Tag Archives: Maryland

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On to November!

As I was hiking yesterday at New Germany State Park, I heard the voice of the D.C. Metro Goddess in my head softly stating, “Doors closing” in that sing-song voice, then more forcibly, “Please stand clear of the doors!”

I looked up through the now bare branches of trees to a steel gray sky. Doors have indeed closed on the season of Fall color here in western Maryland. It was a beautiful season starting right about at the Fall Equinox in September with a few golden leaves, then reaching its pinnacle about the third week in October with reds, golds, and browns. A lovely time of year!

When Fall began, I felt the frenetic energy down in my bones! I rushed to drink it all in before the turn to the darker months of Winter. And wow, did I ever scramble to get the most out of Fall! I got out to hike at Monocacy National Battlefield, the C&O Canal, Shawnee State Park, the Appalachian Trail, Coopers Rock State Forest, New Germany State Park, and Rocky Gap State Park!

A hike on the Appalachian Trail to sit in the woods and write in our journals

I led a “Journaling in Nature” hike for the Maryland Trail Dames. This is an event focused on being present in the forest. We hike in with our journals and supplies, then find a spot to sit for about an hour to tap into our senses and journal. Many of our Dames don’t feel comfortable sitting in the woods alone to journal, so this gives them the opportunity. It is a great experience and was one of my favorite hikes this season!

Below are a few photos from other hikes. I was blessed to be able to take in all this beauty before the temperatures dipped, the winds kicked up, and the rain fell.

Now I hear the Cailleach calling!

A stop at Monroe Run Overlook after a hike at New Germany State Park
Along the C&O Canal near Spring Gap, Maryland

November brings a different vibe into my life. One of burrowing down into the coziness of indoor life. Oh, I still go hiking, but afterwards I look forward to a hot shower, a hot chocolate with a dash of Kahlua, and cozy cuddles with my kitties on the couch! 😻

One of my favorite Winter activities is to bring out my hiking maps and use the time to dream up and plan next Summer’s adventures! I have a lot to look forward to!

New Germany State Park on November 4, 2023…all the leaves are gone!

For now, the Metro Goddess is correct, the doors are closing or possibly have closed…I wonder where that next stop will be? 🥾🥾

Any suggestions for hikes in western Maryland…or within 100 miles of Cumberland, MD? Let me know in the comments! Always up for a new adventure!

Hike on!

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Pushing Perceived Limitations…and Doing the Thing!

I enjoy hiking and leading hikes for Trail Dames…like really, really love it. Bearing witness to women’s growth as hikers, experiencing trails through their eyes, and watching confidence grow are some benefits to what I do. It is a blessing to have this opportunity to take women off the sidewalk into adventure!

However, over the years, I have found that leading for Trail Dames resulted in me not taking on the hard challenges for myself. With Trail Dames, I keep the hikes between 2 – 7 miles and don’t include anything crazy terrain-wise. We take breaks when needed and enjoy the social aspect of hiking together to the extreme. This is great, but I feel like I put myself in a box and, it is weird to say this, but I started to believe that I was not physically able to do MORE.

This summer, I did two hikes with a guy, a colleague, as he works on completing the Maryland portion of the Appalachian Trail. My first outing with him was an out and back hike from Route 40 to Black Rock Cliffs. It was enough to show me that hiking with him was different. This particular hike was not a tough hike for me, but it was a good hike to judge what kind of hiking partner I had. First difference from Trail Dames: We didn’t stop much. Second difference: I brought and ate a lunch at Black Rock…I didn’t see any snacks come out of my partner’s bag! 😆 Like, I don’t even understand that, but to each their own! 😂 Anyway, I thought, this is good. Hiking with this guy will help me push my self-imposed limitations and get back to more challenging hikes…SWEET!!!

So, when he texted about a section north of Route 40, I suggested if he was amenable to hiking together, then he could do a bigger section, specifically PenMar to Wolfsville road, about 10 miles. This was partially self-serving because I wanted to test myself…I thought I was ready, but I needed to get boots on the trail. He was down! We included another colleague and off we went!

The Appalachian Trail from PenMar to Wolfsville Road is my favorite part of the Maryland section. It has a rocky climb up to High Rock, lush forest with big ferns lining the trail, two shelters, two water crossings, a walk through a meadow, and a couple more climbs. A heaven of diverse trail!

