Little Devils Stairs - A Very Wet Hike

A few weeks ago, I hiked the aptly named Little Devils Stairs trail in Shenandoah National Park with a friend.  According to one website, there are 11 stream crossings of Keyser Run in the 2 miles (and a nearly 1,800 feet climb).  And after the torrential rain in the preceding days, not one of these crossings was passable using the usual rock-hopping method.  The stream was running fast and furious and all the rocks were at least partially submerged.  I ended up, for the most part, just walking straight through, with my feet wetter than I could imagine.  It was a cold and foggy (and eventually rainy) day, which made for slippery rocks but it was really beautiful.  A great pre-Halloween hiking adventure.  

Solitude (almost) at Scott's Run

Social distancing in the city has had me feeling too close to people on the sidewalks so today took a stroll at Scott's Run Nature Preserve.  Except for the trails nearest to the parking areas, it was relatively quiet.  I did pass people on average every 10 - 15 minutes or so, but only a few at a time.  I believe the parking lots may be closing after today so access will be more limited.  The air felt a little cleaner and I could breathe a little deeper amidst the emerging bluebells and other spring ephemerals.

Hiking photography ~ Patapsco edition

I've gotten some good hikes in during the last several weeks, and it's been mostly about the hikes 

with quick photos along the way.  But last month I enjoyed an outing with a 

hiking photography group (i actually found one!) where we hiked to different spots and

 then had blocks of time to set up the tripod and take the time to shoot.  

 The waterfalls off of Cascade Trail in Patapsco Valley State Park 

made for a nice subject, as did the railroad tracks in the park, and the 

soon-to-be-closed Bloedes Dam (being removed in the not too distant future). 

Catching up

Not much posting lately.  Late April through mid-May spent photographing national parks in Utah, and still haven't gone through those photos (!).....soon.  More catching up to do.

Before my trip, revisited the potomac heritage trail in Northern Virginia, with a one-way shuttle hike of 13 miles or so, scott's run to roosevelt island.  The bluebells were most definitely in full bloom!

 

And redbuds too.

And over Memorial Day weekend, explored a new (to me) hike in Shenandoah's central district, Bear Church Rock.

Very scenic, with a steep climb along a woodsy trail, leading to a scenic overlook.  

I especially enjoyed the beautiful Staunton River and its small falls along the way.

White Oak Canyon -- goodbye winter??

A few weeks ago did a tough 8 mile trek, up the White Oak Canyon trail in Shenandoah, where the smaller falls were frozen, slogged through a snowy side trail, and down the steep, icy Cedar Run trail, where, notwithstanding microspikes and hiking poles, I fell twice.  Exhausting, but beautiful every which way I looked.

Great Falls is great -- VA edition

Over the last five months I've hiked in Great Falls, VA and/or the adjacent parks/hiking areas of 

Riverbend and Difficult Run at least four times, and this is a place that always manages to amaze.    

Each season there has its own beauty.  Pulling together a few of my favorite shots over the years.  

Nov. 2006

June 2011

 

Dec. 2007

June 2014

Dec. 2007

June 2011

waterfalls of ricketts glen

What better way to spend an unusually cool late May weekend than traipsing around Ricketts Glen State Park in the Middle of Nowhere, PA.  My foray into hiking with a tripod and camera bag started out a little shaky with me dropping my camera's remote, followed by my camera bag knocking my water bottle onto the ground at the top of the first big waterfall.  After hiking back up to retrieve said water bottle and subsequently readjusting my grip on the tripod, this very same water bottle (my trusty water bottle with whom I have hiked for the last 5-6 years) went flying into the bottom of the falls.  Unable to be retrieved by me.  So with many apologies to the park for leaving a trace, and just as many thanks to Karol for sharing her water, below I post some of my favorites from the trip.

Day 2 of hiking the falls trail at Ricketts Glen went a little more smoothly with my backpack, and the light was quite nice (it better be after getting up at 4:30 to start hiking closer to sunrise!).

Susquehanna saunter

A really nice, 8-9 mile hike through susquehanna state park in harford county, followed by late lunch and a stop at the always delicious bomboys chocolate shop in havre de grace.