encouraged to talk about their plans with
mark of those willing to provide service. • Supervisor of Marketing club members, the Elections Committee
itself will not release any information
• Supervisor of Activities
The PATC election of officers will
about who is running for which office
be held at the Annual Dinner in • Supervisor of Communications until the August deadline has passed. It
November this year. The process is
• Treasurer is up to the candidate to advocate for
governed by the Constitution and
his/her office of choice. So talk it up!
Bylaws which can be found on the • Secretary
PATC website at patc.net/documents. If you do not have computer access,
At the end of this article is a set of
please mail your request to the Staff
The single most important requirement questions developed by club leadership
Director and he will get copies
is that candidates provide a 200- to help prospective candidates
of the Constitution, Bylaws and
word (maximum) written statement determine if they wish to serve.
Duties of Elected Officers to you.
announcing their candidacy by Aug.
15. A photograph is also useful. For specific job descriptions for elected
—Dewey Clark, Elections Committee
This must be sent to the Elections officers, go to http://www.patc.net/
Committee ([email protected] or by PATC/Library/Club_Documents/
mail to the PATC Staff Director at Council_Documents.aspx to find the
118 Park St SE, Vienna, VA 22180). Guide to the Duties and Responsibilities
2 JUNE 2016 • POTOMAC APPALACHIAN
Things to Think About for Prospective
Candidates for
PATC EXCOM 2017 – 2018
These questions are for your use. They TRAIL MAINTENANCE
are suggested to help you assess yourself
WORKSHOP
as a candidate for a position on PATC’s
Executive Committee (EXCOM). You
Saturday and Sunday,
might consider using these as a basis
Sept. 17‑18, 2016
for your statement announcing your
candidacy that will be published in Shenandoah National Park
the PA. Please see the Dick’s Musings North District
column on p. 4 for more information
about the general qualities desired This annual workshop, conducted
in a PATC EXCOM member. by PATC’s Hoodlums Trail Crew
and the Shenandoah National Park
Questions include the following: and held in the North District of the
Park, is designed to teach basic
1. What do you wish to accomplish
skills to new and prospective trail
during your term on EXCOM?
maintainers as well as provide more
advanced training in trail design,
2. Some positions may be
construction, and maintenance.
“oversubscribed.” The Election
Instruction will be provided
Committee will NOT discourage you
by SNP trail professionals and
from seeking your primary choice, but
experienced PATC crew leaders.
we may ask you to consider another UPCOMING HIKE LEADER
spot that has no nominees. What Workshop participants who wish
other positions would you consider? to camp during the weekend TRAINING COURSES
will stay at the Mathews Arm
3. What has been your “career path” Campground in the North District Trail Patrol offers a hike leader class
with PATC? How does that prepare you of the Park. Participants will for hikers who are learning new skills
for the position you would like to hold? have free entry to the Park and as well as formal hike leaders of outing
Campground. The projects we’ll
groups who are updating their group
4. What was your reaction when you were be working on will be announced
leadership skills. The 2 day course
faced with a PATC-related challenge? at the start of the workshop.
provides essential skills for leading
What did you learn as a result?
The Workshop will begin Saturday safe, environmentally responsible, and
morning at 9 a.m. and end Sunday enjoyable hikes. It includes 2 co‑led
5. EXCOM is typically composed of
at 1 p.m. A $28 fee covers some hikes with an experienced hike leader
people who were successful in other
meals: Saturday dinner, Sunday
areas and have confidence in their
breakfast, and a Sunday buffet We cover how to handle basic first aid,
judgment. What experience do you
lunch will be provided. Participants leadership development, trip planning,
have in that environment? Can you
will need to provide their own standard procedures, emergency
express your informed judgment even
trail lunch for Saturday afternoon. procedures, gear and clothing, map
though it is not the consensus view?
