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Maryland
Appalachian Trail
Hiked: from parking off US Rt. 40 to Black Rock (1850 ft) and back. Did a lot of fucking around looking for Annapolis Rock, but never found it. Climb is steep for first 2 mi. Not much to see, but I could hear Hagerstown Dirt Track. Nice, but obstructed view from Black Rock. Few photos (like 2).
Elevation change: 650 ft
2001, March
Hiked: from parking lot off US Rt. 40 to Annapolis Rock. I found it this time. Camped overnight at Annapolis Rock (with Tom), despite "impending" blizzard (never came). Woke up next morning to sleet, snow, and freezing rain at top of mountain. Annapolis Rock is neat. The view is cool. I wish I would have found it the first time!
Elevation gain: 650 ft.
2001, June 24
Hiked: from parking lot off MD Rt. 67 to the new Garvey Shelter. View from Weaverton Cliffs is nice. Nice setting of hills and muddy brown Potomac River. Good spot to relax for a few hours and soak in the sun. Path up is a little steep, and it is narrow and cozy. It provides good shade on a hot summer day! A few pictures.
Elevation gain: 730 ft.
2001, August
Hiked: from parking lot off US Rt. 40 to Annapolis Rock. Camped overnight at Annapolis Rock, with Bill "Rock Hudson" Duvall, Jimmy (Bill's bro), and Scotty. Met up with Lance the next day and hiked to Pogo Camp, which appears a little steep. The rocks are neat at night (high school kids like them at night too!!). Saw a (gray?) fox at dusk while looking for firewood.
Elevation gain: 650 ft.
2002, April
Hiked: from parking lot off US Rt. 40 south to Washington Monument and back. Pretty much a level and easy hike. The views from the Washington Monument aren't half bad. Other than that, a pretty uneventful hike.
Elevation gain: 250 ft.
2002, April
Hiked: Up to Weaverton Cliffs again. Hiked up the hill in a little rain shower, which passed after about a half hour. I like it up there. The Cliffs are a cool little spot. Took a break for lunch, then hiked up to Garvey's shelter when the rain cleared. Ran into the biggest black snake I've ever seen on the way back. Probably about 6-8 feet long, but skinny. I gave him some room when going around.
Elevation gain: 730 ft.
2002, November
Hiked: from Dahlgren Chapel (at US 40) South to White Rocks and back. The climb up to White Rocks was decent, a little rocky, just enough to get the heart rate going. Passed the Reno monument, in memory of Civil War Union Gen. Joseph Reno. Paul and I finished the hike in a few short hours. Nice view from White Rocks.
Elevation gain: 800 ft.
Black Hills Regional Park
Trails are nice, but mostly for mountain biking. Not much to see hiking.
Grade: 3
Blockhouse Point Conservation Park
Hiked: who knows. I couldn't find the right trail around mile 2. The directions (combined with the shitty map) are unclear. Not much to see anyhow, except a shitload of crows that I came up on and chased away (not intentionally). It rained, I was lost, said "fuck it", turned around, and went home to watch the PSU game. One photo of Muddy Branch.
Elevation change: 50 ft. or less.
Catoctin Mountain Park (NPS)/Cunningham Falls State Park
Hiked: from Visitor's Center to Wolf Rock (1401 ft.), then to Chimney Rock (1419 ft), across MD route 77, and up the hill to Cat Rock (1562 ft). Finished back at Visitors Center from MD route 77. Good views from all three elevated points. A decent amount of up and down. Hiking partners were Lance and "Walking Stick" Minn. No photos.
Max. elevation gain: approx. 640 ft., total elev. gain approx 1100- 1200ft.
2001, January 6
Hiked: from Visitor's Center to Cunningham Falls, then to Hog Rock (1610 ft.), across Park Central Road to Blue Ridge Summit Overlook (1520 ft.), continued to Thurmont Vista (1499 ft.), and finished at Visitor's Center. Hiked short trail to Blue Blazes Whiskey Still. Noticed a shitload of animal tracks, most notably rabbit, deer, and fox. Excellent view from Hog Rock and Blue Summit Overlook. Cunningham Falls was frozen. A fair amount of up and down.
Photos.
Max. elevation gain: approx. 700 ft., total elev. gain approx 1100 ft.
2002, Early Winter
Paul and I Hiked: from Visitor's Center to Wolf Rock (1401 ft.), then to Chimney Rock (1419 ft), across MD route 77, and back to the Visitor's Center along Hunting Creek. Wolf Rock was pretty neat. Lots of rock outcroppings to hurt oneself on. Suprised Paul did not achieve bodily harm! A few photos of the shennanigans exist.
Max. elevation gain: approx. 520 ft., total elev. gain approx 600ft.
2004, January 10
Followed the same route that I did for the Jan. '01 hike, 'cept this time
we continued on to Wolf Rock, where Paul pulled some silly rock climbing manuevers
on a 40 or 50' wall or so. He made it, and so did the rest of us (Robin, Scott, Lance,
Wiley, and Oso), despite the bitter cold. Oso enjoyed himself, separating himself from
the rest of the gang for about 15 minutes. Everyone enjoyed themselves, as it was a nice
day to get out, even with the cold. A post hike stop to the Shamrock Restaurant
for the first time for some Nutty Irishmen's!
Max. elevation gain: approx. 700 ft., total elev. gain approx 1100 ft.
Gambrill State Park
Hiked: Yellow Poplar Trail, with a couple of overlooks, one to the East (toward Frederick) and one to the West (South Mountain). A little bit of up and down to make it interesting. A lot of mountain bikers, despite the snow. Some good scenery. No photos.
Elevation change: max. is probably 300 ft., total is prob. almost twice that. Top elevation: 1500.
