The Memorial Illumination of Antietam is dedicated to the more than 23,000 people who either died, went missing or were unaccounted for after the Battle of Antietam. On Saturday, December 1st a group of about 37 Sierra Club members and meetup.com members hiked 11 miles through the battlefields and drove through the nighttime illumination. After the hike we drove through the illumination set up on the battlefields. Over 23,000 candles were lit in small paper bags by over 800 volunteers. The best photo ops were at night when all the candles were lit. Unfortunately the drive through the battlefield didn't allow time for me to get out of the car and set up the tripod, so I didn't get any good luminary shots. After the drive a smaller group of us met for dinner at the Old South Mountain Inn. Photos of the hike are HERE.

This is starting to look like a hiking blog and not a kayaking blog. I hope I don't lose too many kayaking readers. But lately I just feel like hiking. I'm also trying to get some backpacking trips organized before it gets too cold. Today I was talking to the Michael, who organized the hike, about organizing a hiking or backpacking trip to Dolly Sods. In a few weeks we might as well try a snowshoeing trip because I hear it snows up there sooner than down here close to sea level.



Anyways, this was a hike I picked up from meetup.com. It's a new site I found that people post events to just "meet up." No obligation, no liability to forms to sign and most of the time no fees. So ten of us "met up" to do the Billy Goat Trail Hike at Great Falls. I did meet a kayak racer in the parking lot. The start of the Billy Goat Trail is also the parking lot for the whitewater kayakers that come to play in the rapids at Great Falls. He had this incredible down river racing kayak in a design I have never seen before. No rudder and it was narrow and round so I'm not sure how he could turn it. And I did feel a little nostalgic about the four kayaks sitting at my house waiting to go out. But I have a feeling the next few months will be mostly land based adventures. I need to work out my hiking muscles for my spring trip to ... The Grand Canyon. More photos of the hike are HERE.

-Susanita

November 3 was Emancipation Day in the State of Maryland. Although slavery was not abolished in Maryland until 1864, the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, outlawed the owning of slaves by its members in 1777. In Sandy Spring, Maryland (not far from my house) free blacks owned their own homes, attended organized churches and schools. Quakers and free slaves assisted escaping slaves via the "Underground Railroad."

WIth hurricane Noel skirting up the East Coast the forecast was for stiff winds and cool air. It looked like a good day to skip my regular Saturday morning outrigger workout and join a hike. The Emancipation Day Hike was a joint hike by the local Sierra Club and the Appalachian Mountain Club. Having grown up in North Carolina I'm a little behind on Maryland history. Also having been raised in the segregated south I'm more than a little behind on the history of slaves. This was a very informative hike.



After meeting at Woodlawn Manor the group took a short hike into the woods. It is believed that the woods in this area was part of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad wasn't really a railroad but a system of people and places organized to help slaves escape to freedom. The path to freedom was often carried in songs that they learned or woven into quilts. There were special symbols marked on trees to designate paths. Helping slaves escape was against the law and those caught often faced years of imprisonment.

Slaves seeking freedom would often escape at Christmas since they wouldn't be missed for several days or during a rain storm because the rain would wash away their tracks. Although our hike was on a well worn path, the slaves would not have spent much time traveling on such a path for fear of being caught. They would have sought out shelter in the thick brambles because dogs, men and horses all shy away from the thick thorny bushes. Escaping slaves faced many obstacles and the majority did not make it.

When I hear people talk about slavery it seems like something that happened another time. But when you think about it 1864 wasn't that long ago.

On a happier note ... I have some new hiking and backpacking gear. And I'm hoping to test it out soon.

-Susanita

This is about as close as I got to the water on Saturday. I worked hard all week painting the last of the big walls with the 14 foot ceilings so I could join the group going out Saturday to paddle around Chester River and Eastern Neck Island. I was successful in getting the walls painted but in the process injured my shoulder. No kayaking for me until it heals. So I joined a Sierra Club hike around LIberty Reservoir ... which looked like a great place to paddle some day although I couldn't tell if it was open to kayakers.



Most of the trail was covered with snow and ice. Those who came prepared with walking sticks were much more stable, but I had several almost falls on the ice. Several people weren't so lucky and there was probably more than one bruised tailbone by the end of the hike. The trail meandered around the reservoir, in and out of the forest. Several small streams feed into the reservoir which pass through the trail and the hike was advertised on the Sierra club list as having several stream crossing. Not sure what kind of streams we would be crossing I emailed James, the trip leader, before the trip for clarification. All he said was ... your feet could get wet and you may want to remove your shoes.



