[BSW] Winter Tree ID Hike this Saturday (Holmes Run Gorge)

[Kathy Bilton]

Check out the City of Alexandria Map of Champion and Notable Trees by City 
of Alexandria Arborist Matthew Barker at:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1gEMF3Wb6GpWRqOYD3hCWBSn37_4&ll=38.83261879913693%2C-77.10130049743657&z=13

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rod Simmons will be leading a Winter Tree ID Hike in the Holmes Run 
Gorge  this Saturday, January 21 from 10am to 1pm.

This field trip is sponsored by the Ford Nature Center.

Bring:  Wear good shoes and bring snacks and water.  A hand lens is always 
helpful to have as well, but is not necessary.  We'll walk mainly on 
trails, but the terrain is steep and rocky in places.  (Folks who aren't 
comfortable with steep grades can remain on the main, lowland path and 
re-join the group when it returns to the central path.)

Field trip is free and open to non-members.  Adults only.

Please RSVP Majd Jarrar at 703.746.5449 (Virginia Relay 711) or 
Majd.Jarrar at alexandriava.gov.

The scenic Holmes Run Gorge is one of the most floristically and 
geologically diverse areas of northern Virginia.  Massive cliffs and 
outcroppings of bedrock abound, capped by ancient gravel terraces and 
deposits of the Potomac Formation.  The vegetation of the Gorge is 
diverse, with old-age forest stands and many species that are uncommon to 
rare in the region.

We’ll walk the section of the gorge from Dora Kelley Nature Park in the 
City of Alexandria upstream a ways into Fairfax County.

Directions: Shirley Highway (395) to King St. (Rt. 7) west exit. 
Gradually move to the left lane after exiting and take left onto N. 
Beauregard St. at bottom of hill (N. Beauregard St. becomes Walter Reed 
Dr. at this intersection at edge of the City of Alexandria and Arlington 
County).  Follow N. Beauregard St. south and uphill past Seminary Rd. and 
downhill to Sanger Ave.  Take right onto Sanger Ave. and continue a short 
distance to its end.  Turn left into parking area (shared entrance with 
school) and proceed to parking lot at woods edge and park.  Meet at the 
Ford Nature Center, 5750 Sanger Avenue.  703-746-5525 (front desk).

*In the event of heavy-steady snow, sleet, pouring rain, or icy, dangerous 
conditions of roads, the field trip will be cancelled.

For more on the geology of the Holmes Run Gorge, see the greatly revised 
and improved digitized Geologic Atlas of the City of Alexandria, Virginia 
and Vicinity at https://www.alexandriava.gov/89974.

For more on the Holmes Run Gorge, see Remnant Natural Areas, Waterways, 
and Undeveloped Sites in the City of Alexandria: Beauregard Street 
Corridor at http://alexandriava.gov/48838.

See City of Alexandria Flora and Natural Communities webpage at 
http://alexandriava.gov/22560 for further information on Alexandria and 
regional flora; the greatly revised and improved Native Vascular Flora of 
the City of Alexandria, Virginia will also be uploaded to this page by the 
end of this month.