NOTICE! THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED...THANKS TO SANDY
We have cancelled the Hike-o-ree for this year.  Hurricane Sandy caused some bad weather near Front Royal and the Shenandoah National Park is closed until further notice.  We talked with the park today and they are dealing with 15 inches of snow on skyline drive and dozens of down trees and high water.  They have a limited staff and had no idea when the park would re-open

  Click here for a flier (PDF) and hike descriptions

Click here for hike descriptions.

The 23rd Annual V3 (Venturing, Varsity, and Venture) Hike-o-ree will be held on, November 2-4, 2012, at the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational Center, Front Royal, VA.  Registration will be limited to trail capacities of the fifteen trails.  The Hike-o-ree is open to all Scout units including Venturing Crews, Sea Scout Ships, Varsity Teams, and Troops.

Units are encouraged to form trail crews, consisting of no more than twelve members, including at least two adults.  Participation minimum age for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts is 13 years old as of January 1, 2013.  Girl Scout troops will be required to have at least one leader trained at the 200 level, a first aider with current CPR certification and a sufficient number of adults to meet the girl adult ratio requirements of Safety-Wise.  Training at the 250 or 260 level would provide beneficial information for this event, but is not mandatory.  Girl Scout troops should submit a ‘Request for Council Approval’ form to Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital.  BSA units should file tour permits with National Capital Area Council.

Trail crews will be assigned a hike based on their preferences indicated on the registration form.  All hikes are approximately ten miles in length and range in difficulty from moderate (1500 foot change in elevation) to super strenuous (2600 foot change in elevation).   Other Hike-o-ree activities include a Friday night opening campfire, a high adventure rally on Saturday night, and a service project on Sunday morning.  Camping Friday and Saturday night at the 4-H Center is to be backpacking style. Camping Friday and Saturday night at the 4-H Center is to be backpacking style using ONLY backpacking equipment.  Please do not bring chuck boxes, coolers, Dutch ovens, propane tanks, camp lanterns, and lawn chairs!!!  Bring ONLY what you can carry in your backpack. Crews will receive their t-shirts at the completion of the Hike-o-ree.  BSA Scouts and Scouters that hike must submit a current BSA Annual Health and Medical Record, parts A, B, and C and meet the weight limits on part B.

Registration will be made on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.  An initial deposit of $60.00 is due to reserve a particular hike and must be made not later than October 12, 2012.  All registration will be done on the Council Web Site http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org beginning September 1, 2012.  After you sign up for a hike and pay your deposit you will be sent a confirmation email and the advisors package and detailed information about the hike you have selected. Because of the lead-time required to produce the t-shirts, the final date for call in of number and sizes (medium, large, extra large, extra extra large) of shirts to Bob Austin is October 20.  No additional orders can be taken after that date.  The remaining balance, including fees for any no-shows, is due on Friday night, at the Hike-o-ree registration.  Please make checks out to Boy Scouts of America.  The cost of the Hike-o-ree is $15.00 ($17.00 for extra extra large shirts). 

For additional information contact:

Bob Austin, (703) 425-9675(H) or (703) 24-5415(C) email at Bob.austin@verizon.net or Adair Petty, (703) 607-2190 (work), e-mail at ppetty1@cox.net.