Given the snow and ice I estimated the stream water to be maybe 45 degrees. So I opted to do the stream crossing with my boots on. This worked out well until we got to the last stream. There was a large log across the stream but one of the other hikers volunteered that it could be decaying. The stream was running high, over a foot deep. So the choices narrowed down to slithering across the log and perhaps falling in the stream if the log broke or running across the water ... I opted to run as did most people. And got soaked in the process. It was a squishy walk back. Fortunately I'm used to being wet so it didn't bother me. But I made a mental note to pack water shoes next time and keep the boots dry. To see the complete photo album, click here.

-Susanita

A wise person once told me, "Be careful of what you wish for. You just might get it."

All weekend long I was wishing for snow. The weather on the East Coast has been unseasonably warm and we were due for a change. It's not that I like the cold. I just like the seasons. I like variety. Warm sunny days are great. But so are grey days, windy days, cool spring days, fall rainy days, and snowy days. Summer had lasted long enough. I was ready for winter.

Winter is finally here. Saturday was not only cold but windy with wind gusts up to 40 mph on the bay. I cancelled my kayaking plans and rescheduled my day to include a stop at the cabinet manufacturer and a luncheon/team meeting with the Kent Island Canoe Club. It's not that we had a lot of club activities to discuss. It seemed that the team meeting was mostly an opportunity to get the team together and keep everyone motivated to race next summer. We did discuss a few of the upcoming races but mostly it was a social lunch. As I drove back over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge I felt the wind pushing my truck towards the edge. I looked over at the steel cables holding the bridge together and wondered if they would catch a car if it was forced over the edge. The spaces between the cables looked a little too wide so I decided to drive in the center lane just in case.



On Sunday I decided to join a group for hike on Sugarloaf Mountain. I had been on the "Blue Sky" email list for a month or two but hadn't had the opportunity to join one of their hikes. The Blue Sky group is organized by Vitas and Mary whom I met through sea kayaking. I haven't seen the whole email list but I think it's mostly sea kayakers and a few whitewater kayakers who are looking for nonkayaking events during the off season. So I met Vitas, Mary, Sally, Alison and Roxanne at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain. Mary was recovering from an injury on a previous hike. She broke a rib on a fall. So we all agreed to take the easiest route around the mountain and keep the hike short. We took the white trail which meanders around the base of the mountain without a lot of elevation change. We had a short snack at the picnic tables then Vitas, Roxanne and I hiked to the top while Sally, Alison and Mary followed the road back to the parking lot.

When we got back to the cars my wish came true. The cars were covered with a light dusting of fine, dry snow. Mary had brought some treats and a thermos of hot cocoa to celebrate Sally's birthday. So we stood for a while at the picnic tables drinking cocoa and eating cake while the snow fell softly around us.

The drive home could have been worse than it was. The main roads were mostly clear. The challenge was getting down to my house. I live in a valley. I drove around Takoma Park a few times looking for the best way down to the house. The first road I chose was steep and windy. Even with four wheel drive I knew there was a good chance I'd hit one of the cars parked on the side. So I chose to drive down in a rather circuitous route, inching my way down the hills in second gear, careful to steer clear of the cars parked on the side.

When I opened the door to the house my two cats ran outside. Maribel and Annabel had been sleeping as cats do and hadn't noticed the snow. They both love snow. So they played for awhile then scratched at the door to come inside. They must have gone outside about four times to play in the snow, each time returning a little more wet and a little more snow packed.

It's late now and they're fast asleep. The Federal Government has just announced that tomorrow is an "Unscheduled Leave" day. For most people this means that they have the option of coming to work or using personal leave and staying home. For my department that means that we have to work, but we can work at home if we want. I'll be working from home.

Which means that I get to sleep in a little bit later. And I'll get off in time to enjoy the snow.

Let it snow! Let it snow!

-Susanita

On Sunday, November 5th, on a visit to Atlanta I hiked Blood Mountain with my brother Bob and his family. Going for a hike on Sunday was Mari's suggestion. The other alternative was to sit around watching football on tv, Bob's favorite activity ... and my least favorite activity. So after having a leisurely breakfast and packing sandwiches and drinks in the car we drove 1 1/2 hours north through winding mountain roads to the Blood Mountain Wilderness area. Jackie, my niece, entertained herself by reading, while Daniel, my nephew, debated the pros and cons of barfing in the car. We ended up driving the last half hour with the windows rolled down.

Some interesting facts about Blood Mountain are that it is the highest peak on Georgia's portion of the Appalachian Trail and the state's sixth highest mountain. The Blood Mountain Wilderness is the first designated wilderness area along the Appalachian Trail as the hiker heads north toward Maine. We debated the origin of the name Blood Mountain. I was guessing it had something to do with a battle. According to some websites I found it came from a bloody battle between the Cherokee Indians and Creek Indians long before white men arrived in the area. Other theories trace the name to red lichen or Catawba rhododendron growing on the rocky summit.

