View Full Version : Washington Monunment in Maryland (The Milk Bottle)
THEmapMAKER
11-10-2008, 13:58
Has anyone every camped right next to the Washington Monument even though you are not allowed to? There is a nice grassy spot next to the monunment with a nice view.
Sorry to rain on this parade, but there are lots of grassy spots to camp that are on private property or otherwise not available to hikers. Discussion of illegal activities is not permitted on Whiteblaze.
earlyriser26
11-10-2008, 14:23
No, I have not camped there. The view is nice from the top, but this does not qualify as stealth camping. Don't get me wrong, I have camped at a few places where you were not allowed to camp (Dragon's Tooth is my favorite), but you are very likely to get caught camping in the park.:eek:
henrygale
03-20-2011, 14:44
Interestingly enough, I camped overnight at the foot of the monument in a shelter made entirely from cardboard/packing tape during a very legal Invisible Children rally known as "Displace Me".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displace_Me
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nIGRw2E15nY/R5ecxXDkX6I/AAAAAAAABvU/bYpnTlRPFDc/s1600-h/Matt+Nigeria,+Shower,+Displace+Me+109.jpg
DC is one of my two least favorite places on the planet (New York City, followed by DC). I can't imagine the allure of city camping, it's the opposite of everything camping IMO. But to each his own.
4eyedbuzzard
03-20-2011, 14:59
DC is one of my two least favorite places on the planet (New York City, followed by DC). I can't imagine the allure of city camping, it's the opposite of everything camping IMO. But to each his own.
Haven't made it to Camden, Gary, Oakland, Milwaukee, or Detroit yet?
Even better are places like Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Mumbai, India; and pretty much any city in Africa.
NYC and DC are shining pearls by comparison. Really. Honest.
Old Hillwalker
03-20-2011, 15:01
Interestingly enough, I camped overnight at the foot of the monument in a shelter made entirely from cardboard/packing tape during a very legal Invisible Children rally known as "Displace Me".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displace_Me
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_nIGRw2E15nY/R5ecxXDkX6I/AAAAAAAABvU/bYpnTlRPFDc/s1600-h/Matt+Nigeria,+Shower,+Displace+Me+109.jpg
DC is one of my two least favorite places on the planet (New York City, followed by DC). I can't imagine the allure of city camping, it's the opposite of everything camping IMO. But to each his own.
He's referring to the Washington Monument State Park in Washington County, Maryland not the Washington Monument in DC
couscous
03-20-2011, 17:05
No I don't camp there, just pause and take pictures.
http://www.twchikers.com/wash-monument.png
fredmugs
03-22-2011, 17:05
It's a great view but who designed that thing? That's some pre-Inca, pre-Mayan architecture right there.
So, THAT's what it looks like! Was so rainy and foggy when we passed thru, could hardly see the top of it.
flemdawg1
03-23-2011, 17:34
Has anyone every camped right next to the Washington Monument even though you are not allowed to? There is a nice grassy spot next to the monunment with a nice view.
There's a ranger residing less than 1/2 mile away, who'd be dumb enough to chance him strolling up and writing a ticket?
It's a great view but who designed that thing? That's some pre-Inca, pre-Mayan architecture right there.
Suposedly pre dates the one in Washington.
4eyedbuzzard
03-23-2011, 18:32
Suposedly pre dates the one in Washington.
It's fallen down and been rebuilt several times.
couscous
03-23-2011, 19:17
Webpage: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/washington.asp
If you get there on a hot day, take a few minutes to visit the little museum .. it has A/C.
It's a great view but who designed that thing? That's some pre-Inca, pre-Mayan architecture right there.
I've read that it is supposed to be a bee skep, a masonic symbol; Washington was a mason. Such as: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=ie7&q=bee+skep+pictures&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7ACGW_enUS391US391
I hesitate to ask, but does your name have anything to do with Fred J Muggs?
The townspeople in Boonsboro up and built the thing very rapidly apparently during the 1820's.
Impossible today. You would need a EIS, a few million dollars, and 20 years!
partly cloudy
04-02-2011, 09:18
The monument is made of native stone and was used a look out and signal tower during the civil war days. Yep, the ranger house is right down the road. Really cool view from the top on a clear day.
It does pre-date the monument in DC.
I never camped next to it but I did sleep on top of it in the winter.
Trailbender
04-04-2011, 04:10
Sorry to rain on this parade, but there are lots of grassy spots to camp that are on private property or otherwise not available to hikers. Discussion of illegal activities is not permitted on Whiteblaze.
Yeah, private property is a symbol of thievery and opression. How can anyone own the earth, we all live here.
Haven't made it to Camden, Gary, Oakland, Milwaukee, or Detroit yet?
Even better are places like Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Mumbai, India; and pretty much any city in Africa.
NYC and DC are shining pearls by comparison. Really. Honest.
Don't forget to pack an AK in your luggage if you want to be a tourist in one of these cities.
Brewerbob
07-14-2011, 09:29
The insides...
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6140/5923465357_6ff352acf7_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobrogers/5923465357/)
_IGP0491 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobrogers/5923465357/) by Bob Rogers5 (http://www.flickr.com/people/bobrogers/), on Flickr
From the top...
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5924031774_b355671574_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobrogers/5924031774/)
_IGP0493 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobrogers/5924031774/) by Bob Rogers5 (http://www.flickr.com/people/bobrogers/), on Flickr
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6006/5924030656_86948c7471_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobrogers/5924030656/)
_IGP0492 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobrogers/5924030656/) by Bob Rogers5 (http://www.flickr.com/people/bobrogers/), on Flickr
Info plaque...
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5923463063_6ab06f6944_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobrogers/5923463063/)
_IGP0489 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobrogers/5923463063/) by Bob Rogers5 (http://www.flickr.com/people/bobrogers/), on Flickr
Old Hiker
07-14-2011, 10:02
Yeah, private property is a symbol of thievery and opression. How can anyone own the earth, we all live here.
Right - communism works SO well with no private ownership of property.
[/QUOTE]Don't forget to pack an AK in your luggage if you want to be a tourist in one of these cities.[/QUOTE]
Wait - don't you just tell them we all own the earth? I'm sure the locals would be glad to introduce you to a 6x6x3 foot plot of your very own.
Not only are you forbidden from camping at the monument, you cannot sit and rest in the shelter at the bottom of the hill next to the water fountain. The staff in that park are not very friendly, although they did let me off with a warning about using their shelter for eating lunch rather than writing me a ticket. There are also no trash cans available but there are restrooms.
Chif
Brewerbob
07-15-2011, 11:11
Not only are you forbidden from camping at the monument, you cannot sit and rest in the shelter at the bottom of the hill next to the water fountain. The staff in that park are not very friendly, although they did let me off with a warning about using their shelter for eating lunch rather than writing me a ticket. There are also no trash cans available but there are restrooms.
ChifI saw people sitting in them and there was a shift change of the guard or something. Rangers wandering about. No one said anything to the squatters.