Month: May 2017

C&O Canal Volunteers-In-Parks Speaker Series Program Presents: “101 Years, 101 Culverts”

Hello Level Walkers – You may have seen this one coming when you read the title! The following notification is from the National Park Service. Contact Kelsey Smith, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator, at chohvip@gmail.com to RSVP – LWC

Steve Dean will be presenting a one-hour presentation on the culverts of the C&O Canal Saturday, May 27th at 2:00 p.m. on the first floor of the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center.

“101 Years, 101 Culverts” is a presentation that highlights 101 of the canal’s culverts in honor of the 101st year of the National Park Service. A culvert is a structure that allows water or a road to cross under the canal in certain locations. Steve, a volunteer photographer for the park, takes a special interest in the canal’s culverts. The presentation will feature photographs of a wide range of culverts and discussion of their function, conditions and other aspects of culverts that can be found in the park today.

The program is free, but there is an entrance fee to the park of $10.00 per single vehicle. Space is limited to the first 25 guests. If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP with your name and how many will be in your party. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Kelsey Smith, Assistant Volunteer Coordinator, at kelsey_smith@nps.gov. The address is 11710 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac, MD 20854.

Photo and video – Culvert 221, Pigmans Run, after heavy rains, May 6, 2017 – Level 63

Calendar Photos, Level Walks, and a Help Wanted Ad

Hello!  This is one of my rambling blogs on various topics. I’ve been quiet lately – but things will get busy again, so stand by.

We’ll start with a reminder about the park’s wonderful calendar, which is full of photos taken by the park’s volunteers.  If you plan to contribute, you only have until Friday, May 19th.  Refer to my March 20th blog for details on how to submit photos.

Preparations are underway for the June 2017 Along the Towpath.  It will include level walker reports for walks completed through May 19th.  If you have a report for a walk, please submit it to me by May 22nd.

I need to get some extra coverage on selected levels to pick up where there has been reduced activity or retired level walkers.  In particular, I need additional help on busy Level 1, in Georgetown, and on Level 14, below Whites Ferry. I also need some additional help on levels in the Harpers Ferry area, downstream of Hancock, and in the West. If you’d like to consider an additional level, or want to have a change of pace from your current level, please get in touch.

As always – thanks for all you do for the C&O Canal National Historical Park!

Photo – Four excursion boats on the canal during the Conococheague Aqueduct groundbreaking on May 5, 2017 – Level 37