We missed the peak of the fall foliage but the masses of rhododendrons growing on the mountain gave it a kind of tropical feel. Daniel, who is not yet 7, started the hike by racing up the trail. It wasn't long before he was asking my brother to carry him. Knowing it was over two miles to the peak Bob encouraged him to hike and pace himself. It seems 7 year olds only know two speeds ... fast and stopped. Eventually we broke up into two groups, Bob and Jackie in front and Mari, Daniel and I taking a more leisurely pace in the rear.

At the peak we were rewarded by gorgeous views, an old cabin now used by hikers on the Appalacian trail, and a mass of boulders which created small kid-sized caves that kept Jackie and Daniel busy exploring while the adults lunched on the top.

-Susanita

On Saturday October 14th I joined a group of hikers from the Maryland Outdoor Club and the Catholic Alumni Club (CAC) for a four mile hike up Sugarloaf Mountain. Sugarloaf is owned and managed by the Stronghold Corp. in Dickerson, Md. The main attractions of the mountain are its close proximity to DC, the easy accessibility of the summit and the outstanding VIEWS. Geologically the mountain is known as a monadnock, a mountain that remains after the erosion of the surrounding land. At an elevation of 1282 feet Sugarloaf stands at an elevation of 800 feet above the surrounding farmland.


The hike was led by Bob Cianflone, who is also a kayaker and member of Chesapeake Paddlers Association where he is known for his very humorous and sometimes sarcastic comments to the CPA listserve. Bob really loves rules, regulations and most of all liability waivers.

After dispensing with the waivers, Bob gave the group a short history of the mountain and a detailed description of the various types of snakes one might find on the hike as well as descriptions of the types of spiders which reside in the port-a-potties. Black widows seemed to predominate in the port-a-potties while copperheads seemed to be the most prevalent snake in the mountains. Fortunately we didn't see any snakes ... or lions or tigers or bears. But we did enjoy commanding views of the Maryland countryside.

We had the first frost of the season that night but the sun came out in time for the hike and we enjoyed perfect fall weather. Crisp and cool. It was a perfect day for a hike.

Unfortunately I only have a dozen or so photos from the day. The memory card on my Olympus was damaged the previous weekend during a kayaking to Chincoteague, Va. But here are a few photos ... Sugarloaf Slideshow .

-Susanita

On Saturday, July 1, five of us hiked the Chimney Rocks Loop in Michaux State Forest. Most of my photos didn't come out but I did like this photo of the sun coming through the trees and hitting the sign for the Appalachian Trail. We didn't see a lot of wildlife on this hike except for the lone bald eagle soaring overhead while we lunched at Chimney Rock. The forecast was for temps in the 90's but the streams were filled from the rains last week which sent a cool breeze through the air.

Afterwards we grilled burgers and relaxed by the lake at D.'s brother's house. It was nice to chill out with the group, sit by the outdoor fire, and tell stories. I got home a little too late and slept in a little too long to make it to my scheduled kayak outing but I hope to get out tomorrow.

And, yes, I did receive those incriminating photos of our friend in Key West. If I ever do something like that ... please don't take pictures!

-Susanita

We almost made it. If we had started just a little bit sooner or spent a little less time at the waterfalls we would have made it to the car before the thunderstorm hit. But at least we made it past the steep part of the hike. We only had to hike through the rain for a little over a mile on relatively flat ground. There were a few streams to cross and the trail was pretty flooded. But my fear that we'd be stepping on wet, slippery rocks in the pouring rain never came to pass. Still by the time we got to the car we were soaked.

On Saturday, June 24th, I did the White Oak Canyon/Cedar Run hike in the Shenandoah National Forest with Marie and Dennis. Marie and Dennis are old friends that I met through Inner City Outings (ICO) several years ago where we were all volunteers. Marie and Dennis are still volunteering with ICO. I have since moved on to other activities, mainly kayaking. Ironically, the last time I hiked with them was about three years ago when the three of us (and Farimah) did this very same hike. It was a hike that none of us will ever forget. And throughout the day each of us kept remembering different things about that hike three years ago and where the hike went wrong. Needless to say when I was packing my backpack for today's hike I threw in a flashlight, extra clothes, and my first aid kit.
We met at a little after 8 am at the Vienna North Metro station to carpool. Marie surprised me by showing up on her bike with her backpack strapped to the back. Dennis showed up shortly after that in his Subaru rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Dennis always seems to give you the impression that he just woke up or he was out too late the night before. Since he looked like he was half-asleep I offered to drive. We loaded Marie's bike into Dennis's car and all the gear into my Honda CRV.

I hadn't seen them for almost three years. I think our last outing was the ski trip with Suzanne. So we had a lot of catching up to do. Marie filled me in on all the ICO gossip. Then we caught up on people. Michelle is in Florida. Eirik is in Atlanta. Ron is living down in Key West as a cabana boy. Peter and Joe both got married. No one has heard from Farimah or Suzanne. So much had happened in three years but when I saw them I felt like it had been just yesterday.

