Howard County Group - Outings

Outings: Get online directions to our meeting places. And take a look at our photo gallery to see pictures from previous outings. For outings by other groups, see the Maryland Chapter calendar and the Metropolitan Washington Regional Outings Program (MWROP). Sat. May 17: Morgan's Run at Liberty Reservoir. Moderate 8 mile hike, with some stream crossings. Bring lunch and water. Meet at the Bagel Bin off Rt. 40 in the Enchanted Forest Shopping Center, for a 9:00 departure. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net. Sat. May 24: Patapsco - Rockburn Branch, MD. Moderate 7-8 mile hike with several steam crossings, following the Patapsco River on the Valley View Trail. Bring lunch and water. Meet at 10:00 in Rockburn Branch Park, the entrance off Landing Road one mile north of Montgomery Road; park in the lot at the end of the road under the power lines. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net. Sat.-Mon. May 24-26: Canaan Mountain Backpack, WV. Moderate 29 mile backpack featuring mature forest, giant spruce and hemlock trees, streams, highland bogs and vistas. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. May 31: Old Rag Mountain, VA. Strenuous 9 mile hike featuring boulders, some scrambling, and a great view. Bring lunch, water, and $5 park fee. Depart at 7:30 from the west lot of the park & ride on Broken Land Parkway at Rt. 32. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Thu.-Sun. June 5-8: Loft Mountain Camping, Shenandoah NP, VA. Car camp at Loft Mountain Campground. Featured hikes are the Austin Mt/Furnace Mt loop (12.6 miles) and the Rocky Mount Circuit (9.8 miles). Both hikes are strenuous. Join us for one or both. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. June 7: Jug Bay, Patuxent River Park. Five hour / 9 mile paddle down this flat water river and tidal marsh; expect to see ospreys and plenty of other wildlife. The put-in is at the Queen Anne Canoe Launch, and the take-out at Jackson's Landing, at the park office. Bring lunch and water. Sign up early to reserve a $20 canoe or kayak. Depart Columbia at 7:15 from Broken Land park & ride. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat.-Mon. June 14-16: Chuck Keiper Trail Backpack, PA. Strenuous 32 mile backpack in Sproul State Forest. Approximately 10 miles/day through beautiful stream valleys and across highland plateaus. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sun. June 15: Flag Ponds Nature Park. Easy 4 mile hike down to the beach on the Chesapeake Bay, where we will hunt for shark teeth and other fossils eroded from Calvert Cliffs. Bring lunch to eat on the beach. On the return drive, optionally stop for a short walk at Battle Creek Cypress Swamp. Depart at 8:30 from the west lot of the park & ride on Broken Land Parkway at Rt. 32. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, kenclark7@comcast.net. Sat. June 28: Catoctin Trail, Manor Area to Fishing Creek Road. Moderate to strenuous 10 mile out-and-back hike in the southern section of Cunningham Falls State Park. The third in a series of Catoctin Trail hikes. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 8:30 from the park & ride just north of I-70 on Rt. 32. Call John Cougnet, 443-756-6741, jc5342@msn.com. Sat.-Mon. July 12-14: Dolly Sods Backpack, WV. Moderate 26+ mile backpack through Dolly Sods North and Wilderness Area in Monongahela National Forest. This wild area looks more like the Canadian Shield than a typical area forest. We will explore some seldom visited trails on the first day. Challenging stream crossings might require a change of footwear. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Thu.-Sun. July 24-27: Loyalsock Trail Backpack, World's End State Park, PA. This is a 4 day, 2 part trip; do one or both parts. Part 1 is a 17 to 20 mile backpack on the Loyalsock Trail and Link Trail. We will either camp on the shores of a highland pond or along Loyalsock Creek. Second night, car camp at World's End. Part 2 will be an overnight backpack using the Loyalsock Trail and World's End Trail, of similar distance to the first part. Camp above a waterfall on Ketchum Creek. The next day, hike back and return home. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Fri.-Sun. Aug. 8-10: Otter Creek Backpack, WV. Day 1: backpack 9 miles along Otter Creek and up and over McGowan Mountain visiting the highland bogs of Yellow Creek and Moore Run. Day 2: 10 mile day hike visiting several swimming holes on the return leg. Day 3 is a nearly flat 5 mile backpack out along Otter Creek. Challenging stream crossings may require a change of footwear. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat.-Mon. Aug. 23-25: Hammersley Wild Area Backpack, PA. Backpack 23 miles over 3 days on the Susquehannock Trail System, focusing on the Hammersley Wild Area. 3 miles of road walking will be required to close the loop. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat.-Mon. Aug. 30 - Sep. 1: Seneca Creek Backcountry Backpack, WV. Day one features a moderate 10 mile backpack exploring trails on the western slope of Allegheny Mt. before descending to our base camp below beautiful Seneca Falls. On day 2 we'll explore the High Meadows above the creek without packs. On day 3 return to cars on the Seneca Creek Trail, Tom Lick Trail and Allegheny Trail (approximately 7 miles). Challenging stream crossings may require a change of footwear. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat.-Tue. Sep. 13-16: Loft Mountain Camping, Shenandoah NP, VA. Car camp at Loft Mountain Campground. Featured hikes are the Rip-Rap Hollow Loop (9.5 miles) and the Turk Branch/Moorman's River Circuit (9.7 miles). Both hikes are strenuous. Join us for one or both. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat.-Mon. Sep. 20-22: Roaring Plains Backpack, WV. Day 1 backpack in 2.5 miles and set up camp at the entrance to the Hidden Passage. Day 2 features a 12 mile day hike along the Canyon Rim with possible side trips. Day 3 backpack out the way we came in. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat.-Mon. Oct. 11-13: Quehanna Wild Area Backpack, PA. Moderate 28 mile backpack over beautiful plateaus and along tranquil streams. The area is teaming with industrial and local history. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat.-Mon. Oct. 25-27: Cold Mountain / Mount Pleasant Backpack, VA. Easy 3 mile backpack into and out of base camp. In the middle, a moderate 12 mile day hike with some of the most breathtaking views in central VA. Suitable for experienced hikers who wish to move up to backpacking. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat.-Mon. Nov. 1-3: Hog Camp Gap to Spy Rock Backpack, VA. Strenuous but with low daily mileage. Backpack 7 miles over scenic Tar Jacket Ridge and set up a base camp at the Seeley-Woodworth shelter. The next day, a 6-mile round trip to Spy Rock, where we will linger and enjoy its 360 degree view for as long as we can. On the third day, backpack out on the Lovington Spring Trail. Register with Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. The Howard County Sierra Club group does not charge any fee for leading outings, but some outings do require unspecified park entrance fees or rental fees for items such as canoes or inner tubes. Participants on Sierra Club outings must sign a liability waiver. The Club encourages outings participants to carpool to the trailhead, but such travel is at the participants discretion, and risk. Outings normally begin at the trailhead.