View Full Version : Hiking all of MD week of July 4th
Ratchet-SectionHiker
05-04-2009, 17:26
My wife and I will be doing a section hike of the state of MD the week of July 4th. I will have more details on start/finish dates by the end of the week. We are driving up from Dublin, VA ( 24084) to Harpers Ferry to start. Her father will pick us up at the end ( he lives near Baltimore) and will return us to the trailhead. It would be great to hear from anyone who will be in the area that time or if anyone has any good advice on the area. We want to step foot in VA, WVA, MD and PA in 5 days.
I am going to do the same leaving after work on July 1 and finishing up evening of July 4th. Being from Maryland it's my favorite stomping grounds it's roughly 42 miles with plenty of water spots and great camp sites. Hope to see you on the trail<O:p</O:p
Going to that section after you in July enjoy.
Ratchet-SectionHiker
05-05-2009, 16:50
Cowhead, any recommendations on start and finish locations? I am ordering maps tonight through the Potomac AT club. Do you know if dogs are allowed in the area?
Cowhead, any recommendations on start and finish locations? I am ordering maps tonight through the Potomac AT club. Do you know if dogs are allowed in the area?
Dog's or ok, streams flow year round water is no problem, shelters are nice and there's campsite's along the way. The trail is mark really well so a map is not really needed. You can go to http://www.backpacker.com/ and print the maps for free if you need them. But when in Harper's ferry go to the AT center in town the folks there are great and allot of cool things to look at. I park at Harpers Ferry National Park and Hike to Pen Mar, I don't know if you can overnight park at Pen Mar I know camping is no longer available there. I usually have my wife pick me up there and drive me back to grab my truck and head home<O:p</O:p
You can over night park at Pen Mar
banksville
05-06-2009, 08:03
You can park in the Harpers Ferry Nat Park parking area for a small fee. Dahlgrans campground has a shower that has hot water. I pitched a tent in the gravel tent area at Dahlgrans in a heavy rain. The water filled up like a pool and didn't drain well.. Should have set up in the grass. Good hike, good views. Nice shelters and enough water. You really don't need maps but I like them.
I parked at Penn Mar 2 years ago when I did MD. No problems and lotta parking there. Fun hike and very easy. Last year I took the woman to do a piece of it so she sees what its all about, very nice for a first timer on the AT being there is some nice shelters, lotta history and easy terrain.
Ratchet-SectionHiker
05-06-2009, 22:28
Thanks for all the tips guys. This will be the longest section we've done so we are pretty excited. Still working out the logistics with the road numbers and parking and what not. Hope to see some of you out there!
The small day hike I did last year was between Gathland State Park and the General Reno monument. We ate lunch at an overlook called White Rock(I think). Great spot to stop for a break/lunch. You can almost see D.C. to the east on a clear day.
FlyPaper
05-07-2009, 10:04
If you park in Pen Mar, the PA border is about 200 yards past the parking area and is marked with a sign.
Make sure you walk those extra steps to cross the state line.
ReaDy2G0
06-03-2009, 21:51
I will be doing a month NOBO hike starting around the ATC in harpers ferry during the month of july. I plan on staying out for 3-5 weeks and covering between 5-10 miles a day.
Yes my trip for that week is to go from Ashby Gap to Pen Mar about 70 miles can't wait to get away
dudeijuststarted
06-06-2009, 22:52
This is a fun hike, you should have no problem completing MD in 3 days, granted you start hiking early...
harryfred
06-07-2009, 02:40
This is cool. I'm plannig on heading from PennMar to Harpers Ferry over the 4th. Not sure yet if I will leave out he 4th or the third. I recon I'll pass you all as you head north.
astrogirl
06-09-2009, 12:07
I'm doing Caledonia to Ashby Gap starting around June 22. Doing it no cook - my first time without a stove, but hey, it's summer.
I'm doing Caledonia to Ashby Gap starting around June 22. Doing it no cook - my first time without a stove, but hey, it's summer.
Hope to see you out there, sounds like that neck of the woods is going to be active alot of folks here are hiking that area.