Please make your reservations reading and navigation, and Leave
early. The workshop has a strict No Trace outdoor ethics. The training
6. Being a member of EXCOM requires
limit of 30 participants and in includes lectures with hands‑on
dedication and many hours of your
time. How will you handle this new past years has filled up early. The applications and trail‑based scenarios.
consumer of your free time? (This could registration deadline is Friday, The course is open to all levels, from
Aug. 19, assuming the workshop
take on the life of a full-time job.) novice to experienced hikers.
hasn’t already been filled.
Fee: $50 for PATC members; $85 for
7. What is your vision for PATC over For more information, or to register,
non‑members. Pre‑registration is
the next two years? And, assuming you contact Peter Harris via e‑mail
required & limited to 10 students.
run for another term, where do you see ([email protected]) or by
PATC at the end of your final term? phone: 703/408‑7812. Please do
2016 Dates are:
not submit the form and fee until
8. Organizations like PATC do not you contact Peter to make sure • July 23‑24 at Blackburn Trail Center
adopt change quickly; oftentimes it takes the workshop isn’t already full.
• Nov. 5‑6 at Blackburn Trail Center
patience to “bring people along.” Will
Participation in the workshop
you have a capacity for patience in the
is available only to members
light of what you perceive to be a burning
of PATC and registration in
issue that your colleagues do not?
advance is required.
JUNE 2016 • POTOMAC APPALACHIAN 3
set by Council are being accomplished. word essay to Dewey Clark at elections@
EXCOM also makes time-sensitive patc.net. For more information, refer
policy and financial decisions. to the elections article on p. 2, where
you will find concise instructions on
PATC is entering a challenging and
the nominating process, and how to
exciting time as pressures on our partners
request consideration as a nominee.
increase and the demand for our services
continues to grow. The club must remain Strategic Plan
aware of demands that reflect on the
services we provide. PATC has a tradition The Strategic Plan is being reviewed
of high-quality service and activism to determine how the club is doing in
related to the trails and cabins we following and accomplishing the work
maintain for our partners and customers. envisioned by the plan. I am happy
to say that progress is being made
Terms of office start with the on a number of fronts. Let me share
EXCOM meeting in December of with you the progress made to date.
the election year and run for a period
of two years. Officers are limited Leadership:
to two terms in the same office.
EXCOM has begun looking at how
DICK'S MUSINGS
If you are interested in becoming a PATC is presently organized and
member of EXCOM, I suggest that how change management may be
In November of this year, the Potomac you review “A Guide to the Duties implemented to be more efficient in club
Appalachian Trail Club will be electing and Responsibilities of PATC Officers, operations. It has been pointed out on
several new members to the Executive Committee and Section Chairs and numerous occasions that as organized
Committee (EXCOM). Dewey Clark, Chapter Presidents,” found on the club today, the Vice President of Operations
chair of the Elections Committee, has website at http://www.patc.net/PATC/ has the vast majority of management
prepared an article on his expectations Library/Club_Documents/PATC_ responsibility. On the other side of
and the method by which a slate of Policies.aspx, for information about the the coin, the VP of Volunteerism has
nominees will be put forth to the duties of the positions. Once elected, a very limited share of the managerial
membership (see p. XX). You will find EXCOM members are expected to responsibility. EXCOM must find a way
it very interesting and informative and participate in club management as their to bring balance into the equation.
perhaps enlightening. He will take position dictates. While it is asked that
Communications:
you through the process as it is found EXCOM members play an active role,
in the Constitution and Bylaws. we pride ourselves on supporting each
PATC has had a number of issues
other as a team and believe that EXCOM
relating to communications. The internal
In selecting nominees, the Elections
offers an opportunity for club members
communications of the club are poor;
Committee will be looking for members
to learn and grow with the organization.
in a number of cases, individuals have
who believe in the club’s mission and are
taken it upon themselves to staff a project
willing to be active in their governance PATC has always been a strong volunteer
without communicating their efforts to
roles. PATC believes that this work has organization and the duties of each
others. This causes a bit of duplication,
never been more important than it is officer have grown out of a division of
misunderstanding, confusion about
today. The committee will be looking responsibility that has evolved over the
who is the responsible individual— and
for someone whose experience and years. These activities, while seemingly
the list goes on. Now that PATC has
involvement in PATC would be an asset separate, are intertwined, and the
a website and the latest in information
to the organization, with the hope that organization of the club reflects this
technology we must look to better use of
they will consider becoming a nominee. dichotomy. Duties and responsibilities
those resources across the organization.
