Maryland Complete!!!

Another state complete, Maryland was short, but quite enjoyable.  I would definitely recommend hiking Maryland to individuals who are new to backpacking and want to give it a try.  Maryland's terrain is rather easy overall, but still has a great variety of terrain and flora to keep you interested and entertained.

Tuesday 9 June 2015
My CVMA brother Riversnipe dropped Mom and I off at the trailhead near Ensign Cowall shelter and we said our final goodbyes.  Riversnipe and his wife Randi were absolutely amazing supporters and trail angels!!

It has been awhile since we got to stroll through an open field, Hendo's Mom trudging north through Maryland.

All throughout Maryland we were walking through history.  This rock wall was definitely built to keep someone or something out, probably the damn Yankees.  It is by far one of the largest rock walls we have come across, approximately 4ft tall x 5ft wide.

A view of the wall while hiking over it.

A big ol' toad out for a hop up the AT

Quite the handsome fella

We spent the night at Raven Rock shelter and met Ranger, a fellow 2015 thru-hiker.  Ranger is 74 years young, a Vietnam combat veteran, Army Ranger and fellow paratrooper.  It was great to hear his stories and meet a fellow paratrooper!!!

Wednesday 10 June 2015
There have been a few days of extremely hot and humid weather, so Mom and I have been getting up at 0530 hrs and getting on trail at 0630-0700 hrs, hiking until noon, taking a break during the heat of the day and getting back on at 1700 hrs and hiking until 2000hrs.  On this day we were up and on trail at 0630hrs and making great time until Mom tripped on a rock, falling to her left, bouncing off the left side of the trail, landing on the right side of the trail, rolling twice and ending up splayed out in the middle of the trail.  She was like a pinball bouncing back and forth and rolling all over the place.  She told me to let her lie still for a minute before helping her up, so I snapped a quick picture.  She is ok, just a twisted ankle and bruised right rib cage area.

Maryland is pretty much flat, but it does have a couple of interesting rocky areas, which helps to keep it 'fun' and interesting.

We hit the trail magic jackpot when we arrived at PenMar County Park, just south of the Mason Dixon Line/MD PA state border.  Women from the Rouzerville United Methodist Church in Waynesboro, PA set up a buffet of yummy food items for we thru-hikers at the overlook pavillion in Pen Mar County Park.  The amazing ladies said they come out every Wednesday to feed we hikers as the NOBO bubble passes through.

While the church ladies were amazing, Ragan the Pen Mar County Park overseer was a complete Jackwagon and one of the few and rudest people we have come across on the trail.  Our tent was wet and needed to be dried out, so we hung our tent and fly over two benches in the sun.  There were numerous benches and picnic tables throughout the park and no one was near or using the rwo benches we hung our tent over.  Ragan came over and told us we were not allowed to hang out our tent.  We explained we would just be 20-30 minutes and then we would be moving on as we were hiking the AT.  He said he didn't care we weren't allowed to hang it out and sped away in his golfcart.  Mom and I ignored him and let the tent dry.  20 minites later Ragan came back and said we needed to pack up our tent again.  Mom amd I had had enough of him and packed up and moved on.  We weren't hurting anything or anyone, heck we were the only people in the park, but yet Ragan had to come and boss somebody around, such a jerk.

And Maryland is done, we made it to the Mason-Dixon Line, the stateline between Maryland and Pennsylvania!!!

Loving Maryland!!!

We are loving "flat and fast Virginia" in Maryland.  Only 40+/- miles of the AT runs through Maryland, but we are loving every mile of it!!  Mother nature has thrown some thunderstorms and rain our way, but we are rolling with the punches and have appreciated Mel and Randi's amazing support and hospitality!!!!

Sunday 31 May 2015
My CVMA (Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association) brother, Mel/Riversnipe and his wife Randi, dropped us back off on the trail after several great days of slackpacking and relaxing at their house in Shannondale, WV.  We got on at Weverton Rd and began our trek up to Weverton Cliffs.  We were rewarded with a wonderful view down to the Potomac River.  There were rain storms moving in, so we didn't hang out for very long.  We did get caught in the rain storms but made it safely to Ed Garvey Shelter for the night.  We rode out several thunderstorms throughout the night, our tent did great and kept us safe and dry.

Hendo's Mom and Hendo on Weverton Cliffs

The view from Weverton Cliffs down into the Potomac River valley

Asiatic Dayflower/Mouse Ears

Monday 1 June 2015
Today we had a good hike from Ed Garvey Shelter to Gathland State Park, home of the War Correspondents Monument and War Journalists Memorial Plaque.  Learn more about Gathland State Park and the Momument here, Gathland Information.  More severe storms were moving in, so we called Mel and Randi and they graciously came and picked us up at Gathland and let us ride out two days of rain and storms, Tuesday and Wednesday at their house.

War Correspondent Monument

War Journalist MemorialPlaque

Thursday 4 June 2015

We got back on trail at Gathland State Park and hiked 0.4 mile to Crampton Gap Shelter.  It stormed and rained throughout the night, but we stayed safe and dry.



Friday 5 June 2015
We woke up encased in fog this morning.  By the time we got up to White Rock cliffs the fog had lifted some, but was still lingering .  The overcast cooler temps were definitely appreciated.  We made it to Rocky Run Shelter today where we met up with Twinkle Toes and Red Hot, two sisters out backpacking and camping for a week on the AT. We had previously met Twinkle Toes and Red Hot at Ed Garvey, so it was great to see them again and share an evening around the campfire.

White Rock Cliffs on a rainy overcast day

Saturday 6 June 2015
Today we had another nice and easy hike from Rocky Run Shelter to Annapolis Rocks.  Today was National Trails Day, so we came across a lot of dayhikers and several amazing trail maintainers north of Turner Gap.

A Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) member weedeating along the trail.  Take note Roanoke AT club, this is what 4ft x 8ft trail maintenance looks like.

Another amazing PATC member maintaining trail

More PATC trail maintainers

And 2 more maintainers

And the last PATC maintainer of the day

We stopped at the Washington Monument State Park for lunch and were rudely told by the nearby Camp Ground Host to leave the picnic table area because we were hikers.  Needless to say, this did not go over well with me, so I am contacting the Washington Monument State Park supervisor to file a complaint.

Hendo and Hendo's Mom at the Washington Monument near Boonsboro, MD

The front side of the Washington Monument

The view out from the Washington Monument

Hendo's Mom hiking over Interstate 70

Hendo hiking over Interstate 70

Interstate 70 zooming on by.

When we arrived at Annapolis Rocks Saturday afternoon we were greeted by a fellow 2014 thru-hiker, Bearbag, who is working as an AT Ridgerunner in Maryland.

Bearbag doing an amazing job as an AT Ridgerunner

Hendo's Mom and Hendo at Annapolis Rocks

Looking down Annapolis Rocks, some climbers were just finishing a day of Climbing

Annapolis Rocks

We wondered what all the loud engine noises were when we arrived at Annapolis...turns out Mason-Dixon Dragway is located in the valley below.

Looking eastward off Annapolis Rocks

Hendo propping up her feet after enjoying supper on Annapolis Rocks...lovin' my Ecosox

Saturday night sunset at Annapolis Rocks

Saturday 6 June, we had a great nights sleep at Annapolis Rocks, no rain, no airplanes, just peace and quiet and a nice cool breeze.



Sunday 7 June
We slept in this morning, enjoying the quiet and cool and had a wonderful breakfast out on Annapolis Rocks.  Some rock climbers were enjoying their Sunday climbing up Annapolis rocks.

The hike from Annapolis Rocks to MD 17/Smithsburg, MD was a rather easy hike with a 1.5 mile rock-hop section thrown in for some fun and excitement.  We did happen upon this gorgeous Doe and Fawn during our hike today.

Spotted Wintergreen

We had been told by the Ridgerunner Bearbag and several other dayhikers that it was supposed to storm Monday 8 June and we needed to resupply, so we made some phone calls and my CVMA brother Mel and his wife Randi said they would gladly come pick us up at the MD HWY 17 trail crossing.  While waiting for Mel to pick us up we ran into Indy, another MD Ridgerunner who we met hiking in the Shenandoah back in May!!!!

So we spent today, Monday 8 June, at Mel and Randi's resupplying, doing laundry, helping with yard work, showering, updating the blog and staying dry while severe thunderstorms blew through this evening.  Tomorrow, Tuesday 9 June we are heading back out and trudging north.

Upcoming hiking schedule

We are heading on north today from Weverton Cliffs, MD and have had some inquiries about our tentative timeline, so here is our tentative schedule for the next few stops/resupply. Otherwise, we are hiking about 10 miles per day and taking a zero/resupply/rest day every 5-7 days.

Wed 3 June - pick up a mail drop resupply in Smithsburg, MD

Sun 7 Jun-Mon 8 Jun- Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Pennsylvania, our trail friend Freckles is going to pick us up for a zero and resupply.

Sat 13 Jun- Duncannon, PA - we don't have any contacts that we know of in the area so our plan now is to spend a zero at the Doyle Hotel hostel. If you are in the area and take us in let us know, 404-234-6513 or 910-322-8893.

19/20 June - We should be to Pine Grove, PA, PA Hwy 645 Waggoners Gap Rd.

23 June - Port Clinton, PA

Don't Blink or you'll Miss West Virginia

Another state down, West Virginia!!  Yes, it was just a few miles, but we enjoyed them all and are happy to add another state to our done list.

My CVMA brother Riversnipe/Mel and wife Rescue/Randi welcomed us with open arms and have treated us well!!  Mel and Randi even dropped us off and picked us up Friday 29 May and Saturday 30 May so that we could slack -pack.  Tomorrow, Sunday 31 May Mom and I will wish Mel and Randi Happy Trails and continue our trek north.

Here are our picks of West Virginia

Friday 29 May 2015, Blackburn AT Center to Chestnut Hill Rd

Another Patomac AT Club maintainer working on the trail just north of the Blackburn AT Center turn-off

Beautiful Mountain Laurel

Saturday 30 May 2015, Chestnut Hill Rd to Weverton Rd

 Crown Vetch

Yellow Sweetclover

Hendo and Hendo's Mom at US 340 getting ready to cross the Shenandoah River

Looking down the Shenandoah River Valley

John Brown Monument in Harpers Ferry

Hendo's Mom and Hendo happy to have finally made it to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters in Harpers Ferry, WV

Hendo's Mom, Rainwalker and Hendo at the ATC Headquarters.  Rainwalker graciously made a donation to our cause, Thank you!

A great comment from Lint, a 2014 thru hiker we had the pleasure of meeting, telling all of we whiners to suck it up and hike on....

"You kids think Virginia is long?  California (PCT) is 1700 miles.  So yeah, quit your crying.  Lint"

Jefferson Rock Plaque

Hendo's Mom and Hendo with Jefferson Rock in the background

The confluence of the Potomac River on the left and Shenandoah River on the right.

Hendo taking a selfie with a deer along the C&O tow way section of the AT entering Maryland.

A turtle in the C&O Canal , which the AT parallels after entering Maryland

Another turtle

A third and big ol' turtle in the canal

A family of geese along the trail.