You can find more out about this route on Alltrails!

https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/appalachian-trail-pen-mar-park-to-wolfsville-rd-47a3893

It was a challenge to be sure! We started off at a good clip, climbed up to High Rock, and okay, I am so slow compared to the hiking companions, but whatever…*eyeroll* …🐌 we arrived at High Rock before it got too warm, and took a break. It was just gorgeous yesterday and we could see a long way out.

Then back to it, we made good time down to the Raven Rock shelter, where I detoured to use the privy…no other takers. Third difference from hiking with the Dames…we always stop at shelters…A.L.W.A.Y.S. 🤣 This level up was getting good. 🤗 Down to the actual Raven Rock, cross 491, then the Antietam Creek.

Pause for a moment: I have never seen the water level in the creek as low as it was yesterday. That was bizarre!

Obviously, no problems crossing the creek! On we went up the next hill…oooooo it was getting warm on that one. Yeah, still slower than partners, annnnnnddd still don’t care 😄 Onward!

Up, then down to Warner’s Hollow…love sitting by this creek! Before the hike even started I told my hiking buds that I was filtering water at Warner’s Hollow. It is such a beautiful spot. Water was flowing, cold, and delicious!

Break over! Up the third, and last, hill of the day (thankfully)! I felt good! I was doing this with, despite being slower up hills, in decent form! I didn’t hurt, my knees were not yelling at me, my right hip felt a little tight, but not too bad, and even my feet felt decent. Double-digit miles, I got you today!

A great day! What did I learn from this? It’s a question I ask myself after every hike or backpacking trip. Sometimes, I have no answer. But today, today I do. I learned that it is important to diversify my hiking partners. Hiking with different people encourages me to challenge myself. It leads to new conversations and experiences. I am grateful for this opportunity to learn and grow as a hiker!

Hike on!

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A Taste of Autumn in August

A Trail Dame woman I hike with has claimed that I am magic when it comes to scheduling hikes in perfect weather. Well, folks, my streak came to an end in recent weeks! Two hikes canceled for thunderstorms. ⛈ Planning the perfect day to lead a hike doesn’t always work out…and this week I needed to reschedule a hike to last night…a sunset hike at Worthington Farm, part of Monocacy National Battlefield, in Frederick, Maryland.

Oh, but the weather gods shined on me once again! The weather was absolutely golden. The sun cast a glow over the fields and forest of late afternoon. The temperatures were delightfully mild, as well. We didn’t even break a sweat on this one!

We left the big house heading up Brooks Hill. There is usually a good view over Baker Valley at the top, but as we rounded the last turn in the path to the high point, we we met with a big green wall of corn.

Now, I can’t look at a field of corn without stepping into it…like crossing into a different world. Obviously, the Dames had to comply! 🌽😄🌽

Afterwards, we walked down along the river, before returning to the big house to wait for sunset. It did not disappoint. This is a wonderful place to watch the day end. We sat around the picnic table as the sun dropped lower and lower behind the distant ridges of the Frederick watershed. And then it was gone. The crickets began their rhythmic chorus and I gave a deep sigh. Hike on!

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A Series of Unfortunate Weekend Weather Events

Oh, a hike leader’s lament! Over the last several weekends the Mid-Atlantic has had some questionable weather. This led to the shuffling and rescheduling of hiking events. Ugh…when is there ever enough free time for hiking?

Whelp, I looked at my calendar…classes end May 13, semester wrap up is the following week, then back to prepping the house for the floor guy (not to mention summer classes). Hmmm 🤔

All hikes were rescheduled to the week that is ending today…and WHAT.A.WEEK! A whirlwind of work and hiking and everything else! 😄

Tuesday found the Maryland Dames and me at New Germany State Park out in the far western portion of Maryland. Friday we scampered over Catoctin Mountain Park, and today, Saturday, we had a Meet & Greet for new Dames!

New Germany was an absolute fantasy land. Bright green moss covered forests, thick with towering hemlock trees, beckoned while giant ferns unfurled, spiraling dramatically. Trillium, Gaywings, Soloman’s Seal, and May Apple blossoms burst upwards through the mulchy forest floor. It was spectacular!

Fern spores
Trillium
Gaywings

Catoctin Mountain Park was a different, but still delicious, experience! It rained just before the start of our hike and the scent of the mountain woods was fresh and soothing. Moss covered boulders, bright green foliage, and a variety of wildflowers and fungi kept the hike interesting…not to mention an unexpected Tornado watch! We skedaddled soon after that alert. 😄

Wild Geraniums
Bellwort

And finally, the Meet & Greet at Monocacy National Battlefield, Worthington Farm! A super morning meeting a few new Dames! Worth every bit of my Saturday morning!

