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. 

Soldier's Delight East Loop, Owen Mills, MD, 8/24/24

With this hike we completed the two connected trails at the Soldier's Delight Environmental Area.

 For an account of our outing hiking the Serpentile trail, see blog post 12/23/23.

At the very start of this hike, we passed the remnants of an old chromium mine, 

dating from the early 1800s. The first one in the US.   All that remains is a number of dark bottomless shafts.

Moving along the trail we came across this endless expanse of Hay-scented ferns,

leading to a large meadow of Little bluestem grasses.

And, all along the trail, in sun dappled sections, the proud spikes of the native Dense blazing star.

Distance: 2.15 miles with ~ 175 ft elevation.

Badlands National Park, South Dakota, 8/6/24

 Day 3 of our trip to South Dakota took us to the "Badlands" a large expanse  (244,000 acres) of prairie interspersed with phantasmagorical rock formations.  Apparently, the Lakota natives already called it 

" "bad lands" and the early French trappers called "les mauvaises terres a traverser,"  due its unusually harsh living environment. 

 

Jim crossing a small mount leading to the higher butte plateau.

Extraordinary beautiful, arid and desolate landscape. We were not prepared for a full hike but I did make it up to the upper plateau and found myself alone in the middle of a moonlike landscape and surrounded by an eerie silence, except for an occasion breeze. 

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, 8/5/24

 First of our micro hikes in the South Dakota Black Hills while visiting with Jim's grandson, Micheal.

Above the Mount Rushmore rock carvings of four presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodor Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The presidents were chosen to represent the country's birth, growth, development and preservation. The moment is called the "Shrine of Democracy" although some call it the "Shrine of Hypocrisy" because the land was taken from the Sioux Nation.   

Wincopin trail, Savage Park, MD, 4/16/2024

Midweek afternoon stroll along the Wincopin red trail in the company of Master Gardener Ann Coran, who invited us on a spring wildflower hunt.

Photo above taken from the ridge between the Middle Patuxent and Little Patuxent rivers, close to the confluence of both. 

While pulling invasive garlic mustard along the trail, Ann drew our attention to numerous native ephemeral spring wildflowers.  Above: Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica)

Cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)

Blue stones. Unusual enough that a sign drew our attention to them. None of the other stones in the river are blue. Apparently no one knows why they are blue although theories abound: mineral leaching, result of heavy storms? 

This hike, just 11 minutes away from our house, is a hidden treasure.  

We will be back.

 

Marshyhope Hike & Bike trail, Federalsburg, MD, 1/23/24

Our 3-day escape to Maryland's eastern shore brought us to Federalsburg, MD, just west of the Delaware border and east of Easton, MD.  Picnicked by a Marshyhope creek inlet and set off to explore the hike a google revue promised us.  As it was the tail end of a week of snow and bitter cold, we struggled at first to find an ice-free trail.

Then, heading north rather than south, we found a trail winding along the outskirts of town and crossing the wide creek twice.

 

 I decided to call it "the hike with the bridges."

The pale afternoon sun helped make this a delightful winter stroll.

Distance: 2.4 miles, no elevation.

Serpentine Trail, Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area, MD, 12/25/23

Set out to explore an area recommended by friends on this sunny Xmas day. 

And with good reason: we walked over serpentine rocky terrain formed 500 million years ago,  bordered by beautiful expansive savanna-like grasslands. In addition, the area is of historical importance as the soil is rich in chromium ore that was mined from the early 1800s until 1860. 

Above you can see the serpentinite rock that easily dissolves and erodes, leaving this stony unfertile soil. The area used to be called "serpentine barrens" as in barren of trees. The area is the largest grassland ecosystem of the eastern US. It was once part of the 100,000 acres of the Great Maryland Barrens in the Appalachian piedmont. 

Distance: 2.5 miles with ~ 300 elevation change. 

Caprock Coulee Trail, Teddy Roosevelt National Park, SD, 12/1/2023

 

Trough Canyon, South Branch of Potomac River, Romney, WV, 10/11/2023

Day outing with our Film Society friends to Romney, WV, to catch a ride on the Potomac Eagle

 The main attraction of the ride through the 6-mile canyon is eagle watching. With its 2000 feet cliffs, the canyon is a prime breeding ground for bald eagles. While we saw a number of them, perched on tree tops or flying low of the water, my camera did not allow me to capture any on film. 

Luray Caverns, Shenandoh Valley, VA, 9/29/2023

A one-day bus outing organized by Howard County Recreational Services led us to 

Luray caverns, the largest caverns in the eastern US. We strolled from one large room with stalagmites and stalactites to another. 

Can't remember which is which? Stalactites stand for "T" or top, and stalagmites stand for "G" or ground. Here at Luray, the rate of growth is about 1 cubic inch every 120 years.

Above, a stalagmite and stalagtite joined somewhere in the middle. 

