Howard County Group - Outings

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 Metropolitan Washington Regional Outings Program (MWROP). Sat. Oct. 4: Gettysburg National Military Park, PA. Moderate 11 mile hike, tracing the Gettysburg conflict's Union and Confederate line's, with a climax of walking Pickett's charge back to the Union line. Start at the new Museum and Visitors Center. A mix of trail and road walking, only 50% shade, so bring a hat and extra water. The only significant change of elevation is Little and Big Round Top. Depart at 8:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Route 32. Leader: Betty Steil, blsteil@verizon.net, 443-745-3041 (cell). Sat. Oct. 11: Harpers Ferry. Strenuous 9 or 11 mile hike through 3 states, with spectacular overlooks of historic Harpers Ferry at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Follow the C&O canal, walk through town, and ascend to Maryland Heights, Loudoun Heights, Split Rocks, and Jefferson Rocks. 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.-Mon. Oct. 11-13: Quehanna Wild Area Backpack, PA. Moderate 28 mile backpack over beautiful plateaus and along tranquil streams. The area is teaming with industrial and local history. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. Oct. 18: Catoctin Trail, Cunningham Falls State Park. Strenuous 10.5 mile out-and-back hike from Manor Area to Cunningham Falls. Approx. 1,100 ft. elevation gain in the first 1 1/2 miles, and 800 ft. elevation gain on the return leg. Visit Bob's Rock vista with fall colors, and have lunch at Cunningham Falls. This hike completes the series of Catoctin Trail hikes. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 8:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Route 32. Call John Cougnet, 443-756-6741, jc5342@msn.com. Sat. Oct. 25: Patapsco, Daniels Area. Moderate 6 mile hike along both sides of the river, visiting ruins of the old mill town. Wade across the river or cross railroad bridges. Meet at 9:00 at the Daniels Dam parking lot, on Daniels Rd. Bring a snack and water. Optional restaurant lunch after the hike. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net. Sun. Oct. 26: Patuxent River Park - Jug Bay. Moderate 7 mile hike in P.G. County. Observe a large variety of plants and animals in the forest, fields, and wetlands. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 8:30 from the west lot of the park & ride on Broken Land Parkway at Rt. 32. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat.-Mon. Oct. 25-27: Cold Mountain / Mount Pleasant Backpack, VA. Easy 3 mile backpack into and out of base camp. In the middle, a moderate 12 mile day hike with some of the most breathtaking views in central VA. Suitable for experienced hikers who wish to move up to backpacking. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. Nov. 1: Little Devils Stairs, VA. Strenuous 8 mile hike in Shenandoah NP, rough and steep at times. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the park & ride on Broken Land Parkway at Rt. 32. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat.-Mon. Nov. 1-3: Hog Camp Gap to Spy Rock Backpack, VA. Strenuous but with low daily mileage. Backpack 7 miles over scenic Tar Jacket Ridge and set up a base camp at the Seeley-Woodworth shelter. The next day, a 6-mile round trip to Spy Rock, where we will linger and enjoy its 360 degree view for as long as we can. On the third day, backpack out on the Lovington Spring Trail. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. Nov. 8: Catoctin Trail, Mt. Zion Road to Cunningham Falls. Moderate to strenuous 10 mile out-and-back hike through the Catoctin Mountain Park, with lunch at Cunningham Falls. The fourth in a series of Catoctin Trail hikes. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 8:00 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Route 32. Call John Cougnet, 443-756-6741, jc5342@msn.com. Sun. Nov. 9: DC Green Festival. Carpool from Columbia to the DC Convention Center for the DC Green Festival. Learn to be more "green" by attending workshops, hearing speakers and browsing green business displays. Great food and music too! Visit http://greenfestivals.org/ for more info. Tickets are $15 at the door. Depart at 10:00 from the west lot of the park & ride on Broken Land Parkway at Rt. 32. Return about 4:00. Call Sue Muller, 301-498-8462, sonicsue@verizon.net. Sat. Nov. 15: Signal Knob, VA. Strenuous 10 mile circuit hike with overlooks of the Shenandoah Valley. Trails are extremely rocky at times with a 1200-foot increase in elevation over 4 miles. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 7:30 from the west lot of the park & ride on Broken Land Parkway at Rt. 32. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat. Nov. 22: Gunpowder Falls, Hereford. 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. Fri. Nov. 28: Annapolis Rock, MD. Moderate 11 mile hike along the Appalachian Trail, from Washington Monument State Park to Annapolis Rock 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. Nov. 29: G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, VA. Moderate 9.2 mile hike with 1900 feet elevation gain. Hike a combination of trails, old woods roads and the AT. Bring lunch and water. Wear orange. Depart at 8:00 from the west lot of the park & ride on Broken Land Parkway at Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. Dec. 6: Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, VA. Easy 7 mile hike passing pretty streams, old houses, ponds and open fields. Bring lunch and water. 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. Dec. 7: Patuxent Branch Trail, MD. Easy 6 mile "sneaker hike" on paved trails in Columbia, along the Little Patuxent River, around Lake Elkhorn, and return before lunch. Look for wintering waterfowl on the lake. Meet at 9:00 at the trailhead parking lot, across from 9175 Guilford Rd, Columbia. Call Sue Muller, 301-498-8462, sonicsue@verizon.net. Sat. Dec. 20: 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. Fri. Dec. 26: Wildcat Mountain Circuit, VA. Moderate 5.3 mile circuit with a 1500 foot elevation gain passing an old farmhouse and spring house. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 9:00 from the west lot of the park & ride on Broken Land Parkway at Rt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Thu. Jan. 1, 2009: Hogback Mt. / Elkwallow, SNP, VA. Start the new year with this moderate 10 mile hike with 1600 feet of elevation gain. Some nice views and a pleasant stream. Lunch at Range Cabin. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 7:00 from the west lot of the park & ride on Broken Land Parkway 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.