Howard County Group - Outings
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outings 
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Outings: Get online directions to our meeting places. And take a look at our photo gallery to see pictures from previous outings. For outings by other groups, see the Maryland Chapter calendar and the Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings (PRO, formerly MWROP). Sat. Nov. 21: Gunpowder - Sweet Air Area, MD. Easy 7 mile loop through pines, hardwoods, around a pond and along pretty Little Gunpowder River. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sun. Nov. 22: Savage Park, Wincopin Trail, MD. Moderate 4 or 7 mile hike along the Middle and Little Patuxent Rivers, easy except for a few hills and rocky parts. Stop after 4 miles, or continue an extra 3 with a lunch stop at the rapids near Savage Mill. Bring lunch and water. Meet at 9:30 at Patuxent Valley Middle School, off Vollmerhausen Road just west of Savage Guilford Rd. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Fri. Nov. 27: Gunpowder - Sweathouse Branch / Pot Rocks, MD. Moderate 5 or 10 mile hike, do all or half. Some stream crossings. Visit the Sweathouse Branch Wildlands, Saw Mill Run and Pot Rocks. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. Nov. 28: Patapsco Valley State Park. Moderate 8 mile circuit hike in the Glen Artney/Orange Grove areas of the park, on the Soapstone, Valley View and Vineland Spring Trails. Lunch at the Cascades. Bring lunch and water. Hike starts at 9:30 from the Rolling Road Park & Ride, I-195 @ MD 166. Call Tim Ryan before 9:30 PM, 410-248-2974, timothy_ryan@urscorp.com. Sun. Nov. 29: Meadowbrook Park. Easy 2.5 mile "sneaker hike" on a paved loop around the park, checking out the ponds for winter wildlife. Meet at 9:30 at Long Gate Parkway Park & Ride, off Rt. 100, just east of Rt. 29. Contact Sue Muller, 301-498-8462, sonicsue@verizon.net. Sat. Dec. 5: Soldiers Delight, MD. Easy 5 mile circuit hike on meandering trails. An interesting geological area varies from one side of Deer Park Road to the other. See Serpentine Rock and evidence of old mining activity. Depart at 9:00 from the park & ride at the Clarksville Fire Department on Rt. 108 at Rt. 32. Contact Betty Steil, 443-745-3041, blsteil@verizon.net. Sun. Dec. 6: Great Falls Billy Goat Trail, MD. Moderate 8-9 mile hike on trails near the Potomac River, with short rock scrambles on the Billy Goat Trail. Enjoy dramatic scenery and observe wildlife. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 8:30 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat. Dec. 12: Fairhill NRMA, MD. Easy 8 mile circuit hike through woods, open fields and along pretty Big Elk Creek. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. Dec. 12: Catoctin Mountain Park, MD. Moderate 9 mile hike, visiting Cunningham Falls, Wolf Rock and Chimney Rock. Bring lunch and water. Meet at the Bagel Bin off Rt. 40 in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, for an 8:30 departure. Or contact the leader to meet at the Catoctin Visitor Center. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net. Sat. Dec. 19: Gambrill State Park, MD. Moderate 7 mile hike on wooded trails, with several scenic overlooks. Bring lunch and water. Meet at the Bagel Bin off Rt. 40 in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, for a 9:00 departure. Call Tim Ryan before 9:30 PM, 410-248-2974, timothy_ryan@urscorp.com. Sun. Dec. 20: Patapsco - McKeldin. Moderate 7 mile hike to Liberty Dam and along the Patapsco River past McKeldin Falls. Bring lunch and water. Meet at the Bagel Bin off Rt. 40 in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, for a 9:30 departure. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat. Dec. 26: Greenbelt Park, MD. Easy 8 mile circuit hike in this "urban oasis" through mature hardwood forest. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sun. Dec. 27: Great Falls, VA. Moderate six mile hike on dramatic cliffs overlooking the Potomac River, along the historic Patowmack Canal, and past the scenic Difficult Run rapids. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 9:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net.