need not compromise the spirit of
EXCOM comprises the 12 elected
assuming unassigned tasks needing
We must develop external branding
officers who guide day-to-day club
to be done in the interest of the club.
and a visibility strategy to let the
activities. It assists the president in
New and unassigned tasks do arise and
outside word know who and what
preparing the agendas for Council
may be met by those who see the need,
PATC is. We must reach out to areas
meetings and coordinates the preparation
preferably with the coordination and
other than metropolitan Washington.
and review of policies, plans, budgets
assistance, if necessary, of Council.
A branding strategy would be very
and motions to be recommended for
useful. Of course, there is a need for
Council decision. EXCOM addresses EXCOM officers should be action
an experienced volunteer or volunteers
problems outside the scope of individual -oriented; don’t run if you are coming
to help put something like that
officers and formulates solutions, to build your resume. To help the
together and get us off and running.
recommending action to Council where Elections Committee understand
appropriate. It implements Council why you feel you are best suited for a
decisions and reviews how well the goals particular office, please submit a 200-
4 JUNE 2016 • POTOMAC APPALACHIAN
Partnerships: Please contact Janis Stone, Acting VP- LETTER TO THE EDITOR, THE
Volunteerism at [email protected]. Janis
POTOMAC APPALACHIAN
The interaction with many groups in
will put you in touch with someone who
the Metro area tells us that the club
will be able to use your skills. I hope you
Last weekend I and a group of other
has been increasingly involving the
will consider volunteering in PATC as
members spent the weekend at a PATC
community, but we must also approach
it is your club. We need your support.
cabin for some hiking. Around the
businesses to explore opportunities for
campfire at night the talk turned to the
partnerships. The club has received If you wish to comment, please send a
club and some of the changes taking
grants from both REI and L.L. Bean, Letter to the Editor to [email protected].
place. One member revealed that he
but we must seek others. Government
—DICK was not going to renew his membership
partners have been working to make old
due to dissatisfaction with changes
MOUs current, which is very helpful.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose in cabin rental policy that seemed to
As far as new partners go, the club
yourself in the service of others.” Gandhi favor revenues rather than the renter’s
continues to be approached by a number
experience. Another trail maintainer
of organizations expressing interest in
expressed dissatisfaction with the trend
the club maintaining their trails. Prior
of the club away from its roots and toward
to accepting any new trails, the VP of
the quest for the almighty dollar.
Operations, the Supervisor of Trails
and others do “due diligence.” PATC In the wake of all this discussion I read
is a “doer” and not a coordinator. the April PA the next morning, and was
surprised to have “Dick’s Musings”
Funding: confirm the concerns of the discussion the
night before. Two lines in the President’s
Through the efforts of the Finance
message were particularly disturbing.
Department, the club has become
WANTED! The first was his quoting, “Bottom line:
compliant as a non-profit organization
Improve PATC’s ability to raise money
in validating the IRS and other
VOLUNTEER OF and expand its influence within the
regulatory agency requirements at the
ATC stakeholder group.” The other was
federal, state and local government
THE MONTH “Branding is an important aspect of any
levels. Requirements for a number
business…”
of policies and procedures have been NOMINATIONS
met. Our filing of a Form 990 will PATC is not a “business” it is a club, a
be completed by the auditor and hiking and trail maintenance “club”! One
submitted in a timely manner, as has We all know one – or more… those that also maintains and operates a large
been the case for a number of years. PATC volunteers who go above and number of cabins for the enjoyment of its
members, and others. These things the
beyond the “call of duty”, achieving
The Fundraising Committee will be club does extremely well as it has done
looking for ways to seek out charitable extraordinary results on behalf of the for many years. I understand that it takes
giving in the coming months. The target club. Help us recognize these special money to maintain the trails, cabins and
for increasing financial support over the people by nominating them to be protect the corridors, but let’s not get
next couple of years will be 15 percent, carried away.