Dametastic morning at WorthingtonFarm!

It was a busy week…but overscheduled hiking events? I’m in! Hike On!

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AT – MD Back to Annapolis Rock

I question my judgment at scheduling a hike so early that I had to leave my house at 6 AM. This is the first day of my Spring Break and just what the heck was I thinking??? It was dark, it was cold, … , it was the FIRST DAY OF BREAK…hadn’t I just been telling folks how exhausted I was and how I couldn’t wait to sleep in? Honestly…ugh.

But got up I did. Coffee – yes, coffee again – yes. Out the door at 6 AM, promptly!

I-68 east to I-70 south, then up Rt 40 to the Annapolis Rock trail head. Surprise…I remember why I scheduled it so early. To avoid the parking lot fiasco…and I was successful! I was the third car into the lot, huzzah!

My fellow Trail Dames showed up soon after and off we went up the mountain. What a glorious morning! Blue skies and sun pouring down on us. Oh, and I was very impressed with the trail work that has happened in my absence from this stretch of trail. Nice work on the grading and stone placement, PATC Trail Maintainers! Absolutely beautiful!

Soaking up the Sun!

We chatted amicably about some exciting trips that our dames have planned for summer. One is headed to the 100-mile Wilderness in Maine! My plans are more sedate…heading down to complete the section with the Priest in Virginia. All of us are so pleased that we are post – pandemic and can start adventuring further afar to hike.

Arriving at Annapolis Rock, we found the place deserted. Perfect! I sat out on a rock and ate my sub that I had picked up on my way in at Sheetz. That is one VERY conveniently located Sheetz…and it has a drive-thru. You’re welcome. 😀

The nasty old man winter wind picked up while I sat there munching away. I stared that wind down and pretended it was a lovely spring day…until I devoured the last delicious bite of my sub. Then I picked up my stuff and scrambled back into the trees.

We saw several folks headed up as we were headed down. The skies by this time were covered in heavy gray clouds and the wind was picking up. Sorry for them, happy for us! Oooooooo…and we found our first Bloodroot sighting!! Hike on!

Bloodroot!
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2021 In Search of Fresh Dirt

Good day all!

My last blog post was written in June. I lost all motivation for pleasure writing this year or I was just exhausted or both. I am a teacher at a community college and every waking minute was spent tracking down students, creating virtual content, and just trying to keep my head above water. Hiking is my antidepressant and an antidepressant needs to be taken regularly, like any prescribed medicine. Hiking became sporadic in 2020 and that hit me hard. In addition, I was teaching in front of a computer, not walking around a classroom, so even that little bit of exercise was squashed. 2020 was a shit year…let’s move on. 😀

This year, even though still living with the pandemic, I hope to explore more of western Maryland. I am also setting a schedule for updating the Girl Gone Hiking Blog. I like to write…not particularly adept at it…but I like it and that is enough. It is enough for any of us, actually. If you like to draw, or sing, or do math, or walk, or do whatever, then please, for all our sake’s, DO IT! If 2020 has shown us anything it is that life is always shorter than expected and reality is crafted by each of us. So, make art, sing loudly, calculate away…and as always, Hike on!

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Old Bridges Beckon – A Jaunt to Western Maryland

Mother’s Day seemed a perfect reason to go for a drive. A long drive out to western Maryland. My partner and I packed a lunch, left Sidekick Pauli to catch up on her sleep, and headed for west on I-68.

First stop…Rocky Gap State Park with plans to have a picnic lunch…got there and it was a bit nippy. So screw that sitting outside, we ate in the car and watched the birds. 😀

Back on the road, we had no destination. I was now riding shotgun and it became my responsibility to find somewhere to go. A new place…oh, the Casselman Bridge! Every time I drive to Indiana I think about stopping, then NEVER do! This would be a perfect opportunity!

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Why the different spelling?

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So we ditched I-68 for 40 through Grantsville, Maryland. The weather was warmer now with blue skies for miles! We pulled off at the parking area after admiring several cute bungalows and grimacing at a Trump flag in Grantsville. Overall, an adorable town. 🙂

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The bridge was pretty neat. At the midpoint, looking right, I could see the old bridge on 40, then further out the bridge on I-68…time marches on, improvements made for more travelers headed both west and east. I preferred the Casselman Bridge. I personally like the slow way. Hike on!

