C&O end-to-end, miles 72-77

Today we had a break in the heat wave, so I got back out to the C&O to do a few more miles on my end-to-end quest. I was lucky enough to get a spot at the small Sharpsburg parking lot, so I picked up where I left off at the beginning of the month.

This section was pretty, with most of it having a tall cliff on the canal side, and close views of the Potomac on the other. It also passes Killiansburg Cave, which I did not explore. My turnaround spot was just past Snyder's Landing at mile 77.

On the way back, I took an alternative side path near Sharpsburg for variety. It added some steep elevation gain. In winter, there are likely good views, but in summer they are blocked by leaves.

The year is half over, and my hike is not half done. Halfway would be 92 miles, and I'm 15 short of that. I'm not too concerned, as I suspected I might slow down through the hottest summer months. June is certainly proving to be that.

Sugarloaf on a hot day

Local monadnock Sugarloaf is the closest place to get any real elevation gain, so I headed there to get some uphill in. I started by first doing the peak, before it got crowded, then did a loop down and back up to the parking lot. 

My total was only five miles, less than I had intended, but it was too hot to do more.

Northern end of Seneca Greenway aka Magruder Branch

I hit up the tail end of the Magruder Branch trail on a hot and muggy Juneteenth. Starting from Damascus Park, I first walked two-thirds of a mile in to where the unpaved Lower Magruder trail leaves off. From there it is north to an unprepossessing terminus in a townhouse complex.

This entire section is paved, bridges, and boardwalks. It stays in the stream valley, crossing over frequently, and it is obvious that floods are not unusual. A dirt trail would be high-maintenance here.

It's a pretty section, and heavily used by both cyclists and pedestrians. (Most of the cyclists were families out for an excursion, rather than serious cyclists clad in spandex.) Round-trip, this section is six miles, and quite flat.

I have now walked the entire Seneca Greenway. Much of it I liked quite well! The section immediately south of Damascus Road remains the worst part, but the rest I would happily do again.

C&O end-to-end, miles 60-72

I headed back to the C&O for the first time since the End to End hike. In the week after that hike, storms had badly damaged some parts of the trail, so I'd stayed away. But some repairs had occurred at Harper's Ferry, so I returned to continue where I had left off.

I actually parked at the canal across from Shepherdstown, crossed the bridge to West Virginia, and took an Uber to my start. (Crossed off another bridge on my Potomac list!) Parking is expensive at Harper's Ferry, so this enabled me to do a one-way hike for a little less. From the train station, I headed back across the railroad bridge - this time, not in a thunderstorm - and headed north.

This section of the trail really does primarily head north, snaking east and west with the river. It's an attractive section, especially near Harper's Ferry itself. There was only one badly washed out section, easily avoided.

I really enjoyed just hiking one-way. I can't afford to Uber it every time (and there is no transit alternative), so it feels like a real luxury.