Volunteer of the Month. They will be
as established by the Strategic Plan.
Let’s get back to the basics of being
recognized both on the PATC website
about the members, of which there are
PATC is a volunteer based organization
and here in the PA. Nominations
thousands, without whom there would
and has many opportunities that may
should be typed in Microsoft Word. be no PATC. Let’s continue the fine work
match your skills and interest, help
you hone new skills and continue your Nominations should be 400 words that is being done on the trails, shelters
and cabins. Let’s add more hikes to the
personal growth. If you would like to or less. Include notable PATC
schedule, as there were in the past. Let’s
volunteer to work on trails, maintain
accomplishments, current duties and
encourage more Chapter meetings for
a cabin, be involved in fundraising,
outside organization involvement. those that live too far from headquarters
do office work, help develop a social
media program, or just leverage your A brief biographical sketch may to feel involved. In short, let’s get back to
being a “club”, not a “business”!
knowledge as a professional, retiree or also be included. Pictures should
student, PATC may have just what you accompany every submission. —Dave Kirkwood
are seeking. If you are skilled with hand Concerned Member
Pictures should be in jpeg format,
tools, carpentry, administrative work,
social media, web design, development high resolution and at least 300k.
of policy and procedures, library science,
Send nominations to
archival work or would just like to
volunteer, PATC could use your talents [email protected].
for various projects throughout the year.
JUNE 2016 • POTOMAC APPALACHIAN 5
CERTAIN DUES TO INCREASE
At its March meeting, the PATC Council approved a $5 increase in three of the club’s basic dues categories. The dues increase does
not apply to senior memberships. Individual, Couple and Family memberships will increase by $5 each; all other dues categories remain
unchanged.
Membership Type Old Rate New Rate
Individual (Standard) $35 per year $40 per year
Couple (Standard) $40 per year $45 per year
Family (1‑2 adults plus children under 21) $50 per year $55 per year
This is the first dues increase in over 10 years and is necessary to keep up with increased expenses, which have increased significantly
in the last 10 years. For the last couple of years, PATC operating expenses have exceeded operating income; this is part of our effort
to balance the operating budget. The three primary categories of operating income are (1) membership dues, (2) cabin rentals, and (3)
sales of maps and other publications.
The $5 increase in dues is expected to generate about an additional $15,000 annually beginning in 2017. The impact will be smaller in
2016 as the dues increase will not go into effect until Aug. 1.
WHAT IS THAT FLOWER— -a -half tall. The flower spike is very
hairy. It is flatter than heal-all and
MINT FAMILY IN SUMMER
can grow in upper axils as well as at
the top of the plant. Only a few of its
The common name heal-all (Prunella pink flowers open at a time. The upper
vulgaris) derives from its medicinal uses lip is flat and shorter than heal-all. The
(explained in William Needham’s Hiker’s lower lip is bent down abruptly and
Notebook, http://hikersnotebook.net/ divided into three lobes, the middle one
Heal-All). It is also called selfheal. the largest. Wild basil is native to both
the old and new worlds and common
The genus name, Prunella, derives either in the mountains and piedmont.
from Latin prunum (purple), referring
to the flower color or from German American germander (Teucrium
Bräune (quinsy, a throat inflammation), canadense) is a much larger plant; it
which it was said to cure. Vulgaris means grows up to five feet tall. The flower
common. The plants are usually under spikes are on top of the plant and are as
a foot tall. The flower spike is on top of much as eight inches high. The upper lip
the plant above paired leaves. Usually of the individual flower is almost non-
only a few flowers are open at a time. existent and is obscured by the stamens
curling out of the throat of the flower.
Each flower is dominated by the purple,
upper hood. When all the flowers Each flower is dominated by the
are gone, the inflorescence looks like central lobe of the lower lip. It can be
a tiny corn cob. The species grows one-half inch long and bends down
almost anywhere. It is not native but is as it parts from two upright, pointed
not invasive as it does not take over a side lobes. As it descends, this light
habitat. It starts blooming in April and pink with darker stripes or speckles
can be seen flowering into late fall. widens with ruffled edges. . Many of
the flowers can be open at once.
