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Jeff in the Wilderness

Hello, I'm Jeff. I spend a lot of time in the wilderness, maybe you can learn a thing or two from me.

Make sure you have all this stuff with you when you go hiking.

CAMPING STOVE
No need to dwell on the topic of camp stoves, get a Trailstove and all your camp stove worries are over for good. The Trailstove burns wood instead of compressed gas like most camp stoves these days.

TENT
If I'm pretty sure the weather is going to be all right I don't bring a tent, it's much nicer to sleep under the stars. Just bring a tarp to make a shelter with just in case.

RUBBING ALCOHOL
It's a bit heavy and you probably won't need it but in case you do it's very good to have to disinfect a wound or start a very hard to start fire. You don't need to bring a lot, a few ounces will do just fine.

TOOL
This could be either a Swiss army type knife or a Leatherman type tool. Combined with your brain you can accomplish pretty much anything with a good multi-purpose tool.

FISHING NET
If you bring a small fish net in case of an emergency there's no way you will go hungry if you're near a creek or a lake. They weigh very little and guarantee a constant food supply just in case.

HOW TO MAKE A GOOD CAMP FIRE

1. COLLECT WOOD. You should have about 20 to 30 very thin twigs, and 10 to 15 small sticks to get the fire started and as many larger pieces you need to keep the fire going for as long as you need it.

2. BOTTOM BRANCHES. If the ground is covered with snow you can break dry branches off the bottom of a tree.

3. STARTER MATERIAL. You will need some material that ignites very easily to start the fire. There are a number of things you can use for this. Dry leaves, dry grass, bark, or chips from a dry semi-decomposed dead tree. Paper works fine too if you have some with you.

4. FIRE RING. Find a good location for your fire, there should be nothing nearby that could catch fire such as dry vegetation. Make a ring on the ground with rocks.

5. STARTER MATERIAL. Place the starter material in the center of the fire ring. Make sure there's plenty of air around each piece of material.

6. TWIGS. Make a teepee around the starter material using the thin twigs you collected earlier.

7. STICKS. Put the larger sticks around your twig teepee. Finish off with some more massive pieces.

8. LIGHT. Light the starter material.

9. WAIT. In about a minute the starter material has started to ignite the small twigs.

10. FIRE. After a few minutes your fire will be in full flame. Soon the teepee will collapse into a shapeless collection of burning wood, don't worry this is all normal and good. By now you fire is stable and will keep burning for as long as you feed it wood.

Booker T Washington National Monument

Hardy, VA

On April 5, 1856, a child who later called himself Booker T. Washington, was born in slavery on this 207-acre tobacco farm. The realities of life as a slave in piedmont Virginia, the quest by African Americans for education and equality, and the post-war struggle over political participation all shaped the options and choices of Booker T. Washington. Washington founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1881 and later became an important and controversial leader of his race at a time when increasing racism in the United States made it necessary for African Americans to adjust themselves to a new era of legalized oppression. Visitors are invited to step back in time and experience firsthand the life and landscape of people who lived in an era when slavery was part of the fabric of American life.

CONTACTS

Email - BOWA_Rangers_3@nps.gov

Fax- 540-721-8311

Write to
12130 Booker T. Washington Highway
Hardy, VA 24101

Phone
- 540-721-2094

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Open seven days a week, year-round, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1.

Getting There
PLANE - Air service is available to both Roanoke, VA (25 miles from the park) and Lynchburg, VA (50 miles from the park).

CAR - The park is located in Franklin County, VA, 16 miles northeast of Rocky Mount, VA via VA 40E and VA 122N; 25 miles southeast of Roanoke, VA via US 220S, VA 40E, and VA 122N; and 50 miles southwest of Lynchburg, VA via US 460W and VA 122S.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Public transportation to the park is not available. A personal or rental vehicle is required.

Weather & Climate
The summer months are hot and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. The coldest months are December, January and February. The spring and fall seasons have moderate temperatures. Wear comfortable sportswear appropriate to the season, with walking shoes. Trails are unpaved and may be muddy at times.

Accessibility
Visitor center facilities and the historic area are partially accessible to people in wheelchairs. Two picnic tables are accessible. One wheelchair is available for free loan on a first-come, first-served basis.

Getting Around
All trails are limited to pedestrian traffic.

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
PARK
Free!
There is no admission fee.

Activity Fee
SCHOOL/OTHER GROUP TOURS
Free!
Reservations for school/group tours should be made as far in advance as possible, especially for the most popular school tour seasons, mid-March to mid-June and September through October. For additional information concerning reservations, call (540) 721-2094.

Special Use Permits
GENERAL
$25.00 for One Time
For additional information concerning special use or commercial filming permits, call (540) 721-2094.

FACILITIES

Visitor Centers
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON NM
Open All Year 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Phone - 540-721-2094
Location - On VA Route 122 in Franklin County, Virginia.
Closures - Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1.
Special Programs - A link to the current Calendar of Events is available on the Home Page of this website.
Exhibits - "The Great Educator" is a permanent exhibit that describes in words and pictures Washington's growth from slave to student and his evolution from founder and Principal of Tuskegee Institute to the most powerful African American at the turn of the 20th century.
Available Facilities - In the visitor center there are exhibits, a 12-minute orientation video program, a bookstore, restrooms, and water fountain. The Eastern National bookstore offers a wide range of titles and educational items on African American, regional, and Virginia history, as well as crafts and children's books.

Some content donated by Hikercentral.com and the National Park Service

CAMPING STOVE No need to dwell on the topic of camp stoves, get a Trailstove and all your camp stove worries are over for good. The Trailstove burns wood instead of compressed gas like most camp stoves these days.
TENT If I'm pretty sure the weather is going to be all right I don't bring a tent, it's much nicer to sleep under the stars. Just bring a tarp to make a shelter with just in case.
RUBBING ALCOHOL It's a bit heavy and you probably won't need it but in case you do it's very good to have to disinfect a wound or start a very hard to start fire. You don't need to bring a lot, a few ounces will do just fine.
TOOL This could be either a Swiss army type knife or a Leatherman type tool. Combined with your brain you can accomplish pretty much anything with a good multi-purpose tool.
FISHING NET If you bring a small fish net in case of an emergency there's no way you will go hungry if you're near a creek or a lake. They weigh very little and guarantee a constant food supply just in case.