View Full Version : Trail Conditions North from Harpers Ferry
I was just wanting to know what trail conditions I should expect from Harpers Ferry WV Northbound? After all the Rain and Continuing rain, Would it be best to hold up in Harpers ferry and wait it out a while? Are there many streams to forge northbound? What can I expect the streams and rivers to be like after this rain event going on. I just want to hike safe and not get Carried away by a flash flood. Input would be great.
middle to middle
06-26-2006, 20:03
We had a lot of rain last night in Maryland, rivers and streams flood conditions. Matter of fact last night a lot of roads were flood conditions. Overcast and light drizzle today. Probably take a while to run off.
trailangelmary
06-26-2006, 20:11
High streams, probably not dangerous, tho it might be higher in a few days.
Please be careful.
We just sectioned hiked that section two weeks ago and there was only one stream crossing in all of MD, Antietam Creek.
The climb up from the C&O to the top of Weaverton may be sketchy with wet roots and rocks.
We just hiked a short section in PA (about 40 miles over the weekend, to North to Duncannon). We were wrapping up just as the big rain was coming through, but I can't think of any place that was swelling up too badly--the worst was hiking over wet, leave-strewn rocks and boulders I have so come to love about my home state... ;)
StarLyte
06-26-2006, 23:00
I was just wanting to know what trail conditions I should expect from Harpers Ferry WV Northbound? After all the Rain and Continuing rain, Would it be best to hold up in Harpers ferry and wait it out a while? Are there many streams to forge northbound? What can I expect the streams and rivers to be like after this rain event going on. I just want to hike safe and not get Carried away by a flash flood. Input would be great.
Go to this website, which is weather.com:
http://tinyurl.com/ftwdo
(I shortened it obviously)
-you will see a list of different states
-each state will list trails/places
click on appropriate link
You can also subscribe to this and obtain up to the minute conditions, and ALSO check a local news site, they all offer the same---up to the minute weather conditions, or only severe conditions, OR you can phone the weather channel. Don't EVER assume.
ALSO----phone the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at 304.535.6331 for assistance.
Marsha
trailangelmary
06-27-2006, 19:20
It is still raining in the Duncannon, Pa area. The Doyle is preparing to sandbag. The rivers and streams are not expected to crest until Saturday.
On Monday when I took hikers to the 325 road crossing I noticed that the creek was covering the road crossing that is the white blaze across the creek. Baltimore Jack is in town and I asked for his help to run a safety line across the creek because I know it will be needed since I have seen what has happened in the past.
With the help of a front loader that was coincidently there in the parking lot (no such thing as coincidence, God makes it happen!). We ran a safety line across the creek and came back and reinforced it with stronger rope an hour later. Before we got there the front loader operators told us they took 7 hikers across the creek and took 2 across the creek while we were there. I told them they are trail angels!
Without the safety line across that creek it would be very dangerous to cross. So, I feel very good about my and Jack's trail magic today. (Incidentally, Jack told me later that he can't swim!) It is more important than 200 beverages left on the trail.
It is going to get worse before it gets better. Be safe out there. and remember to unbuckle your pack straps before you cross deep water in case you fall. Better to lose your pack than lose your life because the pack pulls you under.
So tomorrow we are ready to come back and help Pat and Vickie sandbag the Doyle. Jack says that there are certain trail resources worth going out on a limb for. Plus, if the town floods, behind the sandbags at the Doyle seems like an eminently wise place to ride out the storm. Or, at least that's what Jack says.
StarLyte
06-27-2006, 19:39
It looks like Duncannon will have on and off thunderstorms for the next few days. We just got our butts kicked here in Northern Ohio.
Let's hope all the Doyle needs ARE sandbags.
Mary.....Jack.....thank you.
It's nice here now. Full speed ahead!
Visited last evening with NOBOs at PA 501. Suggested late start this am, dinner and drying out at Eagle's Nest and pushing on to Port Clinton in the evening if the weather holds.
Hope they did that. If they did, they made 15 and will likely make 20 before dark.
The springs are recharged! Bring it on.:sun
middle to middle
06-28-2006, 21:22
Maryland weather has cleared and apears to want to stay that way for few days.
If you were out in rain last night you had record levels of down pour, for past two nights as matter of fact.
Hope you get sun for a while to dry out.
Tom
middle to middle
06-28-2006, 21:27
The trail is on top of the mountain all the way North. You should have no proplem.
