I'm still interested in a prehike. I should be good for a Thursday start at Harpers. What's the distance to Gathland from there?
I'm still interested in a prehike. I should be good for a Thursday start at Harpers. What's the distance to Gathland from there?
Looks like 10 to 12 miles from Harper's Ferry to Gathland. Anybody interested in hiking in on Friday? I gotta save some vacation days for ski season and the holidays.
Would anyone be interested in hiking two 13 mile days, Pen Mar to Gathland? Just curious.
Edit: it actually looks a little over 31 miles from Pen Mar, wanted to spend a little more time on the trail than 9-10 miles but that might be a bit much for two days.
Last edited by R00K; 09-17-2011 at 14:44.
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HF to Gathland is a 12 mile simple hike. The first 3 miles out of HF are totally flat on the C&O Canal. You've got a nice climb from there up Weaverton Cliffs with a short side trail to a great view of the Potomac and back to HF at the top.
You still go up, although much gentler, to to Ed Garvey shelter. The spring for this shelter is .4 miles down a steep side trail. I've only done that once, won't go all they way down there again unless it's dire.
The trails rolls rather gently along from there to Compton Gap / Gathland. No other water sources until Gathland, but some great hang spots with views along the way.
I think you'll find this an easy, enjoyable hike. I've left HF and reached Gathland for lunch many times. Breaking the distance up and enjoying the hike will make for an excellent trip!
Rook,
Start where the AT crosses 77 and head south. You can hump a good 1st day(15 miles) and stay at (or around) the Dalgreen backpacker campsite- they have a shower there & a restaurant (w/bar) a few hundred feet up the road. Then have an easy 2nd day to get to Gathland.
I hope to see you there!
Perrito, we should probably get started early Friday. Maybe you could head down to the Jersey Shore on Thursday night, and we could take off from my house early Friday morning to get on the trail by 10 or so? You could sleep in my office (just hung a hammock there, and there's also a bed) or we could even hang in the back yard. Leave around 6 am and be at Harper's Ferry by 10:30. We would just need to find a ride back to the car on Sunday.
- Dylan
“You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the 'present.'”
― Master Oogway
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