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  1. #1
    Senior Member Rain Man's Avatar
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    Arrow AT through MD, May 19-22, 2012

    I plan to lead a hike on the Appalachian Trail through Maryland (42 miles) from Saturday to Tuesday, May 19-22, 2012. I'll be hanging; hiking partner(s) will be tenting and perhaps hanging.

    Anyone want to join us? Anyone with advice about the AT in Maryland? Good places to eat? Water conditions? Others?

    Rain Man

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    "You can stand tall without standing on someone. You can be a victor without having victims." --Harriet Woods

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  2. #2
    Senior Member Joey's Avatar
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    South Mountain Inn is not a bad stop off for some munchies, and right on the AT. It's a bit pricey. There's not much else along the trail, except a few vending machines at Gathland.

    Keep in mind the AT through MD is on State Park Lands and you are required to stay at shelters/designated spots.

    Water should be plentiful near the shelters. Raven Rock and Ed Garvey shelters water source is quite a bit away. 1/4 mile in fact. Raven Rock isn't too bad. It's a heck of a climb down from Ed Garvey though. I did it once, and won't do that again.

    There is a water spigot at Washington Monument and Gathland and free water/bathrooms/showers at Dalhgren Backpack Campsite.

    The .2 mile loop side trail at High rock, near the PA border, is worth it! Great views from Raven Rock, Black Rock, Annapolis Rocks, and the Washington Monument too.

    Enjoy your hike!!

  3. #3
    Senior Member scottpash's Avatar
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    I am leaving the 10th of May From Harpers Ferry,Wv and will be on the trail 10 days NOBO

    I will try to post updated info here for you on the water situation

    My plan is to stay near Crampton Gap(Night 1) Rocky Run or near Annapolis rocks (Day 2) and Ensign Cowall or Devils Racecourse (Day 3)
    if all goes well I should be in PA the 4th Day


    Have a Great Trip!
    "HANGING OUT" has taken on a whole NEW MEANING

  4. #4
    Senior Member MedicineMan's Avatar
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    Plan on soaking up incredible amounts of Civil War History in this section.
    When I went through I got surprised by a cold snap and had to use leaves mounded under my UQ to stay war on 2 nights.
    +1 to South Mountain Inn-fine dining, funny being a stinky hiker sitting across from some polished types in from DC for the weekend (they have an alcove by the front door for your backpacks)....
    def. get the 'I got water from the Garvey Spring' t-shirt, you'll never forget the climb back up

  5. #5
    Senior Member uncle_ray_ray's Avatar
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    You might consider Annapolis Rock; there's no shelter there, The weekends at times may be a bit busy. There's a great panoramic view, and you'll certainly have a very reliable water source.

  6. #6
    New Member dave p's Avatar
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    Went out for an overnighter a couple of weeks ago, the spring at the Cowell Shelter had water, not gushing mind you, but flowing plenty. The only one I really saw from rt. 70 - north that was kinda dry was the spring at pine knob. But after the bit of rain we've had recently, they should be pretty good.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Rain Man's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joey View Post
    South Mountain Inn is not a bad stop off for some munchies, and right on the AT.
    Thanks to all who suggested this place to eat. I do love getting good meals on a hike!

    Quote Originally Posted by Joey View Post
    Keep in mind the AT through MD is on State Park Lands and you are required to stay at shelters/designated spots.
    Now that is an important tidbit. Did not know.

    Quote Originally Posted by Joey View Post
    Water should be plentiful near the shelters. Raven Rock and Ed Garvey shelters water source is quite a bit away. 1/4 mile in fact. Raven Rock isn't too bad. It's a heck of a climb down from Ed Garvey though. I did it once, and won't do that again.
    Thanks to all for the water situation feedback! Good stuff to know.

    Quote Originally Posted by Joey View Post
    There is a water spigot at Washington Monument and Gathland and free water/bathrooms/showers at Dalhgren Backpack Campsite.
    Bathrooms and showers, right on the trail?! YIPPEE!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by Joey View Post
    The .2 mile loop side trail at High rock, near the PA border, is worth it! Great views from Raven Rock, Black Rock, Annapolis Rocks, and the Washington Monument too.
    I do try to take in the sights, views, and scenes as I hike along, as I assume I might never pass by again. I like this analogy I read once: You don't sing a song that you like just to see how fast you can get to the end and get it over with, ... so don't hike that way.

    Quote Originally Posted by scottpash View Post
    I am leaving the 10th of May From Harpers Ferry,Wv and will be on the trail 10 days NOBO. I will try to post updated info here for you on the water situation

    My plan is to stay near Crampton Gap(Night 1) Rocky Run or near Annapolis rocks (Day 2) and Ensign Cowall or Devils Racecourse (Day 3)
    if all goes well I should be in PA the 4th Day.
    Sounds very similar to our plans! I'll look forward to your report, which should be very timely, as I leave Nashville on the 17th or 18th.