2002, December 21
Hiked: Along the Catoctin Trail to the border of the Frederick Municipal Forest and back. Trip included an accent going north, and two coming back south. Trail follows and crosses a scenic creek towards the end of the park boundary. Saw the occasional mountain biker - this trail seems to be very difficult for bikers. I don't think I could make it!
Elevation change: Two 500 ft (give or take) climbs.
Great Falls National Park, Maryland
Hiked: Billy Goat Trail to towpath to the Angler's Spur, then the Gold Mine Loop back to the Tavern. Billy Goat trail is fun and has good sections of scrambling over rocks. Good views of the Potomac River. One part of the trail is a climb up a "rock stair" that is cool. Shitload of people use this trail and it is usually packed with morons in dress shoes. This part is tough! Trails east of the towpath are in the woods and are easier, not much to see, but are less traveled. Have also done the Billy Goat Trail other times with Judy and with Sean. Mom and Dad have even seen the falls! No photos.
Elevation change: Minimal, although a little up and down in the woods.
2000, Summer
Hiked: Middle Section of the Billy Goat Trail. Short loop from Carderock onto trail and back. Trail is not trimmed very well. Do not bushwhack!! Damn stinging nettles (?) hurt like a bitch! Not very hard, and not many people, decent views of the river. Recommended to wear pants. Did not see any snakes, but plenty of spots for them to hide. Not as rocky as the upper section of the B.G. trail. No photos.
Elevation change: almost none.
Lake Frank Regional Park (Montgomery County)
Hiked: From Meadowside Nature Center, along the creek (North Branch?) toward the lake, then around the lake and back to the Nature Center. Lake was frozen and the creek looked pretty cool frozen and snow covered. Also made a short side trip to the Rock Creek Trail, and saw ducks wading in Rock Creek. Not a bad little hike for so close by. Had previously hiked a shorter loop (only 2 mi. total).
Photos.
Elevation change: minimal, slight up and down going around the lake.
Little Bennett Regional Park (Montgomery County)
There's a bunch of little trails that run through the park, but not much to see. Promised historical sights, but they are tough to see. Large Anthills. Pretty much just boring. Mostly for family camping. No photos.
Elevation change: who cares.
Maryland Heights (Harper's Ferry NP)
Hiked: From towpath to loop trail around summit (Grant-Conway Trail). Trail up the mountain is a road, and is very steep. There is a lot of history at the top of the mountain. Civil War powder magazines are scattered along the trail, the remains of a fort never completed, clearings used for large guns locations, remains of fortifications, earthen and stone walls, etc., a tree that grew through a rock (!) and a few nice overlooks of the Potomac River almost 1500 ft. below. The Potomac overlook is a top notch spot to see the town of Harper's Ferry from (separate trip). Trip was part of a bike from Point of Rocks to Harper's Ferry and back.
Photos.
Elevation change: 1300 ft. Max. elevation: 1475
2001, June 24
Hiked: to Potomac Overlook and back (after climbing to Weaverton Cliff's along the AT earlier). Good day and good views. Photos.
Elevation change: about 700 ft.
Patapsco Valley State Park
Hiked: the Sawmill Branch Trail to the Buzzard Rock Trail (with Sean), and looped back to the Sawmill Branch where we started. Area is very popular for mountain bikers. Sawmill Branch Trail follows along a stream. From Buzzard Rock, there was a good view of the railroad tracks and Patapsco River below. Seemed fairly easy. A little up and down. No photos.
Elevation Change: about 350 ft.
Seneca Creek State Park
Have done several hikes around the park. Trails are pretty good. Not a whole lot to see, but is a decent chance to get away a little (good for mountain biking), Trail around the lake is 3.7 mi., but is used and abused. Long Draught Trail is nice, and has a few sections of climbing up. Total of 9.0 mi. of trails in the park. No photos.
Grade: 5-
Sugarloaf Mountain
Have hiked around the Sugarloaf mountain several times. This is the best hiking in the immediate area (Montgomery County). Only drawback is that there are a lot of people there, especially at the top, and especially in the fall (excellent spot to see fall foliage). Excellent views from the top, specifically the West View, the East View, and the Bill Lambert Overlook (View from Potomac Overlook is not that good). Have hiked all the trails at the top, including the Moutain Loop Trail. Have tried the Northern Peaks Trail (blue) that goes to White Rocks, but I could not find the continuation of the trail at White Rocks, and had to go back (like the jackass I am). Photos.
Elevation change: Mountain Loop Trail, 750 ft. Top elevation is 1282 ft.
2002, September 22
Hiked: from West View parking lot to the top, where I cut down the Green Trail to the Northern Peaks Trail (blue), and completed the loop to White Rocks and back (unlike last time). I don't know how I screwed this up the last time, except the signage at White Rocks is misleading. The rain held off, so this turned out to be a nice little hike. View from White Rocks is pretty nice, although not as good as the view from Sugarloaf.
Elevation gain: almost 900 ft.
Swallow Falls State Park
Hiked: Short loop within park, but plenty of scenery. Muddy Falls was partially frozen, as was Swallow Falls. Youghiogheny River was frozen in most places and allowed access for some nice photos. Incredible 300+ year old White Pine and Eastern Hemlock trees! They were huge! About 4' in diameter and maybe 200 feet (?) tall! Photos.
Elevation change: Minimal.
2001, October 23
Hiked: the short loop in the fall to compare it to the winter hike. There was not much fall color to this little area because most trees are evergreens. The creek and waterfalls were great, this time not frozen. Muddy Falls especially is nicer when it's actually flowing, but overall scenery I think is still better in the winter. It's too bad this place is not more remote.
Photos.
Elevation change: Minimal.
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