Thursday, September 6 -- Our West Virginia history day

On today's hike we hiked the entire West Virginia section of the AT -- about 4 miles -- plus a couple of Virginia miles.  Our guide was a volunteer with the Harper's Ferry park service and AT whose passion and knowledge was in local history and anthropology.  We started the hike in Loudon Heights, one of the high places very important in the Civil War.  We "bushwhacked" and hiked on a side trail until we reached the official AT.  Along the way our guide pointed out the sites of charcoal hearths and cart roads, dating from the early 1800's, where settlers earned money by producing charcoal and carting it to the iron works in Harper's Ferry.  If we had been hiking without a guide, I would never have realized how much history we were hiking past.

Our historian guide points out sites of local history

After we joined the AT, we passed rock walls that were part of the encampments of Civil War soldiers and other walls that were part of early homesteads.  It was nice to have a more relaxed day, filled with so much history.  Our guide also showed us paw paws and chestnuts along the trail.

As we neared Harper's Ferry, we crossed the Shenandoah River on the US-340 bridge.  The trails climbs up to the bridge and crosses on the pedestrian walkway, before continuing on to Harper's Ferry.

When we reached Harper's Ferry, we ate our lunches outside the offices of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, with time to explore the displays and to purchase books and AT t-shirts.  From there we hiked the short distance to Point of Rocks, where the view inspired Thomas Jefferson to set in motion the American policy of expansion.

Most of us then hiked across the railroad bridge connecting West Virginia to Maryland and thus completing the West Virginia section of the trail.  On the Maryland side, we could see the C & O towpath below us -- a bike adventure for another day!

Looking into Maryland

For dinner at the center, we were surprised with a beautiful farewell banquet, complete with tablecloths, goblets, and centerpieces.  The delicious dinner included baked salmon, potatoes, broccoli salad, veggies, the usual salad bar, with pecan pie for dessert. Still waiting at the end of the day was our evening listening to a group of local musicians playing music of the Appalachian region at the General Store in nearby Shepherdstown, WV.  A Thursday evening tradition of over 30 years, the rotating group includes people of all ages, from college students to senior citizens, playing a mix of instruments, ranging from guitars to a harp to hammered Dulcimers.  None of us wanted to leave!