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TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE ODH FOR HIKERS

Getting to the 100K trailhead
The trailhead for the 100K is the parking lot of Thompson Boat Center at 2900 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC (intersection with Rock Creek Parkway), right across the parkway from the Watergate.

Thompson's Boat Center is marked on any good map of Washington, DC, and driving directions can also be obtained on the Internet using the address above. It's best to get a ride to the trailhead. Parking at Thompson Boat Center is metered so you cannot leave a vehicle there.


Getting to the 50K trailhead (Whites Ferry)
The trailhead for the 50K is on the C&O canal towpath at mile 35.5, 6.1 miles west of Poolesville, MD.  The 50K hikers are expected to arrange their own rides to the trailhead at Whites Ferry.  They also are discouraged from driving there and leaving their cars for the duration of the hike, since the parking lot belongs to the nearby ferry service.  A shuttle from the Shady Grove Metro station is available by reservation only.  Click here for the shuttle reservation form.


Getting your overnight bag from the trailhead to Harpers Ferry
If you plan to spend the night in the Harpers Ferry area, you can take a small overnight bag (labeled with your name, address, and phone number) with you to the trailhead for transport to the Bolivar Community Center (the hike’s end point).  If you don't finish the hike or get to Bolivar, the hike organizers will hold your bag and arrange for you to retrieve it at a mutually convenient time.



TRANSPORTATION BACK FROM HARPERS FERRY AFTER THE HIKE

Saturday Night Return
Most hikers arrange to be picked up by friends or family shortly after they arrive at the Bolivar Community Center (the hike’s end point in Harpers Ferry ).  (See driving directions here.)  Some work out their own travel arrangements for getting back when they finish the hike—usually by getting rides with the friends or families of other hikers, or with returning ODH volunteers.


Special Saturday Night Return by Shuttle
A shuttle to both Shady Grove Metro and Georgetown are scheduled during times of high demand.  Click here for the shuttle reservation form.


Other Transportation Options
Participants may work out their own travel arrangements for returning to the Washington, D.C. when they arrive at Bolivar Community Center (BCC).  A volunteer at BCC will have a sign-up sheet for those needing a ride and those willing to offer a ride. 

Keep in mind that, for liability reasons,  the Sierra Club does not provide or arrange transportation for hikers; nor is it is responsible for any loss, damage, or injury liability incurred by registered participants.  All participants will be responsible for their own safety and well-being before, during and after the hike.


Sunday Return to the Washington, DC Area
Most overnighters return home on Sunday by car, while some take the train back (for details, visit the Amtrak website or call 202/484-7540).

LODGING OPTIONS

Lodging in Washington, DC
If you are coming in from out of town and need lodging in Washington, DC, make your arrangements early.  Some hotels are already sold out for that weekend.  You can check available hotels at any of a number of DC travel information web sites, such as this one.

Here are some hotels within walking distance of Thompson Boat Center that people have used in the past:

There is also a hostel that has been used by some hikers:

Lodging in the Harpers Ferry Area
Places to stay overnight in the Harpers Ferry area include several hotels and B&Bs, and a youth hostel.  If you decide you want to explore these options, do so now or sooner, in that tourists flock to the area in the spring. 

  • In the past ODH hikers have stayed at the Comfort Inn. The Hilltop House is closed for renovation until 2011, but its web page lists other options in Harpers Ferry. Other places to stay in the area can be found by inserting the Harpers Ferry zip code 25425 into your favorite mapping or travel web page search.

  • Harpers Ferry Youth Hostel:  This hostel, 2 miles from Harpers Ferry, on Sandy Hook Road in Knoxville, MD, was the former terminus of the One Day Hike and is a popular place to overnight.  The hostel has 40 bunks and charges about $20 per person, but you have to bring your own sleeping bag or sheets (or rent sheets there for $1).  Or you can camp for about $9 a person (with shower and kitchen privileges).  You can also negotiate with the hostel to leave your car there over Friday night.  Click here for hostel contact information so you can get information or make arrangements.  Although the One Day Hike volunteers no longer handle such arrangements, they do help hikers get rides from the Bolivar Community Center (BCC) to the hostel.  See the youth hostel's web page for driving directions from the DC area.  See driving directions to the youth hostel from the BCC.

ODH YAHOO DISCUSSION GROUP

There is on-line discussion group for former and future ODH hikers, volunteers, and interested parties. This purely voluntary group can be used to discuss training and logistics; share experiences about the ODH and similar events; find training partners; share tips; and distribute links to photos or personal web pages related to the ODH. (You cannot post photos, and large attachments are not allowed.)  The group should only be used for messages relevant to the ODH and of interest to a significant number of the members.

To join, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/onedayhike/ or send a blank email to onedayhike-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You do not need a Yahoo email address to join.

Once you join, you can send emails to the entire group at onedayhike@yahoogroups.com. Only members can send messages to the group.

To unsunscribe, send a blank email to onedayhike-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.)

For help with or questions about the online group, email onedayhike-owner@yahoogroups.com.

SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Many hikers enlist the support of friends and family to cheer them on.  See the Driving Directions page for instructions on how to drive from one food stop to the next.
 

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