The common name wild basil
(Clinopodium vulgare) derives from the With relatively large flowers near eye
use of the leaves to flavor food, though it level, this is a Mint Family member
is not commonly used for that purpose you won’t miss. The name germander
anymore. Formerly it was in the genus derives from Greek, meaning “ground
ABOVE: American germander flowers are
Satureja, which is the genus of the oak” because of a creeping European dominated by the long lower lip; OPPOSITE
culinary herbs summer and winter savory. species. The genus name is the ancient PAGE, FROM TOP: heal‑all flowers are
Greek name. The species’ Latin name dominated by a purple, upper hood; the
Both Clinopodium and Satureja are means Canadian, and it is also commonly hairy flower spike of wild basil has pink
ancient Latin/Greek names. Vulgare known as Canadian germander. flowers, only a few open at a time.
means common. It can grow a foot-and All photos by Richard Stromberg
6 JUNE 2016 • POTOMAC APPALACHIAN
COWS, PIGS, GOATS, HORSES AND CHICKENS THRIVE ON THE COPIOUS KUDZU
LEAVES; IT WAS USED FOR ANIMAL FODDER FOR MANY YEARS.
PHOTO BY WILLIAM NEEDHAM
KUDZU of Foreign Seed and Plant introduction,
experimented with the plant in his home
GREEN ACRES REDUX
garden in the suburbs of Washington,
DC in 1902, eventually discovering
Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata) is its suffocating propensity. In his 1938
the epitome of the invasive noxious weed. memoirs he wrote that “… the vine
It out-competes native species to engender climbed over a precious White Barked
an uncontaminated ecology devoid of Pine…which was growing in my yard
diversity. at ‘In the Woods,’ near Washington.
After trying for years to establish it and
Draping across the encumbered landscape succeeding, I spent years of unsuccessful
of denuded tree trunks like a leafy green effort to eradicate it.” However, no official
kimono, kudzu is a metaphor for its Asian action was taken to discourage kudzu
origins. It is a woody, perennial vine that planting and it continued to spread, its
extends its tendrils of alternate lobed prodigious growth a vector for its second
leaves with nearly visible celerity (up to a historical phase as fodder for livestock.
foot a day) to the tops of the tree canopy
and across the expanse of the sub-canopy Charles Pleas, a farmer from Chipley
It grows in all the lower 48 states and until it becomes both: a sea of leaves. in the Florida panhandle, was one of
most Canadian provinces and likes the earliest recipients of kudzu, which
wet places but commonly grows in Kudzu has earned the sobriquet he planted as an ornamental. When
moist but well-drained forests. I have “vine-that-ate-the-south.” Estimates its aesthetic qualities failed to meet his
seen it many places in the Northern of its smothering ubiquity range expectations, he relocated it to a waste
Section of Shenandoah National from 2 to 5 million acres, about the area where it flourished, apparently
Park, notably around the Elk Wallow size of Vermont or New Hampshire. preferring the execrable hardscrabble to
parking lot and in White Oak Canyon. Kudzu’s success as the world’s most the garden.
