Turn Back The Clock

I often chase adventure in far way places, but sometimes I find it right next door. A few of the nearby opportunities are obvious–like the trails of Shenandoah National Park—and a few are a little more subtle. One of those subtle outdoor opportunities is actually indoors—by way of the rental cabins of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC). And because their cabins are close by, I’ve had the chance to share them with a lot of great friends (and of course with Souzz!).

I joined PATC back in the 1990s so I could climb in their group outings at Carderock. At the time, I knew they were involved in maintaining the Appalachian Trail, but I didn’t know much else. I’ve since learned about their education programs, conservation work, volunteer corps, and long history. PATC has been around for almost a hundred years, and they do amazing stuff!

I only discovered PATC’s rental cabins about fifteen years ago. My intro was through work friends that invited me to join them for a weekend at Argow Cabin. Argow was restored by PATC back in 2010, and it dates to the mid-1800s. True to its era, there’s no power or water, the floor is a little out of level, the upstairs is drafty, and the cookware has seen a lot of use…but what a place! The restoration was well done, the views are spectacular, and there’s something magical about sharing a primitive space in modern times.

There was a lot of beer flowing that weekend at Argow, so my impressions may have been, um, influenced. Still, I immediately thought, “Are there more places like this? And can you hand me another lager?” I came away with a newfound curiosity, along with a pounding headache. 

PATC manages nearly fifty cabins across the Mid-Atlantic, with almost twenty in/near the Park. Some were donated, some were purchased, and some were built from scratch. The majority have no power or running water, and all are all very simple–often a charming variation of indoor camping. Souzz and I have written about several of our past visits. No two cabins are alike, which adds to their character. Below is just a sampling.

With indoor kitchen space and help from patient friends, we’ve cooked up some amazing meals across our many trips.

This past weekend, I visited Schairer Trail Center with my college roommate “Sard” and his son Grant. Schairer was built in 1962 and is named for one of the founders of PATC. It’s on a ridge overlooking a beautiful hollow, about a half-mile hike in from Skyline Drive. The cabin is pretty cushy by PATC standards: a propane range, a woodstove for heat, a big living room, two bunkrooms, and spring water right out front. The back deck offers views all the way across to Massanutten Mountain.

College nicknames may not always stand the test of time, but it’s great fortune when the friendships do. My buddy Sard and I have been sharing trips for more than forty years, and Grant has joined us as an adventure partner for the last ten or so. We always pick up where we left off, and the weekend was a string of inside jokes mixed with serious conversation. Familiarity and connection bring comfort, no matter the setting–and sometimes because of the setting. When I discover new places, I’m often reminded why enduring friendships matter so much.

On the last morning, I spent time on the deck reading the cabin’s guestbook–a good source for ideas and local tips. The entries vary, but themes are usually around the people and the shared experience. Connection feels different when the day-to-day distractions are replaced by tasks like fetching water and feeding the fire. A prior guest captured it well when she wrote “This place brings people together and helps us realize what we take for granted. It makes me appreciate my friends even more.”

This weekend we shifted to Daylight Savings Time, and we turned the clocks forward. And yet the cabin experience is about turning clocks back. I want to hold it all. No matter what the clock says, there’s never enough time.