2010Fri. Jan. 1, 2010: Sugarloaf Mountain, MD. (Tentative location, depending on road construction.) Moderate 9 mile circuit with an initial steep ascent to the summit. Lots of views. Bring Lunch, water and good boots. Depart at 8:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. Jan. 2: Clopper Lake, MD. Moderate 8 mile hike, circling beautiful Clopper Lake and branching out on other trails. Enjoy the geese honking, beaver, and deer. Depart at 8:30 from the park & ride at the Clarksville Fire Department on Rt. 108 at Rt. 32. Contact Betty Steil, 443-745-3041, blsteil@verizon.net. Sat. Jan. 9: Kings Gap Environmental Center, PA. Moderate 9 mile circuit with 1700 feet of elevation gain. Bring lunch, water and good boots. Depart at 8:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sun. Jan. 10: Patuxent River State Park. Moderate 7 mile hike, west of Howard Chapel Rd., through woods and across rolling farm fields. Bring lunch and water, and boots for muddy trails and challenging stream crossings. Depart at 10:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat.-Sun. Jan. 16-17: Wilderness First Aid. We highly recommend this class for anybody who spends a lot of time in remote locations, and particularly for hike leaders and backpackers. This is an 18-hour class, and includes CPR. Costs and other details are being finalized. Held at the Howard County Conservancy in Woodstock MD. Contact Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat. Jan. 23: Rock Creek Park in D.C. Moderate 8 mile circuit hike through woods by the creek, with a quick visit to the zoo. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 9:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Call Tim Ryan before 9:30 PM, 410-248-2974, timothy_ryan@urscorp.com. Sat. Jan. 30: White Oak Canyon, VA. Strenuous 10 mile hike in Shenandoah National Park, featuring several ice-covered waterfalls. The trail will likely be icy in places. Bring lunch, water, and good hiking shoes. Depart at 7:30 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Sign up in advance, Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat. Feb. 6: Gunpowder Falls - Hereford, MD. Moderate 7 mile hike over hilly terrain to Prettyboy Dam. Bring lunch and water. Depart Columbia at 9:00 from Long Gate Parkway Park & Ride, off Rt. 100, just east of Rt. 29. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net. Sat. Feb. 6: Introduction to 3-Season Backpacking Seminar. Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 10:00 to 12:00. Presentation includes tips on preparation and gear selection, hazards of the trail, and leave-no-trace. Bring snacks and drinks. Pre-registration requested but not required. Co-leaders: Mike Juskelis, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com, 410-439-4964 and Betty Steil, blsteil@verizon.net, 443-745-3041. Sat. Feb. 13: Patapsco Valley State Park, Hilton area. Moderate 7 mile hike. Bring lunch and water. Meet at 10:00 at the parking lot behind the Hilton Area Nature Center, just inside the Hilton Avenue entrance on the right. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net. Sat. Feb. 20: Weverton Cliffs. Moderate 12 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail from Gathland State Park to Weverton Cliffs and return. Bring lunch and water. Meet at the Bagel Bin off Rt. 40 in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, for an 8:30 departure. Call Tim Ryan before 9:30 PM, 410-248-2974, timothy_ryan@urscorp.com. Sat. Feb. 27: Piney Ridge-Piney Branch Loop, SNP, VA. Moderate 9 mile circuit with 1700 feet elevation gain and some stream crossings. Bring lunch, water and good boots. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. Mar. 6: Pond Run-White Rocks Circuit, Great North Mountain, GWNF, WV. Strenuous 11.6 mile circuit with two great views. 2300 feet elevation gain. Bring lunch, water and good boots. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sun. Mar. 7: Oregon Ridge Pancake Hike. Easy 5 mile hike, with some hills and stream crossings, optionally followed by pancakes. The park demonstrates the boiling down of maple syrup, and has a fundraising pancake breakfast for $6.00. Depart at 8:30 from Long Gate Parkway Park & Ride, off Rt. 100, just east of Rt. 29. Or meet us in the parking lot by the Oregon Ridge Lodge at 9:10. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat. Mar. 20: Jones Mountain-Staunton River Loop, SNP, VA. Strenuous 13 mile circuit with 2400 feet elevation gain and some stream crossings. Some nice views, rock gardens and cascades. Bring lunch, water and good boots. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. Mar. 27: Bucktail Trail-Halfmoon Lookout, Great North Mountain, GWNF, VA. 10 mile moderate loop with some steep rocky sections and stream crossings. 2000 feet elevation gain. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. The Howard County Sierra Club group does not charge any fee for leading outings, but some outings do require unspecified park entrance fees or rental fees for items such as canoes or inner tubes. Participants on Sierra Club outings must sign a liability waiver. The Club encourages outings participants to carpool to the trailhead, but such travel is at the participants discretion, and risk. Outings normally begin at the trailhead. |