I have also seen it along the AT north accomplished invasive has a measure of
of the Park as well as a few places in irony; it was intentionally planted and With the serendipity of the chance
George Washington National Forest promoted as an exotic ornamental, an encounter, he noticed that his livestock,
to the west. “Finding Wildflowers agrarian fodder crop, and finally as a including cows, pigs, goats, horses and
in the Washington-Baltimore Area,” soil conservation ground cover during chickens, thrived on the copious kudzu
by Cristol Fleming, Marion Blois the first half of the 20th century. leaves. With entrepreneurial zeal he seized
Lobstein, and Barbara Tufty, says it on the opportunity; by 1910, he had
grows on flood plains of the Potomac Kudzu debuted in the New World planted 35 acres of his land with kudzu
in Turkey Run and Riverbend parks. at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial that he sold locally. He became a life-
Exhibition, the first official World’s long advocate of kudzu until his death in
Finally, three species of Bugleweed Fair in the United States where the 1954, promoting it through a pamphlet
(Lycopus) grow in wet places in our area. now iconic brands Heinz Ketchup entitled “Kudzu – coming forage of the
The white flowers are inconspicuous— and Hires root beer were introduced. South” and by opening a mail order
less than one- quarter inch each, The Asian import was featured in a business to supply cuttings from his Glen
growing in clusters around the central garden in the Japanese pavilion. Arden Nursery, now commemorated
stem in the axils of the paired leaves. by a roadside placard on U.S. 90
Distinguishing the species requires Admired for its profuse and luxurious proclaiming “Kudzu developed here.”
close examination. The flowers are so vegetation and for the tantalizing
insignificant and hidden that I have fragrance of its delicate blossoms, it However, kudzu never established itself
recorded seeing them only twice. quickly won favor with the emerging as a viable fodder crop, as farmers who
In the future, I will be looking for American middle class and kudzu seeds experimented with it found that it was
them in every wet place I pass. and cuttings were thereafter marketed hard to manage and that the vines,
through mail order catalogues. David which make up a substantial portion
—Richard Stromberg Fairchild, the head of the USDA Office of the overall biomass, not only lacked
continued on p. 8
JUNE 2016 • POTOMAC APPALACHIAN 7
KUDZU result of the increasingly obvious extent
to which kudzu had metastasized from
CONTINUED FROM P.7
its original plantations to dominate the
landscape in many areas, spreading at
nutrients, but also tended to clog up farm
rates of up to 200 square miles per year.
machinery designed for the more friable
grasses of traditional silage— not for the
The USDA officially removed kudzu from
tenacious rootlike kudzu. By the 1930s,
its recommended cover crop list in 1953,
only about 10,000 acres of kudzu fodder
ultimately relegating it to weed status in
had been established in the South.
1972. Since then, the focus has been on
containment and localized eradication, a
One of the many unintended
laborious process dictated by the tenacity
consequences of the Black Friday stock
of the plant: the root crowns and the
market crash of 1929 and Depression was
rhizomes that emanate from it must be
the spread of kudzu. Years of intensive
forcibly extracted and the resulting stump
monoculture farming of cotton and
treated with one of several herbicides.
tobacco in the South had depleted the
soil of its nutrients to the extent that
Dense copses of kudzu may require
it could no longer support vegetation.
up to ten years of monitoring and
Eroded and rutted fields led to the
selective retreatment to fully extirpate.
diaspora of farmers in the early 1930s
The effects of long-term applications of
to the more fertile fields of the prairie
kudzu control toxins are rationalized
Midwest and valleys of the West.
as not excessively harmful to other
plants and to animals; however, long-
In a last ditch effort to save the agrarian
term effects are indeterminate.
areas, the government instituted the
Soil Conservation Service (SCS), which
Kudzu is not a problem in its native
experimented with several erosion
Asian habitat (it is known as Kuzu in
control plants and settled on kudzu. This
Japanese and Ge Gen in Chinese), as
was based on up to 20 years of testing
it is kept in check by the ecological
that had been conducted at various
balance of indigenous insects and
government Agricultural Experiment
other environmental factors so that its
Stations, notably Auburn, Ala.
inherently beneficent properties have
become manifest. Kuzu is the name
By 1936, the SCS was embarked on its
of both an ancient Japanese people
own kudzu demonstrations, planting
and town (now part of Sano) in the
thousands of vines in areas denuded by
Tochigi Prefecture in northeast area
construction associated with Tennessee
of Honshu. It is likely that the Kuzu
Valley Authority dams and easements.
