Join historian and naturalist Paul Kreingold and Jon Wolz on February 11th at 10:30 a.m. for a walk to the LaTrobe Marble Quarry. The group will meet at the Dickerson Conservation Park parking lot and walk about two miles down the towpath to the quarry. Walkers will be required to walk up a steep hill, about 75 feet, at the quarry. Jon Wolz will speak about canal history and civil war events on the walk down the towpath. Once at the quarry, Paul Kreingold will talk about the history and operations of the quarry.
The hike is approximately 3.6 miles roundtrip. The quarry can be seen from the towpath for those who do not wish to climb the hillside. Also, for those who stay on the towpath, binoculars could be used to view the quarry. The makeup rain/snow date will be February 12. Registration is required and spaces are limited.
Registration is required and limited to 15.
Mr. Paul Kreingold is the Conservation Director of the Loudoun County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League and a Virginia Master Naturalist, Banshee Reeks Chapter. Over the past three years he has lectured widely on this subject and led expeditions to the rediscovered quarries. Mr. Kreingold has lived in Leesburg, Virginia for thirty-six years.
Jon Wolz, our local expert on the C&O Canal and leader of our “pop-up” walks, has a long history with the canal. As a Montgomery Blair High School sophomore and Eagle Scout, he had already hiked the entire canal. In 1970, Jon was the Boy Scout chosen to testify before a Senate subcommittee on behalf of the bill to protect the C&O Canal as a National Historical Park. Maryland Congressmen Gilbert Gude and J. Glenn Beall sponsored the bill. Since 2015 Jon has volunteered as a level walker with the C&O Canal Association (COCA). His two levels encompass the area from White’s Ferry to Monocacy Aqueduct.