Page 1 Mountain Club of Maryland JULY – Trip Schedule OCTOBER, The Mountain Club of Maryland is a non-profit organiza- Trail Policies and Etiquette2009 tion, founded in 1934, whose primary concern is to provide its The Club is dependent upon the voluntary cooperation of members and friends with the opportunity to enjoy nature those participating in its activities. Observance of the through hiking, particularly in the mountainous areas accessible guidelinesfollowing will enhance the enjoyment of everyone. to Baltimore. We publish a schedule of hikes, including a variety to please 1. Register before the deadline–unless otherwise specified, no every taste. Our trips vary in length and difficulty, and include later than 9 pm the night before for day trips, and Wednesday overnight and backpack hikes. We welcome non-members to night for overnight weekend trips. Early registration is helpful. participate in all our activities. Our hikes frequently include 2. Trips are seldom cancelled, even for inclement weather. If family groups of all ages. Non-members take responsibility for you must cancel, call the leader before he or she leaves for their individual safety and welfare on MCM excursions. the starting point. Members and guests who cancel after trip A “guest fee” of $2.00 is charged non-members. Club mem- arrangements have been made are billed for any food or other bers, through their dues, underwrite the expense of arranging expenses incurred. this schedule. Guests share these obligations through the medium 3. Arrive early; the time schedule is for departure – NOT of the guest fee. assembly. From its beginning, the MCM has recognized that mountain 4. Check with the leader before bringing small children. Pets are trails would not remain in their natural beauty and availability in not permitted. Radios, alcoholic beverages and drugs are not our expanding population unless interest in maintaining those in harmony with our program. The consent of a parent or trails was fostered. Therefore, the Club has affiliated with the guardian is required for unaccompanied guests under 18 years Appalachian Trail Conference and the Keystone Trails Associa- of age. Smoking is permitted only at break time. tion. The Club maintains over 40 miles of the Appalachian Trail 5. Adjust to the leader’s pace, neither forging ahead nor falling in Pennsylvania and Maryland, as well as trails in the Baltimore too far behind. The leader should be told if you drop out, even area. Also, the MCM joins with others in supporting conserva- temporarily. tion efforts that improve the hiking environments of Maryland 6. Leave all flowers and other plants for others to enjoy. and adjoining areas. 7. Do not litter; “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but More information and additional copies of the schedule may footprints, kill nothing but time.” be obtained from our web site at http://www.mcomd.org/ or by calling 8. Courtesy to the leader, your fellow hikers, and the landowners 410-377-6266. is a primary consideration. Suggestions to Hikers 9. The Mountain Club of Maryland, Inc. and/or its leaders, Clothing that will stand rough usage is essential. Wear enough officers, or representatives, shall not be liable for any injury, to keep warm while walking and carry a jacket or sweater for loss or damage to persons and/or property, direct or con- inactive periods. Sturdy footwear is a must. On long trips, it is sequential, arising out of any trips and/or activities of the advisable to bring a change of shoes and clothing, and carry a Club. The assumption of risk, which is inherent in this type of flashlight and full canteen. Bring your own lunches on both one- rugged outdoor activity, is implied on the part of each person day and weekend trips. A day pack is recommended for hiker who attends any club trip; and every personparticipatingin any convenience. of said trips participating in any of said trips and/or activities Transportation is on a share-expenses basis. The “cost” listed assumes all risk and liability in connection therewith. for each trip is an estimate. The leader will adjust this figure to All trips, unless otherwise specified, require registration reflect actual costs at the time of the trip. before the trip date to allow the leader to make preparations. On overnight trips bring your own sleeping bag, and check Leaders may close registration early when necessary to limit with the leader concerning other equipment needed. Food for thesize of the hike. The leader may also refuse registration to breakfasts and suppers is purchased by the leader and the cost is personswho may not be sufficiently strong