used Kudzu or that it was originally
A government subsidy of $8 per acre
identified in the Kuzu region. FROM TOP: Kudzu has earned the
was offered to farmers to plant kudzu,
sobriquet "vine‑that‑ate‑the‑south";
encouraged by government publications
Kudzu is a bountiful plant if properly kudzu was admired for the tantalizing
extolling its virtues as soil fixer and managed. Aside from its demonstrated fragrance of its delicate blossoms at the
fodder proffered by official optimistic Japanese Pavilion at the 1876 Philadelphia
propensity to hold depleted soil as an
testimonials. Centennial. All photos by William Needham
erosion control agent and its potential
as a nutritious and succulent fodder, it is
Hugh Bennet, the head of the SCS, create their own habitat by penetrating
a member of the pea family of legumes.
remarked “What, short of a miracle, the root cells and stimulating the creation
This property is vital to the restoration
can you call this plant?” The result was of their characteristic root edemas.
of soil, which becomes depleted of
that by the end of the decade, over 73
million seedlings had been produced key resources, notably nitrogen, when Once ensconced, the bacteria absorb
and the Civilian Construction Corps used continuously to produce crops – atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to produce
(CCC) had succeeded in planting every harvest a nitrate drain. Absent ammonia (NH3) with energy in the
kudzu in every southern state. The the application of natural or artificial form of sugars provided by the plant
Kudzu Club of America was founded fertilizers to restore the nitrogen – in this case kudzu – which benefits
in Atlanta in 1943 by Channing Cope, balance, the land becomes very dry. by using excess ammonia to use in
the self-proclaimed “father of kudzu.” its own growth. It is one of the more
Legumes do not directly absorb gaseous
important mutualistic relationships and
nitrogen from the air but rather provide
There is no clear line of demarcation epitomizes the interdependence of the
a habitat in swellings called nodules or
between the era of kudzu the cure and different kingdoms of the biosphere
tubercles on their roots for nitrogen-
kudzu the bane. The change occurred in the ecological balance – plants
fixing bacteria. Actually, the bacteria
sometime in the early 1950s, likely a depend on nitrogen-fixing bacteria
8 JUNE 2016 • POTOMAC APPALACHIAN
and animals and fungi depend on effects? Recently, it was determined
the plants. It is for this fundamental that kudzu contains serotonin and
reason that kudzu can thrive in severe that it lessens the pain of migraine
environments, and in fact restore them. headaches. Thus, plausibly, kudzu
could also be used for hangovers.
Kudzu has been used as a medicine
Kudzu may rise again – the ideal food
in China for several millennia. The
to meet the needs of a thirsty nation.
first written reference appears in the
“Shennong Ben Cao Jing,” a compilation —William Needham
of medicinal plants which appeared
about 100 CE; it is based on the
legendary and mythological Emperor of
the Five Grains known as Shen Nong
(“divine farmer”) who purportedly
tasted hundreds of herbs to determine
their medicinal value 5,000 years ago.
Relatively recent phytochemical analysis
methods have revealed that kudzu
has high levels (up to 12 percent) of
the compounds puerarin, daidzin and
daidzein. It is currently listed in the
Pharmacopeia of the People’s Republic
of China as a treatment for various
debilities including fever, back pain,
headaches and heart disease. However,
kudzu has a considerably broader usage,
according to Chinese folk traditions, for
treating conditions ranging from angina
pectoris to tinnitus to the effects of
alcohol abuse. In fact, the use of kudzu as
a treatment for alcohol dependency has
gained it entry to the staid conservatism
of the western medical establishment.
Based on a 1992 Shin-Yang University
study that demonstrated efficacy in THE FUNGUS AMONG US
reducing the alcohol intake of what MUSHROOM TIME
are described as “alcohol-preferring”
laboratory rats, an experiment was
run with humans by the Harvard Soon spring rains and warm nights will
University-affiliated McLean bring a delicious culinary treat to those
Hospital in Boston in 2005. afoot on the trails and in the woods.
