Walk Across Maryland


May 31, 2008


Friday (the first day of the Walk Across Maryland)

We start the hike at Pen Mar County Park, at the Maryland/Pennsylvania border. This is near Cascade, Maryland. We meet up at 9:30 in the morning, take a bunch of "before" pictures at the Welcome to Maryland signs, and set out on our hike. The first day, we cover about 10 miles.

On Friday evening, it's our tradition to eat a camp-prepared vegetarian stir-fry dinner. We stop at one of the Appalachian Trail's overnight shelters, so you're welcome to sleep there for the evening. There's a shelter (a three-sided, roofed structure), a table, and a privy. There's not much water nearby, but our support cars will have many gallons of water, so you'll be able to cook, wash, and fill your water bottles for Saturday's trip.

Daily schedule:

9:30 am. Meet at Pen Mar; take photos at state line.
Noon. Have lunch at High Rock.
2 pm. Popsicles at Raven Rock Road.
4:30 pm. Arrive at shelter near Wolfsville Road.
5:00 pm. Support cars leave Wolfsville Road to shuttle drivers.
6:15 pm. Dinner

How to get to Pen Mar County Park

I believe the easiest way is to go to Frederick, then take US Highway 15 north, toward Gettysburg. In Thurmont, exit on Maryland Route 550, heading west, toward Sabillasville. Stay on this road thru Sabillasville, until it ends at Maryland Route 491, where you turn right. Stay on that road for just a minute or two. Before you reach the Pennsylvania border, you'll see a sign indicating that Pen Mar is to your left. Take that left turn, and you'll arrive in the hamlet of Pen Mar. The park is well marked, and will be to your right as you come into town. There is a gated parking area to the right, but sometimes the attendant is not there to open the gate when we arrive. In that case, you can park on the grassy area under the trees opposite the entrance to the parking area. We'll bring all the drivers back to Pen Mar to get their cars before dark.

How to get to the Friday night camp

Take Interstate 70 west from Frederick. At exit 42, turn right onto Maryland Route 17. Follow Maryland 17 North for several miles thru the Frederick County countryside. You'll come to Wolfsville, which indicates you're getting close. 2 1/2 miles past Wolfsville, you'll see Loy Wolfe Road to your left, Garfield Road to your right, and the Washington County line straight ahead. Continue straight, into Washington County. The first opportunity to turn right, after entering Washington County, is a gravel driveway. That's where you park your car. Next to and parallel to the road, on the downhill side of the parking lot, is a blue-blazed trail that leads to the AT. Follow that trail, and turn right when you get to the white-blazed AT, turn right. It's only about 1/4 mile in to the shelter, which will be on your left.
Walk Across Maryland
The second day of the Walk Across Maryland
The third day of the Walk Across Maryland