Loop hike including AT near Harpers Ferry

[rjstew234]

Is it possible to do a 30-40 mile loop hike in the Harpers Ferry area? I've been doing lots of research haven't been able to find one. Anyone familiar with a shuttle service in that area as an alternative? I could just hike from Harpers Ferry north on the AT and shuttle it back if one exists.

[Teacher & Snacktime]

Laurel at Teahorse hostel offers a shuttle service. She's the best!

Another option might be to use her 4 slackpacking service for Pen Mar to HF ....around 40 miles. It's worth looking into.

http://www.teahorsehostel.com/

[rjstew234]

Thanks for the info. I'm hiking with my girlfriends and just realized that I could rent a car in Charles Town, WV, drive the rental and my car to our destination, drop off our car, drive the rental back to Charles Town and then have Enterprise drop us off at the AT 7 miles away.

Would you suggest heading North or South from Harpers Ferry?

[Studlintsean]

I have had luck using Ken duBourg from the AT shuttle List (http://www.appalachiantrail.org/docs/default-document-library/at-shuttles-parking-vandalism-2014-07-15.pdf). How long do you have to hike? Heading north might allow you to knock out all of Maryland. Starting north at PenMar State Park and walking back to HF is a nice hike.

[Furlough]

I second Teacher's suggestion. This past Spring I parked my truck at PENMAR Park and Laurel picked me up and brought me back to HF. I spent the night at her Hostel and then hiked back to PENMAR. And I got to meet up with and hike with Teacher, Snacktime, TrailWobbles her husband Boondock and their pup Mika.

Furlough

[rjstew234]

We only have 2 nights/3 days so doesn't look like we can make the entire 40 mile hike from HF to Penmar. Am I reading the website correctly that it's $150/person for Laurel's shuttle? If so, I'd rather spend $35 on the car rental and just drive an extra 45 minutes vs $180 for the both of us via the shuttle.

[Furlough]

I think that is for her knew baggage/shuttle service, sort of like a slackpack. I recommend calling her for rates, she can also give advice in terms of the time you have to hike in relationship to her shuttle service.

Furlough

[Teacher & Snacktime]

We only have 2 nights/3 days so doesn't look like we can make the entire 40 mile hike from HF to Penmar. Am I reading the website correctly that it's $150/person for Laurel's shuttle? If so, I'd rather spend $35 on the car rental and just drive an extra 45 minutes vs $180 for the both of us via the shuttle.

You're looking at the slack-pack pricing. The shuttles are much, much less. She doesn't print those.

[Yankytyke]

I would head South. 3 days of hiking it is possible to do the entire 40 miles. It's easy hiking bar the climb to High Rock & Lambs Knoll. If her prices are crazy high for you, I could pick you up.

[Teacher & Snacktime]

I second Teacher's suggestion. This past Spring I parked my truck at PENMAR Park and Laurel picked me up and brought me back to HF. I spent the night at her Hostel and then hiked back to PENMAR. And I got to meet up with and hike with Teacher, Snacktime, TrailWobbles her husband Boondock and their pup Mika.

Furlough

That was a great day, wasn't it!

[rjstew234]

Thanks T&S, makes more sense now regarding the baggage service pricing vs. shuttle. I just ordered maps 5-6 from the PATC so I'll be able to plan out the routes from shelter to shelter and then call Laurel for the rates.

Are you allowed to tent camp next to the AT in WV/MD (obviously following backcountry camping rules) as long as you're not in a State park? I've read that it's well marked where you cannot camp, but I was hoping I'd be able to plan it out in advance using the maps.

[Teacher & Snacktime]

As far as I know, there's no regulation against stealth camping in MD....just lack of opportunity. There's a very narrow corridor with little available space for camping other than at the shelters from what we saw. The distances to shelters are very manageable though, so it shouldn't be an issue for you. Make triple sure you include the Dahlgren Backpackers Campground in your plans....clean, nice, showers, free!!!! (near Fox Gap)

Back when I planned this hike from HF to PenMar, our options were: Teahorse Hostel, Harpers Ferry Hostel, Ed Garvey Shelter, Crampton Gap Shelter, Treehouse Camp, Dalgren Campground, Greenbriar State Park, Pine Knob Shelter, Pogo Campground, Free State Hiker Hostel, Ensign Cowell Shelter,
Raven Rock Shelter.

The ones in bold are the one's we've used.

If you click MD in both windows of this, it gives you just about every shelter on the trail http://www.atdist.com/

[rjstew234]

T&S, http://www.atdist.com/ is an absolutely amazing tool! Thank you so much for introducing me. This essentially planned out our entire trip and will change the way I plan in the future.

My girlfriend and I spend 250 days a year behind a desk, so we prefer to rough it when we can. Thus, we'll be pitching our tents next to the shelters and avoiding the cushy campsites with showers, ha.

We decided on the trip below staying at Ed Garvey Shelter and RockyRun shelter. Should be a nice 2 night, 3 day trip. I spoke with Laurel and she quoted $60 to pick up at US40 and shuttle back to Harpers Ferry, which is extremely reasonable. However, I think we'll just rent a car in Charles Town, WV, drive it up to US40 along with our car, drop off our car there, drive the rental back to Charles Town, drop it off and then have the car rental rep drop us off 5 miles away at WV9 and the AT. Extra 35 miles of driving and dealing with picking up the rental, but I prefer to have a car at the destination so we don't have to coordinate/wait for the shuttle and can just hop in the car and head home. It's also $20 cheaper with the rental:)



Offset
Milestone


0.0
WV9-Keys Gap, WV


5.6
ATC Side Trail, WV


6.3
Maryland-West Virginia Line


12.6
Ed Garvey Shelter, MD (http://tnlandforms.us/at/m.php?wpt=EdGarvey)


16.7
Crampton Gap Shelter Side Trail, MD (http://tnlandforms.us/at/m.php?wpt=CramptonG)


21.7
Rocky Run Shelter Side Trail, MD (http://tnlandforms.us/at/m.php?wpt=RockyRun)


28.6
I70 Footbridge-US40, MD

[Teacher & Snacktime]

There's your plan! Glad the site proved helpful. :)

[Yankytyke]

But you'll miss climbing the lambs knoll!:)
Don't forget to take lunch/a break at Weaverton Cliffs. Best part of the MD AT south of I70.





We decided on the trip below staying at Ed Garvey Shelter and RockyRun shelter. Should be a nice 2 night, 3 day trip. I spoke with Laurel and she quoted $60 to pick up at US40 and shuttle back to Harpers Ferry, which is extremely reasonable. However, I think we'll just rent a car in Charles Town, WV, drive it up to US40 along with our car, drop off our car there, drive the rental back to Charles Town, drop it off and then have the car rental rep drop us off 5 miles away at WV9 and the AT. Extra 35 miles of driving and dealing with picking up the rental, but I prefer to have a car at the destination so we don't have to coordinate/wait for the shuttle and can just hop in the car and head home. It's also $20 cheaper with the rental:)



Offset
Milestone


0.0
WV9-Keys Gap, WV


5.6
ATC Side Trail, WV


6.3
Maryland-West Virginia Line


12.6
Ed Garvey Shelter, MD (http://tnlandforms.us/at/m.php?wpt=EdGarvey)


16.7
Crampton Gap Shelter Side Trail, MD (http://tnlandforms.us/at/m.php?wpt=CramptonG)


21.7
Rocky Run Shelter Side Trail, MD (http://tnlandforms.us/at/m.php?wpt=RockyRun)


28.6
I70 Footbridge-US40, MD