May 23, 2018 by Kylena

AT-VA Turk Gap to Beagle Gap

I left off telling the story of our hiking weekend back in March to attend my dad’s funeral. It has been hard getting back to writing on the blog since then. I wasn’t particularly close to my dad, but he was an enigmatic force and all things “Albert” could have a lasting affect on all who knew him. Alzheimer’s paired with old age got him in the end…but what a life he led!

One thing I had in common with him was his love for the woods. So it is back to the woods we go!

Earlier in the weekend, Shenandoah National Park had been closed due to snow and ice. It had opened AFTER we had started hiking on the previous day hiking AT – VA Rockfish Gap to Beagle Gap . What a difference a day made!

Driving to Turk Gap we dodged an army of squirrels intent on licking up something that was on the road, possibly salt. The road was clear, the sky was blue, and the snow was still pristine in many spots. Evidence of other hikers was there, but still lovely!

Capital Cheezy Shot at the Trail Head 😀

This section took us down, down, down to a lovely stream valley, then up, up, up Calf Mountain. In the snow. Trudge, trudge, trudge…it was kicking my butt! I was making my best effort to love winter, but honestly, after this weekend I didn’t care to see another flake of snow for a looooonnnnnnggg time!!

This gorgeous view was the first road crossing at an overlook. Regardless of how I feel hiking in snow today, I absolutely go all gaga for this kind of view!

I waited so long to write up this section on the blog that is is now long past winter and warm weather has arrived. And I use the definition of warm from the Mid-Atlantic weather dictionary…hot, muggy, and what the hell happened to Spring???

So, it is with a bit wistful yearning that I revisit this section. 😀

Climbing Calf Mountain … hiking friends helpful on this snowy climb! However, the snow had been melting all day. Out in the distance there are snow free mountains!

After that climb I AM NOT hiking down 0.3 miles to take a gander at the Calf Mountain Shelter. Just no.

Hallefrickenlujah!!!!! The summit of Calf Mountain! YES, YES, YES!!! Now where is my damn sticker?

After the Summit of Calf Mountain, it was pretty smooth sailing, thankfully! One more lesser summit on Little Calf Mountain, then down the field to the cars closing out out our hiking weekend.

Summit of LIttle Calf Mountain-JUST LOOK AT THE SKY!!!

View from Little Calf Summit – A very nice closer! Well done Appalachian Trail, well done indeed!

Three great hikes with four great gals! Hike On!

March 29, 2018 by Kylena

AT – VA Rockfish Gap to Beagle Gap

March 24, still not spring!

The hiking weekend to kick off my spring break…ha! The house we rented in Staunton, Virginia is lovely and made a great place to plan out alternative hikes…or as I like to think of them, plan B, C, D…

After the hike at Trimble Mountain, we knew that the chances of Shenandoah National Park being open in the morning were pretty close to ZERO. Throw the maps out on the table and discuss a few possibilities. None of them were as appealing as hiking the AT, which was Plan A. We had already used up Plan B at Trimble Mountain, so we went with Plan C, an out and back on the AT starting at Rockfish Gap. We would hike to McCormick Gap and back…about 7.5 miles. In the deep snow that would be enough!

Yes, a plan! We parked at the old HoJo’s at Rockfish Gap and made our way over to the south entrance and cut-off to the AT where we donned our microspikes and headed up into the woods. Another gorgeous day!

We were lucky several had passed this way before us packing down the snow a bit on the trail. It was still icy, so microspikes had been a good call! We trudged uphill, taking occasional breaks to catch our breath, let the heart rates return to normal, and to generally take in the quiet, snow-laden forest that surrounded us. Until the crow saw us…he chattered non-stop, either saying hello or get the heck out of my territory… not sure which, but he was quite animated!

Then I heard it. The hum, the slap of melted snow runoff on moving tires, Skyline Drive must have been opened. At first one car, then silence. As we neared McCormick Gap, the number of cars on the drive had picked up considerably…the word was out!

We stopped for a break at McCormick Gap and made a decision to continue to Beagle Gap and hitch a ride back to Rockfish for the car. The Hiking Weekend Adventure was in full throttle!

I was excited! Reaching the top of the mountain there are several communication towers and oddly enough, tractor seats. I had seen them many times in pictures and looked forward to breaking there and having a sit-down before descending to Beagle Gap. It was everything I expected and we all took a nice rest in those tractor chairs!