    Thanks to all for the help and suggestions! I appreciate it!

    Rain Man

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  8. #8
    Senior Member Manchego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rain Man View Post
    Thanks to all who suggested this place to eat. I do love getting good meals on a hike!



    Thanks to all for the help and suggestions! I appreciate it!

    Rain Man

    .

    I live about 3 mi from the South Mtn Inn, and regularly hike through this area. I don't know if you're planning on going N-S or S-N, if you mentioned it I missed that.

    I'd concur with the lack of eating establishments near the trail, the South Mtn Inn is basically on the trail (you go through their parking lot). There's Harpers Ferry, which will be either at the end or the beginning. Enjoying eating I'd recommend it at the end, there's a good restaurant with a deck about halfway up the hill from where you cross into Harpers, has good food and good beer.

    Personally, I'd recommend Southbound if you're undecided. I can give you a blow by blow accounting if you'd like as I've been over the whole MD trail at some time in the past 5 weeks. Annapolis Rock does get crowded, if you push a bit further you have the Pogo campground with abundant water Northbound, and Pine Knob southbound has a good spring. Honestly, the only place you'll have issues is in the southern section (the Garvey Spring comment is valid...). I typically camel up at Gathland and pack a couple liters and do the section, I don't try to camp along it for that reason.

    Normally I'd offer to cater or pack in some beer and meet, that's just how I am However, unfortunately that weekend I'll be in MN.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Rain Man's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Manchego View Post
    I live about 3 mi from the South Mtn Inn, and regularly hike through this area. I don't know if you're planning on going N-S or S-N, if you mentioned it I missed that.
    Four of us are hiking NOBO and two others are hiking SOBO, as things stand now.

    Quote Originally Posted by Manchego View Post
    Honestly, the only place you'll have issues is in the southern section (the Garvey Spring comment is valid...). I typically camel up at Gathland and pack a couple liters and do the section, I don't try to camp along it for that reason.
    Ahhh... any trail info (such as water) is muchly appreciated! I'll share with our two SOBOers.

    Quote Originally Posted by Manchego View Post
    Normally I'd offer to cater or pack in some beer and meet, that's just how I am However, unfortunately that weekend I'll be in MN.
    Well, dang!!! You had pictures of fried chicken and sweet ice tea dancing in my head!!!

    Rain Man

    P.S. Got your PM. Thanks!

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  10. #10
    Senior Member Manchego's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rain Man View Post
    Four of us are hiking NOBO and two others are hiking SOBO, as things stand now.



    Ahhh... any trail info (such as water) is muchly appreciated! I'll share with our two SOBOers.


    .
    Bring a filter, tank up at Harpers (or if you're getting on at Weaveton, prior to coming) and you'll be ok. You'll have a hose bib at Gathland, mi 30.9 on the PATC Map 6, as well as a spring at Crampton Gap but you'll be off on a side trail to get to it and technically will miss a half mile or so of AT if you don't backtrack. Next water without climbing down to the cabin at Bear Spring is at Rocky Run (new shelter), which has always been fine with water when I've been there. I don't know what your milage will be, but in MD you have to stay in campgrounds as someone mentioned. While Dahlgren has showers and a hose bib, last time I was there it had tent pads and hammock camping was suboptimal, I like the area around Rocky Run much better. Coming from Harpers, I'd recommend Crampton your first day, only 9.5 mi and after the Weaverton climb it's pretty easy trail. However, if you want to shoot for the next, I'd recommend Rocky Run over Dahlgren, just for aesthetics.

    You can get water at Washington Monument St Park, mi 22.5ish, and it's a hose bib so you can count on it. Pine Knob Shelter at mi 18 has a decent spring, I've seen it low but never dry. Pogo campground is the old Black Rock Hotel site, has a good spring and there's a stream crossing just prior, so with a filter you'd be good with both. You're dry pretty much till Cowall Shelter after that, but that seems pretty good, and has a stream near. There are a couple stream crossings between Cowell and Raven Rock shelters, one you'll have to ford right before Raven Rock Rd going northbound. Raven Rock itself has water, as well as the old Devil's Racecourse shelter. Note that maps haven't been updated (at least the one I recently got), Raven Rock Shelter is a day trail to the west of the AT, not the East as Devil's Racecourse is. Very nice new shelter with pads and plenty of hammock hang opportunities. Tank up there, you've got nothing water wise that I can recall between it an Pen Mar. Even the park at Pen Mar had the water shut off a week and a half ago (your SOBO people will need to plan for this, there's no water at the start and nothing for about 5 mi in).

    Make time for Weaverton Cliffs, White Rock, Annapolis Rock, and Black Rock. Weaverton and Annapolis Rock are side trails, well worth it. Raven Rock has a side trail as you're mostly up the climb (northbound) which has some nice views also. Weaverton is a welcome break from the climb, and the views of the Potomac and Shenandoah are awesome.

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