It is a short four mile jaunt along the C&O Canal under the cover of darkness.  Its end is the stairway at Great Falls for a look at the Potomac River roaring through the narrow gorge at Great Falls.  Generally we are blessed with a bit of moonlight along the way which makes the shadows dance and crickets and frogs sound like an accompanying orchestra. CHC has sponsored these Friday night hikes for years as a free service to the community. The moonlight hikes -- listed on our hike schedule -- go from March through November on the Friday night before full moon. Though our moonlight hikes have ceased for the year, we will pick them up again in spring. Please invite your neighbors and friends to join us on our next excursion to the stairway.

Hike Leader Appreciation:  The CHC recently celebrated our 72nd anniversary. Our long-running association with the Washington community is possible through the combined efforts of its many volunteers -- particularly the weekly hike leaders. The hike leaders plan and scout the hike a week or two before it occurs, purchase snacks and drinks for our post- hike social time, and lead/sweep the hike itself.  The CHC Board will honor its hike leaders with a wine and cheese social at Susan Klein’s house in Reston on Sunday, January 31.  Following this letter is a list of those hike leaders who have led a hike during 2008 or 2009. Additional details will follow through an invitation to those listed.  If we forgot your name --our apologies -- but please send me an e-mail.

CHC Treasurer needed:  Vickie Soderberg, the CHC Treasurer for 10 years, has indicated she wishes to step down.  The Treasurer is a CHC Board position. It requires about four hours per month to manage our finances. Additionally, it requires attendance at a quarterly board meeting/social hour with some preparation required.  Please contact me or Vickie for details and more information on the Treasurer position.

The quarterly CHC Board Meeting occurred on November 1 at Mark Tune and Debby Walker’s house in Lorton, Virginia.

- The financial position of CHC remains good.  Income slightly exceeded expenses for the quarter.

- CHC T-Shirt sales are going well. See Claudia for yours!

- Hike cancellation procedures were reviewed. Generally, we need 20 hikers for a hike. Weather and other factors may    also affect whether the hike occurs.

- New Hike Leaders Guidelines are coming to answer your questions on how to lead and handle unexpected events.