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AegisIII 
Group: Members
Posts: 510
Joined: Jan. 2010
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Posted on: Jan. 04 2013, 10:27 pm |
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Photos
A recent trek was to Rocky Gap State Park in western Maryland. While I've drive past it a couple of times, I had not yet hiked there. This was an approximate eight mile hike, or would have been, had I not gotten lost and shortened the hike because of that.
I started at the trailhead parking lot, full of mostly pickup trucks on the opening day of muzzle-loader season, and thus I quickly added more orange to my outfit. I started on the paved Touch of Nature Trail, heading through a short pine forest, emerging at Lake Habeeb near a short observation pier. I then headed north on the Lakeside Trail, past heavy beaver activity, and views of the lake, lodge, and Martin Mountain. I crossed the dam and spillway, continuing north until I reached the Lakeside/Homesite connector trail.
I took this trail, an old woods road, west, heading obviously uphill into pine and mountain laurel, with some small outcrops. A short dip with a side hollow had me starting on the main Evitts Homesite Trail, staying on the same woods road. I now headed into a deciduous forest, beginning the climb up Evitts Mountain, one window view along the way. The trail then reached the ridgetop, and began a long turn to the north. The ascent was not over, as the trail now ascending with the mountain ridge. In fact, at times the ascent along the ridge was steeper than the ascent up the mountain. The forest is mixed pine/deciduous, with mountain laurel and greenbriar understory. I pass the homesite spur, continuing on the woods road. I follow an old stone wall for a bit, still ascending. The woods open up a bit, and the ascent finally ends at an airway beacon. I continue north along Evitts Mountain, soon reaching the Mason-Dixon Line, a concrete marker from 1902 just west of the trail. Heading into Pennsylvania, I reach the pipeline clearing and the end of the trail.
There are views to the east, southeast, and west. To the east the mountains of the Valley and Ridge province rise up in sequence; I can see to at least Sideling Hill and the road cut. To the southeast is the mountains come in waves, looking out to Sideling Hill, perhaps to Cacapon Mountain. West is knobby Shriners Ridge, Wills Mountain, and then the Allegheny Plateau with its wind farms. Cumberland can be barely seen, but the angle is not right for a good view.
After the view, I headed back down the trail, and then headed over to the Evitt's Homesite. Not much is left save for an small old circular pit and some other stone work, including the wall mentioned earlier. This was also a good spot for my lunch break. After lunch, I found an old trail which heads down Evitts Mountain from the homesite. It started by heading through a briar patch for maybe 50 feet, before beginning a steep steady descent. There are some winter views of the lake, lodge, and interstate. While faint, the trail is generally easy to follow and in a couple of places I think I see where old plastic blazes were attached to trees. The lowest reaches of the trail, say the last 200 feet, are not at all distinguishable, but by now the woods road of the Evitt's Homesite Trail in the small side hollow is visible straight ahead.
Back on the Evitt's Homesite Trail, I reach the shortcut trail junction, and this time take the main trail. It begins to head down into the side hollow, a narrow trail working its way down to Rocky Gap Run. It starts in mountain laurel land, heading into hemlocks, and then also rhododendrons as it drops down, sometimes down a ledge or two, sometimes rocky. The last descent is on the steep side, as I arrived in scenic Rocky Gap. The stream gently flows by, surrounded by hemlocks, some fallen, and rhododendron. Large sandstone bluffs arise across the stream. I try to explore downstream but don't get far at all, as the north bank eventually becomes a rough talus slope with dense rhodos.
I head back to the trail and cross its bridge over the Run, much sturdier than it looks. On the other side, I take a rough trail upstream, towards the dam towering over me, until it gets to rough. Back on the real trail, I begin the quick ascent out of the gorge, stopping at the top of the bluffs where I look back down. I continue up the narrow trail, the ascent much lighter, through pine and laurel. The trail then makes a quick climb up a wooded stable talus slope.
At the top I first turn left on an obvious but unofficial trail, reaching an overlook on some rocks above the gorge, looking at the slope of Evitts Mountain. I then turn around, now on the official trail, then off of it for a bit, to join with the Canyon Overlook Trail. I head out to the overlook, with a view down the length of Rock Gap to the west. A large outcropping towers above the south rim. I think my hike route goes past there. I continue on the Canyon Overlook Trail, looking for an unofficial trail which continues along the rim. I find what looks like a faint game trail. I search for a more obvious trail; there is not one.
So I follow the game path as best I can, frequently consulting my map. Sometimes I'm just bushwhacking, otherwise I follow various game trails. With winter views of the gorge, I at least know I am heading in the right direction. But eventually I decide that otherwise I don't know where I am and should bail out. I head southwest, and eventually reach an old dirt roadbed that transects the southwest end of the park. Consulting my map I figure out where I am. I head west to confirm that, finding trails I would have taken. I decide instead to take the roadbed back to the parking area, which heads straight to it. I'll have to head back someday to explore more of the south side trails.
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EJS
(Ed. S)
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ki0eh
Group: Members
Posts: 2421
Joined: Mar. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 11 2013, 12:11 pm |
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It's a nice little place for a short outing, surprised you were never there before. My in-laws actually own from the M-D marker north on that hike, including the pipeline viewpoint, but it's not posted.
With permission, we've had group hikes from Hidden Springs, and a really long day once from Manassas Gap. I understand the Nature Conservancy purchased some land on the west side of Evitts bordering the Cumberland watershed, not sure how close that comes to connecting with RGSP on the west side although it may at least border one of the isolated tracts of Buchanan SF along that ridge.
The prolixity of greenbrier up on Evitts usually sends me over to Martin Hill Wild Area when I'm out and about in the area.
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| Post Number: 3
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AegisIII
Group: Members
Posts: 510
Joined: Jan. 2010
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Posted on: Jan. 14 2013, 8:20 pm |
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Interesting. Out of curiosity, what about the east slope of the pipeline? I found a fair number of GPS traces of people using that to get from the overlook back to the lake area and thought about doing that myself to avoid the out-back, but I couldn't find anything about whether it was accessible property or not.
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EJS
(Ed. S)
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| Post Number: 4
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ki0eh
Group: Members
Posts: 2421
Joined: Mar. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 16 2013, 4:49 pm |
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The unposted private land I spoke of is on the east side of Evitts, and north side of the MD line (a thousand acres, extending as far north along ridgeline and east side as the back of the private Hidden Springs campground). That tract also does not include the "flats" of Pleasant Valley generally, but just the mountainside.
The pipeline is entirely on the PA side of the border - there's actually an older pipeline cut between it and the border. Accordingly the pipeline cut is entirely outside the MD state park.
I don't think there's any particular objection to circling around on the pipeline through the unposted private land, but it's not a designated trail.
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