The sun was trying to make its way out of the clouds. Lola pointed out that a rainbow had formed around it. I looked up, and up, and back, and up, and then…oh gawd…I was falling out of the chair! All I could think was, not today, please, not today, the ground is wet, the ground is muddy…no, no, no, this would NOT happen to me today! I struggled to keep myself in the chair by one-arming myself off the ground, believe me, not a particularly ballerina moment in my life! 😀 But ladies and gents, it worked!

I arrived at Beagle Gap, high and dry…AAROOOOO! Hike On!

March 25, 2018 by Kylena

Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

Hiking weekend with some great trail gals looked like it was finished before it even began. 😦

A spring snowstorm had resulted in the closure of Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. I gave Shenandoah National Park every opportunity to reopen Skyline Drive without success. It wouldn’t have mattered as much to me if we weren’t specifically aiming at hiking new Appalachian Trail miles. I seriously considered rescheduling the Air B&B. Lemons.

However, Lola, tried and true hiking friend, talked me down and so here we were at Starbucks in Staunton getting ready to embark on plan B!

Four of us headed out to find the Trimble Mountain Trail in George Washington National Forest. It was a beautiful crisp day with a fabulous blue sky and temps in the 40s. Snow covered the mountains giving them a soulful depth I was not used to seeing and it filled me with enormous joy!

We found the trailhead and set off into the woods breaking the smooth surface of snow. No other footprints preceded ours. It was a special feeling.

It was also exhausting! We climbed up for half the hike the around the ridge and back down steeply for a total of 4 moderately tough miles.

However, It was equally gorgeous! An exhilarating, way to kick off our hiking weekend! Lemonade for all! (Or maybe hot chocolate) Hike on!

March 21, 2018 by Kylena

A Force Play by Spring – Then the Mother Nature Smackdown

I’ve been out; I’ve been about; I’ve been in a tutu, in hiking boots, in trail runners, in wind gear, covered my face with the balaclava, and basked in the warm February sun. However, I have not hiked in snow this winter…BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SNOW THIS WINTER!

See, no snow on March 9th at Gambrill State Park!

TGIF Hike with the Maryland Trail Dames – Log Sittin at Gambrill State Park along the Catoctin Trail.

And look, practically Spring at the Celtic Canter 5k in Westminster, MD on March 10th!

The Maryland Trail ‘Lassies’ rocked out this 5k!

The weekend of March 17th was even better! Another TGIF hike with the Dames was windy and cold to start, but it warmed up. And Sunday, March 18, was a glorious day on the trail…60 degrees, sunny, absolutely delicious hiking weather!

TGIF with the Maryland Trail ‘Kitties’ at Cat Rock in Catoctin Mountain Park.

Crossing the 340 bridge coming back into Harper’s Ferry on Sunday. JUST LOOK AT THAT SKY 🙂

Yeah, Mother Nature decided to wait until we were all so excited for Spring…teased us with warm temperatures, sunny days, and daffodils. Yet, despite all times she could have done something great in November, December, January or February…she decided to let Winter have its day … in March…and right now there are 6 inches of white crap on the ground with a call for 6 more inches today.

Thank you, Mother Nature, you know I have a hiking weekend coming up in three days. An AT section hiking weekend, with a couple of gals, for which we rented a house in Staunton, Virginia.

So I would suggest that you, Mother Nature, direct your Sun to start shining its warmth in the direction of Beagle Gap, Humpback Rocks, and Reids Gap. Okay?

Thoughts and prayers appreciated, and if you feel like shoveling snow let me know…HIKE ON!! 😀

February 22, 2018 by Kylena

How to Handle a Hot February Humpday

1. Leave office, which by the way, was one- hundred and fifty-seven degrees, to go home for lunch.

2. Change into cooler clothes… meaning scan closet, or rather dig into the deep, dark, spider-ridden corners for clothes not seen since last August.

3. Make decision to wear clothes that you can run to the mountains in after work.

4. Call your codependent hiking friend and tell her to meet you at the trail head at 5pm. (FYI she came from a funeral… No lie…*silently crossing myself* )

5. Get to trail, get rained on, smell the pines!

Hike on!

February 18, 2018 by Kylena

A Lovely Spring Day in February

I took the Dames hiking on Friday at Greenbrier State Park here in Maryland. A day that was misty, damp, mulchy-smelling, and mild. I could almost hear things growing underneath the surface of the earth.

