Potomac Appalachian Trail Club earns 2015 Land Steward of the Year

Land Trust of Virginia awarded the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club the 2015 Land Steward of the Year Award for its continued conservation of Virginia lands. PATC President Dick Hostelley accepted the award at LTV’s annual Garden Party at Lee Hall in The Plains, Virginia. Since 2004, LTV and PATC partnered to protect 743 acres of land in four tracts: Meadows Cabin, Blackburn, Entry Run, and Vining.

The 95-acre Meadows Cabin is located near Syria, Madison County, Virginia. Blackburn is 145 acres near Round Hill, Loudoun County, Virginia. The 234-acre Entry Run and the 249-acre Vining are near Stanardsville, Greene County, Virginia.

The four tracts are permanently protected by conservation easements donated to LTV. Donation of easements generates Virginia Land Preservation Tax Credits which can be sold to facilitate acquisition and protection of additional properties. Shaver Hollow, another 65-acre PATC property near Shenandoah National Park headquarters, was subsequently acquired and protected in this manner. Property acquisition and protection is one method PATC uses to preserve open spaces, viewsheds, and trail-related amenities for use by hikers, who are the heart of their mission statement.

PATC, headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, constructed and maintains the Appalachian Trail and other hiking trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, totaling over 1,000 miles. PATC serves as steward for lands, cabins, and shelters associated with these trails; operates a public-accessible cabin rental system; and promotes outdoor activities within their community -- all “for the enjoyment of present and future hikers”