Hike Selections

Length: 9.1 miles
Driving Distance (one way): 42.9 miles
PATC Map: 10
This hike goes through two of the deepest and steepest ravines in the Shenandoah National Park. Both canyons have waterfalls, cascades and high cliffs.
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Hike #2 - Robertson Mountain
Superstrenuous - Elevation change: 2884 feet
Length: 11.3 miles
Driving Distance (one way): 34.8 miles     PATC Map: 10
This trail follows a beautiful trout stream to an original mountaineer's cabin and finally over one of the least climbed mountains in the Shenandoah National Park. If you want a challenge, climb Robertson Mountain from the east.
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Hike #3 - Overall Run
Superstrenuous - Elevation change: 2991 feet
Length: 9.2 miles
Driving Distance (one way): 26.7 miles     PATC Map: 9
This hike follows trails that were farm roads in pre-park days and gives access to the Overall Run Falls. At 93 feet, it is the highest waterfall in the Shenandoah National Park.
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Hike #4 - Little Devil's Stairs
Strenuous - Elevation change: 2155 feet
Length: 10.2 miles
Driving Distance (one way): 26.1 miles     PATC Map: 9
Little Devil's Stairs Trail winds around and between the rocks in a canyon, crossing and recrossing Keyser Run many times. Be sure to stop and visit a graveyard dating back to the early 1800s.
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Hike #5 - Thorofare Mountain
Strenuous - Elevation change: 2559 feet
Length: 9.5 miles
Driving Distance (one way): 34.8 miles     PATC Map: 10
This trail offers a waterfall, old farm roads that once connected the families in this area, two great swimming holes, and a restored mountaineer's cabin.
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Hike #6 - Hazel Country
Strenuous - Elevation change: 2467 feet
Length: 9.9 miles
Driving Distance (one way): 34.8 miles     PATC Map: 10
The mountaineer has been gone for 50 years, but the few old houses, which remain standing, old apple orchards, the lonely chimneys, and crude stone fences are evidence that he was here.
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Hike #7 - Hazel Mountain
Strenuous  Elevation change:  3024 feet
Length:  9.5 miles
Driving Distance (one way):  29.4 miles    PATC Map:  10
This hike takes you into one of the most remote areas of the Shenandoah National Park and is recommended for crews who are map and compass experts.  It offers a waterfall, a swimming hole and a cave.
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Hike #8- Old Rag
Strenuous - Elevation change:  2423 feet
Length:  7.1 miles
Driving Distance (one way):  35.0 miles     PATC Map:  10
If you have never climbed "Old Raggedy Top", now's the time.  This hike provides views in all directions, including a noble panorama of the mountains  of the Shenandoah National Park.
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Hike #9 - Jeremy's Run
Moderate - Elevation change:  2222 feet
Length:  10.0 miles
Driving Distance (one way):  35.0 miles     PATC Map:  9
Jeremy's Run is one of the most scenic streams in the Northern District of the Shenandoah National Park.  The trail is beautifully forested and the run itself is a continual series of cascades and pools.
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Hike #10 - Signal Knob
Moderate - Elevation change:  2770 feet
Length:  10.6 miles
DrivinHike #12 – Piney Ridge/Piney Branch
Moderate - Elevation change:  1650 feet
Length:  9.4 miles
Driving Distance (one way):  26.7 miles     PATC Map:   9
Walk along a ridge where homes and farmlands once stood and see a spectacular view of a three tier waterfall.  Offers two waterfalls and a deep swimming hole.
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Hike #13- Big Devil’s Stairs Overlook
Moderate - Elevation change:  1300 feet
Length:  10.5 miles
Driving Distance (one way):  12.2 miles     PATC Map:  9
This hike slabs around the eastern and southern slopes of Mount Marshall and provides a side trek to the east rim of Big Devil’s Stairs offering spectacular views of Big Devil’s Stairs canyon and the mountains beyond.
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Hike #14 - Massanutten Mountain
Moderate - Elevation change:  2237 feet
Length:  9.1 miles
Driving Distance (one way):  16.0 miles     PATC Map:  G
From the top of the ridge, there will be opportunities for superb views both east towards the mountains of the Shenandoah National Park and west intods in the pre-park days.  It also offers two excellent viewing areas from the tops of Sugarloaf  and Hogback Mountains.
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Hike #15 – Sugarloaf Trail
Moderate - Elevation change:  1876 feet
Length:  9.3 miles
Driving Distance (one way):  25.4 miles    PATC Map: 9
This trail uses both the Appalachian Trail and horse and foot trails that were farm roads in the pre-park days.  It also offers two excellent viewing areas from the tops of Sugarloaf  and Hogback Mountains.
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CHOOSE ONLY ONE HIKE ROUTE WHEN YOU REGISTER