Decided to
complete the section of the Appalachian Trail between Gathland State Park at Crampton
Gap, South Mountain in Maryland to Rocky Run shelter near Boonsboro, Maryland.
The total section distance was 5.4 miles.
We hiked this as an in and out with some blue blaze for a total of 11
miles and one night at Rocky Run shelter. Gathland State Park is a beautiful
park with public restrooms, piped water available in winter, and a picnic
pavilion. There is a neat museum there
and the War Correspondent’s Arch.
Information about the park can be found here: http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/western/gathland.aspx
The trail starts
north near the remnants of a large stone foundation and is marginally steep.
Once up on the ridge, the trail is relatively flat until you reach Lamb’s
Knoll, where there is a slight ascent up to the site of the old fire tower
which has been torn down and replaced with a commercial tower that is not
accessible to the public. As the AT
passes to the south of the summit, a side trail that the maintainers try and
keep covered with fallen limbs leads to the peak and the tower facilities. Also
at the summit is a really neat “former” Federal military microwave
communications facility and concrete tower, now used by the FAA.
Some interesting
history on the facility may be found here: http://blog.historian4hire.net/2010/07/15/coldwarsites/
The paved access
road is used by bikers and hiker shortcut to Reno Monument Road. Nearby is a
wonderful view from White Rocks.
This time of
year, the hike is very beautiful, with oodles of May Apples that look like
Smurf umbrellas growing everywhere. Just past the peak, the trail winds down,
crosses the access road, and then descends steeply and eventually meets with
the Rocky Run Shelter side trail (blue blaze).
The shelter is quite nice and fairly new. Down further by the water source which was
very plentiful during this hike as well as last fall, there is the old shelter
that is still functional. The privy at the new shelter is far better than the
one at the old. Lots of space for
tenting in this area. During our overnight, we met up with Flip Flop hiker
“Travelin’ Tom”, who was very interesting to get to know, a die hard hippie
from years gone by with a knack for playing the recorder. We also passed
another Northbound flopper “shoelace” who was moving along at a quick pace.
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