Rendezvous01
06-28-2006, 23:09
According to weather.gov (not dot com!), the Susquehanna River is supposed to crest at Harrisburg (a southern suburb of Duncannon!) at five or six feet above flood stage some time Thursday, then drop below flood stage by late Friday or early Saturday. However, up here in NY, the Susquehanna is cresting tonight at Binghamton, Vestal, and on down to Waverly/Sayre (NY-PA state line) as much as 2 to 3 feet over the previous record highwater mark. And it is still raining some, although not as much as it was yesterday and Monday. Many places in the upper Susquehanna watershed have received as much as a foot of rain over the past several days.
All that water has to flow somewhere, and I predict that it's heading for Jack and his friends at the Doyle. Don't know how long it takes to get there, but my guess is that they'll need those sandbags through the weekend at least. Could be a great opportunity for some civic-minded hikers to take a couple days off from the trail and give something back to one of the many towns that supports the hikers who generally just drop a few bucks as they pass through.
I'd love some updates from Mary and/or Jack about how bad the flooding gets.
Read on Trail journals today that the trail is closed coming out of Delaware Water Gap. And it is still raining here in Harpers Ferry, with more tommorow. As for trail conditions, expect it to be a lot like Vermont or Maine, soggy and slippery. Be careful and have fun!
And it is still raining here in Harpers Ferry, with more tommorow. As for trail conditions, expect it to be a lot like Vermont or Maine, soggy and slippery. Be careful and have fun!
I was planning on driving to Harpers Ferry & points between there and Duncannon this holiday weekend so I could talk with some of this year's thru-hikers. Do you all think this is still workable? Or are the trail conditions too poor for dayhiking? Should I simply postpone for another time and farther north?
rswanson
06-29-2006, 16:33
I was planning on driving to Harpers Ferry & points between there and Duncannon this holiday weekend so I could talk with some of this year's thru-hikers. Do you all think this is still workable? Or are the trail conditions too poor for dayhiking? Should I simply postpone for another time and farther north?
Hiking through MD should be fine. The trail doesn't cross many waterways. There are some stream crossings north towards Duncannon (in and around Michaux SF) but you're more likely to encounter problems from washed out trail sections than you are tough crossings. In any way, the trail should be navigable.
Hiking through MD should be fine. The trail doesn't cross many waterways. There are some stream crossings north towards Duncannon (in and around Michaux SF) but you're more likely to encounter problems from washed out trail sections than you are tough crossings. In any way, the trail should be navigable.
Good! I was getting pretty bummed at the thought of not going.
Thanks for the info.
Visited with thru-hikers at Port Clinton tonight and assisted with resupply. More than a half dozen hiked there from PA501 today, reporting good trail conditions. No rain.
Conditions in Berks County are fine. No reason to delay travel.:sun
I was planning on driving to Harpers Ferry & points between there and Duncannon this holiday weekend so I could talk with some of this year's thru-hikers. Do you all think this is still workable? Or are the trail conditions too poor for dayhiking? Should I simply postpone for another time and farther north?
You'll be more than fine. Things are drying out pretty quickly around here. Have a great time!!!
Jersey was/is miserableI started hiking it when the rain started. Lots of creeks to fjord and some were definitly dangerous. I was up past my knees a few times when I came off the ridges.
You are in Iowa presently, aren't you? What you're talking about is conditions 5-6 days ago, no? Please correct me if I am wrong. I am concerned people may get the wrong impression about current conditions and alter their plans as a result.
I know here in Berks County Pennsylvania trail conditions have improved to the point where they are pretty much normal for this time of year. Some of the larger watercourses in Berks are still high, but I think everything is now below flood-stage and that doesn't impact upon hiking on the A.T. The only place I had understood there to be an issue was Swatara Creek, which is no longer a problem. There's nothing to cause anyone to consider altering their plans in my immediate area at this time.
I can't speak for New Jersey. Seems they have other problems there at the moment.
I was referring to conditions I experienced 3 days prior to my post and I still am/was in contact with friends of mine at the time and although it wasn't anything dangerous it was still miserable. Unless of course you don't mind mosquitos, mud and standing water. I know these are all parts of hiking and I understand your concern but those were the conditions in northern New Jersey according to a hiker I had contact with on July 2nd.
EarlyBird2007
07-06-2006, 10:10
PA is slowly getting back to normal. The June storms caused several blowdowns and made a mess of some of the plank walkways. I finally got the area I maintain in the Cumberland Valley fixed over the holiday.