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 Sierra Club Potomac Region Outings. 2013 Sat. May 25: Savage Park, Wincopin Trail, MD. Moderate 7 mile hike along the Middle and Little Patuxent Rivers, easy except for a few hills and rocky parts. Meet at 8:30 at the Savage Park Wincopin Trail parking lot, off Vollmerhausen Road, a quarter mile east of the bridge over I-95. Call Ken Clark, 443-280-4050, kenclark7@live.com. Sat.-Sun. May 25-26: Reeds Gap Spur Backpack, Bald Eagle State Forest, PA. Strenuous 2 day backpack on this recently revitalized trail and a short section of the Mid State Trail. 18-20 miles, 4000 feet of elevation gain. Hike from Reed's Gap State Park to Poe Valley State Park. Seasoned backpackers only. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. June 1: Jug Bay Kayak, Patuxent River Park. Explore this tidal marsh by canoe or kayak, then hike a mile for a different perspective. Observe a variety of birds and other animals. Bring lunch and water. Sign up early to reserve a $20 canoe or kayak, or bring your own. Call Ken Clark, 443-280-4050, kenclark7@live.com. Sat.-Sun. June 8-9: Sleepy Creek WMA-South Backpack, WV. Moderate 23 mile backpack with 3000 feet of elevation gain in the WV panhandle utilizing the Tuscarora Trail and other paths and roads in the WMA featuring some nice views. We will camp at a shelter. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. June 8: Patapsco Valley State Park, Hilton Area. Moderate 7 mile hike. Bring lunch and water. Meet at 9:15 at the parking lot behind the Hilton Area Nature Center, just inside the Hilton Avenue entrance on the right. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net. Sun. June 9: 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. Depart at 8:30 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Call Ken Clark, 443-280-4050, kenclark7@live.com. Sat. June 22: McKeldin area, Patapsco State Park. Moderate 4 mile hike along the Patapsco River, past McKeldin Falls. Meet at 9:15 at the parking lot just inside the park entrance off Marriottsville Road, 4 miles north of I-70 on the right. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net. Sun. June 30: Splash in the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area. Cool down with a leisurely 2 hour walk in the middle of the river, through the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area. Learn how this area was protected from development when Columbia was formed. Wear appropriate footwear like old sneakers, and be prepared to get wet. Optional restaurant lunch afterwards, so bring a change of clothes. Meet at 9:30, 0.8 mile south of Rt. 108 on Trotter Road, at the MPEA parking lot on the left (east). Call Ken Clark, 443-280-4050, kenclark7@live.com. Sat. July 6: Splash in the Middle Patuxent, Gorman Area Park. Cool down with a leisurely 3-4 hour walk in the middle of the river, from Rt. 29 to Murray Hill Road. Wear appropriate footwear like old sneakers, and be prepared to get wet. Due to hidden slippery rocks in the river, this hike is not appropriate for people with bad ankles/knees/backs. Bring lunch and water, and a towel or change of clothes for the car. Depart at 10:00 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Call Ken Clark, 443-280-4050, kenclark7@live.com. Sat.-Sun. July 6-7: Sleepy Creek WMA-North Backpack, WV. Moderate 21 mile backpack with 2800 feet of elevation gain in the WV panhandle utilizing the Tuscarora Trail and other paths and roads in the WMA featuring a pretty stream with several crossings and vistas. We will camp at a shelter. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat. July 13: Great Falls, VA. Moderate six mile hike on dramatic cliffs overlooking the Potomac River, along the historic Patowmack Canal, and past the scenic Difficult Run rapids. Bring lunch and water. Depart at 8:30 from the west lot of the Broken Land Parkway Park & Ride at Rt. 32. Call James Perschy, 410-964-1902, jameshike@verizon.net. Sat. July 20: Splash in the Middle Patuxent, in Savage Park. Cool down with a leisurely 3 hour walk in the middle of the river, from Murray Hill Road to Savage Park. Discover clams and other wildlife. Wear appropriate footwear like old sneakers, and be prepared to get wet. Due to hidden slippery rocks in the river, this hike is not appropriate for people with bad ankles/knees/backs. Bring a snack and water, and a change of clothes for an optional restaurant lunch after the hike. Meet at 9:30 at the Savage Park Wincopin Trail parking lot, off Vollmerhausen Road, a quarter mile east of the bridge over I-95. Call Ken Clark, 443-280-4050, kenclark7@live.com. Sat. Aug. 3: Splash in the Middle Patuxent, by the Robinson Nature Center. Cool down with a leisurely 2-3 hour walk in the middle of the river, through the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area to the Robinson Nature Center. This splash hike is more difficult than others on our schedule, due to more extensive rocky areas. Discover clams and other wildlife. Wear appropriate footwear like old sneakers, and be prepared to get wet. Due to hidden slippery rocks in the river, this hike is not appropriate for people with bad ankles/knees/backs. Bring a snack and water. Meet at 9:30 in the back of the parking lot of the Robinson Nature Center, 6692 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD. Call Ken Clark, 443-280-4050, kenclark7@live.com. Sat.-Mon. Aug. 3-5: Otter Creek Base Camp Backpack, MNF, WV. Moderate 14 mile backpack, plus a 10 mile day hike on the middle day. Features beautiful waterfalls and swimming holes. Bring your bathing suit and camera! Experienced backpackers only. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sun. Aug. 11: Splash in the Middle Patuxent River. Cool down with a leisurely 2-3 hour walk in the middle of the Middle Patuxent river. This is a rain-date or redo of one of our earlier splash hikes, so the location will be set a week before the hike. Call Ken Clark, 443-280-4050, kenclark7@live.com. Sat.-Mon. Aug. 31 - Sept. 2: Shenandoah Trail-South Backpack, GWNF, VA. Strenuous 3-day, 25-mile backpack with 5000 feet of elevation gain. Ridge top hike with several views to the east and west. Seasoned backpackers only. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat.-Sun. Sept. 21-22: Standing Stone Trail Backpack, PA. Strenuous 2-day 20-mile backpack with 4000 ft of elevation gain. From Mapleton to Three Springs, with several views and steep climbs. Camp at the new Butler Knob Shelter. Experienced backpackers only. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat.-Mon. Oct. 12-14: Laurel Highlands-Central Backpack, PA. Backpack with daily mileages of 8/14/5 miles, U.S. 30 to PA 653, with 4000 feet of elevation gain. Features mature forests and views. Experienced backpackers only. Preregistration required. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, mjuskelis@cablespeed.com. Sat.-Mon. Oct. 26-28: North Country Recreational Trail Backpack, PA. Moderate 3-day, 25-mile backpack, from Tionesta Creek to Cook Forest SP in Allegheny National Forest, 3700 ft of elevation gain. Features pretty streams, views and the state's largest stand of virgin hemlocks. Experienced backpackers only. Pre-registration required. Contact 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 and kayaks. 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.