Walking Walrus - Walking Black Hills Regional Park, Germantown, MD

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Walking

Walking with the Walrus

Black Hills Regional Park Volksmarch
November 22-23, 1997

by Kevin Shaw Photos © Kevin Shaw, licensed to About.com

M y club, the Seneca Valley Sugarloafers, put on a first-class two event (AT 97/383 and AT 97/348), three distance (5, 10 and 12 km distances) walk at the beautiful Black Hills Regional Park in Boyds Maryland this weekend, November 22-23, 1997. It was our 10th anniversary walk, celebrating our club's first ever event walk on exactly the same dates back in 1987 at this same location. There were a lot of great special treats this whole weekend, including a big 10th anniversary cake that was cut at noon on Saturday and entirely consumed by a few hours later. I really liked the kilometer markers on the 10 km trail, created by event organizer and steadfast long-time Club all around volunteer and one of its former presidents, Ed Branges. At several of the kilometer markers, a picture of a former president was posted. Since I did the 10 km trail only during last weekend's workers walk, I only got to see the ones at the 1, 2 and 9 and 10 km trail markers during my Sunday walk on the 12 km trail, and on Saturday when I did the 5 km trail.
The start point, the Visitors Center at the park, is a beautiful facility with lots of great displays showing off all the wildlife in the park, and plenty of information about the park. We turned it into a haven of volksmarch information too, with plenty of upcoming brochures and publicity information. Many regular park users wandered in and found out about volksmarching, with many eager club members helping to answer questions. The park is a great birding area, with many overlooks and other spots where many different species of birds can be viewed.
Both days I was slated to work cooking wurst and hot dogs at the start/finish in the afternoon, so I came Peaches all dressed up each day in the morning and walked the trails first then cooked afterwards. My daughter Robin helped out both days with the food and other duties, but did not walk. Of course, my pooches, India and Peaches accompanied me on all the trails, and enjoyed them all immensely. There were a lot of other dogs out on the trails, particularly on the 12 km trail on Sunday with plenty of chances of social interactions. Also plenty of squirrels to keep them quite alert, and at one point I lost control of them as they both bolted at the same time for one of those furry critters, as I felt my leg give way. They only went a few feet away as the squirrel scampered up a tree, and I quickly gained control of them after calling them. Another more amusing incident involved Peaches and a puddle, where she thought she was more like a pig than a dog, wallowing in the muddy water, totally immersing herself. Robin gave her a bath later to clean her up.
All trails headed out of visitor center and shared the same first 2 or so kilometers on a paved path at first through part of a fitness trail area, then on natural trail paralleling the park entrance road in the woods. The first checkpoint for all trails was an unstaffed spot at the 2 km, noting information off a stone marker on the trail. Recent frequent and occasionally heavy rains rendered the natural trails muddy and even wet in some places, but only seriously slowed down volksmarchers at the occasional stream crossings, found mostly on the 10 km trail. Since I still am not entirely at 100% in my right leg from my quadriceps tendon operation last January, the slippery footing slows me up. Also on occasional short, steep downhills and uphills I also strain more than most due to my still-not-up-to-full strength leg.
The 10 km trail stayed within the park boundaries and except for some short stretches, particularly near the end of the walk, was mostly on natural trails in the woods. A nicely canopied staffed spot near the entrance to the park was the second checkpoint and then another unstaffed point at a barn was the third one. Wooded trails also gave way to open fields, and narrow trails gave way after the second checkpoint to a wider trail along an ATT cable line with several ups and downs and stream crossings. Along a ridge that opened up from the woodland provided more outstanding vistas just prior to dropping down to Black Hill Road and the third unstaffed checkpoint at a barn. A beautiful wandering through some picturesque woodlands, it really doesn't get much better than this. The 5 km trail gave you a sample of these trails, but had to return on the park road soon after the 2 km mark to keep with the lesser distance requirements. Even the park road has its moments, as you head in at the Park Office spot, a great view of the visitor center backdropped by Seneca Lake is to be enjoyed and photographed, which I did. Around this spot I also noticed the smell of musty leaves, a unique smell only found after late fall rains
The 12 KM trail broke off the other two trails at the top of a long downhill slope which bottomed out a bridge crossing a stream. I saw a loose husky dog chasing three deer as I was heading down this slope. Fortunately Peaches and India did not see this action! The trail wound around the other side of the stream heading up a short steep interesting rock outcropping, and, after an unstaffed second checkpoint at a sign, made a right turn to follow the stream which eventually widens out to Seneca Lake. This paved path follows the shoreline of the lake for several kilometers, ducking in to coves, backing up to several beautiful lakefront homes contoured into the natural relief. We also crossed on a street between Seneca and Churchill Lakes on what is known as an isthmus. The trail went out to a staffed checkpoint at a gazebo, then doubled back to the top of that long downhill slope several kilometers later. I saw many walkers coming back as I was heading out and later on as I was heading in, including several friends and long-time volksmarchers. There were lots of waterfowl out on the lake, including several honking Canadian Geese and a variety of ducks. There were also a few fishermen, both on shore and in boats out on the lake. There were many more great photo spots, as the winding trail gave great vistas of much of the lake and the trail, backdropped by houses and wooded slopes.
The 12 km trail came out from that long uphill slope to the park road, and headed back to the finish the same way the 5 and 10 km trails did. I was pretty tired near the end, though Peaches and India kept going, and could have walked all day if I could have found another one willing to walk them!
At the finish, on both days, I got my books stamped and picked up future brochures. My daughter Robin got me some bratwurst and a soda, then after eating, I took over the grill from Stan Forster until the end of the walking day. Many thanks to all of my fellow club members for their great efforts in putting together a great event. Also thanks should be given to the park personnel who helped make our jobs easier with great cooperation and allowing us to use the visitors center as a great start/finish point. I think I saw a final count of 478 volksmarchers for the two days. The weather was mostly cloudy and cool for the greater part of the two day event, but with occasional glimpses of sun. Great walking weather in my opinion! Luckily, I only live a few miles and minutes away from this spot, so I can easily return to this lovely place virtually any time. I hope to be around for our 20th anniversary celebration back here, but I hope we come back before that to this superb spot for a multi-event walk.