Towards the end of our hike, the sky darkened and let loose a short torrent of rain upon us. It was glorious and reminded me of “There Will Come Soft Rains” , a poem by Sara Teasdale published in 1918. While I wait in anticipation for another lovely spring day in February, enjoy! Hike on!

There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground,
And swallows circling with their shimmering sound;

And frogs in the pools singing at night,
And wild plum-trees in tremulous white;

Robins will wear their feathery fire
Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire;

And not one will know of the war, not one
Will care at last when it is done.

Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree
If mankind perished utterly;

And Spring herself, when she woke at dawn,
Would scarcely know that we were gone.

~Sara Teasdale

February 4, 2018 by Kylena

East to Oregon Ridge

Sitting here in the house, riding out the wintry weather, doing a whole lot of nothing. What started as beautiful snow this morning has now turned into an icy mess. So, in order to feel productive, I’ve decided to share last weekend’s sojourn with Sidekick Pauli to Oregon Ridge .

One of my goals for 2018 was to hike a certain number of miles. A number, we will just call it x, since like a variable, it is currently in flux and will remain secret because my ACTUAL miles hiked in the month of January was a measly 38.3. *sigh*

BUT, I thought, let me go get a couple of easy miles over north of Baltimore at Oregon Ridge. AND, I thought, Sidekick Pauli can tag along since it would be a shorter hike.

Off we went! A new place!

Oregon Ridge Nature Center seemed easy to find, but I was just following the directions being barked at me by the voice of the Google Maps Goddess, so who knows. 😀

It was a beautiful, weird, winter day with temps climbing into the 60s. A great day to be out! Fun (and strange) fact: Oregon Ridge used to be a ski resort! Found this little gem on this blog.

Anyway, I pulled into the park and made my way up the hill. Cars to the left of me, SUVs to my right, stuck in the middle with a sinking feeling of no parking spots in my head. Ever the optimist, I plowed on. I descended the hill, almost to the Nature Center, “dead end, great I will have to turn arou….YESSSSSSSS!” A car pulled out, and I swung my RAV4 neatly into the newly opened gate to Narnia. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Almost 11 years old and still loves her hikes 🙂

Sidekick Pauli voiced her impatience as I wrangled my pack, her water, my water, the leash…and SHAZAM! she was hooked up and we were headed around the lake on the aptly named “Lake Trail”. I broke all rules for “appropriate” hikes for Sidekick Pauli with this trail choice as there were a few brief, but steep, ups and downs before we crossed the power line clearing to follow the “Loggers Trail”. She was excited to be out and didn’t seem to have any trouble at all . The Loggers Trail climbed moderately along a level path through the woods. There were a few nice winter views through the trees. 🙂

View from the Lake Trail

A sweet little bench along the Loggers Trail

Warm days in the winter give way to ______________ happiness? freedom? cure for cabin fever? Yes, yes, and yes, but also to…you guessed it… muddy, mucky trails! This was the case with the entire loop that we walked and by the time we headed down towards the Nature Center at the end of the loop, I was getting irritated with all the slipping and sliding! Exasperated, I stopped, pulled Sidekick Pauli in close for a mini-break off the trail. Scanning ahead, I saw pops of color in woods. What the heck?

That was the motivation I needed to keep walking down (sliding down) hill. Pauli needed lunch, so I let her eat in the car while I checked out the Nature Center. Then we ventured back uphill towards those colorful trees in what I now knew was called the Forest of Hope.

Incredible. Here’s to healing in the trees. Hike on.

January 10, 2018 by Kylena

The Deep Freeze Delights of Winter

Well, happy new year and happy outdoor adventuring to everyone! Here is hoping your toes are warm, your furnace is cranking, and the pipes haven’t burst at your house.

I kicked off the new year with the Trail Dames, heading out on the best possible day last week…yay! Temps rising into the twenties!! What an absolute delight.

I led the Dames on a 6 mile loop at Catoctin Mountain Park near Thurmont, Maryland. This is one of my favorite hiking spots and home to Camp David for you political junkies. Occasionally, the trails are shut down when the President is at Camp David. This isn’t very often with the current administration. So stomp on down the trails, no secret service to stop you!

Our route started at the Visitor Center. We were all giddy with the blue skies and promise of increasing temperatures, despite it being 17 degrees as we pulled into the lot and greeted each other. The Visitor Center opens at 9 am…important information if you like to hit the bathrooms before heading down the trail. Dames LOVE bathrooms at the beginning of a hike!!! 😀 😀 😀

Shedding Some Layers!

