The Next Adventure
Next week, my friend Andrea arrives from Mesa, Arizona. Andrea and I were college roommates at Miami University, a significant number of years ago. We have kept in touch over the years and have taken trips together in the fall for the past three years. On Wednesday, we will drive to Springfield, Illinois, where we will participate in Road School Program #15326, A House Divided: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War. While there, we will be part of the commemoration of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Lincoln in 1862. The Union victory at Antietam was a determining factor in the timing of the Proclamation, so the program is a good continuation of my Maryland trip.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Friday, September 7 -- The Antietam National Battlefield
This morning's program included a drive through the nearby Antietam Battlefield, with stops at several of the landmarks. Our guide was the Shepherd's Spring Administrator who provided us with a lively account of the very bloody day in American history. We also walked for about 2 miles on the trail next to Antietam Creek, ending by the historic Burnside Bridge. It was a good introduction to the site, but if one takes part in this program, it would be good to give oneself an extra day for a more complete exploration.
The program concluded with an excellent lunch of a variety of homemade pizzas. We were able to then shower and check out after lunch. We appreciated the late check-out so that we could be refreshed before starting our trip home.
This morning's program included a drive through the nearby Antietam Battlefield, with stops at several of the landmarks. Our guide was the Shepherd's Spring Administrator who provided us with a lively account of the very bloody day in American history. We also walked for about 2 miles on the trail next to Antietam Creek, ending by the historic Burnside Bridge. It was a good introduction to the site, but if one takes part in this program, it would be good to give oneself an extra day for a more complete exploration.
The program concluded with an excellent lunch of a variety of homemade pizzas. We were able to then shower and check out after lunch. We appreciated the late check-out so that we could be refreshed before starting our trip home.
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.
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!
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!
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| Our historian guide points out sites of local history |
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!
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| Looking into Maryland |
Wednesday, September 5 -- The Rollercoaster!
Our day began with a delicious breakfast that offered scrambled eggs made with eggs from the Center's own chickens and potatoes from their veggie garden. For lunch I packed a rolled sandwich with salami, humus, cheese, and veggies -- plus a brownie, granola bar, and fruit. I knew that I would need the energy for today's hike!
This hike, our Virginia adventure, was definitely the challenge of the week. The designation as part of the Rollercoaster section of the AT is definitely appropriate. We only hiked for 7 miles, but the multiple steep ups and downs totaled about 1400 feet of vertical gain and an equal amount of vertical descent. Plus switchbacks don't seem popular in the East, so most sections seemed straight up or down.
With temperatures in the 80's and extremely high humidity, we all went through a lot of water. With such high humidity, one's perspiration doesn't evaporate well, and therefore the body loses one of its primary sources of cooling. Because of the difficult hiking, we got very spread out today, and it was pretty late by the time we all got to the waiting vans. The kitchen staff was great and kept our excellent meatloaf dinner hot and ready for us when we finally got back to the conference center about 7:00.
The program does an excellent job of giving us an understanding of the AT "culture" -- the tradition of taking trail names when one is a thru-hiker, the shelters along the trail, the opportunity to talk to thru-hikers who acted as our trail guides, visits to the AT Museum and later the AT Conservancy headquarters in Harper's Ferry. As part of today's hike, we had a tour of the privately run Bears Den Hostel. For about $12, a hiker can get a clean bunk, an inside bathroom and hot shower, the use of a fully equipped kitchen, and comfy couches for relaxing. Perhaps just as important, there is a small store area that sells typical backpacking food such as Lipton Noodle mixes, plus pizza and Ben & Jerry's ice cream (evidently the most popular food for AT hikers).
For the evening's entertainment, we had the option of watching a National Geographic DVD about the AT. However, most of us opted for an early bedtime. One more day of hiking!
Our day began with a delicious breakfast that offered scrambled eggs made with eggs from the Center's own chickens and potatoes from their veggie garden. For lunch I packed a rolled sandwich with salami, humus, cheese, and veggies -- plus a brownie, granola bar, and fruit. I knew that I would need the energy for today's hike!
This hike, our Virginia adventure, was definitely the challenge of the week. The designation as part of the Rollercoaster section of the AT is definitely appropriate. We only hiked for 7 miles, but the multiple steep ups and downs totaled about 1400 feet of vertical gain and an equal amount of vertical descent. Plus switchbacks don't seem popular in the East, so most sections seemed straight up or down.
