Big Meadows Hike, Lunch, and Winery Visit – Stanley, VA

The Big Meadows Hike, Lunch, and Winery Visit is the Pre-Trip for the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundaton’s Annual Meeting 2024, taking place in Charlottesville. Tickets to this tour are open to the general public and registration to the Annual Meeting is not required. The theme of this year’s Annual Meeting is “East to West: Connections,” and highlights connections between Virginia and the Lewis and Clark national trail. The Big Meadows Hike fits this theme and will compare the plant life in Big Meadows to plants along the Lolo Trail in Idaho.

Big Meadows offers beautiful views, a variety of plants, and a rich history. The walking is on mostly even ground, and we will be walking at a leisurely pace. Wear comfortable hiking shoes. The tour guides will be focusing on both the history and the natural history of the area. Tour leader Alexandria Searls, who teaches photography and film, will be available to give photography tips, so plan on bringing your camera.

Participants must be eighteen or over. This tour is open to the general public 18 and over. Keep in mind that in Virginia the drinking age is twenty-one, and if a participant is under twenty-one they will not be served alcoholic beverages.

Itinerary

LCTHF Annual Meeting Sept. 22-25, 2024

Pre-Trip to Shenandoah National Park

Sunday, Sept. 22 10 AM-3:00 PM

10:00 AM Board Buses at the Marriott Courtyard in Charlottesville for Big Meadows in Shenandoah National Park

11:00 AM Arrive at Big Meadows for hike comparing Western plants with Eastern plants. Hike led by Alexandria Searls, Dr. Emily Kate Avakian, and Shannon Kelly.

Alex is the executive director of the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center in Charlottesville and, besides leading programs on native plants and the plants brought back by the expedition, is an award winning filmmaker and photographer.

Emily Kate is an enrolled member of a state-recognized tribe and is a descendant of people who lived in and around Big Meadows. She specialized in Native American studies and earned her Master’s and Doctorate in education with a specialty in diversity. In her spare time, she enjoys writing and has published numerous articles and poems in literary journals and magazines.

Shannon Kelly currently works as an interpreter at Pompey’s Pillar National Monument. She is currently finishing a book on the “Winters of Lewis and Clark”, and previously worked as an Interpretive Resource Specialist at Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan state historic site in Washburn, ND.

12:00 PM Lunch at Big Meadows picnic grounds with food provided by Big Meadows Wayside.

1:00 PM Board buses for Horton Winery in Orange County where a wine tasting(with a wine glass to take home) will conclude the day

2:30 PM Board buses for return to the hotel

** Trip is limited to 35 people.

If you have any questions, or difficulties registering, please contact us at lcecvirginia@gmail.com You can also call 434-996-7282.

There will be no refunds after August 15th, and Eventbrite charges on tickets are nonrefundable.