View Full Version : High Rocks Overlook in Maryland
swampfoxygirl
08-01-2014, 13:12
I just got finished hiking the Maryland section of the AT northbound from Harpers Ferry to Penmar. Although I had previuosly hiked this section (GAME '99) I must not have taken the side trail to High Rocks overlook because I am sure I could never forget the utter destruction that I found there. Graffiti covered not only High Rock the the surrounding rocks and trees. Trash and broken glass evrrywhere. It was a slap in the face after hiking 38 miles to get there. It is hideous. .Obviously the road access to this overlook has made it an easily accessible spot for local partiers and vandals. Shouldnt they gate it to make access more difficult at night? I am not sure who is in charge of maintaining this area but I am wondering if anyone knows of any efforts to clean this spot up and protect it from further abuse. Frankly I am embarassed to have this site in my home state. It is truly one of the worst spots Ive seen along the AT.
Teacher & Snacktime
08-01-2014, 13:15
Ugh....Snacktime and I are headed out there this Sept to finish our MD section. I hope it's cleaned up a little by then. If not, maybe we'll drive up after our hike and try to clean up a little. I don't understand why people feel it necessary to vandalize.
Gambit McCrae
08-01-2014, 13:30
Its a tradition of years past for partiers to spraypaint the old rock, chill. lol
Not little, hikers have never been known to litter have they
Lyte-w8-hyker
08-01-2014, 13:39
I did pen mar to harpers last November. It was trashed then too. Sad really, after climbing up the steep rock scramble I was treated to graffitied trees and trash like you said. I quickly pressed south onto better cleaner views.
illabelle
08-01-2014, 14:03
Its a tradition of years past for partiers to spraypaint the old rock, chill. lol
I can understand the spray paint tradition in some settings.
There's a big rock on the local university campus. It gets painted and repainted constantly with every football game or whatever. No matter that it's sitting in front of a prominent beautiful new building. Sort of a student billboard.
And then on a rural state highway in the east part of my county, there's a rocky bank beside the road with one particular rock shaped like a reptile head with the jaws open. For as long as I can remember, it's been painted to resemble an alligator. Nothing around it is painted or collecting trash.
I've seen the spray painting there at High Rocks in Maryland. Tradition or not, they've taken a place of natural beauty and trashed it.
swampfoxygirl
08-01-2014, 14:20
Really? I'm shocked at this statement coming from someone touting LNT principles at the end of their post. How is trashing the crap out of a public space being considerate of other visitors?
This section is maintained by the "Potomac Appalachian trail club" any suggestions,concerns,or questions should be directed to them, Graffiti and trash is a very common occurence north of Harpers Ferry through Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, and elsewhere along the trail, and yes while most of the problem stems from Local partiers, but alot of the graffiti/trash you see in the harder to get to places and shelters is done by HIKERS. for example Tinker Cliffs in central VA is covered with Graffiti.
I've participated in PATC cleanup work trips of High Rock. We got close to 50 bags of trash when I did this back in the 1990's. We clean the area, spray paint the rock gray and it gets trashed again.
Traveler
08-02-2014, 07:03
"Graffiti Tossers" a new book for those who appreciate the art of throwing graffiti artists from high places. I hear if you do it right they bounce twice....
Furlough
08-02-2014, 08:50
Swampfoxygirl is spot on with her assessment and specifically as to what a horrendous jolt this area gives you as you hike through. I had a similar reaction this past April when I hiked Harpers Ferry to PENMAR. As a PATC maintainer (South Shenandoah National Park), my thoughts are that trying to keep the actual AT (not to mention all the other side trails/major trails PATC maintains) up to par and serviceable with the comparatively few volunteers that are maintainers is a tough task. Short of posting a permanent overseer here I do not see how PATC can stop the graffiti which, seems to have become a local tradition. Furlough
jdenkevitz
08-08-2014, 00:46
I was there on Tuesday. Theres alot of graffiti, but the trash wasnt overwhelmingly shocking. I found some in the forest on the walk back to the AT. Disappointing, but not surprising given theres a public access road.
https://flic.kr/p/oCymnQ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93043861@N08/14853554882/)
rocketsocks
08-08-2014, 00:58
I was there on Tuesday. Theres alot of graffiti, but the trash wasnt overwhelmingly shocking. I found some in the forest on the walk back to the AT. Disappointing, but not surprising given theres a public access road.
https://flic.kr/p/oCymnQ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/93043861@N08/14853554882/)
Oh my word, that's awful. I've always heard of the graffiti there, but never saw a picture...as far as Art goes and contrast +5 as far as graffiti in the great outdoors goes -10...Boo :mad:
Just hiked PenMar Park to High Rock yesterday (8/7/14) and was 'treated' to graffiti there, and a bit along the way, too. Sign clearly says "No Spray Painting". :mad: Never have understood graffiti. Dogs urinate to mark their territories, is graffiti a way of marking territory? Seems to have ancient origins, too, as seen in cave paintings.
28031
Lone Wolf
08-08-2014, 15:41
I just got finished hiking the Maryland section of the AT northbound from Harpers Ferry to Penmar. Although I had previuosly hiked this section (GAME '99) I must not have taken the side trail to High Rocks overlook because I am sure I could never forget the utter destruction that I found there. Graffiti covered not only High Rock the the surrounding rocks and trees. Trash and broken glass evrrywhere. It was a slap in the face after hiking 38 miles to get there. It is hideous. .Obviously the road access to this overlook has made it an easily accessible spot for local partiers and vandals. Shouldnt they gate it to make access more difficult at night? I am not sure who is in charge of maintaining this area but I am wondering if anyone knows of any efforts to clean this spot up and protect it from further abuse. Frankly I am embarassed to have this site in my home state. It is truly one of the worst spots Ive seen along the AT.it was like that 28 years ago when i first walked the trail. used to walk the road then