So much here I did not know. I got a chance to hike up Maryland Height the next day after JFK 50. My friend who ran in it was recovering well. People wonder, how can one still move after running a 50 mile. We just do. We love trails. I was trying to get a short run in before the weekend is over. It was to be ready for the Devil Dog. My friend and probably had the same idea to take advantage of the nice weather to do some trail running in the area.
I have been up there before to look over Harpers Ferry. It is an amazing sight no matter how many times I have been up there.
Apparently, it was also a good training run location, if only I have an annual pass for the National Park parking.
Theorectically, I could park at Weaverton cliff and run there, or Bunswick, because I am an ultra runner and I can do the distance (maybe about 4 miles from parking to trailhead, 8-9 miles round trip). If I need more climbing, I could climb up Weverton Cliff a few times.
That what we did. We started at Weverton Cliff before sunrise only to find I did not bring a headlamp. So we waited for dawn in the parking lot. It was also too cold for me to run that early. Once it was light enough to see, we climbed. We had a long workout that morning running back on the portion of JFK 50 course on the Appalachian Trail. The AT always has plenty of hill climbs and steep descents. Due to time constraint and also we did not pack much for food, maybe only a candy bar or some cookies, we took a break for brunch back in Boobsboro maybe about 20-30 min drive. It was too much to do a run to the Maryland Height too without a proper meal. Also we were out of time because we had to move out from our hotel room by noonish before we could get back on the trail in the afternoon.
There is also a lower parking lot for the AT hike (maybe at Loundon Height), but that gets filled up fast.
Anyway, a friend showed me a place she usually parks on Sandyhook Road, just before it turns into Harper Ferry Road. It was kind of iffy because, there’s a sign says tow away zone, no parking. Loading only. Ok, we did a four-hour loading there and, 3 more cars joined us at doing so call loading. They proved me wrong that the tiny strip can only fit two cars. I guess, we were lucky that we didn’t get a ticket or the car being towed away. I don’t recommend others to try this, unless they are willing to risk their cars not being there after a long hike. Better parking would be at the National Park Parking and they have buses to drive you where you need to go (mostly into the historical town and then you can hike over).
There was much more to see on Maryland Height. First we had many a mile of hike on the C&O Canal Towpath from where we parked to the trailhead.
After the canal there was a climb, a very long climb maybe a mile, to a place where the trail split. Red trail is to the Overlook, where everybody goes to. In the past, I thought that was it. I forgot there is a trail that continue onward up. We went the less traveled path before ending up at the overlook.
The Overlook is definitely worth seeing. In the past, I think our mistake was to hike to the Overlook first, which is still a hard climb, so we were tired by then and did not want to continue up the mountain afterward. So for so many times I have been on Maryland Height, I have completely forgot there is more. I always have gone there with friends so we always considered the group ability instead of just myself. I of course could climb the distance many times over. Some do use the loop for ultra marathon training.
On the left, there is a much smaller trail about 4 mile loop, that will take one to the true pinnacle of Maryland Height. There was some ruins of the old fortification during the Civil War up at the top. It was definitely worthy of a visit. There is one spot where you can see 360 view around. It is where they place the big gun up there during the Civil War.
The trail though is rocky and technical. For ultra runners, rocks are not an issue, but for everyday folks, this is a good workout and if not a pretty hard hike.
Along the way, there are placards about the Civil War history. Apparantly, the Confederate took the hill, and led to the taking of Harper Ferry. I think 2000 soldiers held off a much bigger 12000 Union soldiers on this hill. They were able to haul a 10000 lbs gun up the hill. How it was done was beyond imagination. It was quite a feat.
The trail was improved and repaired and reblazed it since the last time my friend told me, so it is impossible to get lost. There are signages and such.
Harper Ferry, Maryland Height is definitely a good training ground for me if I ever go back. Parking is a problem. I do need a NP annual pass, so I could park at the NPS Visitor Center.
So much more happened that day. The Bathroom. At the end of our hike, we met two runners on the C&O Canal asking if we know there is a bathroom facility nearby. They are females. I laughed. I turned to my friend maybe she can show them where. They got the hint. There’s none that I know of unless of course back in town or at the NPS parking lot, which was like 3-4 miles away. Not that far but far enough. I don’t remember if I ever needed to go that day. I probably did. I ran a hundred miles on the canal before. I don’t know what I did. We also don’t drink that much so we could hold it in. There’s must be porta johns along the way. Either hold it in until there’s a facility or do it discretely as a runner. It is one thing we don’t talk about.
I remember weird things. There was time still before evening, so we sat near our car looking at the river before sunset. It got too cold then when we were not moving. We called it a day.
In awe 