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| Looking out across the Shenandoah Valley from Bears Den Rocks, about 1/2 mile into the hike. |
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| Rock hopping across one of the creeks. |
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| Happy to finish the hike! |
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| The shelter |
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| Bunk room |
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Our second day of hiking! Many of us gather in the lounge a little before 7:30 to chat and look at the day's newspapers. It is nice that the staff provide three different papers for us and even make extra copies of the daily crossword and Sudoku puzzles. Today's breakfast is pancake, sausage, freshly made scones, hard boiled eggs, plus breads to toast and a variety of cereals.
Today is our Maryland hike -- a long and challenging 10 miles, from Washington Monument State Park to Gathland State Park. Lots of ups and downs and many, many rocks underfoot. Good boots are a necessity on these hikes. We had two great guides who met us at the trailhead -- both women work as Ridgerunners and both are thru-hikers. It was fun to hear from women who had hiked the trail. We started by climbing up to the top of the Washington Monument, a tower built by the local people to honor the first president. The clouds kept us from seeing the full view from the top of the tower.
Then it was on to the trail. The day stayed pretty dry, and we even had a reasonably good view from the White Rocks viewpoint, the day's highest point that came after lunch and at the end of a very, very long uphill climb. We had lunch at The Rocky Run Shelter, a newer and very nice structure. Even the privy was quite fancy!
The park at the end of the hike included this historic monument, built to honor the newspaper correspondents and artists of the Civil War.
We stopped for an ice cream treat in Sharpsburg on the way home -- a nice surprise after the very long hike. Our after dinner speaker was John Clatterbaugh, a retired biology teacher who showed us lots of edible plants that served as a major part of the diet of the Native Americans and the early settlers.
Our second day of hiking! Many of us gather in the lounge a little before 7:30 to chat and look at the day's newspapers. It is nice that the staff provide three different papers for us and even make extra copies of the daily crossword and Sudoku puzzles. Today's breakfast is pancake, sausage, freshly made scones, hard boiled eggs, plus breads to toast and a variety of cereals.
Today is our Maryland hike -- a long and challenging 10 miles, from Washington Monument State Park to Gathland State Park. Lots of ups and downs and many, many rocks underfoot. Good boots are a necessity on these hikes. We had two great guides who met us at the trailhead -- both women work as Ridgerunners and both are thru-hikers. It was fun to hear from women who had hiked the trail. We started by climbing up to the top of the Washington Monument, a tower built by the local people to honor the first president. The clouds kept us from seeing the full view from the top of the tower. 
Then it was on to the trail. The day stayed pretty dry, and we even had a reasonably good view from the White Rocks viewpoint, the day's highest point that came after lunch and at the end of a very, very long uphill climb. We had lunch at The Rocky Run Shelter, a newer and very nice structure. Even the privy was quite fancy!The park at the end of the hike included this historic monument, built to honor the newspaper correspondents and artists of the Civil War.
We stopped for an ice cream treat in Sharpsburg on the way home -- a nice surprise after the very long hike. Our after dinner speaker was John Clatterbaugh, a retired biology teacher who showed us lots of edible plants that served as a major part of the diet of the Native Americans and the early settlers.
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| The fancy shelter -- and even some sun! |
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| The privy |
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| The group enjoying the view. |
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| Lots of rocks! |
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| Memorial Arch |
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| Beauty along the trail. |
Monday, September 10, 2012
The Hiking Begins!
I had planned to write the blog entry each day during our hiking trip, but between a very slow wireless connection and being very tired, it quickly became clear that I would need to jot a few journal notes to myself and do the entries when I got back to Michigan. So sorry for the delay!
Monday, September 3
At breakfast, we discovered that Shepherd's Spring practices "meatless Mondays" as part of their commitment to healthy living and being good to the earth. So the breakfast included three different kinds of vegetable quiches -- excellent! After the 7:30 breakfast, we packed our own trail lunches. Today's choices included PB & J or roasted veggies with hummus.
Each day two vans transport us to the day's hiking location. We left at 8:30 (everyone on time -- this is a good group!) and drove for about an hour, stopping at a Pennsylvania state park for restrooms and then continuing a short distance to the start of our hike. This was our Pennsylvania hike -- about 8.5 miles, mostly a slight downhill on a wooded and very rocky trail. As the literature said, there is a difference between walking and hiking, and this is definitely in the hiking category. We were guided on the trail for an AT "Ridge Runner" -- a person who works for the AT Conservancy in the area and basically patrols the trail during the busy part of the season, mostly educating hikers on "Leave no Trace" practices. Thanks to Isaac, we started the hike in drizzle and had a couple of hours of very heavy rain near the middle of the hike. Fortunately we ate lunch in one of the AT shelters. The shelters are three-sided structures that provide shelter and sleeping space for the hikers. Some hikers try to use the shelters each night but others prefer to set up a tent in the near-by designated areas.