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Rain, rain, come my way…

…I’ll go a’hiking with no one in my way! 🙂

COVID-19 continues, so my hiking strategy of hitting the trails at the most opportune times for solitude goes forward with full force!

I got out this week to a local mountain park while it was raining and foggy.  No thunderstorms, so I was extremely pleased to don my wet weather gear and head out.  The parking lot was empty save for some super motivated trail runner…well, I don’t how motivated he was, because he was leaving when I pulled up.  Could be that he got to the trail, was put off by the rain, and left.  Don’t know, don’t care 😀 😀 😀  I was going hiking!

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The dim foggy woods elicited magic on this morning.  Birdsong penetrated the soft drip-drop of rain with a flute-like symphony of unimaginable clarity and tone.  Enraptured, I was drawn into the forest and down the trail.  Water cascaded forth from springs and bounded down and across my path. I inhaled deeply and let out a contented sigh.

Hello Fiddle Fern family! I see you too, May apples!  Oh, hey there, Dogwood!

The mountains are waking up! No one was on the trail this morning except me and I was glad of it.

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Days like these…enchanting, bewitching, and gratifying!

Hike on!

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Beavers Been Busy at Seneca Creek State Park!

Today’s hike at Seneca Creek State Park convinced me that I have just about fully recovered from a sciatica injury. An injury that resulted from too many hours in the car driving back from Hoosierland at Thanksgiving.

Since then I have been in physical rehab land…not much hiking there!

I was a little concerned that a hike of six miles might be too much. I did some extra stretches and went anyway. 🙂

Glorious day out with my good hiking pal, Lola. The weather was chilly to start. Frost made meadows glitter seductively. I stopped several times to snap photos…and to consciously check in with my body. All good! Down the trail we go!

The sky was bright blue and birds chirped happily. It warmed up enough to shed a layer. I also ditched the gloves and the hat!

Walking around the lake, Lola pointed out the handiwork of the local beaver population. They have been BUSY!!

We looked everywhere for a dam,but never found one. We never saw a beaver either, which I found quite curious with the abundant quantity of felled trees!

I stopped to sit and stretch once we had rounded the lake. Those beavers. All that work, all that sheer tenacity to try to fell trees way too big, and from the looks of it…not even one decent dam on the lake. Could be my spirit animal 🙂 🙂 🙂

Happy New Year and Hike On!

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Alone time, About time!

Don’t get me the wrong way, I love being a volunteer organizer and a hike leader for the Maryland Trail Dames.  As part of that commitment, I spend hours scouring maps, reading about trails, researching everything from water sources to nearest hospitals.  In addition, I recruit and train new hike leaders for our group.  I throw myself into it and occasionally forget that I also need to hike for me!

Today was my day.  I had a few hours so I headed to Catoctin Mountain Park near Thurmont, Maryland.  This being an impromptu sojourn, I threw a box of saltines, tub of hummus, and a bag of skittles in my bag and called it lunch.  I also doused myself with bug spray.  Ticks, bugs, just steer clear, okay?

Due to limited time, I decided to start at the visitor center, then hike to the falls and back, about 3.2 rolling miles.  The woods welcomed me with shady coolness, spongy moist trail, and a lively bubbling brook. Ahhh yeah, this was gonna be awesome!

Deep breath, yes, that mulchy goodness smell! This is where it’s at.  I love all you Dames, but this is the bomb! No prepping, no checking, no being a leader.  Just me and the trail…and JEEEEEEEEZUSSSS, WTF IS THAT?

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This is NOT what you want to see when you are alone in the forest…ha…haha…*gulp*

*furtive look around to make sure the guilty party is not lurking around*

I continued on, trying to un-see what I saw, just as you are trying to do right now.  But you keep looking back at it don’t you?…DON’T YOU???  I mean, you just don’t see that everyday.  Thankfully.

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The rest of the hike was beautiful.  Birdsong filled the air… possibly extra happy to be alive today. 😀 Oh, and I got to the falls before anyone else was there! I had them to myself for a whole 10 minutes before the throng of dogs, kids, moms, dads, young loves, and tourists got there.

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I sat down and broke open my crackers and hummus, by myself, in the woods.  So good.  Hike on!