We started uphill first heading in the direction of Thurmont Vista. This warmed us up! We took our first break at the Vista, then continued around to Wolf Rocks.

We made a half – ass effort to investigate the top of Wolf Rocks, but with ice and snow covering most of the rocks we retreated without argument and stomped on to Chimney Rocks. We took a longer break at Chimney Rocks. It is a nice spot for a break since there are many rocks to sit upon.

Retreat from Wolf Rocks

Winter View from Chimney Rocks

Kudos to the park maintainers because they have now blazed the trails in a variety of happy colors and put in benches for restful contemplation of the universe in many spots along the trails.

Leaving Chimney Rocks, it was all downhill, steeply, to park headquarters, then a rolling mile back to our cars. It was a beautiful way to kick off 2018!

May all your hiking goals be met this year (in spite of the frigid start). Hike on!

Ladies – Come hike with us!!

October 27, 2017 by Kylena

Camp out with the Dames – New Germany State Park, Maryland

A camp out with the Dames! A new state park to explore! Sidekick Pauli was coming! Triple yay 🙂 🙂 🙂

I love to plan fun stuff for our Trail Dame chapter to do and this was no exception. A camp out was a great opportunity to chill out on a beautiful Autumn weekend in western Maryland. I had never been to New Germany State Park and was excited by the prospect of hiking somewhere new.

The Lake at New Germany State Park

A few of the Dames are beginner backpackers and wanted to try out their gear over the weekend. This turned out to be a super weekend for that too!

We all started arriving at the park on Friday afternoon. Tent went up quickly, then I went up to the park office with Queen V to buy firewood…a campfire there would be!

The park office was not hard to find. The ranger asked us if we wanted to go on a trail run he was going to lead that weekend. Politely declining, and somewhat flattered that he had asked, we went to grab our firewood and return to camp. Now, Queen V and I, well, we are lesbians,…but as we left, I leaned over to her and asked, “Was that guy hot?” because I’m never quite sure, but my temperature was certainly elevated 😀 and she practically cut me off replying “OH MY GOD, he was so hot!!” Like, so hot, I was ready to attempt trail running…no lie. He was fondly referred to as Ranger McDreamy (coined by Queen V) for the rest of the weekend! Ha!

A pay phone? One can make two calls for free from this phone…911 or a number that links you to pastoral counseling…good to know 🙂

Fanning ourselves as we returned to the campground, I found a few more Dames had their tents going up. Oh, what a site! We had taken over the small tenting loop. Our, all ours! Okay, one site wasn’t ours…it had been…then that particular dame decided not to come and gave her site away. 😦 For SHAME!!!

Our first hike was Friday evening, a casual stroll from our tent site to the lake, then along the Orchard Loop and back…maybe 2 miles. Just enough to start bonding with everyone and make the transition from busy life to restful weekend!

Heading up the Orchard Loop

Hemlock Trees!

Afterwards, I built a fire and hung out long into the night (maybe 9:30) with the Dames. B^2 had brought pie, Roxanne brought home made caramel corn, and Queen V brought sausage for Sidekick Pauli! These women are the best!

“Is that Queen V making bacon?” ~Sidekick Pauli gazing longingly over to Queen V’s campsite

Indeed it was, Sidekick Pauli, indeed it was!

The next day we took a longer hike starting down by the lake, circling the other campground, then taking the Cabin Loop to the Turnpike Trail. The trails are altogether lovely at this park and, in the winter, are groomed for cross-country skiing.

The New Germany School House

Along the way, a must stop was the old school house. Yeah, I’m a teacher, so historic places having to do with education are right up my alley! Don’t think I haven’t fantasized about being a teacher in a one-room school house. 😀

Filtering water

Follow up Lunch & Backpacking Chat

Later on during the hike, a few of the Dames tried out their water filters. This was a great experience for these Dames! Do you remember the first time you filtered watered out of a creek and drank it? The initial hesitation, the wonderment, then the satisfaction of drinking the water that you had filtered? I saw all of this as I watched from my perch under a shady tree. So proud of these gals!

We returned to camp for lunch and backpacking chat, which was then followed by a backpacking gear demo by none other than Venture Scout leader extraordinaire, Lola! Wow, her mini-van must have been packed with stuff. And how absolutely selfless to bring it to our camp out and demo it! The backpackers, new and old, got a lot of great ideas during our day of learning!

