Monday, August 09, 2021

Annapolis Rock 2021-07-04

Park here: https://goo.gl/maps/g39on5vTnFquvBKq8

The parking lot gets very busy on nice days, I counted 80+ people hiking up to AR from this lot for the view the next day while I was hiking down. Rather, park in the evening, when people are leaving, hike up before sunset and set up camp, watch the sun go down, and you're good. Middle of the day, forget it. Busy.

The hike begins:

Short blue blaze trail to the AT proper

The AT Proper

Deceptively easy approach, this should be a piece of cake

I passed by the Pine Knob Shelter and campsites without taking any pix. Pine Knob has perfectly adequate camping sites/tent pads, and it has a spring with a pipe, but the spring is usually pretty weak, so check it out online right before you head out there to see if there's any water.

It's also right next to Interstate 70 so there's truck tires and engines and jake brakes all night, something to think about if you're trying to get away from it all.

The stairs begin

The stairs continue, forever

Honestly the climb to Annapolis Rock is up, up up, 1500 of these log steps, they wear me out every time

I'm having fun, but I don't look like I'm having fun

I am, I promise

Once you achieve the ridge, it's a lot easier the rest of the way to AR. Very nice ferns along the way.

Made it! Turn left to reach the overlook, and the campsites.

Note: Cooking stoves OK, campfires not allowed. Different from most AT campsites.

Site map

I met the caretaker, a nice young man who is a Ridge Runner, sort of like a park ranger but just on the AT, and they keep the peace and help people out but mostly pick up trash :( God bless 'em

I set up camp at Site 9 - was the second to last one not taken on the 4th of July, I took my chances on the parking and I took my chances on the camping sites, no way to know in advance. Lucked out on both. Not sure what I would have done if there weren't an open site. I know I wouldn't have hiked back down and gone home though.

Very good, strong spring, no water probs at all.

4th of July at Annapolis Rock. You could see dozens of fireworks displays from up on high, and it was weird, because they all looked tiny, from up here. There was a family from California, nice folks with kids, and a young lady from Alabama who was doing what she called LASHes - Long-Assed Section Hikes. Great people. We speculated that that's Hagerstown, MD in the distance, and consulted our gadgets, but none of us were sure.

Morning: pack it up and head back down. I'll be back, for sure. This is a very nice hike and camp. I recommend it, if you want to take your chances on the parking and the availability of campsites. I hope you like stairs.

Labels: Appalachian Trail, backpack, camping, hiking

Saturday, August 07, 2021

Rocky Run Overnight 2021-07-31

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The restaurant owners very graciously provide two rows of their parking lot for hikers - they are well marked.

The road to Dahlgren Backpacker Campground

Dahlgren Backpacker Campground - a five minute walk from the parking lot, if you just want to do some gear shakedown

Sidereal was here

Headed to Rocky Run shelter

Arriving at Rocky Run shelter blue blaze trail

Rocky Run shelter itself

The eponymous Rocky Run, with the spring just up ahead. Always running every time I've visited, even when the weather has been dry. A+ spring. Old shelter in the background, still usable

Camp setup - Eno doublenest hammock, rain fly, underquilt, Kammock Joey gear sling

All my weather gadgets said it wasn't going to rain - but you set up the tarp anyways. At 0530 I was awakened by the gentle pitter patter of rain. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The View from the Hang

Night shot with USB rechargeable fairy lights

Incinerating a steak

That's a Lixada titanium folding wood stove, it's amazing, I never camp without it. You can use it like this (with a square Expedition Research Bushcraft Grill on top, fits perfectly), or you can leave the top and bottom off and jam it into your camp fire, it makes a great pot holder/stabilizer.

Morning glop - oatmeal, raisins, cranberries, chia seeds, ground flax seed, cinnamon. MSR Pocket Rocket stove and canister for fire, too lazy to build a fire in the morning