Morels and “chickens” and puffballs
The experiment, which consisted of can provide an additional treat to your
a mockup apartment complete with days hiking and exploring the forest.
lounge chair, television and an adequate Study the “edible fungus” guides in
supply of cold beer, revealed that the print and online to assure your safety
not- unwilling volunteers who were as many forest fungi are not edible.
administered kudzu drank half as much Not a mushroom or fungus fan? Then
beer (1.8 versus 3.5 cans) as those who enjoy the beauty and your discovery
received a placebo. The experimental of another important member of the
results, which were later published in ecosystem and leave them for the next
the journal “Alcoholism: Clinical and hiker along the trail. Watch where your
Experimental Research” (ACER), did foot falls along the trails you hike and
not resolve the fundamental question discover something wild and delectable.
concerning the effects of kudzu.
Be kind & “Leave No Trace.” FROM TOP: Chicken of the woods in the
Did people drink less beer because the forest; a clump of morels in the woods. All
kudzu reduced their desire for alcohol —Andy Quill photos by Andy Quill
or because it enhanced its inebriating
JUNE 2016 • POTOMAC APPALACHIAN 9
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and Trail Patrol Present:
LEAVE NO TRACE TRAINER COURSE
JUNE 25‑26, 2016
This two‑day, low‑mileage backpacking format course is designed to enhance your understanding of Leave No Trace
practices and ethics and to increase your level of expertise and confidence in teaching Leave No Trace skills. Through focused
activities, hands‑on field experience and both formal and informal discussions, you will be introduced to concepts and
methods that will advance your knowledge of Leave No Trace issues, expand your repertoire of low‑impact skills and increase
your effectiveness in teaching these important skills to others. Participants should be experienced campers or backpackers.
Instruction will concentrate on the incorporation of low impact techniques in camping and backpacking settings, but we will
not be teaching basic camping skills. This is a fun course where all participants have a part in demonstrating the choices that
can be made to minimize our impact on the land and our resources.
On completion of this course, participants will be registered as Leave No Trace Trainers with the national Leave No Trace
Center for Outdoor Ethics and will receive a certificate of course completion as well as their Leave No Trace Trainer lapel pin.
When: Sat. – Sun., June 25 ‑ 26
Where: Shenandoah National Park
Cost: $45 for PATC members, $65 for non‑members. Join PATC at the time of registration and get the member price! The cost
covers course materials and some meals.
Course Size: Limited to 8 participants. Register early!
Registration: Pre‑registration is required. Participants must be at least 18 years old. Visit www.patc.net/LNT to register on‑
line or contact Cindy Kelly at [email protected] for more information.
TRAIL TALKERS FLIP FLOP To promote flip-flop hiking, the ATC along with three new Trail Talkers. It
and the Harpers Ferry/Bolivar ATC was a very successful day for PATC,
Trail Community held their second ATC and all the participants.
There are three ways to hike the entire Flip Flop Festival on April 16. It
Appalachian Trail. The traditional was a huge success. There was easily —Rush Williamson -
and best known is a thru-hike which twice the number of visitors as last Supervisor of Activities.
usually takes six months. Eighty year, as evidenced by full parking
percent of thru-hikers start at Springer lots, but the very capable Flip -Flop
Mountain in Georgia, completing their volunteer staff managed to expand
hike at Mount Katahdin in Maine; the parking options quickly.
the other 20 percent do it in reverse.
Workshops about the AT and how to
The second group consists of those hike it were held throughout the day,
who, for whatever the reason, hike the presented by veteran hikers. Bands
complete AT in two or more years. This provided great music outdoors as people
is known as a section hike. The third way visited PATC’s Trail Talkers as well as a
is to start somewhere in the middle of variety of vendors from local businesses,
the trail and head to one end, and then outfitters and food establishments. Over
flip-flop back to the original point and 100 people stopped by our display and
head in the opposite direction, or go to learned about the opportunities and
the other trail terminus and head back. benefits of being part of the club and
In an effort to reduce the large number the services and trails it provides.
of people attempting to thru-hike these Randy Motz and Georgia Harris, long time
days, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy I am pleased to say a number of Trail Talkers, taking a break at the Flip Flop
is encouraging hikers to do a flip-flop. veteran Trail Talkers came out to help Festival.
10 JUNE 2016 • POTOMAC APPALACHIAN