Maryland’s part of the Appalachian Path is the proper introduction for backpackers contemplating a thru-hike
THRU-HIKING IS A COLLECTION of small victories: getting up the day’s ascent, discovering the water supply earlier than darkish, having fun with the corporate of shelter-mates. And people capable of stack sufficient of these victories, maybe six months’ price, sprinkled in with facet quests, a handful of zero days, and a hiker competition or two, may find yourself strolling the whole 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Path.
“The attractive factor about mountain climbing is that life strikes on the similar tempo whether or not you’re on the market for an hour in your native park or deep within the backcountry for days on finish,” says Katie “Oats” Houston, neighborhood supervisor for Sawyer Merchandise and a contributing author to The Trek. “In case you’re a assured weekend warrior, you’ve possible obtained the abilities to execute a thru-hike. For most people, logistics is the limiting issue: cash, time, or obligations again residence. Part mountain climbing is a good way to extend your confidence, consolation, and possibilities of success.”
Because of present obligations, mountain climbing the whole A.T. is certainly nonetheless a dream on the distant horizon for me. However earlier this 12 months, I made a decision to get a correct style of the path by mountain climbing the whole part of the well-known footpath that runs by Maryland. I did the cheap 41-mile jaunt—proper across the path’s midpoint—with my previous man to welcome his retirement, a passage to the subsequent part in life. Right here’s a step-by-step information to an attainable part hike that gives an ideal introduction to the A.T.
Pen Mar Park (Southbound Beginning Level)
A.T. Mile Marker 1067.4/1285 toes
We had been dropped on the PA/MD border on Pen Mar Highway in early spring and pointed south in direction of Harper’s Ferry, W.Va. We had photo voltaic lights and down jackets hanging off our packs, method an excessive amount of beef jerky, and a free grip on what 1,000 toes of elevation achieve in a single mile entails.
We deliberate for 5 nights to cowl simply over 40 miles. Loads of people may knock out 15-20 miles a day at a gentle tempo. One hiker, path title The Optimist, bopped into camp as we had been placing our sleeping baggage down for the night time and shared that he was on a 32-mile/day tempo. However he didn’t scoff at our trustworthy 8-mile common; he congratulated us on our journey as he nudged a half-eaten deli sandwich onto a campfire rock.
The voyage from Pen Mar to Raven Rock provides a condensed preview of what lies forward. It eases in with a mile or so of wooded flatland, moseys by an eerily scenic boulder discipline, and ascends roughly 600 toes of incline over the course of a half mile. Take your time; the rocks aren’t going anyplace. Set a layer for the remainder of your journey by lulling your tempo to the boulders fairly than forcing your method round them. Your breaths will get deep at occasions, however do not forget that’s a part of the enjoyable, even should you don’t see it that method till you’re again residence.
Raven Rock Shelter
A.T. Mile Marker 1061.7/1066 toes
Professional tip: Certain, the secret is shedding weight, however should you’ve obtained any individual who doesn’t thoughts briefly being a mule, carry a bag of frozen beef, which is able to thaw throughout your first day on the path and make for a well-deserved first-night camp meal.
The water supply at Raven Rock is a deceivingly prolonged stroll from camp. You’ll be tempted to chill out on arrival, arrange your tent, and take a load off. However I recommend you drop the load of your pack and gasoline up on water for the night time when you’re nonetheless warmed up. Even should you’re tenting it, spend a while on the shelter round chow time to start gathering tales and ideas from fellow hikers.
Pogo Campsite
A.T. Mile Marker 1052.6/1607 toes
No fuss, no shelter. Pogo is a set of superbly dug-out tent websites and a privy. So if rain is to return, take into account hoofing it to Pine Knob Shelter or reducing the day quick at Ensign Cowall Shelter.
Right here was our solely bear encounter. “BEAR IN CAMP” rang by Pogo’s inflexible tent websites. All people chimed in to not solely warn however deter. It got here simply after dawn, inflicting everybody to silently fear that they had been those who hadn’t utterly sealed their dinner trash from the night time earlier than. I’m unsure if it may scent one thing or simply occurred to be moseying by, nevertheless it didn’t pay us or our chants a lot consideration. I appreciated that about him. He was younger and sure used to being round hikers. He lived by the code, one foot in entrance of the opposite, and moved on inside minutes.
Dahlgren Backpack Campground
A.T. Mile Marker 1043.9/1057 toes
As you cross over the I-70 footbridge, take a second and watch the automobiles. I couldn’t assist however marvel the place they had been all going and why they needed to get there so shortly. After two days of your pace being one foot in entrance of the opposite, the working could abruptly really feel foolish. You’ll suppose again on all of the speeding you’ve completed or dread what speeding is to return. Both method, could your tempo to the opposite facet of the bridge be a reminder that regardless of your pace, you’ll find yourself the place you’re purported to be.
“It takes at the least 4 nights for what I name my ‘thought knots’ to begin to untangle and for me to achieve the psychological state I actually love once I’m on the market for weeks on finish,” Oats says.
Dahlgren is your clear web site with a sizzling bathe. Name up Rasco NY Pizza in Boonsboro. They’re a little bit of path magic in themselves in that they’ll ship to the Outdated South Mountain Inn car parking zone, which isn’t even 1 / 4 mile from the Dahlgren Campground.
The last word vulnerability required to ask a stranger sitting on a curb for a slice of their pizza can solely be discovered by working solely on oats and desires. However that’s what the hike is all about—the kinship of shared self-induced struggling. The car parking zone pizza is the path’s magic method of pulling every of us nearer to our inner end traces, decided by miles and markers.
Rocky Run Shelter
A.T. Mile Marker 1042.1/950 toes
A near-0 day! Sleep in, take your time, clear your mountain climbing garments, and allow them to dry. A creek may be heard from the Rocky Run shelter. In case you observe the footpath all the way down to it, the “previous shelter” is simply up the hill. Maryland notoriously has a few of the most well-kept shelters on the path. However the previous shelter is price visiting, even when only for a pleasant quiet sit. Its stumpy stature overlooking the creek holds the essence of wooded huntsmen taking elbow-lifting pulls of XXX-labeled clear jugs.
Ed Garvey Shelter
A.T. Mile Marker 1033.0/1072 toes
That is your final night time. Replenish on any meals you’ve obtained left or supply it to a shelter-mate who’s trekking on. Construct a hearth and make some pals earlier than you go.
Harpers Ferry
A.T. Mile Marker 1026.6/280 toes
“One in all my favourite path sayings is HYOH – Hike Your Personal Hike. Individuals interpret that in numerous methods, however for me, it means to honor your individual course of,” says Oats. “Really feel empowered to strive new gear, honor your physique, say ‘that’s not for me,’ and hike on when confronted by somebody attempting to cramp your fashion. Give your self your individual path title, put smiles over miles, and bear in mind there are numerous methods to interact with the paths all of us love; thru-hiking is one in all many.”
The material of the scenic West Virginia border city of Harpers Ferry is sewn collectively by hiker camaraderie and keenness like a fireplace patched 30L pack. Roughly 3,000 hikers try and thru-hike the Appalachian Path annually, with a couple of quarter finishing the feat. They’ll all move by Harpers Ferry, whether or not for a zero-day, a cheeky beer on the Rabbit Gap, or simply to bask within the mist coming off the Potomac River. In case you’ve obtained the time, get a celebratory room and stroll the stone streets.
All photographs by the creator