Patapsco Valley - A local escape from the urban jungle.

John Muir, an environmental philosopher, once said "Come to the woods, for here is rest." John Muir lived in the 1800s in a much different world. That world was still the United States but, unlike today, it wasn't such a chore to escape the urban atmosphere. When we think of escaping to the great outdoors we often picture packing the car up and hitting the road for hours before arriving anywhere that will curb our appetite for adventure. If you're in the Baltimore area you have an opportunity for that quick escape closer than you think. Patapsco Valley State Park, or "Patapsco" to locals, is well known in the area for its parks, picnic pavillions, and day hiking. For most, that's as far as Patapsco goes to feed their need for everything outdoors. If you look a little closer and go beyond those paved parking lots you'll find a world of opportunity for much more. This 16,000 acre state park that runs along 32 miles of the Patapsco River will accommodate your and your family's interests in camping, fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, and even horseback riding.

I've known about all the activities available in Patapsco for quite a while but, I didn't believe Patapsco was a serious contender for any of the outdoor activities my family and I enjoy. Like most other locals, I didn't think it was much more than a place to visit for a quick stroll or a place to BBQ near a playground. With over 200 miles of trails, 32 miles of river banks, eight developed recreational areas including 85 total campsites, you won't be at a loss for things to do.

I have hiked countless miles in the park and spent many hours at the playgrounds but only recently decided to stay at the campground. It was more of a camping trial with my six-year-old daughter. My wife and I had a horrible experience at a campground with our daughter when she was three years old. We were over two hours away when we decided to go home at 3:00 A.M., so a campsite tear down and trip back was not something I wanted to do again. Patapsco, however is less than two miles from our house, and the campsites are less than five miles. If we had a repeat situation like last time, I could handle it knowing we were no more than 15 minutes from my warm comfortable bed. I thought it was time to try again. Much to my delight, it was quite the opposite of the last camping trip with my daughter.

The entire experience at Hollofield campground (http://dnr2.maryland.gov/publiclands/Pages/central/patapscohollofield.aspx) was excellent from start to finish. The online site reservation was simple. Maryland DNR has created a very easy, informative web site. I was able to reserve our non-electric site from a map showing my surrounding amenities and proximity to the other campsites. The prices are very reasonable. At around $18, it's by far the best bang for the buck in our region. The check-in was the easiest I've experienced of all the campsites where I've stayed.

The entry control staff were pleasant and helpful. The campsites were well maintained and spacious. There's room enough for a vehicle and two tents on the pad area. The non-electric sites offer a well-maintained picnic table, fire ring, and trash hook to keep critters out of your bags. We settled into camp early evening. All around us were active campers riding bikes, others relaxing at their campfires, children exploring the area, and an occasional campground staffer riding around ensuring everyone was safe and sound. We heard no violation of quiet hours and had no other problems. After some play time at the beautiful new playground near the Hollofield campground entrance, we had a quick dinner by the fire, a few too many S'Mores, and some hot chocolate, we settled in for a very comfortable sleep.

If you're in the central Maryland area and want a quick escape from the city life, I recommend you give Patapsco a try. We have a six year old who is hooked on camping now, so I'm sure we'll be back.
   

Old Rag Mountain - the Fun Kind of Challenging

I'll never forget my first hike up Old Rag Mountain in Shenandoah National Park (https://www.hikingupward.com/snp/oldrag/). I was 11 years old. My youth pastor planned an overnight camping trip at the top of the mountain, so we had to carry everything up in backpacks. I will never forget the switch backs, and the female counselor who made us take a break every 100 yards (for her to rest). They were challenging, especially with the extra weight. The fun really began when we got to the rocky parts of the trail. We had to work as a team to help each other up and to lift backpacks up some of the rocky ledges. It felt so dangerous. I loved it. There were a number of scenic overlooks on the way up too. I remember feeling amazed at how beautiful it was and how far I could see. When we finally reached the top at the end of the day, I felt so accomplished. We ate dinner and camped out at the top (which I don't think they permit any longer).

About 15 years later, I decided to pay homage to my old pal, Old Rag Mountain. My friend, Jen,

hadn't hiked it before.  We decided to camp out at Big Meadow Campground on Skyline Drive for two nights. On the first day, we hiked a bit of the Appalachian Trail. It was pretty awesome that the trail ran right by our campsite. We even ran into a couple of black bears, which felt equally scary and exciting. Big Meadow Campground is a great spot. They have a big camp store, which we needed because we forgot a few things (like socks).

On day two, we headed to Old Rag Mountain. The switch backs were a lot less exhausting without the backpack, but they were still a good workout. The views were even better this time. Its amazing how much more you appreciate nature's beauty as an adult. The rocky parts of the trail were my favorite, again. It was a great hike, and it only took a few hours this time. Its important to note that both of my visits to Old Rag Mountain were during the week. I hear there are a lot more hikers on the weekends.

I bragged about my Old Rag Mountain excursions to my husband enough times that he decided to go. He loved it too, and now he tells his friends about it. Its the kind of hike you know that other people will love, whether they are seasoned hikers or not. Its a challenging hike, but the beauty and ever-changing trail keep it interesting and fun.