We got to the lower parking lot of the White Oak Canyon trail around 10 am. We got our passes from the guard and he asked us if we were familiar with the trail. We looked at each other. Yeah, we know this trail pretty well. I looked over to the start of the trail and saw my rock. Three years ago I sat on that rock for what seemed like an eternity, waiting alone in pitch black darkness for Dennis to come off the mountain.

The White Oak/Cedar Run Hike is actually two hikes combined into one to make a loop hike. There is a White Oak Trail and a Cedar Run Trail. The most spectacular waterfall views are on the White Oak Trail but it's more interesting to do the loop. The loop hike has five major falls and numerous smaller cascades and pools. There is a good description of the hike at http://www.hikingupward.com/SNP/WhiteOakCedarRun. According to the website the hike should take about 5 hours including a half hour for lunch. The total elevation gain is 2450 feet.

Three years ago Marie, Dennis, Farimah and I had done this same hike. We had started the hike a little later, maybe around 11 am but since the hike should only take 5 hours we weren't particularly worried about the time. I often think about that hike as a good example of why you should always bring along safety equipment even for a day hike, like a first aid kit, extra food or water, and especially flash lights. There are no lights on the trail. If for some reason you get injured or take too long on the hike on a cloudy or moonless night you could easily find yourself feeling your way down the mountain in pitch black darkness. Which is exactly what happened to us three years ago.

We had hiked up to White Oak Canyon to the visitor center and back down through the Cedar Run Trail. We had stopped too long at the waterfalls and some of us even went swimming. Farimah wouldn't pee in the woods so we had gone a mile out of our way to get her to a flush toilet at the Visitor Center. We had come back by way of the Cedar Run trail and had taken our time because we thought the hike down would be fast. But we had grossly miscalculated how long it would take to hike back down. By the time we had realized darkness was falling we were at least a mile from the car and the trail was steep and rocky. It was a moonless night and no one had a flashlight. But there was one back at the car. While there was still some light out Marie and Dennis had run ahead to get the flashlight while Farimah and I felt our way back in the darkness using the glow from Farimah's cell phone to light the footpath of the trail. Once they reached the car Marie had decided to stay at the car while Dennis went back up the trail searching for us. But there was a split in the trail. Dennis went to the left. Farimah and I were on the trail to the right. We had passed each other in the dark.



So ... back to Saturday. Marie, Dennis and I packed up our gear and headed out on our hike. But first we did a check. Flashlights everyone? Yep. We were going to hike up the Cedar Run Trail, take the short cut through the White Oak Road and come down through the White Oak Trail. The forecast had been for "widely scattered" thundershowers. But the sky was clear and it was a beautiful day. We stopped at several waterfalls to cool off. Marie and Dennis went swimming while I dangled my feet in the cool water.



We got to the road around noon. Dennis' cell phone had been beeping at us throughout the hike so he went up to the road to check for his messages. Dennis is addicted to his cell phone. As we headed down the White Oak Road the dang cell phone kept beeping. Marie and I issued an ultimatum. Turn it off or we'll throw it away.

We got to the top of the White Oak trail and stopped for lunch. Marie kept asking me, "Do you remember this part of the trail?" How could I forget. That's where I stopped to pee for the umpteenth time. Farimah and I had been hiking together most of that day and I had noticed that she never had to pee. But she was insistent that we "get to the top soon." It was only later that I realized that Farimah had never peed in the woods. She was holding it in waiting for the flush toilets.



Around that time we heard the first crack of thunder. Dennis was sure it was several miles away, but I just felt a sense of dread. Rocks are slippery when they're wet and we were on the steep part of the descent. Dennis and Marie stopped at a few more waterfalls but I hung back near the trail. I just wanted to get off the rocky part of the trail before the rain came.

And my knees were hurting. I've never had a problem with my knees but with each step I felt my right knee groan with pain. Dennis searched the woods and came back with a walking stick. It made the hike a lot easier.

We had just exited the rocky part of the trail when the rain started. We stopped for a while near a tree to see if it would pass by quickly. Marie covered her head with my jacket while Dennis and I huddled near the tree. We were soaked and the trail was filling with water. When we were pretty sure the rain was not going to stop we continued on the hike. It was maybe a mile to the car. But it went by quickly. At least it was still light out.

We were back at the car by 6:00. It would be a long drive back to Vienna. It was raining. There were flash flood warnings throughout Northern Virginia. Rt-66 was closed in both directions. A car was on fire somewhere. We eventually made it back to the metro parking lot after 9:00. We said our good-byes and promised each other that we wouldn't let three years pass between hikes.

-Susanita