Annapolis Rocks Snowshoeing

After last week's storm, we couldn't resist the opportunity to get the snowshoes out again. We picked up a friend and her dog and and met another friend at the Annapolis Rocks parking area on US Highway 40 west of Frederick, Maryland. Fortunately, road crews partially cleared the parking lot. We've hiked up to Annapolis Rocks and to Blackrock a number of times. This is the first time we have snowshoed up there. The first quarter mile of the hike has to be the least charming stretch of the entire Appalachian Trail. The trail goes under the US Highway 40 bridge, following a ledge perched over Interstate 70. The roar of traffic makes it impossible to talk even to the person hiking next to you.

After we passed under the bridge and turned up the hill, away from the highways, the hike improved rapidly. South Mountain still had nearly two feet of snow on the ground. There was a pretty wide path in the snow from hikers who had been up to Annapolis Rocks before us. We had lunch in the sun at Annapolis Rocks. From there, we headed north to Blackrock following only one set of snowshoe tracks. Then we hiked down the hill from Blackrock. The snow was still fluffy on the north-facing slope. We had a good time glissading down the trail. At the bottom, when we reached the creek, we decided it was time to head back.

We had a great time out in the snow and we saw a total of six other people (two of whom were climbers camped at the bottom of Annapolis Rocks). On a normal day, this area is crazy busy with hikers.

Michael at Annapolis Rocks

 The view northwest from Annapolis Rocks

 Our friends snowshoeing

The view from Blackrock

 Sumac seeds

Blackrock Creek. The trail continues on the other side. This is where we turned around.

My snowshoes on trail.

 The trail and shadows in the late afternoon sun.

 Michael and our friends hiking up the last hill on the way back to the car.

Michael had to do an emergency repair on his snowshoes. The rivets on the binding strap pulled out (this is probably his third time using these...we'll be contacting the manufacturer). He used utility cord to make a field repair, which got him back to the car.

Annapolis Rocks and Blackrock

Saturday, the weather forecast called for a nasty winter storm in the evening. Sunday's forecast was for brutal cold and wind. Given the choice, we opted for a shorter, more local hike on Saturday. Annapolis Rocks and Blackrock on the Maryland Appalachian Trail are only about an hour away and we could be back in plenty of time to beat the storm coming in on Saturday night. It also gave me the chance to try out yet another pair of new boots in the unending hopefully-ended search for the right pair.

We originally intended to hike south from the trailhead on Wolfsville Road to the trailhead on US 40, which is about 8.5 miles. When we got to the parking lot on Wolfsville Road, however, it was a solid sheet of ice. We did actually pull in, but then Michael had to push the car back out of the lot (another use for microspikes!). So, we drove back to the parking lot on US 40, where we had dropped our friend's car and hiked an out-and-back from there.

The trail started out with a little bit of ice on it and by the time we crossed under the US 40 bridge, it was pretty much a solid sheet of ice. Aside from another couple, we had the trail to ourselves, which is a nice treat on a section of trail that usually very busy. It was cold and windy on Annapolis Rocks, where we had lunch. Then we walked another mile to Blackrock. On our way back, tiny snowflakes began to fall, a precursor to the storm that came that night.

Michael walking with our friend's dog.

 Bootshot from Annapolis Rocks.

The view to the south from Annapolis Rocks.

Michael and our canine guide on Blackrock.

The view from Blackrock.

Moss along the trail.

Tiny Mountain Laurel growing in the moss beside the trail.

Rappelling at Annapolis Rocks

We spent Sunday with Wild Type and another friend at Annapolis Rocks on the Appalachian Trail in Maryland. We arrived early so we would beat the crowds and actually get a spot in the parking lot on US Highway 40. It was cold, below freezing, when we arrived at the parking lot. Sub-freezing temperatures don't bother me in months like December, January, February, etc. It is April now, however, and I'm ready for a few days where the temperature reaches the 70s. There's no sign of spring yet in the mountains.

It is a quick two-mile hike up to Annapolis Rocks. The climb over Pine Knob was a welcome way to warm up. We arrived at Annapolis Rocks, which is usually quite crowded, to find we had it to ourselves. People filtered in and out during the day, but overall it wasn't particularly busy. The temperature eventually climbed enough that it was comfortable without coats and we had a great day playing on the rocks.

Michael getting ready to take the first descent of the day.

 Looking southwest from one of my descents.

 Rappelling down the first pitch.

 Michael demonstrating the value of the autoblock.

Michael watching Wild Type on the second pitch. This one was a lot higher than the first one.

 My shadow on the rocks and a bootshot on the second pitch.

 Looking down at the ground.

 And back up to the top.

 Interesting lichens on a rock.

