Past News- We had only one outing over the last three months. The Gunpowder Falls Sweet Air Area, MD Day Hike trip log has all the details. In order to get you in the mood for hiking, the theme of the pictures in this month's newsletter are from the first hike of the year for the last four years. Monocacy Battlefield, MD 3-31-2007 By Mike Calabrese Present News- Please sign up to post to our RagBlogs application. That way, you can schedule your own future hikes as well as post your own trip logs. Not alot going on with the web site itself lately. I've been too busy at work. that's definitely going to have to change! Treasurer's Report- for the period 02/01/2007 through 2/29/2008: Monies paid out: $300.00 for the cost of the website through 12/2008; Monies Received: $51.40 in dues renewals and ad banner income; Amount in the till: $214.49 . We should be receiving about $102.00 from Google Ad Sense very soon for ad banner proceeds. So things are looking good moneywise this year. Here are 5 ways that you can help support The Rag Tag Rangers: 1. Join Us for a Hike 2. Become a Member 3. Buy Your Outdoor Gear through Our Many Fine Advertisers 4. Purchase Stuff from     The Rag Tag Rangers Store and the     RTR Outdoor Related Books and Gifts Area 5. Advertise with Us! Future News- Here is the lineup of scheduled hikes for 2008: Late Addition- I would like to explore the Delaware Highpoint, the North Carolina Highpoint and Grandfather Mountain, NC this year in case anyone is interested. March 15, 2008- Bull Run Mountains State Natural Area, VA. 5-6 miles, circuit, moderate. If you've ever driven out I66 west and noticed an old mill and mountain right at the Prince William/Faquier County, VA Line, did you know that you can hike there? About 6 miles of trails, this area is owned by the Bull Run Mountains Conservancy. Meet at 9AM at the parking area near the Mountain House. Bring a lunch as we'll try to time it so that we can eat on top of the mountain overlooking I66, VA55, an RXR track and Broad Run. Consult the web site for directions. If you are interested in participating in this hike, please use the RTR Feedback Form and click on the bottom radio button before sending. April, 2008- Antietam National Battlefield Park, MD. Charlie J is leading a day hike of Antietam National Battlefield Park, MD in April, 2008. I've finally pinned him down to a month! More information to follow. If you are interested in participating in this hike, please use the RTR Feedback Form and click on the top radio button before sending. Massenutten South Trail, VA 4-8-2006 By Mike Calabrese May 17, 2008- Wildcat Mountain Natural Area, VA. This 655 acre preserve is in Faquier County near Marshall, VA. Rolling hills and owned by the Nature Conservancy. I have to get permission as well as an idea of what trails are there before we hike there but it looks good. If you are interested in participating in this hike, please use the RTR Feedback Form and click on the bottom radio button before sending. Postponed- Mountains to Sea Trail, NC. There was some interest in this hike. However, it is about 475 miles from Northern Virginia to Clingmans Dome, TN where this one starts. So one would have to take 5 or 6 days off in order to do the long drive, then backpack 20-25 miles of this trail, then make the long drive home. You would also have to have at least 2 drivers or a shuttle. I plan to do this one some day. But this year does not look good. May 31 to June 7, 2008- The missing 40 miles of the AT in CT and MA. When Tom Stevenson and I hiked the AT from North Adams, MA to Salisbury, CT last September we missed about 40 miles due to the weather, the ups and my slowness among other reasons. So we are going up there again in June, 2008 to hike 10 miles between Dalton and Cheshire, MA as well as 30 miles between Kent, CT and Salisbury, CT. Then we'll both be continous to North Adams, MA. This hike may be cancelled if certain events occur as I may then do the remaining 640 miles of the AT. So if you are interested in joining us for this trip, please use the RTR Feedback Form and click on the bottom radio button before sending. Late Spring, 2008- Chopawamsic Backcountry Area/ Bristoe Station Battlefield Herritage Park/Brentsville Historic Court House, VA Camp and Hike. Call me crazy but I thought that this would be a neat way to spend a weekend. Do a 4-5 mile hike at Bristoe Station Herritage Battlefield Park, then a 1 mile loop at nearby Brentsville Historic Courthouse, then camp at the Chopawamsic Backcountry Area, which is about 10 miles away and is a part of Prince William Forest Park. This would all happen on a Saturday. On Sunday, we could do an optional day hike in nearby Prince William Forest, VA. This would be an open ended Camp and Hike. You can do all 3 hikes, 2, 1 or just camp. Just show up Saturday or just Sunday or both. Your choice. Click Here for a map of Bristoe Station Battlefield Herritage Park. Click Here for a description and Click Here for a map of the Chopawamsic Backcountry Area. If you are interested in participating in this camp and hike, please use the RTR Feedback Form and click on the bottom radio button before sending. Gettysburg NMP, PA 1-8-2005 By Mike Calabrese August 16-17, 2008- Elk Neck State Park, MD. It's been a long time since we've done anything in MD. This will be a Camp and Hike. That is a do your own thing type of weekend. You can just camp and do nothing else, show up just for a hike, just show up one of the 2 days. Whatever. The Mason-Dixon Trail goes through this park so it would be nice to check it out. I will be day hiking the Mason Dixon Trail through Elk Neck State Forest on Saturday, March 1, 2008. I can then get a better idea if this would make a good camp & hike. If you are interested in participating in this camp and hike, please use the RTR Feedback Form and click on the bottom radio button before sending. Postponed- Donut Hole Trail, PA. This is another case where it's a long drive, 228 miles from northern Virginia to be exact, to get to this trail. I don't know why they call this the Donut Hole Trail because it is not shaped like a donut but is linear. This trail starts west of Williamsport, PA at Carrier RD near Farrandsville, PA in Hyner Run State Park, PA and meanders west to PA120 near Jericho, PA. I was thinking about doing the easternmost 16 miles between Carrier RD and Whetham. If we get enough interest for this one, I'll put it back on the schedule. So if you are interested in participating in this backpacking trip, please use the RTR Feedback Form and click on the bottom radio button before sending. September 20, 2008- Conestoga Trail, PA. This 63 mile trail hugs the east bank of the Susquehanna River between PA372 and Lancaster, PA. It is right across the river from the Mason-Dixon Trail. I was thinking of carving out a nice weekend trip of 15-18 miles along this trail. There is a campground right near the southern terminous. This trail, from what I have been told by those that have hiked it, is very strenous. So it will be a challenge. More info to come on this one. If you are interested in participating in this backpacking trip, please use the RTR Feedback Form and click on the bottom radio button before sending. Stony Creek Trail, PA 4-17-2004 VA By Mike Calabrese That's it for now. Please join us for some upcoming hikes. This schedule is subject to change. There may be a 10 person limit imposed on certain hikes. Hike leaders and participants should keep in contact in case a hike is cancelled or changed. Please try to carpool to these outings to save both gas and money. We need hike leaders! Check out Tips on Leading a Successful Backpacking Trip if you are interested in leading a hike. If anyone wants to lead a hike or has any outdoor related news or images for this newsletter, please let me know and I'll make sure that it gets mentioned in the next quarterly issue. Mike C