Saturday evening the park was providing a “Star Party”. Most of the Dames chose to walk back down to the lake except for Queen V and me. I decided to drive because my old Pauli girl was pooped and wanted to sleep in the car. The Star Party was awesome! We could see the Milky Way without any special telescope and many satellite fly overs (even the Russian satellite passed over). Clear skies and very little light pollution made for a wonderful night under the stars!

Looking toward the Lake House

It got a bit chilly as we all made our way back to our campsites in the dark. We gathered round around a roaring fire and made s’mores to cap off the day. I was so happy to crawl into the tent with my warm Pauli as the temps kept dropping. 🙂 Happiness is a warm puppy!

Sunday was a lazy morning. No hikes planned, just clean up, take down, and drive home. I was very sad to leave! These Dames…amazing! Hike On!

October 20, 2017 by Kylena

AT – VA Loft Mountain to South River Picnic Grounds

Midway through Fall and stuck deep in a pile of ungraded projects…and part 2 of my take-home mid-term from my grad class. No wonder I want to stop everything and go back to summer!

Fond memories of backpacking in August with the Trail Dames of Maryland. I am getting better at leading these backpacks…but I am no pro! I love giving these women the opportunity to get out in the woods for a night or two. and Honestly, what I get in return is so much more than I ever anticipate!

We backpacked the weekend of August 11 – 13, 2017. Setting off from the Loft Mountain camp store, we promptly crossed paths with a rattlesnake…that I initially thought was dead. Um…NOT DEAD! However, it was quite diplomatic and did not rattle at us, instead, after tasting the estrogen soaked air with its pink flickering tongue it very politely slithered across the trail and into the woods. R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

The first day went uneventfully, but had some good ups and downs. By the time we arrived at the first shelter we were beat!

We had lunch by this beautiful waterfall

Right after we had to climb a big hill…of course! These views don’t come for free! 🙂

Yay! the shelter!

Hanging out, eating dinner.

My Big Agnus clinging to a slopey spot.

And Lola brought the AT Game!

I will say the first night was not my shining moment. I had the WORST nightmare about a bear pushing in on my tent and trying to mouth my arm. In my sleep, I thought “oh, Lola is tented right up the hill. Let me yell loud enough to get her attention.” And then, you know, I couldn’t make a sound because that is the way nightmares do you! So, I kept trying and this bear kept butting into my tent, and I couldn’t make a sound and it WAS SO REAL!!!! and then finally, AAAAHHADAHLGOGGEOJ01%^#@856y27542uhfwiurhtfa;wp293456891205-9815 LOUD AND CLEAR! and my eyes shot open…nothing, I was staring at the ceiling of the tent, heart pumping wildly, ears pricked for any sound and then I was like “holy crap, I just yelled out loud…I AM AN IDIOT! 😀 Oh my God, please, tell me that no one heard me…

Day 2 was a filled with bigger climbs and a bigger threat of rain. The last climb to Hightop Hut was muggy and long. Sheer exhaustion steered us straight to the shelter for a well deserved sit down before setting up tents, gathering water, and all the other little tasks that needed to be done. And then there was thunder…okay, tents up NOW! We were lucky that all of us had our tents up and were back in the shelter when the skies opened up for a beautiful thunderstorm. It was truly lovely after walking in the hot, humid, sticky forest all day.

Always nice to have a helping hand when navigating around downed trees! This is what makes Trail Dames great! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Love ❤

Breakfast at Hightop Hut

The final day we headed towards South River Picnic Grounds with absolutely gorgeous weather. The thunderstorm and knocked out the humidity and walking was pleasant again. We were a good team and found ourselves laughing out loud at some of the silly things we saw or did.

Hightop may never be the same!

More gorgeous views!

And then there was a dare to climb up on a pile of rocks. And me being BoobOnARock…I did. Hike On!

BoobOnARock on a rock hahahaahaaaa! Photo credit to “Overkill”

Girl Gone Hiking

One step, then one step more

Tag Archives: Hiking

AT-VA Turk Gap to Beagle Gap

AT – VA Rockfish Gap to Beagle Gap

Making Lemonade Out of Lemons

A Force Play by Spring – Then the Mother Nature Smackdown

How to Handle a Hot February Humpday

A Lovely Spring Day in February

East to Oregon Ridge

The Deep Freeze Delights of Winter

Camp out with the Dames – New Germany State Park, Maryland

AT – VA Loft Mountain to South River Picnic Grounds

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