‘Outdoors | Hiking’ Posts⁽⁸⁾

Another Conservancy project, the Battle Creek Cypress Swamp in Prince Frederick, Maryland is a great and accessible preserve. The swamp harbors the northernmost stand of bald cypress trees in the United States, making it well worth the trip to Maryland’s Western Shore..

I actually hiked this a couple of weeks ago, but forgot to bring the rechargable battery for my new camera … (stupid new camera). It was good enough (especially down by the water) that I wanted to come back and take some shots.

I hesitate to call this a hike, because there wasn’t a discernable trail. I also hesitate to imply that it is open to the public (it is) because it is so hard to get to and because the land just isn’t setup for visitors.

That being said, the Hellen Creek Hemlock Preserve is pretty remarkable in that it is the southernmost stand of Canadian hemlock in the eastern United States.

Today is one of those fall federal holidays that we get off just because the federal goverment is shut down. I know I just offended someone, but not sure if that was the Italians (Columbus Day) or those who have served in our miliary (Veterans Day) or someone else.

Anyway, Jonathon (friend from work) and I took a rare, mutual day off and hiked Little Devil’s Stairs in the Shenandoah. Not much in the way of scenery, but one heck of a hike.

I absolutely love poplar trees, so the Tall Poplar Trail in Patapsco State Park is one of my favorites. It was a great day for it too, with an exceptionally blue sky peppered (salted?) with fluffy white, cotton clouds. Perfection.

Hiked the river trail. The best thing was the possability of soft serve ice cream at the end, which went unfulfilled because the stand was closed when we got back. *Sigh*