Michael carrying both ropes on our way out. 

I'm Back: A New House and a Short Hike to Annapolis Rocks

It has been a crazy end of summer and beginning of fall.  We attended the wedding of two dear friends on Long Island, attended training for Old Rag Mountain Stewards, and bought a house, we finally got back out into the woods out for a short trip with our friend from Horizontal Tread.  We were originally just going to hike the Appalachian Trail from Highway 40 up to the overlook, but our friend suggested bringing gear along and doing some rappelling   The weather was absolutely perfect:  70s and sunny.  It just doesn't get any better than that.  The hike up went pretty quickly, although I could definitely feel my month-long hiatus from the gym. We spent about three hours building anchors and rappelling off of the cliffs.  The scrambles back up a side gully were a good workout and nothing clears the head after several weeks of upheaval like an afternoon spent outside.

Pictures (click to enlarge):

 Getting ready to rappel off of Annapolis Rocks.

 Our friend from Horizontal Tread headed down the cliff face.

 A different kind of bootshot.

 Michael watching our friend reach the bottom.

 Ageratina altissima (White Snakeroot).

 Solidago caesia (Blue-Stemmed Goldenrod) - a sure sign of fall.

 A Turkey Vulture watches us set anchors.

 Aster divaricatus (White Wood Aster) - another sign of fall.

 Descending in the second place where we set up a rappel.

The trail on the way out, lined with Hay-Scented Ferns.

The house!  For the last seven years, we've lived in an amazing, supportive community. We all had each others' keys, had parties, helped each other out, and over time, built a family of people who started out as strangers.  All of a sudden, over the last three months, everyone scattered.  Jobs were found in other parts of the country and rents increased beyond what people could tolerate. We were in the latter category. We are sad to see the group break up.  We already miss the community we had (and don't think we won't be in touch, if you are reading this in Golden, Grand Rapids, near Trader Joe's, or on our old block), but we are looking forward to making the house ours and finding a new community here.

Annapolis Rocks Along with Everyone Else in Maryland

We opted for a shorter hike yesterday:  just nine miles on the Maryland section of the Appalachian Trail which passes Annapolis Rocks.  We met a friend at the southern end of the section, along I-40.  The large parking lot was nearly full when we arrived and more people were arriving by the minute.  There were large groups of backpackers getting their gear together and families headed out for dayhikes.  We kind of expected it.  That trailhead is just minutes from Frederick and only an hour from Washington, DC.  In addition to that, this was really the first nice weekend of the spring, even if it was still a little cool.

We left our car at that trailhead and drove north with our friend to the Wolfsville Road trailhead.  We arrived to a much quieter parking lot with only a half dozen cars in it.  From the parking lot, we headed south, beginning with a climb up to the top of the ridge.  As we got higher, the trail got rockier and we climbed a couple of stone staircases.  In the sun and out of the wind, it was quite warm, but each time we crossed to the west side of the ridge, the wind reminded us that it is most definitely still March.  We paused for lunch at the top of the ridge.  Another hiker's dog tried to talk us out of our lunches before continuing on with his owner. 

The trail stays on the top of the ridge for several miles, which makes for easy hiking since the ridge is nearly level.  We quickly made the four and half miles to Pogo Campground and the Blackrock Hotel Historic site.    The hotel was popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  It burned around 1920 (source:  Appalachian Trail Names:  Origin of Place Names Along the AT).  A sign marking the spot and the foundation are the only things that remain of it today.  We took another short break at Pogo Campground, which is just around the corner from the hotel site and that is when the first Boy Scout Troop appeared. 

In spite of the crowded parking lot, up to this point, we had only seen four or five people.  The first boy scout troop had about 20 kids and adults.  Then we passed a group of college kids out backpacking.  Then we passed another Boy Scout Troop of about 15.  All were going to be camping.  I am rarely glad that I am just out for a dayhike rather than an overnight, but this was one of those times.  We would continue to pass groups of backpackers for the rest of the hike.

We paused at Black Rocks, where there is a nice view to the west.  A few miles later, we made the short hike down to Annapolis Rocks.  At both places, we were quickly driven off the rocks by the cold wind.  Below Annapolis Rocks, we began meeting families with small children, which meant the parking lot was not far.  The last part of the hike is a quarter of a mile along Interstate 70.  Not the most charming finish to a hike, but overall, it was a good day.

Pictures (click to enlarge):

One of the staircases leading up to the top of the ridge.

The sign at the Blackrock Hotel site

A small waterfall near the Pogo Campsite. 

From the same waterfall

Bootshot from Black Rocks looking west.

The last part of the hike along scenic Interstate 70.

The Appalachian Trail footbridge crossing Interstate 70.