A highlight of today's hike was the half-way point of the over 2000 mile AT Trail. I can imagine how excited a through hiker must be when she/he reaches this point! The 15 of us got very spread out over the trail, and it is clear that we hike at different speeds. But we had two AT volunteers who acted as "sweeps" and made sure that we didn't miss any turns. The trail is marked by white rectangular blazes on the trees, and any upcoming turn is marked by a double set of blazes.
The hike ended at Pine Grove Furnace State Park where there is an AT Museum, with displays about some of the early through hikers and other trail info. The vans were waiting to transport us back to the conference center.
Dinner was corn soup, a delicious lentil salad, and polenta with salsa, plus cake for desert. We certainly won't go hungry on this trip. In case we didn't get enough, they also provided root beer floats after the evening program.
Our evening talk was given by Ben "Stretch" Hammaker, the author of "Northbound: The Daily Account of an Appalachian Trail Thru-hike." It was fun to hear more of the AT culture -- trail names, mail drops, staying in hiker hostels, "zero" days when one simply needs a rest, and just what it means to hike for six months. He was a great speaker, and his book is definitely worth reading.
I had planned to write the blog entry each day during our hiking trip, but between a very slow wireless connection and being very tired, it quickly became clear that I would need to jot a few journal notes to myself and do the entries when I got back to Michigan. So sorry for the delay!
Monday, September 3
At breakfast, we discovered that Shepherd's Spring practices "meatless Mondays" as part of their commitment to healthy living and being good to the earth. So the breakfast included three different kinds of vegetable quiches -- excellent! After the 7:30 breakfast, we packed our own trail lunches. Today's choices included PB & J or roasted veggies with hummus.
Each day two vans transport us to the day's hiking location. We left at 8:30 (everyone on time -- this is a good group!) and drove for about an hour, stopping at a Pennsylvania state park for restrooms and then continuing a short distance to the start of our hike. This was our Pennsylvania hike -- about 8.5 miles, mostly a slight downhill on a wooded and very rocky trail. As the literature said, there is a difference between walking and hiking, and this is definitely in the hiking category. We were guided on the trail for an AT "Ridge Runner" -- a person who works for the AT Conservancy in the area and basically patrols the trail during the busy part of the season, mostly educating hikers on "Leave no Trace" practices. Thanks to Isaac, we started the hike in drizzle and had a couple of hours of very heavy rain near the middle of the hike. Fortunately we ate lunch in one of the AT shelters. The shelters are three-sided structures that provide shelter and sleeping space for the hikers. Some hikers try to use the shelters each night but others prefer to set up a tent in the near-by designated areas.
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| Our lunch shelter. |
A highlight of today's hike was the half-way point of the over 2000 mile AT Trail. I can imagine how excited a through hiker must be when she/he reaches this point! The 15 of us got very spread out over the trail, and it is clear that we hike at different speeds. But we had two AT volunteers who acted as "sweeps" and made sure that we didn't miss any turns. The trail is marked by white rectangular blazes on the trees, and any upcoming turn is marked by a double set of blazes.
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| The half-way point. |
Dinner was corn soup, a delicious lentil salad, and polenta with salsa, plus cake for desert. We certainly won't go hungry on this trip. In case we didn't get enough, they also provided root beer floats after the evening program.
Our evening talk was given by Ben "Stretch" Hammaker, the author of "Northbound: The Daily Account of an Appalachian Trail Thru-hike." It was fun to hear more of the AT culture -- trail names, mail drops, staying in hiker hostels, "zero" days when one simply needs a rest, and just what it means to hike for six months. He was a great speaker, and his book is definitely worth reading.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
We are ready to hike!
We arrived at Shepherd's Spring just about 3:00, in time to check in, get our room keys, and unpack. The center is on over 250 acres, with their property extending to the Tow Path and the Potomac River. We went for a hike on their trails, got somewhat lost, but did finally find the tow path.  |
| A walk on the C & O Canal Towpath |
At dinner we met our fellow hikers. We have 15 in our group, 10 women and 5 men. The participants come from all over the country, including Texas, California, Wisconsin, and Georgia. It was fun hearing about the different RS programs they have all done. Dinner was an excellent buffet with baked chicken and yummy baked apples for dessert. We will need to do a lot of hiking if we eat like this all week!
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| Our group at the end of Thursday's hike |
After dinner an AT thru-hiker who now works for the AT Conservancy gave an excellent talk and Power Point presentation on the history of the AT. We are scheduled to hike on the AT in Pennsylvania tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.
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