Walking Carderock Maryland

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Walking

Walking with the Walrus

CARDEROCK MD USA - 10 KM VOLKSMARCH
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1997

by Kevin Shaw

My club, the Seneca Valley Sugarloafers, hosted a 10 km volksmarch on the C and O Canal in suburban Maryland just outside the Capital Beltway in Carderock MD park. Since no fees could be collected in the park pre-registration was a must for any walkers desiring AVA credit, and there were some 86 of these, according to event coordinator, Ed Branges. The weather was cloudy and damp, with a wet snow falling intermittently, and about 1 inch of slushy accumulation in some places, so with this less than ideal conditions, only about 72 credit walkers actually showed up with about a dozen or so free walkers in addition. I arrived a bit late, a few minutes after 11 am, as most walkers apparently started between 10 and 11 am. Ed worked under the cover of his van back door. With preregistration all there was to do was to sign the waiver and pick up the directions/map. I had my two loyal pooches with me (India and Peaches) along with my friend Don Carlo, who is about to go into the army at Ft. Knox.
The trail basically headed upstream on the C and O canal, which parallels the Potomac River, as it heads downstream from western Maryland near Cumberlandt to Georgetown in Washington D.C. We walked from about mile marker 10.7 to mile marker 13.8 and return. The trail was wet and snow covered in a few places. Muddy sections were certainly to be found, but once you got wet and dirty it didn't matter that much after a while. We started out where the canal is still rather devoid of a lot of water, still feeling the affects of the big floods of early 1996. But after about a mile the waterway widens out and the water is plentiful once again. Lots of wildlife out on this inclement day, with ducks, geese, other flying birds including a few great blue herons. At one point, when I was trying to get Peaches cleaned off of the mudbath she got from the trail, she swam clear across the canal to try and make friends with a heron. She got reasonably close, then the heron played an unfair advantage and flew away. Peaches was undaunted, she hopped in the water in hot pursuit. But even stubborn, persistent Peaches finally realized this was hopeless and swam back across and to my side once again. At least she got some of the mud cleaned off!
We passed by a few locks (#15 and 16 I believe), and by the infamous Billy Goat Trail, which in the spring is usually a 5 rated volksmarch by the Walter Reed Wandervogel. These were just the end points; we didn't dare do this slippery, steep rock scramble on this snowy, wet day. I have no fear that Peaches and India will do this someday, and most likely can do it a lot easier than I can! The trail is really spectacular in this area, with large rock outcrops, deep gorges, and a rocky trail to follow. If you were put here blindfolded, I don't think many would ever guess they were in suburban Maryland within a few miles of the Washington DC line! It looks more like a scene out west, especially with the lower water level, which exposes more rock and makes it even wilder looking! Then right after the first lock, we hit a spot where there was a significant dip in the trail, part of the flood damage of early 1996. This was the start/end to the loop formed by the canal and, when the towpath was under repair last year, a detour trail uphill from the canal. We used this secondary trail today to complete the loop that helped put a little more variety in the trail. It afforded some great views of the canal and the Potomac River, and a different vantage point than just walking on the towpath itself. At the end point where we turned back onto this detour trail there was a narrow bridge that helped us cross the canal, along with several steps, that really was virtually the only vertical change in the entire trail.
The natural surfaced trail and the wooded environment is a bit challenging in weather conditions like this, but after an abundance of neighborhood and street walks the past several weeks, this was a great break in many ways, including on my sore feet with the soft footing. We had some more fun with India and this dog we met on the trail and his owner, as we played fetch with some big sticks, throwing them into the water. As cold as the water was, they eagerly went after them. I think the pooches know that to keep warm they have to stay in perpetual motion. Near the end of the walk they definitely slowed up and were quite weary at the end. They spent most of the rest of the day resting, believe me!
A most enjoyable walk in the wet snow on this day, and many thanks to Ed Branges and my club the Seneca Valley Sugarloafers for hosting and putting on this event. I already know we will be returning here same time same location next year, so mark it on your calendars if you want to experience a bit different of a walk in the winter in the DC Metropolitan area!