Patapsco CCC Remains trail, Patapsco State Park, MD, 10/23/24

 Our first hike with Senior Rangers organized by Maryland Dept of Natural Resources. Actually, the fifth outing, as we missed some, and some were activities not hikes, such as touring the new Harriet Tubman Cultural Center.  This short hike let us one mile uphill to the 1933-1937 CCC remains of three stone and timber shelters.   Interesting fact,  one of the shelters had been remodeled during WWII by a group of conscientious objectors, who were required to serve the nation in other ways besides going to war. 

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Bowers, DE, 9/21/24

 Ironwood tree

 Planned on hiking the loop at the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge only to find that the trail actually was a road used by visiting birdwatchers.  An alternative, the friendly ranger at the Visitor Center told us, was to explore newly created Forest Discovery Tree Trail.  

The 2.7-mile trail wandered through hardwood forest and vernal pools. Posts, as the one in the above photo marked a series of 19 native trees.  Trail was not well marked and we ended up meandering until we finally turned back. Managed to locate about 12 trees.