Look carefully and you will see the water level in the middle of the picture and the stalagtites reflected in the water.

More phantasmagorical formations. 

And, in the middle of it all, an organ. 

 The Wishing Well.  

Good business for the privately owned caverns. We were told that at the end of each year two to three feet of coins are collected from the bottom and donated to charity.    

Berkeley Springs and Cacapon State Park, WV, 9/11/23

 Treasure tour of Berkeley Springs starting at the Roman bathhouse,

passing by George Washington's bath and residence,

and strolling along the many flowering borders. 

Above, an Obedient plant in full bloom.  

Finished the afternoon with a meandering amble along moss covered trails at Cacapon State Park. 

Below, a happy Monarch butterfly caterpillar munching on milkweed.   

                                                                                      

We spent a relaxing three days in Berkeley Springs, WV,  enjoying our ultra comfortable cabin, the surrounding rolling green hills and trails, as well as the town, know for its historic thermal hot springs.   Our first trip away since my shoulder surgery two months ago. 

Patuxent River State Park, MD, 9/2/23

To mark the long Labor Day weekend, and my return to active life after shoulder surgery mid July, we decided to check out the Patuxent River State Park Nature Center.  The volunteer rangers do a fine job of sharing nature's gifts.  The ranger explained that the park is located along the upper 12 miles  (headwaters) of the 115-mile river as it travels to the Chesapeake bay.

Above, our lunch spot along the river.  

Thriving along the river's edge: 

Jewel weed, with it's delicate orchid-like flowers (Impatiens capensis) 

 We were not alone.... see what's peaking around the bend. 

All in all, we spend a pleasant 2-3 hours traveling the almost 3-mile out and back trail. 

A perfect "re-entry" hike!

Cascade Falls Loop, Patapsco Valley State Park, MD, 7/11/23

  

.    

Third attempt to complete this short hike, a 2.3 mile loop. 

We set out on July 4th, only to turn around at the park entrance given the mile long line of cars waiting to pay the entrance fee.  Last Saturday we tried again, only to turn around after a few wrong turns on the trail and finding ourself without enough water to complete the loop in 80 degree weather. 

Today, on a sunny and not excessively hot, very pleasant day, we were finally able to enjoy the hike and surroundings. This trail could well be named "raspberry loop" for the many raspberry vines lining the trail.  I almost ate my fill!    

                           An easy hike, except for a couple of stream crossings, and

                                 some scrambling when we finally reached the falls,

                                        less than a 1/4 mile from the trailhead.  

 

Middle Patuxent Wildlife Loop trail, Columbia, MD, 7/2/2023

This closest to our house trail was our go-to trail to take a walk with Mylee, my daughter's 18-year old Havanese. Today, however, we walked the trail with my son's dog, Charlie Bowtie, and my daughter's dog, Suna.  Full of energy and enthusiasm in spite of the heat, we hurried along the paths at twice the speed we did with Mylee. 

 Crossing our path without hurry or fear, a beautiful young turtle.

Woodland Trail, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague, VA, 5/15/23

Chincoteague is known for its wild ponies that roam on Assateague Island.  

Legends has it that they are descendants of horses that were shipwrecked in the 17th century off the Virginia coast and swam to shore.

If you look closely, you will see a small band of grazing ponies..

We opted to give the Woodland trail a try only to find ourselves assaulted by mosquitos.

Slathered in insect repellant and walking at a brisk pace we did complete the 1.6-mile trail.

 The beach, on the left though not visible from this photo, was an endless expanse of fine white sand.  

 With the added bonus of having no condos or other human construction spoiling the views.

And no mosquitos!  For me, an ideal running beach. Managed to run 3 miles in the light breeze. 

Cambridge Walking Tour, Cambridge, MD, 5/12/23

On our way to Norfolk, VA, to attend my granddaughter's climbing competition, we decided to leisurely drive down the eastern shore of Maryland. About midday, we stopped to explore Cambridge, one of the oldest cities in Maryland, founded in 1684.  Located along the Choptank river, the city became the boat building, farming and oyster canning center of the region.  The city pier along the river served as the slavery auction block in the 17th and 18th centuries.  Harriet Tubman was born on a plantation nearby, and later the city became a stopover on the Underground Railroad.

Of note, James Michener used Cambridge as a model for the fictional city of Patamoke in his novel Chesapeake.   

Micro home built in 1800 by a lawyer on his property to practice law.  Big cases handled in a tiny office, such as representing a person named Betty Patterson in the annulment of her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte's brother. 

Mural depicting historically important woman. Can you recognize any?

A center of culture in the early 1900s, 

one could attend the opera in Cambridge in  600-seat opera house.  

 My favorite attraction, the draw bridge on Cambridge Creek. We had barely sat down for lunch and taken in the surroundings, that the bells rang and the draw bridge lifted. 

An unusual sight in the Americas!