to stay with the group. pro-rated. Denotes Midweek Leisure Hikes Denotes hikes which qualify for the MW (Prior Registration not required) MHAMaryland Hiker Award HIKE GRADING TABLE The symbol consists of two characters: a number and a letter. The number designates the length of the hike to the nearest mile. The letter designates the difficulty of the hike: E for Easy, M for Moderate, H for Hard, and S for Strenuous PLEASE NOTE: all trips require advance registration unless otherwise specified. Phone: 410-377-6266 / E-mail: [email protected] / Internet: http://www.mcomd.org/ Page 2 WEDNESDAY – JULY 1 – PATAPSCO VALLEY STATE PARK – RIDGE TRAIL – 5-E MW Hills in first half. Lunch at Cascade Falls. Flat, easy second half. Leave 10:00 AM. From I-695, take exit 11 onto I-95S toward DC. Take I-195 toward BWI. Take exit 3 onto US 1 south. Turn right immediately onto South St. and immediate left into park. Go to stop sign. Left to Avalon parking. LEADER: Joan Valentine, 410-737-2050 before 8:00 PM. [email protected] MHA WEDNESDAY – JULY 1 – GREENBRIER STATE PARK TO ANNAPOLIS ROCKS – 13H/S This out-and-back hike offers two impressive views of Greenbrier Lake -- one as we’re swooping down on it from within the park, and the second as we’re overlooking it from our lunch spot atop Annapolis Rocks. The hike has about 2,000 feet of ascent (including two 500 foot climbs), contains a number of rocky sections of trail, has no stream crossings to speak of, and has two crossings on the I-70 footbridge. Our pace will be moderate (that is, average speed while moving will be 2.5 - 3 mph). LEAVE: 7:45 AM from Howard County Fairgrounds parking area. (From Exit 80 on I-70, take MD-32 south for .25 mile; then go west on MD-144 for .5 mile and see fairgrounds parking on right.) LEADER: Jim Koury, at [email protected] or 410 747-2868. CARPOOL COST: $6.00. MHA WEDNESDAY – JULY 1 – LITTLE PATUXENT RIVER – 8E Tweener “Sneaker” hike (boots are superfluous) of eight easy, figure-8 miles on the paved trails of Columbia/Ellicott City along the Little Patuxent River and around Centennial Lake. No significant hills or stream crossings. Bring water, lunch and sunscreen. Possible ice cream stop near end. MEET:10 A.M. Parking Lot of Northfield Elementary School. .From US-29 northbound, take Exit 22 to MD-100, then promptly exit from MD-100 to Long Gate Parkway. From Long Gate Parkway, turn left at the traffic light on MD-103 (Montgomery Road) and proceed over US-29 to St. John’s Lane. Turn left on St. John’s lane just past the Mormon Church, then right on Northfield Road. Follow Northfield Road to its end (a half mile or so) at Northfield Elementary School (9125 Northfield Road). From US-29 southbound, exit at MD-103 (Exit 23). Turn right at the stop light at the top of the ramp and proceed a quarter mile or so to St. John’s Lane, then follow the directions as above for northbound travelers LEADER: Keith Kuhlemeier 410-750-8512/[email protected]. No calls after 8PM. NOTE If the Baltimore Sun weather report predicts a daily high of 90 degrees or more, the hike will be cancelled. WEDNESDAY – JULY 8 – BOLLINGER MILL – 5M MW Leave 10:00 AM. West on Liberty Rd, Rte. 26. Turn right at Rte. 32. Continue 3.6 miles to Bollinger Mill Rd. Turn right and continue to end and parking. LEADER: Emily Durkee, 410-922-6928. MHA WEDNESDAY – JULY 8 – PATUXENT RIVER PARK – 9M Circuit hike of approximately 9 miles over rolling wooded terrain in Jug Bay Natural Area of Patuxent River Park in Prince George’s County. Several moderate short climbs on well maintained trails. Pace will be 2.5 to 3.0 miles per hour. LEAVE: 8:30 A.M. from Benfield Blvd../Veteran’s Hwy. Park-N- behindRide Exxon station Exit 10-A from I-97 south. LEADER: John Knepley,[email protected] / (410) 987-8341 CARPOOL COST:$2.00 MHA WEDNESDAY – JULY 8 – BIG GUNPOWDER – 9E Shaded flat tweener hike on the south bank of the Big Gunpowder River with a couple of stream crossings. LEAVE: 10.00A.M. Parking lot on Belair Road I-695 exit 32N drive 5.5 miles to parking lot on right. LEADER: Liz Kristoffersen or [email protected]. MHA SATURDAY – JULY 11 – GREENBRIER STATE PARK TO ANNAPOLIS ROCKS – 13H/S This out-and-back hike offers two impressive views of Greenbrier Lake -- one as we’re swooping down on it from within the park, and the second as we’re overlooking it from our lunch spot atop Annapolis Rocks. The hike has about 2,000 feet of ascent (including two 500 foot climbs), contains a number of rocky sections of trail, has no stream crossings to speak of, and has two crossings on the I-70 footbridge. Our pace will be moderate (that is, average speed while moving will be 2.5 - 3 mph).