Patapsco Chevy Loop plus Secret Hideout 2021-09-25

 Decided to put up some pix from one of my favorite morning hikes near home, the Patapsco Valley "Chevy Loop". I hiked it this morning, takes about 4 hours total. Some days I do the hike and take a detour to the stone chimney ruins (my secret hideout), string up the hammock and read a book, or take a nap. More about the ruins shortly.

THE PLAN

I park at the Woodstock Inn overflow parking lot, across the street from the inn. They're really nice about maintaining Patapsco hiker/biker parking for free, even though they don't have to. Location: https://g.page/the-woodstock-inn?share

Here's the map on alltrails.com

Note that this part of the valley is a phone dead zone, though GPS works.

THE PICTURES

Misty morning in Woodstock, MD, with the Woodstock Inn across the street. An absolutely perfect fall day

Why They Call It The Chevy Loop

There is an abandoned 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air out in the middle of the woods. It looks like it's been there since 1958. How it got there, I can't even guess. People adorn it with skeletons and whatnot. Here are some photos from a previous visit:

So now you know.

The Stone Chimney Ruins

Listen: if you put "RUINS" on a map, I am going there, whether it's a good idea or not

I found an easy way to get to it from the thru trail:

I've visited this place a number of times actually; I'm just now finally taking some pix. It's very peaceful, with the sound of the trees and birds, and the Patapsco flowing by down the hill to the west. No one else has ever wandered by, the times I've been there. Top notch place to build a house, in my opinion.

Hand drawn in the mortar of one of the foundation piers are the words "WE MOURN OUR LOSS". Back when I first found this place, I looked it up on the internet, and found an article about it - the family that lived there lost an infant to illness, something that happened with distressing frequency 200 years ago. I looked for the same info today and for some reason I can't find anything. I wish I knew more about this homestead but that's all I know.

My main goal this morning was to keep practicing stringing up the Eno Sub6 hammock, especially to see if I could fashion a perfect ridge line (the short line that makes the hammock a banana), one that I could just hook up next time and onward, and not have to fiddle with it ever again. I think I got it, we'll see next time.

This is a Loop Alien guy line tensioner. No knots required. These things are so simple, clever and functional that I use them everywhere I can. Here's a straightforward YouTube video showing how to use it.

That's it for today. Did you see "Blair Witch House" in the first map up top? Yep. Maybe I'll take you there soon.